Departures and Additions 2021-22 Postseason

[Zeek 16,657]

On 11/28/2021 at 9:42 AM, Zeek said:

Quarterback

Outgoing:

• Bo Nix -> transferred to Oregon
• Grant Loy -> exhausted eligibility

Incoming:

• 4* Holden Geriner -> 2022 signee

Current Scholarship Players:

• TJ Finley
• Dematrius Davis
• Holden Geriner

The staff is looking to add one transfer QB to the roster. Zach Calzada, Caleb Williams, and a few others have been mentioned as possible targets.

Running Back

Outgoing:

• Shaun "Worm" Shivers -> transferred to Indiana

Incoming:

• 4* Damari Alston -> 2022 signee

Current Scholarship Players:

• Tank Bigsby
• Jarquez Hunter
• Jordon Ingram
• Damari Alston

The staff might add another RB either from the 2022 class or the transfer portal. 2022 4* TreVonte Citizen is the primary target at this moment in time.

Wide Receiver

Outgoing:

• Kobe Hudson -> dismissed from the program
• Elijah Canion -> transferred to Purdue
• Demetris Robertson -> exhausted eligibility
• Caylin Newton -> exhausted eligibility

Incoming:

• 4* Omari Kelly -> 2022 signee
• 3* Camden Brown -> 2022 signee
• 3* Jay Fair -> 2022 signee

Current Scholarship Players:

• Shedrick Jackson
• Ze'Vian Capers
• Ja'Varrius Johnson
• Malcolm Johnson Jr.
• J.J. Evans 
• Tar'Varish Dawson
• Omari Kelly
• Camden Brown
• Jay Fair

The staff is looking for a transfer WR to add to the 2022 class. If the right guy were to jump in the boat we might even take two. There are half a dozen names mentioned as being targets but none seem serious yet.

Tight End

Outgoing:

N/A

Incoming:

• 3* Micah Riley-Ducker -> 2022 signee

Current Scholarship Players:

• John Samuel Shenker
• Luke Deal
• Tyler Fromm
• Brandon Frazier
• Landen King
• Micah Riley-Ducker

Funny enough at one point the staff was pursuing yet another TE. Shenker returning has alleviated the desire to do so from what I can tell. MRD is one of my favorite additions from this recruiting class.

Offensive Line

Outgoing:

• Brodarious Hamm -> declared for the NFL Draft
• Brandon Council -> exhausted eligibility
• Tashawn Manning -> transferred to Kentucky

Incoming:

• 3* OT Eston Harris -> 2022 signee

Unknown (could use COVID-19 year of eligibility):

• Nick Brahms
• Austin Troxell
• Alec Jackson

Current Scholarship Players:

• Kilian Zierer
• Brenden Coffey
• Kam Stutts
• Jalil Irvin
• Keiondre Jones
• Avery Jernigan
• Tate Johnson
• Colby Smith
• Garner Langlo
• Eston Harris

The staff is wanting to add 2-3, and possibly even 4 if they could get that many, from the portal. We are currently offering almost every starting lineman in the portal and a number of them were all conference players. We have made some headway with at least two of them so far.

Defensive Line

Outgoing:

• Tony Fair -> exhausted eligibility
• Dre Butler -> entered the transfer portal

Incoming:

• 4* Jayson Jones -> transferred from Oregon
• 4* Jeffrey M'ba -> transferred from Independence C.C.
• 3* Enyce Sledge -> 2022 signee

Current Players on Scholarship:

• Marquis Burks
• Colby Wooden
• Marcus Harris
• JJ Pegues
• Zykeivous Walker
• Jayson Jones
• Jeremiah Wright
• Daniel Foster-Allen
• Jeffrey M'ba
• Lee Hunter
• Marquis Robinson
• Tobechi Okoli
• Ian Matthews
• Enyce Sledge

One thing to watch here is 4* Caden Story. He is still committed to Auburn but it's widely believed at this point that Auburn has moved on from him. Jayson Jones is likely his replacement; other than an edge rusher I think we're done at this position.

Edge Rusher

Outgoing:

• T.D. Moultry -> exhausted eligibility
• Caleb Johnson -> entered the transfer portal

Incoming:

• 3* Powell Gordon -> 2022 signee listed as a LB but likely will transition into an edge rusher.

