3.7.24 Football Articles

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si.com

Auburn freshman shared what he likes about the new defensive system

Andrew Stefaniak

~2 minutes

Year one of Hugh Freeze as the head coach at Auburn came and went quickly, and we have seen a bunch of turnover from last year's staff. 

Some coaches moved on to the NFL, like defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett, while others left for new jobs in college. Auburn's defensive coordinator from a year ago, Ron Roberts, left to coach the Florida Gators, which left a vacancy at that position. Hugh Freeze went on to hire former Texas A&M defensive coordinator DJ Durkin to take over the defense. 

Last season at Texas A&M, Durkin's defense led the SEC in sacks with 42, which was good for 7th best in all of college football. Auburn would love to get more pressure on the quarterback this season, so hopefully, Coach Durkin can help with that in his first season on the Plains. 

Freshman defensive lineman Malik Blocton had this to say about Durkin's defense on the Locked On Auburn Podcast, "It's a really great defense. We're doing a lot of moving. A lot of stunts. We're going to be playing fast. We're going to be getting up field. We're going to be making plays in the backfield. That's what I like." 

Movement across the defensive line and front seven can make things difficult for the offensive line to get everyone blocked and could be a big reason why Durkin's defense a season ago had so many sacks. If Auburn's defensive line and entire defense can learn this quickly, you could see Auburn put up a lot more sacks than they had a year ago. 

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247sports.com

SEC coaching tiers Alabama Georgia headline conference rankings for all 16 football staffs

Grant Hughes

20–26 minutes

These SEC teams are led by some of the nation's most elite staffs.

The SEC is home to arguably the greatest collection of coaching staffs of any conference in college football, and Late Kick host Josh Pate ranked all 16 into four tiers for the upcoming season. The rankings factor in head coaches, coordinators and support staff and emphasizes experience and past success.

“Experience matters a whole lot in these tiers,” Pate said. “We heavily value games coached. Grading starts at the top with the head coach and goes down to the coordinators and then the position coaches. It is amazing to see how much staff movement there is in modern-day college football any given year. Can you keep your coaches? If you don’t, how well can you hire replacements?”

The league boasts eight of the 15 highest-paid coaches in the sport, the most of any conference in the nation. Seven coaches nationally are set to make $10+ million next season, with three of those coaching in the SEC. LSU’s Brian Kelly just missed the cut at $9.9 million annually.

30% off annual VIP membership! Get the latest football and recruiting scoop on your favorite college team today.

Here are the SEC’s coaching staff tiers, according to Pate:

(Photo: Dana Robertson, 247Sports)

TIER FOUR: VANDERBILT COMMODORES

Head Coach: Clark Lea

Offensive Coordinator: Tim Beck

Defensive Coordinator: Nick Howell

TIER FOUR: MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

Head Coach: Jeff Lebby

Defensive Coordinator: Coleman Hutzler

Pate: "Jeff Lebby has never been a head coach before. There's not a lot of experience on the staff. Coleman Hutzler doesn't have experience at defensive coordinator. It's a wait-and-see approach. Lebby is a top 1% play-caller in terms of pace of play. When you combine that with a first-time defensive coordinator, it normally does not bode well."

(Photo: Ryan Bethea, 247Sports)

TIER FOUR: ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

Head Coach: Sam Pittman

Offensive Coordinator: Bobby Petrino 

Defensive Coordinator: Travis Williams

TIER FOUR: SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

Head Coach: Shane Beamer

Offensive Coordinator: Dowell Loggains

Defensive Coordinator: Clayton White

Pate: "South Carolina is not in the top three tiers. The staff has 452 games of coaching experience combined. That makes them the least-experienced staff in the SEC. That matters. That means you need patience. It could be a really good staff but we just don't know it. Shane Beamer could have the best staff in the SEC or he could have the worst staff in the SEC. Their staff grades also dropped in all three coaching sectors."

