Auburn awaits return of suspended Lester

King Dunlap won't say who his favorite running back is.

I don't blame the senior left tackle. As he says, "I love blocking for all of them. I'm not going to pick a favorite because I don't want anybody to get mad at me."

But if you delve into his mohawk-cut head, you'll find he does have a favorite. There is a certain running back who he likes to block for more than others. He never will actually come out and say it, but it's easy to see who that running back is: Brad Lester.

"Brad's our starter," Dunlap said earlier in the week. "He's our main guy. We love blocking for Brad."

About 24 hours before the kickoff against Kansas State, Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville announced Lester would be suspended until "academic issues" get resolved.

Tuberville wouldn't elaborate Tuesday on the progress of Lester's situation.

"It's been in the works for the last few weeks," he said. "I'm out of it. It's out of my hands."

Lester, a junior, has been practicing with the team but won't see the field until the grade situation is rectified. He was on the sideline during Saturday's game, wearing his No. 1 jersey as if it were a T-shirt, without shoulder pads or a helmet.

Would Auburn's sluggish offense have benefited with Lester on the field? No one actually knows the answer to that question, but it certainly wouldn't have hurt.

When asked which running back hits the hole fastest, Dunlap was quick with an answer: "Brad."

"Brad hits it going 1,000 miles an hour. They see Brad and think he's too little, too small," Dunlap said, "but Brad is a beast when it comes to hitting the hole and running the ball."

Sophomore Ben Tate filled in for Lester against K-State.

Tate carried the ball 52 times last season for 392 yards. Lester had 104 carries in 2006 for 510 yards as a backup to Kenny Irons.

Lester was expected to be Auburn's unquestioned starter this season, but the academic issues halted that for at least a week. Despite Tate's 82 yards on 23 carries, Auburn's running game suffered against K-State, gaining 62 net ground yards.

Auburn ball-carriers were caught behind the line of scrimmage five times. Three of those times, it was fullback Carl Stewart who was tackled for a loss, but offensive coordinator Al Borges said Stewart will continue to carry the ball.

"We'll keep doing what we're doing with him," Borges said. "He's good with the ball under his arms."

He wasn't the other night. The senior had five attempts for 7 yards against KSU. It's possible Stewart's stats suffered because of poor blocking, as Borges suggests.

"Hopefully, we can give him a little more room to do what he's capable of doing," he said.

Redshirt freshman Mario Fannin is expected to contribute to Auburn's running game come Saturday night against South Florida. Coaches said Fannin would play against Kansas State, but he didn't. They blame his poor pass-blocking skills on his lack of playing time.

Dunlap is all for Fanning playing. He even said Fannin reminds him of Ronnie Brown, Auburn's former bruising back who is now playing for the Miami Dolphins.

"He's powerful. He'll lower his shoulder and run over a guy," Dunlap said. "I kind of like Mario. He's not my favorite, but he's one of the guys I like because he's a big bruiser type. That's the kind of back I like. He'll give a different look than Ben gives."

But there's a reason Lester is the starting tailback and not Fannin, Stewart or Tate. Auburn needs him in the backfield.

Whether it's Lester's experience at pass blocking or his quickness in getting through the running lane, the Tigers' running game will suffer without him.

"We'll be glad to have him back," Dunlap said about the guy who is obviously his favorite.

South Florida at Auburn

Saturday
8 p.m.
ESPN2