9.6.23 Football Articles

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247sports.com

 

Auburn opponent preview Explosive Cal offense a challenge for Tigers

Jason Caldwell

4–5 minutes

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Scoring 58 points and racking up 669 yards of total offense in last week’s win over North Texas, the Cal Bears present the Auburn defense a huge challenge and it starts with speedy running back Jadyn Ott and a talented running back group that includes Montana State transfer Isaiah Ifanse. 

Carrying the ball 20 times for 188 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s opening win over North Texas, the 6-0, 200 Ott ran for 897 yards and eight touchdowns last year as a true freshman. Ifanse had 10 carries for 54 yards and three touchdowns in his first game with the Bears after finishing as the all-time leading rusher in Montana State history with 3,742 yards rushing.

“Offensively, they're extremely scary,” Freeze said, “That tailback is, he's one of the best ones I've seen. Obviously they had 670 yards, I think it was, last week. Go fast. They got about 100 plays in the game.

“Just hand it to him,” he added of Ott. “It ain’t like they have to create some special deal. Just run inside zone or outside zone or counter with him. If it’s semi-blocked well, he’s a handful. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s got great vision. He’s really, really talented.”

This is a Cal offense that can beat you in a lot of different ways and that showed up last week when starting quarterback Sam Jackson (5-11, 195) went out with a shoulder injury early in the second quarter. Coming in to replace him, 6-3, 195 Ben Finley went off in the passing game, completing 24-34 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown with one interception. With Jackson questionable for Saturday’s game, Auburn will have to prepare for both quarterbacks and two very different types of players.

Junior Jeremiah Hunter (6-2, 200) led the way with six catches for 64 yards and a touchdowns last week and comes into Saturday night’s game with more than 80 career receptions and over 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. Veteran Monroe Young (6-1, 205) caught four passes for 63 yards in the opener and has 33 career catches in his fifth season with the program.

Much like Jackson, starting center Matthew Cindric left the opening game with an injury and is also considered questionable for Saturday night’s game. The good news for the Cal offense is that 6-4, 320 redshirt junior guard Brian Driscoll slid over in the role and played well enough to earn Pac-12 offensive lineman of the week honors. The team leader in career games played and starts, the 6-4, 295 Cindric is a key for this team and would be missed if he can’t go against Auburn.

Rounding out the starting offensive line group for the Bears are 6-5, 310 Barrett Miller at left tackle, 6-4, 305 redshirt junior T.J. Session at right tackle and 6-4, 320 sophomore Sioape Vatikani at the other guard spot. A transfer from Stanford, Miller started 30 games in his career at guard for the Cardinal before making the move to tackle this season.

OFFENSE

WR (X)

 3 Jeremiah Hunter 6-2 200 Jr.^

85 Marquis Montgomery 6-4 220 Jr.^

84 Jaiven Plummer 6-3 210 R-Fr.

LT 

62 Barrett Miller 6-5 310 Sr.

63 Brayden Rohme 6-6 290 R-Jr.^

52 Nick Morrow 6-8 300 Fr.

- or - 54 Frederick Williams III 6-5 285 Fr.

LG 

60 Brian Driscoll 6-4 320 R-Jr.^

74 Matthew Wykoff 6-6 325 R-So.

77 Everett Johnson 6-7 300 Jr.^

C 

73 Matthew Cindric 6-4 295 R-Sr.^

78 Dashaun Harris 6-2 305 R-Fr.

65 Dylan Jemtegaard 6-4 295 R-So.

RG 

71 Sioape Vatikani 6-4 320 So.

76 Bastian Swinney 6-6 290 R-So.

68 Trent Ramsey 6-5 295 R-Fr.

RT 

72 T.J. Session 6-4 305 R-Jr.^

79 Ender Aguilar 6-5 295 R-So.^

70 Martin Tine 6-6 310 Jr.^

TE 

87 Jack Endries 6-4 230 R-Fr.

89 Asher Alberding 6-4 255 R-Jr.^

88 J.T. Byrne 6-5 250 R-So.

- or - 86 Jeffrey Johnson 6-5 250 R-So.

QB 

5 Sam Jackson V 5-11 195 R-So.

10 Ben Finley 6-3 195 R-So.^

- or - 15 Fernando Mendoza 6-5 220 R-Fr.

RB 

1 Jaydn Ott 6-0 200 So.

22 Isaiah Ifanse 5-9 205 R-Sr.^

- or - 31 Ashton Stredick 5-9 200 R-So.^

25 Jaivian Thomas 5-10 175 Fr.

33 Dean-Taylor Chapman 5-9 175 Fr.

FB 

34 Andy Alfieri 6-3 245 R-So.^

SLOT 

14 Monroe Young 6-1 205 R-Sr.^

11 Mavin Anderson 6-0 195 R-So.

- or - 80 Jordan King 6-2 205 R-Fr.

