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uburn-Georgia is a rivalry game, coach. You don’t have to handle it with such care. Updated: Sep. 29, 2023, 8:34 a.m.|Published: Sep. 29, 2023, 6:00 a.m. 8–9 minutes If my great-grandmother were still here on earth, she might have a page in her playbook to offer to Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze this week. And if Freeze were smart, he’d at least hear her out. No, my nannie wouldn’t have the answers to Auburn’s quarterback situation or how the Tigers could put their best foot forward against the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday. However, thanks to one fall Saturday sometime in the 1940s, my nannie learned quick that when you’re trying to win over someone who doesn’t care for the Georgia Bulldogs, it might be in your best interest to at least act like you don’t like them either. My nannie was a native of Norfolk, Va., but eventually found herself courting a gentleman from north central Florida after she and her family moved to the area. Story goes, she dove into the lake headfirst and broke her neck when she hit the bottom. Diving in after her was my great-grandaddy and allegedly the rest was history. But one important chapter of their story was a trip to Jacksonville for the annual Florida-Georgia (or Georgia-Florida, depending on who you ask) rivalry game. It was one of their first dates and considering it required my great-grandaddy taking my nannie beyond the county line, it was a pretty big deal. Though things were seemingly becoming serious between the two, the budding romance nearly came to a screeching halt when my nannie waltzed out of her house that Saturday wearing a black skirt and red blouse — not because she was a Georgia fan, but because she didn’t know any better and that’s what her closet gave her. My great-grandaddy tried his hardest to stay cool, but eventually made a pitstop at one of the roadside t-shirt stands on the way to up to Jacksonville, picked her up a Florida Gators t-shirt that was surely tacky looking and politely asked if she would mind changing. A trooper she was, so she obliged. I couldn’t tell you what year that was exactly, but considering Florida won just two games against Georgia that decade, the likelihood that the Gators won the game that day are slim to none. But my great-grandaddy still came home a winner as his willing date went on to become his wife of more than 50 years shortly thereafter. And that’s where Freeze’s lesson is to be learned: If you want a relationship to last, you sometimes have to have bit of a herd mentality – especially when the relationship is in the beginning stages and especially when it has to do with disliking the Georgia Bulldogs. When asked about this weekend’s rivalry matchup against Georgia during his press conference Monday, Freeze had an interesting response. “I’m new here, but I don’t sense the hatred that is in some other rivalries that I’ve been a part of,” Freeze said. And at first, there might’ve been some truth to that. For the better part of a 42-year span from 1916 to 1958, the game was held in Columbus, Ga. And it was there in 1920 that Georgia fought its way to a 7-0 win to give Auburn its first loss of the season. After the game, Georgia fans paraded and partied into the night. The kicker? Auburn fans joined them. “The most interesting feature of an Auburn-Georgia game is the splendid friendly relations between the two colleges,” The Columbus Ledger claimed after the fact. “If Auburn had to lose a game of football, no worthier victor would be picked than the Red and Black team.” It wasn’t 40 years later that the two program’s attitudes of one another changed. In the 1956 edition of the rivalry, a pair of Auburn defenders sacked Georgia quarterback and star pitcher Billy Hearn, causing him to suffer a separated shoulder. The Tigers intercepted a pass from the arm of Georgia’s backup on the ensuing play and a skirmish broke out at the line of scrimmage. Sidelines cleared and the brawl continued until the Auburn band began playing the national anthem, which resulted in both teams retuning to their respective sidelines out of respect for their country. And while Douglas Stutsman, author of the book “The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry Auburn vs. Georgia” says the 1956 matchup remains the “most violent”, there’s still been a handful of spats between the two programs since. In 1971 Auburn visited Athens for another matchup of unbeatens and students at Georgia were sure to remind the Tigers they were in enemy territory as members of Georgia fraternities rang bells and beat on the doors of the rooms the Auburn football team was sleeping in that night. Fans went on to rock the team busses the day of the game and later damaged the police car used to escort the Tigers back to Auburn. More: Cam Newton, Bo Jackson, 10 other great Auburn performances vs. Georgia Then you’ve got the 1986 game in Jordan-Hare Stadium, where the Bulldogs upset the Tigers 20-16, leading to Georgia fans rushing the field and some ripping away at the Auburn logo at midfield. In an effort to disperse the celebrating fans, Paul Conner — who was hired by Auburn coach Pat Dye to redesign Auburn’s field — was instructed to open the sprinkler valves, dousing Georgia fans on a chilly November evening. In a case of irony, Conner was set to speak at turf conference at the University of Georgia the following Monday. When he asked Dye if he should follow through with the obligation after what had transpired days before, Dye ripped off a zinger that few have forgotten. “Tell those Georgia students that dogs need a bath once in a while anyways,” Dye responded. Now, compare a comment like that to the ones Freeze made on Monday. To play devil’s advocate, Freeze is new here. And he likely doesn’t want to pretend that he knows what it’s like to be an Auburn fan that dislikes Georgia. Again, that’s where that herd mentality has gotta come into play. But instead of taking a page out of my nannie’s playbook on Monday, he nearly took a line out of The Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love”. “I’m not big on hate,” Freeze said Monday. “I’m really not. I’m big on just, man, this means something to so many people. So we should compete in a way out of love for our people, not necessarily for hate for other people.” “That’s kind of the way I operate, but man, I hope we compete because we love Auburn and it means something to the Auburn people to compete against Georgia. So that’ll be my approach. But nonetheless, that love is a great motivator for me.” All that’s awfully noble of Freeze to say, but if he thinks his players or fanbase will approach it the same way, he’s mistaken. Auburn tight end Luke Deal and safety Zion Puckett are two veteran guys on the Tigers’ roster and have both lined up in this rivalry a handful of times. And when they learned of Freeze’s comments Monday, they both said something in the vein of “he’s about to find out”. The ask isn’t to disrespect Georgia, but disliking Georgia? That’s a sport in itself at Auburn. And I don’t say that because I know what it’s like to be an Auburn fan and dislike Georgia. Instead, I say that as the great-granddaughter of an ol’ Florida boy who passed down his thoughts on the matter — first to his future wife and then down every branch of the family tree since. All that said, I’m well aware that each rivalry in the SEC is very different and independent from one another and mean a ton to the respective programs and fanbases. And one thing is for certain: If Freeze uses similar comments leading up to the other big rivalry game Auburn plays in the weekend after Thanksgiving? Whew, buddy. 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.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Tale of the Tape: Auburn vs Georgia Brian Hauch 5–7 minutes The top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs travel onto the Plains this week to take on the 3-1 Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. UGA comes in as the consensus #1 team in the nation, led by a tough-nosed defense and sparkling offensive attack. The Dawgs are coming off a 49-21 thumping over UAB last week, although they did give up their most points of the season (21) in the win. Buy Tigers Tickets Conversely, the Tigers played their worst game of the season last week, losing at Texas A&M 27-10. Auburn’s offense is in a state of flux, and that is not good heading into a matchup with a UGA defense that produces NFL first-round talent on a yearly basis. These two factors are probably why Auburn is a 14.5-point home underdog on Saturday according to BetMGM. ESPN’s FPI doesn’t like the home team’s chances either, as the Football Power Index gives Auburn an 18.1% chance to upset the Bulldogs. Will a deeper dive into the tale of the tape show Auburn has a higher chance of shocking the college football world than the experts believe? As always, we’ll start by looking at the quarterbacks. Georgia came into the season with a major question mark at the quarterback position. Kirby Smart and Co. were tasked with finding a replacement for Stetson Bennett, and they eventually landed on junior Carson Beck. The Jacksonville, FL native has done well so far for the Dawgs, taking over the game manager role that helped his predecessor win two national championships. Beck’s numbers through four games are actually eerily similar to Bennett’s numbers through four weeks in 2022. At the week 5 mark last year, Stetson Bennett had thrown for 1,224 yards, rushed for 44 more, and scored 9 total