1.29.24 Football Articles

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Senior Bowl 2024: Practice schedule, players to watch

Published: Jan. 29, 2024, 6:00 a.m.

7–9 minutes

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It’s officially 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl week, as more than 100 of the country’s top NFL draft hopefuls descend on Mobile for several days of practice and other events leading up to Saturday’s annual all-star game.

This year marks the 75th Senior Bowl, which is sponsored by the NFL Players Association. Practices — which are once again free and open to the public — run Tuesday-Thursday at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the South Alabama campus, with other special events set for Friday and Saturday. (A full practice schedule appears below).

In addition to the top senior players from across the country, this year’s game for the first time features third-year juniors who have chosen to enter the NFL draft. More than a dozen juniors are set to take place in the 2024 Senior Bowl, making it arguably the most talent-rich in the game’s recent history.

The Senior Bowl is also recognizing a 75th anniversary team, whose members will enter the stadium prior to kickoff on Saturday and be formally recognized at halftime. Among the big names on the team are Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Shaun Alexander, LaDainian Tomlinson, Terrell Owens, Michael Strahan, Cornelius Bennett, Derrick Brooks and Pat McAfee (not all team members are scheduled to appear).

Speaking of the Senior Bowl legends, the first 5,000 fans to enter the stadium on game day will receive one of five bobbleheads — Dan Marino, Cornelius Bennett, Shaun Alexander, Demarcus Ware or Aaron Donald.

Former Alabama running back Shaun Alexander is a member of the Senior Bowl's 75th anniversary team. Alexander played in the 2000 Senior Bowl before embarking on a record-setting career with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. (AP Photo/Caroline Baird)AR- AP

Mobile’s Jennifer Shirley will sing the national anthem prior to kickoff, with pre-game and halftime entertainment provided by Talladega College’s Great Tornado Band. The Saints Cheer Krewe will also be on-hand for game day festivities.

There is once again a free concert in at Mardi Gras Park in downtown Mobile in conjunction with the Senior Bowl, but this year’s show — featuring Counting Crows — takes place on Saturday night after the game rather than on Friday as in the past. The Senior Bowl’s 75th anniversary gala is Friday night this year, as is the annual players Mardi Gras parade.

Here’s everything else you need to know for the 2024 Senior Bowl (all times Central).

Game information

When: Saturday, Feb. 3, noon

Where: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile

TV: NFL Network

Tickets: From $15. Visit www.seniorbowl.com/tickets.

Format: Players are split into American and National teams. Most of the in-state favorites (including those from Alabama, Auburn and South Alabama) will play for the American team, though a few (including Bo Nix and the Troy players) are on the National team.

Head coaches: Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Terrell Williams will serve as head coach of the American team, while New York Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will direct the National team.

Cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett, left, and defensive lineman Marcus Harris are among four Auburn players in this year's Senior Bowl. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com) Mike Kittrell/AL.com

Who’s in the game

Alabama players (3): DL Chris Braswell, DL Justin Eboigbe, K Will Reichard (Hoover)

Auburn players (4): DL Marcus Harris (Park Crossing), CB D.J. James (Spanish Fort), CB Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson), SAF Jaylin Simpson

Others from in-state schools (3): QB Carter Bradley, South Alabama; DE Javon Solomon, Troy; RB Kimani Vidal, RB

Others with in-state ties (7): CB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri (Spanish Fort); WR Javon Baker, Central Florida (Alabama transfer); OL Javion Cohen, Miami (Central-Phenix City/Alabama transfer); CB Khyree Jackson, Oregon (Alabama transfer); DL Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss (Davidson); LS William Mote, Georgia (Spain Park); QB Bo Nix (Pinson Valley/Auburn transfer)

Former Washington quarterback Michael Penix, the 2023 Heisman Trophy runner-up, is set to play in this year's Reese's Senior Bowl. (AP photo Lindsey Wasson)AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Other top players to watch

• In addition to Nix, fellow Heisman finalist Michael Penix of Washington is also in this year’s Senior Bowl. Penix led the country in passing yards (4,903) this season, in addition to 36 touchdowns (third behind Nix and Heisman winner Jayden Daniels of LSU).