TIER THREE: KENTUCKY WILDCATS

(Photo: Getty)

Head Coach: Mark Stoops

Offensive Coordinator: Bush Hamdan 

Defensive Coordinator: Brad White

Pate: "Mark Stoops did some work. Since the season ended, Kentucky had the biggest offensive support staff increase in the SEC. They went and got Daikiel Shorts Jr. at wide receivers coach. He's a big time upgrade. Their their total staff grade at Kentucky is up over 4%. They had an excellent cycle. They also went and got offensive line coach Eric Wolford back from Alabama but Shorts is really the big-time hire we have circled."

TIER THREE: OKLAHOMA SOONERS

(Photo: BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Sports)

Head Coach: Brent Venables

Offensive Coordinator: Seth Littrell 

Defensive Coordinator: Jay Valai

Pate: "Oklahoma is a tier three coaching staff in the SEC. Their overall staff grade increased 14% from last year. Brent Venables' head coaching grade accounted for a lot of that. His head coaching grade increased. Their offensive support staff dipped. Their defensive support staff grade rose. They made a monster special teams coordinator hire in Doug Deacon. There should have been a 17-way bidding war for him. He did not have a ton of major offers. Watch him pay dividends immediately."

TIER THREE: FLORIDA GATORS

(Photo: Kim Klement, Getty)

Head Coach: Billy Napier

Offensive Coordinator: Rob Sale

Defensive Coordinator: Austin Armstrong

Pate: "The Florida Gators have a tier three coaching staff in the SEC. They had a big-time shuffle down there. They upgraded coaches at defensive backs and outside linebackers. The defensive line change did drop their overall defensive support staff grade. Defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong saw his grade drop last year. That brought the overall staff grade down pretty significantly. I'm very interested to see what this staff does. Florida has a pretty solid staff." 

TIER THREE: TEXAS A&M AGGIES

(Photo: Texas A&M Athletics )

Head Coach: Mike Elko 

Offensive Coordinator: Collin Klein

Defensive Coordinator: Jay Bateman

Pate: "Texas A&M has got an entirely new staff. We've initially got it pegged as a tier three staff in the SEC. It's the second-biggest offensive support staff jump behind Kentucky in the conference. They got better on the offensive side of the ball. I'm waiting to see who calls the defense. Mike Elko is the new head coach there, and Jay Bateman is the new defensive coordinator. The model tells me if Elko is the one call on the defense, it would be worth a lot more in defensive staff grade than if Bateman was. It's not down on Bateman; it's just way up on Elko. They have an excellent foundation."

TIER TWO: MISSOURI TIGERS

(Photo: Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports)

Head Coach: Eli Drinkwitz

Offensive Coordinator: Kirby Moore

Defensive Coordinator: DJ Smith

Pate: "Missouri is a tier two coaching staff in the SEC. We were sky-high on defensive line coach Kevin Peeples and defensive coordinator Blake Baker. They both went to LSU. That's a massive drop-off. Peeples alone is a huge, rockstar name in the future of coaching. But Eli Drinkwitz goes down to Houston and (hires) Brian Early. We grade Early as a 4.5-star defensive line coach. Drinkwitz lost stud defensive staffers, and their defensive support staff grade went up. I don't know if there is a guy in this conference who's better at hiring than Drinkwitz. He's losing staffers to programs like LSU and finding a way to upgrade."

TIER TWO: TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS 

(Photo: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire, Getty)

Head Coach: Josh Heupel 

Offensive Coordinator: Joey Halzle

Defensive Coordinator: Tim Banks

Pate: "Tennessee's overall grade is pretty unchanged from last year. They gained 152 games of overall experience. There is not a whole lot to say about Tennessee because it didn't fluctuate a whole lot. It's just a really solid tier-two staff in the SEC. If Tennessee pops a 10-11 win season on you this year and their offensive production is through the roof, Josh Heupel's grade could increase along with their overall standing."

