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al.com Poking around the portal: Who has Auburn offered from the transfer portal so far? Published: Dec. 08, 2023, 7:00 a.m. 7–9 minutes If the transfer portal had physical constraints, it surely would’ve needed to upsize after this week. According to On3 Sports, as of Thursday afternoon, 1,426 FBS football players had entered the transfer portal, which opened on Dec. 4 and will remain that way for 30 days, closing on Jan. 2. Needless to say, college football coaches have been left with a lot to sift through as they look to add to their 85-man rosters. Last season, Auburn first-year head coach Hugh Freeze went to the portal and plucked out more than 20 players to add to the Tigers’ depleted roster. And while Freeze won’t need to do quite the overhaul he did last offseason this offseason, he and Auburn’s coaching staff have still been doing their fair share of poking around in the portal. RELATED: Keep track of all of Auburn’s moves in the transfer portal here As of Thursday night, more than 20 transfers reported having received an offer from Auburn. Before we take a look at them, however, here’s a quick preface: The following offers are only what have been made public via players’ social media. Not every player in the portal announces their offers — this is especially true of some of the bigger names in the portal. That said, this is not an exhaustive list. Wide receivers Freeze hasn’t been shy about Auburn’s need for pass catchers. When asked in October what he was planning to prioritize when it came to recruiting, Freeze was quick to respond. “We’ve gotta get some guys in the receiver room – some depth there that can separate and win some 1-on-1s,” Freeze said on Oct. 2. And Auburn’s emphasis on loading up the wide receiver room has been evident on the high school recruiting trail as Freeze has landed the commitments of a pair of 5-star wide receivers in Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson. But Freeze isn’t stopping there. Since the transfer portal opened Monday, Auburn has reportedly extended offers to at least six wide receivers. Here’s a look at them, their stats from 2023 and whether or not they’ve reportedly scheduled a visit to Auburn. Jared Brown, redshirt sophomore, Coastal Carolina: 6-foot, 190 pounds, 58 receptions, 740 yards, four touchdowns in 2023; plans to visit Auburn Deion Burks, redshirt sophomore, Purdue: 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, 47 receptions, 629 yards, seven touchdowns in 2023 Caullin Lacy, junior, South Alabama: 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, 91 receptions, 1,316 yards, seven touchdowns in 2023 Robert Lewis, redshirt junior, Georgia State: 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, 70 receptions, 877 yards, seven touchdowns in 2023; plans to visit Auburn on Dec. 8-10 Will Sheppard, senior, Vanderbilt: 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, 47 receptions, 684 yards, eight touchdowns in 2023 Zavion Thomas, sophomore, Mississippi State: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, 40 receptions, 503 yards, one touchdown in 2023 Offensive linemen In the first days of this year’s portal madness, the offensive front is another area Freeze has hit hard. With Gunner Britton, Avery Jones and Kam Stutts — three starting offensive linemen from 2023 — departing due to being out of eligibility, the Tigers will certainly need to add to their offensive line room. And the portal is where they hope to do a lot of that. As of Thursday evening, Auburn has reportedly extended offers to at least six transfer offensive linemen. Here’s a look at them and whether or not they’ve reported plans to visit Auburn. Matthew Bedford, redshirt senior, Indiana: 6-foot-6, 305 pounds; visited Auburn Dec. 6 Fernando Carmona Jr., sophomore, San Jose State: 6-foot-5, 314 pounds Alan Herron, sophomore, Shorter: 6-foot-6, 310 pounds Easton Kilty, junior, North Dakota: 6-foot-5, 305 pounds Makylan Pounders, redshirt sophomore, Memphis: 6-foot-5, 290 pounds Gerquan Scott, redshirt junior, Southern Miss: 6-foot-4, 330 pounds; plans to visit Auburn Dec. 8-10 Defensive backs Auburn is staring down a lot of turnover in the defensive backfield as DJ James, Nehemiah Pritchett and Jaylin Simpson are all turning their attention to the NFL after the 2023 season ends. Fortunately for the Tigers, they’ve already got a nice foundation of defensive backs set to return to The Plains in 2024. The downside? Many of them are young and inexperienced. Of the 14 defensive backs set to return next fall, nine were sophomores or younger this season. So Freeze has set out to the transfer portal to find more seasoned defensive backs. As of Thursday evening, Auburn has reportedly offered at least five transfer defensive backs. Here’s a look at each of them. Akili Arnold, junior, Oregon State: 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, 62 total tackles, two INTs, fumble recovery in 2023 Syeed Gibbs, freshman, Rhode Island: 6-foot, 180 pounds, 38 total tackles, three INTs in 2023 Will Lee III, sophomore, Kansas State: 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, 42 total tackles, two INTs, fumble recovery in 2023 Jermod McCoy, freshman, Oregon State: 6-foot, 180 pounds, 31 total tackles, two INTs, fumble recovery in 2023 Ethan Robinson, junior, Bucknell: 6-foot, 175 pounds, 50 total tackles, three INTs, fumble recovery in 2023 Defensive linemen The defensive line is an area Freeze griped about not having enough depth a time or two. Often, Freeze would mention that Marcus Harris, who has yet to announce if he will