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IN PHOTOS: Auburn signees in the All-American Bowl A look at Walker White, DeAndre Carter, Demarcus Riddick, Amaris Williams and Kensley Faustin from this week in San Antonio. Auburn is very well represented in this week's All-American Bowl in San Antonio as five future Tigers are taking part in the festivities that ends with Saturday's noon kickoff on NBC. Quarterback Walker White, offensive lineman DeAndre Carter, defensive lineman Amaris Williams, linebacker Demarcus Riddick and defensive back Kensley Faustin have all performed well this week alongside some of the best players in the country. Walker White has been one of the leaders for the West team this week. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) White unloads on a deep ball down the field. He's shown a strong arm and good accuracy this week. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) DeAndre Carter is a versatile player that has played three different positions this week. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) Carter has strong hands and once he makes contact the defender is usually at a stalemate. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) Demarcus Riddick is one of the most athletic players on the field this week in San Antonio. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) Demarcus Riddick catches a punt during Thursday's practice. It's something he did in high school. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) Amaris Williams has been outstanding this week as a pass rusher from the defensive end position. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) Amaris Williams checked in at just over 6-2 and 257 pounds this week. He's a guy that will easily play at 265 next season as a true freshman. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) Kensley Faustin is a talented cover safety that should be very valuable down the road for the Tigers. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) Faustin should play a similar role as Jaylin Simpson when he gets to Auburn beginning next week. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) Auburn is looking for some experience for its secondary heading into 2024 Toledo cornerback transfer RJ Delancy III is visiting Auburn on Thursday, Auburn Undercover has learned, as the Tigers look to add some experience to a secondary that's losing four starters. A former Nebraska transfer, Delancy started eight games over the past two seasons at Toledo. In 2023, he had six pass breakups and an interception along with 18 tackles. Rated as a 3-star safety out of Miami in the 2020 class, Delancy has one year of eligibility remaining.

Trump's businesses received millions from foreign entities during his presidency, House report says WILL STEAKIN Thu, January 4, 2024 at 11:48 AM CST·2 min read 5k Scroll back up to restore default view. Former President Donald Trump's businesses received millions of dollars from foreign entities located in 20 different countries during his presidency, according to a new report released Thursday by Democrats on the House Oversight committee. The top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin, released the report and provided documents from Trump's former accounting firm that show that 20 governments, including China and Saudi Arabia, paid at least $7.8 million during Trump's presidency to business entities that included Trump International Hotels in Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas, and Trump Towers in New York. The 156-page report by House Democrats is entitled "White House For Sale." MORE: Both sides have rested their case in Trump's civil fraud trial. What happens now? In the forward to the report, Raskin wrote, "By elevating his personal financial interests and the policy priorities of corrupt foreign powers over the American public interest, former President Trump violated both the clear commands of the Constitution and the careful precedent set and observed by every previous commander in chief." The reports says that, according to "limited records" obtained by the committee, Saudi Arabia likely paid Trump-owned business at least $615,422 during Trump's first term in office. "While the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was making these payments, President Trump chose Saudi Arabia as the destination of his first overseas trip -- a choice that was unprecedented among U.S. presidents," the report says. PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump attends a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, Dec. 19, 2023. (Scott Morgan/Reuters, FILE) The report claims that the payments violated the Constitution's foreign emoluments clause, a rule that bars the president and other federal officials from accepting money or gifts from foreign governments without Congressional approval. In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed lawsuits accusing Trump of profiting from his presidency, on the grounds that he is no longer in office. "Through entities he owned and controlled, President Trump accepted, at a minimum, millions of dollars in foreign emoluments in violation of the United States Constitution," Democrats write in the report. "The documents obtained from former President Trump's accounting firm demonstrate that four Trump-owned properties together collected, at the least, millions of dollars in payments from foreign governments and officials that violated the Constitution's prohibition on emoluments 'of any kind whatever' from foreign governments." ABC News has reached out to Trump's representatives for comment on the report. Trump's businesses received millions from foreign entities during his presidency, House report says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

