11.24.23 Football Articles

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al.com

 

Pritchett becomes 2nd Auburn player in 2024 Senior Bowl

Published: Nov. 23, 2023, 2:45 a.m.

2–3 minutes

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Auburn cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (1) breaks up a pass intended for Vanderbilt wide receiver Junior Sherrill (85) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)AP

By

• Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com

Auburn cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett has accepted an invitation to the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, it was announced late Wednesday.

Pritchett, a Jackson native, joins fellow Tigers cornerback D.J. James among the confirmed players for the annual college football all-star game and NFL draft showcase. The 2024 Senior Bowl takes place Feb. 3 at Mobile’s Hancock Whitney Stadium.

The 6-foot-1, 184-pound Pritchett has started the last three seasons at cornerback at Auburn. He has been limited to seven games this season by injury, but has 18 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception.

Pritchett makes it four players with state ties confirmed for the 75th anniversary Senior Bowl, will allow non-graduate underclassmen to participate for the first time in 2024. Also confirmed for the game are James and Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (both from Spanish Fort) and Miami offensive lineman Javion Cohen, a Phenix City native who played at Alabama for three seasons.

Other notable players already committed to the Senior Bowl are South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler, Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt, Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, Florida State tight end Jaheim Bell, Kansas State offensive lineman Cooper Beebe and Texas defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat. Other committed players will be announced periodically in the days leading up to Senior Bowl week.

The 2024 Senior Bowl, sponsored for the first time this year by the NFL Players Association, kicks off at noon on Feb. 3. NFL Network will televise the game live.

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sports.yahoo.com

 

Alabama-Auburn: The Iron Bowl looks like it will be a blowout. Don't be fooled.

Jay Busbee

5–7 minutes

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A couple famous quotes start resurfacing among the Alabama and Auburn faithful around this time each year. The first, from Bear Bryant, is a thunderclap: “Nothing matters more than beating that cow college on the other side of the state.”

The second, spotted on T-shirts and peeling bumper stickers all over Lee County, is a knife blade: “Hey Nick! Got a second?”

The first line is a summation of Alabama’s entire ethos, a sense of superiority over, and condescension toward, Auburn. The second is Auburn’s devastating counter, a reference to its famous/infamous “Kick Six” victory. Alabama may have a wheelbarrow’s worth of championship rings, but in the most famous play in college football history, Auburn got the win.

It’s Iron Bowl week in Alabama, and as usual, everyone’s on edge.

Ever since Auburn and Alabama first played football — in February 1893, on a baseball field in Birmingham, a game that ended in a 32-22 Auburn victory — these two schools have measured their years by this game. A victory means you can hold your head high among your co-workers and in the grocery store; a loss mars your entire season, and the only way to heal is to survive another year.

There’s even more to it than that.

For Auburn, a victory is a triumph over elitism, over that white-columned arrogant bunch of old-family-money snots over in Tuscaloosa. Auburn gauges itself by the Iron Bowl; a victory in this game can turn around an entire season.

For Alabama, though, the stakes are very different. Especially during the Bryant and Saban eras, the Tide has had its eyes on a much bigger prize than an in-state victory over those mouthy farm workers from the Plains. For the Tide, the Iron Bowl is less an achievement to be treasured, more a threat to be survived.

This season marks the 10th anniversary of the Kick Six, the miraculous turnabout play that capped the 2013 Iron Bowl. The stakes were astronomical coming into the game: 11-0 Alabama, the back-to-back defending national champion, was ranked No. 1, while 10-1 Auburn was ranked No. 4. The game was tied at 28 as time ran out on regulation, but Saban pleaded for — and got — one second put back on the clock. He sent out an untested field-goal kicker to attempt a 57-yarder, and, well, this resulted:

 

Chris Davis is now a legend in the state. The ball from that game is on display at Auburn like a holy relic. The Tigers would ride that exhilarating victory to the national championship game, only losing to Florida State in the final seconds of the game. It marks the last real high point for the Auburn football program … but what a high point it is.

Alabama holds the overall edge in the series at 49-37-1, but most of the cinematic victories belong to Auburn. Three years before the Kick Six, Cam Newton led Auburn back from a 24-point deficit to win and continue the Tigers’ march to their most recent national championship. In 1982, freshman Bo Jackson snapped a nine-game Tide winning streak with his fourth-and-1 “Bo Over The Top” end-of-game goal-line dive. Ten years earlier, down 16-3, Auburn’s Bill Newton blocked a late Alabama punt and the Tigers’ David Langner ran it back for a touchdown … and then both did the exact same thing a few plays later, leading to another improbable Auburn victory over a previously undefeated Alabama squad.

