12.6.23 Football Articles

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Auburn offers former All-SEC wide receiver Will Sheppard

JD McCarthy

1–2 minutes

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Auburn is once again reshaping its wide receiver room and the latest name to know is former Vanderbilt wide receiver Will Sheppard.

Sheppard would be a great fit for Hugh Freeze and Auburn, he is a bigger-bodied receiver at 6-foot-3 and has proven he can produce in the SEC, something Auburn desperately needs. He led Vanderbilt with 47 receptions for 684 yards and 8 touchdowns last season.

His best season was in 2022 when the Associated Press named him second-team All-SEC after catching 60 passes for 776 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Auburn will have plenty of competition to land Sheppard, he has already received offers from South Carolina, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. The Louisiana native will have one season of eligibility at his next school.

Blessed to receive an offer from Auburn pic.twitter.com/LzgwsMguUT

— Will Sheppard (@willshep20) December 4, 2023

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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auburntigers.com

 

Auburn's Simpson, Hunter, Fairweather earn All-SEC honors

Auburn University Athletics

6–7 minutes

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AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn's Jaylin Simpson, Jarquez Hunter and Rivaldo Fairweather earned All-SEC honors, the Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday.

The Tiger trio was voted to the 2023 Second Team All-SEC by the league's coaches.

Simpson intercepted passes in Auburn's first three games and another against Georgia to finish the season with four interceptions and 87 return yards including a pick-six vs. Massachusetts. The senior safety also recovered a fumble, made 1.5 tackles for loss and 28 solo tackles among 36 stops.

Hunter led Auburn with 865 yards rushing on 146 attempts, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. The junior running back scored seven touchdowns and logged three consecutive 100-yard games in the Tigers' SEC victories over Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Arkansas.

In his first season on the Plains, Fairweather made 33 receptions for 349 yards and six touchdowns. The junior tight end led Auburn receivers in all three categories.  

On Monday, Simpson and defensive lineman Marcus Harris earned first-team All-SEC honors by the Associated Press, while Fairweather and offensive lineman Gunner Britton were named to the AP's All-SEC second team.

The Freshman All-SEC Team will be announced on Thursday.

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer

Players Mentioned

#50 Marcus Harris

DL 6' 3" Senior Liberal Arts

#27 Jarquez Hunter

RB 5' 10" Junior Forestry, Wildlife & Environment

#36 Jaylin Simpson

S 6' 1" Senior Business

#53 Gunner Britton

OL 6' 6" Senior Liberal Arts

#13 Rivaldo Fairweather

TE 6' 4" Junior Liberal Arts

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si.com

 

Auburn Recruiting: Five Questions For The 2024 Class

Brian Smith

4–5 minutes

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The Auburn Tigers have been on a recruiting hot streak but there’s still work to be done. How well will Hugh Freeze and his staff finish off this recruiting class?

Here are five questions that dig into that discussion.

1) Can Auburn flip Ryan Williams from Alabama?

There’s been a lot of discussion about Ryan Williams signing with Auburn instead of Alabama, but will it happen? For those who do not know much about Williams, his Alabama State Player of the Year Award, as a mere sophomore in 2022, places his talents into perspective.

The all-around talent is primarily a wide receiver, but he’s a wildcat quarterback, return man, and playmaker extraordinaire. His goal for next spring’s track season is to reach 10.1 in the 100 meters; he’s already a 10.3 sprinter.

If Auburn can add Williams to what’s already one of the nation’s top wide receiver recruiting hauls, with Perry Thompson and Cam Coleman among them, it would probably be the Tigers' best-ever wide receiver class. 

Williams went to the Iron Bowl and had a blast. He’s also been tracking Coleman, Auburn’s most recent flip.

As an interesting twist to Williams' recruitment, he's technically a 2025 recruit. Williams is on the fence about switching to the class of 2024. The Saraland (Ala.) High School prospect has tough decisions ahead.

2) Moving to defense, could the Tigers flip safety KJ Bolden from Florida State?

Bolden is much like Williams in his well-rounded talents and will play multiple roles in the secondary for whichever school he signs with. The three teams most often discussed with Bolden would be FSU, Auburn, and Georgia.

Despite being committed to the Seminoles, he’s been in contact with several schools for quite some time. As always, it’s still about following the visits.

If Bolden has an in-home with Auburn and/or visits the Plains again, that’s a sign that Auburn has a true shot to flip the talented Buford (Ga.) High School safety. Bolden has a chance to play right away no matter which school he attends.

3) How many offensive linemen can the Tigers add?

Make no mistake, future offensive guard DeAndre Carter is a tremendous prospect. He’s still one player. Auburn needs at least two more recruits along the trenches, and preferably three.

