AUBURN NOTEBOOK: Washington now starting at safety

AUBURN — When junior Demond Washington rattles off his previous football occupations, the list goes on so long that he names a position twice.

Washington has been a cornerback, receiver, quarterback, running back, punt returner and kick returner.

On Saturday, he will be Auburn's starting strong safety, replacing the injured Zac Etheridge.

"I first heard it (Tuesday) morning. I got up at 5:30 to do some work, and coach told me I had a meeting at 6:30 with the safeties," Washington said. "I was like, 'For what?' He said, 'You're moving to safety.' I was happy because I knew I'd be getting a little more playing time."

Washington had been Auburn's top defensive back off the bench and its primary nickel back. He'll remain in that role Saturday. If Auburn needs a fifth defensive back, safeties Mike Slade or T'Sharvan Bell will likely get the nod.

But Washington's move into the starting lineup reflected coach Gene Chizik's goal of finding the best four defensive backs in the starting lineup, regardless of position.

"We are going to try and do this with as little disruption as possible," Chizik said.

Washington, who is a first-year junior college transfer, will work more against the run in his new role and said he was ready for the challenge.

"I'm a physical guy. I love to hit," he said. "It's going to be great."

-- OUTSIDE THE LINES: Auburn linebacker Josh Bynes condemned the actions of Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes, who was suspended for one half of this week's Florida-Vanderbilt game after allegedly trying to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey.

"I haven't ran across anything like that since I've been playing college football," Bynes said. "That's something that shouldn't occur and I think that's real childish and out of hand. That's something that the NCAA, they've got to handle that ... That's not a football play."

Ealey said Tuesday that he was surprised that such a big deal had been made of the incident and said he didn't think Spikes should be suspended.

-- NO BREAK: Although Auburn is playing a Championship Subdivision team this week in Furman, it will mark the Tigers' 10th consecutive game without a break. Auburn faces Georgia Nov. 14 and then gets a week off before facing Alabama on Thanksgiving weekend.

Chizik said he would "re-evaluate" the placement of the bye week.

"Everyone would love to have one right in the middle of the season. That's the perfect world," he said. "It doesn't always end up being able to be that way. But we will go back and look at it.

"The thing that is challenging for us right now with 11 straight weeks of football is the depth of the roster. We have to be smart about how we practice and how much time we spend out there. Everybody doesn't have that break at the fifth game. Sometimes you get it at week 8, week 9. We just happen to get it after week 11. We'll always continually evaluate things and see if there's a better way."