aubiefifty

al.com Auburn football gets commitment from Kendarius Reddick, No. 1 ranked class of 2025 ATH Updated: Oct. 19, 2023, 12:51 p.m.|Published: Oct. 19, 2023, 12:36 p.m. 2–3 minutes Sep 11, 2021; Auburn, AL, USA; Aubie in tiger walk before the game between Auburn and Alabama State at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Todd Van Emst/AU AthleticsTodd Van Emst/AU Athletics Auburn football landed its highest-rated pledge of the 2025 class so far when No. 1 ranked athlete Kendarius Reddick from Thomasville, Georgia announced his commitment to Hugh Freeze’s team Thursday. Reddick is rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 41 overall player in the 247Sports composite ranking as well as the top athlete. His Instagram post lists him as a safety, where he has played frequently in high school and Reddick was recruited by Auburn defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge. Reddick is Auburn’s fifth commit for the 2025 class which is now ranked No. 4 in the country by 247Sports. Reddick is also Auburn’s second 2025 commitment this week after defensive lineman Jourdin Crawford committed to Auburn on Monday. If Reddick does go on to play defensive back in college, then his commitment comes on the heels of two class of 2024 de-commits which could impact Auburn’s secondary. Four-star cornerback Jayden Lewis de-committed earlier this week and four-star athlete Jalewis Solomon, who has played both sides of the ball in high school, de-committed earlier in October. The commitment of Reddick also comes just after the news of defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff stepping away from the team temporarily. A report from 247Sports’ Brandon Marcello said McGriff left for a “personal matter.” Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com

247sports.com The Fearless Forecast Remember this guy Our picks are in for Ole MissAuburn David Johnson 7–8 minutes No. 12 Ole Miss (5-1, 2-1 SEC) plays at Auburn (3-3, 0-3 SEC) Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN. The only blemish on the Rebels schedule came the very last time they played in Alabama, a 24-10 setback to the Crimson Tide. Ole Miss is trying to defeat Auburn in back-to-back seasons for the first time in more than seven decades. Vegas favors the Rebels by 6.5 points at this writing. Here is how the Inside the Rebels staff figures the game will play out. DAVID JOHNSON It is a reunion game with Hugh Freeze Part II. Who cares? That should be the attitude of the Rebels of whom there is not a single player on the roster who ever signed or played for Freeze. It really is a non-factor to Ole Miss on how this game will play out. Auburn has struggled to find an offensive identity and its task will be to find one against coordinator Pete Golding's Rebels. The Tigers don't pass it well, nor do they run it very well, surprisingly. Look for Freeze to slow his offense down to a crawl in order to limit the Rebels' offensive possessions. I don't believe he thinks he can trade licks with the Ole Miss offense for four quarters. This is a pivotal game for the Auburn season. If the Tigers win, they could find a spark down the stretch run. If they lose, the out-of-control spiral for the first-year Freeze staff will continue. For the Rebels, it's about the chase. It's about keeping pace with Alabama in the West. While it's not wise for coaches and players to look ahead, it is really the next step toward reaching that Nov. 14 game at Georgia with just the Alabama loss. Ole Miss trying to get to a place where the end result of the game matters. It must beat Auburn to move ahead to the next week with that goal in tact. Our Rebels might be chasing something bigger than we can imagine I digress. Don't forget that Auburn's defensive coordinator is Ron Roberts. Roberts came close to being hired at Ole Miss twice under former head coach Matt Luke. It even got to the point that he came to Oxford for a sit-down interview. He was passed over each time. And yes, he was the Baylor defensive coordinator when the Rebel offensive line was humiliated in a Sugar Bowl loss a few years back. Jordan-Hare Stadium is a tough place to play, but Ole Miss will win this game. And the chase will continue. OLE MISS 40, AUBURN 20 Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze (Photo: USA TODAY Sports) JARED REDDING Truth be told, I did not know that Ole Miss hasn't beaten Auburn in back-to-back seasons since the Truman administration. That's mind-boggling. I have always known though that Jordan-Hare Stadium has always been a house of horrors for Ole Miss for whatever reason. This game being picked for a primetime ESPN slot was no accident nor without reason. There will be storylines one way or another. But look at the matchup itself, there's plenty of reason to believe why Ole Miss will win. Auburn's offense (particularly the passing game) has been a bit of a dud so far. There's questions as to if they can go up-tempo or not... let me remind you that this is Hugh Freeze's offense we're talking about here. If the Tigers have to be one-dimensional, they're in trouble. Then again, there's another side to this and that's Ole Miss' defense. Tackling has been a point of emphasis in the bye week, and Auburn's offense does have some pretty athletic guys to make that hard. Offensively, we've seen what Ole Miss can do when firing on all cylinders, but that's easier said than done when on the road in one of the most hostile environments in college football. It's imperative that the Rebels don't get in their own way and limit the mental errors coming out of a bye. Lane Kiffin said it best earlier this week, Auburn is a much different team at home, no matter what the record is. 2021, anybody? This was one that I had a very weird feeling about earlier in the week. I know Hugh Freeze, and I know for a game like this, he'll have his guys ready to play. The question is, can Ole Miss match that intensity and maintain it throughout a game? But as the week has gone on, I've felt more and more confident in picking the Rebs to move to 6-1 and 3-1 in SEC play. Next! OLE MISS 35, AUBURN 24 TYLER KOMIS Good riddance bye week and hello Auburn. After a much-needed rest period after battling up some bang ups, some more significant than others, the Rebels are ready to hit the road for their second away SEC matchup. They’ll be in Alabama once again. I think getting the experience they did down in Tuscaloosa four weeks ago, helps this Ole Miss squad become better equipped to handle the atmosphere they’re going to see in Jordan-Hare Stadium come Saturday night. The Rebels are going to have to take the crowd out of the game early and often. That means exceptional execution on third and fourth down all four quarters. Just looking at the matchup on paper, Ole Miss SHOULD win by a couple of scores. That’s just my opinion just from what I’ve seen from both teams to start the season. That being said, this is not only an Auburn team playing in their own backyard, but also a team led by Hugh Freeze who probably had this game circled almost as soon as he got the job. They’re going to give Ole Miss their best shot since their backs are up against the wall in this one. Similarly to how Arkansas was going into their matchup with the Rebels. The Freeze factor also adds some extra motivation to their side. However, I’m going to the side in which Ole Miss wins by at least two possessions. If this was last year’s team I would say this is their game to lose, but it’s not. So far this season, Lane Kiffin’s Rebels have shown a vastly different product than last year’s squad. Whether it be team comradery, overcoming adversity or execution, this team has done it and in crunch time as well. I like how the Rebels matchup defensively in this one. Auburn’s pass attack is among the worst in the conference and I would think Pete Golding is going to make them throw in order to win on that side of the ball. Their offensive strengths come in their ground attack and even then I like Ole Miss’ front to limit the success they’ve enjoyed in that department in previous weeks. At the end of the day, I think Ole Miss’ offense keeps rolling as well and leads them to their third-straight SEC victory. I don’t expect them to have Jordan Watkins, even though Kiffin said he’d play, but I think Rebel fans should still have more than enough confidence in the pieces around Jaxson Dart. I like tight end Caden Prieskorn as an X-factor in this one. The environment is going to be very hard to overcome, but this game will also tell you a lot about the 2023 Rebels, one way or another. OLE MISS 38, AUBURN 17