touchdowns (5 passing, 4 rushing). At the week 5 mark this year, Carson Beck has thrown for 1,184 yards, rushed for 38 yards, and scored 8 total touchdowns (6 passing, 2 rushing). Perhaps most importantly, Beck has only turned the ball over one time. On the other side, Auburn starter Payton Thorne has had a troubled start to the season. The Michigan State transfer ended up with only 44 passing yards in last week’s losing effort in College Station, pushing his season total to a mediocre 561 yards in four games. In two games against Power 5 opponents, Thorne has collected just 138 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Michigan State transfer has been able to find the end zone this frequently this year (6 total touchdowns) but his 4 turnovers in 4 games are alarming. The clear edge in quarterback play goes to Carson Beck and the UGA Bulldogs. The skill position battle is almost as lopsided as the quarterback comparison. Not only is UGA loaded at running back and receiver, but their best player on the offensive side of the ball is their tight end, Brock Bowers. Standing at 6 4″ tall and 240 pounds, Bowers is coming off a dominant year in which he racked up over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns in 15 games. Bowers is picking up right where he left off so far this season, as the junior already has 260 yards and 3 touchdowns. While Auburn wide receiver jay fair has had himself a decent year and Georgia’s wide receiving core is nothing to scoff at, Bowers is clearly the best pass catcher in this game. Georgia gets the advantage in the running back room as well. Auburn’s top option, Jarquez Hunter, has struggled this year due to minor injuries, a suspension, and inconsistent o-line play. His backup, Damari Altson, was injured in the Texas A&M game and is unlikely to play this week. Third-stringer Brian Battie was arguably the Tiger’s best offensive player after Alston went down last week, but his youth and inexperience make him too hard to judge just yet. Georgia’s running backs are also dealing with some injuries, but they still get the edge because of their experience in big games. UGA’s top two rushers, Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton, are both seniors who were on the team for both of the Bulldogs championship runs. Georgia’s talent and experience give them the edge over Auburn in every facet of the offensive game. That is the case on the other side of the ball as well, although Georgia’s advantage is smaller. The Auburn defense was the only thing that kept the Tigers afloat on the road last week, as the unit scored the team’s lone touchdown and kept Auburn in the game for three and a half quarters despite the offense failing to do much of anything. Auburn’s defense has held opponents to just 16 PPG and 298.5 YPG this year. The 16 PPG is tied for 22nd in the nation, and the 298.5 YPG is tied for 24th. Auburn’s defensive unit is also ranked 6th in the nation in defensive efficiency by ESPN FPI. These numbers are all great. The only issue is that UGA’s are better. The Dawgs are giving up 11.25 PPG and 282 YPG, good for 10th and 17th in the nation, respectively. Auburn may have the best player on the defensive side of the ball in Eugene Asante, but Georgia is just a little bit better as a whole. This game is probably going to be about as close as the experts believe, with UGA possibly blowing out Auburn early in this game. The fact is, Auburn’s just not on the same talent level as the Bulldogs right now. With that being said, the Tigers could still win this game, but it would take an amazing effort by the defense and a monster bounce-back performance by Payton Thorne. We’ll see if the Tigers can shock the world when things kick off at Jordan-Hare at 2:30 PM CST on Saturday.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Local WR Daylyn Upshaw to visit Auburn for Georgia game JD McCarthy ~2 minutes The Auburn Tigers are set to host numerous recruits this weekend when they host the Georgia Bulldogs in the 127th edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. One of the recruits is wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw who will be making the short drive from Phenix City down to the Plains. Upshaw has taken numerous visits to Auburn since wide receivers coach Marcus Davis offered him a scholarship back in March. They were the second program to extend him an offer, behind only Texas, since then FSU, Penn State and several other programs have followed suit. Buy Tigers Tickets Despite an impressive offer list, he is a three-star prospect and the No. 84 wide receiver and No. 24 player from Alabama in the 247Sports composite ranking. Upshaw has had a strong start to the season for Central-Phenix City, emerging as their No. 2 wideout behind five-star Cam Coleman, a major Auburn target in the 2024 cycle. Upshaw has caught 19 passes for 409 yards and five touchdowns in their first five games. 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

Hugh Freeze jokes he’ll have a heart attack if Auburn doesn’t run more RPO plays Published: Sep. 29, 2023, 7:30 a.m. 5–6 minutes Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze reacts after a call during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Samford, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)AP The look on Freeze’s face went viral. He was sitting at his podium for his Monday press conference. There, he was asked about Georiga head coach Kirby Smart quickly building his program, and if he could do the same at Auburn. At first, Freeze said he didn’t know exactly how long it took to get Georgia to the level it is at now, with three championship appearances since 2017 and two trophies. He assumed it must have taken Smart three or four years. “They were in the national championship his second year,” the reporter said, off to Freeze’s right. Freeze turns to look at him. A look of bewilderment on his face. “His second year,” Freeze said. “I don’t know if that’s accurate.” Except, it is accurate. And that was pointed out to Freeze. “He did it pretty quickly then,” Freeze responded. “That’s even more impressive.” Maybe that look of surprise comes from knowing it’s not going to happen that quickly at Auburn. Freeze has already talked about waiting until his third or fourth year to truly compete. These situations are different, Auburn and Georgia. But as Freeze prepares for his first time in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium against a program he’s called the gold standard of college football right now, Freeze’s interests are being pulled multiple different ways. He’s in a battle to rebuild, to keep those he already has happy and do so with a clock ticking over him. Step one of this rebuild comes from installing his system. That hasn’t worked so far. Freeze is offensive-minded and he reached a head coaching job in the nation’s best college football conference by using his run-pass-option offensive scheme. But against Texas A&M — Auburn’s worst performance of the season — Auburn didn’t run a single RPO play. Freeze hired Philip Montgomery away from a head coaching job in Tulsa to be Auburn’s offensive coordinator. The idea was to hire someone who could call plays to allow Freeze to focus on the many facets it takes to build a program. Freeze has said for months that it has been difficult to give up playcalling. But when it’s gotten this bad, Freeze can’t take it anymore. “If we don’t see more RPO plays, I’m going to have a heart attack,” Freeze said Thursday on his weekly Tiger Talk radio appearance. So he’s focused more on the offense this week. Focused more on working with Montgomery and more time with quarterback Payton Thorne. But putting this attention into the offense now — exactly what Freeze said he didn’t want to do — prevents him from looking at step two. Step two is recruiting. It is recruiting high school players and those out of the transfer portal. It is getting the type of 4-star and 5-star recruits Auburn has already begun to land, highlighted by 5-star wide receiver Perry Thompson and an overall 2024 recruiting class ranked in the top 20 nationally. On Tiger Talk, Freeze said he expects to have around 70 high school recruits at the game against Georgia. Every second he spends focusing on Montgomery and play-calling is time he can’t spend with Auburn’s future. And that is step three: weighing the balance of a fanbase hungry to win now with his long-term plan. “The wins will come, I believe that firmly, but whatever people’s patience level is -- I can’t control that,” Freeze said Monday. “I can’t worry about it, and I don’t worry about it. I worry about the people in this building and this organization. I worry about our fans, too, but I can’t control their patience level.” Freeze has been candidly talking about Auburn’s talent gap. He’s been candidly talking about the work it takes to fix that — his plan to truly compete with the elite SEC teams will take another three to four years. He’s received questions about whether to proverbially wave the white flag by looking as far as starting Holden Geriner to build for the future. But giving Geriner the meaningful snaps he lacks in a game against Georgia doesn’t make much sense and Freeze must balance the message he’s sending to the team he already has — many of whom won’t be here when Auburn is at the level Freeze wants. “I think it’s kind of ridiculous that those are already discussions in and around our kids,” Freeze said. “I do. But it’s not something we worry about. But they should expect us to improve.” It will start with calling more RPO plays.

