Report: Auburn lose two more secondary players today, 12 total gone this offseason

Published May. 15, 2015 4:51 p.m. ET

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The Auburn Tigers were expected to undergo a transition in Will Muschamp's first season at defensive coordinator with the team, but how many people would have predicted 12 players leaving by May?

Derrick Moncrief was the first to announce his decision, as he has been granted his release from the team. Followed by the announcement of corner Joe Turner's decision to transfer.

Moncrief spoke to the Montgomery Advertiser about his departure: "I came in as the No. 1 safety in the country and things are just not going well there," Moncrief said. "But Auburn was a good place, I just want to thank them for everything, for them recruiting me, and I wish them the best of luck."

The Tigers had experimented with Moncrief at outside linebacker this spring. That decision may have been what's caused the riff that lead to his departure: "I'm versatile but at the same time, I never played outside linebacker," Moncrief said. "I say I'm one of the best safeties in the country, that's what they brought me there for and that's what I wanted to play."

As unnerving as this news must be for Auburn fans, Moncrief was very diplomatic about his decision: "You learn stuff as a man going through the process. I think certain stages of your life builds your character, so I wouldn't say it was a disappointment at all," Moncrief said. "You've got to look at the positives of everything. I'm still alive and breathing, so I look at is a positive."

But Friday's transfer news didn't end there:

Turner would make the 12th player to leave the program since the offseason began. 

Can the Tigers realistically compete in the SEC this season with so many players falling by the wayside? 

(h/t Montgomery Advertiser)

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