One notable exception: 2021, when No. 3 Alabama took a heart-wrenching four overtimes to hold off a ferocious unranked Auburn team. Down 10-3 with less than two minutes on the clock, Bryce Young drove Alabama 97 yards to tie the game. The schools traded haymakers in overtime, with Young finding John Metchie III on a game-winning 2-point conversion in the fourth OT. The Tide would go on to lose to Georgia in the national championship game.

This year, both schools are barreling into the Iron Bowl on very different trajectories. Auburn, a 14.5-point underdog, is coming off one of the most stunning losses of the 2023 season, a 31-10 humiliation at the hands of New Mexico State — a loss for which Auburn also paid $1.8 million. The Tigers are bowl-eligible in their first season under head coach Hugh Freeze, but after last week still look like a teardown is necessary … unless this weekend goes well.

“We all know what the Iron Bowl means to so many,” said Freeze, and you can fix your feelings a whole heck of a lot with a good performance in that game.

 

Derrick Henry is one of many Alabama alumni who had to survive the gauntlet of the Iron Bowl against Auburn. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) (Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)

 

Alabama, on the other hand, is still attempting to atone for an early season loss to Texas. The Tide is already locked into next week’s SEC championship game, but if Alabama wants any hope of reaching the College Football Playoff, it must win out … and a narrow, tight win just won’t do.

“People talk about all the crazy stuff that happens in this game. But since I've been here, the team that should have won the game won the game based on who played the best,” Saban said. “We've had this challenge several times before, and this one's going to be just as difficult as any of the rest."

There’s desperation in the air, and that fuels the Iron Bowl. Alabama can put its rival in its "proper" place with a beatdown. Auburn can salvage its season by destroying Alabama’s. Now that’s the recipe for a good rivalry.

The next chapter in this frenzied, unpredictable saga kicks off Saturday at 3:30 ET. It could be a routine game, but don't be surprised when it takes a sudden turn.

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auburn.rivals.com

 

AuburnSports - Freeze building true connections

Bryan Matthews

~3 minutes

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AUBURN | How do you keep from suffering the kind of shocking defeat Auburn did against New Mexico State last Saturday?

How do you make sure your team responds in the most productive way possible going forward?

Hugh Freeze and his staff will be looking for those answers in the days, weeks and months to come.

But the Tigers’ first-year had coach has one solution he’s already working to implement.

“One of the things I think is the greatest challenge we have probably now in these college football rooms, team rooms, staffing, is true connection just to where, ‘Man, I'm really playing for you and I'm really playing for the school.’ And when we have that true connection in a relationship, you can really hold each other accountable,” said Freeze.

“That's something I've got to work on to for us to feel more connected for when you get hit in the face like you did Saturday.”

Those types of connections have become tougher with so much turnover on college rosters due to the transfer portal and staffs growing larger and larger to meet the demands of scouting, recruiting and player development.

Those issues can be amplified with so many changes coming in a coach’s first year at a school.

For Freeze, who has the reputation of being a player’s coach, building those connections has always been an important part of how he runs a program.

He’s good at it, but it takes time.

“He really talked to me as I was a human being not as if I was a football player,” said freshman Keldric Faulk of the recruiting process. “That was important for me and important for my mom because we don't want to be another number on a roster -- well I mean, I didn't want to be another number on the roster. I wanted to come in and have a relationship with my coach.

“And that relationship with my coach, if football doesn't work out could help me out later in life just because I got that connection with him. A lot of coaches during my recruitment, I didn't really have that connection with. I built that connection with Coach Freeze within two weeks of him being hired. Of course me being here now, we're still building that relationship to this day.”

Auburn wraps up the regular season against No. 8 Alabama Saturday afternoon in the 88th Iron Bowl. Kickoff at Jordan-Hare Stadium is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.

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montgomeryadvertiser.com

Auburn football can blame itself for this hole Hugh Freeze is in | Toppmeyer

Blake Toppmeyer

5–7 minutes

Gus Malzahn beat Nick Saban three times. Auburn fired him anyway.

Hugh Freeze's rebuild requires a better quarterback than he landed out of the transfer portal last offseason.

Auburn's path to greatness will become tougher in an expanded SEC.

Auburn checked out of what it considered Hotel Mediocrity when it fired Gus Malzahn three years ago. Its eye for greatness proved bigger than its stomach, though, and Auburn promptly checked in to Hotel Misery.

Hotel Mediocrity would look plush right now.