return for his final year of eligibility or turn pro, was having to play too many snaps in one game. And while the Tigers are set to bring in a trio of defensive linemen in 4-star commit TJ Lindsey and 3-star commits Malik Blocton and Dimitry Nicolas, Auburn is looking to add more to its defensive front via the transfer portal. As of Thursday evening, the Tigers had reportedly extended offers to at least three transfer defensive linemen. Here’s a look at each of them. Nate Clifton, senior, Vanderbilt: 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, 30 total tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, one interceptions in 2023 Derrick Harmon, redshirt sophomore, Michigan State: 6-foot-5, 320 pounds, 40 total tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, forced fumble in 2023; plans to visit Auburn Dec. 8-10 Chris McClellan, sophomore, Florida: 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, 23 total tackles, 1 TFL Linebackers Auburn isn’t necessarily hurting at the linebacker spot. So far, Larry Nixon III is the only confirmed outgoing linebacker, meaning — barring no changes — the Tigers could return veterans Cam Riley, Wesley Steiner, Eugene Asante and Austin Keys, along with three other linebackers. Freeze also has a pair of notable high school linebacker commits coming in 4-stars Demarcus Riddick and D’Angelo Barber. But sometimes, talent hits the portal and you’ve just gotta give it a shot. As of Thursday night, Auburn had reportedly offered at least one transfer linebacker. Here’s a look. Chris Paul Jr., sophomore, Arkansas: 6-foot-1, 233 pounds, 74 total tackles, 6.5 TFLs, two sacks in 2023 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.

it is dead this morning folks. i will check back during the day for updates...........

al.com AU commit Cam Coleman: Maybe the 'freakiest' of a stellar WR class Updated: Dec. 07, 2023, 10:48 a.m.|Published: Dec. 07, 2023, 9:59 a.m. 5–6 minutes High School Sports New Auburn commit Cam Coleman may be the ‘freakiest’ of an impressive 2024 WR class Central-Phenix City's Cam Coleman breaks loose for a touchdown during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 7A championship at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com)Vasha Hunt | vhunt@al.com Thompson coach Mark Freeman knew all about Central-Phenix City wide receiver Cam Coleman entering Wednesday’s Class 7A state title game. “He’s an elite player,” Freeman said. “You have to tackle him. It’s not like tackling an ordinary guy.” Coleman, the top prospect on AL.com’s revamped A-List of top seniors in the state, proved that one final time as a Red Devil. His 73-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter gave Central the breathing room it needed to hold on to a 21-19 victory over the Warriors. “The corner was playing about five yards off,” he said of the pivotal play. “I broke it down in front across his face, caught the ball and looked up field. I saw green grass and just started running. All glory to God.” The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Coleman finished the night with five receptions for 143 yards and the back-breaking touchdown. He was named the game’s MVP. The performance came less than a week after he flipped his longstanding commitment to Texas A&M to Auburn. “Really when Jimbo Fisher got fired and they fired my position coach (Dameyune Craig). It was a go,” he told 247 Sports/Auburn Undercover after the game. Auburn assistants Cadillac Williams and Marcus Davis were in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night to watch Coleman perform. He finished the season with 61 receptions for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns and is certainly in the conversation as a contender for the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Mr. Football Award. Central-Phenix City's Cam Coleman celebrates his touchdown during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 7A championship at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com)Vasha Hunt | vhunt@al.com “Cam just has that explosiveness that really shows up when the ball is in the air or after it is in his hands,” John Garcia Jr., national college recruiting analyst for Rivals, said this week on Sports Talk 99.5 FM in Mobile. “He hasn’t always been polished so you wonder how technical is he, but in the last year we’ve seen a huge jump as a route runner. He is becoming a more complete player, and you could make an argument he maybe is the freakiest receiver in this class and, for those who follow recruiting, this class is sort of known for the wide receiver position.” Garcia Jr. said Coleman’s late flip to Auburn is critical in more than one way for head coach Hugh Freeze and the Tigers. “It is still a huge deal for Auburn to have pulled it off,” he said. “From the zoomed-out macro, you are talking about the No. 5 recruit in the country, No. 1 player in Alabama. Of course, it’s a big deal for him to pick Auburn. “But, if you go hyper local, Central-Phenix City and Auburn haven’t been this cohesive relationship most would expect. For them to not only get over that hump with a big-time recruit but also to do it with maybe the best recruit to come through there in a long time is a really big deal and another notch for Hugh Freeze and his staff and particularly Marcus Davis.” Coleman adds to an already impressive Auburn wide receiver class that includes fellow 5-star Perry Thompson of Foley, Malcolm Simmons of Benjamin Russell and Bryce Cain of Baker. Thompson, who flipped from Alabama to Auburn this summer, is another big frame (6-3, 