TIER TWO: LSU TIGERS

(Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)

Head Coach: Brian Kelly

Offensive Coordinator: Joe Sloan

Defensive Coordinator: Blake Baker

Pate: "LSU had the lowest-graded defensive staff in the conference last year. No excuse for LSU to ever be that bad on the defensive side of the ball. There was nowhere to go but up, but they really, really went up. They led the SEC in defensive staff upgrade at nearly 25%. It's a huge jump. Kevin Peeples and Bo Davis are both four-star guys being added to the defensive line. They added 245 games of experience. They lost Mike Denbrock, or they'd be up there in tier one. They will be a heck of a lot better than they were last year on defense."

TIER TWO: TEXAS LONGHORNS

(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)

Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian 

Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Flood

Defensive Coordinator: Pete Kwiatkowski

Pate: "It may surprise you, but Texas is a tier-two staff member in the SEC. Tier two in the SEC is really good. Bo Davis went to LSU. He is a known commodity and has been around forever. They replaced him with Kenny Baker, who came by way of the Dolphins but has no experience. The experience inversion is going to downgrade their overall support staff grade. The thing about Texas is that when you look at the OC, DC and special teams coordinator combo, they are the highest-graded staff in America. Texas has studs at all three positions. They are about as good as it gets in college football at those three positions."

TIER ONE: OLE MISS REBELS

(Photo: Grace Brennan-Lions247, USA TODAY Sports)

Head Coach: Lane Kiffin

Offensive Coordinator: Charlie Weis Jr.

Defensive Coordinator: Pete Golding

Pate: "Ole Miss has a tier-one coaching staff in the SEC. It surprises me that Lane Kiffin has gotten his overall staff to tier-one status in the most talent-rich environment in America, the SEC. A lot of people look at Ole Miss, and they think transfer portal and talent acquisition. You may not think elite coaching staff, but they have a tier-one coaching staff now. When accounting for staff changes, they upgraded at all 11 spots from what they had this time last year. They added 274 games of overall coaching experience, which is a huge upgrade. Defensive support grade jumped big time with the additions they made."

TIER ONE: AUBURN TIGERS

(Photo: Jason Caldwell/Auburn Undercover)

Head Coach: Hugh Freeze

Offensive Coordinator: Derrick Nix

Defensive Coordinator: DJ Durkin

Pate: "Auburn is a tier-one coaching staff in the SEC. Hugh Freeze has a lot to do with that. They lost both coordinators, but they upgraded. They added 176 games of overall coaching experience. The offensive support staff is down just a little bit, but the defensive support staff's grade is up. They added DJ Durkin at defensive coordinator. Charles Kelly came in as co-defensive coordinator and is a big-time addition. I don't think many people would put them there, but the numbers do."

TIER ONE: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

(Photo: University of Alabama)

Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer

Offensive Coordinator: Nick Sheridan

Defensive Coordinator: Kane Wommack

Pate: "Alabama is still a tier one coaching staff. Nick Saban steps out Kalen DeBoer steps in. When DeBoer had Ryan Grubb at offensive coordinator and Scott Huff at offensive line coach, that staff was going to be one of our three best in America. It's in the top 10 and good for tier-one status in the SEC, but those were losses. They lost a lot of experience. However, the defensive support staff is what stands out. Safeties coach Colin Hitschler is a big-time get. He's a rising star. Their defensive support staff is up nearly 9% from what Nick Saban had last year. You think Kalen DeBoer, and you think offensive-minded guy, but it's the defense that got upgraded."

TIER ONE: GEORGIA BULLDOGS 

(Photo: Joshua L Jones, USA TODAY Sports)

Head Coach: Kirby Smart

Offensive Coordinator: Mike Bobo

Defensive Coordinator: Glenn Schuman

Pate: "Georgia has absolutely got a tier-one coaching staff. They had the No. 1 staff in the SEC last year. Through the losses and the additions they just made, their net score is unchanged. As long as Kirby Smart is there and that infrastructure is in place, they're always going to have a tier-one staff in the SEC. The head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator returned. It's a machine there in Athens. That's not a surprise."