Auburn paid a $21.5 million buyout to fire a coach who achieved eight consecutive winning seasons, beat Nick Saban three times and went 6-4 against an SEC-only schedule in the midst of the worst pandemic our nation experienced in a century.

I thought Auburn’s 2020 decision to fire Gus Malzahn was foolish then. The past three seasons have shown that Malzahn is fine without Auburn, but the Tigers are lost without Malzahn.

The window probably had closed on the idea of Malzahn winning a national championship at Auburn, a program with national championship ambition even though it has won just two titles in its history.

With its eyes set on glory, Auburn tumbled rump over teakettle before ever getting out of the starting blocks.

Disaster doesn’t even begin to describe the Bryan Harsin era. My early read on the Hugh Freeze era: He’ll succeed more than Harsin, but not as much as Malzahn, who won 66% of his games at AU.

Malzahn called Freeze on Monday to wish him luck in the Iron Bowl. Freeze certainly will need good fortune Saturday, and he’ll need a rock-solid plan with a top-tier staff to restore the program to where Malzahn had it, at his peak.

Hugh Freeze needs a quarterback and a recruiting boost

Imagine if Auburn had retained Malzahn and quarterback Bo Nix. What would its record be these past three seasons? Certainly, it would be better than the 17-19 record it’s achieved under Harsin and now Freeze.

And with Malzahn on the sideline, I doubt Auburn (6-5, 3-4 SEC) would be a 15-point home underdog like it is against No. 8 Alabama (10-1, 7-0). Saban beat Malzahn once in four tries on the Plains.

Harsin couldn’t carry Malzahn’s visor, and he was as old school as he was unlikable – a bad combination in this era of NIL and transfers, where players enjoy some power and voice. The Idaho native failed to make inroads recruiting Alabama. Some would say he never even tried.

By this point in Harsin’s tenure, it had become clear that his union with Auburn would fail.

I’m not out on Freeze yet. He’ll be better than Harsin, but will Freeze exceed Malzahn's winning percentage? Doubt it.

Auburn’s recruiting class ranks No. 17 nationally in the 247Sports Composite, with less than a month remaining before the early signing period. Freeze already is better recruiting the state than Harsin was, but that's a low bar. Auburn can’t hope to catch Georgia, Alabama and LSU with 17th-ranked signing classes, and Freeze’s inability last offseason to land a transfer quarterback better than Payton Thorne is concerning.

Malzahn regularly signed top-10 classes.

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Analyst: Auburn football will succeed more under Hugh Freeze than Bryan Harsin, but succeed less under Freeze than Gus Malzahn

Toppmeyer predicted that Auburn wouldn’t be as lost under Freeze as under Bryan Harsin, who never put together a three-game winning streak in SEC play on the Plains. He also predicted that the Freeze era wouldn’t match Malzahn’s tenure in East Central Alabama.

“Disaster doesn’t even begin to describe the Bryan Harsin era,” Toppmeyer prefaced before saying, “My early read on the Hugh Freeze era: He’ll succeed more than Harsin, but not as much as Malzahn, who won 66% of his games at AU.”

Certainly, the Malzahn era was underappreciated. Freeze will face more of the SEC than Malzahn had to, and that could lead to far less wins.

But if Freeze can do the one thing Malzahn couldn’t while leading the charge, win a meaningful bowl game, perhaps even a championship down the line, the current Tigers head coach’s time at the helm of Auburn football will just mean more than the fired ex-HC’s.

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Auburn announces depth chart for Iron Bowl

JD McCarthy

4–5 minutes

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The Auburn Tigers are looking to close out the regular season with a bang when they take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the ___ edition of the Iron Bowl

The Tigers are looking to put their shocking 31-10 loss to New Mexico State behind them and are making some changes on the offensive depth chart. The Tigers are shaking up the starting rotation at all three wide receiver spots, with each featuring multiple starters.

Caleb Burton III is now listed as a starter at slot receiver, while Malcolm Johnson Jr. and Camden brown are now possible starters at the outside spots.

All three of them have seen their roles increase recently as Hugh Freeze and Co. look to spark a struggling passing attack.

Here is a look at Auburn’s full depth chart for Saturday’s game, which is set to start at 2:30 p.m. CT and will be on CBS.