• There are eight players from national champion Michigan in Mobile this week: tight end AJ Barner, wide receiver Roman Wilson, offensive linemen LaDarius Henderson and Trevor Keegan, defensive linemen Jaylen Harrell and Braiden McGregor, linebacker Michael Barrett and cornerback Mike Sainristil. Runner-up Washington is represented by Penix, linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio and offensive linemen Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten.

• All-American Cody Schrader of Missouri headlines the running back group along with Kentuck’s Ray Davis and Tennessee Jaylen Wright. Schrader, a former walk-on out of Division II Truman State, led the SEC with 1,627 rushing yards in 2023.

• The offensive line is once again loaded with potential early-round picks, including centers Jackson Powers-Johnson of Oregon and Sedrick Van Pran of Georgia, guards Cooper Beebe of Kansas State and Christian Haynes of Connecticut and tackles Fautanu, Tyler Guyton of Oklahoma and Taliese Fuaga of Oregon State.

• Top defensive linemen include Texas A&M’s McKinnley Jackson, Clemson’s Tyler Davis, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and the Texas duo of T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy. Sweat won the 2023 Outland Trophy as the country’s top interior lineman, while Latu won the Lombardi Award as the top on-ball defender and the Ted Hendricks Award as the top defensive end.

• Other national award winners in this year’s Senior Bowl include Penix (Maxwell Award), Powers-Johnson (Rimington Trophy), North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson (Butkus Award, Chuck Bednarik Award) and Iowa punter Tory Taylor (Ray Guy Award). Nix won the Campbell Trophy, the academic equivalent of the Heisman.

Former Auburn and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is set to play in this year's Reese's Senior Bowl. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com) Mike Kittrell/AL.com

Tuesday, Jan. 30

National team — 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. American team — noon-2 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 31

National team — 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. American team — noon-2 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 1

National team — 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. American team — noon-2 p.m.

*— all practices are free and open to the public

Grammy-nominated artists Counting Crows will perform this year's free Senior Bowl concert on Saturday night at Mardi Gras Park. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)Amy Harris/Invision/AP

Other events of note

Wednesday, Jan. 31

Special Spectator Senior Bowl Reunion, featuring Philip Rivers (ticket required)

Moe’s Original BBQ, downtown Mobile

6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Rally (ticket required)

Mobile Civic Center

6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 2

Senior Bowl Players Mardi Gras Parade (free)

Downtown Mobile Entertainment District, Dauphin Street

6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 3

Senior Bowl Fan Fest (free)

Outside Hancock Whitney Stadium

9:30 a.m.

Path to the Draft Team Walk

Parking Lot 105

9:45 a.m.

75th Anniversary Team Entrance

Parking Lot 105

11 a.m.

2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl (ticket required)

Hancock Whitney Stadium

noon

Senior Bowl Concert featuring Counting Crows (free)

Mardi Gras Park, downtown Mobile

8 p.m.

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Auburn dubbed a ‘transfer portal winner’ by The Athletic

Taylor Jones

Sun, January 28, 2024 at 12:00 PM CST·2 min read

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Auburn’s coaching staff is working hard to fill key areas with transfer portal additions, and are currently succeeding.

The Tigers will have added a talented wide receiver, a sturdy offensive lineman, and several solid defensive additions which should help boost its stock in the upcoming 2024 season. The haul has been impressive so far, and outlets such as The Athletic are taking notice.

Manny Navarro of The Athletic recently revealed his winners and losers from the SEC when it comes to their activity in the transfer portal. At the front of the “winners” list is Auburn. Navarro says the Tigers’ transfer additions have outweighed their departures.

