1.19.24 football Articles

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al.com

 

Auburn schedules A-Day spring football game for April 6

Updated: Jan. 18, 2024, 5:31 p.m.|Published: Jan. 18, 2024, 5:16 p.m.

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AUBURN, AL - April 08, 2023 - Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze during the 2023 A-Day Spring Game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL. Photo By Austin PerrymanAuburn University Athletics

Auburn will play its annual A-Day spring football game on April 6 this year, the school announced Thursday afternoon.

In addition to football, the A-Day weekend includes home games for baseball, softball and men’s tennis.

Baseball will host a series against Tennessee while softball will host the War Eagle Classic including games against Georgia Tech and Louisiana Tech.

This will be head coach Hugh Freeze’s second spring game at Auburn following last year’s rain-soaked A-Day game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

No kickoff time has been announced for the event.

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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si.com

 

Transfer Quarterback Takes Interest In Auburn Tigers On Social Media

Lance Dawe

~2 minutes

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The Auburn Tigers did not search very hard for a quarterback in the transfer portal.

With incumbent Payton Thorne returning for 2024 alongside underclassmen Holden Geriner, Hank Brown and Walker White, the Tigers seem to be somewhat content with their room heading into the spring.

That doesn't mean adding a quarterback is completely off of the table, however.

James Madison transfer Jordan McCloud has yet to find a new home after entering the portal on December 4th. Now, he seems to have taken interest in Auburn football on social media.

McCloud quote tweeted one of his receivers at JMU on Wednesday afternoon. An Auburn fan account tagged Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze in the replies, and McCloud liked the reply.

The former Dukes' signal-caller has also followed a couple of Auburn staffers and media members recently. McCloud now follows Freeze and newly hired offensive coordinator Derrick Nix.

McCloud has spent the last five seasons at three different schools. He started his career at South Florida, where he spent two seasons from 2019-20, before transferring to Arizona. He appeared in three games for the Wildcats in 2021, saw no action in 2022, and transferred to James Madison.

Over the course of his 36 career games, McCloud has completed 63.5% of his passes for 6,908 yards, 58 passing touchdowns and 25 interceptions. He also has 708 career rushing yards to go with 13 scores on the ground.

His best season came with JMU in 2023, where he completed 68.2% of his passes for 3,657 yards and 35 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. He also had eight rushing touchdow

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si.com

 

Fans Will Be Playing EA Sports College Football Video Game Again

Brian Smith

2–3 minutes

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The popular video game is coming back!

If you were once a fan of the EA Sports college football game, the same one that did not get released again after 2013 in large part because of Ed O'Bannon's lawsuit against the NCAA for the use of athlete's Name, Image, and Likeness, there's good news.

Yes, EA Sports is going to be releasing a new game. College football fans will be able to use some of their favorite players and have a blast. There are not many details about the game yet, but here's someone who has some release information.

According to David Waters, the host and creator of the Florida Gators podcast, the popular video game is indeed coming back.

He's not the only person who is chiming in about the game's start date, but again, this would be the beginning stages of finding out information. Here's a follow-up post by Matt Brown, a writer for Extra Points, a publication covering stories off the gridiron. Here's the follow-up to what Waters has in the above X post.

The exact date aside, here's where the fun begins. As someone who used to dominate in Madden as a kid, and before that, Tecmo Bowl was king with Auburn great Bo Jackson being the greatest individual video game athlete of all-time (oh, how my friends hated playing against me), consider the following two scenarios.

While fantasy football is a blast, there's nothing like having friends over and having a football video game tournament. If an Auburn fan or any college football fan has not done it, even as an adult, it's a great time!

Next, it's just good to get lost in a video game now and again just to have some fun. If it's for no more than an hour and just one time a week, the EA Sports College Football game will provide an avenue for people to get away from the stress of their lives.

Nobody seems to know the exact date just yet, but EA Sports rebranding its College Football game and producing it will be great for college football fans.

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si.com

Former Tigers Quarterback Will Transfer To SEC Program

Brian Smith

1–2 minutes

Former Auburn signal-caller to play for conference foe

In this story:

Auburn Tigers

The Auburn football team is moving forward without one of its quarterbacks, and a familiar SEC program will be the one to land him, per a report.

The Tigers' passing game is a prime reason for offensive struggles in 2023. The hope is that Year 2 under Hugh Freeze will help the Auburn passing game. 

As for the former Tiger, Robby Ashford is going to Columbia, S.C. to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks. From the 2023 football season, here are the statistics for Ashford per the Auburn athletic department.

