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al.com Observations from Auburn’s Nashville practice ahead of the Music City Bowl Updated: Dec. 27, 2023, 6:06 p.m.|Published: Dec. 27, 2023, 3:50 p.m. 4–5 minutes Hugh Freeze speaks to media as Auburn holds 1st Nashville practice for Music City Bowl vs. Maryland Auburn held an open viewing period for reporters Wednesday at its first practice in Nashville ahead of the Music City Bowl. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Nissan Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. Auburn is using Vanderbilt’s football practice facility — which is not currently obstructed by any of the ongoing construction next door at the football stadium. It was a largely light practice. Head coach Hugh Freeze has previously said he didn’t want to overwork his team in advance of the bowl game and wanted the trip to Nashville to be more fun than grueling. He said he’s had his most success in previous bowl games when he had lighter practice schedules. Freeze is 6-2 in bowl games as a head coach. Here are a few notes from Auburn’s practice. Auburn also held an open viewing window on campus last Wednesday. This session at Vanderbilt was the second of two open periods ahead of the Music City Bowl. - QB Payton Thorne is practicing and appears good to go. He missed all but one practice, according to Freeze, before Auburn’s team broke for Christmas because he had flu-like symptoms. Freeze said he believes there is a “run of sickness” running through the whole Auburn team ahead of the bowl game. - C Avery Jones did not participate in practice. He was present but wearing sweats off the side of the other offensive lineman. - Most of the remaining offensive line as the same as it has been for weeks. Connor Lew is still the center, a job that by this point he has appeared to earn for good. Jeremiah Wright and Kam Stutts rotated at the right guard spot while Gunner Britton played left guard. Izavion Miller was the right tackle and Dillon Wade was the left tackle. - A growing group of signees in Auburn’s 2024 class are participating with the team. None of these players are allowed to play in the bowl game, but getting extra practices with Auburn and traveling with the team to its bowl game is a valuable experience. At this point, the group of signees practicing includes DT Malik Blocton, LBs Demarcus Riddick, Joe Phillips and DJ Barber, WR Bryce Cain and S Kaleb Harris - Speaking of Blocton, his older brother and Auburn star defensive tackle Marcus Harris was present at practice despite opting out of the game. He was helping and supporting the remaining defensive lineman while in street clothes. Among those defensive linemen practicing was Justin Rogers, who accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl. Rogers does not appear to be opting out and because he is not required to enter the NFL Draft after the Shrine Bowl, could still return to Auburn next season. - Jaylin Simpson and Zion Pucket are both off the NFL and practicing with Auburn too. Or at least minimally. They were there and in pads. They didn’t do many drills. Same could be said for another Auburn veteran in Elijah McAllister. It appeared to get younger players some experience. - So, who is getting the benefit of Auburn resting some of its starters? Sophomore Caleb Wooden and freshman Terrance Love both played together at safety when Simpson and Puckett were off to the side. Both have received a lot of praise throughout bowl practices. - Auburn doesn’t have many wide receivers available for the game — Jay Fair, Nick Mardner, Shane Hooks, Koy Moore, Caleb Burton and Camden Brown were all present at practice — but it appears generally healthy. It is helpful to have Cain joining in with practice to balance out some reps. 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.

247sports.com Back in Nashville can Auburn reverse its recent bowl woes Nathan King 3–4 minutes Nashville is the last place anyone wearing orange and blue saw a bowl win. As the Tigers return to the Music City Bowl as touchdown favorites over Maryland, most of the team — non-transfers, at least — is looking for its first-ever bowl victory in an Auburn uniform. Aside from offensive linemen Kam Stutts and Jalil Irvin — both of whom were part of the 2018 class and are sixth-year seniors with the program — there haven’t been any bowl wins to speak of. “I feel like Coach Freeze and his staff have everything moving in the right direction, and I definitely have a lot of faith in them,” Stutts said. “So ending my career with a W and continuing that path would mean a lot.” Auburn is 0-3 in bowl games since its last trip to Nissan Stadium, when it plastered Purdue 63-14. That win set a number of bowl records that stood until Georgia eviscerated TCU in last year’s national championship game. But Auburn may have used up too much of its postseason magic that chilly afternoon. In 2019, Auburn fell just short of 10 wins by losing to Minnesota in the Outback Bowl. A shorthanded Tigers team without its head coach lost to Northwestern in the Citrus Bowl in 2020. And Bryan Harsin’s only trip to a bowl game as Auburn’s coach ended in a loss, after Houston scored a go-ahead touchdown with 3:27 remaining. Gus Malzahn went 2-6 in bowl games, including an 0-5 record against ranked teams. So even fifth-year seniors like Zion Puckett, who will be playing his last game at Auburn along with his starting mate at safety, Jaylin Simpson, haven’t been part of a bowl win. “It means a lot because this is both of our last game,” Puckett said. “And I think the right way is just to finish out strong for Auburn and the family here. I think that’s going to mean a lot to both of us.” If Auburn is defeated by Maryland on Saturday, it will mark four straight bowl losses for the first time in program history. Auburn’s bevy of transfer players on this year’s roster combine for much more bowl victories in their careers. And they know it can be a real momentum-booster to end a season on a high note — and especially if they can do so in convincing fashion. “It kind of gives you momentum going into the next year, especially if you can dominate it,” offensive guard Gunner Britton said. “For us to be able to win it would be huge. It’s always nice finishing above .500, 7-6 instead of 6-7.” Those transfers — like pass-rusher Elijah McAllister, who never saw a bowl win at Vanderbilt, either — won’t be around for the fruits of Freeze’s improvements of the program moving forward. But they know they have one last chance to add to a brief but impactful stint on the plains. “I think bowl game aside, I think I definitely have and we definitely have,” McAllister said of whether he thinks the program improved this season. “But the bowl game win will solidify that and make us feel a little bit better about ourselves going into next season.” Auburn reported to Nashville on Tuesday and will begin on-site bowl practices Wednesday afternoon. *** 60% OFF CHRISTMAS SALE: Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more *** *** Get Auburn news straight to your inbox with the Auburn Undercover newsletter ***