College football's 10 most-intriguing spring games to watch in 2024

These spring practice finales deserve your attention.

Believe it or not, spring football practice will soon be at its peak across the country as programs begin early preparations for the upcoming 2024 season. Some major teams are already back on the field this week getting a jumpstart to the new year. By early April spring games will take center stage in college football as fans and pundits alike indulge in the excitement. 

With major shakeups following a wild coaching carousel and transfer portal window, there are plenty of changes to see. A new era begins at Alabama and Michigan with national championship-winning coaches moving on. Ohio State made a series of moves with hopes of regaining dominance of the Big Ten and competing for a national title. Will the roster overhauls at several likely preseason top-25 teams pay off or fall flat?

Some spring games are more intriguing than others, adding an extra layer of excitement in the coming weeks. 

RELATED: One player to watch on each top 25 college football team this spring

Below is a closer look at the 10 most-intriguing spring games in 2024: 

10. Colorado Buffaloes

(Photo: Getty)

Spring game date: April 27 (TBD)

Colorado sold out its spring game for the first time in program history when Deion Sanders made his debut at Folsom Field last April. The Buffaloes underwent a significant roster overall again following a 2023 season that exposed many areas where further improvement is needed. Colorado upgraded in the trenches with five-star tackle Jordan Seaton headlining the move. Sanders also has two new coordinators for 2024. It is another important spring in Boulder and there expects to be plenty of buzz surrounding the Buffaloes once again.

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

(Photo: Getty)

Spring game date: April 20 (1 p.m. ET)

Notre Dame has its sights set on returning to the College Football Playoff in 2024 as the field expands to 12 teams. The Fighting Irish have a favorable schedule ahead of them in the fall, but a significant spring is on deck. Transfer quarterback Riley Leonard and the return of offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock is a major storyline in South Bend. There are a lot of new pieces on the Notre Dame roster with only a handful of returning starters on both sides of the ball. Quality reps this spring is needed to get the Fighting Irish on the right track under third-year coach Marcus Freeman.

8. Florida State Seminoles

(Photo: Getty)

Spring game date: April 20 (TBD)

Can Florida State reload and make a run at back-to-back ACC crowns? The Seminoles used the transfer portal to their advantage again with one of the top-ranked incoming classes for 2024. Among the group of talented newcomers is former Clemson and Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who expects to be the starter this season. Florida State added 10 four-star transfers to its roster during the winter portal window. This spring promises to be intriguing in Tallahassee for many reasons.

7. Ole Miss Rebels

(Photo: Getty)

Spring game date: April 13 (4 p.m. ET) 

Speaking of overhauls, Ole Miss made major moves during the winter portal window, securing the top-ranked transfer class heading into the spring. Lane Kiffin addressed a number of different positions from offensive line depth, to secondary upgrades and the defensive front. Now the big question is can the Rebels' coaching staff mold those pieces into the mix this spring? Ole Miss expects to be a top contender in the SEC for 2024. Will the hype reach new highs by mid-April or will Kiffin tame expectations.

6. LSU Tigers

(Photo: Getty)

Spring game date: April 13 (TBD)

Brian Kelly revamped the LSU defensive coaching staff in a move that was vital after ranking near the bottom of the SEC on that side of the ball last season. Among the hires is new defensive coordinator Blake Baker (Missouri), defensive line coach Bo Davis (Texas), edge rushers coach Kevin Peoples (Missouri), defensive backs coach Corey Raymond (Florida) and safeties coach Jake Olsen (Missouri). The install of a new scheme and system in Baton Rouge is already underway. The Tigers look to get as much progress completed this spring to start off on a strong note in August. 

5. Washington Huskies

(Photo: Kim Grinolds/Dawgman.com)

Spring game date: May 3 (TBD)

Washington still has almost a month until spring practice begins. Probably not a bad idea as new head coach Jedd Fisch tries to piece together a plan of attack for 2024. Despite being the reigning national runner-up, the Huskies are almost starting from scratch with a new staff and two-deep that hardly resembles what was on the field against Michigan in January. The spring transfer portal window could be important for Washington, but Fisch and the new staff in Seattle will have to make do with what is available for now.