Photo by Jamie Holt/Auburn Tigers

Starter: Payton Thorne

Backups: Robby Ashford, Holden Geriner

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Jarquez Hunter

Backups: Damari Alston, Brian Battie, Jeremiah Cobb

(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Starter: Rivaldo Fairweather OR Luke Deal

Backups: Tyler Fromm OR Brandon Frazier, Micah Riley

(AP Photo/Stew Milne)

Starter: Malcolm Johnson Jr. OR Jyaire Shorter OR Omari Kelly

Backup: Koy Moore

Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Caleb Burton III OR Jay Fair OR Ja’Varrius Johnson

(Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Starter:  Camden Brown OR Shane Hooks

Backups:  Nick Mardner

Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Dillon Wade

Backup: Jaden Muskrat

Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Gunner Britton

Backup: Tate Johnson

Zach Bland/Auburn Athletics

Starter: Avery Jones OR Connor Lew

Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Kam Stutts

Backup: Jeremiah Wright OR Jalil Irvin

Photo by Austin Perryman/Auburn Tigers

Starter: Izavion Miller

Backup: Jaden Muskrat

Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Starter: Keldric Faulk

Backups: Zykevious Walker

Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Starter: Justin Rogers

Backup: Jayson Jones

Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Starter: Marcus Harris

Backup: Lawrence Johnson

Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Starter: Jalen McLeod

Backups: Elijah McAllister, Stephen Sings V

(Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Starter: Austin Keys

Backups: Larry Nixon III, Wesley Steiner

© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Starter: Eugene Asante

Backup: Cam Riley

Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: D.J. James

Backup: Kayin Lee OR Colton Hood

Photo by Austin Perryman/Auburn Tigers

Starter: Keionte Scott

Backup: Donovan Kaufman, Champ Anthony

Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Starter: Jaylin Simpson

Backup: Caleb Wooden, Griffin Speaks

Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Starter: Zion Puckett

Backups: Marquise Gilbert, Terrance Love

Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Nehemiah Pritchett

Backups: J.D. Rhym

Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Keionte Scott

Backup: Koy Moore

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Starters: Brian Battie, Jarquez Hunter

Photo by Jamie Holt/Auburn Tigers

Punter: Oscar Chapman

Place Kicker: Alex McPherson

Holder: Oscar Chapman

Long Snapper: Jacob Quattlebaum OR Reed Hughes 

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

Auburn commit DeAndre Carter 'can't wait' to attend the Iron Bowl

JD McCarthy

~2 minutes

DeAndre Carter is not only one of the top offensive line recruits in the country, he is also one of Auburn’s most important commits.

After years of poor recruiting on the offensive line, the new staff is looking to change that and provided some much-needed proof of concept when they landed the four-star prospect over Texas.

The Santa Anna, California prospect has taken several trips to the Plains but this weekend will be his first chance to watch Auburn play in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“I can’t wait, I’ve heard it’s a crazy atmosphere for sure,” Carter told Greg Biggins of 247Sports. “This will be my first game at Auburn so I’m excited and really looking forward to it. 

Auburn secured a commitment from Carter in September but the Texas Longhorns never stopped recruiting him. Auburn was able to survive the push and he recently reaffirmed his commitment to the Tigers.

“I still feel great about my commitment to Auburn,” he told Biggins. “It was a tough decision but I really connected with the coaches well and that was big for me.”

Carter is the No. 131 overall player and No. 5 interior offensive lineman in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 14 player from California.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15

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uburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Gather 'round the table: Here's what we at Auburn Wire are thankful for this season

Taylor Jones

3–4 minutes

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Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

We hope that you are enjoying a day filled with delicious food, family time, and plenty of discussion about upcoming bowl scenarios for the Auburn Tigers.

We at Auburn Wire are also spending the day traveling and enjoying time with those we love the most. Before we headed out, we took time to discuss what matters to us in regards to Auburn athletics, and what we are most thankful for this season.

From football to baseball, here’s what the guys are most thankful for this holiday.

Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

No, Auburn football is not at the level of Georgia or Alabama just yet. However, with the efforts of Hugh Freeze’s recruiting in just a short time… there’s no reason to believe that the Tigers won’t be there in a season or two.

 I’m thankful for the recruiting seemingly getting on the right track and the iron bowl being in Jordan-Hare.- Brian Hauch

Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn linebacker Eugene Asante and safety Jaylin Simpson returned to Auburn football for the 2023 season, and it appears so far to be a great decision. Both are making the case to become solid NFL players in the future.

 I’m thankful that Jaylin Simpson and Eugene Asante stuck around and have had breakout seasons.- JD McCarthy

The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn football has been in a rebuild for what seems like an eternity, but the Tigers have a head coach who is understanding of the situation.

I’m thankful for a head coach that is willing to hype up this program when things are going well, and will be honest when things are not going well. It is a refreshing breath of air compared to the last few seasons.- Taylor Jones

The Montgomery Advertiser

This season’s Auburn basketball team has incredible chemistry, and that this thanks to the recruiting efforts of Bruce Pearl and staff.