Current Scholarship Players:

• Derick Hall
• Eku Leota
• Romello Height
• Dylan Brooks

Linebacker

Outgoing:

• Zakoby McClain -> declared for the NFL Draft
• Chandler Wooten -> exhausted eligibility

Incoming:

• 4* Robert Woodyard -> 2022 signee that may take some time to recover from a surgery he had senior year of high school.

Current Scholarship Players:

• Owen Pappoe
• Cam Riley
• Kam Brown
• Wesley Steiner
• Desmond Tisdol
• Joko Willis
• Robert Woodyard

The staff is being patient but definitely plans on adding a linebacker through the portal to add some experience. However, we also appear to feel really positive about the development of our current guys on the roster.

Cornerback

Outgoing:

• Dreshun Miller -> entered the transfer portal
• Roger McCreary -> declared for the NFL Draft
• Malcolm Askew -> exhausted eligibility

Incoming:

• 4* Austin Ausberry -> 2022 signee
• 4* JaDarian Rhym -> 2022 signee
• 4* Keionte Scott -> transferred from Snow College

Current Scholarship Players:

• Nehemiah Pritchett
• Jaylin Simpson
• Ro Torrence
• Eric Reed Jr.
• A.D. Diamond
• Keionte Scott
• Austin Ausberry
• JaDarian Rhym

Wouldn't be surprised to see the staff add DJ James who started at the boundary position for Oregon this past year. Ausberry, Rhym, and Scott will all contribute right away. Coach Etheridge deserves some love for this recruiting class.

Safety

Outgoing:

• Smoke Monday -> declared for the NFL Draft
• Bydarrius Knighten -> exhausted eligibility
• Ahmari Harvey -> entered the transfer portal
• Ladarius Tennison -> transferred to Ole Miss

Incoming:

• 3* Caleb Wooden -> 2022 signee
• 3* Marquise Gilbert -> JuCo transfer

Current Scholarship Players:

• Zion Puckett
• Donovan Kaufman
• Marquise Gilbert
• Cayden Bridges
• Caleb Wooden

The first three listed are expected to see the bulk of playing time this season. I would be somewhat surprised if we don't add another safety for depth but there hasn't been any smoke around the position (pun somewhat intended). Gilbert is expected to fight Kaufman for the starting job.

Specialists

Outgoing:

N/A

Incoming:

• 3* Alex McPherson -> 2022 signee

Current Scholarship Players:

• Anders Carlson (Kicker)
• Oscar Chapman (Punter)
• Alex McPherson (Kicker)

This will be something to watch going forward. Carlson will be returning from an injury to compete with a true freshman who just finished high school rated as the #1 kicker. It might not be as much of a lock as some think.

 

Major update and reformatted to read a little better on here.

[WarEagleHunter1221 1,690]

Eric Reed Jr. went to the portal today. 

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

32 minutes ago, WarEagleHunter1221 said:

Eric Reed Jr. went to the portal today. 

Man that is one that surprises me. Not him entering the portal so much, but rather his inability to get on the field here at AU. I remember when we snagged him in that class I was so stoked. Thought he was a huge get and he just hasn't seemed to be able to make it click. We have had walk ons pass him by on the Chart.

[WarEagleHunter1221 1,690]

1 hour ago, Tigerpro2a said:

Man that is one that surprises me. Not him entering the portal so much, but rather his inability to get on the field here at AU. I remember when we snagged him in that class I was so stoked. Thought he was a huge get and he just hasn't seemed to be able to make it click. We have had walk ons pass him by on the Chart.

Just goes to show that stars don’t necessarily equate future success. Got to be coupled with the right system, right attitudes, and right coaches. (Not saying he didn’t have these, just making a general statement) 

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

9 minutes ago, WarEagleHunter1221 said:

Just goes to show that stars don’t necessarily equate future success. Got to be coupled with the right system, right attitudes, and right coaches. (Not saying he didn’t have these, just making a general statement) 

The fact he couldn't crack through on 2 different staff is shocking to me. I hope he does well wherever he goes. 

 

[tbone4jc 2,241]

I see now why we went after so many DB's again this year!