202). The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Cain is one of the fastest receivers in the state. “Perry is a little bigger, a little more physical and a little more linear (than Coleman),” Garcia Jr. said. “I think he’s built to play on the outside and play that vertical game. Coleman has a little more flexibility to what he can do and certainly putting those two from a physical standpoint is a lot for anyone to contend with. That duo together is quite the grab for Auburn and flipping them to get them on board makes it that much sweeter.” Early Signing Day is set for Dec. 20. NFL Thursday night: Steelers lose to another 2-win team Ronnie Royal’s 2 TDs, 1-handed interception power Gulf Shores past Ramsay for 5A state title Unwavering Leroy completes its unbeaten season for deployed coach Jason Massey Ja’Kavien Collins scores twice, Leroy downs Coosa Christian for second straight Class 1A title Damien Gatson throws 5 TD passes, Mobile Christian beats Madison Academy for 1st AHSAA title 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 Auburn's McPherson, Faulk, Lew named to Freshman All-SEC Team Auburn University Athletics 5–6 minutes AUBURN, Ala. – Three Auburn newcomers, kicker Alex McPherson, offensive lineman Connor Lew and defensive lineman Keldric Faulk, have been named to the Freshman All-SEC Team, the Southeastern Conference announced Thursday. McPherson, a redshirt freshman from Fort Payne, Alabama, earned honors in two spots, place kicker and kickoff specialist. McPherson made every kick he attempted this season, going 13-for-13 on field goals and 39-for-39 on extra points. A Lou Groza Award semifinalist, McPherson broke Daniel Carlson's Auburn's record by kicking 17 consecutive field goals, extending the streak to 19 heading into the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. He totaled 33 touchbacks among his 63 kickoffs. McPherson also earned Freshman Kicker of the year and First Team Freshman All-America honors from College Football Network. Connor Lew Lew, the Freshman All-SEC Team center, started Auburn's last five regular season games, helping the Tigers win three consecutive SEC games in his first three starts. A true freshman from Kennesaw, Georgia, Lew earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after his first career start in Auburn's 27-13 win over Mississippi State, in which Auburn totaled 416 yards of total offense including 186 yards rushing while not allowing a sack. Faulk, a true freshman from Highland Home, Alabama, started Auburn's last seven regular season games. He recorded 32 tackles, including 18 solos and 2.5 tackles for loss. Keldric Faulk Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer Players Mentioned #38 Alex McPherson K 5' 9" Redshirt Freshman Liberal Arts #15 Keldric Faulk DL 6' 6" Freshman Education #75 Connor Lew OL 6' 3" Freshman Liberal Arts

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn set to host Georgia State WR Robert Lewis Taylor Jones ~2 minutes There is zero doubt that Auburn’s receiver room in 2024 will be incredibly talented. Auburn currently has four high school commitments, two of which are five stars. Now, it appears as if head coach Hugh Freeze wants to add experience to the mix by hosting a talented receiver formerly of the Sun Belt Conference. Auburn extended an offer to Georgia State’s leading receiver from the 2023 season, Robert Lewis, this week. He is now expected to take a visit to the Plains this weekend. On3’s Pat Nakos is reporting that Lewis has scheduled his first two visits since entering the transfer portal, with the first going to nearby Auburn. Lewis plans to visit Auburn this weekend before heading to Cincinnati during the weekend of Dec. 16-17. Lewis hauled in 877 yards on 70 catches and seven touchdowns this season for the Panthers. Before stepping into the primary receiver role, he was a solid secondary option for Georgia State’s passing attack in 2022 behind current Louisville receiver Jamari Thrash by totaling 379 yards and six touchdowns. Several programs such as Mississippi State, Texas Tech, and Louisville have also shown interest in Lewis since he entered the transfer portal. 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__

247sports.com Auburn to host DT transfer Derrick Harmon this weekend Nathan King 5–6 minutes Class 4A: Montgomery Catholic (14-0) vs. Cherokee County (13-1) Despite the loss of Auburn running back Jeremiah Cobb off last year’s team, Montgomery Catholic has continued its run in 2023 as coach Kirk Johnson’s squad has been one of the most dominant teams in the state this season. A perfect 14-0, the Knights are averaging 41.4 points per game while allowing just 73 total points this year. The guy that makes it all go is Troy quarterback commitment Caleb McCreary. Throwing for 1,492 yards and 16 touchdowns with four interceptions, the speedy McCreary has added 975 yards on the ground and 21 more scores. Picking up where Cobb left off, 6-0, 190 junior Josh Griffin has 1,717 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns. Sophomore Zaylen Jackson is the top receiver for Montgomery Catholic. Defensively, 2025 safety prospect Jotavion Pierce has had a huge junior season for the Knights. The 6-2, 185-pounder has 95 tackles and one interception on the year. At linebacker, 6-0, 186 sophomore Miles Kharti leads the team with 123 tackles and also has a pair of interceptions. For Cherokee County, everything revolves around running back Jacob Cornejo. A 6-0, 210 senior, he has 2,511 yards on the ground and 31 touchdowns this season while adding 39 tackles and four sacks on defense. The top player on defense is 5-11, 225 