waka.com Auburn hopes for upset in hosting No. 1 Georgia in Deep South's Oldest Football Rivalry - WAKA 8 WAKA Action 8 News, 3–4 minutes Posted: Sep 29, 2023 5:27 PM CDT by WAKA Action 8 News Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze thanks the fans after an NCAA college football game against Samford, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Auburn is seeking to show progress under first-year coach Hugh Freeze and beat the Bulldogs for the first time in seven years when the Tigers host Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. Georgia faces its first road test after starting the season with four straight home games. The Bulldogs will be looking for a faster start offensively after outscoring their opponents only 17-7 in the opening quarter. KEY MATCHUP Auburn quarterback vs. Georgia defensive front. The Tigers have struggled mightily on offense, and they went through three quarterbacks — Payton Thorne, Robby Ashford and Holden Geriner — in last week’s ugly 27-10 loss at Texas A&M. Auburn threw for a total of 56 yards in the game, completing just 9 of 26 passes while giving up seven sacks. That doesn’t bode well against one of the nation’s best defenses. The Bulldogs are allowing just 11.3 points a game and will surely bring all kinds of pressure in hopes of disrupting whoever is taking the snaps. PLAYERS TO WATCH Georgia: QB Carson Beck will be making the first road start of his career. The fourth-year player has been solid so far playing in front of the home folks, completing nearly 73% of his passes for 1,184 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. But he has largely faced lesser opposition, so it will be interesting to see how he fares in a hostile environment. Auburn: RB Jarquez Hunter remains the most proven player on the Tigers offense, even if he has only a modest 143 yards and one touchdown in the three games he has played in. With backup Damari Alston (shoulder) out, Hunter could shoulder more of a load — along with Brian Battie, Jeremiah Cobb and athletic QB Ashford. FACTS & FIGURES Georgia has dominated the Deep South’s oldest rivalry in recent year with six straight victories, outscoring the Tigers 179-57. … Auburn has failed to score more than 14 points in a game since its last victory over Georgia, a 40-17 triumph late in the 2017 regular season. … The Bulldogs have been No. 1 in The Associated Press poll since claiming the top spot Oct. 16, 2022. … Georgia has a school-record 21-game winning streak. … Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart set a new SEC record for most victories through his first 100 career games, improving to 85-15 with last week’s win over UAB. … Auburn has forced a league-high eight turnovers through four games with a pair of defensive scores. Series record: Georgia leads 63-56-8. The game is at 2:30PM CT on WAKA Action 8. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

theplainsman.com Players to watch, keys to victory against Georgia 5–7 minutes The Auburn Tigers return home this week to face the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs in the 128th game of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. The Tigers will face the Bulldogs in their second conference game of the season after losing the conference opener to Texas A&M 27-10. Georgia has won nine of its last 10 matchups against Auburn and is riding a six-game winning streak against the Tigers. Auburn’s most recent victory over Georgia was a 40-17 home win in 2017. Auburn faces an uphill battle against a dominant Georgia team led by Kirby Smart. While the Bulldog offense has had some slow starts in games of the season, scoring a combined 17 points in the first quarter of the first four games of its season, Georgia’s defense has looked steady. The Bulldog defense is allowing 11.3 points per game and leads the SEC with seven interceptions. “(Georgia) is one of the gold standards in college football right now,” said Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze. “They’re well coached. You’ve gotta give them credit. I know it’s a rivalry game, but the truth is the truth.” Players to Watch: Georgia Bulldogs: Carson Beck (QB) Beck will be making the first road start of his career at Jordan-Hare Stadium and will be tested by the Tigers’ secondary. Last Saturday against UAB, Beck had four total touchdowns while totaling a career-high 338 passing yards in the Bulldogs’ victory over the Blazers. Daijun Edwards (RB) Edwards has been the leader of Georgia’s run game this season and will be key to alleviating some of the pressure Beck will face in his first road start against a solid Auburn secondary. Totaling 118 yards and one touchdown in the Bulldogs’ win over South Carolina and 66 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s win over UAB, Edwards led Georgia in rushing yards in the team’s two previous matchups. Auburn Tigers: Brian Battie (RB) Even with a poor team offensive performance in its loss to Texas A&M, Battie totaled a season-high 59 yards rushing on eight carries. He also added 23 yards receiving to his offensive performance on two catches. Battie, who is averaging 5.3 yards per carry this season, will need to look for open space on Saturday to allow the Auburn offense to get into a rhythm comfortable enough to pass the ball. Nehemiah Pritchett (CB) Plagued by injuries early in the season, Pritchett made his season debut against Texas A&M for the Tigers. The star cornerback will be key to putting pressure on Beck’s passing game. Pritchett, and the Tigers’ secondary, has a chance to keep the game close for Auburn. Payton Thorne (QB) Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Auburn Plainsman delivered to your inbox Thorne looked shaky in his conference debut against the Aggies, going 6-for-12 and totaling 44 yards. If the Tigers want to boast a solid offense, Thorne will need to find some confidence in the pocket. Look for Thorne to attempt to find an offensive rhythm on Saturday. Keys to Victory: Georgia Bulldogs The key for Georgia on offense so far this season has been slow and steady wins the race. Expect something similar on Saturday. While it may take awhile for the Georgia offense to get some points on the board, it is still averaging 41.5 points per game and will be facing the SEC’s second-worst run defense. Look for Beck to build confidence on the road, utilizing Edwards and tight end Brock Bowers in the run game. If Georgia can get things going on the ground, its offense should fall into place, and Beck will have the opportunity to use his wide receivers. Overall, Georgia’s offense will continue to play a steady game and look to excel the Bulldogs to victory. Auburn Tigers: To upset the No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs, the Tigers are going to have to play clean, limiting penalties and turnovers. Against the Aggies, the Tigers managed zero turnovers but still totaled 10 penalties. Auburn will have to limit its penalties if it wants to defeat Georgia. Look for the Auburn defense to keep the Tigers in the game. Early on in its matchups, Georgia has struggled to get its offense rolling, and if Auburn’s defense can prevent the Bulldog offense from finding its groove, the Tigers should be able to keep the game close. Expect Pritchett and Auburn’s secondary to try to shut down Beck’s passing game and prevent the Bulldog offense from getting the gears wound up. Auburn will play the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised on CBS. Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman. Grace Heim | Sports Reporter Grace Heim is a sophomore from Enterprise, Alabama majoring in English Literature. She started with The Plainsman in January 2023.

