Fannin will get chances

AUBURN - Mario Fannin will get the ball Saturday when Auburn plays at Georgia.

He just doesn't know where.

That's a good thing because it means the Bulldogs won't know how he's getting the ball either.

The junior has proved one of the most versatile players on the Tigers' offense. He has filled in wherever offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has needed him most.

Lately that has meant playing two positions while having the ability to play a third and possibly fourth.

Fannin started the season at H-back, but soon lined up more at receiver.

Assistant coach Trooper Taylor spent half the season trying to determine who his third receiver was before realizing Fannin fit the bill.

Since Onterio McCalebb re-aggravated an ankle injury against Tennessee, Fannin has also spelled Ben Tate at tailback several snaps per game.

In addition, Fannin has also worked as both a kick returner and a punt returner.

"You can put him in the game and they don't know which one he is," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. "He can be the speed sweep guy. He can be a screen guy. He can be a vertical, down-the-seam guy. I think he brings a lot of things to the table as an offensive guy and you don't necessarily know which role he's going to play. That's a good thing."

Fannin is second on the team with 29 receptions, including three touchdown catches. Though Fannin catches most of his passes near the line of scrimmage, he averages 11.3 yards per catch. Still, Fannin went down the field from the slot last week against Furman and hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass.

He is also averaging 8.3 yards per carry in limited action as a tailback.

With Fannin's recent return to tailback, he has gotten more rushes. That, he said, is second nature.

"It's been feeling good," Fannin said. "I'm just getting back in the backfield again and being able to run the ball. Just being able to get back in that aspect of the game is pretty good. The coaches ask me that a lot and I just tell them to put me where they want to put me."

Georgia needs only look at last year's game film of the Georgia-Auburn game to know Fannin is both dangerous and explosive.

During the game, Fannin scored both Auburn touchdowns - one on a 52-yard pass from Burns and another on a 35-yard run. Fannin was easily Auburn's biggest offensive threat during the 17-13 loss to the Bulldogs.

Nobody wants to see the Tigers snap their three-game losing streak to Georgia more than Fannin, a native of the state.

Fannin contemplated becoming a Bulldog out of high school, but the Georgia coaching staff wanted him to play safety. Fannin wanted to play tailback, or at least on offense.

Then-Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville offered Fannin a scholarship at tailback. Georgia stuck with its safety offer.

That made Fannin's decision easy, though he still looks forward to the game against the Bulldogs.

"Every time I play Georgia, I kind of play with a chip on my shoulder because I'm from Georgia," Fannin said.

Fannin will get his opportunities to make the Bulldogs pay. Where he gets those chances remains won't be known until Saturday.