16 Mason Mangum 5-11 185 R-So.^

WR 

(Z) 83 Trond Grizzell 6-4 200 R-So. 

- or - 7 Brian Hightower 6-3 215 R-Sr.

- or - 9 Taj Davis 6-1 205 R-Jr.^

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yahoo.com

 

Auburn releases depth chart for Week 2 matchup with Cal

JD McCarthyWed, September 6, 2023 at 8:00 AM CDT·3 min read0Link Copied

~4 minutes

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Auburn has revealed its depth chart for the second week of the season and it is unchanged from their Week 1 depth chart.

One of the biggest questions surrounding Auburn football is the status of running back Jarquez Hunter who did not play in Week 1. While the Tigers did not need him against UMass, they are facing a tougher team in the Cal Golden Bears and a player of Hunter’s caliber could be the difference between Auburn winning and losing. He is once again listed as Auburn’s starting running back on the depth chart but that is not confirmation that he will take the field Saturday.

Hugh Freeze and Co. were able to play nearly everyone on the depth chart last week as Auburn took control of the game in the second quarter. The game against Cal could be the first time the Tigers use a tighter rotation.

Here is a look at the full depth chart for the game.

Quarterback

 

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

 

Starter: Payton Thorne

Backups: Robby Ashford OR Holden Geriner

Running Back

 

(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

 

Starter: Jarquez Hunter

Backups: Damari Alston, Brian Battie

Tight End

 

Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

 

Starter: Rivaldo Fairweather OR Luke Deal

Backups: Tyler Fromm OR Brandon Frazier, Micah Riley

Wide Receiver

 

Zach Bland / Auburn Tigers

 

Starter:  Jyaire Shorter OR Omari Kelly

Backups: Koy Moore

Wide Receiver

 

Photo by Jamie Holt/Auburn Tigers

 

Starter: Jay Fair OR Ja’Varrius Johnson

Backups: Caleb Burton III

Wide Receiver

 

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

 

Starter: Shane Hooks

Backups: Camden Brown OR Nick Mardner

Left Tackle

 

Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

 

Starter: Dillon Wade

Backup: Jaden Muskrat

Left Guard

 

Photo By Austin Perryman

 

Starter: Jeremiah Wright

Backup: Tate Johnson

Center

 

Photo by Austin Perryman

 

Starter: Avery Jones

Backup: Connor Lew

Right Guard

 

Photo by Jamie Holt /Auburn Tigers

 

Starter: Kam Stutts

Backup: Jalil Irvin

Right Tackle

 

Austin Perryman/Auburn Athletics

 

Starter: Gunner Britton

Backup: Izavion Miller

Defensive End

 

Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

 

Starter: Mosiah Nasili-Kite

Backups: Keldric Faulk OR Zykevious Walker

Nose Tackle

 

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

 

Starter: Jayson Jones

Backup: Justin Rogers

Defensive Tackle

 

(Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)

 

Starter: Marcus Harris

Backup: Lawrence Johnson

Jack

 

© Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

 

Starter: Elijah McAllister

Backups: Stephen Sings V OR Jalen McLeod

Middel Linebacker

 

Grayson Belanger/AU Athletics

 

Starter: Austin Keys

Backups: Larry Nixon III, Wesley Steiner

Weakside Linebacker

 

© Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

 

Starter: Cam Riley

Backup: Eugene Asante

Fieldside Cornerback

 

(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

 

Starter: D.J. James

Backups: Kayin Lee OR Colton Hood

Star

 

Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

 

Starter: Keionte Scott

Backup: Donovan Kaufman

Field Safety

 

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

 

Starter: Jaylin Simpson

Backup: Griffin Speaks

Weak Safety

 

(AP Photo/Stew Milne)

 

Starter: Zion Puckett

Backups: Marquise Gilbert, Terrance Love

Boundary Cornerback

 

(AP Photo/Stew Milne)

 

Starter: Nehemiah Pritchett

Backups: Champ Anthony OR J.D. Rhym

Punt Returner

 

Photo by Austin Perryman/Auburn Tigers

 

Starter: Keionte Scott

Backup: Caleb Burton III

Kick Returner

 

(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

 

Starters: Brian Battie, Jarquez Hunter

Special Teams

 

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

 

Punter: Oscar Chapman

Place Kicker: Alex McPherson

Holder: Oscar Chapman

Long Snapper: Reed Hughes

Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

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al.com

 

Auburn, Hugh Freeze preparing for every piece of Cal’s ‘very, very explosive offense’

Published: Sep. 06, 2023, 1:31 p.m.