247sports.com Just how wide is the talent gap between Auburn and Georgia Nathan King 9–11 minutes Hugh Freeze talks a lot about the 'talent gap' between Auburn and its biggest rivals. Just how wide is that recruiting difference against the No. 1 team in the country right now? Since taking over as Auburn's coach, one of Hugh Freeze's buzzwords has been "talent gap." There is, of course, a sizable discrepancy between how some of the Tigers' biggest rivals are recruiting, and the level at which Auburn believes it can recruit as a program. Auburn's current three-game stretch against Texas A&M, Georgia and LSU features a stark difference in recent recruiting success. Those teams are consistently in the top 5 nationally and have been "stacking," as Freeze said, some of the best high-school talent in the country for years. Auburn hasn't had consecutive recruiting classes rank in the top 10 since 2016-17. And Freeze knows in order to shorten the talent differential between his program and teams like No. 1 Georgia, which comes to town Saturday in the 128th edition of the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry, establishing a higher baseline talent level is the only way to get Auburn back competing for SEC championships. "I would hope by Year 3, we're competing with anybody that's considered elite," Freeze said Thursday of his five-year plan at Auburn. "... We need three or four top-10 classes in the row, just like everyone else is having." Even with the recruiting pitfalls that came with the Bryan Harsin regime before Freeze, Auburn is still No. 18 in the 247Sports talent composite this year — a measure of every team's scholarship players and how they were rated as high-school prospects or transfers. Alabama is No. 1, with Georgia right behind. Texas A&M is No. 4, and LSU is No. 7. Auburn appears to be on the right track in improving its talent moving forward, currently with a top-15 recruiting class for 2024 that already includes four top-100 overall players. But just wide is that talent gap Freeze refers to with his Year 1 team? Georgia, which hasn't had a single recruiting class rank outside the top 3 nationally since Kirby Smart took over, will obviously be the steepest comparison Auburn could make in 2023. Here's a look at how the Tigers' talent compares, position by position, in Saturday's game. Transfers are given their high-school rating. All figures are via the 247Sports Composite. Auburn players will be bolded to attempt to help visualize where they stand at every position. QUARTERBACK Brock Vandagriff (UGA): .9908, 5-star Gunner Stockton (UGA): .9506, 4-star Holden Geriner (AUB): .9065, 4-star Carson Beck (UGA): .9025, 4-star Robby Ashford (AUB): .9006, 4-star Payton Thorne (AUB): .8544, 3-star Hank Brown (AUB): .8439, 3-star ‌ RUNNING BACK Kendall Milton (UGA): .9738, 4-star Branson Robinson (UGA): .9729, 4-star Jeremiah Cobb (AUB): .9326, 4-star Roderick Robinson (UGA): .9248, 4-star Len’Neth Whitehead (UGA): .9187, 4-star Daijun Edwards (UGA): .9023, 4-star Damari Alston (AUB): .8995, 4-star Andrew Paul (UGA): .8826, 3-star Jarquez Hunter (AUB): .8647, 3-star Brian Battie (AUB): .8306, 3-star ‌ WIDE RECEIVER Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (UGA): .9734, 4-star Arian Smith (UGA): .9722, 4-star Tyler Williams (UGA): .9572, 4-star Caleb Burton (AUB): .9465, 4-star Zeed Haynes (UGA): .9238, 4-star Anthony Evans III (UGA): .9214, 4-star Malcolm Johnson Jr. (AUB): .9186, 4-star C.J. Smith (UGA): .9135, 4-star De’Nylon Morissette (UGA): .9131, 4-star Koy Moore (AUB): .8996, 4-star Dominic Lovett (UGA): .8986, 4-star Omari Kelly (AUB): .8967, 4-star Ja’Varrius Johnson (AUB): .8918, 4-star Camden Brown (AUB): .8889, 3-star Jay Fair (AUB): .8785, 3-star Dillon Bell (UGA): .8870, 3-star Cole Speer (UGA): .8722, 3-star Jackson Meeks (UGA): .8715, 3-star Rara Thomas (UGA): .8663, 3-star Ladd McConkey (UGA): .8485, 3-star Jyaire Shorter (AUB): .8164, 3-star Shane Hooks (AUB): .8054, 3-star Nick Mardner (AUB): .7798, 2-star ‌ TIGHT END Pearce Spurlin III (UGA): .9652, 4-star Oscar Delp (UGA): .9577, 4-star Brock Bowers (UGA): .9531, 4-star Lawson Luckie (UGA): .9394, 4-star Brandon Frazier (AUB): .8934, 4-star Micah Riley (AUB): .8922, 4-star Tyler Fromm (AUB): .8882, 3-star Luke Deal (AUB): .8676, 3-star Rivaldo Fairweather (AUB): .8093, 3-star ‌ OFFENSIVE LINE Amarius Mims (UGA). 