junior Tae Diamond. This season he has 66 tackles, 13 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss. Cherokee County averages 43.3 points per game while allowing 11.1 per game. Their only loss came to 6A Fort Payne 21-14 in the final game of the regular season. Class 2A: Reeltown (13-0) vs. Fyffe (13-1) This should be one of the most entertaining games of the entire week in Tuscaloosa with a rematch of the 2019 title game. Reeltown played in one of the toughest regions in the state and defeated a talented Highland Home team before knocking off B.B. Comer last week in the semifinals. The Rebels come in averaging 42 points per game while allowing just over 12 per contest. On offense, the key for Reeltown is the running back duo of Arthur Woods and Tae Martin. The guy that carries the load, Woods leads the team with 2,150 yards on the ground and 32 touchdowns while Martin has added 605 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 5-11, 165 junior is also a talented defensive player with 110 tackles and six interceptions. Big Bowman Brumbelow is a road grader on the offensive line for the Rebels. The 6-3, 300 junior is an anchor up front on offense while 6-4, 230 Baylor Clayton is a name to keep an eye on defensively. Clayton has 66 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss this season. For Fyffe, the guy is running back Logan Anderson. The younger brother of former Auburn walk-on Payton Anderson, he has been almost unstoppable this season after coming back from a knee injury suffered during the playoffs last year. A 6-2, 200 junior, he has 2,608 yards and 41 touchdowns on 231 carries this year. He’s joined in the backfield by Ryder Gipson, who has nearly 1,000 yards on the ground and 16 touchdowns. Class 6A: Saraland (14-0) vs. Clay-Chalkville (13-0) The game of the week finishes off the Super7 with two powerhouses going head-to-head in a game that features prospects on both sides of the ball. Saraland is one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the state, averaging over 51 points per game. The star of the show is 2025 (for now) 5-star wide receiver Ryan Williams. Last year’s Mr. Football in Alabama as a sophomore, Williams has 61 receptions for 1,069 yards and 17 touchdowns. Also on the outside is 2025 receiver Dillon Alfred, who has 31 catches for 546 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. The guy that runs the show for the Spartans is 2025 Texas quarterback commitment KJ Lacey. This season he has been phenomenal, completing 192-277 passes for 3,081 yards and 40 touchdowns with eight interceptions. In the run game, 5-9, 180 junior Santae Williams has 1,000 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground. Up front on defense, 2025 Alabama commitment Antonio Coleman is a wrecking ball. He has 70 tackles, six sacks, and 28 tackles for a loss. Vanderbilt commitment Jamison Curtis has 87 tackles and 19 tackles for a loss on the outside for the Saraland defense. Clay-Chalkville comes in with one of the most loaded rosters in the state, led by 5-star Alabama commitment Jaylen Mbakwe and Auburn linebacker commitment D'Angelo Barber along with wide receiver Mario Craver and Oregon OL commitment JacQawn McRoy. Playing quarterback this season, Mbakwe has thrown for almost 1,900 yards and 21 touchdowns with seven interceptions while adding 905 yards rushing and 20 scores. His top target is Craver, who has 52 catches for 934 yards and 13 touchdowns. A true middle linebacker that runs the Clay-Chalkville defense, Barber leads the team with 139 tackles and has two sacks, eight tackles for a loss and an interception. Speedy end Avion Pickett is the top pass rusher for the Cougars with 12 sacks and 24 tackles for a loss.

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auburntigers.com War Eagle from Wildhorse 2–3 minutes Start the bowl weekend off right in Music City with an exclusive event for the Auburn Family like you have never experienced! This ticketed bowl event, carried out in partnership with On To Victory, will take place at Wildhorse Saloon in downtown Nashville on Friday night (Dec. 29) beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT. The event will feature a pep rally with the Auburn University Marching Band, cheerleaders and Aubie, plus a live broadcast of Tiger Talk with Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown & Paul Ellen – including a special appearance by Coach Hugh Freeze and other special guests! Tickets for the event not only provide the opportunity to enjoy these festivities, but also access to a full Nashville-BBQ buffet, late night snacks and two drink tickets (for our over 21 guests). The night will be capped with a live country music band and the chance to learn how to line dance – the Music City way! The event will conclude at midnight. Event Location: Wildhorse Saloon (120 2nd Ave. N, Nashville, TN 37201) Event Times: 6:30 PM – Midnight (Battle of the Bands is 6-6:30 PM on Broadway) Ticket Options & Pricing: There are multiple ticket options to enjoy the event - those options include: General Public admission for $155, or Youth Admission (Under 21) for $90. Additionally, On To Victory members are able to enjoy an exclusive rate of $135 for adult tickets for the event. Not an On To Victory member? You must click HERE to register before being eligible to purchase the $135 tickets. Youth tickets may be purchased at the $90 rate by clicking either link below. General Public - $155 On To Victory Members - $135 Youth (Under 21) - $90 Only a limited number of tickets are available for this event - purchase your tickets today to secure your spot!