wrbl.com Former Tiger linebacker optimistic about Auburn’s future Rex Castillo ~3 minutes by: Rex Castillo Posted: Dec 27, 2023 / 09:20 AM EST Updated: Dec 27, 2023 / 09:20 AM EST Auburn, Al. – Hugh Freeze’s first regular season on The Plains is in the books. The season could be described as a transitional year for the Tigers. Auburn finished the regular season with a 6-6 overall record, but the expectations are still high for the Tigers. Former players like linebacker Antarrious Williams-Neal say the future is bright for Freeze’s team. “You know I think I’m really excited about what Hugh is doing. I wish we had more wins this year. I mean we had 3 or 4 really close games I wish we could have won, versus Alabama and versus Georgia. We really were in those games and would have liked to have won those games. All in all I think we’re definitely heading in the right direction,” said Williams-Neal. At the end of the early signing period, Auburn brings in a top 10 recruiting class in the country. With that kind of talent heading to Freeze’s roster, Williams-Neal believes the bright future for the Tigers won’t be too far away. “I think you better ready for Auburn now. I think we’re going to see a much better team and much improved team. As soon as we get the quarterback room tightened up and the way that Hugh Freeze wants it to be. We’ve got receivers coming in. If we can do that I can believe fans are going to be excited about what happens next year,” said Williams-Neal. Currently the Tigers are gearing up for the first bowl game under head coach Freeze. While it’s not in the College Football Playoff, Williams-Neal wants his Tigers to embrace the opportunity to play in the Music City Bowl against Maryland. “It’s a reward for your hard work throughout the season. You get to kick back and relax and enjoy a new city. I’ve been to the Music City Bowl a couple of times and I was there in Auburn. We love going to Nashville it’s a great city to be a part of,” said Williams-Neal. And moving forward Williams-Neal wants to remind everyone, do not sleep on Auburn. “You can already tell by what we’re doing from a recruiting stand point. With the NIL and the transfer portal we’ll be exactly where we need to be quicker than what people think,” said Williams-Neal. The Auburn Tigers square off against the Maryland Terrapins in the Music City Bowl on December 30th.

saturdaydownsouth.com Payton Thorne speaks to balancing bowl game with 2024 preparations Kevin L. Smith | 13 hours ago 2–3 minutes Auburn is currently preparing to face Maryland in the Music City Bowl this weekend. As the Tigers gear up for a showdown against the Terrapins, the anticipation of the 2024 season seeps in. For junior quarterback Payton Thorne, prep work for a bowl game and looking ahead to 2024 has been “hard to balance.” “You have that time off, and obviously with the portal opening up and the high school guys having signing day and recruiting, us players are trying to do our part,” Thorne said in an interview on Wednesday. Thorne is looking forward to what the 2024 campaign has to offer, but knows the Tigers have to finish up 2023 first. “It’s weird because you’re looking so much into next season and talking about next season,” Thorne said. “We still have to finish off this season, so we can focus back up here at practice and be ready to go on Saturday.” During the regular season, Thorne had 1,671 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. On the ground, the junior ran for 520 yards and three scores on 125 carries. Auburn (6-6) had a roller coaster regular season. After a 3-0 start, the Tigers lost 4 straight then won 3 in a row. Auburn’s regular season was capped with a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to Iron Bowl rival Alabama. The Tigers will take on Maryland in the Music City Bowl on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on ABC.

