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247sports.com Bowl practices an important time for Freezes Tigers in Year 1 Jason Caldwell 3–4 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—We won’t know where the Auburn Tigers will go bowling after finishing the regular season 6-6 overall until later this weekend, but unless there is absolute carnage in the championship games, it looks like the Music City Bowl in Nashville (Dec. 30, 1 p.m.), the TaxAct Texas Bowl in Houston (Dec. 27, 8 p.m.) and the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte (Dec. 27, 5:30 p.m.) are the top options for coach Hugh Freeze’s team. The Music City bowl could be the most likely destination at the moment and if that were the case it could mean a rematch with frequent bowl foe Wisconsin. A trip to Houston could mean a matchup against Kansas State while Duke could be the opponent in Charlotte. No matter the destination or the opponent, it’s going to be an important time for the Tigers trying to balance winning the game, enjoying the rewards of making a bowl, but also working towards the future. One of the biggest points of emphasis for Freeze and his staff will be getting the young guys some valuable reps heading into the bowl game and spring practices. With seniors D.J. James Nehemiah Pritchett, Zion Puckett and Jaylin Simpson all expected to be gone after the bowl game, there will be a whole lot to replace for the Tigers in the secondary. You could also lose Keionte Scott if he decides to test the NFL Draft waters. That makes for some important reps for Auburn’s group of young players signed last season. For guys like Colton Hood, Tyler Scott, Kayin Lee, Terrance Love, Sylvester Smith, JC Hart and junior college signee Champ Anthony, the 2024 season begins now. “I'm not one that grinds them during the bowl. I'm really not. I want them to enjoy the journey and the process. We'll try to get our young kids a lot of work, hopefully get them in the game some — particularly those DBs. We need to get those young DBs a lot of reps in those games. “We all think they have a chance, and they're gonna have to play next year. We need to see them.” In addition to the defensive backfield, this time will be important for young quarterbacks Holden Geriner and Hank Brown to get more reps and work in the offense heading into the bowl game and the offseason. Another spot is on the offensive line where Tyler Johnson, Dylan Senda, Eston Harris Jr., Bradyn Joiner and others will get an opportunity for more work during the on-campus practices before getting to the bowl site. With recruiting on the front burner at the moment with the transfer portal opening up December 4 and trying to finish out the early signing period strong, Freeze said they’ll be ready to roll after final exams and graduation (Dec. 10) to get some work in before breaking for Christmas and putting the finishing touches on a plan for whatever game they wind up in. “One of the things on my list (is to) just make a hypothetical practice schedule based on the bowls that I think we could end up going to,” Freeze said of his plans. “So I'll have that ready. We'll try to get five to six here, and then usually three more at the practice site. Usually around eight practices is what we try to get in and get a lot of good individual work and, obviously, get a game plan together. Excited to get some of those young kids some work.” The bowl announcements will come out on Sunday following the final College Football Playoff rankings.

al.com Auburn freshman defensive lineman Stephen Johnson announces intention to transfer Published: Nov. 28, 2023, 1:23 p.m. ~2 minutes Auburn freshman defensive lineman Stephen Johnson announced Tuesday afternoon that he’d be hitting the transfer portal when it opened on Dec. 4. In one season on The Plains, the 6-foot-3, 337-pound freshman defensive lineman never saw the field. Johnson committed to Auburn as a 3-star prospect after a successful high school career at Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Ga. that saw him finish his senior campaign with 74 tackles, six tackles for a loss, four sacks and an interception. Johnson committed to the Tigers after receiving other offers from Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Vanderbilt, among others. Johnson will hit the portal with four years of eligibility. Tuesday’s announcement came on the heels of fellow defensive lineman Enyce Sledge announcing his intention to transfer on Monday night.