4. Texas A&M Aggies

(Photo: Texas A&M Athletics )

Spring game date: April 20 (1 p.m. ET)

Can Mike Elko get the most out of Texas A&M? After an underwhelming tenure with Jimbo Fisher in charge, his former defensive coordinator steps in looking to guide the Aggies to their full potential with loads of resources at his disposal in College Station. A complete overhaul of the Texas A&M staff and a massive influx of transfers has a lot of attention focused on the Aggies this spring. Elko had early success at Duke. Whether he can do the same on a much larger stage is unclear. 

3. Michigan Wolverines

(Photo: Getty)

Spring game date: April 20 (noon ET)

The last time a reigning national champion did not have the same head coach the following season was 1998 when Tom Osborne retired from Nebraska. Jim Harbaugh returned to the NFL and left the keys to the Michigan program in the hands of Sherrone Moore. Will the Wolverines maintain their control of the Big Ten and compete for a national title again? Or will the amount of change result in setbacks? The starting quarterback battle is certainly a key topic of discussion in Ann Arbor, too. 

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

(Photo: Getty)

Spring game date: April 13 (noon ET)

Ohio State generated a substantial amount of momentum following another disappointing season in 2023. The Buckeyes made a series of moves, perhaps most notably on offense with the addition of transfer quarterback Will Howard and two separate offensive coordinator hires — at first Bill O'Brien and then Chip Kelly. Head coach Ryan Day hands off the play-calling responsibilities to his mentor. While most of the attention is on the offense, it is worth noting the unbelievable level of talent third-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has to work with in Columbus. The arrival of top-ranked overall transfer Caleb Downs, a five-star safety, is massive. 

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

(Photo: University of Alabama Athletics)

Spring game date: April 13 (4 p.m. ET)

All eyes will be on Tuscaloosa this spring as the new era of Alabama football begins without the legendary Nick Saban. Instead, it is Kalen DeBoer in command of the Crimson Tide. How will the former Washington head coach handle the pressure? What influence will he have on the Alabama offense and returning quarterback Jalen Milroe? The questions are seemingly endless, but answers should come soon when the Crimson Tide take the field inside Bryant-Denny Stadium in mid-April. 

College Football 25 cover options: Nick Saban, Shedeur Sanders are popular choices

Who do you want to see on the cover of EA Sports' new video game?

College Football 25 officially launches later this year from EA Sports and following last month's teaser trailer reveal, many fans are asking the question we're all wanting to know: Who will be featured on the cover? The front of previous releases showcased one of the nation's reigning stars who had exhausted their eligibility, but with over 10,000 players in this year's game choosing to opt-in with use their name, image and likeness, an active athlete has entered the realm of possibilities.

We polled our audience at 247Sports last month on who they wanted to see on the cover and the majority of responses centered around Nick Saban or former LSU star Jayden Daniels. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers earned a couple nods, too.

RELATED: Projecting College Football 25's highest-rated players

Generally speaking, we're expecting EA Sports to go with a universal cover of sorts — whether that's an ode to Saban following his retirement or a mash-up of sorts with several players featured. ESPN College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who revealed this spring he was lending his voice for the upcoming title, recently mentioned Sanders or Colorado teammate Travis Hunter as possible options.

“Like last year, if you were doing this game and it was coming into last season, I would think that Caleb Williams would’ve been, probably the obvious choice," Herbstreit said during a recent podcast appearance. "Even though there’s a lot of big names that emerged throughout the year. I feel like there’s a lot of guys going to the draft this year, a lot of the bigger names. I think Shedeur Sanders is a massive name and a big following. I don’t know that."

Updated rosters, uniforms, changes to recruiting and the transfer portal — College Football 25 is expected to have it all.