si.com LOOK: Incoming freshman LB Demarcus Riddick practices with Auburn before bowl game Lance Dawe 2–3 minutes Riddick is participating in bowl practices with the Tigers. Some of Auburn's incoming freshmen are already practicing with the team. Demarcus Riddick, a four-star linebacker in the Tigers' 2024 class, is participating in Auburn's bowl practices in Nashville. Matt Cohen of Al.com posted a video of Riddick practicing to Twitter. Here's a breakdown of Riddick as a recruit: Demarcus Riddick Size: 6-foot-2, 215 pounds Position: Linebacker/ATH High School: Clanton (Al.) Chilton County Recruitment: Originally a Georgia Bulldogs commitment, Riddick made the official flip to Auburn on July 26, 2023. Offers galore for this man, as Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State, Oregon, Florida, Tennessee, and Notre Dame are just some of Riddick’s other football scholarship offers. Athleticism: Notice above where it says “Linebacker/Athlete” after position? That’s not by coincidence. He used his hands as a big-bodied receiver for Chilton County and scored touchdowns in the process, just as one example. Riddick’s tremendous lateral mobility, hitting top gear quickly, and his hand-eye coordination, and quick hands, are some of his best physical attributes. He could play numerous sports and be successful. Not that he’s interested, but as a mixed-martial arts competitor, Riddick would be a stud. The quickness, speed, size, and power are obvious. In particular, Riddick shows the quickness to maneuver away from offensive linemen and he could do the same in the octagon. Auburn (6-6, 3-5 SEC) will face off against Maryland (7-5, 4-5 Big Ten) in the Music City Bowl this Saturday, December 30th. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ABC/ESPN+.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Tale of the Tape: Auburn vs. Maryland Brian Hauch 4–5 minutes The 6-6 Auburn Tigers return to action for the first time since losing the Iron Bowl later this week when they take on the 7-5 Maryland Terrapins in the Music City Bowl on December 30. Auburn finished the regular season with back-to-back losses but managed bowl eligibility in the first season under new head coach Hugh Freeze. On the other side, Taulia Tagovailoa and Maryland had an up-and-down season in the Big 10, winning 7 games in 12 tries. The all-time leading passer in Big 10 history has opted out of this game, giving Auburn a significant edge according to oddsmakers. The Tigers are currently a full touchdown favorite on BetMGM. ESPN FPI believes this game should be much closer, as Hugh Freeze’s squad has just a 52.4% chance to win according to the model. Will the tale of the tape show us this game will be a Dixieland Delight for Auburn fans, or will Maryland fans be singing the Victory song on Broadway after the Music City Bowl? As always we’ll start with the quarterbacks. Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne initial season on the Plains was much like a Sky Dog at 2 AM. The junior was a bit disappointing, but ultimately got the job done for the most part. Thorne finished the regular season with 1,671 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions as Auburn’s QB1(a). Hugh Freeze’s QB1(b), Robby Ashford, has joined thousands of other players in the transfer portal, leaving Thorne with the keys to the Honda Accord that is the Auburn offense. With Ashford all but gone and incoming four-star recruit Walker White cooking in the background, Thorne has one final chance in game action to prove he can lead the Tigers into 2024. As for the team up in Maryland, senior sensation Taulia Tagovailoa has chosen to opt out of this game, leaving sophomore quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and freshmen Cameron Edge as the lone signal-callers on the Terps roster. Both players combined for just 13 passing attempts this season although Edwards Jr. was used as a goal line quarterback, most notably rushing for 3 touchdowns against No. 1 ranked Michigan. Maryland’s passing offense was explosive this season but the loss of Tagovailoa gives the edge to Thorne and the Tigers. The skill positions across the offense are a different story. Auburn holds the edge at running back thanks to the electrifying Jarquez Hunter but the wide receiver gap is larger than Old Line State’s obsession with Old Bay. Maryland often employs three-reciever sets with Jeshaun Jones, Tai Felton, and Kaden Pranther. Those three combined for nearly 500 more receiving yards than Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne had in passing yards this season. The Terrapins fourth target, tight end Corey Dyches, would have paced all Auburn pass-catchers as well. Auburn tight end Rivaldo Fairweather had a solid season but the edge clearly goes to Maryland, especially considering the Tigers will be without Ja'Varrius Johnson in this one. Auburn’s defense is clearly the better unit on that side of the ball, but defensive coordinator Ron Roberts has some work ahead of him due to opt outs. Cornerbacks D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett as well as defensive lineman Marcus Harris won’t be availbile for this one, leaving the 21-ranked defense according to ESPN FPI shorthanded in Nashville. James and Harris were arguably Auburn’s two best players on the defensive side of the ball this season. It helps that linebacker Jalen McLeod and cornerback Keionte Scott are staying on the Plains and will be playing, but the loss of Harris, James, and Pritchett will be felt. Maryland’s defense on the other hand isn’t great but it’s not anemic either. The Terps were solid all year long, but did give up an average of over 30 points per game in losses this season. Head coach Mike Locksley isn’t dealing with any major opt-outs on that side of the ball, making the gap between these two teams closer than the stats say. Still, Auburn gets the edge here. There is a reason ESPN FPI has these two teams ranked next to each other in overall ranking. While the loss of Taulia Tagovailoa gives Auburn an edge in this game, the Music City Bowl could very well come down to the wire. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

