12.13.23 Football Articles

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al.com

 

Auburn defensive lineman Marcus Harris declares for NFL Draft

Updated: Dec. 12, 2023, 7:59 p.m.|Published: Dec. 12, 2023, 7:58 p.m.

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After a first-team All-SEC season as one of the best interior defensive lineman in the nation, Marcus Harris announced he will enter the NFL Draft with a social media post Tuesday night.

Harris transferred to Auburn from Kansas after the 2020 season and progressively improved as a three-year starter at Auburn leading to a breakout 2023 season. Harris led Auburn with seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss. His 40 tackles were by far the most among any Auburn defensive lineman.

Harris did have the ability to return in 2024 for one final college season, but chose to go professional now after such a productive year. His post did not address if he will sit out Auburn’s upcoming trip to the Music City Bowl where it will face Maryland on Dec. 30.

The defensive lineman was one of the key leaders on the Auburn defense under a new coaching staff. He was one of the biggest reasons for Auburn’s overall defensive turnaround this year — especially against the run which was expected to be a concern for Auburn this season.

Pro Football Focus graded Harris as a top-20 defensive lineman in the nation this season.

Losing Harris does leave Auburn with a thin defensive line as things stand going into next season. Justin Rogers will see a greatly increased role next season and reserves like Quientrail Jamison-Travis to step up and freshmen like Harris’ younger brother Malik Blocton to make an early impact. Auburn has also pursued interior defensive linemen in the transfer portal.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Toledo OL Vinny Sciury schedules visit with Auburn

Taylor Jones

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Auburn football is looking to boost its passing efficiency by adding wide receivers and possibly another quarterback from the transfer portal. The Tigers are also trying to add protection for pass plays to develop correctly.

 According to a report by Christian Clemente of Auburn Undercover, former Toledo offensive lineman Vinny Sciury is set to visit the Plains this weekend.

Sciury was considered to be the No. 67 overall recruit from Ohio during the 2020 recruiting cycle, and the No. 113 overall guard according to 247Sports. However, the Massillon, Ohio native has boosted his stock in the four seasons that he has been a part of the Toledo Rockets’ roster.

Sciury was the Rockets’ top-graded pass blocker this season according to Pro Football Focus, with a grade of 89.4, which ranks No. 12 nationally. He was second on the team in snaps with 838, and he was involved in 378 plays where quarterback pressure could occur. He performed well in those situations by allowing just one sack and seven total quarterback pressures.

Auburn had great success in boosting its offensive line last season through the transfer portal and is looking to continue that success this season. Auburn has added JUCO offensive line transfer Seth Wilfred to its 2024 class and has also hosted Memphis OL Mack Pounders for a visit.

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 Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

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si.com

 

Auburn Football 2024 Transfer Portal Commitments

Lance Dawe

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The second offseason of the Hugh Freeze era is officially underway.

The Tigers, who finished 6-6 in Freeze's first year at the helm, will look to build on the recruiting momentum the staff has begun to create.

Auburn did a phenomenal job in the portal in 2023 after Freeze arrived last November. Its 2023 transfer portal class finished No. 5 nationally and climbed as high as No. 2. The Tigers nabbed a quarterback, receivers, and a multitude of linemen to help try and revamp a sputtering roster.

They're likely going to try and land as many prospects as possible for both sides of the ball again.

Here's a look at Auburn's 2024 transfer portal additions. We will continue to update this page as more commits come, so feel free to bookmark this article when future players are added.

Transfer Portal Rankings

247Sports: No. 29

On3: No. 8

WR Robert Lewis (Georgia State)

The former three-star prospect made Third-Team All-Sun Belt in 2023 after collecting 70 receptions for 877 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Lewis' best performance of the season came early against Charlotte, where the 5-foot-11 wideout hauled in six passes for 220 yards and two scores.

“I feel like Auburn is the right fit for me because of the scheme that they run could fit with me,” Lewis told On3. “While talking about football with Coach Davis, we were really on the same page about a lot of things regarding my tape. We were both saying the same thing but in different verbiage. Also with the role I will be tasked with while being in the receiver room, I feel like I could help boost them to another level.”

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saturdaydownsouth.com

 

Auburn cornerback, former top 200 recruit, reportedly enters transfer portal

Kevin L. Smith | 17 hours ago

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A former top 200 recruit has reportedly made his way into the transfer portal.

According to 247Sports, Auburn cornerback Austin Ausberry has entered the transfer portal after 2 seasons with the Tigers.

Auburn defensive back Austin Ausberry has entered the transfer portal, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @247sports.

Was a Class of 2022 top-200 recruit.https://t.co/6Cw7NKmknb pic.twitter.com/jE2yfGOTcu

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 12, 2023

Ausberry committed to Auburn on Dec. 13, 2021 and signed his letter of intent a couple of days later. He considered other SEC schools like Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, LSU and Kentucky before choosing the Tigers. In his 2 seasons with Auburn, Ausberry recorded just two tackles.