A source close to EA Sports told 247Sports last month one of the most-anticipated updates is all-new stadium renderings. Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas and Clemson are among the schools with major scoreboard changes since the game's last release that will be featured in College Football 25, "down to the finest details," the source said.

The following information is from 247Sports' Brandon Marcello's previous reporting of College Football 25. Built on the Madden engine, fans should expect tweaks to gameplay, much like previous iterations of the NCAA Football franchise in the 2000s and 2010s.

The game design, atmosphere, and unique traditions for each school are primarily what EA Sports will lean into for the game. That said, the game isn't simply a reskin of the Madden game.

The playbook will be much more robust and team-specific, too. Remember, the NCAA Football franchise (not Madden) was the first to introduce RPO plays in the 2013 version of the game. The team at EA Sports is taking great care in making sure the presentation is uniquely collegiate, which is why the team has spent so much time designing stadiums and implementing assets to differentiate game-day atmospheres from school to school. What separated the NCAA Football and Madden franchises was the romantic focus on the pageantry of college football traditions, and that will continue in the College Football franchise.

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EA Sports has kept much of its game modes under wraps but the developer will continue "Dynasty" and "Road to Glory" modes, sources told 247Sports in 2022.

Brandon Marcello contributed to this report.

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al.com

What is Auburn getting in newly elevated defensive tackles coach Vontrell King-Williams?

Published: Mar. 06, 2024, 10:42 a.m.

4–5 minutes

Auburn Football

Why Vontrell-King Williams was who the ‘kids really wanted’ to coach Auburn’s defensive tackles

AUBURN, AL - March 01, 2023 - Auburn Defensive Analyst Vontrell King-Williams during spring practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL. Photo by Declan GreeneAuburn University Athletics

In Auburn’s first practice of spring camp on Feb. 27, eyes were quickly drawn to the new faces on Auburn’s offense — guys like 5-star wide receiver Cam Coleman and 4-star quarterback Walker White.

Meanwhile, on the far field, where Auburn’s defense practices, ears were quickly drawn to something else.

Sinner 'happy' to be back at Indian Wells after winning first Grand Slam title at the Australian OpenSinner 'happy' to be back at Indian Wells after winning first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open

If there was an award for being the loudest coach on the field, the Tigers’ defensive tackles coach Vontrell King-Williams was winning it by a landslide as he left little to be desired in terms of energy.

The elevation of King-Williams from defensive analyst to defensive tackles coach was made possible after the Jacksonville Jaguars hired away Auburn’s former defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett in early February.

“Defensively, hated to lose J.G., truthfully,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said Feb. 29. “You know, kind of raised him and he played for me and to see his growth. But I totally understand it.”

Garrett played for Ole Miss from 2004-07, meaning he and Freeze were both in Oxford at the same time as Freeze served as the Rebels’ tight ends coach from 2006-07. The two reunited in 2022 as Freeze hired Garrett to coach the defensive line at Liberty before Freeze asked him to follow him down to Auburn in 2023.

But now Garrett has moved onto the NFL.

And fortunately for Freeze, unlike other staff changes from the offseason, he didn’t need to look far and wide for Garrett’s replacement.

“So excited about his energy that he brings,” Freeze said of King-Williams. “And he’s who the kids really wanted, too, so it’s good that we were kind of in alignment there.”

During last week’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis, former Auburn defensive tackle Marcus Harris was asked what he thought about the elevation of King-Williams, who will help coach Harris’ younger brother, freshman defensive lineman Malik Blocton.

“He loves the new coaching staff, especially with Coach Vontrell stepped in for Coach Garrett,” Harris said in an interview with AL.com. “He feels like it’s not a step off of Coach Garrett. He loves him.”

And considering Harris had an opportunity to get to know King-Williams during his senior season last fall, his younger brother’s initial review didn’t come as a shock.

“He’s a great coach,” Harris said of King-Williams. “Great energy. Great leader. Just the best coach, I feel like, for the job because a lot of players knew him, a lot of players respected him and he was a great coach while I was there.”