4–5 minutes

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Auburn coach Hugh Freeze previews Cal week

Auburn first-year head coach Hugh Freeze knows Saturday’s game against Cal will be a challenge.

That challenge starts on Thursday as he and the Tigers pile onto a plane for a 4.5-hour ride over to Berkeley, arriving late Thursday night.

Once Saturday’s late-night kickoff was scheduled, Freeze tried to change Auburn’s itinerary and leave The Plains on Friday. However, the plane had already been set to be used by an NFL team, Freeze said during the SEC teleconference Wednesday afternoon.

“We’re going to go as late as they would allow on Thursday,” Freeze said. “And try to get there fairly late in hopes that we can sleep in a little bit on Friday with the body on Central Time. Don’t know if that’s right, but that’s our plan.”

Adjusting to the time difference and shaking off a hefty day of traveling is just half the battle, however.

Come Saturday night, Freeze knows his team will be lacing it up against a much stouter opponent than the Tigers did in Week 1 against UMass.

“We will be certainly tested with this trip to Cal, who has a very, very explosive offense and very, very solid defense,” Freeze said.

The Cal Golden Bears are set to return home to Memorial Stadium on Saturday after beating North Texas on the road 58-21.

In their win last week, the Golden Bears’ offense totaled 669 yards of offense with a balanced approach that saw Cal rush for 357 yards and pass for 312.

“Offensively, they’re really scary, Freeze said of the Golden Bears in his press conference Monday. “The tailback, he’s one of the best ones I’ve seen.”

The tailback Freeze was referring to is Cal sophomore Jaydn Ott, who carried the ball 20 times against North Texas and tallied 188 rushing yards – good for an average of 9.4 yards per carry. Ott also finished with a pair of touchdowns, of which one he scored from 66 yards out.

“Just hand it to him,” Freeze said of Ott. “I mean, it isn’t like they have created some special deal, just run inside zone or outside zone or counter with him, and if it’s semi-blocked well he’s a handful. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s got great vision. He is really, really talented.”

And generally, after Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said Tuesday that starting quarterback Sam Jackson was “day-to-day” with an upper body injury, one might expect the Golden Bears to turn to the ground game should Jackson not be able to go.

However, Freeze isn’t expecting that to be the case after watching the way the Cal offense operated in Jackson’s absence last week.

After Jackson went down early in the second quarter after having just taken 18 snaps, Cal turned to redshirt sophomore Ben Finley to take over under center.

“The first kid… gosh he’s an athlete and can obviously throw and run,” Freeze said of Jackson. “Then Finley came in and didn’t miss a beat throwing. He may not be quite the athlete that the other kid is and he’s probably not, but he sure was efficient.”

Prior to exiting last Saturday’s game against North Texas, Jackson went 3-for-4 through the air for 33 yards and added 18 rushing yards on three carries.

Meanwhile, Finley picked apart the North Texas defense as he threw for 279 yards on a 24-for-35 passing effort with a touchdown and an interception.

“I don’t know their plan as to whether they’ll use both or one or the other,” Freeze said. “But we have to prepare for both of them.”

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al.com

Auburn freshman DL still with program after stealing scooter, being arrested

Updated: Sep. 05, 2023, 3:24 p.m.|Published: Sep. 05, 2023, 3:13 p.m.

~2 minutes

After being arrested Friday evening and charged with larceny theft of property in the third degree, Auburn freshman defensive lineman Wilky Denaud is still with the Tigers’ program, a spokesperson for Auburn football confirmed to AL.com Tuesday.

Per records obtained by AL.com, a complaint stating Denuad knowingly obtained or exerted unauthorized control of an electric scooter not belonging to him was filed on Aug. 30.

With the scooter being valued at $650, Denauld’s charge was in the third degree, meaning the stolen property was valued at more than $500 but less than $1,500. Larceny theft of property in the third degree is a felony in the state of Alabama.

Denaud wasn’t arrested until Sept. 1, when he was booked at the Lee County jail around 4:30 p.m. and was later released minutes after 8 p.m. after posting his bond amount, which was set at $1,500.

A 4-star defensive line prospect out of John Carroll High School in Fort Pierce, Fla., Denaud has yet to appear in his first game for the Auburn Tigers.

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[Dom1ni0n 51]

I hope the O-line depth continues to improve.  Sitting on nearly a 3 deep with 13!  It's been a while... 

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