news.yahoo.com The Epstein list: Bill Clinton and Donald Trump appear in unsealed documents multiple times. Here’s what we know. Dylan Stableford 6–8 minutes Dozens of court documents related to the late convicted sex felon Jeffrey Epstein and unsealed Wednesday include the names of several prominent figures. Among them: former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. Neither Clinton nor Trump have been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, who committed suicide in jail while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Where did the documents come from? Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell during a news conference in New York City, July 2, 2020. (John Minchillo/AP) The documents — which total nearly 1,000 pages — were part of a 2015 defamation lawsuit brought against Epstein and his former girlfriend and convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell by Virginia Giuffre, one of their accusers. In the documents, Giuffre alleged that many of sexual encounters occurred under the guise of massages that Maxwell, a British socialite, procured for Epstein and others. Giuffre claimed that while she was a teenager, Epstein and Maxwell pressured her into sexual encounters with powerful men, including Prince Andrew. Giuffre reached an out-of-court settlement with Andrew, who denied her allegations. U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska ordered the unsealing of the documents in mid-December, saying that most of the information and names in them were already public. What do they say about Clinton and Trump? Jeffrey Epstein is seen a photo provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry, March 28, 2017. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File) The newly unsealed documents include the transcript of a 2016 deposition in which a second accuser, identified as Johanna Sjoberg, testified that Epstein "said one time that Clinton likes them young, referring to girls." She didn't elaborate. Sjoberg testified that Epstein told her he would take her to Trump’s Atlantic City casino, but did not allege any wrongdoing. She also said in a deposition that Prince Andrew had inappropriately touched her at Epstein's mansion in New York. In all, Clinton’s name appears 73 times in the documents unsealed Wednesday; Trump’s name appears four times. What was Clinton’s relationship with Epstein? Former President Bill Clinton speaks at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, May 4, 2023. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) The former president has acknowledged that he had flown on Epstein’s plane and had met with the jet-setting financier on several occasions. In previously released court documents, Giuffre said that she met Clinton on Epstein’s private Caribbean island, but did not accuse him of any wrongdoing. Clinton, who has been photographed on Epstein's airplane, denied ever visiting the island. In 2019, after Epstein was arraigned on federal sex-trafficking charges, Clinton’s office released a statement saying the former president knew "nothing about the terrible crimes” Epstein was accused of. Epstein committed suicide in federal prison a month later. What was Trump’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell? Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Feb. 12, 2000. (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images) Trump and Epstein were longtime friends well before Trump became president. “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years,” Trump told New York magazine in 2002. “Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” In 2005, Epstein was arrested in Palm Beach, Fla., on charges he paid a 14-year-old girl for sex. In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of soliciting and procuring a person under age 18 for prostitution. Under the terms of a secret agreement his attorneys cut with then-Miami U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta, Epstein was sentenced for 13 months in county jail, with daily work-release privileges, and a related federal probe into potential crimes was dropped. He was required to reach financial settlements with dozens of his victims and register as a sex offender, but Epstein could have faced up to life in prison if he had been convicted on federal charges. Related reading AP: Unsealed court records offer new detail on old sex abuse allegations against Jeffrey Epstein Reuters: Epstein accuser says Prince Andrew groped her, documents show Business Insider: Even more Epstein documents are expected to drop Thursday After the plea agreement was revealed in a bombshell 2018 Miami Herald investigation, Trump defended Acosta, then his labor secretary, but distanced himself from Epstein, saying he “wasn’t a big fan.” In 2020, while Maxwell was awaiting trial for helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls, Trump was asked for his thoughts about the case. “I don't know. I haven't really been following it too much. I just wish her well, frankly. I've met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “But I wish her well, whatever it is.” In 2021, Maxwell was convicted and later sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. What other prominent names appear in the documents? Attorney Alan Dershowitz leaves federal court in New York, Dec. 2, 2019. (Richard Drew/AP) Other boldfaced names that appear in the documents unsealed Wednesday include Alan Dershowitz, a lawyer and former Harvard Law professor; Bill Richardson, former New Mexico governor; Glenn Dubin, a billionaire hedge fund manager; Les Wexner, billionaire founder of Bath & Body Works; and Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent who killed himself in jail in 2022 while awaiting trial on charges he raped young girls. More documents — and names — are expected to be released on Thursday. Could the people named in the documents face any criminal or civil liability? Not for merely being named. “There is likely going to be a spectrum of involvement with respect to all the individuals identified,” Tom Bosworth, founder of Bosworth Law and an attorney for catastrophic injury victims, told Yahoo News. “Whether there is criminal or civil liability for any one person will depend heavily on the particular facts of each case."

Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew Named in New Jeffrey Epstein Documents Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Julia Reinstein 7–9 minutes Skip to main content Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew Named in New Jeffrey Epstein Documents One Epstein accuser claimed the late sex offender said Clinton "likes them young," according to the evidence relating to the Virginia Giuffre v. Ghislaine Maxwell civil lawsuit Notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein died while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. New York State Sex Offender Registry/AP Documents related to Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein were released on Wednesday night after a judge ruled in December that the redacted information should be unsealed, according to a court order issued by Judge Loretta Preska. Many of Epstein’s long-rumored powerful friends — including Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew — appear in the trove of previously sealed court records. In one deposition transcript, one accuser recalled Epstein saying Clinton “likes them young, referring to girls.” She also alleged that Prince Andrew once touched her breast while posing for a photo next to Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who was holding a puppet of Prince Andrew, that was itself touching her breast. (Representatives for Clinton and Andrew did not immediately respond to requests for comment.) Among the information provided in the document dump, Maxwell was asked in a deposition if she ever “provided [Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre] with an outfit of a sexual nature to wear for [L Brands founder] Les Wexner?” to which she said “categorically no.” The documents, related to more than 150 of the so-called Jane and John Does in the case, were part of the evidence presented in the civil case against Ghislaine Maxwell brought by Giuffre. Maxwell, the youngest child and favorite daughter of the late British media mogul Robert Maxwell, had at one point been romantically involved with Epstein, who was then known as a successful financier. According to the criminal case against her, Maxwell’s role shifted to being one of a procurer, finding very young — often underage — women and girls to introduce to Epstein and his group of extremely rich and influential friends in the early 2000s. As ringleader of the alleged sex trafficking ring, Epstein was accused of sexually abusing dozens of victims, some of whom were as young as 14. Many of these women would eventually come forward and accuse Epstein and his cohort of sexual assault. One was Giuffre, who sued Maxwell for defamation in 2015, arguing that Maxwell had smeared her by accusing her of lying when Giuffre made her allegations. (In December 2021, Maxwell was convicted for her role in Epstein’s operation and sentenced to 20 years in prison. She is appealing the conviction.) The newly released documents provide a disturbing glimpse into the world of abuse to which Epstein and Maxwell allegedly subjected their young victims. One witness testified that Maxwell had “threatened a terrified 15-year-old girl and confiscated her passport to try to make her have sex with Epstein,” and that she once instructed a group of 11 girls as young as 14 to “play a ‘kissing game’ with and for” Epstein. Giuffre’s civil suit echoed the grim allegations, accusing Epstein of sexually abusing her “with the assistance and participation of Maxwell.” In Giuffre’s victim impact statement, which her attorney delivered at Maxwell’s sentencing in June 2022, she wrote that Maxwell “deserve[s] to spend the rest of [her] life in a jail cell … trapped in a cage forever, just like [she] trapped [her] victims.” “I want to be clear about one thing: without question, Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible pedophile,” Giuffre wrote. “But I never would have met Jeffrey Epstein if not for you. For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell. And then, Ghislaine, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, you used your femininity to betray us, and you led us all through it.” Giuffre also brought a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew, which was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount in Feb. 2022. She had accused the British royal of sexually abusing her numerous times between 2000 and 2002 — when she was under the age of 18 — in New York, London, as well as on Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Andrew has denied the allegations.) Giuffre additionally accused prominent lawyer and former Epstein friend Alan Dershowitz of sexual abuse, filing a lawsuit against him in 2019. She later dropped the suit and acknowledged she “may have made a mistake” in identifying him as one of her abusers, saying she had been quite young at the time and in a “very stressful and traumatic environment.” Epstein himself was charged with sex trafficking and faced 45 years in prison, but his case never went before a jury; he killed himself in a Manhattan correctional facility jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. The suicide spawned endless conspiracy theories, with the public searching for clues as to who was really “behind” his death. Part of what has fueled these theories is the sheer wealth and power of those connected to him — besides Prince Andrew, with whom he appeared to have a close friendship, and Dershowitz, his former lawyer, Epstein has at times been linked to Clinton, Donald Trump (with whom he had a falling out in the late 2000s over business dealings), Bill Gates, L Brands founder Les Wexner (his only confirmed client), and hosted countless other prominent people on his private jet, including Kevin Spacey and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., though they have not been accused of wrongdoing. The documents were initially expected to come out Tuesday, leaving hordes of people — particularly right-wing conspiracy theorists — waiting with bated breath for their release and spinning baseless claims about the reason for the delay. Some even purported to have access to the documents before they became available, circulating hoax lists of celebrities they falsely accused of being associated with Epstein. This appears to be the first set of documents to be released, as the December court order approved over 200 documents to be unredacted and turned over to the public. More releases are expected in the coming days. This article was updated at 6:52 p.m. to reflect that some of the documents have begun to be released to the public, and at 8 p.m. to include more details from the documents.

why not tell us the rumors and what these rumors are please?