Auburn’s recruiting has been on the uptick since Hugh Freeze took over. The 2024 class ranks No. 8 after the early signing period and the Tigers are also bringing in quality talent in the portal. Among the notable additions are former Georgia State standout receiver Robert Lewis (70 catches, 877 yards in 2023), ex-Mississippi State left tackle Percy Lewis (seven starts in 2023), former Texas and Minnesota defensive tackle Trill Carter (31 career starts), ex-Duke linebacker Dorian Mausi (27 starts) and former Texas safety Jerrin Thompson (31 starts).

Those pickups outweigh the losses of 2022 starting quarterback Robby Ashford (South Carolina) and linebacker Cam Riley and safety Donovan Kaufman, who both ranked in the top 11 on the team in tackles last season and haven’t found new landing spots yet.

 

Antonio Kite (CB-Alabama), Jerrin Thompson (S-Texas), Percy Lewis (OT-Mississippi State), and rico walker (TE-Maryland) are the most notable transfer additions for Auburn so far, as they all join the roster as four-star transfers according to 247Sports.

Joining Auburn as “winners” include Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Missouri. Arkansas and Florida were teams who “broke even”, while Alabama, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt joined the “losers” category.

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__

Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

 

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Hugh Freeze talks staff changes at Auburn, offers update on defensive coordinator search

Published: Jan. 29, 2024, 11:15 a.m.

~4 minutes

AUBURN, AL - December 20, 2023 - Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze speaks to the media during a press conference on National Signing Day at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL. Photo by Austin PerrymanAustin Perryman

After a notable staff shakeup within Auburn’s football program, head coach Hugh Freeze finally broke his silence Friday afternoon during an appearance at the Alabama Football Coaches Association Convention in Montgomery.

Caught in the lobby of the Embassy Suites hotel by WSFA 12′s Seth Carpenter, Freeze offered up a few words about Auburn’s offseason full of staff changes, first addressing his decision to bring aboard former Ole Miss associate head coach and wide receivers coach Derrick Nix as Auburn’s next offensive coordinator and running backs coach.

“My history with D-Nix goes back to our Ole Miss days,” Freeze said. “He’s an incredible man, No. 1, and he’s an incredible recruiter. Excited about having someone who knows our system to be able to add great value to our offense.”

Freeze and Nix previously worked together at Ole Miss, where Nix served as the Rebels’ running backs coach throughout Freeze’s five-year tenure in Oxford.

The hiring of Nix was announced on Jan. 17, just six days after the shocking resignation of former Auburn associate head coach and running backs coach Cadillac Williams, and 12 days after Freeze announced he wouldn’t be retaining offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery.

And considering part of Montgomery’s role was overseeing Auburn’s quarterbacks, Freeze also needed to locate a quarterback coach to fill the void. Fortunately for Freeze, he didn’t need to look far as he went on to elevate Kent Austin from assistant to the head coach/quality control to quarterbacks coach.

News of Austin’s promotion came at the same time of Nix’s hiring.

“Kent’s the best quarterbacks coach I’ve ever been around,” Freeze said Friday. “Fundamentally, execution, coverage recognition and obviously a great comfort level having done that with him for four years at Liberty.”

Austin served as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during Freeze’s entire four-year tenure at Liberty and helped develop former Auburn quarterback Malik Willis into a third-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

And while Freeze has made efforts to quickly fill the openings on his staff, also adding former Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly as Auburn’s co-defensive coordinator, there’s still one vacancy to be filled: Auburn’s second co-defensive coordinator.

Freeze’s hunt for a second defensive coordinator comes after Ron Roberts jumped ship to Florida after serving one season as Auburn’s defensive coordinator, as well as the resignation of defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge, who recently accepted a similar role at Houston.

“Good, a lot of interest,” Freeze said Friday when asked how the search has been going. “Difficult decision, need to get it right and still working through that.”

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