si.com Auburn DB coach Wesley McGriff temporarily stepping away from Tigers Lance Dawe 2–3 minutes Auburn's defensive backs coach is briefly stepping away from the team. Auburn's defensive backs coach is stepping away from the team. Per Brandon Marcello of 247Sports, DB coach Wesley McGriff is temporarily stepping away from on-field duties for a "personal matter." Tanner Burns is stepping in to fill on-field duties. McGriff is still working with the team daily. McGriff is on his third stint with the Auburn Tigers, having served as an assistant coach at Auburn in 2016 and again in 2019-20. He was the secondary coach at Louisville this past season. At Louisville in 2022, McGriff mentored one of the stingiest secondaries in America as the Cardinals forced 15 interceptions, good for the 10th-best total in the country and second-best in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The team allowed the fourth fewest passing yards per game (206.5) in the league, and junior defensive back Kei’Trel Clark went on to earn all-ACC honors for the third straight season. Auburn is sixth in the SEC in passing yards per game allowed (216.0) and is tied for second in the conference in interceptions (seven) and total turnovers gained (11).

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn lands from Georgia's top athlete for the 2025 class Taylor Jones ~2 minutes Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers have added another valuable piece to its already impressive 2025 haul. Kendarius Reddick, a four-star athlete from Thomasville, Georgia, announced Thursday that he has committed to Auburn. He chose the Tigers over Alabama, Georgia Tech, and Georgia Southern. Reddick visited Auburn twice since receiving an offer on April 5. He received an offer on his first visit, and he took in a game earlier this fall as well. Defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge has been his primary recruiter and has done a great job of swaying Reddick to join the 2025 class. “It was a great experience to come up here,” Reddick said in an interview with Auburn Undercover. “Listen to Coach (Etheridge), talk about the experience, the growth of the team, and what they’re trying to build. I really like the environment around here. I think I’d fit good in this environment so I’ll be looking into it.” Reddick’s commitment is the second commitment that Auburn has received for the cycle this week. Monday, four-star DL Jourdin Crawford announced his pledge to Auburn. Reddick’s commitment sends him to the top of the class. He is the No. 1 athlete from the state of Georgia and the No. 41 overall recruit according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. He jumps Jakaleb Faulk as the top commitment for the 2025 class. 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__

collegefootballnews.com Ole Miss vs Auburn Prediction Game Preview Pete Fiutak 3–4 minutes Ole Miss vs Auburn prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines. Saturday, October 21 Oct 7, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels cheerleaders prepare to lead the team onto the field prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. © Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports Ole Miss vs Auburn How To Watch Date: Saturday, October 21 Game Time: 7:00 ET Venue: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL How To Watch: ESPN 2023 Record: Ole Miss (5-1), Auburn (3-3) Pete Fiutak on X | CFN on X College Football News on Facebook Ole Miss vs Auburn Game Preview Why Ole Miss Will Win The offense might overwhelm the Tigers. The Rebel attack chilled out against Arkansas two weeks ago, but it ripped through LSU, rolled Georgia Tech, and now it’s rested after getting time off. It might not be the most consistent O, but it can do a variety of things well. The combination of offensive versatility, and a killer pass rush that bandages over a slew of defensive issues, should be enough against an Auburn offense that’s fine, but doesn’t move the chains. The Tiger offensive front has pass protection issues, but … Predicting Every Remaining Game AAC | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | CUSA | IND MAC | MWest | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt - Projected Win Totals All 133 Teams Why Auburn Will Win Auburn needs to find the passing game production, and that’s what the Ole Miss defense is for. The pop hasn’t been there - the Auburn passing game is barely averaging 50% over the last three games - with just one touchdown and close to 300 total yards over the stretch. However, even with the great pass rush, the Ole Miss pass defense has allowed 225 yards or more against all five FBS teams on the slate - it’s 110th in the nation in pass D. The Auburn defense has been able to stay in games with takeaways, the pass defense was fine before dealing with Georgia and LSU, and … - Week 8 Experts Picks Recommended for You Ole Miss vs Auburn Who Will Win Home field has to matter. Auburn doesn’t have enough offense to keep up if the Rebels get rolling, and yes, two of the home games were against Mercer and UMass, but it also gave Georgia a tough run in Jordan-Hare. Ole Miss will win - the defense will hold up fine - but it’ll be a fight for three quarters. Auburn’s offense won’t be able to capitalize on opportunities late. - Week 8 Schedule, Previews, Predictions Ole Miss vs Auburn Prediction, Line Ole Miss 30, Auburn 20 Line: Ole Miss -6.5, o/u: 56.5 ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5 Must See Rating (out of 5): 3