One player to keep an eye on would be Favour Edwin from McDonough (Ga.) Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy. The 6-foot-6 and 295-pound offensive tackle is no stranger to visiting Auburn, including the Iron Bowl. Auburn is the favorite to land his signature on Dec. 20, National Signing Day.

The Tigers are close to getting back to normalcy along the offensive line if they can finish out this class strong. A top-notch finish would provide more offensive line depth chart balance.

4) Will Auburn land a high school running back?

As of right now, the Tigers do not have a running in the 2024 recruiting class. Much like the offensive line class, it’s about hitting certain numbers – to help keep roster balance – that allows Auburn to be a consistent football program moving forward.

Maybe Auburn finds a Transfer Portal running back? Perhaps Freeze and his staff feel differently and are okay with not taking a running back in this cycle unless it would be a truly top prospect.

Of note, Auburn is the favorite to land big-time 2025 running back Alvin Henderson from Elba (Ala.) High School.

5) How many recruits does Auburn want to sign?

Balancing high school recruiting and the Transfer Portal is not as easy as it seems. Players come and go via the Portal. If Auburn is ultra-picky down the high school recruiting stretch, it could be a sign that the Tigers are going to hit the Transfer Portal hard.

For reference, the Transfer Portal opened on Dec. 4 and will not close until Jan. 2.

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247sports.com

 

Starstudded 7A title game kicks off Super7 Championships

Jason Caldwell

4–5 minutes

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For the fourth time in six years, it will be Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City for the 7A state championship when the Super7 kicks off Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Coach Mark Freeman and the Thompson Warriors will be shooting for a fifth-straight state title while Patrick Nix and the Red Devils are going for title number three overall and their first since 2018.

One of the top scoring teams in the state, Central is led by new Auburn 5-star commitment wide receiver Cam Coleman, but he’s far from the only weapon for the Red Devils. In 12 games this season, Coleman has 56 receptions for 1,229 yards and 17 touchdowns this season while getting plenty of attention from opposing defenses.

He’s not alone outside however. Talented 2025 wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw has also done his share of damage, catching 58 balls for 1,174 yards and 15 scores. Also capable of making plays is 2024 wide receiver Dylan Gentry. Offered a walk-on spot at Auburn, Gentry has 27 receptions for 504 yards and seven touchdowns.

Perhaps the key for Central has been the addition of transfer quarterback Andrew Alford. A 6-1, 185 junior, Alford has completed 67 percent of his passes for 3,384 yards and 44 touchdowns with just two interceptions.

In the run game, Central has two very capable backs in senior Zack Simmons and junior Tristan Williams. They have combined for nearly 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.

Up front, Central has plenty of dudes with 2025 offensive lineman Mal Waldrep, 2024 Alabama commitment Isaia Faga and 2027 prospect (Auburn offer) Tristan Lyles all guys to watch.

The Red Devils are also strong in the secondary with Alabama commitment Rydarrius Morgan and Cincinnati commitment Jiquan Sanks both playmakers on the back end of a strong defense that allows just 12.1 points per game this season with 24 to Hewitt-Trussville in the season opener the most they’ve given up this year.

On the other side, Thompson is usually known for its offense, but it’s the defense that has carried the Warriors this season. Allowing just 10.2 points per game this season, Thompson has only allowed more than 14 points once this year when 6A finalist Clay-Chalkville scored 36.

The catalyst on defense for the Warriors is Auburn defensive back commitment Kaleb Harris. An active safety that can also play the nickel, Harris leads the team with a ridiculous 113 tackles and he also leads the way with 12 tackles for a loss. With three sacks and three interceptions, Harris has been on a mission his last season at Thompson.

He’s joined in the secondary by one of the nation’s top juniors, five star Anquon Fegans. A former USC commitment, Fegans has 68 tackles and leads the team with five interceptions and 11 pass breakups. The top pass rusher is freshman Cam Pritchett. The 6-4, 210-pounder has 34 tackles and leads the team with six sacks.

Offensively, freshman quarterback Trent Seaborn continues to be impressive for the Warriors. This season he has completed 73.4 percent of his passes for 2,388 yards and 25 touchdowns with only five interceptions.

His top target is speedy Deuce Oliver, who has 72 receptions for 691 yards and three touchdowns, but the breakout performer has been sophomore Colben Landrew. Already with an Auburn offer in basketball, the 6-4 Landrew has 25 catches for 504 yards and 11 touchdowns. Kolby Hearn has 31 catches for 687 yards and seven touchdowns on the season.

Thompson also features one of the state’s most underrated backs in AJ Green. The 5-8, 200 senior leads the team with 153 carries for 1,048 yards and 13 touchdowns.