9956, 5-star Monroe Freeling (UGA): .9865, 5-star Tate Ratledge (UGA): .9821, 4-star Earnest Greene (UGA): .9805, 4-star Sedrick Van Pran (UGA): .9716, 4-star Micah Morris (UGA): .9698, 4-star Dylan Fairchild (UGA): .9582, 4-star Bo Hughley (UGA): .9477, 4-star Chad Lindberg (UGA): .9366, 4-star Kelton Smith (UGA): .9209, 4-star Xavier Truss (UGA): .9158, 4-star Avery Jones (AUB): .9026, 4-star E.J. Harris (AUB): .9008, 4-star Aliou Bah (UGA): .8971, 4-star Connor Lew (AUB): .8903, 4-star Clay Wedin (AUB): .8891, 3-star Jamal Meriweather (UGA): .8879, 3-star Izavion Miller (AUB): .8886, 3-star Jared Wilson (UGA): .8856, 3-star Braydn Joiner (AUB): .8854, 3-star Tyler Johnson (AUB): .8808, 3-star Jalil Irvin (AUB): .8804, 3-star Tate Johnson (AUB): .8784, 3-star Joshua Miller (UGA): .8778, 3-star Austin Blaske (UGA): .8759, 3-star Drew Bobo (UGA): .8748, 3-star Kam Stutts (AUB): .8735, 3-star Jeremiah Wright (AUB): .8676, 3-star Dillon Wade (AUB): .8053, 3-star Jaden Muskrat (AUB): .7935, 2-star Gunner Britton (AUB): .7863, 2-star ‌ DEFENSIVE LINE Mykel Williams (UGA): .9958, 5-star Jordan Hall (UGA): .9838, 5-star Justin Rogers (AUB): .9744, 4-star Keldric Faulk (AUB): .9655, 4-star Zykeivous Walker (AUB): .9649, 4-star Christen Miller (UGA): .9560, 4-star Jonathan Jefferson (UGA): .9407, 4-star Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (UGA): .9256, 4-star Jamaal Jarrett (UGA): .9297, 4-star Darron Reed Jr. (AUB): .9267, 4-star Nazir Stackhouse (UGA): .9097, 4-star Zion Logue (UGA): .8979, 4-star Warren Brinson (UGA): .8977, 4-star C.J. Madden (UGA): 8973, 4-star Jayson Jones (AUB): .8964, 4-star Wilky Denaud (AUB): .8925, 4-star Quientrail Jamison-Travis (AUB): .8681, 3-star Enyce Sledge (AUB): .8652, 3-star Tramel Walthour (UGA): .8622, 3-star Stephen Johnson (AUB): .8492, 3-star Mosiah Nasili-Kite (AUB): .8485, 3-star Lawrence Johnson (AUB): .8367, 3-star Marcus Harris (AUB): .8204, 3-star ‌ EDGE/OUTSIDE LINEBACKER Damon Wilson Jr. (UGA): .9900, 5-star Marvin Jones Jr. (UGA): .9887, 5-star Samuel M’Pemba (UGA): .9770, 4-star Gabe Harris (UGA): .9691, 4-star Darris Smith (UGA): .9352, 4-star Chaz Chambliss (UGA): .8914, 3-star Brenton Williams (AUB): .8717, 3-star Elijah McAllister (AUB): .8642, 3-star Stephen Sings V (AUB): .8593, 3-star Jalen McLeod (AUB): .8336, 3-star ‌ INSIDE LINEBACKER Xavian Sorey (UGA): .9864, 5-star Jalon Walker (UGA): .9803, 4-star C.J. Allen (UGA): .9671, 4-star Wesley Steiner (AUB): 9558, 4-star Robert Woodyard (AUB): .9428, 4-star Jamon Dumas-Johnson (AUB): .9215, 4-star Eugene Asante (AUB): .9031, 4-star Cam Riley (AUB): .8976, 4-star E.J. Lightsey (UGA): .8848, 3-star Austin Keys (AUB): .8663, 3-star Larry Nixon III (AUB): .7964, 2-star ‌ CORNERBACK Daylen Everette (UGA): .9874, 5-star A.J. Harris (UGA): .9832, 4-star Nyland Green (UGA): .9682, 4-star Julian Humphrey (UGA): .9655, 4-star Kayin Lee (AUB): .9386, 4-star Daniel Harris (UGA): .9347, 4-star J.D. Rhym (AUB): .9286, 4-star Chris Peal (UGA): .9274, 4-star Kamari Lassiter (UGA): .9137, 4-star Colton Hood (AUB): .8963, 4-star Justyn Rhett (UGA): .8963, 4-star Nehemiah Pritchet (AUB): .8809, 3-star JC Hart (AUB): .8761, 3-star D.J. James (AUB): .8726, 3-star ‌ SAFETY/NICKEL Malaki Starks (UGA): .9905, 5-star Joenel Aguero (UGA): .9842, 5-star David Daniel-Sisavanh (UGA): .9583, 4-star Zion Puckett (AUB): .9420, 4-star Austin Ausberry (AUB): .9275, 4-star Sylvester Smith (AUB): .9156, 4-star Terrance Love (AUB): .9081, 4-star Tyler Scott (AUB): .9001, 4-star Keionte Scott (AUB): .9000, 4-star JaCorey Thomas (UGA): .9000, 4-star Jaylin Simpson (AUB): .8958, 4-star Marquise Gilbert (AUB): .8867, 3-star Donovan Kaufman (AUB): .8860, 3-star Tykee Smith (UGA): .8833, 3-star C.J. Johnson (AUB): .8786, 3-star Kyron Jones (UGA): .8772, 3-star Javon Bullard (UGA): .8726, 3-star Caleb Wooden (AUB): .8717, 3-star Champ Anthony (AUB): .8678, 3-star ‌ SPECIALIST Alex McPherson (AUB): .8378, 3-star Peyton Woodring (UGA): .8333, 3-star Brett Thorson (UGA): .8293, 3-star ‌ OVERVIEW Average Georgia QB recruit: .9479 Average Auburn QB recruit: .8763 -- Average Georgia RB recruit: .9291 Average Auburn RB recruit: .9122 -- Average Georgia WR recruit: .9091 Average Auburn WR recruit: .8722 -- Average Georgia TE recruit: .9531 Average Auburn TE recruit: .8701 -- Average Georgia OL recruit: .9332 Average Auburn OL recruit: .8629 -- Average Georgia DL recruit: .9269 Average Auburn DL recruit: .8924 -- Average Georgia EDGE recruit: .9586 Average Auburn EDGE recruit: .8572 -- Average Georgia LB recruit: .9547 Average Auburn LB recruit: .8976 -- Average Georgia CB recruit: .9471 Auburn Auburn CB recruit: .8989 -- Average Georgia S recruit: .9237 Average Auburn S recruit: .8983 --

glad to help salty!