Q&A with Auburn beat writer Matt Cohen By MICHAEL KATZ Daily Journal 16 hrs ago Mississippi's quarterback Jaxson Dart (2), left, prepares to hand off the ball to Mississippi's running back Quinshon Judkins (4) in the Texas Bowl game against Texas Tech, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, at NRG Stadium in Houston. Syndication Lubbock Avalanche Journal Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Save The Daily Journal caught up with Auburn beat writer Matt Cohen of AL.com to see what he considers the keys to the Ole Miss-Auburn matchup. What has been the general level of excitement around the program under Hugh Freeze so far? Are they on-schedule from where they were expected preseason? To start the year, excitement could not have been higher. Hugh Freeze had a significant honeymoon period with hope that the reshaped roster and energy around the program would bring success. Fans want that success to come quickly of course, and that hasn't happened. Although expectations from the program were never that this would be a year to compete, Freeze has been very public and honest when talked about his vision for Auburn to recruit well-enough in order to compete by his third or fourth year. Auburn does have a strong 2024 recruiting class to this point and continues to push for top talent. Freeze took over an Auburn roster that had been worn dry by poor recruiting from previous head coach Bryan Harsin and his staff. It is a problem that is going to take years to build back from. Fans, to this point, have seemed to express patience. Even as things are a struggle this year, there isn't a call to put Freeze on the hot seat. How big a game does this feel for Freeze, not just for this season but because of his history with Ole Miss? Freeze has held himself back a few times from saying what he probably really feels about Ole Miss. Outwardly, he has said the typical platitudes about his respect for an opponent and especially Ole Miss' offense. But his own history is certainly a big part of this game for Freeze. He played Ole Miss once with Liberty and didn't even compete — albeit to be expected — and this is his first chance to have a shot at beating the program he left in scandal. It certainly matters personally to him, but it doesn't appear its taking over the week. What has been the biggest issue with the passing game and offense as a whole this season? Can this team win a shootout? No. Auburn cannot and will not win a shootout. It can't. The talent on this offense isn't good enough. It is a fundamentally flawed passing game trying to force a square into the circle hole. The problem is a very limited quarterback with an inconsistent offensive line and ineffective pass catchers. There has appeared to be some playcalling dysfunction between Freeze and offensive coordinator in terms of who is calling plays. Neither have been particularly good. Auburn's offense has been much better at home, but it doesn't have an understanding of the Freeze offense yet as it continues to make the same mistakes and the coaching staff hasn't been able to fix it. Players and coaches alike haven't been good enough. ADVERTISING What is the strength of the Auburn defense? First, Auburn's secondary can be great if healthy. It isn't healthy. Auburn needs safety Jaylin Simpson, who is third in the nation in interceptions, to get back to full health. He's been playing at less than 100%. Auburn may get back starting nickel corner Keionte Scott this week who is a key leader on the defense. That would be huge. But Auburn's best strength so far has been its SEC-best redzone defense. Auburn may bend, but it prides itself on not breaking. Even after allowing more than 500 yards against LSU, it wasn't really until around the end of the third quarter in that game that LSU turned it into a thorough, total blowout. Being able to force teams into field goals instead of touchdowns will be a big stat for an offense that can't move the ball. What do you expect the reception for Lane Kiffin to be given everything that happened last fall with his courtship by John Cohen? I think Kiffin will get booed like any other coach, but I think while Freeze still has his dwindling honeymoon, it won't be anything toxic. I get the impression while there was a sense of disappointment Kiffin didn't end up being the guy, I don't sense anything particularly angry or hateful from fans toward him. Certainly, that could change, but I don't think Kiffin compares yet on the Auburn fans' most-hated list to the coaches of Auburn's two biggest rivals: Nick Saban and Kirby Smart. If Auburn is going to win, _____ has to happen. If Auburn is going to win, the offense has to help. Auburn's defense looks exhausted. It's done so much work carrying Auburn throughout this season and it just can't keep doing the job alone. If the defense gets back some key players from long-term injuries — cornerback Keionte Scott and linebacker Austin Keys, a transfer from Ole Miss — it could lend a huge hand to a thin group. But the offense has to do SOMETHING. Auburn's defense may hope to slow Ole Miss but it isn't going to stop Ole Miss' offense. Auburn can't win in a shootout, but the offense has to give some run support. A great pitcher may have a quality start to only give up two runs, but still have a bad record because they lost every game 2-0. That's Auburn right now.

saturdaydownsouth.com Hugh Freeze addresses difficulty coaching at Auburn compared to other jobs Andrew Peters | 14 hours ago ~3 minutes Hugh Freeze has plenty of experience under his belt, including SEC experience. But coaching at Auburn has brought on a new set of challenges. Freeze addressed some of those challenges Wednesday, pointing to fans having high expectations and trying to get a young team ready to play in a tough, experienced conference. “This one is certainly very challenging,” Freeze said during the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “The one at Ole Miss was similar, expectations may have not been as high as they are here, which adds a little pressure to you sometimes. But I mean we’ve got a team that 11 of the 22 starters at LSU had never started an SEC game prior to this season, and only 5 of the 22 have made an SEC start in 3 seasons. So it’s the growing pains and can we coach better? Yes. Hopefully we can play better. We’ve seen signs of it, but we’re very, I think we’re a young team and one that has very little experience playing in this league and it really shows up on the road, it seems, so far to this point. So thankful that we seem to be a little more comfortable at home and we’ll need Jordan-Hare to be at its best the next few weeks.” Auburn has had a shaky year, but has shown flashes of greatness. The Tigers took Georgia down to the wire just a few weeks ago. Once Freeze and his staff have a complete roster, Auburn should be able to make noise in the SEC. After losing to LSU last week, Auburn has another tough one this weekend as it takes on Ole Miss.