I’m thankful that Bruce Pearl was able to land multiple shooters and get back to playing the style of offense that has been so successful for him.- JD McCarthy

Photo by Steven Leonard/Auburn Tigers

Football season has us feeling all kinds of things, but at least we have this basketball team to rely on.

I’m thankful for Aden Holloway and the basketball team taking away from the disappointing football season- Brian Hauch

Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Athletic Director John Cohen has been an advocate for upgrading facilities around campus such as baseball, football, and soccer. Having an AD who is willing to take the necessary steps to make Auburn national contenders in every sport is not something to take for granted.

I’m thankful for the progress that John Cohen is making with athletic facility upgrades. I cannot wait to step foot into the revamped Plainsman Park this season to catch a game.- Taylor Jones

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[aubiefifty 16,898]

wow. almost nothing out in new auburn articles. i will check in through out the day for updates.

[gr82be 14,464]

Blake Toppmeyer

[aubiefifty 16,898]

6 minutes ago, gr82be said:

Blake Toppmeyer

i have no idea who he is lol. tigerland let me down so i had to google just to get the little news i found. even youtube was dead. in my feeble mind i thought the day before the ironbowl would have tons of articles but as usual i would be wrong....grins

[gr82be 14,464]

21 minutes ago, aubiefifty said:

i have no idea who he is lol. tigerland let me down so i had to google just to get the little news i found. even youtube was dead. in my feeble mind i thought the day before the ironbowl would have tons of articles but as usual i would be wrong....grins

I think he might be a poster on here with some of his thoughts 😂

Seriously, appreciate your effort each day. 

[SaltyTiger 7,854]

Good morning from a sorta cloudy but great looking morning on the Plains Fiddy. Looking forward to tomorrow. Definitely will be on campus some today. Always a fun Friday. Making a game day decision on going to the game. Comfort of home is hard to beat.

Good stuff and thanks.

[aubiefifty 16,898]

it is nice and sunny up north of ya. i am hiding out from black friday. i hate crowds of rude people so i learned to stay home. have fun.

12 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said:

Good morning from a sorta cloudy but great looking morning on the Plains Fiddy. Looking forward to tomorrow. Definitely will be on campus some today. Always a fun Friday. Making a game day decision on going to the game. Comfort of home is hard to beat.

Good stuff and thanks.

 

[aubiefifty 16,898]

 

si.com

 

Auburn vs Alabama Listed One of CFB's Most Interesting Games This Weekend

Lance Dawe

~2 minutes

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The Iron Bowl is one of the most interesting matchups featured in rivalry week.

The Auburn Tigers need to quickly get back on track following their loss to New Mexico State.

The 31-10 thrashing was one of the worst losses in recent Auburn history. There were no turnovers, no special teams magic, no wild, chaotic, once in a blue moon type of plays that aided the Aggies in their win.

It was simply a complete whipping by a Group of Five team.

Now heading into Iron Bowl week, Auburn and Hugh Freeze have to find a way to refocus quickly. Alabama may prove to be the biggest challenge to Auburn on their schedule this season.

According to Brandon Marcello of 247Sports, the matchup between Auburn (6-5, 3-4 SEC) and Alabama (10-1, 7-0 SEC) is one of the most interesting games of this weekend.

Marcello ranked it as his fifth most interesting game, the four matchups above the Iron Bowl being Washington vs Washington State, Tulane vs UTSA, Oregon vs Oregon State, and Michigan vs Ohio State.

According to ESPN FPI, the Tigers only have a 14.3% chance to take down the Tide.

If Auburn wants to have a shot in this game, the offense will have to move the football both on the ground and through the air, and the defense needs to get pressure on Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.

---

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saturdaydownsouth.com

 

Gary Danielson names key player for Auburn in Iron Bowl

Daniel Peterson | 2 days ago

2–3 minutes

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Gary Danielson joined CBS Sports HQ on Wednesday to preview this year’s Iron Bowl. He identified a key player for Auburn’s upset bid and who has the advantage in the run game for this matchup.

“When Auburn plays the best, Jarquez Hunter the running back, he keeps any defense honest,” Danielson said. “If he can keep Alabama from staying back and playing soft, that gives Auburn an opportunity to do what they wanna do. That’s the guy right there, he needs to play well. He needs to be a threat the whole game cause then Hugh Freeze can get his tempo game going. Payton Thorne, when he gets a little help from the running game, he seems to be a pretty efficient quarterback.”

Danielson also talked about who he thinks has the advantage in the running game on Saturday.