247sports.com PMARSHONAU A half century of changing times in college football Phillip Marshall 7–9 minutes Anyone who has been close to college football for as long as I have has witnessed massive changes, some good and some not so good. The game on the field is unquestionably better today than it has ever been. Players are bigger, stronger, faster, better trained, better fed and better-taught. Following are some of the significant changes I have seen since I saw my first college football game in 1957 and covered my first college football game as a reporter in 1969. BLOCKING RULES Until the early 1980s, blockers were not allowed to use their hands. Linemen had to come off the ball with their hands against their chests. If they didn’t, they would be called for illegal use of hands, a 5-yard penalty, or holding, a 15-yard penalty. There were no 10-yard penalties. Can you imagine offensive tackles trying to block today’s edge rushers without using their hands? It would be open season on quarterbacks. PASS INTERFERENCE In college football, pass interference is either 15 yards or at the spot of the foul if the pass is less than 15 yards. In the NFL, it is a spot foul. How many people realize that until the late 1970s, it was the opposite? What is now the NFL rule was the college rule. What is now the college rule was the NFL rule. ACADEMIC RULES For a long time, all it took to qualify academically was an overall C average and a high school diploma. There was no core curriculum requirement. It didn’t take much to be eligible. An A in physical education or in whatever class the coach taught counted the same as an A in calculus. That started to change in the 1980s when Proposition 48 was passed. There were qualifiers and partial qualifiers. In the years since, high schools have gotten better at making sure potential prospects get what they need to be eligible. SIGNING DAYS Before there was a national signing day in December, there was an SEC signing day. SEC programs signed players to conference letter-of-intent. Prospects who signed could not sign with other SEC schools, but they could still sign anywhere else. Somewhere along the way, someone figured out that they were making it easy for programs outside the SEC to identify their prospects and did away with the conference signing day. SCHEDULING Even today, much is made of Alabama winning the 1972 SEC championship when it was 6-1 in SEC games and Auburn was 5-1. At the time, the SEC office was not involved in scheduling. Teams were required to play six SEC games, but they could play as many SEC teams as they chose, and they all counted in the standings. Auburn played seven SEC games often, too, including in 1971. In the 1960s, if a team didn’t have six conference games, the SEC office would designate an opponent as a conference game. FRESHMAN ELIGIBILITY Freshmen became eligible to play for varsities in 1972. They still could not be redshirted, meaning they would have three years of eligibility left whether they played or not. Often, freshmen got some playing time but were redshirted as sophomores. Later, the rule was changed to allow players five seasons to play four. Still later, they could play in four games and still be redhirted. INTEGRATION Into the 1970s, African-American players in the SEC were rare. The ridiculous perception that African-American players weren’t fit to play quarterback was widespread. Condredge Holloway, from Lee High School in Huntsville, went to Tennessee and became a great quarterback because neither Auburn nor Alabama would recruit him as a quarterback. African-American players now dominate the game at the highest level. In other parts of the game, change has been slower. Though a majority of players and even assistant coaches are African-Americans, there is not an African-American head football coach in the SEC. That is bound to change eventually because those who play the game are the ones who end up coaching it. TELEVISION Before the Supreme Court took control of football television away from the NCAA, a team could play only a limited number of games on television. Once the Supreme Court ruling happened, everything changed. Cable television came along and the airwaves with college football games in the fall. Today, television networks have outsized influence. They pay conferences incredible amounts of money. COACHES SALARIES Even 20 years ago, it would have been unfathomable that coaches would become wealthy the day they signed contracts, and that those who were fired, would be paid millions to not coach. Seven-figure contracts became the norm, and now eight-figure contracts aren’t unusual. It should have come as no surprise that, eventually, players and others would want to get their hands on some of that money. And that led to the craziness we see today. NIL/PENALTY-FREE TRANSFERS Paying players and allowing wholesale transfers has changed the game more than anything in my lifetime. We still don’t know where it is headed. From the start, I laughed when it was said that NIL was just about allowing players to earn some spending money. I didn’t know what form it would take, but I knew it would rapidly become a bidding war. And it did. I said then it would rapidly become NFL-lite, and that