al.com Goodman: How the future favors Auburn after epic Iron Bowl Updated: Nov. 28, 2023, 1:01 p.m.|Published: Nov. 28, 2023, 8:47 a.m. 5–7 minutes This is an opinion column. _____________________ An important piece of news went unreported at the Iron Bowl amid the noise-quenching finish that was Fourth and 31. The atmosphere inside Jordan-Hare Stadium before the final play was the best I’ve seen at a sporting event since the championship bout of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. Team Daniel LaRusso got KO’d this time, but that doesn’t mean it was a total loss for Auburn. Wins and losses are an all-or-nothing deal, but that’s not how recruiting works. Despite the loss, the Iron Bowl was a major recruiting victory for first-year coach Hugh Freeze and what he’s building on the Plains. Freeze is doing a good job and Auburn is pointed in the right direction. All things considered, this was a successful season for Freeze and Auburn football. The future favors the Tigers. Alabama is enjoying historic success with coach Nick Saban, and with any more luck the Crimson Tide will knock off Georgia in the SEC championship on Saturday and make the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, Freeze and his staff will be busy recruiting and momentum is building towards one of the best classes of commitments in school history. Freeze is a great recruiter, but there’s something else about Auburn that’s attractive, too, and it’s undeniable. Here’s the true measure of Auburn’s unconquerable spirit and why it’s inevitable that the Tigers will very soon be back on top. RELATED: Hugh Freeze reflects on state of Auburn football

247sports.com Freeze points to Auburn's 'other chances' against Alabama besides final minutes Nathan King 5–6 minutes Hugh Freeze had one more thing to say. When questioned concluded at his Monday press conference that went more than a half-hour, Freeze wanted to make sure one thing was clear about Auburn’s dramatic 27-24 loss in the Iron Bowl: he’s not pinning it on any individual player, and fans shouldn’t, either. He knows Koy Moore and D.J. James will end up having their names mentioned often when recollecting the painful finish against Alabama, when the Tigers held a 24-20 lead inside five minutes left. “Everybody will point to the last plays and D.J. and Koy and everything — but there are other plays in that game, too, that make a difference,” Freeze said Monday. “… It's not just those two young men and those two plays or the coaching decisions on those two plays. We had other chances, too, in that game.” Moore muffed the punt that gave Alabama possession at Auburn’s 30-yard line with 4:48 remaining, appearing to lose his balance at the last second, falling backwards as the ball hit him and bounced off his chest. Many wondered why Moore, the backup punt returner, was in the game, and Freeze didn’t know immediately after the game. Keionte Scott is the Tigers’ primary option there, but Freeze confirmed Monday that Scott “dinged” his shoulder on the previous third down and was in the medical tent briefly during the punt and the first couple plays of Alabama’s next possession. “You have to play backups sometimes,” Freeze said. “The last thing you want to do in that moment is let them pin us back on the 5-yard line with their three timeouts. Koy has been solid all year at catching punts. Something happened with his footing, it looked like there. It’s one of those awful plays that I think we win the game if we catch that punt. But Koy has been as dependable as can be.” And James is the one who will appear on highlight reels for years to come. He was in coverage against Isaiah Bond when the Alabama receiver extended in the corner of the end zone and caught the game-winning touchdown on fourth-and-31 with 32 seconds remaining. But as Freeze put it, there was no reason James should have been left alone for one-on-one coverage. Freeze couldn’t sleep at all Saturday night and into Sunday, and he watched the film over and over again. He took still shots of the final play, showing Auburn’s coverage being in perfect position, with eight defensive backs in the end zone to Alabama’s five receivers. It was well executed — until it wasn’t, and James was left alone in the corner of the end zone. There were three other Auburn defensive backs a few yards from him, and Freeze said they needed to be closer and in a position to help, but something just broke down at the end of the play. As for the play call, which was decided on during the timeout right before, Freeze maintains that he was comfortable and confident with the decision not to pressure Jalen Milroe. It was either that, or send a few extra players at the line of scrimmage and create more one-on-one opportunities. “That was our two options, and that's the one we went with and felt like we could stay with their empty set and stay three-over-two, four-over-three and play with vision on the ball and knock the ball down,” Freeze said. “We didn't play with vision on the ball.” Freeze spent a few minutes at Moore and James’ lockers after the game. They were obviously more upset than anyone in the stadium. James told Freeze, “I let you down, coach.” Freeze made sure to ensure them that Auburn had several other mistakes in the game, and that he in no way blamed them for their individual plays. After all, at the start of the fourth quarter, Auburn had first-and-goal from the 8 and had to kick a field goal. Payton Thorne had Ja'Varrius Johnson in the back of the end zone for what would have been his third touchdown of the day, but it bounced off Johnson on second-and-goal. “We could've put it away with another TD down on the 5-yard line, too,” Freeze said. “I thought Payton threw a heck of a ball there, and it hit (Johnson) right in the face mask. We've gotta make that play.” The sting still hangs over Freeze this week, and he admitted he’s not sure when it will fade. An upset over the Crimson Tide and his third career win over Nick Saban would have certainly qualified as a signature win for the Tigers, who didn’t beat a team with a winning record this season. “It’s hard for me to sit here and say that I am proud of delivering six wins when I felt like it could have been more,” Freeze said. “But, man, the Auburn family and fans have blown me away, which makes us want to deliver to them a product that they can be so happy with. I know we were limited. You could see there was different athleticism on the field in some games. But yet our kids found a way to compete. And so I’m very proud of that. But sure wish we could of had a few more in the win column.” *** LAST DAY: 75% off annual subscription. Join 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 ***