al.com Auburn DB Jaylin Simpson makes it official, declares for the 2024 NFL Draft Updated: Jan. 03, 2024, 11:29 a.m.|Published: Jan. 03, 2024, 11:29 a.m. 2–3 minutes Auburn Football Jaylin Simpson: ‘As I set my sights on the 2024 NFL Draft, I carry the Auburn spirit with me’ After five years on The Plains, Auburn defensive back Jaylin Simpson is officially heading to the 2024 NFL Draft, he announced on social media Wednesday morning. “Auburn has been more than a university to me; it’s been a home,” Simpson wrote in a penned farewell posted to his Instagram account. “The friendships, the lessons, the victories, and even the challenges have all contributed to an experience that I will forever cherish. “As I set my sights on the 2024 NFL Draft, I carry the Auburn spirit with me. To my teammates, coaches and the entire Auburn community — thank you for making these years truly special. Here’s to the memories made and the ones yet to come. War Eagle forever!” Simpson accepted his invite to the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl on Dec. 6, pointing to the likelihood of him foregoing his final year of eligibility and turning pro. But now his decision is cemented. Simpson’s decision to turn to the big leagues comes on the heels of a 2023 campaign at the safety position, which saw him tally 36 tackles and four interceptions and four pass breakups — an effort that helped him to an impressive 78.3 season grade, per Pro Football Focus. According to PFF, Simpson allowed one touchdown in coverage all season on 25 targets. ESPN, the Associated Press, CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, Fox Sports, USA Today, Sporting News, The Athletic, 247 Sports and the Reese’s Senior Bowl all had Simpson as one of their midseason All-Americans. ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranks Simpson as the fourth-best safety in the approaching NFL Draft. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Auburn's Fairweather already looking ahead to 2024 after record-breaking season in 2023 Published: Jan. 03, 2024, 7:00 a.m. 5–6 minutes The impacts of FIU transfer tight end Rivaldo Fairweather weren’t immediately seen by the public. In Week 1 of Auburn’s 2023 season, Fairweather slipped on an Auburn jersey for the time as the Tigers hosted UMass. But because Auburn’s rush attack had its way with UMass, the services of Fairweather weren’t needed. However, that quickly changed as the Tigers looked to Fairweather the very next week as Auburn squeaked out a 14-10 win over Cal in a funky, late-night game out on the west coast. Fairweather caught three passes that evening in Berkeley, Calif., of which two came at critical, critical moments – first a third-down grab in the fourth quarter to keep the Tigers’ scoring drive alive and then again with a 5-yard touchdown reception to put Auburn ahead for good midway through the final quarter. Initially, the plan was to try to punch it in via the run game. But Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze decided otherwise right as the huddle was breaking out of a timeout. “Nah, let’s go 13 and give Rivaldo a chance here,” Freeze remembered saying. “I had just seen Rivaldo do that too many times in practice. The last thing was I told Payton, ‘Just make sure it’s catchable, and he’ll make a play.’ And he did.” Fairweather’s breakout performance against the Golden Bears on Sept. 9 might’ve been his first in his Auburn career, but it was far from his last. The very next week, albeit against Samford, Fairweather hauled in season-best five passes. However, coming from Conference USA member FIU, no one knew if Auburn’s transfer tight end would be able to hang with the best of them in the SEC. “I’m ready to show everybody out there that I can do it versus anybody,” Fairweather told reporters heading into SEC play. Unfortunately for Fairweather, he’d have to wait a bit as Auburn’s passing game floundered and the Tigers suffered a four-game skid as they navigated a gauntlet-of-a-stretch of games featuring Texas A&M, Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss. Through that stretch, Fairweather combined for 13 receptions, 88 yards and just one score. Come the point in the season Auburn’s schedule softened some and the Tigers’ passing offense began to find its footing a bit more, Fairweather took hold of the opportunity. Against Vanderbilt on Nov. 4, Fairweather racked up the most yardage of any game in 2023 with two receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. On Nov. 11, Fairweather assisted in Auburn’s onslaught at Arkansas as he notched his first multi-touchdown game against the Razorbacks as he caught three passes for 28 yards and two touchdowns. “I proved that I could do it in the SEC,” Fairweather said Saturday night after Auburn’s season-ending loss to Maryland. “Even coming from Conference USA, I proved that I could play in this league and I proved that I’m one of the best tight ends in the league.” In Year 1 on The Plains, Fairweather finished the season with 38 receptions for 394 yards and six touchdowns – all numbers that led Auburn’s room of pass catchers and make him the SEC’s third-leading receiving tight end. In the final game of the 2023 season, Fairweather also etched his way into Auburn’s record books. With his first reception against the Terrapins in Saturday’s Music City Bowl, Fairweather broke John Samuel Shenker’s 2021 record of 33 receptions in one season. “I wish we would have come out of here with a win,” Fairweather said after Auburn’s 31-13 loss to Maryland. “I want to thank God for allowing me to play this game and be a part of Auburn history. I’m going to put my head down and work the whole offseason and be ready for the first game next year.” Now having proved himself in SEC play, the 6-foot-4 tight end could’ve flirted with the NFL and the league could’ve flirted right back. But Fairweather’s not interested. “I just felt like I left a lot of food on the table. It’s unfinished business here,” Fairweather said when asked about his decision to return to Auburn in 2024. “I know Coach Freeze has a great plan for us here and that we will be way better than we were last year. Last year was just the first step and this year I feel like we’re going to take a second step.” And for Fairweather, personally, he’s hoping that second step starts now. “Coming next season I’m (going to) come back 10 times harder to be the best tight end in the nation,” Fairweather said. “That’s my mindset going in this offseason. I’m going to have a heck of an offseason.” If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

247sports.com Texas AM transfer DT Isaiah Raikes visiting Auburn Nathan King ~2 minutes Auburn is looking to beef up its interior defensive front through the portal As Auburn looks to bolster its defensive line after Marcus Harris' departure, the Tigers are hosting Texas A&M defensive tackle Isaiah Raikes on a visit Wednesday, Auburn Undercover has learned. A rising fifth-year senior from New Jersey, Raikes has appeared in 38 games over the last four seasons, with four starts. He's tallied 43 career tackles, with three tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble this season. At 6-foot-2 and 320 pounds, Raikes split his snaps almost 50-50 between nose tackle and 3-tech defensive tackle. Auburn already has one defensive tackle transfer signed in Kansas' Gage Keys. After a first team All-SEC season — and three years as a starter — Harris departed for the NFL draft. Auburn is also awaiting an NFL decision from starting nose tackle Justin Rogers. Faustin 'ready to compete' in All-American Bowl before heading to Auburn Auburn signee Kensley Faustin is playing in the All-American Bowl this week. SAN ANTONIO, Texas—In just over a week, Auburn defensive back signee Kensley Faustin will officially move into his dorm room on the Plains to begin his career with the Tigers. First up is his final game of high school football as he takes part in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio along with future teammates Demarcus Riddick, Amaris Williams, Walker White and DeAndre Carter. To read this full article and more, subscribe now — SALE: One Month for Only $1