“Alabama has the edge in most areas, except for the fact that it is a rivalry game and it’s gonna be played at home. Auburn can’t have this being a one-armed fight. They need both the running game and the passing game. They need to keep this Alabama defense off balance.”

Hunter, a junior, has been key to the Tigers offense all season, racking up 772 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on 132 carries. Hunter has also added 16 receptions for 111 yards as well. In the 2022 edition of the Iron Bowl Hunter had success on the ground running for 134 yards on 11 carries, and he added 3 receptions for 15 yards in the passing game.

Auburn hosts Alabama this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

 

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theplainsman.com

 

COLUMN | Why Auburn fans should have hope for the Iron Bowl

Luca Flores | Staff Photographer

6–8 minutes

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It’s been four years since the Auburn Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl. Here are some reasons fans should believe they can do it again:

1. Hugh Freeze's history against Nick Saban and Alabama

Coach Freeze

Only eight active head coaches in college football have at least once victory over Saban since he took over the Crimson Tide in 2007, and Freeze is one of them – defeating Alabama twice over the 2014-15 season. Both those wins were early in Freeze's tenure with Ole Miss, and now, he's early in his tenure on the Plains.

Freeze has years of experience in the SEC, knows how the league works and has the luxury of having coaching experience against Saban – something that many first-year head coaches in the SEC don't get.

2. Freeze's experience as a big underdog

Hugh Freeze in the Auburn walkout against UMass at Jordan Hare Stadium on September 2nd 2023

According to the sports book at USA Today, the Tigers are 14.5-point underdogs for this year's Iron Bowl. While Auburn is projected to lose by just over two touchdowns, this isn't the first time a Freeze led team has been heavy underdogs and nearly or outright won.

Just earlier this season Georgia was favored by 14.5 against Auburn, but the game came down to the final drives. While the Bulldogs prevailed, it took some incredible catches from tight end Brock Bowers to carry Georgia to a victory in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Freeze was also on the short end of the betting odds a couple times at Liberty. In November 2020, Freeze and his Liberty Flames went on the road as 17-point underdogs to face Virginia Tech. However, the Flames left Lane Stadium as a three-point winner thanks to a game-winning, 51-yard field goal and a fourth quarter that saw Freeze's offense score 17 points.

Similarly, Liberty was a 14.5-point underdog last season on the road against Arkansas, yet the Flames came out victorious in a 21-19 win. All that to say, being a heavy underdog is not a new thing for Freeze, and he has history of picking up monumental wins even when he isn't supposed to.

3. Forget last week's result

Auburn's loss to New Mexico State last week is arguably the worst loss in Auburn football history. However, the loss is in the past and instead of dwelling on it, the Tigers should think back to what they did well over the three-week span that saw them win three consecutive games over SEC opponents.

It goes without saying that Auburn cannot play the same way it did against New Mexico State if it wants to beat Alabama. If Auburn wants to pull off the shocking upset, it's not only going to have to retool its offense, defense and special teams back to the way they performed over the three-game winning streak, but even better as Alabama is much more talented than Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Arkansas.

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4. The magic of Jordan-Hare Stadium

Auburn fans cheer on the Tigers in Jordan Hare Stadium, against Samford, on September 16, 2023.

Even after a shocking loss last week, you can bet that Jordan-Hare Stadium will still be packed out, ready to cheer on the Tigers just a couple days after Thanksgiving. In the 2021-22 season under first-year head coach Bryan Harsin, Auburn was nosediving with a thee-game losing streak on its hands and had just suffered a bad loss to 5-6 South Carolina the week before the Iron Bowl.

However, the stands were still filled with orange and blue, and the environment of the game, which undoubtedly motivated the players, led the Tigers to a near victory over a 10-1 Alabama team that ended in a two-point loss after four overtimes.

In six of the last seven games of the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium, we've seen games head into the fourth quarter with Auburn either winning or trailing by just one possession. Crazy, unexplainable things happen when the Iron Bowl is on the Plains. It's evident with improbable endings like the "Kick Six" in 2013 that saw Chris Davis return a missed field goal with one second left 109 yards for a walk-off touchdown.

 

The 2017 rout over the Tide to win the SEC West and the late missed field goal from Alabama in the 2019 Iron Bowl that saw a freshman quarterback knock off Saban and the Tide are two more recent examples.

Though the "experts" say Auburn's chances are slim, Auburn fans know not to lose hope. In a rivalry where one second can change the outcome of a game, it is always unwise to count Auburn out. 

