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Texas DT transfer Trill Carter commits to Auburn Auburn adds its second D-line transfer Nathan King5 mins Auburn is adding some size and Power Five experience to its defensive line. Texas defensive tackle transfer Trill Carter has committed to Auburn, he announced on social media Monday, after visiting over the weekend. Auburn's coaching staff has been looking for at least a couple more defensive linemen through the portal to help offset the loss of three-year starter Marcus Harris to the NFL draft. Carter is the second pickup so far, joining Kansas transfer Gage Keys. A veteran defender from the 2019 class, Carter has played in 46 games in his college career between stops at Minnesota and Texas. Carter started 33 games at Minnesota, where he signed as a 3-star recruit from Leesburg, Georgia, about two hours from Auburn. He then transferred to Texas and appeared in every game during the team's run to a Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff berth. At 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, Carter played 65.7 percent of his snaps this season as a 3-tech defensive tackle, and the rest at nose tackle. In his career, Carter has 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception. He had double-digit QB pressures during the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Minnesota from his defensive tackle spot. Carter becomes Auburn's sixth transfer addition this cycle, joining Keys, Maryland tight end Rico Walker, Georgia State receiver Robert Lewis, Cal quarterback-turned-receiver Sam Jackson V, and Duke linebacker Dorian Mausi.

The top-rated recruit in Maryland's 2023 recruiting class, Walker was evaluated by 247Sports as an athlete and an edge rusher, but signed with the Terrapins to play tight end. Rated as the No. 10 athlete in the country in the 247Sports Composite, Walker appeared in eight games as a true freshman this fall, catching four passes. Walker's father, Ricardo, played defensive tackle on the Plains in the '90s and was part of the 1993 undefeated team. Because of that legacy, Walker had interest in Auburn in high school but said he never really considered the Tigers because "I knew the coaching staff wasn't going to be here long."

Three years of eligibility left.

Maryland TE transfer Rico Walker commits to Auburn Auburn lands its fifth transfer of the cycle Nathan King5 mins Auburn has bolstered the future of its tight-end room. The Tigers' fifth transfer addition this cycle is Maryland's Rico Walker, who committed to Auburn after his visit to the Plains last week. The top-rated recruit in Maryland's 2023 recruiting class, Walker was evaluated by 247Sports as an athlete and an edge rusher, but signed with the Terrapins to play tight end. Rated as the No. 10 athlete in the country in the 247Sports Composite, Walker appeared in eight games as a true freshman this fall, catching four passes. At 6-foot-4 and 248 pounds, Walker gives Auburn tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua a high-level athlete to develop and potentially play a role in the offense moving forward — especially after leading pass-catcher Rivaldo Fairweather moves on following his final season of college eligibility in 2024. Walker has three years of eligibility remaining and serves as a somewhat of a retroactive 2023 recruit for the Tigers, considering Auburn has not signed a tight end in either of its last two recruiting classes. Micah Riley will be a redshirt sophomore next season and will also be in line for a bigger role down the road, as sixth-year senior Luke Deal will also play his final college season in 2024. Auburn now has five transfer pickups this cycle: Walker, Cal quarterback-turned-receiver Sam Jackson V, Georgia State receiver Robert Lewis, Kansas defensive lineman Gage Keys and Duke linebacker Dorian Mausi.