Prior to his time with the Tigers, Ausberry was a 3-star recruit, according to 247Sports. The 6-foot defensive back was picked up by Auburn out of University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Auburn went 6-6 during the regular season. After a 3-0 start to the season, Tigers lost 4 straight then went on a 3-game win streak. Auburn proceeded to drop its final 2 games of the regular season, including a 27-24 heartbreaker to Alabama in the annual Iron Bowl on Nov. 25.

Despite a roller coaster season, Auburn became bowl eligible. The team is scheduled to face Maryland in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 at 2 pm ET on ABC.

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theplainsman.com

 

Auburn adds JUCO OT Seth Wilfred

 

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Auburn took a step in the right direction in retooling its offensive line Monday afternoon after landing the commitment of JUCO offensive lineman Seth Wilfred.

Wilfred, who previously attended Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, announced his commitment to Hugh Freeze and the Tigers on social media.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 295 pounds, Wilfred is listed as an offensive tackle according to recruiting websites and fielded other offers from Iowa State, Houston, Arizona State and others.

Wilfred won't be the only player on next season's roster who joined the Snow College to Auburn pipeline as defensive back Keionte Scott, who announced his return to Auburn on Monday, also came to the Plains from Snow College.

Wilfred joins 4-star interior offensive lineman DeAndre Carter as the two offensive line commitments Auburn has in the 2024 class. As for departures, guards Jalil Irvin, Kam Stutts and Gunner Britton are all out of eligibility as well as center Avery Jones.

Auburn currently boasts the No. 11 nationally-rated recruiting class for the 2024 cycle according to 247Sports as the early signing day approaches on Dec. 20.

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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247sports.com

 

Auburn center Connor Lew named 247Sports Freshman AllAmerican

Nathan King

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One of Auburn's most anticipated offensive pieces for the future is closing out his first season with some big accolades.

True freshman Connor Lew was named to the 247Sports Freshman All-American team on Tuesday. A native of Kennesaw, Georgia, Lew took over starting duties for the Tigers in the second half of the season and performed well in five starts.

"Auburn was forced to throw Lew into the starting lineup in the middle of SEC play after center Avery Jones was injured," 247Sports' Chris Hummer said. "It worked out really well. Lew started the final five games of the season for the Tigers, allowing no sacks and three pressures during that five-game stretch. He also helped an excellent Auburn rushing attack to keep rolling."

Jones, an East Carolina transfer, started the first seven games of the season at center before suffering a lower-body injury in the first half of Auburn's loss to Ole Miss in Week 8. Lew stepped in and ended being the highest-rated pass-blocker on the team, according to Pro Football Focus. He did not allow a sack and gave up only three QB pressures in six SEC games.

Lew was a late flip from Miami by Hugh Freeze and his staff shortly after they were hired at Auburn. The Tigers have been on Lew's potential since he arrived on campus in the spring, and he was even able to garner some occasional first-team reps in preseason camp.

"He's athletic, he's strong and he can do everything we have to do," guard Tate Johnson said this year. "And he plays super hard. I can't say enough good things about Connor and he's got such a bright future here."

Even when Jones got healthier down the stretch of the season, Auburn stuck with Lew at center, and he's now positioned as the team's returning starter moving into the 2024 season. Starting tackles Dillon Wade and Izavion Miller are also back, and the Tigers are mining the transfer portal to help fill in the gaps at guard, where Gunner Britton and Kam Stutts are moving on.

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247sports.com

 

5star Williams added to AlabamaMississippi roster

Jason Caldwell

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A busy week for 5-star wide receiver Ryan Williams got even busier on Tuesday with the announcement from the Alabama High School Athletic Association that the Saraland standout has been added to the roster for this weekend’s Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic.

Currently committed to Alabama, Williams was originally in the 2025 class before reclassifying to 2024 on Monday. Alabama’s Mr. Football in 2022 as a sophomore, Williams capped off his Saraland career in style last Friday night in Tuscaloosa.

In a losing effort to Clay-Chalkville in the 6A title game, he had 12 catches for 236 yards and two TDs, one rushing score and an 85-yard kickoff return for a fourth TD in the Spartans’ 31-28 loss to Clay-Chalkville in the 6A finals. His prep career totals include 72 catches this season for 1,324 yards and 19 TDs. In 39 games, he has caught 187 passes for 3,254 yards and 47 scores. He also has 24 career rushing TDs, three punt returns and kickoff for scores – giving him 71 total TDs.

Williams will play alongside a trio of Auburn wide receiver commitments in Saturday’s game in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.

Fellow 5-star Perry Thompson from Foley along with 4-stars Malcolm Simmons from Benjamin Russell and Bryce Cain from Baker High in Mobile will also be playing in the game with Williams for a loaded wide receiver group for Alabama.

Clay-Chalkville wide receiver Mario Craver, a recent commitment to Mississippi State, is another one of the wide receiver in the game along with Jywon Boyd from Charles Henderson in Troy and Ja’Marcus Prince from Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.

Also scheduled to play in the game are Auburn commitments Malik Blocton and Kaleb Harris on the Alabama defense and Jamonta Waller for the Mississippi team.

Following the noon kickoff on Saturday, several of the players are expected to travel to Auburn to attend the Sunday basketball game vs. USC at Neville Arena. Williams is among the players expected to be in town.

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