saturdaydownsouth.com Auburn football: New Year’s resolutions the Tigers must make to break losing skid Glenn Sattell | 23 hours ago 5–6 minutes Hugh Freeze came within a miracle play at the end of the Iron Bowl of recording a signature win in his debut season at Auburn. Instead, the Tigers settled for a 6-6 regular season and a return to the postseason after a year absence that broke a streak of 9 consecutive bowl game appearances. No, the Music City Bowl didn’t go well; Auburn fell 31-13 to Maryland to finish with its 3rd consecutive losing season — the first time that happened since 1975-77. Freeze will seek to reverse that trend next year. Here are the New Year’s resolutions for Auburn as we look ahead to the 2024 season. 1. Improve the QB room Though prior to the Music City Bowl, Freeze had indicated that he was satisfied with his QB room, but that tune changed following the loss to Maryland. And Freeze has already made one move in that regard, plucking former Cal QB Sam Jackson V. In a 14-10 loss to Auburn early last season, Jackson threw for 126 yards, completing 14-of-27 passes with 2 interceptions. The sophomore played in 5 games last season for the Bears, throwing for 556 yards and 5 TDs. Quarterback is a position that Freeze must upgrade if the Tigers are to be competitive in 2024. 2. Replenish the WR corps Four receivers are in the transfer portal, including Ja’Varrius Johnson, the Tigers’ 2nd-leading receiver. Leading receivers Rivaldo Fairweather and Jay Fair remain and that’s where Freeze will again lean heading into the 2024 season. The pair combined for 649 yards and 8 TDs on 63 receptions. (Johnson finished with 347 yards and 3 TDs.) But Freeze was proactive in recruiting to replenish the WR corps, flipping 5-star receivers Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson from Texas A&M and Alabama, respectively. 3. Put together a d-line Senior tackle Marcus Harris will be tough to replace, and players like Keldric Faulk, who had a sensational freshman season last year, must continue to grow up in a hurry. The Tigers got a lift when they flipped 4-star d-linemen Jamonta Waller and Amaris Williams from Florida. 4. Highlight the freshman class Freeze’s impact was felt with his recent first signing class, Auburn’s best in years. The haul ranked 7th nationally and was highlighted by a handful of flips, including 5-star LB Demarcus Riddick, a former Georgia commit. With 2 5-stars, both receivers, and another 13 4-stars, it was an excellent start to the Freeze era and hopefully just the beginning to the building of the program. Using the talent for immediate impact would help entice future recruits as well as enhancing the overall team strength. 5. Feature the run game with Jarquez Hunter Hunter led the Tigers with 159 rushing attempts last season. But he barely carried it more than quarterback Payton Thorne (134). Backup QB Robbie Ashford also had 46 carries. With Ashford in the transfer portal, as well as backup RB Brian Battie, it’s time to highlight Hunter and give him the bulk of Ashford’s attempts from last season. That’s not to say there aren’t any other talented running backs on the roster. Damari Alston ran for 320 yards and 2 TDs. Freeze has the horses to put together another solid running game. The Tigers were 3rd in the SEC last season, averaging 198.42 yards per game. 6. Rebuild the corners Another area Freeze and his staff must revamp is at cornerback. Both corners, D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett, are headed to the NFL while a trio of freshmen, led by Kayin Lee, vie for one starting spot in 2024. They will be among those looking to lift the Tigers secondary, which ranked 8th in the SEC against the pass, yielding an average of 222.2 yards per game. 7. Split 4 conference road games This could actually be a bigger task than going undefeated at home. Winning on the road in the SEC is as tough as it gets. After starting the season with 5 home games, the Tigers hit the road for 3 consecutive conference road games. They include trips to Georgia, Missouri and Kentucky in succession. Then later on down the road, the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa closes the season. A split of those 4 games would be quite an accomplishment for any team. 8. 8 wins in 2024 Obviously, you want to win them all, but a 2-game improvement over the 6-6 regular season would be a nice step in the right direction. With all 4 nonconference games at Jordan-Hare against inferior opponents Alabama A&M, California, New Mexico and UL-Monroe, if their heads are screwed on correctly, they should be halfway there. Splitting the 8-game conference schedule would give the Tigers an 8-win season and a continued upward trend for the program. That likely means beating Kentucky or Missouri on the road. Glenn Sattell Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.

si.com Can Auburn make a push at Ryan Williams with his primary recruiter and position coach at Alabama heading to Texas A&M? Andrew Stefaniak ~2 minutes Does Holmon Wiggins leaving Alabama give Auburn a better shot at Ryan Williams? It has been reported that Alabama wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins is leaving the Crimson Tide to take the same position at Texas A&M. The relevance of this situation for the Auburn Tigers has to do with five-star receiver Ryan Williams. Williams has been committed to Alabama since October of 2022, but the Auburn Tigers are trying to make a late push after one of the best players in the 2024 class. He is currently preparing to participate in the Under Armour All-American Game with Auburn receiver signees Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson, so his mind is likely on this game and not his college decision. But when the dust clears from the All-American game Wiggins leaving for Texas A&M could have an effect on the recruitment of Williams and definitely helps the Auburn Tigers some. Williams will be on the Plains for a visit February 3rd so Coach Freeze and the staff will have another opportunity to try and land a player who many believe could be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft in the future. If Auburn was able to flip Williams from the Crimson Tide the Tigers wide receiver class would be on of the best in college football history. Perry Thompson posted this tweet right after it was announced Higgins would head to College Station.