sportingnews.com Ole Miss vs. Auburn odds, props, predictions: Rebels offense rolling into SEC West clash Sporting News Betting 6–8 minutes The Ole Miss Rebels are hot, and the Auburn Tigers are not. After losing to Alabama in Week 4, Ole Miss has played determined football, fighting to stay in the hunt in the SEC West. In contrast, while not yet mathematically eliminated in the SEC West, the Auburn Tigers have already lost three division games, essentially eliminating them from contention for a spot in the SEC Conference championship game. These two squads will face off at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Fans and sports bettors alike can watch this division rivalry game on ESPN. Here we'll take a look at Mississippi vs. Auburn odds, props and predictions ahead of the matchup. Give credit to Hugh Freeze, who took over a precarious situation in Auburn, Alabama. Even in the era of instant eligibility, the transfer portal and NIL, no realistic Tigers fan expected a one-year turnaround. Freeze coached Auburn to a 3-0 start, including a win over a Pac-12 opponent in California. Yet it is evident that Freeze needs more time to fill the roster with SEC talent and, most importantly, solidify his quarterback position by 2024. Ole Miss has looked really good all season, with the only hiccup being a loss at Alabama. The Rebels have a tough remaining schedule but have everything in front of them with only one loss. Qualifying for the College Football Playoff is very much possible if the Rebels can win out. This game will be a big one for Lane Kiffin and crew as they need to avoid the type of trap game that has plagued Kiffin's tenure in the past. Two seasons ago, a loss to an Auburn team that finished the season 6-7 gave the Rebels a second loss and took away any hope of making the CFP. Odds for Ole Miss vs. Auburn As news about injuries, weather and depth chart information comes out throughout the week, lines and odds will change. To ensure you know where to get the best value, here are the latest live odds from the best online sportsbooks in the country. Ole Miss Rebels betting news If you have not watched much Ole Miss football this season, here is what you need to know: The Rebels are not getting much national pub, but they may be a sneaky contender for the SEC Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. A huge reason for that has been the play of junior quarterback Jaxson Dart. The Rebels are halfway through their 12-game schedule, and Dart has been very much improved from this time last year. Coming into the season, many Ole Miss fans wondered if Dart would keep his QB1 spot. The Rebels brought in transfer Spencer Sanders, a fifth-year senior who was a four-year starter at Oklahoma State. Well, you know what they say, "Pressure makes diamonds." Dart is averaging 42 more yards per game, passing for a similar volume and already has four rushing touchdowns versus only one last year. Perhaps the most significant stat showing Dart's year-to-year improvement is his touchdown to interception ratio, which was 1.81 in 2022 and currently is 6.0 this season. Dart has thrown six passing touchdowns for every interception he has thrown this season — he is taking care of the football and has been much more efficient at helping his offense get into the end zone. Auburn Tigers betting news The wheels have completely fallen off for the Tigers, and getting to six wins and qualifying for a bowl game is going to be a tough task. There is hope, though, for Hugh Freeze in Year 1 of revamping his program. Just three weeks ago, the Tigers took Georgia down to the wire, with the reigning national champions scoring with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter to take a 27-20 lead. Auburn quarterback Peyton Thorne threw an interception on the ensuing drive to give the Bulldogs the ball back, ending the game. The Auburn rushing attack was strong, putting up 219 yards including a game-high 92 from Thorne. The issue for the Auburn offense is the complete and utter lack of a passing attack. Thorne's only two games with a moderate passing total were against non-Power Five opponent Massachusetts (141 passing yards) and FCS opponent Samford (282 passing yards). Freeze is known for his prolific passing offenses from his days as the Ole Miss coach and his time at Liberty, where he even had a quarterback drafted from his non-Power Five school in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft (Malik Willis). It appears Auburn just may not have that type of talent on the roster at the quarterback spot. Thorne, a Michigan State transfer, had one prolific passing season in East Lansing in 2021 but has never looked anywhere close to level since. Ole Miss Rebels vs. Auburn Tigers prediction: Auburn can't keep up with high scoring Rebels Hugh Freeze coached at Ole Miss from 2012-2016 and was the best coach the program had had since the mid-1900s. He was fired in a scandal, and some thought there was too much bad publicity for him ever to get back into a Power Five coaching job. Does he have a few tricks up his sleeve in what could be a bit of a revenge game against his old school? His Tigers almost upset Georgia just a few weeks ago. Could they muster some of that magic again? It is doubtful that even if the Tigers find a way to get some offensive production, that they can slow down this Ole Miss Rebel offense. Auburn gave up 48 points to LSU last week, a team that Ole Miss has already beaten earlier this season in an offensive shootout. Expect Jaxson Dart to have a big game and this Ole Miss offense to put up 35-plus points. Auburn has not scored more than 20 against a Power Five opponent this season; simply put, they won't be able to score enough to keep this one close. 21+ in most states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