Auburn fires offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery Tigers offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery has been fired after one year on Freeze's staff Nathan King22 mins After a highly inconsistent season, Hugh Freeze is making a major change for the Tigers moving into the 2024 offseason. Tigers offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery has been fired after one year on Freeze's staff, the program announced Friday afternoon. “I informed Philip today he would not be retained as our offensive coordinator,” Freeze said in a statement. “Philip is a good coach and a good man. Decisions like this are never easy, however, I decided this is best for our program moving forward. I’m appreciative of his efforts this past year and wish him nothing but the best.” Hired after eight seasons as Tulsa's head coach, Montgomery was Auburn's primary play caller this season, and his marriage with Freeze — along with a laundry list of offensive issues, particularly at quarterback and receiver — led to a headache of a season for the passing game. Montgomery's buyout is hefty: According to a copy of his signed contract provided to Auburn Undercover earlier this season, the 52-year-old coach is owed the full $2 million remainder of his three-year contract, on top of the $1 million he was paid this past season. Montgomery was the only member of Freeze's inaugural assistant staff whose deal did not include a mitigation clause that would offset Auburn's buyout total should he take another job. Simply put, Montgomery was always going to be paid the full amount of his contract, regardless of whether Auburn kept him for all three years. Auburn had the SEC's least efficient offense during a four-game losing streak, as quarterback Payton Thorne and the passing attack struggled mightily to find any consistency running Freeze and Montgomery's run-pass option system. There was a relative breakthrough when the competition level lowered, as Thorne and his supporting cast improved during Auburn's three-game winning streak over Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Arkansas. The Tigers had an unsightly product on offense in two of their last three games of the season, though, scoring just three combined touchdowns in losses to New Mexico State and Maryland. Auburn finished the season with the SEC's least productive passing offense, and second-to-last in the league in QBR and yards per attempt. As an offense overall, the Tigers were No. 11 in the SEC in both yards per play and scoring. Freeze admitted even before the season that giving up play calling to Montgomery was difficult for him, but he felt it was necessary to focus more on recruiting and other aspects of the team. As Auburn's offensive issues mounted, though, Freeze said he became more involved with offensive game-planning, saying in November he "put his foot down" about the direction and blueprint for the offense. Available to the media for the first time all season, Montgomery spoke before the Music City Bowl about working with Freeze and attempting to create a consistent offensive system and game plans. "Any time you're trying to mesh things together, you're always going to come with some hurdles in there," Montgomery said. "There's been some good give and take on that part of it and trying to make sure that we get the best opportunity for our guys to be successful. I think background-wise, we're very, very similar, but then just the way you approach things and the way you look at it obviously can be different. I think we've done a good job of just trying to make those things work. Again, making sure that we're putting the team in front of everything else." Freeze will now have to decide if he wants to hire a play caller again, or if he'd be better served taking full control of the offense and filling Montgomery's spot with just a quarterbacks coach. Auburn will now have at least two new assistant coaches next season, after the Tigers hired Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, an Auburn alum and longtime elite recruiter in the southeast. There was a vacancy on the defensive assistant staff, after cornerbacks coach Wesley McGriff moved off the field midway through the season. McGriff has since taken an on-field job at Texas A&M.

I’m an old Georgia tiger

There’s something to be said about continuity in coaching and I believe there will be improvement on both sides of the ball. They know what CHF wants and he knows what they do well. The players also benefit greatly from this as well.

I used to be married to someone like that! 😂

Even the nest has turned into this .

Why bring the Debbie downer stuff to a recruit thread. C’mon man

Look at that offer list. Wow 🤩

Auburn lands second 2026 commitment from WR Denairius Gray Gray joins offensive lineman Kail Ellis in the 2026 class. Christian Clemente9 mins Auburn continues to build for the future. On New Year's Day, Hugh Freeze got his second commitment for the 2026 recruiting class with wide receiver Denairius Gray out of Chaminade-Madonna (Fla.) choosing the Tigers. He joins offensive lineman Kail Ellis in the class a couple of years out already. Gray visited Auburn twice this season, including a multi-day visit and a trip up for the Iron Bowl. Starting his high school career at Somerset Academy (Fla.), the 6-foot-2, 178-pound Gray caught 56 passes for 752 yards and 14 touchdowns while also totaling 42 tackles as a safety on defense and an interception. Playing at Chaminade-Madonna as a sophomore, Gray caught 25 passes for 372 yards and 11 touchdowns while playing alongside 5-star Ohio State signee Jeremiah Smith and Miami signee Jojo Trader. From Hollywood (Fla.), it's another win for Auburn wide receivers coach Marcus Daviswho continues to work on reshaping the wide receiver room. Davis is originally from Boynton Beach (Fla.), going back to near his home for his newest commitment. “I have a good relationship with him,” Gray said after his first visit this fall. “He’s from where I’m from, from Boynton. He could teach me a lot because he came from where I’m from. I could learn a lot from him.” Gray also held offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, NC State, Pitt, UCF, Texas A&M, West Virginia and plenty of other Group of Five programs. In the 2026 class, USC leads the way with four commitments, while Florida State has three behind them. Auburn's two commitments is No. 3 in the country.

Can’t say it’s a surprise. Hopefully it means JH is definitely coming back.