247sports.com Mississippi State OT transfer Percy Lewis to visit Auburn this week Nathan King ~3 minutes Lewis started seven games this season at left tackle As Auburn resets its offensive line transfer board after the end of the 2023 season, it will bring an SEC starter to campus later this week. Mississippi State offensive tackle Percy Lewis will visit Auburn on Thursday, Auburn Undercover was informed, as the Tigers add to a busy week of transfer visitors from Wednesday through Sunday. A mammoth of an athlete at 6-foot-8 and 345 pounds, Lewis started the final seven games of this season for Mississippi State at left tackle, and much like Auburn did this season at a couple O-line spots, he appeared in the previous five games, too, while splitting time at left tackle with Kwatrivous Johnson. According to Pro Football Focus, Lewis allowed only one sack all season on 235 pass-blocking snaps. Lewis was rated as the No. 5 JUCO player in the 2021 class from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he played two seasons. He has one season of eligibility remaining at his next stop. Lewis is on a visit to Arkansas on Wednesday and will go to Ole Miss on Friday — and a visit to South Carolina could also be in the works, Auburn Undercover was told. The Tigers are looking to add at least one offensive lineman through the portal, as they lose two starters: guards Gunner Britton and Kam Stutts. Left tackle Dillon Wade is expected to move inside to guard, thus Auburn and position coach Jake Thornton have targeted transfer offensive tackles to compete for that vacant spot. Texas A&M transfer DT Isaiah Raikes visiting Auburn Auburn is looking to beef up its interior defensive front through the portal As Auburn looks to bolster its defensive line after Marcus Harris' departure, the Tigers are hosting Texas A&M defensive tackle Isaiah Raikes on a visit Wednesday, Auburn Undercover has learned. A rising fifth-year senior from New Jersey, Raikes has appeared in 38 games over the last four seasons, with four starts. He's tallied 43 career tackles, with three tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble this season. At 6-foot-2 and 320 pounds, Raikes split his snaps almost 50-50 between nose tackle and 3-tech defensive tackle. Auburn already has one defensive tackle transfer signed in Kansas' Gage Keys. After a first team All-SEC season — and three years as a starter — Harris departed for the NFL draft. Auburn is also awaiting an NFL decision from starting nose tackle Justin Rogers.