saturdaydownsouth.com Auburn loses 2nd DL in as many days to portal with 4 years of eligbility left Grant Bricker | 15 hours ago ~2 minutes Auburn is now down 2 defensive linemen after Stephen Johnson decided to transfer. The Tigers had Enyce Sledge declare for the transfer portal on Monday as well. Johnson thanked Auburn for the opportunity and stated that he has 4 years of eligibility left. “Thank you, Auburn for the opportunity,” said Johnson. “Much love and appreciation for the experience! Auburn will always have a special place in my heart. I’ll be entering the transfer portal with 4 years of eligibility! God got a plan for me.” It was hard for Johnson to find playing time with names like Marcus Harris, Elijah McAllister, and Zykeivous Walker on the defensive line, to name a few. Hugh Freeze’s 1st season at Auburn ended the regular season with a 6-6 finish. The Tigers will be going bowling after a hiatus in 2022 following a 5-7 record to end the year. This season was Johnson’s 1st year with Freeze as a member of the 2023 class. He was a former 3-star recruit out of Fayetteville (Ga.) Whitewater. TRENDING 58,148 READS 51,772 READS 23,016 READS Grant Bricker Grant Bricker was a former freelancer for The News TN in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. He now freelances for Saturday Football. Follow on Twitter @GrantBricker.

si.com Auburn Briefing: Recruiting still on fire Daniel Locke 2–3 minutes Following the Iron Bowl, Auburn has seen a noticeable uptick in recruiting. Auburn had a productive weekend in recruiting and that continues to show. Auburn picked up the commitment of Kalen Edwards, a 4-star defensive lineman in the class of 2025. Edwards is the seventh commit to join Auburn's 2025 recruiting class. He has a 0.9087 composite rating and is the No. 261 player nationally, the No. 29 defensive lineman and the No. 9 player in the state of Tennessee according to 247Sports. Auburn currently has the No. 5 class in the 2025 cycle according to 247Sports. Check out other recruiting content: Cam Coleman and Ryan Williams update More Iron Bowl Recruiting Updates Auburn basketball update The men's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday night when the Virginia Tech Hokies come to town. Tipoff is set for 8:15 p.m. CT and the broadcast can be found on ESPN2. The women's basketball team will be back in action against the Clemson Tigers on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT and the game can be found on SEC Network.

i respect your wishes but i ask the same courtesy el. i messaged you and you ignored me and blew me off. we should all work together.

shamelessly stolen from another site.i assume it to bt true but if not i am sure someone will call me out.......... In addition we have already learned of these Transfer Portal additions QB Will Rogers QB Max Johnson QB Ken Seals QB Will Howard (Kansas State) QB Maalik Murphy (Texas) expected to leave. RT Spencer Brown (Michigan State) Matt Zenitz Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke has entered the transfer portal, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @247sports i have no idea about who is good or not bbut i know you guys like to talk about what qb;s you would like to getin the portal so here are a few you might want to discuss.

al.com Auburn defensive lineman Enyce Sledge announces to plan to enter transfer portal Published: Nov. 27, 2023, 9:17 p.m. ~2 minutes Auburn's Hugh Freeze closes book on 2023 Iron Bowl, looks ahead to bowl season Auburn defensive lineman Enyce Sledge became the first Auburn player to announce plans on entering the transfer portal following the end of the 2023 regular season, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Monday night. Sledge, a redshirt freshman from Monroe, Louisiana, has three years of eligibility remaining. He played four snaps in 2022 and 11 snaps in 2023, seeing time on the field this season against UMass and Samford. He did not record any stats in 2023. Sledge committed to Auburn as a class of 2022 recruit under then-head coach Bryan Harsin as a three-star rated player by 247Sports. Sledge has been buried on a depth chart up front defensively during his two years at Auburn and would figure to be again should he stay for the 2024 season under a head coach he wasn’t initially recruited by. The transfer portal entry window officially opens Dec. 4. Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com