In 2022, he went 14 of 27, 51.9%, 145 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Ashford is a tremendous athlete and also rushed 46 times for 247 yards, a 4.7 average, and 5 touchdowns.

Ashford is originally from Hoover (Ala.) High School. He will have one year of eligibility with South Carolina.

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247sports.com

 

How The Closer Keionte Scott became an important piece in Auburn recruiting

Christian Clemente

5–6 minutes

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When Hugh Freeze and Jake Thornton arrived in Auburn a short 13 months ago, the offensive line needed a serious overhaul after Gus Malzahn and Bryan Harsin combined to sign just 11 players from the high school ranks in the previous five years with only one true tackle in Colby Smith.

Starting in 2018, Auburn signed Kam Stutts and Jalil Irvin. In 2019 Auburn it was Keiondre Jones, Justin Osborne and Kamaar Bell. The following year in 2020, the Tigers signed Avery Jernigan, Tate Johnson and Jeremiah Wright. The next year Auburn signed Colby Smith and Garner Langlo. In 2022, E.J. Harris was the only offensive line addition.

With Stutts and Irvin moving on from last season along with one-year transfers Gunner Britton and Avery Jones, Auburn heads into the spring in much better shape thanks to the additions of three new tackles during the early signing period that are all on campus.

When you look at the offensive line, you have to start at center where sophomore Connor Lew returns following a strong first season with the Tigers when he earned freshman all-american honors by both 247Sports and ProFootball Focus. Lew started the final six games for the Tigers and cemented himself as one of the top young offensive linemen in the country.

Also at center for the Tigers are expected to be veteran Tate Johnson and redshirt freshman Bradyn Joiner. Johnson has experience at the position and has played well in his time on the field. Joiner was a player that improved throughout his first season and will have a shot to get into the rotation with a strong spring.

The guard position is one of the most interesting on the team because it likely includes last year’s starting left tackle Dillon Wade into the mix. With Auburn adding some much-needed help at tackle, Wade is expected to get a look inside at his natural position of guard. That could make this a position of strength for the Tigers with Jeremiah Wright and Jaden Muskrat both returning and capable of locking up a starting role themselves in the spring. Throw in sophomore E.J. Harris and Northwestern transfer Dylan Senda along with Tate Johnson and you have the potential to have a legitimate three-deep for the first time in more than a decade.

That list for the spring doesn’t even include 4-star signee DeAndre Carter, who will be on campus at the end of May. Playing for one of the top programs in the country, Carter is a talented young lineman that will have an opportunity to make an early impact at the guard position when he gets to Auburn.

Which brings us to offensive tackle, a sore spot for Auburn football for a long, long time. Last season showed some promise with Wade and Izavion Miller manning the starting jobs. While both of those players return, the plan all along has been to continue to recruit and eventually move Wade inside. That’s what is expected to happen this spring, but Wade could easily move back to tackle if needed. Now a year older and stronger, Miller should benefit greatly from an offseason in the weight room as he continues to develop on the field at right tackle. Also there at right tackle is redshirt freshman Clay Wedin, who has changed his body and should be much more prepared for life in the SEC after a season on the Plains.

What is interesting is seeing how things will shake out at left tackle for the Tigers because of three newcomers and redshirt freshman Tyler Johnson. You have to start with Johnson because nobody on the roster made more of a jump in year one that he did. Listed at 6-6, 304 last year, Johnson is now around 315 and was impressive late in the season and bowl practices. He’ll go into the spring as one of the guys in serious consideration to be the starting left tackle, but for the first time in years there will be true competition.

A massive 6-8, 345-pounder from Mississippi State, Percy Lewis transferred in this January and brings with him seven starts at left tackle for the Bulldogs while playing in all 12 games a season ago. One of Thornton’s top targets coming out of junior college before heading to Starkville, Lewis will be a player to watch this spring.

Another newcomer is big Seth Wilfred from Snow College in Utah. Playing one season there after coming out of powerhouse Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas, the 6-6, 305 Wilfred is a physical blocker that is just scratching the surface of his skills as an offensive lineman. With three years of eligibility remaining, he could be a building block of the future for the Tigers.

The same is true of high school signee Favour Edwin. Coming from Nigeria as a basketball player, he’ll follow the same path as former Auburn and NFL player Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. by moving to football and playing offensive tackle. Looking more like a power forward when he visited Auburn over the summer, Edwin is now listed at 6-6, 300 but is closer to 320 already as he transforms his body following his first season of football.