Starts at Seven central

247sports.com PMARSHONAU Phillips Tuesday morning musings Phillip Marshall 6–8 minutes Thorne endures needless insults Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne had a rough day in Auburn’s 31-13 loss to Maryland on Saturday in the Music City Bowl, but he does not deserve the insults, some of them personal, hurled in his direction. I guess that’s the way things are now, and that’s unfortunate. Thorne battled the flu before the game and only had three days of practice. He only practiced once before Auburn left for Nashville. Maryland stacked the box, and Auburn receivers could not get open. That is a bad combination. Thorne took a serious beating. Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said after the game there will be a real quarterback race in the spring, and that’s OK. Thorne certainly needs to improve. He can’t be throwing interceptions straight to defensive backs. Thorne played much better the second half of the season, after the quarterback shuffle ended, than he did the first half of the season. What happened Saturday doesn’t change that. I have no idea what Thorne might be like after a full spring practice and offseason. I have no idea how much difference it will make if Freeze, as expected, takes full control of play-calling. Will Thorne win the job? I don’t know. He has it to do. I believe he is the favorite, but that decision will be made on the practice field. Frustrated fans won’t have a vote. Truth about Freeze’s first Auburn team The truth about Freeze’s first Auburn team is that, at its best, it was good enough to fight Georgia and Alabama to the bitter end. But not at its best, it could lose to New Mexico State and Maryland. What causes that? A talent and depth shortage. Really good teams have enough to play less than their best and still win. Auburn wasn’t there this season. It will be closer next season. I am convinced next season’s team will be significantly better. What will that translate to against a brutal schedule? I’m nowhere close to making that prediction. Dramatic, but not pretty Alabama’s 27-20 overtime loss to Michigan in a College Football Playoff semifinal Monday was certainly dramatic. With a botched extra point, two muffed punts, some crucial penalties and a missed field goal, Michigan dug itself a hole. But the Wolverines drove to the tying touchdown in the waning seconds and won it in overtime. Alabama didn’t always help itself either. Two bad snaps ended a promising drive. On the final play of overtime, quarterback Jalen Milroe had to catch the snap inches off the ground before running straight ahead and being swarmed by the Michigan defense. It was a long, hard day for Milroe. He was sacked six times. He didn’t have enough time to throw deep balls, which is what he does best. He lost a fumble with Alabama on the move. Michigan is better than I thought it was. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy outplayed Milroe and was the game’s MVP. The defense was really impressive. Alabama looked more like the team that struggled in September and later could have/should have lost at Auburn than like a team that had won 11 consecutive games. Harbaugh's and Saban’s futures Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was asked after the game remaining Michigan’s coach was in his future. He laughed and said his future was taking a joyful flight back to Ann Arbor. In other words, he didn’t answer. Nobody asked Alabama’s Nick Saban about swirling rumors that he could be headed toward retirement. When he has been asked, he also hasn’t answered. I have no clue what either of them will do, but it will be worth watching in the weeks ahead. Penix shines as Washington hangs on Washington quarterback Michael Penix was on fire in a 37-31 victory over Texas in the other semifinal, but the Longhorns drove to the 12-yard line as time melted away. On the final play of the game, the Huskies knocked away a pass to escape. Regardless, Penix is something to watch. He passed for 430 yards as Washington moved on to play Michigan for the national championship. Amazingly, the last 10 Washington games have been decided by 10 points or less. Washington will have a clear advantage over Michigan on offense. And Michigan will have a clear advantage on defense. It should be fun to watch. Are any of the playoff teams great? I saw some great plays and some great players in Saturday’s playoff games. I’m not sure I saw a great team. I don’t know that there are any great teams, at least not great in terms of what we have seen in recent years. Alabama doesn’t have close to the same kinds of weapons at wide receiver that it had in the past. Its defense is good but not overpowering. Michigan isn’t going to light up the scoreboard. Washington’s defense is suspect. Texas is terrific on the line of scrimmage but significantly less than that in the secondary. But none of that really matters. Both Saturday games were decided on the final play. And those are the kinds of games everybody should want. A new era of college football draws closer After next Monday’s championship game, we move on to the 12-team playoff. Oklahoma and Texas will next play as members of the SEC. Washington, Oregon, USC and UCLA will play in the Big Ten. It will be a new era of college football. Stanford and Cal, will become members of the ACC. It’s going to be strange, for sure. Better? We will see. Quick thoughts --Based on what I have heard from Auburn fans the last few weeks, Michigan must have been poorly coached because it muffed two punts. One led to Alabama’s first touchdown and another was at the 1-yard line. Same for Washington, which muffed one that set up a Texas touchdown. The truth is that sometimes players make mistakes, even when they have been prepared to not make those mistakes. It happens in college football. It happens in the NFL. --If I had to vote for the best team in the country based on the so-called “eye test,” I would vote for Georgia. --Kudos to Bo Nix for playing in the Fiesta Bowl when he didn’t have to, and for setting an FBS record for completion percentage. --Saban on the final play: “The fact that it didn’t work makes it a real bad call.” He was right. The difference in a good call or a gutsy call and bad call is whether it works or not. --Six SEC teams – Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee finished the season with eight or more wins. All those teams except Alabama won their bowl games. Kentucky and Texas A&M were 7-5 and Auburn was 6-6. All three of those teams lost.

saturdaydownsouth.com Zion Puckett decides on Auburn future after playing in Music City Bowl Andrew Olson | 1 day ago ~3 minutes Zion Puckett has played his final snaps as an Auburn Tiger. Puckett announced Monday on social media that he is declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. He recently completed Year 5 of his college football career. He had the option of returning for a sixth season with the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver. While Puckett logged 2 tackles in the bowl game, he has ultimately decided to move on and go pro. He shared a lengthy note in a social media post thanking the Auburn Family. “I deeply appreciate God for giving me the strength to serve and honor Him through the platform of football,” Puckett wrote to open his farewell note. “It is with unwavering faith that I embark on this journey, acknowledging that my abilities are gifts to be utilized in His service. “I extend my appreciation to my family for their constant love, my friends for their encouragement, my coaches for their mentorship, and my teammates for the shared victories and challenges. As I step into the next chapter, I carry the lessons and blessings from each of you, ready to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. “I express sincere appreciation to the Auburn University family for providing me with the opportunity of a lifetime. Auburn will always hold a special place in my heart as I embark on this new chapter, and I am grateful for the foundation it has laid for my future endeavors. with that being said, I will be declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. War Damn Eagle!” Puckett joined Auburn in 2019, taking a redshirt his first year as a 4-game participant. He became a multi-year starter at safety, recording 148 tackles with 6.5 TFLs in his 5-year career. Puckett had his best season in coverage in 2023, logging 4 passes defended with his first 2 interceptions. Andrew Olson Andrew is a News Manager for XLMedia's Saturday Football brands. Follow on Twitter.