With a coach who has proven he can beat Alabama and the magical advantage Auburn has at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Auburn Family just needs to believe in its team and maybe, just maybe, there will be a celebration like no other at Toomer's Corner on Saturday night.

Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.

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Matthew Wallace | Assistant Sports Editor

Matthew is a senior from Huntsville, Alabama, majoring in journalism. He started with The Plainsman in fall 2021.

Twitter: @mattwallaceAU

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Sami Grace Donnelly | Opinion Editor

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Jacob Waters | Sports Editor

Jacob Waters is a senior majoring in journalism. From Leeds, Alabama, he started with The Plainsman in August, 2021.

Twitter: @JacobWaters_

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auburntigers.com

 

The Opening Drive: Auburn vs. Alabama

Auburn University Athletics

8–10 minutes

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AUBURN, Ala. – The Iron Bowl. There is no other rivalry like it in college football, maybe in all of sports. There's passion. There's intensity. There's drama. When Auburn and Alabama get together on the gridiron, you can expect a war.

"You sure hope that if (our team) has any type of competitive spirit in them as an individual, they're going to shake off the cobwebs and get ready for this war that they're getting ready to go into, and it will be that," Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said. 

For Freeze, this will be his first Iron Bowl. He had success against Alabama head coach Nick Saban while at Ole Miss, but this will be his first time facing the Crimson Tide as the head coach at Auburn. 

For Luke Deal, this will be his fifth Iron Bowl. He was on the Auburn team in 2019 that knocked off No. 5 Alabama in a 48-45 thriller. He was on the Auburn team in 2021 that took No. 3 Alabama to four overtimes. He knows what this rivalry means. He knows what's at stake when these two in-state rivals play every year.  

"It's something that you think about 365," Deal said. "This is the game that everybody thinks about in the offseason. When you're doing sprints, when you're lifting heavy weight, when you're about ready to pass out, your legs are cramping and you've got to lift a teammate up off the ground – you do it for this game, for this moment, for this Saturday. 

"There are just so many people that care so much about this game that you can't go into it lightly. You have to realize exactly who you're doing it for, what's your why, and how much this place means to you – which for me, it means everything."

Deal will be one of 25 seniors recognized prior to Saturday's game. For those 25 seniors, this could very well be their final Iron Bowl, their last game in Jordan-Hare Stadium. It's a group that includes six fifth-year seniors who arrived at Auburn as part of the 2019 recruiting class. This will likely be their last home game together. 

"We have such a special group, a group that has seen a lot of change since we've been here," Deal said. "Not only with coaching changes and this and that, but guys who have left in the transfer portal. We don't have that many people left from our class. 

"It's just us locking arms together this week for this special game that means so much in that stadium with fans that are going to be going crazy the entire game for 60 minutes. It's going to be special for us."

Auburn and Alabama will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT from Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised on CBS with Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell on the call. You can also listen to Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Will Herring who will have the radio call on 94.3 FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the Auburn app. 

This week, fans attending the game are encouraged to wear navy. 

Q: How have you turned the page from last week and moved on?

A: On Monday, it was "Work Day Monday." It was getting the truth about what happened last Saturday and figuring out what we have to do to get better each and every day. I just feel like we have to go back to the little things. On Saturdays, the team that wins is always the team that prepares the most. Once you realize that and realize that you always have to do the little things, that will help you out. 

Q: What does it mean to play in a rivalry game like this against Alabama?

A: It's a bittersweet moment because it's my last home game here. Fifth-year senior. Just having an opportunity to come to Auburn and experience everything Auburn provided for me – from different things I've been through, adversity – I feel like this game is something I'm going to remember forever because it's going to be my last game in Jordan-Hare.

Q: What do you remember from your first Iron Bowl in 2019?

A: That game was crazy. It was amazing. I didn't play a lot, I redshirted that year, but just having the chance to be around that brotherhood they built before I got here and being a part of that team made me understand you can be something someday. Having an opportunity to play in this game now a fourth time, I understand how important it is to the Auburn community. 

In this 88th Iron Bowl, Auburn and Alabama will meet for the 76th consecutive year since 1948. Auburn trails the overall series by a 37-49-1 record but leads the Iron Bowl 17-13 when the game is played on campus, including a 10-6 mark in games played at Auburn. Before 1989, the series was primarily played in Birmingham (Alabama leads 36-20-1) and Montgomery (series tied 2-2).

Auburn has an all-time record of 53-70-7 in regular-season finales since 1892. The Tigers are 87-30-6 all-time in the final game played in Auburn each season.

194.3: Establishing a ground game will be important against Alabama. Auburn currently ranks third in the SEC averaging 194.3 rushing yards per game and is fifth in the league with 19 rushing touchdowns this season. 