is exactly what has happened and continues to happen. BOWL GAMES In the 1950s, the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl were the main players in the business. The Gator Bowl was right behind them. The Liberty Bowl, played then in Philadelphia, was born in 1959 and the Bluebonnet Bowl, in Houston, a year later. Soon, bowls were sprouting all over the place. POLLS For most of college football’s history, conference championships were the goal of most teams. The AP poll and UPI poll were born, not so much to crown a national champion, but to attract readers. Until 1965, final polls were conducted after the regular season. Bowl games were not a factor. Statistics in bowl games did not count. They really were mostly for fun. In 1965, because there were a number of teams crowded around the top, the AP decided its final poll would be conducted after the bowl games. Alabama went to the Orange Bowl ranked No. 4, and the three teams in front of it all lost. Alabama won. For the next five seasons, the AP went back to conducting its final poll at the end of the regular season. It changed permanently in 1971. The UPI didn’t change until 1974. The AP poll was much like it is now. One or two voters were selected from each state. Any sports writer who worked for a newspaper that subscribed to UPI could vote in the UPI poll. The UPI ultimately got out of the newspaper business and the coaches’ poll was born. PLAYOFFS The first effort at deciding a national championship on the field was the Bowl Alliance, which endeavored to put No. 1 against No. 2. Because of conference tieups with bowls, it didn’t really work. Finally, in 1998, the BCS was born. That lasted until 2014, when the four-team College Football Playoff was created. Next year, it will be 12 teams. The playoff has indisputably created interest and has been a financial bonanza. But it has a downside, too. From the start of the season, the focus is on who will be in the playoff. That should not be all that matters in college football.

saturdaydownsouth.com O’Gara: My favorite fits for these 10 Power 5 quarterbacks in the transfer portal Connor O'Gara | 1 day ago 8–11 minutes Man, it’s loaded. The transfer portal already looks like it’ll have its deepest quarterback class to date. It makes sense. Look at the Heisman Trophy finalists. All 3 quarterbacks are former transfers who needed fresh starts to get to New York. It wouldn’t be surprising if one of the following players ended up on that list in 2024. This feels like a good time to map out a fit for some coveted portal guys. And to be clear, this isn’t a prediction. My “favorite fits” are based on where I’d like to see them end up. So, here are my favorite fits for these 10 transfer portal signal-callers: Dillon Gabriel Favorite fit — Mississippi State This one is obvious. Following Jeff Lebby to Starkville would give Gabriel an opportunity to face elite defenses and help his NFL Draft stock in his final year of eligibility. There’s also the possibility that Gabriel could deviate from staying in the same system and he could seek out a place like Oregon, where offensive coordinator Will Stein worked wonders with Bo Nix. But given Mississippi State’s quarterback needs in Year 1 with Lebby, that seems like the most logical fit after having success together at 2 different schools. Cam Ward Favorite fit — Ohio State I’ll fight anyone who says Ryan Day is no longer an elite offensive mind. The opportunity to play in Columbus with an always-loaded group of skill-players has to be enticing for the Washington State transfer. With Kyle McCord in the transfer portal, it’s possible that Day and Co. transition to true freshman Air Noland, but I have my doubts that Day wants to get over the Michigan hurdle by putting all of his eggs in the basket of a true freshman. Ward’s skill set would be an ideal way for Day to bridge the gap. If not Ohio State, I’d love to see Ward play in a Hugh Freeze offense at Auburn. Riley Leonard Favorite fit — Notre Dame It seems like it’s only a matter of time before this is announced. Replacing Sam Hartman would be a logical fit, given the ACC-to-Notre Dame transfer portal connection. Leonard’s decision to enter the portal was a done deal when Mike Elko left Duke for Texas A&M. Who would Leonard and the Irish face in Week 1, you ask? Elko and his new team, Texas A&M. Sign me up for that. Dante Moore Favorite fit — USC I’m tempted to say Michigan here, but given the uncertain status of Jim Harbaugh’s future in Ann Arbor, that’s a tough one to project. Instead, Moore going to play for the coach who turns 5-star quarterbacks into stars makes the most sense. Moore didn’t exactly have a freshman season as Caleb Williams did at Oklahoma in 2021, but there’d still be plenty for Riley to work with, especially at a place that’ll be active in landing established skill players via the portal. If Riley doesn’t land Will Howard, that’d make a ton of sense. Speaking of Howard … Will Howard Favorite fit — Auburn If one of these coveted transfer quarterbacks doesn’t end up at Auburn, I’ll be stunned. The chance to work with Hugh Freeze would make a ton of sense, especially if he promises not to mess around with a 2-quarterback system for the majority of