One of those players who really respects King-Williams and wanted to see him be elevated as Garrett’s replacement is senior nose tackle Jayson Jones, who Freeze is expecting to be “the guy” along the defensive front in 2024.

“I know him and I love him,” Jones said of King-Williams. “You can go ask anybody, even outside of the position, everybody loves Vontrell and the energy he brings. Everyone wanted him and I wanted him. I expressed that. We’ve got him now, and I’m excited to be coached by him.”

In 2024, King-Williams will work in tandem with Josh Aldridge, who is set to oversee Auburn’s defensive edge room.

“Really excited to give Vontrell a shot,” Freeze said. “He falls in the mold of the other guys that I’ve hired through the years from Chris Kiffin to Trey Scott to Freddie Roach to J.G. and they’ve all done really, really well. And I expect Vontrell to do the same.”

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al.com

Reports: Football signing day moving up to early December

Published: Mar. 06, 2024, 11:52 a.m.

~2 minutes

Sports

Early signing period for football moving up to conference championship week, reports say

By

Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com

National signing day for football is moving again, to the same week as the conference championship games from its current mid/late December location, according to multiple reports.

The three-day early signing period will now begin on the Wednesday of conference championship game week as opposed to the third Wednesday in December, after a vote by the Conference Commissioners Association. The move is designed so that signing day will take place prior to the 30-day transfer portal window that opens in mid-December.

Sinner 'happy' to be back at Indian Wells after winning first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open

The late signing period will remain in place, beginning with the first Wednesday in February. Discussion of adding a third signing day in the summer has been tabled until this summer, ESPN and The Athletic are reporting.

The 2024 conference championships are set for the weekend of Dec. 6-7, meaning the three-day signing period would begin on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

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[aucanucktiger 1,794]

"Auburn is a tier-one coaching staff in the SEC. Hugh Freeze has a lot to do with that. They lost both coordinators, but they upgraded. They added 176 games of overall coaching experience. The offensive support staff is down just a little bit, but the defensive support staff's grade is up. They added DJ Durkin at defensive coordinator. Charles Kelly came in as co-defensive coordinator and is a big-time addition. I don't think many people would put them there, but the numbers do."

 

Not many folks would say Mizzou is as high as tier 2 and Okla as low as tier 3, either. Some sports writers' weak bs rankings. 

[Mikey 16,622]

1 minute ago, aucanucktiger said:

"Auburn is a tier-one coaching staff in the SEC. Hugh Freeze has a lot to do with that. They lost both coordinators, but they upgraded. They added 176 games of overall coaching experience. The offensive support staff is down just a little bit, but the defensive support staff's grade is up. They added DJ Durkin at defensive coordinator. Charles Kelly came in as co-defensive coordinator and is a big-time addition. I don't think many people would put them there, but the numbers do."

 

Not many folks would say Mizzou is as high as tier 2 and Okla as low as tier 3, either. Some sports writers' weak bs rankings. 

I don't disagree with placing Mizzou so high. Drinkwitz has definitely done more with less.

[aubiefifty 16,804]

18 minutes ago, aucanucktiger said:

"Auburn is a tier-one coaching staff in the SEC. Hugh Freeze has a lot to do with that. They lost both coordinators, but they upgraded. They added 176 games of overall coaching experience. The offensive support staff is down just a little bit, but the defensive support staff's grade is up. They added DJ Durkin at defensive coordinator. Charles Kelly came in as co-defensive coordinator and is a big-time addition. I don't think many people would put them there, but the numbers do."

 

Not many folks would say Mizzou is as high as tier 2 and Okla as low as tier 3, either. Some sports writers' weak bs rankings. 

yes i often break out the depends when i post some stuff................

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[SaltyTiger 7,816]

Good morning from a gorgeous spring morning in Auburn Fiddy. Baseball day tomorrow….of course rain and storms moving in. Game time forecast not good.