auburnwire.usatoday.com How Auburn's heartbreaking loss to Alabama affects its place in the latest USA TODAY Sports re-rank Taylor Jones ~2 minutes A few days have passed since Auburn’s stunning loss to Alabama, and everyone involved is still feeling the result of the defeat. College football’s regular season officially ended on Saturday. When the dust settled, USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg revealed his weekly re-rank update. How much did Auburn’s loss to Alabama affect its standing? Not at all. The latest re-rank shows that Auburn remains at No. 59 this week, which is the same position they fell to after dropping a 31-10 game to New Mexico State the week prior. The Tigers are one spot below Texas Tech, who fell 10 spots after losing at Texas last week, and one spot above UCF, a six-spot jumper following their win over Houston. Like Auburn, Alabama also failed to move following its win on Saturday. Alabama remains No. 8 in this week’s ranking and is sandwiched between Texas and Missouri. Ohio State fell three places after losing to Michigan on Saturday, which allowed Washington, Florida State, and Oregon to bump up a spot. Five SEC schools make up the top 25 of this week’s re-rank. Outside of Alabama, Georgia remains at the top while Missouri, LSU, and Ole Miss also occupy the top of the ranking. 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__

si.com 2025 Auburn Commitments and Evaluations Brian Smith 7–9 minutes The already impressive 2025 Auburn Tigers recruiting class will add to the fantastic 2024 class. Hugh Freeze and his staff are not wasting time in adding top talent either. That's vital in today's ever-changing recruiting landscape. Any SEC team that falls behind in recruiting is all but doomed to be in the bottom half of the SEC standings each fall. To that point, there's much to be happy with regarding Auburn's current 2025 commitments, and more on the way. To that point, this running list of Auburn commitments breaks down their film in addition to basic profile information. Learn more about future Tigers here! Bookmark this page to gain easy access to the 2025 Auburn recruiting class as it continuously unfolds! Here’s the breakdown, by position, for the Tigers’ recruiting efforts. Total Commitments: 7 Tight End: 1 Ryan Ghea, 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, Milton (Ga.) High School Ryan Ghea Prospect Evaluation Committed Nov. 12, 2023 Ghea shows power when blocking as an inline tight end or flexed to the perimeter. He engulfs smaller defensive backs and shows good footwork with outside linebackers and defensive ends to set the edge. He will fit into Freeze's system that utilizes tight ends and H-backs in a multitude of ways similar to what Ghea is accustomed to at Milton High School. He's a capable receiver as well. Ghea catches the football away from his body and possesses the length to gain advantages over smaller defensive backs within the red zone and when in one-on-one situations. Also, note that Ghea's straight-line speed is a weapon. After catching a short pass, he quickly gains momentum and eats up yardage. Lastly, he's clever about how and when to release from a block to help set up a tight end screen. This is a savvy football player and one that can help the Tigers in many ways. Offensive Line: 1 Spencer Dowland, 6-foot-6, 290 pounds, Athens (Ala.) High School Committed Sep. 2, 2023 Dowland’s ability to quickly get up to full speed, as well as hit much smaller players while running in space, is impressive. Good first-step quickness. The power to take on 300-pound defensive linemen, but also moves well enough to get in position to angle block and use leverage. His specific offensive line position is not certain, but for now, guard or tackle seem like possibilities. In addition, Dowland plays in an offense that’s versatile with its play calling, and that will help him progress quicker than if he was in a pure power-oriented or triple-option offense. Defensive End: 1 Jakaleb Faulk, 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, Highland Home (Ala.) High School Committed Aug. 21, 2023 Athletically, as well as with his frame, Faulk provides attributes that few 2025 recruits will match. First off, his arm length is tremendous and provides a tremendous advantage for an edge defender. Similarly, Faulk’s burst off the edge is also a natural fit for a pass rusher or linebacker; he plays mostly linebacker for Highland Home. Watching him blitz from the second level – and still catch the opposing quarterback by surprise – and get home for sacks is eye-opening. Also shows tremendous hand-eye coordination as a flex tight end by way of making over-the-shoulder catches look easy. This is the type of athlete Auburn needs more of to compete at the top of the SEC. Defensive Tackle: 3 Malik Autry Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Malik Autry, 6-foot-6, 280 pounds, Opelika (Ala.) High School Committed Feb. 1, 2023 Autry is a naturally imposing figure. His huge arms stand out, and his powerfully built from his legs to his shoulders. Autry’s best skill would be the ability to explode off the snap of the football, staying low, engulfing the opposing blocker, finding the ball carrier, and then moving laterally along the line of scrimmage to make a play on players who weigh 100 pounds or less than himself. Additionally, Autry will push his counterpart into the backfield and blow up the play. He uses spin moves and one-arm rip moves to evade blockers as well. Autry also shows consistent effort and that’s not a given with many big-time defensive tackle recruits. This is a player who’s enthusiastic about football and has a chance to be a special college football player. Jourdin Crawford, 6-foot-1, 305 pounds, Birmingham (Ala.) High School Committed Oct. 16, 2023 Prospect Profile for Jourdin Crawford Power player; can two-gap as a zero-technique or 1-technique. Crawford’s athleticism and size are likely going to draw a lot of double teams, even at the SEC level. Still possesses the quickness to chase down ball carriers from behind, and that’s at over 300 pounds. While still refining his technique, Crawford does utilize his hands to keep offensive linemen away from him. Perhaps his most unique talent would be as an interior pass rusher that teams cannot discount applying pressure to the quarterback. Most nose guards struggle to rush the passer. With