247sports.com Music City Bowl notebook Tigers back on the practice field Jason Caldwell 4–5 minutes All present and accounted for After practicing in Auburn for a week before taking some time off around Christmas, Auburn arrived in Nashville on Tuesday night and hit the field at Vanderbilt on Wednesday afternoon at full strength, or at least as full as the Tigers can be following the opt-outs of D.J. James, Nehemiah Pritchett and Marcus Harris along with the losses to the transfer portal. With everyone healthy and ready to go as the Tigers gear up towards Saturday’s kickoff, this is a team that has plenty of bodies for the game but will count on young players at several positions to shore up some depth issues. By my count, Auburn has 64 scholarship players available for the game. That doesn’t walk-ons who were put on scholarship before or during the season. Decision to make for Rogers Early on Wednesday morning, the East-West Shrine Game tweeted out that Justin Rogers had accepted an invitation to play in their all-star game. That is partially true, from what we have been told. Rogers did accept an invitation, but still hasn't made a final decision on whether or not he'll return for the 2024 season. We have heard that Rogers has been leaning towards coming back for the Tigers, which would be big with the loss of Marcus Harris from this year's team. A decision isn't expected from Rogers until sometime after the bowl game. Speaking of Harris, he was at practice on Wednesday to support his teammates even though he decided not to play in the game. Bug going around Payton Thorne said he practiced just one day on campus last week while dealing with flu-like symptoms and that has continued with the team getting to Nashville. Hugh Freeze said the team is dealing with several players that have had sickness and that included two that were left at the team hotel instead of practicing on Wednesday morning at Nashville. “Yeah, we've had a run of sickness,” Freeze said. “We actually left two guys at the hotel today, too. We had a run, last week, of guys missing practice with flu-like symptoms. He seems to be feeling good, but it's really good to let him get outside and hopefully get him today and tomorrow. I haven't seen the weather for tomorrow, but this is a good day for him to have a good practice, for sure, because he did miss — shoot — last week, I think every day but one.” Newcomers continuing to work Auburn had several early enrollees on campus for bowl practices and they have continued that in Nashville. Defensive lineman Malik Blocton, linebackers DJ Barber, Joe Phillips and Demarcus Riddick, defensive back Kaleb Harris and wide receiver Bryce Cain were all practicing with the team and going through individual reps. The coaches said they’ve been pleased with the early work the group has shown as they get a crash course in learning the defense and offense. Tight ends back to full strength After Luke Deal, Rivaldo Fairweather and Brandon Frazier were all having to share a ton of reps during bowl practices last week in Auburn, the group welcomed back Micah Riley-Ducker to full contact reps on Wednesday. That’s a big deal for the offense with the lack of wide receivers available in this game. Auburn could use two or more tight ends at times against Maryland, and without Tyler Fromm that meant a whole lot of work in practice settings for the three older tight ends. Young DBs getting work In the viewing periods we had for Wednesday’s practice, the young defensive backs were heavily involved across the board with Kayin Lee, Tyler Scott, Colton Hood and JC Hart all getting reps at cornerback. Scott also got some work at the nickel position for the Tigers along with Champ Anthony. At the safety spot, Sylvester Smith and Terrance Love worked in getting some significant reps along with Caleb Wooden while seniors Jaylin Simpson and Zion Puckett coached them up in between reps.

Auburn football dealing with ‘run of sickness’ ahead of Music City Bowl Updated: Dec. 27, 2023, 2:45 p.m.|Published: Dec. 27, 2023, 2:44 p.m. 2–3 minutes Auburn's Hugh Freeze previews Music City Bowl against Maryland Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne missed all but one of Auburn’s Music City Bowl practices on campus before the team broke for Christmas because he had the flu, he said while speaking to reporters Wednesday in Nashville. Auburn arrived in Nashville on Tuesday and Thorne’s availability came at Vanderbilt’s practice field before the team’s first on-site practice there. Thorne said he feels good ahead of the Music City Bowl set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Thorne practiced Wednesday after not being seen on the field during a media viewing window last week. But head coach Hugh Freeze said Thorne’s flu symptoms are part of a bit of a bug running through the team ahead of the game against Maryland. “Yeah, we’ve had a run of sickness,” Freeze said Wednesday. “We actually left two guys at the hotel today, too. We had a run, last week, of guys missing practice with flu-like symptoms. (Thorne) seems to be feeling good, but it’s really good to let him get outside and hopefully get him today and tomorrow. I haven’t seen the weather for tomorrow, but this is a good day for him to have a good practice, for sure, because he did miss — shoot — last week, I think every day but one.” Freeze did not state which players were still feeling sick or who dealt with sickness other than Thorne. Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com

why lock a thread?if someone is causing a ruckus why not just remove the person or persons? then no one is butt hurt when a thread gets locked. i say that but i am not sure if it is doable.

maybe not.

i think asking for prayer if someone needing support asks for it is ok shrugs i do not worry about it much anyway. hell half the board probably thinks i am going to hell anyway..

i am doing well mr hank! thanks for the awesome wishes.

i hope ya catch something besides a cold. did you get the bikini thong i sent you?

mornin hank...................