auburnwire.usatoday.com Five things to know about Ole Miss ahead of their game against Auburn JD McCarthy 4–5 minutes Auburn is set to return to Jordan-Hare Stadium this weekend to take on a familiar foe in SEC West rival Ole Miss. These two programs have several connections and this will be their first time facing off since Auburn tried to hire Lane Kiffin this offseason before ultimately hiring Hugh Freeze, who coached the Rebels from 2012-16. Auburn is looking to snap a three-game losing streak and avenge last year’s 48-34 loss in Oxford. If the Rebels can pull off the victory it will be the first time they’ve beaten Auburn in back-to-back games since they won three in a row from 1949 to 1952. Here are five things to know about Ole Miss before Saturday’s game. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) In addition to the coaching connections, several players have played on both sides of this rivalry. Auburn middle linebacker Austin Keys started his career at Ole Miss before transferring to Auburn this offseason. Ole Miss starting defensive tackle JJ Pegues and reserve nickel cornerback Ladarius Tennison both spent two seasons on the Plains before entering the transfer portal and heading to Ole Miss. Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports Auburn’s defense was unable to stop LSU last week and the challenge won’t be any easier this week against Ole Miss. They are averaging 41.7 points per game and their balance is a major reason why. They are averaging 183.3 yards on the ground and 306 yards through the air and Auburn’s entire defense will be put to the test to try and slow them down. Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports A major reason for their offensive success has been their ability to protect the ball, they have turned it over just three times this season and have a +6 turnover margin on the season. Making their ball security more impressive is the fact that they are still extremely explosive with 36 passing plays of 20 or more yards, the fifth most in the country. Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports Kiffin has always had impressive offenses but their defense has cost them at times. With the addition of defensive coordinator Pete Golding, the group has taken a step forward, especially against the run. They are allowing just 3.17 yards per carry on the season, their best performance of the season came against Alabama when they held them to 2.91 yards per rush in a close loss. Auburn’s offense has had little success through the air and it will be important to have success on the ground if they want to upset the Rebels. Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports QB Jaxson Dart Kiffin brought in several quarterbacks to compete for the starting job but Dart was able to hold onto his job and has taken a step forward. He’s completed 64.1% of his passes for 1,638 yards and 12 touchdowns in six games. RB Quinshon Judkins He burst onto the scene as a freshman last season and he’s had a strong season so far, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. WR Jordan Watkins Watkins has become their go-to receiver, leading a talented group in receptions (36) and yards (536). WR Tre Harris Harris is their big-play threat, averaging 21.59 yards per reception, and has caught six touchdowns already. LB Suntarine Perkins The former five-star has made an immediate impact, leading them in sacks with 3.5 and is someone Auburn will have to keep an eye on. S Daijahn Anthony He is always around the ball with one interception and five pass breakups. If Auburn falls behind and is forced to throw the ball, they will need to be careful when targeting Anthony. Follow all your favorite Alabama teams at Auburn Wire and Roll Tide Wire!

247sports.com Freeze says competition back open for right tackle spot Jason Caldwell 4–5 minutes Auburn football takes on the Ole Miss Rebels this Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. AUBURN, Alabama—With guys like Kam Stutts and Izavion Miller dealing with nagging ankle injuries the last two weeks and starting guard Gunner Britton also slowed as part of an offensive line that has faced Texas A&M, Georgia and LSU in three straight games, Auburn comes into Saturday’s game against the No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels with a group up front that could have some new faces by the time they kick off on Saturday night at 6 p.m. on ESPN. “It’s not great,” coach Hugh Freeze said about the health of the offensive line. “We’ve got two that we’ve kind of had to sit out this week in practice in hopes they could play, which is never a good thing. They are out there, but they really can’t get good work in good-on-good settings. We’re trying to make sure they’re as healthy as they can be come Saturday. That’s hard for everybody. I’m sure everybody has some of that going on. We’re thin at a lot of places and it is affecting the way we practice and it shows up some on Saturday, unfortunately. I’m not sure what the answer is.” The answer for Auburn may be Tulsa transfer Jaden Muskrat. Coming in late against LSU and playing well at right tackle, Muskrat showed the ability to go out and compete and give the offensive line a boost. He played well enough that he’s earned the right to get a shot to be the full-time starter, Freeze said. “I thought he played really well and finished the game well,” he said. “I will say, they had some backups in towards the end of the game and sometimes that makes a difference. I thought he played really well and moved very well. This week we’re kind of having an open competition for he and Too Tall (Miller). Now, we’ll need both of them in this game. They’ll both see time.” Getting more reps this week along with Jeremiah Wright, who has starting experience, Muskrat’s biggest benefit may be his versatility. Capable of playing guard or tackle, he’s repping in both spots this week. Freeze said that’s not ideal, but that’s the situation they find themselves in at the moment. “He’s getting reps, probably too many at practice right now at different spots,” Freeze said.

al.com Lane Kiffin reposts column that states he should be fired if he loses to Auburn Published: Oct. 18, 2023, 9:52 a.m. 2–3 minutes Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin gestures during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Mississippi won 27-20. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)AP Lane Kiffin has always been savvy when it comes to social media content. On Wednesday, the Ole Miss coach reposted on “X,” the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, a piece written by AL.com’s Joe Goodman. The column, “Fire Lane Kiffin if he loses to Auburn,” certainly doesn’t appear to be the message a sitting coach in the SEC would want to disseminate just days before a conference game. Yet, here we are, three days before the Rebels travel to Jordan-Hare Stadium to take on the struggling Auburn Tigers, and Kiffin reposted the not-so-positive piece. What is Kiffin thinking? No one knows for sure except the Ole Miss coach, but Kiffin knows how to get social media to work for him. The latest example appears to prove that point. The column is more about Auburn’s ineptitude right now more than anything, and the point is it should scare any head coach to even imagine losing to a team that is struggling as much as Auburn is right now. Kiffin’s posting of the column has sparked several comments from his followers. And you know what? That reaction has all been positive toward Kiffin. In this day and age of talking heads and hot takes - not that this piece is necessarily either - Kiffin has shown to use it to his advantage. Take that negative news and share it with your supporters. You will find they will circle the wagons. Unless, of course, he loses to Auburn. Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham sets visit to Auburn JD McCarthy ~2 minutes Auburn is set to host several visitors this weekend and one of them will be one of the best wide receivers in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Five-star wideout Caleb Cunningham announced he would be visiting the Plains this weekend when they take on the Ole Miss Rebels. Cunningham is from Ackerman, Mississippi and this will be his second visit to Auburn this year after they extended him an offer in February. He is the No. 10 overall player and No. 3 wide receiver in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 1 player from Mississippi. Checking in at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, he is one of Auburn’s top targets in the 2025 class and someone nearly every program in the country will try to recruit. Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class is off to a strong start with commitments from four-star defensive linemen Malik Autry and Jourdin Crawford, four-star edge rusher Jakaleb Faulk and three-star offensive tackle Spencer Dowland. 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 JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15

