OL Avery Jones to AU!

[PigskinPat 2,579]

It’s almost like we need OL and Freeze is actually doing something about it! 😂

Edited January 10, 2023 by PigskinPat

[toddc 13,194]

BREAKING: Auburn lands East Carolina center transfer Avery Jones

30 minutes ago

Avery Jones was set to spend his final season at Illinois after transferring from East Carolina, instead he'll spend it at Auburn after announcing his commitment on Tuesday.

The center who started every game for the Pirates in 2022 has one year of eligibility remaining.

Originally a 4-star recruit in the Class of 2018, Jones started his career at North Carolina. Jones was rated as the No. 144 player and No. 4 guard by 247Sports. In the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, Jones was the No. 285 player and the No. 13 guard.

Jones transferred to East Carolina and became a workhorse along the inside of the offensive line for the Pirates from 2020 onward.

Starting his ECU career as a guard in 2020, Jones started in eight of nine games. Jones moved to center ahead of the 2021 season and started in 11 of their 12 games, playing 874 snaps and earning a PFF grade of 59.6. In the 2022 season, Jones played every game at center, grading out with a mark of 63.2, but excelling as a pass blocker with a grade of 76.9. Jones led the team with 852 snaps this past offseason.

As a graduate transfer, Jones is listed by East Carolina at 6-foot-4, 290 pounds. Jones is the third transfer addition to Auburn's offensive line, joining former Western Kentucky tackle Gunner Britton and former Tulsa tackle Dillon Wade. It's an impressive haul for Jake Thornton and Hugh Freeze, restocking an offensive line room that was in desperate need of immediate help.

Overall, Jones marks transfer addition No. 10 for Auburn this portal cycle, with still plenty more needs to fill. That includes offensive line, as Auburn is still in pursuit of adding another guard and potentially another offensive tackle, too.

Entering the transfer portal on Dec. 8, Jones committed to Illinois a few days later on Dec. 12. Just over a month later, Jones now finds himself an Auburn commit. 

12COMMENTS

From the 2022 roster, Tate Johnson returns after starting the season at center before a season-ending injury. Johnson, along with incoming freshmen Connor Lew and Bradyn Joiner make up the current center room, with Jones now on the way.

Jones is originally from Havelock, North Carolina and graduated in December with a degree in communication. 

Auburn Undercover will continue to update this story.

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by toddc

[toddc 13,194]

We have our center, now  let’s get that qb baby! War Eagle 🦅 

[bigbird 60,533]

Huge!!!

BB wanted him badly too, which makes it even sweater. 

This was a good win for the staff 

[bigbird 60,533]

4 minutes ago, PigskinPat said:

It’s almost like we need OL

[KansasTiger 3,248]

I wasn't tracking this one. Does this mean for sure we're not getting the Baylor transfer OL? I was already assuming that, just wondering if the two were connected at all.

Edited January 10, 2023 by KansasTiger

[AUBwins 10,075]

4 minutes ago, bigbird said:

Huge!!!

BB wanted him badly too, which makes it even sweater. 

This was a good win for the staff 

And we know how BB evaluates the line.  Big time get!

[W.E.D 11,070]

Seems like he was expected to be an immediate starter for Illinois 

 

https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2022/12/13/23506668/commit-ecu-transfer-iol-avery-jones-commits-to-illinois-fighting-illini-football-ecu-aac-big-ten

[W.E.D 11,070]

Just now, KansasTiger said:

I wasn't tracking this one. Does this mean for sure we're not getting the Baylor transfer OL? I was already assuming that, just wondering if the two were connected at all.

Different positions.  This is our center. 

[bigbird 60,533]

1 minute ago, W.E.D said:

Seems like he was expected to be an immediate starter for Illinois 

 

https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2022/12/13/23506668/commit-ecu-transfer-iol-avery-jones-commits-to-illinois-fighting-illini-football-ecu-aac-big-ten

He was.  BB was really high on him

[bigbird 60,533]

2 minutes ago, KansasTiger said:

I wasn't tracking this one. Does this mean for sure we're not getting the Baylor transfer OL? I was already assuming that, just wondering if the two were connected at all.

No, Mazz will play guard 

[Quietmaninthecorner 1,945]

[Randman5000 4,229]

12 minutes ago, bigbird said:

No, Mazz will play guard 

Doesn't this mean we're not getting Mazz 

[toddc 13,194]

1 minute ago, Randman5000 said:

Doesn't this mean we're not getting Mazz 

I think he projected at the guard position 

[bigbird 60,533]

2 minutes ago, Randman5000 said:

Doesn't this mean we're not getting Mazz 

No. We're trying to get both 

[AUinMS9528 1,086]

This is AUsome!!!!   We needed an upgrade at C!   Hoping we pull off an even bigger upset and land the big OG from Baylor!!!🤞

[woodford 3,656]

Damn!!! This is awesome. What a steal. Let’s keep it rolling. WDE. 

[AuburnNTexas 7,149]

23 minutes ago, AUinMS9528 said:

This is AUsome!!!!   We needed an upgrade at C!   Hoping we pull off an even bigger upset and land the big OG from Baylor!!!🤞

If we don't get Mazzccua I think George from bama is still a possible option.

[Hamma 62]

[W.E.D 11,070]

38 minutes ago, AuburnNTexas said:

If we don't get Mazzccua I think George from bama is still a possible option.

That guy is like 6'7.  He really gonna play guard? 

[bigbird 60,533]

54 minutes ago, AuburnNTexas said:

If we don't get Mazzccua I think George from bama is still a possible option.

No, we've moved on. He showed up way too heavy, almost 370. Probably will end up at OM

[ellitor 33,093]

16 minutes ago, W.E.D said:

That guy is like 6'7.  He really gonna play guard? 

If you are referring to George while he wants to be an OT a number of teams apparently see his game as an OG.

[AU Is Gold 410]

This is pretty trashy by Bielema.

 

[gr82b4au 5,568]

Yep he is bitter. 
So supposedly, this player showed up Sunday and his visit was kept on the down low because he was committed to Illinois. 

[Quietmaninthecorner 1,945]

24 minutes ago, bigbird said:

  almost 370. 

370!!!!!   WTH?   I'd bring him in as a nutritionist for Brown  and Battie.

Edited January 10, 2023 by Quietmaninthecorner