Hugh touched me the other day. get those minds out of the gutter folks it was something inspiring he said..........grins

247sports.com Scott taking on leadership role in preparation for 2024 season Jason Caldwell 9–11 minutes Auburn’s coaching staff has a much-deserved Christmas break, but after the bowl game, Hugh Freeze and crew will refocus on the transfer portal. Freeze admitted he put more of his time and effort since the end of the regular season toward securing an elite 2024 class, and it paid off in the form of the No. 7 class in the country after last week’s early signing period. Auburn’s brought in three transfers so far — Duke linebacker Dorian Mausi, Kansas defensive tackle Gage Keys and Georgia State receiver Robert Lewis — but still have at least a few positions of need. The portal is open until Jan. 3, and that ensuing weekend will end the visit dead period (for transfers only), giving schools an opportunity to get last-minute transfer targets on campus, committed and enrolled before the start of the spring semester — so they can participate in spring practices. Classes start back at Auburn that following Wednesday, Jan. 10. So what did Freeze and his staff put on their transfer wish list this Christmas? Let’s break down some of Auburn’s biggest needs when the staff redirects their attention to the portal soon. GOOD FORTUNE ON THE O-LINE Auburn thought it had its two offensive line transfers lined up a couple weeks ago. Freeze said last week that Auburn’s two biggest offensive line targets committed elsewhere before visiting the Plains, and they obviously never made it to campus for their previous scheduled trip after that point. He was referencing Toledo guard Vinny Sciury and San Jose State offensive tackle Fernando Carmona. Offensive line coach Jake Thornton had heavily targeted both, even making multiple in-home visits to see Carmona, but they had other visits set up before Auburn. So Texas Tech and Arkansas, respectively, were able to land them, so the Tigers went into the holiday break without any O-line transfers. It’s not as if Auburn is scrambling for help up front, though. The staff made sure that wouldn’t be the case last year when they brought in 10 newcomers on the offensive line. Seth Wilfred, the No. 4 offensive tackle in the JUCO ranks, will also enroll for spring practices within the next few weeks, and Auburn believes he could contend for a starting job at tackle right away. Dillon Wade will likely move from left tackle to guard, so the true vacancies in terms of 2023 starters will likely be at left tackle and right guard. And Auburn still has players like Jaden Muskrat, Jeremiah Wright, Tyler Johnson and Dylan Senda that will be eyeing starting jobs in 2024. Johnson, a rising sophomore, could be a sleeper candidate at left tackle, while Muskrat was a versatile backup this season who can play tackle or guard. In short, Auburn isn’t panicking about its transfer outlook on the offensive line, but it does hope to get some good fortune soon. The Tigers targeted Georgia transfer Joshua Miller within the last week, but he committed to Syracuse. With the winter transfer window open for another nine days, Freeze and Thornton hope there will be a few options available for them to get on campus for an early January visit, so they can be with the team before spring ball, but even if Auburn has to wait until after the spring, it won’t be in a bad spot at the position. “Hopefully there’ll be a few that go in the portal that we can try to get in on,” Freeze said last week. “There’s no question, that one position has been the biggest challenge for me to try to figure out and for Jake to try to figure out. We’re still trying to figure that one out, truthfully.” MORE EXPERIENCE AT RECEIVER Both numbers- and production-wise, no position group has been hit harder for Auburn in the portal than wide receiver. Three of the Tigers’ four entries didn’t make much impact, as Malcolm Johnson Jr., Jyaire Shorter and Omari Kelly combined for only nine receptions this season. But when Ja'Varrius Johnson entered the portal, it served as Auburn’s biggest transfer loss of the cycle by far, as the fifth-year senior led the receiving corps in yards and touchdowns this season. Auburn is now left with seven scholarship receivers in the bowl game. Of course, Auburn not only has one transfer receiver on board in Georgia State’s Robert Lewis, but it also just signed the highest-rated receiver haul in the 2024 class. The goal is for that group’s immense talent to catalyze a success facelift for the passing game. But that may not be right away in 2024; they’ll just be true freshmen, after all. So Auburn is still keeping its eyes peeled for another transfer to take some pressure off those youngsters; quarterback Payton Thorne said himself last week that the team is still doing so. FAU transfer Lajohntay Wester is the big fish right now, after he had nearly 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Much like the offensive line, Auburn doesn’t feel like it’s under pressure to get another receiver in the portal, and rolling with the current group in 2024 wouldn’t change much of the offensive staff’s plans — especially if that player can’t arrive until the summer, and freshmen like Cam Coleman and Bryce Cain will be early enrollees. ANOTHER PIECE FOR THE D-LINE Here’s the top of Freeze’s list to Santa. Auburn needs at least one more difference-maker on the interior defensive line — especially if starting nose tackle Justin Rogers decides to head to the NFL after the bowl game. With first team All-SEC pick Marcus Harris off to the draft, there is a significant void of experience for next season. Flipping top-50 overall recruit Amaris Williams from Florida was a big step in the right direction, but in terms of returning players at defensive tackle, Auburn is thin on production right now. Lawrence Johnson is out of eligibility, so when excluding the nose tackles, the only returning pieces on the interior are Darron Reed Jr. and Quientrail Jamison-Travis, with the former not appearing in a game this season, and Jamison-Travis only playing two games in mop-up duty. Keys comes over from Kansas after posting 21 tackles and 13 QB pressures this season. Standout true freshman Keldric Faulk should be even more capable of kicking inside with another full offseason bulking up in the strength program, but he’s also the team’s best returning defensive end. Auburn’s lone transfer visitor along the defensive line was Michigan State’s Derrick Harmon two weekends ago. He then visited Oregon and Ohio State before the end of the dead period, and there’s since been steam that an NIL push from Michigan State could pull him out of the portal and bring him back to the Spartans. As is the case at most transfer positions for Auburn after the dead period, this feels like a spot where the Tigers will be resetting their board with upcoming transfer entries. At least one addition will be needed for position coach Jeremy Garrett’s group. BRIDGING THE SECONDARY GAP Auburn has an army of young and talented defensive backs on the roster, now with eight 247Sports Composite 4-star signees over the past two cycles — and that doesn’t even include 3-star safety Laquan Robinson, the No. 1 JUCO safety in the 2024 class whom Auburn’s staff thinks can compete for one of the two starting vacancies at safety right away. The most-utilized youngsters in the secondary this season were cornerback Kayin Lee, who started three games at the beginning of the season due to an injury and Nehemiah Pritchett, and held down the No. 3 cornerback job for the rest of the season, and safety Terrance Love, who played in five games and was one of the team’s highest-graded defenders despite limited snaps. But with Pritchett, fellow cornerback starter D.J. James, and starting safeties Jaylin Simpson and Zion Puckett all off to the NFL, Auburn knows it shouldn’t start from scratch at all four spots. Keionte Scott’s upcoming move from nickel to outside cornerback solves a big piece of the puzzle, giving Lee an experienced, NFL talent as his starting counterpart, plus Donovan Kaufman will be entering his fourth season at Auburn and has plenty of experience playing and starting at nickel. Still, some of Auburn’s most common transfer targets in the early stages of the winter window were corners and safeties. The most popular name right now is Georgia’s A.J. Harris, a former 5-star recruit from right down the road in Phenix City who visited Auburn last weekend just two days after entering the portal. Caleb Wooden and Robinson would likely be the starters at safety if the season began today, but Auburn would prefer to add some experience into that competition via the portal. The Tigers kicked the tires on some of the top safeties in the portal, like Liberty’s Preston Hodge and Oregon State’s Akili Arnold, but weren’t able to lock in any visits or commitments. Auburn’s staff will be looking closely at some of the top defensive back transfer entries over the next few weeks.