al.com Auburn gets commitment from class of ‘26 wide receiver Denairius Gray Published: Jan. 01, 2024, 5:16 p.m. ~2 minutes Hugh Freeze walks off field after the Tiger lose 31-13 to Maryland Auburn received a second commitment for its 2026 recruiting class as wide receiver Denairius Gray made his pledge Monday. Gray is listed as a four-star recruit and the 90th overall player in the class of 2026 by Rivals, one of the major recruiting rankings websites. None of the other major rankings have him rated yet. During his freshman and sophomore years at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in Hollywood, Florida, Gray totaled 1,124 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns. It is the same high school that produced multiple NFL wide receivers including current Arizona Cardinal and former first-round pick Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Gray joins offensive lineman Kail Ellis in Auburn’s 2026 class. Auburn does not currently have any wide receivers in his 2025 class after landing an elite 2024 group including five-star signees Perry Thompson and Cam Coleman. Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

al.com Auburn running back, kick returner Brian Battie expected to transfer, per reports Updated: Jan. 01, 2024, 3:27 p.m.|Published: Jan. 01, 2024, 3:25 p.m. 2–3 minutes Auburn running back Brian Battie (21) carries the ball against Samford during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)AP After just one season on The Plains, Auburn running back Brian Battie has entered his name into the transfer portal, according to multiple reports. Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer of 247 Sports were the first to report the news Monday afternoon. Battie appeared in each of Auburn’s 13 games in 2023, rushing for 227 yards and touchdown on 51 carries. Battie, a junior of out Sarasota, Fla., added another 645 yards off kick returns as he returned 28 kicks for the Tigers this season. Battie’s biggest game in terms of yardage came on Sept. 23 against Texas A&M as he rushed for 59 yards on eight carries. His lone touchdown of the season came on Nov. 11 against Arkansas. Before coming to The Plains, Battie spent three seasons with at USF, where he tallied more than 1,400 kick return yards, including 650 yards and three kick return touchdowns in 2021 – earning him all-American honors that same year. From the backfield, Battie amassed 1,842 career yards and 10 touchdowns through three seasons with the Bulls. With Monday’s news, Battie is expected to become the 13th Auburn player to look for greener pastures and will benefit from recent legislation which allows college football players to transfer more than once and not have to sit out a season. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

si.com Auburn QB Hank Brown says reps vs Maryland were 'nothing new' Lance Dawe 3–4 minutes Auburn freshman quarterback Hank Brown balled out for the final quarter of the Tigers' loss to Maryland. Auburn freshman quarterback Hank Brown balled out for the final quarter of the Tigers' loss to Maryland. The contest was disappointing overall, but Brown's passing in the fourth quarter gave some Tiger fans something to look forward to heading into the offseason. There may be another quarterback battle on our hands. Brown, a third-stringer heading into the Music City Bowl, was a former three-star prospect in the 2023 cycle. He was fourth-string before Robby Ashford entered the portal a few weeks ago. For him to have come into the bowl game, knocked down a few explosive plays, lead one of Auburn's two touchdown drives, all while looking extremely confident? It was impressive. Brown was asked about being prepared for the moment once he was put out there. "I mean, that had to be something that was kind of like, okay, these coaches have prepared me," Brown said. "The prep has prepared me for this moment. I know what to look for and I know what to do." The moment was was different from practice, but it didn't shake Brown. In fact, Brown says the pacing wasn't anything new. Nothing felt too fast. "Yeah, you know, it was definitely a little bit of a difference, but I think I was totally prepared for that, you know," Brown said. "Playing scout team this year, going against number one defense the entire year, you know, I'm used to it now. It's nothing new. The game didn't feel fast out there. You know, it felt like I was playing at the speed that the game was going. And, you know, so I felt I was prepared and it wasn't fast at all. Felt totally confident out there." Brown finished the game 7-of-9 passing for 132 yards. It was a nice mix of deep, intermediate, and checkdowns. He didn't seem phased. Brown just went out and executed. "Yeah, so there were a few plays in there where they were cover four, cover three, dropping back deep, went through my progression, and knew where my check down was so I could just drop it down to him," Brown said. "And, you know, Jeremiah Cobb's a very special player, and he got some good yards for me." If Brown is able to impress during spring practice, there's a chance the Tigers could turn to him as the starter to begin the 2024 season. Hugh Freeze did say the competition was "wide open," after all.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn announces changes to football staff Taylor Jones 2–3 minutes The first major shakeup of the 2023 offseason has officially taken place. Before Auburn’s TransPerfect Music City Bowl loss to Maryland on Saturday, it was announced that former Colorado defensive coordinator and Auburn alum Charles Kelly would join the staff as a co-defensive coordinator. Sunday, it was reported by TexAgs that Auburn secondary coach Wesley McGriff is expected to take on a defensive role on Mike Elko’s staff at Texas A&M, thus paving the way for Kelly to replace him. Kelly joins Auburn’s staff after building a successful track record at Alabama. Tennessee, Florida State, and Georgia Tech. Before joining Deion Sanders’ initial staff at Colorado in 2023, Kelly served as the assistant defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Alabama for four seasons. During that time, Kelly worked with several great athletes such as DeMarcco Hellams, Brian Branch, Jordan Battle, and Xavier McKinney. He was also a part of the 2020 staff that led Alabama to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2020. Kelly is also known as an avid recruiter. According to 247Sports, Kelly was responsible for being the head recruiter for nine five-star recruits during his coaching career. Several recruits he has worked with in the past include Caleb Downs, Will Anderson, Isaiah Bond, and Aaron Beasley. McGriff departs Auburn after completing his third stint as a defensive assistant coach. He was responsible for being the secondary recruiter for recent Auburn signees such as Amon Lane-Ganus, Kensley Faustin, Jayln Crawford, and Kayin Lee. 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__