Auburn RB Brian Battie enters the transfer portal Brian Battie is on the move after one year on the Plains. Christian Clemente15 mins After one year on the Plains, running back Brian Battie is back on the move. Transferring to Auburn from USF ahead of the 2023 season, Battie re-entered the transfer portal on Monday, 247Sports has learned. Battie spent three seasons at USF prior to his one year at Auburn, entering the portal with one year of eligibility. An All-American kick returner during his time at USF, Battie joined a loaded running back room spearheaded by Jarquez Hunter, with Damari Alston right behind him. Battie worked as the third running back for the team, carrying the ball 51 times for 227 yards and a touchdown during the season, also catching seven passes for 52 yards. As the lead back for USF in 2022, the 5-foot-7 Battie ran for 1,186 yards and eight touchdowns. While Hunter has not made an official decision on whether or not he'll enter the 2024 NFL Draft, he's currently expected to return. Alston will be entering his third year in the program, while promising young back Jeremiah Cobb will be going into his sophomore season. Walk-on running back Sean Jackson has also gotten some run, highly regarded by the coaching staff. Auburn did not take a running back in the 2024 recruiting cycle. Battie is the 13th Auburn player to enter the transfer portal for Auburn in the 2024 cycle and the first player to enter since the Music City Bowl loss. You can follow all of Auburn's movement in the transfer portal HERE.

Colorado DC Charles Kelly set to join Auburn coaching staff The Colorado defensive coordinator is leaving Deion Sanders' staff to return to his alma mater Nathan King5 mins Charles Kelly is coming home. The Colorado defensive coordinator is leaving Deion Sanders' staff to return to his alma mater as a co-defensive coordinator and assistant coach, Auburn Undercover was informed Saturday morning. An official announcement is expected as early as Saturday evening. An Auburn alum, Kelly was on Alabama's staff as co-DC and safeties coach from 2019-22 before he was hired at Colorado last offseason. He was in the running for Auburn's defensive coordinator job on Hugh Freeze's staff last year. Auburn cornerbacks coach Wesley McGriff moved off the field midway through the 2023 season, and special teams coordinator Tanner Burns took his spot, which will now go to Kelly, who will coach the secondary with Zac Etheridge. Kelly's first FBS job came in 2006 as special teams coordinator at Georgia Tech, where he spent the next seven years. He won a national title at Florida State in 2013 and was promoted to defensive coordinator the next year. Kelley spent one year at Tennessee in 2018 as special teams coordinator. Regarded as one of the best recruiters in the country, Kelly has been a primary recruiter for nine 5-stars in his career. He was last year's national recruiter of the year by 247Sports.

Turf monster was always close by it seemed.

Maryland TE transfer Rico Walker to officially visit Auburn JD McCarthy (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) Auburn is looking to add a young tight end out of the transfer portal and a new target has emerged in rico walker. He played in eight games as a freshman for Maryland before deciding to enter the portal and picking up an offer from Auburn. With three more seasons of eligibility, he has the youth that Ben Aigamaua is trying to add to a room full of veterans. That interest is mutual as Walker will officially visit Auburn on Jan. 3, according to On3’s Jeffrey Lee. Auburn recruited Walker out of high school and was a finalist for the Hickory, North Carolina product before he committed to North Carolina but ultimately signed with the Terrapins. His father, Ricardo, played defensive tackle for Auburn in the 1990s. The 6-foot-4, 248-pounder was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and was recruited as both a tight end and edge rusher before ultimately settling on the offensive side of the ball for the Terrapins. He caught four passes for 27 yards.

Auburn among schools interested in Miami (OH) wide receiver Gage Larvadain Taylor Jones Auburn has gotten lucky with reeling in several talented wide receivers for the 2024 roster and it appears they are not finished boosting the room. According to Pete Nakos of On3 ($), Auburn is one of nine Power Five programs that have reached out to Miami (OH) wide receiver Gage Larvadain. Other schools that have communicated with Larvadain include Baylor, Duke, and South Carolina. Larvadain started his career at Southeastern Louisiana and played for the Lions for two seasons before transferring to Miami. He has found success at every stop. He concluded his junior season with 1,983 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 138 receptions. His best season was his sophomore season at Southeastern Louisiana, where he made 59 catches for 731 yards. However, his junior year at Miami was just as impressive. His 679 receiving yards were the second-best in the MAC, trailing Western Michigan’s Kenneth Womack, who logged 691 receiving yards this season. Auburn has signed two transfer wide receiver so far during this window that is set to close on Jan. 2. Robert Lewis, formerly of Georgia State, joins Auburn after recording 102 catches for 1,323 yards and 13 touchdowns in three collegiate seasons. The Tigers also landed former Cal quarterback Sam Jackson V, who will look to rekindle magic with high school teammate Payton Thorne as a wide receiver.

Kiffin wants to win now and get himself to a better gig. He doesn’t care what happens in the long term at Ole Miss

This! Once you get highly rated players in a several year span it can become self perpetuating to a degree, but not without development and NFL drafts.