al.com A tale of the tape for Auburn vs. Maryland in the Music City Bowl Published: Dec. 26, 2023, 6:32 a.m. 4–5 minutes Auburn's Hugh Freeze previews Music City Bowl against Maryland It’s an Auburn football game week. Auburn will face Maryland in the Music City Bowl at 1 p.m. on Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Auburn and Maryland have three all-time matchups, with Auburn leading the series 2-1. All three games have been played in the state of Alabama. Maryland beat Auburn in 1952 in Birmingham. Auburn then beat Maryland in 1958 in Auburn and beat the Terps again in 1983 in Auburn. The 1983 game featured No. 7 ranked Maryland and quarterback Boomer Esiason against No. 3 ranked Auburn and running back Bo Jackson. Jackson was one of three Auburn players to rush for more than 100 yards in the win. In 2023, opt-outs are going to have a big impact on this game, especially as Maryland will be without starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa — the all-time leading passer in Big Ten history. Auburn will be without key defensive pieces in cornerbacks DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett as well as defensive tackle Marcus Harris. As a result, team statistics for the course of the 2023 season may not be completely reflective of what the bowl game will look like. Keep that in mind as we take a look through the tale of the tape in Auburn’s upcoming bowl game matchup. All rankings are Auburn’s standing nationally among 130 FBS teams. 2023 Auburn stats Record: 6-6 (3-5) Total offense ranking: 88th, 355.5 yards per game Scoring offense ranking: 65th, 27.2 points per game Passing offense ranking: 122nd, 157.1 yards per game Rushing offense ranking: 14th, 198.4 yards per game Total defense ranking: 50th, 361.1 yards allowed per game Scoring defense ranking: 35th, 21.9 points allowed per game Passing defense ranking: 30th, 201.7 passing yards allowed per game Rushing defense ranking: 80th, 159.4 rushing yards allowed per game Leading rusher: RB Jarquez Hunter with 896 yards. Hunter averages 5.9 yards per carry and has seven touchdowns. Leading receiver: TE Rivaldo Fairweather with 349 yards. Fairweather has found the endzone six times and has 30 catches. Other key stat notes: Third downs have been a key point for Auburn. Defensively, Auburn is among the best getting off the field, allowing third-down conversions just 32% of the time. That’s the 16th-best rate in the nation. Conversely, Auburn’s offense has been bad on third down. Its conversion rate is 34%. That is 109th nationally. 2023 Maryland stats Record: 7-5 (4-5) Total offense ranking: 55th, 393.8 yards per game Scoring offense ranking: 52nd, 29.6 points per game Passing offense ranking: 20th, 284.8 yards per game Rushing offense ranking: 114th, 108.9 yards per game Total defense ranking: 34th, 336.9 yards allowed per game Scoring defense ranking: 46th, 23.2 points allowed per game Passing defense ranking: 40th, 207.3 yards allowed per game Rushing defense ranking: 33rd, 129.6 yards allowed per game Leading rusher: RB Roman Hemby with 663 yards. Hemby averages 4.9 yards per carry and has scored four touchdowns. Leading receiver: WR Jeshuan Jones with 741 yards and four touchdowns. WR Tai Felton is close behind with 723 yards but two more touchdowns. Other key notes: Maryland is being hit much harder with transfers and opt-outs than Auburn. Maryland has five crucial players who will not be taking part in this game wether it be for the NFL or the transfer portal. Beyond Tagovailoa, Maryland will be without its starting tight end (Corey Dyches), its best linebacker (Jaishawn Barham) and two elite defensive backs (Tarheeb Still and Corey Coley Jr.). Tagovailoa certainly is the biggest loss, but the core of what has been a very good Maryland defense will not be taking part in the bowl game. 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 Who will Auburn turn to in its bowl game against Maryland after opt-outs and transfers? Published: Dec. 26, 2023, 6:00 a.m. 4–5 minutes Auburn's Hugh Freeze previews Music City Bowl against Maryland Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze made it his goal in Year 1 to get the Tigers back to a bowl game after they missed the bid in 2022. And with Auburn’s sixth win of the season coming against Arkansas on Nov. 11, Freeze and the Tigers punched their ticket to the postseason. Now, the focus becomes turning a 6-6 season to a 7-6 season as Auburn looks for a postseason win over the Maryland Terrapins in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Saturday. However, when the Tigers and Terps kickoff from Nashville, Auburn’s roster will likely look much different after a handful of players have decided to transfer or opt-out of the bowl game. The most impacted position groups are at wide receiver and in the defensive secondary as four receivers have decided to transfer away from the program, while a pair of Auburn’s veteran defensive backs are expected to opt out of the bowl game. So what might Auburn’s depth chart look like in those two position groups? Wide receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson, Malcolm Johnson Jr., Omari Kelly and Jyaire Shorter have each announced their intentions to transfer since Auburn’s last regular season game against Alabama on Nov. 25. Of those four, Ja’Varrius Johnson is the biggest loss as he recorded 19 receptions for 347 yards and three touchdowns during the regular season, making him Auburn’s second-leading receiver in 2023. Auburn’s receiver room is left with Camden Brown, Caleb Burton, Jay Fair, Shane Hooks, Nick Mardner and Koy Moore. Burton, Fair and Brown are likely to be Auburn’s starters against Maryland as the most productive receivers through the regular season. In 2023, Burton hauled in 11 receptions for 148 yards, while Brown caught eight passes for 78 yards. Meanwhile, Fair leads the way in terms of returning production after tallying 30 receptions for 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Fortunately for the Tigers, they also return tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, who was Auburn’s leading receiver with 33 receptions, 349 yards and six touchdowns. Defensive backfield With DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett both expected to opt out of Saturday’s game against Maryland, the Tigers will be without a lot of experience against the Terrapins. The good news for Auburn is it doesn’t lack young talent in the secondary and even features a handful of players who saw action during the regular season. Without James and Pritchett, the Tigers will be forced to start new players at both cornerback spots. Auburn junior Keionte Scott, who announced his intentions to return for his senior season on Dec. 11, plans to move to the cornerback spot for the rest of his time on The Plains, beginning in the bowl game. With Scott filling one of Auburn’s cornerback vacancies, it’s likely Freeze looks to a mix of Kayin Lee, JD Rhym and Colton Hood to fill the second. In the case of Lee, he appeared in all 12 of Auburn’s regular season games. At safety, the Tigers won’t look a ton different as senior Jaylin Simpson and Zion Puckett both announced their intentions to play in the bowl game, despite them heading to the NFL at the end of the season. However, with Freeze hoping to use the bowl game as an opportunity to get younger players some playing time, it’s likely that sophomore Caleb Wooden and freshman Terrance Love also see the field against the Terps. 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.

