Fullerton Will Have Trouble Holding Down This Tiger : College football: But Ed King, Auburn’s All-American offensive lineman, may play no more than a handful of downs against outmanned Titans.

Let’s clear up a few misconceptions about Ed King, the Auburn Tigers’ All-American offensive lineman.

No, King’s torso really isn’t big and flat enough to play racquetball against, it just looks as if it’s been chiseled from granite.

Nor is it true those giant Tiger paw prints on the roads leading to Jordan-Hare Stadium belong to King, though he’s been known to leave tracks on the chests of defensive linemen.

And it’s certainly not true that he will pulverize every Cal State Fullerton defender who comes near the 6-foot-4, 295-pound junior.

Oh, wait.

That last part could happen, providing King plays more than a handful of downs when Auburn plays host to the Titans Saturday.

It’s likely to be an ugly opener for third-ranked Auburn, mainly because a guy such as King will block guys such as J.C. Farrow, Jamal Jones, Leevon Morris and Gary Thornton, Fullerton’s defensive linemen.

It will be especially ugly for Fullerton because King was named to the Walter Camp, Football News magazine and Scripps-Howard All-American teams as a sophomore. And because he was named to the Associated Press, United Press International and the coaches’ all-Southeastern Conference teams last season.

What’s more, Gil Brandt, the Dallas Cowboys’ longtime director of player development who now is an NFL scout, called King the best lineman in college football. Brandt, who also compared King to former All-Pro John Hannah, gave that ringing endorsement last year, before the All-American teams were announced.

Joshua and Annie King’s son was always bigger than the other boys. As a seventh-grader growing up in Phenix City, Ala., Ed King was a 6-2, 220-pound bundle of joy.

But he couldn’t play football worth a lick.

“I had terrible technique,” King said. “I was timid. The little guys would be pushing me around. It was embarrassing.”

By his junior season at Central High School in Phenix City, however, King was one of the best high school linemen in Alabama.

He was a Parade magazine and USA Today All-American as a senior and a three-time all-state selection at offensive tackle.

Maturity, tutoring from Central Coach Wayne Trawick and basketball, King said, were responsible for molding him into a high school All-American.

Basketball?

“I loved to play basketball,” King said. “Still do. It’s good for a big guy like me. You learn quickness and to control your body. Quickness is a big thing for offensive linemen. The good linemen are always the ones with the quick feet.”

And speaking of feet, none were quicker than those of the recruiters who beat a path to the King household.

He narrowed his choices to Colorado and Auburn. But it came down to a simple matter of geography. Auburn is a 45-minute drive from Phenix City, and Boulder, Colo., is not. King wanted his mother and father to watch him play.

“It’s like being at home here,” he said.

Once he got to Auburn, it didn’t take long for King to impress the coaching staff.

“It was obvious from the first day in pads that he was a talented young man,” said Neil Callaway, the Tigers’ offensive line coach.

King, a true freshman, wasn’t exactly oozing with confidence as he ran onto the grass in front of 85,000 at Jordan-Hare Stadium to play Kentucky in his first college game.

“I was so scared,” he said. “It was a shock to see all those people in the stadium.”

Against Akron in the sixth game of the season, King started at guard because of an injury. King has started every game since, earning a reputation as one of the best offensive linemen in SEC history.

“I think an offensive lineman can dominate a game,” King said. “I like to come off the ball and hit them so hard, the next time they look at you like ‘Uh-oh, here he comes again.’

“Some guys have that look, like ‘C’mon . . . ‘ But by the middle of the game, they don’t have that look anymore.”

Many times, game day is easier than practice for King.

As a freshman, he waged brutal battles in scrimmages against Tracy Rocker, who won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best defensive lineman in 1988.

Now, King is often matched against Rocker’s younger brother, David, a preseason All-American defensive lineman.

But every time the hype threatens to blow itself out of control, Callaway is there to set the record straight.

Callaway played five positions--guard, tackle, defensive end, nose guard and linebacker--for Bear Bryant at Alabama from 1976-77.

“I saw John (Hannah) play,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s fair to compare them. Ed’s a lot dadgum bigger. Hannah was one of the best linemen ever. Time will tell if he’s as good as Hannah.”