Crawford's athleticism and strength, he’s a threat to smack the opposing signal caller. Kalen Edwards, 6-foot-4, 325 pounds, Dyersburg (Tenn.) High School Committed Nov. 27, 2023 A union of mass and athleticism, Kalen Edwards generally bullies his way to the opposing ball carrier. What’s unique about Edwards and his brawn is that it also comes with a low-power base from a 4-point stance. He stays square to the line of scrimmage and with the ability to mirror a running back as he chases him laterally down the line of scrimmage; keep in mind that Edwards is accomplishing those tasks at 325 pounds. In fact, his physical measurements and athleticism bonding make him one of the more intriguing 2025 recruits regardless of position or state. Edwards possesses the power to be a traditional zero-technique that plays directly over the center within a 3-4 scheme that Auburn fans often currently see with Bama and UGA. Edwards also plays head-up or a shade-2-technique for Dyersburg, where he engages and then sheds before playing downhill. That’s an extension of the zero-technique and how it operates. Now for the plentiful options. Auburn can use this young man as a defensive tackle in the 4-3 or move him around during short-yardage situations. The Tigers gaining a chess piece like Edwards – with all his size and physical attributes – is another great building block for Freeze and the Auburn staff. Safety: 1 Kendarius Reddick Brian Smith Kendarius Reddick, 6 feet, 180 pounds, Thomasville (Ga.) Thomas County Central Committed Oct. 19, 2023 Kendarius Reddick Interview Reddick is a prospect who’s been on the recruiting scene before entering high school. A member of the 229 Elite seven-on-seven program, he’s been a tremendous wide receiver and safety. The latter position is where most believe he will line up for the Tigers. With a penchant for physicality, Reddick runs the alley to strike ball carriers with ferocity. He’s also a twitchy safety prospect, with instincts allowing him to break up and intercept passes that many other safety recruits cannot. Possesses the frame to grow into a nickel safety who plays over the slot receiver position, placing Reddick in a position to handle the physicality of playing in the box at the SEC level. Reddick is going to help the Auburn defense in many different ways. Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials! Join the Locked on Auburn Discord Follow Auburn Daily on Twitter Like Auburn Daily on Facebook Subscribe to Locked On Auburn on YouTube

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auburnwire.usatoday.com Social media reacts to Auburn landing 2025 4-star DL Kalen Edwards JD McCarthy 1–2 minutes The 2024 recruiting cycle is in full swing but Auburn is already building an impressive 2025 class. That class got even better on Monday when four-star defensive lineman Kalen Edwards announced his commitment to the Tigers. He is Auburn’s 7th commitment in the class and gives them the No. 5 ranked class in the 247Sports ranking. The class is headlined by four-star defensive lineman Malik Autry, who is from Opelika. The class is built through the trenches with three commitments along the defensive line and two along the offensive line. The addition fired up the Auburn fanbase which took to social media to celebrate the news, here is a look at the top reactions. Already 3 blue chip D-lineman and 1 blue chip edge in the 2025 class so far… 2024 wasn’t the best d-line class but 2025 is looking nice already — Aubie’s son🦅 (@AubieSon) November 27, 2023

auburnwire.usatoday.com Examining Auburn football's top offensive performers Taylor Jones 5–6 minutes The first regular season of the Hugh Freeze era is now behind us, and it is time to take a look back at how well his team performed during the season. With Auburn’s heartbreaking loss to Alabama on Nov. 25, the Tigers ended the regular season with a 6-6 record, which is par for the course for a program that is looking to get back to national relevancy. Now, Auburn will sit back and await their bowl destination, as they look to earn their first bowl win since the 2018 Music City Bowl. In Freeze’s first season, Auburn averaged 355 yards per game which is 10th best in the SEC. Auburn’s strong suit was its run game, which was 3rd best in the SEC behind just LSU and Tennessee with an average of 198 yards per contest. Pro Football Focus‘ final grades are consistent with Auburn’s successful run game, as six of Auburn’s top 10 offensive producers all played a role in the accomplishments of Auburn’s rushing attack. Which players made the most impact on the success of Auburn’s offense this season? Here are Auburn’s top 10 offensive players according to PFF, with the lone criterion being that they must have appeared in at least nine games during the regular season. AU/Athletics PFF Grade: 62.9 This list kicks off with offensive lineman, Kam Stutts. Stutts participated in 526 snaps this season: 500 at right guard, 24 at left guard, and two snaps at right tackle. He was most effective as a pass blocker this season. In 526 snaps, he allowed 10 total quarterback pressures with five sacks. The Montgomery Advertiser PFF Grade: 67.7 Quarterback Robby Ashford was given a tall task this season as he was asked to become a rotational quarterback. The job ultimately dissolved and he took just 13 snaps over the team’s final five games. His strong suit was running the football, where he graded out at 79.3. Ashford rushed for 217 yards on 46 carries with five scores. As a runner, he gained 128 yards after contact and had 11 rushes that lasted over 10 yards. Austin Perryman/Auburn Tigers PFF Grade: 70.3 jay fair received plenty of hype during preseason camp, and was able to back it up by becoming Auburn’s third-leading receiver with 300 yards on 30 catches. He was targeted 43 times this season with just one drop. He was