l.com Baker WR Bryce Cain on Auburn: 'The vibe is just different' Published: Sep. 27, 2023, 1:13 p.m. 4–5 minutes Sports Baker coach Steve Normand ‘had no clue’ how good Auburn commit Bryce Cain could be Baker’s Bryce Cain dives for extra yardage during a preps football game, Friday, September 22, 2023, in Mobile, Ala. Cain and the Hornets host 4-1 Dothan on Friday. (Scott Donaldson/al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com Baker head coach Steve Normand was thrilled when baseball standout Bryce Cain decided to try football for the first time the spring before his junior year. But even Normand didn’t know the potential Cain possessed. “I had no clue he would be an SEC kid,” Normand said this week. “But you can’t coach speed. He’s that fast, and that’s what separates him from other guys.” Normand has said Cain runs a legit 4.3 or 4.4. Cain committed to Auburn in June and his continued improvement this season has helped Baker rise to No. 9 in the state in Class 7A and remain undefeated at 5-0. The Hornets host No. 7 Dothan on Friday in Mobile. RELATED: 5 Coastal games to watch in Week 6 RELATED: AL.com Power 25 rankings “It’s a testament to him,” Normand said. “Bryce had to work hard to get to the point where he knew the offense and could play in the offense.” Normand has joked repeatedly that Cain’s first days on the Baker football team weren’t pretty. Cain admits as much. “I was pretty much catching balls with my head, dropping most passes, but I kept working and working to try to get to where I am now,” he said. Baker dual-threat quarterback and Mississippi State commit Josh Flowers said Cain’s progress has been impressive. “He’s way better,” Flowers said. “I don’t know if any second-year player has had the type of growth he has had from one year to the next. It’s been amazing.” The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Cain caught 26 passes for 497 yards and 5 TDs a year ago in his first year of football. Through five games in his senior year, he already has 21 receptions for 554 yards and 9 TDs. “Coming in my junior year, I really never thought I would get to this point,” Cain said. “I worked my butt off to get here.” Cain has worked himself into a 4-star receiver with college offers from around the nation. He’s ranked the 25th best senior prospect in the state according to 247 Sports. On3 has him ranked No. 11. Not bad for a “baseball player” who had never played football at any age two years ago. “Coach Cal (Chase Calcagni), our offensive coordinator, called me off the basketball field and asked me if I wanted to play football,” Cain said. “I did, but the only thing was we had to bribe my mom into it. She didn’t want me to play football, but she finally let me.” Seventeen months later, Cain now considers himself more of a football guy, than a baseball guy. “I didn’t ever think that would happen,” he said. Cain does plan to play his final year of baseball for the Hornets this spring before heading to Auburn. “I feel really good about Auburn,” he said. “I think I’m 100 percent committed. The vibe there is just different. Everyone feels like family over there. I feel like the coaches can get me to the next level.” Cain said he’ll play slot receiver for the Tigers. “I think I’ll fit in really great with (Foley WR) Perry Thompson on one side, and we will have (Benjamin Russell ATH) Malcolm Simmons on the other side,” he said of two other in-state Auburn commits. “I think we’ll be pretty good.” For now, all focus is on Baker football, however. “I think we have the talent to win a state championship,” he said. “We have to keep working.” If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

si.com Recruiting expert believes Ny Carr's decision will come down to Auburn and Miami Andrew Stefaniak ~3 minutes Auburn is in the mix for recent Georgia decommit Ny Carr. Ny Carr is a four-star wide receiver from Moultrie, Georgia, who recently backed off his Georgia pledge. Now that Carr is looking for a new school, the Auburn Tigers will push hard to land this talented speedster. Carr will be in Auburn this weekend for a visit to see the Tigers take on the team he was previously committed to in Georgia. Locked On recruiting expert Brian Smith joined Locked On Auburn to discuss Auburn's chances of landing the talented four-star receiver and if it's a good sign that he will be on the Plains for a visit. This is what Smith had to say, " I would think so. I would hope so. Look, Auburn has always made a living off south and central Georgia, and that won't change now under Hugh Freeze. This kid is also at Colquitt County, one of the best programs in the state of Georgia. I've seen him play live. I believe he's sub-10.5, 100 meter like, for real. Like this is not a normal kind of deal, he can fly. With all the things Hugh Freeze likes to do with RPOs and all that, he needs players like this to maximize his scheme. I have a feeling Hugh's already looking at his cheat sheet, like, how am I going to use this kid? Like all of the fun things coaches do with their offense in their man cave, Hugh Freeze is having fun right now. Because you can't do some of the stuff, you really want to unless you have a gadget guy like this. He's not the biggest kid; he's a buck fifty a buck sixty, but he can fly. Auburn getting him on campus ironically for this particular game is rather noteworthy, and it looks like it's going to be Auburn or Miami." It sounds like Auburn really is in the hunt for the talented receiver, and it would be a lot of fun to see all the creative ways Coach Freeze can use him. Hopefully, the visit goes well, and Carr decides to play his college football on the Plains.

247sports.com Auburn Opponent Preview Looking at the Georgia offense Jason Caldwell 5–6 minutes Auburn takes on Georgia this Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Despite the losses of quarterback Stetson Bennett, offensive tackles Broderick Jones and Warren McClendon, and tight end Darnell Washington to the NFL off last year’s team, the Georgia Bulldogs enter Saturday’s game with another strong offense with former Auburn offensive coordinator Mike Bobo running the show in Athens. Currently 14th nationally in scoring offense (41.5 points per game) and 13th in total offense 496.5 yards per game), the Bulldogs are led by first-year starter Carson Beck at quarterback. A 4-star coming out of Mandarin High in Jacksonville, Florida, Beck has been strong out of the gates. In four games, Beck is completing 72.7 percent of his passes for 1,184 yards and six touchdowns with one interception. His top target is tight end Brock Bowers, one of the best players in college football. Already with 22 catches for 256 yards and two touchdowns this season and another rushing touchdown, Bowers is quickly moving up the receiving charts in Georgia history. Following his nine-catch, 121-yard, two TD game against UAB last week, Bowers is third in touchdown catches with 22 and ninth in total yardage with 2,079. At wide receiver, Missouri transfer Dominic Lovett has picked up where he left off with the Tigers. Second on the team with 17 catches for 169 yards, Lovett had 82 catches for over 1,000 yards in two seasons in Columbia. Back from injury, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint has nine catches for 165 yards in the last two games for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State transfer RaRa Thomas has seven receptions for 143 yards on the season. The biggest story for Georgia could be the return of speedster Ladd McConkey. Out the first four games because of a back injury, McConkey is practicing and could be back this weekend for the Bulldogs. Last season he had 58 catches for 762 yards and seven touchdowns. In the last two meetings between Auburn and Georgia, McConkey has 10 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown. With injuries at the running back position this season, Georgia has used a number of different players at the