[Tuck4Bama]

AUBURN - Tommy Tuberville conjured up images of former Auburn running back stars Ronnie Brown and Kenny Irons to explain where Mario Fannin is today.

Brown, the Auburn coach noted Tuesday, didn't play much in the beginning on the way to his NFL career. And Irons had but one carry in the first game of the season when he led the SEC in rushing.

Tuberville isn't saying Fannin will follow their career paths, but he is saying the former 4,000-yard high school man has a chance to be in the backfield for the first time in Saturday's game against South Florida. With starting tailback Brad Lester serving a suspension, the Tigers are looking for a spark after a lackluster offensive performance in a 23-13 season-opening win over Kansas State.

Fannin could be the answer - if he, of all things, blocks the right defender. Running is nice, but protecting quarterback Brandon Cox is paramount among the Auburn coaches and a fast ticket to playing time.

"Mario just wasn't at the point it was time for him to play," Tuberville said. "Sooner or later, we've got to go ahead and say, `Let's go. Go in there and see what you've learned.' We put him through a lot in practice through the week and he's picking up more and more each game."

Picking up yards has been, heretofore, the redshirt freshman's forte.

Fannin the flames- al.com