also one of four receivers who gained over 100 yards after making a catch this season. AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis PFF Grade: 71.5 Brandon Frazier did not factor into the receiving game much this season, as he caught just five passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. However, he played a key role in allowing Auburn’s skill players to make plays. In 156 snaps as an interior tight end, Frazier allowed just eight quarterback pressures. John Reed-USA TODAY Sports PFF Grade: 72.1 Known more for his return game, Brian Battie had a successful first season in Auburn’s backfield. Battie earned at least one carry in 10 of Auburn’s 12 games, with his best game coming against Texas A&M when he rushed for 59 yards on eight carries. He forced seven missed tackles and 134 of his 227 rushing yards were created after first contact. Austin Perryman/Auburn Tigers PFF Grade: 73.2 Jeremiah Cobb earned playing time in 10 games during his true freshman campaign, and ended the regular season with 168 yards on 30 carries. He scored a touchdown in his first-ever game, and rushed for a season-high 69 yards against LSU. He had five runs of longer than 10 yards, with his longest going for 42 yards. Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports PFF Grade: 74.5 Damari Alston was a great complimentary back to Jarquez Hunter this season. He rushed for 297 yards on 55 carries with two touchdowns in 2023, all career-bests. His longest rush of the season went for 55 yards, and he added and extra 155 yards after initial contact. The Montgomery Advertiser PFF Grade: 76.4 Jarquez Hunter got off to a slow start, but ended the regular season with a respectable 865 yards and seven touchdowns. Hunter forced 35 missed tackles this season, and added 612 yards after contact. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images PFF Grade: 77.6 In his first season at Auburn, Payton Thorne was as consistent as runner as he was a passer. At the end of the regular season, Thorne graded out at 73.8 as a passer while earning a 71.1 as a rusher. He completed 62.3% of his passes this season to 18 different receivers. He completed 15 “big time throws” and nine turnover worthy passes this season. His receivers dropped 16 passes this season, or 9.7%. He was also involved in 82 plays that resulted in 1st downs. Austin Perryman/Auburn Tigers PFF Grade: 78.2 Auburn receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson is Auburn’s top offensive player based on criteria. Johnson appeared in nine games this season, and hauled in 19 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns. He caught 19 of 27 passes thrown his way for 18.3 yards per catch.

247sports.com Jason Caldwells Monday morning quarterback column Jason Caldwell 3–4 minutes Going toe-to-toe As I was working on recruiting stories on Sunday afternoon, it hit me just what Auburn did on Saturday despite losing the game. The Tigers played Alabama straight up for four quarters and more than held their own, and did it with a roster that isn’t even comparable across the board. There are spots this Auburn team can hold its own with Alabama. One of those is running back. Another is probably in the secondary. I would say Auburn’s tight end group is probably as good or better. Auburn’s offensive line played well on Saturday and did a really good job, but in terms of matching talent for talent, it’s not close. I would take Auburn’s combination of kicker and punter against anyone in the country. I think Payton Thorne has improved and is someone that you can win with when you add more talent around him, but Jalen Milroe is playing at a pretty high level at the moment. I don’t think it’s particularly close anywhere else on the field at the moment. I’m not sure how much more Auburn could have squeezed out of Saturday’s game. Unfortunately they came up a few plays short of pulling off the upset. Every former player I spoke with was impressed by the job that Hugh Freeze and this staff have done getting the program back headed in the right direction. It’s not perfect and there are things that need to continue to get better, but it all starts with improving the talent level on the field. Everyone sees that and knows it’s necessary to take the next step. I spoke to a former high profile coach in another sport before the game on Saturday and he agreed with my thoughts. I have always said that having great players doesn’t necessarily make you a great team, but if you don’t have enough of them it makes it almost impossible to be good enough. That’s the battle that Auburn has been fighting much of the last decade, but not for much longer. Offensive line building depth I have written about the offensive line group already, but I felt like I needed to mention them again after the job they did against Alabama on Saturday. What makes it even more impressive is that they rotated eight different players, something that just isn’t done on the offensive line. They’ve had to do it out of necessity with Kam Stutts, Gunner Britton and Izavion Miller all battling nagging injuries this season, but Avery Jones was back against Alabama and got some quality minutes as well. Guard Jeremiah Wright played perhaps his best game of the season against the Crimson Tide, which is huge heading into next year for him. He’s always had a defensive lineman mentality, but continues to work on the finer points of the game as an offensive lineman. If he can have a healthy bowl practice and spring, he could be set up to really take off in 2024. One of the things to watch for this team is just how much Miller is able to progress after playing a full season at this level. There’s no question he’s athletic enough, but if he can add the strength and size to take the next step then he could become a different player for coach Jake Thornton on the offensive line.