auburntigers.com Asante & Keionte: Vets lead Auburn defense into Music City Bowl, 2024 season Auburn University Athletics 8–10 minutes NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Auburn's 2024 defense received a boost this month when two of its leaders announced their intentions to remain on the Plains next season. Meet 'Asante and Keionte,' the defense firm that seeks to represent Auburn's prospects of making the expanded 12-team playoff a year from now. Auburn's leading tackler with 84 stops, linebacker Eugene Asante and defensive back and punt returner Keionte Scott will provide productivity and leadership for the 2024 Auburn Tigers. "I want to build something special here," said Asante, referencing previous Auburn SEC championship teams from 2004 and 2010. "I really do believe we could do something like that. I'm working toward that personally and I'm going to demand that out of the team." Asante ranks No. 7 in the SEC averaging seven tackles per game. He's one of four players in the conference with at least 80 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks. "This offseason we're going to put our best foot forward and be the best we can be for Auburn. This place deserves that. The fans deserve it," said Asante, who's led the Tigers in tackles in five games this season. "I want to win and I think we can do that and be a historic team. I'm grateful to be back to build this thing for next year." Eugene Asante (left) and Keionte Scott both scored touchdowns this season 'Asante and Keionte' don't just prevent the other team from scoring, they also produce points themselves. Scott returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown vs. Arkansas while Asante returned a fumble 67 yards for a touchdown against Texas A&M. "I'm really glad that people like Keionte and Eugene are coming back to help lead us," Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said. "They'll be great for our young kids as two great leaders and captain-material guys who can help set the culture for our defense next year. I'm thrilled that they're back." After considering entering the NFL Draft, Scott chose to return for his third season at Auburn for athletic, academic and professional reasons. "The chance to excel," said Scott, who's made 41 tackles and two tackles for loss this season while returning 12 punts. "I feel like I have some more in my tank to get better. I had some more to show." Switching from nickel to cornerback allows Scott to showcase his coverage skills, while completing his Auburn University degree will make him a first-generation college graduate. "Being able to get back on that island," Scott said. "That was my first home. I'm very excited to get back outside and get back on Key Island. I'm looking forward to being able to show my versatility this year. I'm excited to get some sideline help and get my eyes on the ball. "Being able to walk across the stage and get my degree is good for me and my family. I'm trying to be the first one in my family to do so. "I believe in what Coach Hugh Freeze is building. I'm 100 percent bought into it. I want to be able to say I was a part of turning the program over." With cornerbacks Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James opting out of the bowl game to prepare for the Senior Bowl and the NFL Draft, Scott will mentor a less-experienced secondary Saturday at Nissan Stadium. "We've seen some younger guys really step up. Everybody understands what has to happen now," Scott said. "You're seeing some guys elevate." Auburn's opponent in Saturday's TransPerfect Music City Bowl, the Maryland Terrapins, will also feature players looking to optimize their opportunity after teammates opted out of the game, including Taulia Tagovailoa, the Big Ten's career passing leader. "We're looking at it as a chance to showcase our DB room," Scott said. "We're excited to see if we can gel together during these practices and be able to play to the standard of the room." Leaders in 2023, 'Asante and Keionte' hope to earn a bowl victory to give Auburn a winning record in Freeze's first season, further building on the momentum established with last week's top 10 recruiting class. "It starts with this bowl game," Scott said. "Some of the leaders are talking about different ways we can get it set earlier. We want to gel in the spring; that way we're going into the season together as one, understanding what the standard is and everything that needs to be done to generate the outcomes we want." "It's going to be a great challenge and we're excited," said Asante, who participated in the 2021 Orange Bowl at North Carolina before transferring to Auburn. "It's momentum leading into next year. Those types of things help you develop confidence into the next season. "Even for the young guys who haven't gotten reps all season, playing in a bowl game can really propel them into next year. So lay it on the line for your brothers and play the best game you can play." Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer Players Mentioned #18 Nehemiah Pritchett CB 6' 1" Senior Education #4 D.J. James CB 6' 1" Junior Liberal Arts #9 Eugene Asante LB 6' 1" Junior Liberal Arts #0 Keionte Scott CB 6' 0" Junior Liberal Arts