Spring practices are tentatively scheduled to begin the last week of February, a week before Auburn’s spring break.

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Evaluating new Auburn OC RBs coach Derrick Nix as a recruiter

Christian Clemente

7–8 minutes

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Taking a look at some of Derrick Nix's biggest recruiting wins.

Auburn has its new offensive coordinator, with Derrick Nix making the jump from Ole Miss. Serving as the running backs coach and most recently the wide receivers coach for the Rebels, Nix is expected to serve as Auburn's running backs coach along with his title as offensive coordinator.

Nix also arrives as an important recruiter for the Auburn staff. Originally from Atallia, Alabama, Nix has made his money in the state of Mississippi as a recruiter. He played college football at Southern Miss. Most of his recruiting wins have come in the Magnolia State, a place where Hugh Freeze and his staff have already tried to tap into.

Evaluating the biggest recruiting wins for Nix on the trail:

 

LB Suntarine Perkins

 

Ranking: 5-star, No. 14 overall, No. 1 LB, No. 1 MS

From: Raleigh, Mississippi

Recruiter: Primary (only coach listed)

Other schools involved: Alabama

 

RB Jerrion Ealy

 

Ranking: 5-star, No. 29 overall, No. 3 RB, No. 3 MS

From: Jackson Prep, Mississippi

Recruiter: Primary

Other schools involved: Alabama, Clemson, Mississippi State

 

S Tony Conner

 

Ranking: 5-star, No. 33 overall, No. 5 S, No. 2 MS

From: South Panola, Mississippi

Recruiter: Primary

Other schools involved: Alabama, Mississippi State

 

OL Rod Taylor

 

Ranking: No. 47 overall, No. 2 OG, No. 1 MS

From: Callaway, Mississippi

Recruiter: Primary

Other schools involved: LSU

 

WR Ayden Williams

 

Ranking: No. 89 overall, No. 16 WR, No. 2 MS

From: Ridgeland, Mississippi

Recruiter: Primary (only coach listed)

Other schools involved: Georgia, LSU, South Carolina

 

RB Eric Swinney

 

Ranking: No. 121 overall, No. 14 RB, No. 14 GA

From: Sandy Creek, Georgia

Recruiter: Secondary

Other schools involved: Florida State, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee

 

DL Zxavian Harris

 

Ranking: No. 136 overall, No. 20 DL, No. 4 MS

From: Germantown, Mississippi

Recruiter: Secondary

Other schools involved: N/A

 

RB Kailo Moore

 

Ranking: No. 150 overall, No. 7 RB, No. 3 MS

From: West Bolivar Dist, Mississippi

Recruiter: Primary (only coach listed)

Other schools involved: Mississippi State

 

WR Vincent Sanders

 

Ranking: No. 174 overall, No. 23 WR, No. 3 MS

From: Noxubee County, Mississippi

Recruiter: Primary (only coach listed)

Other schools involved: N/A

 

WR Bralon Brown

 

Ranking: No. 179 overall, No. 31 WR, No. 26 FL

From: St. Thomas Aquinas, Florida

Recruiter: Secondary

Other schools involved: N/A

 

DT Breeland Speaks

 

Ranking: No. 195 overall, No. 17 DL, No. 4 MS

From: Callaway, Mississippi

Recruiter: Primary

Other schools involved: Arkansas, LSU

 

WDE Carlos Thompson

 

Ranking: No. 206 overall, No. 13 WDE, No. 5 MS

From: Simmons, Mississippi

Recruiter: Primary (only coach listed)

Other schools involved: N/A

 

WR Jonathan Mingo

 

Ranking: No. 216 overall, No. 32 WR, No. 12 MS

From: Brandon, Mississippi

Recruiter: Primary

Other schools involved: Georgia, Mississippi State

 

RB Jordan Wilkins

 

Ranking: No. 223 overall, No. 10 RB, No. 6 TN

From: St. Benedict at Auburndale, Tennessee

Recruiter: Secondary

Other schools involved: Auburn, Vanderbilt

 

RB D'Vaugn Pennamon

 

Ranking: No. 237 overall, No. 6 RB, No. 36 TX

From: Manvel, Texas

Recruiter: Secondary

Other schools involved: Alabama, Arkansas, Cal, Texas A&M

 

RB Mark Dodson

 

Ranking: No. 230 overall, No. 17 RB, No. 7 TN

From: Whitehaven, Tennessee

Recruiter: Primary

Other schools involved: N/A

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Derrick Nix named new Auburn OC, running backs coach

Nix was on all five of Freeze’s assistant staffs at Ole Miss

Hugh Freeze has checked off a couple offensive coaching needs with an old friend from his Ole Miss days and a familiar name in the State of Alabama with Derrick Nix expected to be named as Auburn's new offensive coordinator, Auburn Undercover was informed Wednesday morning.