the season. Howard has plenty of potential suitors, so this is by no means a prediction. USC would probably be my guess, considering Lincoln Riley reportedly flew to Kansas State to meet with Howard. That’d be an awfully tough person to say “no” to. But I’d love to see the mobile Howard go to a place like Auburn, where the bar to meet is much lower than what he’d have replacing Caleb Williams at USC. DJ Uiagalelei Favorite fit — NC State If not for fellow Oregon State transfer Aidan Chiles being projected to follow Jonathan Smith to Michigan State, I would’ve had Uiagalelei doing the same thing. But let’s instead go with NC State, which quietly had an excellent late-season turnaround with transfer quarterback Brennan Armstrong. Uiagalelei can go back to the ACC, get a reunion against Clemson and continue to resurrect his career after a standout season in Corvallis. If not there, why not replace Jordan Travis at Florida State? That also would make a ton of sense after an unimpressive showing by Travis’ backups in those make-or-break games down the stretch. Tyler Van Dyke Favorite fit — Louisville I think Van Dyke needs to go to a place with an elite schemer. The reads he needs to make still aren’t there, but the physical ability is impressive. Despite what the ACC Championship suggested, Jeff Brohm can scheme at a high level. He’s worked with plenty of quarterbacks who have put up big numbers in his system, which had much more balance this past year. Van Dyke could stay in the conference that he’s game-planned for throughout his career, and he could do so for a program with a bright future under Brohm. If not Louisville, I’d be interested to see if Jeff Lebby would be a nice fit for TVD if the Gabriel reunion doesn’t happen at Mississippi State. Kyle McCord Favorite fit — Oregon I desperately want one of these portal signal-callers to go play for Will Stein and run that Oregon offense. I know that there’s plenty of intrigue about Ty Thompson, and perhaps we’ll see him get some run in the bowl game. But I wonder how many teams like Oregon opt for portal options with reps instead of finding an in-house quarterback replacement. McCord would get to — as weird as it sounds — stay in the Big Ten at Oregon, and he’d get to work with perhaps an even better offensive line than what he had at Ohio State. Of course, he won’t have a Marvin Harrison Jr. no matter where he ends up. He’d still have some extremely favorable surroundings in Eugene. Will Rogers Favorite fit — Washington I know, I know. That’d be quite the landing spot for a guy who looked lost away from the Air Raid offense. Once upon a time, Michael Penix Jr. looked lost away from former Indiana OC Kalen DeBoer. Then he reunited with him at Washington and the rest is history. What’s clear is that Rogers needs to play in a pass-happy offense with an elite schemer. He’d have that in spades with DeBoer and Ryan Grubb in Seattle. Washington already recruited a skill player (RB Dillon Johnson) to leave the Mike Leach Air Raid, and it paid off in a big way. Obviously, Rogers would be in a different spot at quarterback, and he doesn’t throw the deep ball at Penix’s level. To be fair, nobody in the portal does. But Rogers could execute that pass-happy offense and elevate the Huskies’ offensive floor in their inaugural Big Ten season. Brock Vandagriff Favorite fit — Kentucky Man, this would be awesome. Vandagriff has a ton of Will Levis in him. Both are built like tanks that seem to crave contact as mobile quarterbacks, yet both have cannons for arms. UK would be the perfect landing spot with the offense that Liam Coen would like to run, much like we saw in 2021 when he led the Cats to their best offense in 14 years. No, it didn’t work out with fellow transfer Devin Leary for the majority of the 2023 season. Too often, it felt like UK lacked a signal-caller who could make something out of nothing. But Vandagriff can be that guy. Yes, it’s risky to put that much faith in a guy who has never started a college game, but if he gets a full offseason of reps after spending 3 years battling the speed of that Georgia defense, look out. Vandagriff can be a star in the SEC, where he spent 3 years learning opposing game plans, 2 of which were alongside Todd Monken. Let’s also remember that Vandagriff would also have 2 years of eligibility left, which we’re seeing is an ideal model to follow. There’s no doubt that he’d be loved in Lexington.

Jamonta Waller earns Mr. Football honors - WXXV News 25 Jevan McCoskey Jamonta Waller is turning into a household name, even outside the state of Mississippi. On Tuesday, the Mississippi star was recognized as one of the best football players in the state, winning the 6A Mr. Football award. There is no secret as to why Waller was awarded with Mississippi’s top individual honor for high school football players. The 6-foot-2, 22-pound Picayune Maroon Tide athlete was a force on both sides of the ball. It was on defense where Waller shined the brightest. In his senior season he recorded 56 total tackles including 9 sacks, 19 total tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and a blocked punt. Waller will continue his academic and athletic career at Auburn University starting next spring.