1,000: Wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson caught two passes for 46 yards last week. His 46 yards put him over 1,000 career receiving yards. The fifth-year senior now has 271 receiving yards on the season and 1,038 for his career – all in the last three years. 

17: Auburn had a 19-game streak of forcing at least one turnover snapped against New Mexico State. Since 2013, the Tigers are 72-37 when they force at least one turnover and 44-14 when they force multiple turnovers. They are tied with Arkansas for the SEC lead in turnovers forced this season with 17 (11 interceptions, 6 fumbles recovered). 

86: Saturday's Iron Bowl will be the final regular season SEC game aired on CBS. Auburn has made 86 previous appearances on CBS and holds a 39-47 record. The first appearance came in the 1954 Gator Bowl where the Tigers beat Baylor 33-13. 

Players Mentioned

#86 Luke Deal

TE 6' 5" Senior Education

#6 Ja'Varrius Johnson

WR 5' 10" Senior Business

#10 Zion Puckett

S 6' 0" Senior Liberal Arts

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

2025 OL Mal Waldrep 'really appeciates' his relationship with Auburn OL coach Jake Thornton

JD McCarthy

~2 minutes

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Auburn is making a push for 2025 offensive lineman Mal Waldrep and a major reason for their success is his relationship with offensive line coach Jake Thornton.

“He’s the man,” Waldrep told Christian Clemente of Auburn Undercover. “He’s probably recruiting me the hardest out of any coach. Them and Coach Austin from Clemson. Both of them are still hard on me. Really, really pushing me to get up there as much as I can and get on campus. Texting and calling almost every day. Really appreciate the relationship he’s built with me over these past few months.”

Waldrep is from Central-Phenix City, Alabama and has taken multiple trips to the Plains this season and is expected to be back for the Iron Bowl this weekend.

He is the No. 437 overall player and No. 38 offensive tackle in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 20 player from Alabama.

Waldrep is one of several players from Central that Auburn is recruiting, including 2024 wide receiver Cam Coleman and 2025 wide receiver Dalyn Upshaw.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15

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waka.com

 

Auburn hoping to take out No. 8 Alabama in Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium - WAKA 8

WAKA Action 8 News,

3–4 minutes

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Posted: Nov 23, 2023 12:49 AM CST

by WAKA Action 8 News

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze walks off the field after a loss to New Mexico State in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer

Alabama could stay in the running for a College Football Playoff spot heading into the SEC Championship Game against No. 1 Georgia.

The Crimson Tide have won nine straight Iron Bowl games.

The Auburn Tigers have relished the role of spoiler at times in the Iron Bowl. That would be the best salve for the wounds left from an embarrassing 31-10 loss to three-touchdown underdog New Mexico State.

KEY MATCHUP

Alabama’s big-play offense against a capitalistic Auburn defense. Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe has seven touchdown passes of 40-plus yards, and wide receiver Jermaine Burton is averaging 22.1 yards per catch with six TDs. Auburn is tied with Arkansas for the SEC lead with 17 forced turnovers, including 11 interceptions, led by safety Jaylin Simpson and cornerback Keionte Scott.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Auburn RB Jarquez Hunter was a nonfactor against New Mexico State, which played keep away with the football most of the game. Hunter had only eight carries for 27 yards. But he ran for 134 yards on 11 runs in last year’s Iron Bowl, and the Tigers are much better when he’s playing a big role in the offense.

Alabama freshman S Caleb Downs easily leads the team with 90 tackles, 33 more than No. 2 tackler Jihaad Campbell. Downs also has two interceptions and returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown against Chattanooga. It was his first punt return of the season.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Auburn has won three of the last five meetings at Jordan-Hare Stadium, where the Tigers have a 10-6 Iron Bowl record. … Alabama has extended its own record with a 16th consecutive 10-win season. … The Tide have won 19 straight against unranked opponents and are 123-4 against them under coach Nick Saban. … Alabama kicker Will Reichard is nine points shy of Keenan Reynolds’ all-time NCAA scoring mark of 530 points and one shy of tying Kenneth Dixon for second place. … Auburn kicker Alex McPherson has made a school record 18 straight field goal attempts. … Auburn is seeking to become the 13th FBS team to reach 800 wins after failing in its first attempt.

No. 8 Alabama (10-1, 6-1 SEC, No. 8 CFP) at Auburn (6-5, 3-4).

Series: Alabama leads, 49-37-1.

Kickoff is at 2:30PM Saturday on WAKA Action 8.

(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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