Auburn Opponent Preview Ole Miss offense another big challenge for Tigers Jason Caldwell 9–11 minutes Auburn takes on Ole Miss on Saturday night. After facing the country’s No. 3 and No. 9 scoring offenses the last two games, the Auburn Tigers get No. 8 this Saturday night when Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels come to Jordan-Hare Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. Averaging 41.7 points per game this season, Ole Miss has put up some impressive stats with a balanced offensive attack. Ranked 11th nationally in total offense (489.3 ypg), the Rebels average 306 yards passing per game and 183 yards on the ground. Leading the way for Ole Miss is quarterback Jaxon Dart. Up and down last season in his first year in Oxford, Dart has been strong to this point in the season. Completing 107-167 passes for 1,638 yards and 12 touchdowns with only two interceptions, Dart has taken care of the football while also creating big plays for the Ole Miss offense. In six games, Ole Miss has 36 passing plays of 20 yards or more this season. That’s good enough for fifth nationally (LSU has 44). Much of that has come with the hands and feet of Louisiana Tech transfer Tre Harris. In his first season with the Rebels, Harris has been the biggest of big play threats for the offense, catching 17 passes for 367 yards and six touchdowns in five games. That’s an average of 21.6 yards every time he touches the ball. Mr. Consistency for the offense has been Louisville transfer Jordan Watkins. In six games he has 36 catches for 536 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Dayton Wade rounds out the starting group. The Western Kentucky transfer has 27 catches for 390 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Ole Miss has a two-headed monster at running back in sophomore Quinshon Judkins along with SMU transfer Ulysses Bentley. After putting up monster numbers last season, Judkins is again running well with 443 yards and six touchdowns on 108 carries this season. Bentley has provided the flash to Judkins’ power, adding 275 yards and three touchdowns on just 37 carries (7.5 ypc). Up front, Ole MIss has a veteran group led by right guard Jeremy James and center Caleb Warren. James made his 42nd consecutive start the last time out while for games it was start No. 37. Veteran Micah Pettus returns at right tackle for the Rebels while Washington transfer Victor Curne and UAB transfer Quincy McGee round out the starting five. OFFENSE WR 9 Tre Harris (6-2, 205, SR*-TR, Lafayette, La., Louisiana Tech) 5 Zakhari Franklin (6-1, 185, SR-TR, Cedar Hill, Texas, UTSA) WR 19 Dayton Wade (5-9, 175, SR*-1L, Atlanta, Ga., Western Kentucky) 1 Ayden Williams (6-3, 190, FR-HS, Ridgeland, Miss., Ridgeland) WR 11 Jordan Watkins (5-11, 190, SR*-1L, Louisville, Ky., Louisville) 12 Bralon Brown (6-2, 195, SO-2L, Miramar, Fla., St. Thomas Aquinas) -OR83 Cayden Lee (5-11, 175, FR-HS, Kennesaw, Ga., Kennesaw Mountain) LT 79 Victor Curne (6-4, 320, SR-TR, Houston, Texas, Washington) 71 Jayden Williams (6-5, 300, SO-1L, Conway, Ark., Conway) LG 67 Quincy McGee (6-4, 320, SR-TR, Hattiesburg, Miss., UAB) 73 Eli Acker (6-5, 295, JR-3L, Columbus, Miss., Heritage Academy) C 54 Caleb Warren (6-5, 310, SR*-4L, Louisville, Miss., Nanih Waiya) 56 Reese McIntyre (6-5, 305, SR*-4L, Buford, Ga., Buford) RG 78 Jeremy James (6-5, 305, SR*-4L, Cumming, Ga., North Forsyth) 55 Preston Cushman (6-5, 280, FR-RS, St. Petersburg, Fla., Calvary Christian) RT 57 Micah Pettus (6-7, 360, SO-1L, Madison, Ala., James Clemens) 76 Cedric Melton (6-5, 300, JR-2L, Houston, Texas, Klein Cain) TE 86 Caden Prieskorn (6-5, 255, SR*-TR, Lake Orion, Mich., Memphis) 88 Kyirin Heath (6-4, 235, SO-1L, Mansfield, Texas, Legacy) 87 Hudson Wolfe (6-7, 230, SO-1L, Savannah, Tenn., Hardin County QB 2 Jaxson Dart (6-2, 220, JR-1L, Kaysville, Utah, USC) 3 Spencer Sanders (6-1, 210, SR-TR, Denton, Texas, Okla. St.) 7 Walker Howard (6-1, 195, FR-TR, Lafayette, La., LSU) 13 Austin Simmons (6-2, 200, FR-HS, Pinecrest, Fla., Pahokee) RB 4 Quinshon Judkins (5-11, 210, SO-1L, Pike Road, Ala., Pike Road) 24 Ulysses Bentley IV (5-11, 200, SR*-1L, Houston, Texas, SMU) 8 Jam Griffin (5-9, 210, SR*-TR, Rome, Ga., Oregon State) -OR 40 Matt Jones (5-7, 180, SO-1L, Jackson, Miss., Jackson Prep)