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al.com

Bo Nix wins 2023 Campbell Trophy as top scholar-athlete

Published: Dec. 05, 2023, 10:45 p.m.

3–4 minutes

Sports

Bo Nix wins 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, so-called ‘Academic Heisman’

Former Yale football player Jack Ford, left, presents University of Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the William V. Campbell Trophy during the 65th National Football Foundation Awards Dinner Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)AP

By

Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is the 2023 winner of the William V. Campbell Trophy, regarded as the academic equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

Nix, a Pinson Valley High School graduate, spent the first three seasons of his college career at Auburn before transferring to Oregon in 2022. He led the Ducks to an 11-2 record and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl this season, and is pursuing a Master’s in Communication at Oregon with a 3.91 grade-point average.

“Bo Nix is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, and his competitive drive on the field extends to the classroom where he has already graduated magna cum laude and is currently working on a master’s degree,” National Football Foundation chairman Archie Manning said. “He embodies everything the Campbell Trophy represents, and we are extremely pleased to add his name to our history books.”

Nix graduated magna cum laude from Auburn in 2021 with a 3.62 GPA. He was the 2023 Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, a Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll member in 2022 and a three-time Academic All-SEC selection while at Auburn.

The Campbell Trophy carries with it a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship. Fifteen other finalists received $18,000 scholarship awards.

“Bo and his fellow members of the 2023 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class represent more than just their standout athletic ability seen on the field,” NFF president & CEO Steve Hatchell said. “Their academic achievements and their contributions as leaders off the field send a powerful message about the young men who play our sport. They have taken full advantage of the educational opportunities provided by college football, and they have created a compelling legacy for others to follow.”

On the field, Nix leads all FBS quarterbacks in completion percentage (77.2) and is tied for first in touchdown passes (40). He ranks second in passing efficiency (186.25), passing yards (4,145), passing yards per game (318.85), and total touchdowns (46).

Past winners of the Campbell Trophy include Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning (1997), Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (2009), Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones (2012) and Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert (2019).

Nix is also one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy, which will be awarded on Saturday in New York. He was Alabama’s Mr. Football at Pinson Valley in 2018, while playing for his father, former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix.

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al.com

 

Reports: Middle Tennessee set to hire Derek Mason as coach

Updated: Dec. 05, 2023, 6:06 p.m.|Published: Dec. 05, 2023, 6:06 p.m.

~2 minutes

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1. Sports

Middle Tennessee set to hire former Vanderbilt coach, Auburn DC Derek Mason, reports say

Derek Mason, shown here in 2019 at Vanderbilt, is expected to be the next head football coach at Middle Tennessee State. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)AP

By

• Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com

Middle Tennessee State is expected to hire Derek Mason as its new head football coach, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

The 54-year-old Mason was head coach at Vanderbilt from 2014-2020 and defensive coordinator at Auburn in 2021 and at Oklahoma State in 2022. He spent the 2023 season as a college football analyst for ESPN.

At Middle Tennessee, Mason would replace Rick Stockstill, who was fired Nov. 27 after 18 seasons. The Blue Raiders reached bowl games in both 2021 and 2022, but fell to 4-8 this past season.

Mason went just 27-55 at Vanderbilt, where his team never finished with a winning record. The Commodores went 6-6 during the 2016 and 2018 regular seasons before losing bowl games.

In addition to his stints at Vanderbilt, Auburn and Oklahoma State, Mason has also coached at Utah, New Mexico State, Ohio, Stanford and with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. He was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Stanford from 2011-13 before landing the Vanderbilt job.

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i hope you boys enjoy the bo and derek stuff. it is kind of slow so i wanted to add to your reading pleasure. i got my mikes how honey yesterday so i will be trying it on a sausage biscuit. have a wonderful day AUFAM!

[Mikey 16,711]

2 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

i hope you boys enjoy the bo and derek stuff.

What? You got nothin' on Bo Derek?

[WDEagle 137]

7 hours ago, Mikey said:

What? You got nothin' on Bo Derek?

Yeah. Pictures not loading.

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7 hours ago, Mikey said:

What? You got nothin' on Bo Derek?

 

1 minute ago, WDEagle said:

Yeah. Pictures not loading.

i have nudes of her guys but yalls hearts could not take it. grins

[Hank2020 3,215]

1 hour ago, aubiefifty said:

 

i have nudes of her guys but yalls hearts could not take it. grins

Now we know why you wake up so many times when you are supposed to be sleeping. Lol

seriously though, getting a sleep study with subsequent cpap machine was one of the best health helps, I have ever done. Hope yours works as well.