 

 

 

 

[au302 2,669]

Mason and Etheridge basically ran the whole room they inherited off besides a few lol. He's like the fifth one at least

[AUwent 3,754]

1 hour ago, au302 said:

Mason and Etheridge basically ran the whole room they inherited off besides a few lol. He's like the fifth one at least

Luckily, it seems they've restocked well, and the future therefore looks bright on defense.

Edited January 11, 2022 by AUwent

[bigbird 60,564]

8 hours ago, WarEagleHunter1221 said:

Eric Reed Jr. went to the portal today. 

I hated to hear about him leaving. 

[Zeek 16,657]

Moved Eric Reed Jr.to the transfer portal.

DJ James from Oregon is becoming increasingly more of a need in this class.

[weagl1 1,785]

It looks like to me recruiting the portal is going to be equally important as recruiting the high schools in the future, especially after a change in coaching staffs.  

[augolf1716 21,207]

31 minutes ago, weagl1 said:

It looks like to me recruiting the portal is going to be equally important as recruiting the high schools in the future,

Absolutely will be

[McLoofus 35,182]

34 minutes ago, weagl1 said:

It looks like to me recruiting the portal is going to be equally important as recruiting the high schools in the future, especially after a change in coaching staffs.  

 

3 minutes ago, augolf1716 said:

Absolutely will be

Especially since the coaches are using it in the opposite direction, too. 

[W.E.D 11,070]

41 minutes ago, weagl1 said:

It looks like to me recruiting the portal is going to be equally important as recruiting the high schools in the future, especially after a change in coaching staffs.  

I'm kinda surprised we haven't been able to add more in the last month 

Most ppl had heard/assumed we'd have a smallish HS class (22) and add 8-10 kids in the protal to get to 32. We're only at 2 right now (I think) and gave a week before classes close to fill that yhe most of the way out.

We can add kids this summer, but just like EEs we need/want these kids on campus for Spring. 

We apparently had like 30 visitors last weekend and this weekend is another big one, I believe. Not a lot of new or interviews from the recruiting sites yet.

CB from Oregon

Edge, idk. Bama transfer would be amazing, bur probably back to Tx/PU

3 OL (Cornell kid is summer). ULL IOL and WKU kid

LB Maybe the Pitt kid?

WR, ULL kid

Hopefully we can get that filled pit this week and we've got a stew going 

[Tony4AU 386]

Hudson to UCF

[Paladin 3,305]

 

[Tony4AU 386]

Eric Reed withdraws from the portal

[auburnphan 6,050]

39 minutes ago, Tony4AU said:

Eric Reed withdraws from the portal

this makes me happy

[maryland tiger 616]

This is great news! 

[Zeek 16,657]

I have to say the departures will get all the attention but keeping Tank, Carlson, Shenker, Troxell, Brahms, Reed, and a few others that were thinking about transferring or going pro has been a huge win by this staff.

[boisnumber1 2,819]

22 hours ago, Tony4AU said:

Hudson to UCF

Gee, who saw that coming 😂

[Paladin 3,305]

 

[WarEagleHunter1221 1,690]

31 minutes ago, Paladin said:

 

I really hate this. I felt like he could be a major contributor. Plus we ain’t got that many edge guys. 

[autigeremt 6,643]

Good ole portal. 

[cbo 7,854]

I try to be patient and don't want to add to the negativity here, but I am getting concerned about the lack of offensive talent we are bringing in. Vast majority agree we need a major talent upgrade on that side of the ball. 

We lost Bo, Worm, Kobe, Canion, Robertson, Manning, Council, and Hamm. I'm not devastated to see some of them go, but that is a chunk of talent overall. We did have huge wins in keeping Tank and Shenker. 

So far, we brought in Calzada. Am I missing anyone else?

We only have 7 2022 commits on offense. Probably only a couple that will contribute much next year. I'm not hearing much about impact 2022 guys that are still in play, but I could be missing something. 

Seems like we are in good shape with the ULL WR who the staff likes. Sounds like the top 3 OL transfers are far from a sure thing. Anyone know anything else here?

I know there will be many more transfers that become available, the staff wants to find the right guys, etc. But at some point we need to bring in some bodies on the O. This crazy year seems like the perfect time to quickly overhaul the roster.