al.com Rewinding what Hugh Freeze said about Auburn’s Iron Bowl loss, looking ahead to bowl preparation Updated: Nov. 27, 2023, 12:31 p.m.|Published: Nov. 27, 2023, 10:00 a.m. 6–7 minutes With Saturday’s narrow, 27-24 loss to Alabama in the Iron Bowl, the Auburn Tigers finished their first regular season under Hugh Freeze with a 6-6 record, meaning Auburn will be heading to the postseason after missing the bid last fall. And as Freeze said after Saturday’s loss, reaching bowl eligibility was goal No. 1 in year No. 1. “I really didn’t have a vision for this year, other than to try to get us to a bowl game and improve us from week to week,” Freeze said. Surely beating Auburn’s in-state rival was on that list of goals as well, but that was narrowly missed Saturday as Alabama scored a come-from-behind touchdown in improbable fashion to win its fourth consecutive Iron Bowl. Here’s everything Freeze said the Monday following Saturday’s heartbreaker in Jordan-Hare Stadium. — Hugh Freeze opens his press conference in saying that Saturday night’s Iron Bowl was the best college football atmosphere he’s ever experienced. He thanks the Auburn Family. “It will forever be a regret that we didn’t get to celebrate together after it.” — Freeze says he believes the team played with the passion and energy that’s necessary to compete with one of the top teams in the country. He adds that the sting from the loss hasn’t gotten any better. — “There’s still a lot of hurt... this game means so much and we let it slip away,” Freeze said. He adds the foundation has been laid and that many of the recruits in attendance saw how special of a place Auburn is and the vision of the program going forward. — Freeze says that recruiting will start today, and that includes recruiting new guys and recruiting to retain current players as that’s the new world of college football. — When Freeze was asked about how he woke up feeling on Sunday, he admitted that he didn’t sleep on Saturday night. — Freeze said he spent a lot of time reliving the game and questioning what, if anything, he could’ve done differently. He adds that he watched the films several times. However, he says if “you’re made of the right stuff,” it makes you determined. — “I wanted the ball. I felt like we had a good plan offensively,” Freeze said of winning the toss and wanting the football. — Freeze said he sat with both DJ James and Koy Moore for quite sometime after the game to help console them after both James and Moore were on the losing end of Saturday’s game. “No one hurt more than Koy and DJ,” Freeze said. — “Coach I let you down, I let you down,” Freeze said, echoing what James told him after the game. “He felt the weight of the world on him.” — “Keionte (Scott) dings his shoulder on third down and goes to the training room so you have to put a backup in,” Freeze said of Moore being back to receive the punt late in the game. Freeze adds that he didn’t know Scott was hurt in the moment, but Moore has returned punts all year and has the trust of the staff. — “Your choices are: Do you rush him? If you do, we haven’t gotten him on the ground very much... or you can drop under and play five-under, three-deep... and that’s the choice we made,” Freeze said of the 4th-and-31 defensive play call. “It is something we work every Thursday. That was our two options and that was the one we went with... And we didn’t play with vision on the ball.” — “The recruits, I think, see it,” Freeze said. “It certainly is a positive for us. I’m not sure they’ve been to a game that’s quite like that.” — “That is a difficult deal for me,” Freeze says about approaching players who might forego playing in the bowl game. Freeze admits that he hasn’t dealt with it much at his previous stops, but certainly believes in players finishing the season. — “I have no idea how the makeup of how the 85 will look,” Freeze said of what his roster will look like next season with the transfer portal and high school recruiting. “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that this transfer portal window is as long as it is.” — “I am absolutely, totally, positively convinced this can be a winning program,” Freeze said when asked what he’s learned through a year at Auburn. “Everything is here for us to build — and I say build, these things don’t happen overnight — to build a championship team.” — “Only way I know to be is to be totally transparent,” Freeze said when asked how he approaches conversations with players who might be considering transferring. For some, that means telling a player that he might not play much here. For others, that means asking a player to be patient. — “If you take away Week 11, I think we have made great strides within our culture,” Freeze said. “I do not think you can win big games if you don’t have a large percentage of your team buying into that culture of accountability... I’m still wanting that to grow, but it’s gotten better. I want us to truly be a community.” — “I’m probably most proud of the Auburn Family