Atmore native Tyler Nero said fans of his Auburn Tigers should prepare for a “big turnaround” this season.

The 6-foot-2, 271-pound defensive tackle said while “it’s really not much of a change” from Gene Chizik, players are excited about this season under new head coach Gus Malzahn.

“Everybody was buying into the new stuff in spring,” Nero said.

Malzahn, who was Auburn’s offensive coordinator during the Tigers’ 2010 campaign that ended with a BCS National Championship game win against the Oregon Ducks, runs an uptempo offense that can keep defenders on their toes.

“You have to be mentally ready,” said Nero, the former Escambia High School Blue Devil. “You can’t be out there in a daze.”

Malzahn comes to Auburn as head coach after a stint as the head man at Arkansas State, which hired him after his last stint on the Plains.

Nero feels this turnaround would be fueled by Malzahn and the “best coaches in the (Southeastern Conference).”

He said he especially feels that way about defensive line coach Rodney Garner. Nero described Garner’s style as constructive criticism.

“He’ll tell you to do something that will help you and make you better,” Nero said.

This season, Nero is also excited to get on the field, after a shoulder injury last year against Clemson resulted in a medical redshirt.

“I’m very excited about this year,” Nero said. “I think we’re going to shock the SEC.”

Nero saidthe Tigers’ practice started Thursday with an orientation and then film study Friday, but already the energy level is high. The team finished 3-9 overall and 0-8 in the SEC last year.

Nero credits his father, Norman Nero, for his interested in football. The former Arkansas linebacker sent his son to football camps hosted by the Razorbacks.
“I learned a lot at the camps,” Nero said.

The younger Nero said he’s pretty sure his dad wanted him to go to Arkansas after high school, but remained supportive.

“He told me whatever team I went to he’d become a fan,” Nero said of his father.

For other family members it came down to the Tigers, or the bitter cross-state rivals in Tuscaloosa.

The decision between the two state schools was ultimately up to Tyler, said his mother, Kim Gaines.

“I went with him to both places,” she said. “He felt more comfortable with Auburn. There were other family members telling him where to go, but I was going to stand behind him.”

Gaines said she’s very excited for the upcoming season and plans to travel to the team’s first home game against Washington State.

Tyler’s grandmother, Faye Nero, calls Atmore home as does Gaines and 11-year-old twin siblings Marquez Gaines and Kayla Gaines as well as 8-year-old sister Breona Gaines.