247sports.com 10 Tigers with the most to gain in the Music City Bowl Jason Caldwell ~3 minutes There's set to be a heavy Auburn representation in Orlando, Florida, for the Under Armour All-America Game and San Antonio, Texas, for the All-American Bowl to celebrate the 2023 high school football season. Players will report to Orlando on Dec. 29, getting in practice on Dec. 30, 31, Jan. 1 and Jan. 2 before playing in the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 3. The game is set for 3 p.m. CT and will be televised on ESPN. Meanwhile, players will report to San Antonio for the All-American Bowl on Jan. 2 before the game kicks off on Jan. 6. The All-American Bowl, which was formerly the Army All-American Bowl, is presented by NBC and streaming on Peacock. Auburn will have quite a few signees representing in both games: UNDER ARMOUR ALL-AMERICA GAME * 5-star WR Cam Coleman | Central (Ala.) * 5-star WR Perry Thompson | Foley (Ala.) * 4-star EDGE Jamonta Waller | Picayune Memorial (Miss.) * 4-star DB A'Mon Lane-Ganus | Moody (Ala.) * 4-star DB Jalyn Crawford | Parkview (Ga.) * K Towns McGough | Auburn High (Ala.) NOTE: 5-star wide receiver flip target Ryan Williams will also play in the Under Armour All-American game. ALL-AMERICAN BOWL * 4-star QB Walker White | Little Rock Christian (Ark.) * 4-star IOL DeAndre Carter | Mater Dei (Calif.) * 4-star DL Amaris Williams | Clinton (N.C.) * 4-star LB Demarcus Riddick | Chilton County (Ala.) * 4-star DB Kensley Faustin | Naples (Fla.) * 3-star OT Favour Edwin | Eagles Landing Christian Academy (Ga.) Auburn's five representatives in the All-American Bowl ties a program record, which was set in 2023 when Connor Lew, Kayin Lee, Keldric Faulk, Tyler Scott and Darron Reed all played in the game. Auburn did not have any representation in the Under Armour game, though. This year, Auburn will have 10 of its scholarship signees and an 11th in touted preferred walk-on kicker McGough playing in the games before enrolling at Auburn. Coleman, Waller, Crawford, McGough, White, Williams, Riddick and Faustin are all early enrollees and will move in at Auburn on Jan. 7 — except for Riddick, who is already moved in and went through bowl practices. Thompson, Lane-Ganus and Carter will arrive in the summer. Auburn's early signing period class finished at No. 7 in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings.

i was not a tj hater. i hope he kicks behind today.