al.com Could Hugh Freeze and Auburn flip another 5-star in FSU commit KJ Bolden? Published: Dec. 06, 2023, 12:13 p.m. 2–3 minutes With Dec. 20th’s Early Signing Day quickly approaching, Hugh Freeze and Auburn’s coaching staff are working tirelessly to put a bow on the Tigers’ already-impressive 2024 recruiting class. After flipping 5-star wide receiver Cam Coleman away from Texas A&M in a massive recruiting win last week, Freeze has been relentless in his efforts to sway another 5-star in safety KJ Bolden, who has been committed to Mike Norvell and the Florida State Seminoles since Aug. 5. Bolden ranks as the No. 1 safety in the nation and the third-best recruit out of the state of Georgia, according to 247Sports. On3′s Jeffrey Lee reported that Bolden visited The Plains Monday, which left social media buzzing about Auburn’s push for the blue-chip defensive back down the stretch. Even players currently on Auburn’s roster began lobbying for the 5-star Peach State safety. On Tuesday, Bolden and his family were paid a visit by Florida State assistant coaches. Not to be outdone, however, Freeze took the trip to Buford, Ga. on Wednesday afternoon to visit Bolden, making for the pair’s second meeting in three days. From the sounds of it, Bolden’s recruitment might be all but over as Auburn continues its efforts to flip him away from Florida State, while also fending off Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs, who have also been players in Bolden’s recruiting process. Should Freeze and the Tigers manage to win Bolden’s commitment, Auburn will have flipped commits away from Georgia in Demarcus Riddick, Alabama in Perry Thompson, Texas A&M in Cam Coleman and Florida State in Bolden. 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 tight end Tyler Fromm becomes 7th Tiger to enter the transfer portal Published: Dec. 06, 2023, 2:32 p.m. ~2 minutes Tyler Fromm (85) running the ball. Auburn Ole Miss on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU AthleticsTodd Van Emst/AU Athletics Auburn tight end Tyler Fromm has reportedly entered the transfer portal, according to On3 and 247Sports. He is the seventh Auburn player to enter the portal after wide receivers Omari Kelley, Malcolm Johnson Jr. and Jyaire Shorter, defensive lineman Stephen Johnson and Enyce Sledge as well as jack linebacker Stephen Sings V. Fromm redshirted the 2019 season, his freshman year, and played one game in 2020. He then went on to play in all 37 games over the following three seasons. He caught 14 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown during his time at Auburn. The touchdown was on the receiving end of a highlight-reel play from former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix escaping multiple sacks against LSU in 2021. Fromm has one year, his sixth season, of eligibility remaining. Auburn has five tight ends expected to be on next season’s roster, including team captain Luke Deal who already announced he will be returning for a sixth season as well as starting tight end Rivaldo Fairweather who led Auburn in receiving this season. 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.

si.com Hugh Freeze is currently with five-star safety KJ Bolden for an in-home visit Andrew Stefaniak ~2 minutes There has been steam that Auburn has a chance to flip Florida State commit KJ Bolden over these past few days. Bolden was in Auburn on Monday and had this to say to Adam Gorney of Rivals about what was discussed at the visit, "Just how they could utilize me and what I would add to this class. At this point, I'm still committed to FSU." Coach Freeze is now in Bolden's home today for an in-home visit. It's hard to think there isn't a real shot that Auburn could flip the five-star safety, as he has spent a ton of time over this past week visiting and talking with Coach Freeze. If Coach Freeze was able to get the job done and flip Bolden, this class would be one of Auburn's best in a very long time. The best part about Hugh Freeze's recruiting style is that even if a player is committed to another school, he will push after them hard. This led to Keldric Faulk flipping in the 2023 class plus Perry Thompson and Cam Coleman in the 2024 class. When Auburn hired Hugh Freeze, Tiger fans knew they were getting a good recruiter, but no one could have expected this. Coach Freeze doesn't sleep. All he does is recruit, and that is going to get Auburn back among the big dogs of the college football world.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn extends offer to talented WR Caullin Lacy Taylor Jones ~2 minutes No matter if it is from high school or the transfer portal, it is obvious that Auburn is looking to stock up on solid receivers for the 2024 season and beyond. In addition to the four wide receiver commitments that they have received from the 2024 recruiting class, Auburn has offered four wide receivers who currently occupy the transfer portal with the most recent offer going to South Alabama receiver Caullin Lacy. Lacy was South Alabama’s leading receiver this season after hauling in 91 catches for 1,316 yards and seven touchdowns. He built on last season’s success, where he caught 65 passes for 813 yards and six scores for the Jaguars. Lacy has not followed the path of many others in the transfer portal, as he has not yet posted his offers on his X (formerly Twitter) account. However, he is receiving interest from Power Five programs such as Mississippi State, Texas A&M, and Oregon according to On3’s Pete Nakos ($). So far, portal wide receivers who have earned an Auburn offer include Vanderbilt’s Will Sheppard, Purdue’s Deion Burks, and Georgia State’s Robert Lewis. The current transfer portal window remains open until Jan. 2. 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__

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welcome to Aufam! i am the crazy one...............