position, but got Daijun Edwards back two games ago and he has provided a lift with Kendall Milton still out of action. Against South Carolina and UAB, Edwards combined for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Dillon Bell has added 13 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns this season while getting some work in the backfield. If Milton can’t go this Saturday, redshirt sophomore Cash Jones could get more work. Up front, Georgia is led by center Sedrick Van Pran. Starting all 15 games each of the last two seasons and the first four this season, the Louisiana native is one of the top players in the country at his position. On the right side, guard Tate Ratledge and tackle Xavier Truss join Van Pran as the most experienced of the guys up front. With starting left tackle Amarius Mims out, redshirt freshman Earnest Green will get the start with sophomore Dylan Fairchild at guard. WR 1 Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (6-2, 195, Sr.) OR 5 Rara Thomas (6-2, 200, Jr.) OR 9 Jackson Meeks (6-2, 205, Jr.) 23 De’Nylon Morrissette (6-1, 200, So.) 10 Tyler Williams (6-3, 205, Fr.) WR 6 Dominic Lovett (5-10, 187, Jr.) 86 Dillon Bell (6-1, 210, So.) 87 Mekhi Mews (5-8, 185, RSo.) 17 Anthony Evans III (5-11, 165, Fr.) OR 83 Cole Speer (5-11, 185, So.) WR 84 Ladd McConkey (6-0, 185, Jr.) OR 11 Arian Smith (6-0, 185, Jr.) 18 C.J. Smith (6-3, 190, RFr.) OR 13 Zeed Haynes (6-1, 170, Fr.) LT 71 Earnest Greene III (6-4, 320, RFr.) 58 Austin Blaske (6-5, 310, RJr.) 57 Monroe Freeling (6-7, 310, Fr.) LG 53 Dylan Fairchild (6-5, 315, RSo.) OR 56 Micah Morris (6-6, 330, RSo.) 70 Joshua Miller (6-4, 300, Fr.) C 63 Sedrick Van Pran (6-4, 310, Jr.) 55 Jared Wilson (6-3, 310, RSo.) 58 Austin Blaske (6-5, 310, RJr.) 74 Drew Bobo (6-5, 305, RFr.) RG 69 Tate Ratledge (6-6, 310, RSo.) 53 Dylan Fairchild (6-5, 315, RSo.) OR 66 Aliou Bah (6-5, 320, RFr.) RT 73 Xavier Truss (6-7, 320, Sr.) 78 Chad Lindberg (6-6, 325, Jr.) 59 Bo Hughley (6-7, 280, Fr.) OR 72 Jamal Meriweather (6-6, 287, Fr.) OR 54 Kelton Smith Jr. (6-4, 330, Fr.) TE 19 Brock Bowers (6-4, 240, Jr.) 4 Oscar Delp (6-5, 245, So.) 7 Lawson Luckie (6-3, 240, Fr.) 88 Pearce Spurlin III (6-7, 230, Fr.) QB 15 Carson Beck (6-4, 220, Jr.) 12 Brock Vandagriff (6-3, 210, RSo.) OR 14 Gunner Stockton (6-1, 215, RFr.) TB 30 Daijun Edwards (5-10, 201, Sr.) OR 2 Kendall Milton (6-1, 220, Sr.) 32 Cash Jones (6-0, 182, RSo.) 3 Andrew Paul (5-11, 218, RFr.) OR 0 Roderick Robinson II (6-0, 240, Fr.) 20 SeVaughn Clark (6-1, 215, Sr.) 41 Len’Neth Whitehead (6-2, 220, Jr.

247sports.com PMARSHONAU Quarterback questions continue to plague Auburn Phillip Marshall 8–10 minutes A look at Auburn quarterbacks in recent seasons Auburn is dealing again with quarterback questions. Since 2018, Jarrett Stidham’s second season, Auburn quarterbacks have faced varying issues – some of their own doing and some not. Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne will apparently get his fifth consecutive start Saturday when the Tigers play No. 1 Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium. After a woeful game in last Saturday’s 27-10 loss at Texas A&M, Thorne’s hold on the starting job might be tenuous. Should Auburn coaches decide to make a move, Robby Ashford will likely get the call. A look at the quarterbacks since 2018: JARRETT STIDHAM Stidham and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey arrived at the same time, and they hit it off. After Auburn blew a 20-0 lead at LSU, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn told Lindsey he would get out of his way, and he did. The result was that Auburn scored 40-plus points in six of eight SEC games, beat Georgia and Alabama when they were ranked No. 1 and won the West. Stidham completed 246 of 370 passes, 66.49 percent, for 18 touchdowns. Early in the 2018 season, Malzahn involved himself with the offense again. Stidham believed that promises that he would have control of the offense and the ability to change plays were broken. Lindsey felt betrayed. Stidham was unhappy and not as effective. He completed 224 of 369 passes, 60.7 percent, for 2,704 yards and 18 touchdowns.2,541 yards and 16 touchdowns. Auburn finished 8-5 and Lindsey left. Stidham had another year of eligibility but declared for the NFL draft. Stidham is the backup quarterback for the Denver Broncos. BO NIX In 2019, Kenny Dillingham was named offensive coordinator, but Malzahn returned to calling plays. A 5-star signee, Nix established a close relationship with Dillingham and had a long-standing relationship with Malzahn. Nix was named SEC Freshman of the Year. He completed 217 of 377 passes, 57.56 percent, for 16 touchdowns. In 2020, Malzahn hired old friend Chad Morris, who had been fired as Arkansas head coach, to run the offense. Nix and Morris were not a good match. Malzahn got involved again. Auburn went 6-4 in 10 SEC games and was fired at the end of the season. Nix completed 214 of 357 passes for 2,415 yards and five touchdowns. In 2021, Nix was caught again in a dysfunctional situation. Bryan Harsin was named head coach and hired Mike Bobo to be offensive coordinator. Nix and Bobo developed a close relationship. He and Harsin did not. Like Malzahn before him, Harsin would not keep his hands off the offense. Saying he and Bobo did not see eye-to-eye would be an understatement. Bobo was fired. Nix was taking heat on social media. He was rarely allowed to run, a vital part of his game, other than on scrambles. He was miserable. In 10 games, Nix completed 197 of 323 passes, 60.99 percent, for 2,294 yards and 11 touchdowns. Nix suffered a broken ankle against Mississippi State and did not play again. He transferred to Oregon, where he is a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy. T.J. FINLEY Finley took over as the starter when Nix was hurt and won the starting job over Robby Ashford in 2022. He struggled before losing the job to Ashford. He left after spring practice and is now the starting quarterback at Texas State. ROBBY ASHFORD Ashford took over as the starter in the fourth game of last season. He completed 123 of 250 passes for 1,613 yards and seven touchdowns. He used his electric athleticism to rush for 710 yards and seven touchdowns. That bring us to today. Thorne will probably start his fifth consecutive game Saturday against Georgia, but Ashford is close behind. The search for quarterback stability goes on. Several Tigers bulk up after 'another level' of offseason conditioning Several members of Auburn's 2023-24 rotation have bulked up this offseason Jaylin Williams emerged from the tunnels under Neville Arena onto the hardwood, looking winded. It’s finally time for preseason practice, as Auburn looks to make it three straight NCAA tournament appearances, But the Tigers “Offseason has been really tough for us, but it's great work for us at the same time,” Williams said. “We're trying to win championships. I just got done lifting, I can barely talk right now." One of the main talking points when Auburn opened preseason work Tuesday, both from Bruce Pearl and players, was the effectiveness of the program’s offseason regimen with longtime strength coach Damon Davis. Relative to each player’s needs, the Tigers feel they’ve bulked up or slimmed down effectively over the past few months, and are excited to show off the returns from their conditioning in just over a month when the 2023-24 season begins. Williams, a fifth-year senior at power forward, said Davis has been “pushing us to another level” since the summer. And even a veteran like Williams, who’s played in 107 games on the Plains, wanted to tune up his body this offseason to become a more complete player in the frontcourt. He’s up to 245 pounds, the heaviest weight of his Auburn career, but still feels just as athletic. Williams thinks that’s the case for a lot of players on the roster right now. “I told (Davis) I want to get bigger, stronger, and be just as quick,” Williams said. “That's what happened for a lot of guys — so that we're physical enough to compete in the SEC and whoever we play against." FIU transfer Denver Jones, Auburn’s likely starter at the 2-guard spot after scoring 20.1 points per game on 37.