Auburn’s Mario Fannin Adjusting To New Position

AUBURN — Throughout his Auburn career, Mario Fannin has been in demand.

Since Fannin first arrived on campus in 2006, Auburn’s assistant coaches have waged a low-profile but intense battle for his services.

Former defensive coordinator Will Muschamp loved the former high-school quarterback’s potential at safety. Running backs coach Eddie Gran saw him as a natural tailback. Receivers coach Greg Knox lobbied to have the explosive Fannin lined up at wide receiver.

As of right now, Knox appears to have won the argument.

Fannin is currently practicing at wide receiver, where his sharp learning curve is impressing his coaches and teammates.

“He’s busted a few assignments, but he’s learning,” Knox said. “Every day’s a new test for him.”

Fannin spent some time as a scout-team receiver in 2006, when he redshirted as a true freshman. But he made his mark as a tailback last season, when he rushed for 448 yards and five touchdowns. He also led the team in kickoff returns.

When offensive coordinator Tony Franklin arrived in December, Fannin seemed a natural fit in Franklin’s spread offense. In Auburn’s Chick-fil-A bowl win against Clemson, Fannin split time between tailback and slot receiver, and the results were impressive.

He finished with 18 yards rushing on three carries and caught five passes for 53 yards and a touchdown, all team highs.

Heading into spring practice, coaches saw Fannin as a super-utility player, able to play in the backfield and the slot.

But in the first scrimmage of spring practice, he suffered a dislocated shoulder, which sidelined him for the remainder of the spring. While he rehabbed, Auburn’s coaches decided the rigor of running between the tackles wasn’t the best fit for him.

So he became a full-time receiver. So far, the switch is working out.

“He’s a guy that’s going to have to play well for us in a lot of places, and he’s ready to go,” head coach Tommy Tuberville said.

After working in the slot during spring practice, Fannin is exclusively an outside receiver so far in the preseason. He’s competing for playing time at the “X” receiver position, alongside senior James Swinton and sophomore Chris Slaughter.

The new position calls for a few unfamiliar adjustments, according to Knox.

“He has to think a little bit different, because outside it can be a one-on-one game,” Knox said. “They can blitz and he’s got to be able to win the one-on-one battle.”

But Fannin is quickly picking up the nuances. His size and strength give him an edge against most of Auburn’s defensive backs, and he still has plenty of speed to run deep routes. And he’s getting healthier every day.

The shoulder still isn’t quite 100 percent. In fact, Fannin wore a brace and shoulder pads for extra protection in the first two days of practice. But he says he’s feeling better all the time.

“Overall, it feels really good,” he said. “I caught passes up high and down low — nothing was wrong.

“The brace is pretty restricting, but other than that everything is good.”

He still doesn’t quite fit the profile of a wide receiver. His 5-foot-11, 222-pound frame stands out next to lanky position-mates Swinton and Slaughter, neither of whom tops 180 pounds.

But he’s getting more comfortable all the time. After five months of rehab and anticipation, practice — even at an unfamiliar position — is a blessing.

“I’m blessed that I have another opportunity to get out there and play with my teammates and catch the ball again,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”