Work in the transfer portal isn't over

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Auburn Morning Rush: Auburn's work in the transfer portal isn't over

JD McCarthy

4-5 minutes

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Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

Bryan Harsin identified the three positions that Auburn needs to address through the transfer portal when speaking at Auburn’s “AMBUSH” alumni event in Montgomery Tuesday night.

“In our back end, D-line, wide receiver position, those are still areas that we’re looking right now at all the guys that are in the portal,” Harsin told Bennett Durando of the Montgomery Advertiser. “You just look at numbers, purely. Those are areas that we can bring in some depth.”

Kobe Hudson was Auburn’s leading receiver last year but entered the transfer portal after being kicked off the team. Demetris Robertson is now attempting to make a career in the NFL.

Auburn has not landed a wide receiver transfer yet but did sign four-star athlete Omari Kelly, three-star wide receiver Camden Brown, and three-star wide receiver Jay Fair in the 2022 recruiting class.

Along the defensive line, Auburn is returning multiple starters but lacks depth at edge. The Tigers have just three scholarship players at edge in Derick Hall, Eku Leota, and Dylan Brooks.

Auburn has plenty of turnover in the secondary. Roger McCreary, Smoke Monday, Bydarrius Knighten are all off to the NFL and Dreshun Miller has reentered the transfer portal.

The Tigers have experienced options at corner in Jaylin Simpson, Nehemiah Pritchett, and D.J. James.

At safety, Auburn has few proven options. Zion Puckett missed the spring with an injury and the Tigers were forced to turn to three-star freshman Caleb Wooden and sophomore Cayden Bridges. JUCO transfer Marquise Gilbert is coming but Auburn could use more depth.

(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Bri Ellis is having a freshman season for the record books.

The first baseman led Auburn with a .500 batting average and had five RBI in four games and was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, the league announced.

She helped lead Auburn to a 3-1 record and a series win over Georgia for the first time since 2017. The Houston, Texas native stroked two doubles and a triple to raise her slugging percentage to .791. She finished the week 5-for-10 and scored two runs.

Her five RBI increased her season total to 44, the second-most ever by a Tiger freshman. Her 18 home runs are tied for the most by a freshman in program history and are the second-most in the SEC.

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The trio of Tyler Stice, Tad Maclean, and Finn Murgett will represent Auburn in the NCAA individual championships for men’s tennis. Stice will compete in the 64-man singles field while MacLean and Murgett qualified for the 32-team doubles field.

Stice, a two-time first-team All-SEC performer, is ranked No. 22 and has a 14-9 record.

Maclean and Murgett, who finished second in the 2021 doubles tournament, received a No. 5-8 seed for this year’s tournament, making them All-Americans in the last two seasons. They rank 10th nationally with a 17-5 overall record, they are 10-2 in the SEC.

Both competitions will take place May 23-28 at the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex in Champaign Illinois. It will take place after the team championship, from May 19-22.

The men’s team will face Texas Tech Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

(Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

Selin Ovunc will be pulling double duty at the individual tennis championships. She was selected for the singles field and along with Ariana Arseneault will also be competing in the doubles field.

It will be Ovunc’s second straight appearance in the NCAA tournament, the junior advanced to the Round of 16 last season. She has a 10-11 record and made the All-SEC first team.

The pairing of Ovunc and Arseneault has had a great season. They have a 13-5 overall record and are 9-1 in SEC play and are ranked No. 10 in the nation.

The women’s team will host Jackson State, Georgia Tech, and Memphis to open the NCAA Tournament. They will face Jackson State Friday at 1 p.m. CT.