247sports.com Are Auburn players surprised with offense's issues? 'You practice how you play' Nathan King 5–6 minutes Being the SEC’s worst offense wasn’t exactly the goal for Hugh Freeze and his staff at midseason. But the Tigers are dead-last in the conference in scoring, second-to-last in yards per game, and last in passing efficiency as they enter the second half of their 2023 regular season — which kicks off Saturday night with their third straight ranked opponent, No. 13 Ole Miss. Still searching for its first SEC victory — sitting at 0-3 in the league for the first time since 2012 — Auburn hasn’t exactly had an easy run of things in the early stages of the Freeze era. On the road against Texas A&M and LSU, and at home against two-time defending national champion Georgia, not many expected Auburn to win any of those games. The smallest point spread of the bunch was 9.5 in favor of Texas A&M. But after failing to score an offensive touchdown in College Station, there were glimpses of improvement for the Tigers on offense when No. 1 Georgia needed a late touchdown to win in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Few of those strides seem to carry over into last Saturday night’s game against LSU, though, when Auburn punted on six of its first eight drives and didn’t score its second touchdown until the fourth quarter. In 16 quarters against Power Five opposition this season, Auburn’s offense has just six touchdowns. The primary concerns have fallen on the passing game, where, Freeze and coordinator Philip Montgomery’s run-pass option scheme, Michigan State transfer quarterback Payton Thorne and his pass-catchers have struggled mightily. Thorne is the SEC’s worst starting quarterback in a number of statistical areas, including yards per attempt and QBR. For Auburn’s players, though — who have been repping within this first-year offensive scheme since early August — has the lack of execution in games been a surprise? Or were there already red flags? “They say you practice how you play,” left tackle Dillon Wade said Tuesday. “Some of the things have shown up in practice. I didn't think they were going to be as big of a disadvantage as they were. I'm not going to say I can see the future, but it was kind of apparent things were going to happen. We can get better. They're not things that are unfixable; it's small things. Part of the frustrations, as Freeze has touched on a few times this season, is that Thorne and his receivers have had crisp practices, and the Tigers have felt their preparation has been adequate. In the LSU game, for example, Auburn had a number of “baffling” errors, Freeze said, that caused three-and-outs on the team’s first two possessions. LSU took advantage by grabbing a 17-0 advantage in the first quarter and putting Auburn on its heels quickly. “Kind of,” tight end Rivaldo Fairweather said when asked the same question about practice vs. in-game execution. “A little bit. We really showed that we could really throw the ball in practice. We really executed. But when we get to the game, stuff just doesn’t go the right way sometimes. But we’re going to be fine. I know that we’re going to be explosive coming soon in the next game.” Many have called for more playing time for backup quarterback Robby Ashford, though Freeze has indicated there won’t be any “earth-shaking” personnel changes this week for the Ole Miss matchup. And as Freeze has reiterated, it’s more than just quarterback play that’s to blame for the passing game’s deficiencies. Freeze wondered aloud Monday if Auburn’s offensive scheme is working properly, or if that’s not “who we are.” It’s difficult to make large-scale offensive fixes in the middle of a season. How can the players do their part in that regard? “Now it's crunch time, you know?” Wade said. “When you lose a game, usually a team falls apart. We need to come together and be stronger as a unit. I see a lot of off-the-field bonding, a lot of on-field, extra work getting in. The more time we spend with each and the more connections we get, the better we'll play.” The Tigers shared their confidence Tuesday that those improvements will soon come to pass. They probably need to, in some fashion, if Auburn is going to keep pace with Ole Miss and the nation’s No. 8 scoring offense. “Just trust in our teammates, trust in the coaches,” Fairweather said. “Trust in the plan they got for us and the game plan. … We just started (the Ole Miss game plan) yesterday. It’s some really good plays in there that we could be explosive with. So just trusting our quarterbacks and the quarterbacks trusting in us because I know they do. We just got to go out there and execute.” Kickoff in Jordan-Hare Stadium is set for 6 p.m. CDT on ESPN.

