Todd J. Van Emst | AU Media Relations

Ever since Gabe McKenzie first arrived on Auburn’s campus in the summer of 2005, Auburn’s defensive coaches have had their eye on
him.

This week, they’ve finally gotten their wish.

The 6-foot-5, 253-pound McKenzie, a tight end for each of his first three seasons at AU, is making the switch to defense. He’ll play strongside defensive end, bolstering a position that was among the weakest on the Tigers’ defense.

The move was a long time coming.

Steve Ensminger, McKenzie’s position coach the past three seasons, reminisced Tuesday about the way defensive coaches would chat him up about McKenzie during practices.

“They’d see him out there running, with the big body, and they’d say, ‘Hey, he could play defensive end,’ ” Ensminger said.

In seasons past, the talk was just speculation: Auburn had solid depth at defensive end, and McKenzie was a key part of the rotation at tight end. Last season, he had 13 catches; classmate Tommy Trott, this year’s starter, managed just four.

But this year, AU faced a glaring need at strongside end. Sophomore Michael Goggans — himself a former tight end — has nine career tackles. His prospective backups were both newcomers: junior-college transfer Raven Gray and true freshman Jomarcus Savage.

Gray has been slow to recover from offseason knee surgery, and Savage has been slowed by a shoulder injury.

Meanwhile, the role of Auburn’s tight ends has been downgraded under new coordinator Tony Franklin. With Trott cemented as the starter and Tim Hawthorne looking solid as a speedy change of pace, McKenzie’s role on offense was looking unclear.

Head coach Tommy Tuberville said McKenzie came to the coaches with the idea to switch positions. They wasted no time accepting.

“Gabe moved to defensive end by his accord,” Tuberville said.

Reporters were not allowed to speak to McKenzie on Tuesday.

Defensive ends coach Terry Price said McKenzie got off to a good start at his new position Tuesday.

“He showed good ability,” Price said. “He’s very eager to learn — he wants to learn as much as he can. … He has the toughness and athletic ability, now he has to learn the technique.”

McKenzie doesn’t have much time to learn that technique. Auburn has just seven practices left until the Aug. 30 season opener against Louisiana-Monroe. But Tuberville likes his chances.

“I’m not saying he’s going to play 30-40 snaps in the first game, but I could see him possibly getting in the game quite a bit,” Tuberville said.

Getting accustomed to his new position is priority No. 1 for McKenzie, but he’ll keep his hand in the offense as well. Both Tuberville and Ensminger said he would play both ways.

“He will play tight end and will also play defensive end,” Tuberville said. “I think that’s very doable.”

The last Auburn player to play offense and defense in the same game was Tristan Davis, who recorded two carries for 49 yards and a touchdown at tailback and made a tackle as a safety against Ball State in 2005.

According to Ensminger, McKenzie won’t have any problems keeping up with the offensive scheme.

“We haven’t changed any plays since the summer,” Ensminger said. “So he knows what he’s doing on that side of the ball.”

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