that supported us,” Freeze said when asked what he is most proud of in Year 1. “I’m proud of our kids and our fight that they showed. You lose four straight games and that could’ve gone a different way... all of that is encouraging. But it’s hard for me to sit here and say that I am proud of delivering six wins when I feel like it could’ve been more. But the Auburn Family and fans have just blown me away.” — Freeze says as it pertains to bowl game prep that he likes to let the players enjoy the journey a bit more than grind away. He adds that he will push that some of the younger players — especially defensive backs — get more reps in practice. — Freeze ends his press conference with an unprompted rant about how Saturday’s result shouldn’t fall solely on the shoulders of DJ James and Koy Moore or the play calls there. 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 How will Hugh Freeze and Auburn handle the transfer portal when it opens next week? Updated: Nov. 27, 2023, 5:06 p.m.|Published: Nov. 27, 2023, 11:46 a.m. 4–5 minutes Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze watches warm ups before an NCAA football game against New Mexico State Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Auburn, Alabama. (Julie Bennett | preps@al.com)Julie Bennett | preps@al.com A week from Monday, on Dec. 4, the transfer window for college football will open. From that point forward, the portal will have its neon “OPEN” sign plugged in and hanging in the window for 30 days, allowing college football players at both the FBS and FCS levels to put their names into the portal and let coaches around the country know that they’re in the market for a new home. And Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze isn’t a fan. “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that this portal window were about to have is as long as it is,” Freeze said. “It makes no sense. We have to go all the way through Christmas worrying about people tampering with players on your team... This idea that we have this long portal window, it wasn’t made by anybody that’s having to live through it, I assure you.” It’s Freeze’s belief that most players approach the transfer window with a pretty clear-cut idea of what their plan is. “Either they know they’re going in or they’re not,” Freeze said, tabling the idea of a window from Dec. 1-10. “Make your decision and let’s move on.” That said, Freeze was also asked how he and his staff will handle those conversations with players who might be considering transferring away from Auburn. And those conversations — aside from being transparent — vary on a case-by-case basis, Freeze says. “Tell them the truth,” Freeze said. “The truth for some is your chances to play here are probably slim. The truth for other is, man, there’s an element of patience that needs to be involved in your decision.” When it comes to players who make up the back half of that quote, Freeze said less than two weeks ago that he has a plan in place to keep them from flirting with the idea of transferring. He calls it the SOAR program. “We’ve got a group of men in this building, that’s one of their sole charges is developing the relationships with these young kids to try to convince them of truth and not believing some lies or hopes,” Freeze explained during the SEC Teleconference on Nov. 15. However, Freeze recognizes that those efforts aren’t going to land every single time — especially with name, image and likeness being an added factor in a player’s decision-making. Together, all of it makes for a very difficult situation for coaches when it comes to roster management, Freeze says. “I don’t think there’s any possible way that any coach can sit here and tell you how he’s going to come up with his 85,” Freeze said Monday. “I don’t.” Freeze hasn’t been shy about his preference of landing high school recruits and developing them for a season or two before getting them onto the playing field. But he realizes that’s not the reality in this new, transfer-heavy era of college football. “I’d love to sit here and tell you, ‘Hey, we’re going to build it with high school kids and you’re going to give me time to build it that way.’ I would love to say that,” Freeze said. “But then this week, if I have 10 guys walk in and transfer and I haven’t been recruiting enough high school kids to replace those, it’s impossible for me to say that. So I have no idea exactly how the makeup of the 85 will look and what we have to replace.” What Freeze does know, however, is that the transfer portal will likely need to be a part of it his plan, regardless of his negative feelings towards the matter. “Do we have to replace just 22? Do we have to replace 32? None of us know,” Freeze said. “And I think that’s become the biggest challenge for us coaches is, man, how do you even manage the 85? It will take you all the way through spring and summer to really figure that out because of the way the portal windows are set up.” 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.