Nix will also coach running backs, which became a vacancy for the Tigers when Cadillac Williams stepped down from the staff last Thursday.

“I’m really excited to reunite with Derrick here at Auburn,” Freeze said. “He is an outstanding recruiter and coach who has nearly two decades of experience in the Southeastern Conference. Derrick knows the level of excellence required to be successful in this league and I know he’s looking forward to the opportunity to help develop a winning program at Auburn.”

The Ole Miss wide receivers coach was considered by Freeze as an offensive coordinator candidate last year and is now set to join Auburn's offensive staff for the 2024 season. Nix was on all five of Freeze’s assistant staffs with the Rebels, serving as running backs coach.

He’s been on staff at Ole Miss since 2008 and has obviously helped contribute to a number of prolific offensive seasons, both under Freeze and Lane Kiffin. Nix coached running backs for the Rebels from 2008-19 and wide receivers since 2020. He added assistant head coach to his title in 2022.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity at Auburn and to get back on staff with Coach Freeze,” Nix said. “Having worked with him before, I have a strong understanding of what he wants offensively as well as culture wise. Fundamentally, we want to be a fast, physical and fearless offensive scoring unit. I’m also looking forward to rejoining Coach Austin after working with him at Ole Miss for two years. Growing up in the state of Alabama, I understand what Auburn is about. I have vivid memories as a kid following the likes of Bo Jackson, Stan White and the undefeated team in 1993. I’m excited to be a part of the rich tradition of Auburn football and can’t wait to get started.”

The Alabama native grew up in Atalla and was a standout running back at Etowah High School and played in the same backfield as Williams for one season. Nix went on to play running back at Southern Miss, then spent time at his alma mater as an assistant, followed by one year in a quality control role with the Atlanta Falcons before being hired at Ole Miss in 2008.

In addition to Nix joining the staff, Auburn is also expected to make another move with Kent Austin coaching the quarterbacks for the Tigers after he served as a "special assistant to the head coach" this past season in an off-the-field role for Auburn's offense.

Austin has been on staff under Freeze since 2019, when he was hired as Liberty’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He then came with Freeze to Auburn as a special assistant to the head coach, serving as an assistant QB coach to Freeze and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery, who was fired earlier this month.

A standout quarterback at Ole Miss in the early 1980's before a long career in the CFL, Austin has coached in Canada as both a coordinator and a head coach. He's also spent time as the OC at Ole Miss and the head coach at Cornell from 2010-2012. 

Freeze fired offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery earlier this month after one season. The second-year Auburn head coach is expected to call his own plays in 2024.

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i hope you folks are warm. i feel like a dang popsicle.

[Mikey 16,612]

1 hour ago, aubiefifty said:

i hope you folks are warm. i feel like a dang popsicle.

Not bad yet here in Tallapoosa County. Temps hanging around 40degrees. National Weather Service is predicting 9 degrees here tomorrow morning and eight degrees Sunday morning. That's getting well into the danger zone.

[SaltyTiger 7,813]

15 minutes ago, Mikey said:

Not bad yet here in Tallapoosa County. Temps hanging around 40degrees. National Weather Service is predicting 9 degrees here tomorrow morning and eight degrees Sunday morning. That's getting well into the danger zone.

Windchill or actually. Auburn forecast at 21 in morning.

[SaltyTiger 7,813]

1 hour ago, aubiefifty said:

i hope you folks are warm. i feel like a dang popsicle.

40 damp and wind here. I walked out a little earlier……turned around and came back in.

Thanx for the Tiger Talk post.

[Mikey 16,612]

4 hours ago, SaltyTiger said:

Windchill or actually. Auburn forecast at 21 in morning.

Supposedly actual. Weather Service is predicting 9 degrees in the morning, local weather is calling for 19. That's one whale of a difference.

[AU120289 379]

36 minutes ago, Mikey said:

Supposedly actual. Weather Service is predicting 9 degrees in the morning, local weather is calling for 19. That's one whale of a difference.

Freeze Warning? 🤣

[SaltyTiger 7,813]

1 hour ago, Mikey said:

Supposedly actual. Weather Service is predicting 9 degrees in the morning, local weather is calling for 19. That's one whale of a difference.

9 degrees sounds hurtful.