Junior running back Richard Murphy underwent surgery on his right leg and should be ready to return in the spring, LSU coach Les Miles said  on Wednesday.”Everything went well, and they expect him in the spring,” Miles said. “He’s at it rehabilitating the leg.”Miles said true freshman safety Craig Loston is also not practicing with the team after suffering a hand injury. “I don’t know if he’s had hand surgery at this point or not, but he’s no longer practicing,” Miles said.Miles said the development of true freshman quarterback Russell Shepard has been hindered by the time he missed because of sickness during LSU’s bye week.”It’s affected [Shepard’s] progress certainly,” Miles said. “We’ll be doing similar things we’ve done with him in the past. I don’t know if you’ll notice a huge difference.”LSU allowed just 13 points against No. 1 Florida in its last game before the bye week. The Auburn offense, behind senior running back Ben Tate — the No. 2 rusher in the Southeastern Conference with 856 yards in seven games — ranks in the top three in the SEC in every offensive category.”I’m excited to see how my team matches up against Auburn,” Miles said. “Auburn has a very good rushing attack, and our defense has been keying into that. Our guys enjoy physical football, and that certainly seems to be the style Auburn brings.”Miles said there may be one new face on offense for LSU against Auburn on Saturday — true freshman fullback Dominique Allen, who has not taken a snap this season. Allen, a native of Paris, Tenn., was rated the No. 5 fullback in the nation by Rivals.com.”We’re enjoying the young guy,” Miles said. “The transition from high school to college takes some time. He had to practice better and make sure academics were going well. It would be unusual as a freshman for a guy to understand the intensity with which you play.”On the defensive side, Miles said sophomore cornerback Patrick Peterson is gaining a better and better understanding of “the SEC rigors” in his second year as a Tiger.”He is more comfortable and understands what we expect,” Miles said. “He knows the venues … and is allowing his physicality and enjoyment of the game to come to speed.”Miles said senior Chris Hawkins and junior Jai Eugene will get a mix of playing time at the other cornerback spot this weekend.Miles said he did not know who the referees will be for Saturday’s game. The SEC suspended the referees who officiated the Florida-Arkansas game last weekend in Gainesville, Fla., after some calls were “not up to the standard we expect from our officiating crews,” commissioner Mike Slive said Wednesday in a news release.–Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]