al.com Hugh Freeze said Auburn looked like 'zombies' vs. LSU. But how do the Tigers fix it? Published: Oct. 18, 2023, 6:00 a.m. 5–7 minutes The Auburn football team were dead men walking in Baton Rouge on Saturday night against No. 22 LSU. After LSU’s offense shot 75 yards down the field in just four plays and took an early 7-0 lead against Auburn, Payton Thorne and the Auburn offense got off to a start that would’ve been deemed disastrous anywhere – but certainly in a place like LSU’s Death Valley. Auburn’s first play from scrimmage didn’t even get off before it was whistled for a false start. Despite playing behind the sticks, Auburn managed to get itself into a third-and-manageable situation, only for an errant snap to go ricocheting off Thorne’s unexpecting hands for a loss of 12 yards, forcing Auburn to punt it away. “We looked like zombies a bit on the sideline after that,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said on Monday. And though it’s said to never rain at LSU’s Tiger Stadium, meaning snow would be hard to come by, it didn’t stop Auburn’s lack of effort, intensity and passion from snowballing out of control on Saturday night. As game clock continued to expire and the game’s end neared, Freeze wore his emotions on his sleeve. Freeze will tell you he wasn’t angry in the final moments of Saturday’s game as he’s not sure “anger is the right response”. And because he “understands this game”, Freeze wasn’t heartbroken at Saturday’s result either. “I certainly wasn’t happy. Whether you call it sad, angry, or whatever, I was definitely not happy,” Freeze said. “It’s disappointing for sure, not to compete any better than we did.” Auburn lost to No. 22 LSU 48-18 on Saturday night, keeping Freeze and the Tigers from winning their first conference game of the season and dropping Auburn to 3-3 on the year with its three losses coming in order. The 48 points Jayden Daniels and the LSU offense dropped was the most Auburn had ever allowed against the Bayou Bengals. It was a failure on all accounts for Auburn. “They played harder, which is embarrassing and hurtful to say,” Freeze said of LSU on Monday. “It’s one thing for a team to have more talent, but I didn’t think we showed up with the right energy and drive and competitive spirit, and that lies in my lap.” Hearing Freeze take responsibility for the intangibles Auburn lacked against LSU should be well-received by Auburn fans – especially on the heels of a former coaching staff that maybe didn’t take long looks in the mirror when it needed to. But because Freeze can’t throw on an Auburn jersey on Saturdays, him taking accountability only helps if paired with his players taking accountability – and that only happens if Saturday’s showing digs at Auburn’s players the same way it dug at Freeze towards the end of Saturday’s game. In the case of senior linebacker Wesley Steiner, Saturday was maddening. “It was embarrassing to watch. I was slightly disappointed with our response to being down,” Steiner said. “It was righteous indignation.” Fortunately for Auburn, it sounds like Freeze might’ve given the team an earful. Veteran cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett told reporters Tuesday that Freeze “definitely harped on” Auburn’s lack of effort against LSU. Meanwhile, freshman defensive end Keldric Faulk — who started his first game for Auburn against LSU — said it was one of the first thing players on defense addressed in their group text chain. “We just said that we need to practice like we are champions,” Faulk told reporters Tuesday. “We need to come in and practice like we can go out there and win these games.” In comparison to the practices leading up to the Georgia game on Sept. 30, Faulk said the defense was buzzing with energy and flying to the ball. But after the bye week and during the week of preparing for LSU, “it kinda went flat,” Faulk said. But talking about a fix only does so much without action. “We’re trying to get that energy back,” Faulk said. And that starts during practice on Tuesday. “(Coach Freeze) said we’ve gotta bring more intensity on the sidelines,” Auburn tight end Rivaldo Fairweather said. “So we’re gonna try to make sure we do that today in practice.” Fortunately for Auburn, while it works to iron out the wrinkles it has in the morale department, playing back at Jordan-Hare Stadium this week is bound to help. “We were away, so we didn’t have the home advantage this time so it kinda brought people down just seeing the crowd cheer for other people on the other team,” Fairweather said. “But we’re back at home this week, so we’re going to be good and we’re going to bring the intensity.” But that’s only a temporary fix to a problem that can quickly snowball out of control – much like it did in Baton Rouge – and cause long-term side effects. “You don’t want to have to — every time you lose a game — ask what we’re going to do to finish the year,” Freeze said. “Hopefully, we have enough players that lead well enough that we see another opportunity to represent each other and our university and another step toward hopefully getting better as program, but how we prepare this week will show on Saturday. It always does, and that will be the message.” 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 safety Jaylin Simpson named first-team AP midseason All-American Published: Oct. 18, 2023, 1:15 p.m. ~2 minutes Auburn safety Jaylin Simpson carries the football after an interception against Samford on Sept. 16, 2023, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn.(AP Photo/Butch Dill) Auburn safety Jaylin Simpson was named to the Associated Press midseason first-team All-American group after his ball-hawking play on the back end of Auburn’s defense to begin the 2023 season. Simpson is tied for fourth in the nation with four interceptions, one behind the national lead. He very nearly got another interception during the first half against LSU as he got his hands on a ball that wound up being tipped into the air and was picked off by cornerback D.J. James. Auburn’s defense has been the team’s strength in what’s thus far been a topsy-turvy season, and Simpson has been its best player. He was one of five fifth-year players selected to the first team. Simpson was the only Auburn player selected to the midseason group. He is working his way back to full health, head coach Hugh Freeze said during a press conference Monday, but played against LSU at less than 100%. Auburn will host Ole Miss at 6 p.m. Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com

l.com Auburn opens competition at RT; is dealing with health concerns along O-Line Updated: Oct. 18, 2023, 1:25 p.m.|Published: Oct. 18, 2023, 1:08 p.m. 3–4 minutes Auburn Football Auburn’s Hugh Freeze talks ‘open competition’ at RT; says offensive line’s health ‘isn’t great’ Hugh Freeze addresses the media Monday morning on Auburn’s loss to LSU; previews game vs. Ole Miss The Auburn Tigers might be shaking things up along the offensive line, head coach Hugh Freeze revealed Wednesday morning during the SEC Coaches’ Teleconference. Jaden Muskrat, a junior Tulsa transfer, appeared at right tackle in Auburn’s game against LSU last Saturday in an effort that pleased Freeze. “Thought he played really well and finished the game well,” Freeze said of Muskrat. “I will say they had some backups in towards the end of the game and sometimes that makes a difference, but I thought he did really well.” Muskrat entered the game to relieve JUCO product Izavion ‘Too Tall’ Miller, who has been a staple along the Auburn offensive line all season. When asked who on the offensive line stood out during fall camp, Freeze was always quick to drop Miller’s name. “His body has changed since he got here, and he’s stood out all camp,” Freeze said in August. “We can’t keep him off the field. He’s going to have to play.” However, the 6-foot-5, 318-pound offensive linemen has seemingly struggled with his transition into the SEC, which is indicated by his 57.8 offensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Miller’s grade ranks 389th out of the 594 total offensive tackles studied by PFF. After Muskrat impressed in Baton Rouge, Freeze says there’s been a lot of eyes locked on the right tackle position this week. “This week, we’re kinda having an open competition there for (Muskrat) and Too Tall,” Freeze said. Muskrat arrived on The Plains in May, joining offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery and fellow offensive lineman Dillon Wade from Tulsa. During his time at Auburn, Muskrat has been highly regarded for his versatility, which Freeze again mentioned Wednesday. “He’s getting reps – probably too many in practice right now – at different spots,” Freeze said. And whether it’s at right tackle or somewhere else along the offensive line, Auburn will need both Miller and Muskrat available, Freeze said, adding that both first-year Tigers will see time on Saturday as Auburn hosts No. 13 Ole Miss. “It’s not great,” Freeze said when asked about the offensive line’s health. ”We’ve got two that we’ve kinda had to sit out this week for practice in hopes they can play, which is never a good thing. I mean, they’re out there, but they can’t really get good work in. “I’m sure everybody has got some of that going on, but we’re thin at a lot of places and I think it is affecting the way we practice some and I think that shows up some on Saturday’s, unfortunately.” 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.