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc, also added 15 pounds since his listing at his previous program last season. Jones is a proven outside scorer, whom Auburn’s staff made a big push for right after the season to help improve the Tigers’ offense in that regard. But his improved physicality within Auburn’s strength program can help Jones add more weapons to his offensive game, Bruce Pearl hopes. “You wouldn't recognize Denver Jones if you saw him in the spring, compared to where he is right now,” Pearl said. “He's put on 15, all muscle, and now he's able to get downhill and get to the rim — which is an element of his game he didn't have before.” UAH transfer Chaney Johnson, who’s been competing with Williams at the 4 spot all offseason, immediately became one of the Tigers’ most athletic players when he was added in April. The Gulf South Conference player of the year last season, Johnson does a lot of damage running the floor and catching lobs in transition, and now he’s bulked up in preparation for a jump in talent level from Division-II ball to the SEC. “In addition to the fact just got a haircut, I walked into the gym and couldn't recognize him,” Pearl said of UAH transfer Chaney Johnson. “He's put on 15 (pounds). He's a tremendously powerful athlete.” One of the most intriguing pieces of Auburn’s lineup is Chad Baker-Mazara, a JUCO transfer now on his fourth college program, after also playing at Duquesne and San Diego State early in his career. A 6-foot-7 wing, Baker-Mazara is hoped to bring a significant infusion of outside shooting, as he’s a 44 percent career shooter from 3-point range. His length is a nice boost for Auburn defensively, but Pearl knew Baker-Mazara would have to get stronger in order to compete physically in the SEC. Strides were made in that department this offseason. “The bad news is he weighs 180 pounds,” Pearl said. “The good news is he weighed 170 when he got here. Literally has picked up 10 pounds. And that's going to really, really help him.” Returning All-SEC center Johni Broome also added five pounds, as did shooting guard K.D. Johnson. Sophomore point guard Tre Donaldson is up 10 pounds since last season. Senior Chris Moore, who’s been a bit of tweener between the 3 and 4 spots over the past couple seasons, has slimmed down 10 pounds from last season and is now expected to play primarily on the wing. Freshman point guard Aden Holloway, the No. 2-rated recruit in program history, was listed at 155 pounds his senior year of high school by 247Sports, and is now at 178 pounds this preseason for Auburn. “We've always been a program that's all about development,” Pearl said. “It's been a huge part of who we are, what we sell and guys getting better.” AUBURN 2023-24 NOTABLE WEIGHTS (from last season) * SF Chris Moore: 230 -> 220 * SG K.D. Johnson: 185 -> 190 * PG Tre Donaldson: 190 -> 200 * SG Denver Jones: 190 -> 205 * PF Jaylin Williams: 230 -> 245 *** Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more *** *** Get Auburn news straight to your inbox with the Auburn Undercover newsletter ***

auburnwire.usatoday.com Why Auburn won't upset Georgia JD McCarthy 3–4 minutes It is nearly time for the latest edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry as the Auburn Tigers (3-1) are set to host the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (4-0) on Saturday. The programs enter the game in two different stages as Hugh Freeze is just starting his tenure and is attempting to build Auburn back up. Buy Tigers Tickets Kirby Smart has turned the Bulldogs into the top program in the country and has them looking to win their third straight national championship, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since the Minnesota Golden Gophers won the 1934-36 championships. Auburn enters the game as the heavy underdog and here are five reasons why they won’t be able to keep up with the Bulldogs. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK Auburn’s quarterbacks have struggled in both of their Power Five matchups so far and neither Texas A&M or Cal had a defense as good as Georgia’s. Auburn is trying to pull off a massive upset and to do that you need good to great quarterback play and that is not something Payton Thorne or Robby Ashford have consistently done this season [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Syndication Florida Times Union Brock Bowers is Georgia’s best offensive player and is one of the toughest matchups in football. He has the ability to line up as a tight end, in the slot or out wide and is dynamic with the ball in his hands. Auburn’s defense will have to focus on covering him and that can free up other receivers. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Auburn’s coaching staff did a great job adding experienced offensive linemen through the transfer portal to try and fix an issue that has plagued the program for years, but the early returns have not been as good as many hoped for. Georgia’s defensive line is capable of taking over the game and preventing Auburn’s running backs from having room to work. If that happens then the pressure will only increase on Auburn’s passing attack and that is not a recipe for succes. Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports Auburn has been one of the worst 3rd down offenses in the country converting on just 39.22% of their attempts. Georgia on the other hand is allowing opponents to convert on just 26.32% of their third down plays, the 10th-best rate in the country. When trying to move the ball against a defense like Georgia you have to be good in key situations and Auburn’s offense has not done that to start the season. Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports Auburn’s defense has clearly been the strength of the team so far but you can only ask them to do so much. With Auburn’s offense struggling to move the ball they are forced to spend too much time on the field and cracks can start to appear as the game goes on. I’m expecting them to play great to start the game but get worn down during the second half as Georgia starts to pull away in the third quarter. Follow all your favorite Alabama teams at Auburn Wire and Roll Tide Wire!

Auburn football: Can Jordan-Hare Stadium and the Tigers’ defense rattle Georgia’s Carson Beck? Published: Sep. 28, 2023, 9:50 a.m. 6–7 minutes Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze didn’t beat around the bush heading into last week’s visit to Texas A&M. “It’s a great challenge,” Freeze said. “We’ve got to get some young guys ready. They’re going to get baptized into the SEC pretty good in front of A&M’s crowd and the talent on that team.” Freeze knew he had a lot of guys on his roster that had never played in a hostile environment full of crazed SEC football fans like they’d see at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field – his starting quarterback being one of them. Now, to say all of Payton Thorne’s struggles were the result of the Aggies’ crowd would be a stretch. There was a lot going wrong for Thorne and the Auburn offense Saturday. But the crowd and atmosphere at Texas A&M — where Thorne made his first start in the SEC — was likely still a factor. And that’s worth noting as a fellow unproven SEC quarterback comes to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. Like Thorne, Georgia’s Carson Beck might be a junior, but he’s only in his first season as a starting quarterback in the SEC. Beck has four starts under his belt this year and has had the luxury of playing each of them within the confines of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium. And that begs the question: Will Beck be ready for the stage that is Pat Dye Field on Saturday? “I think that’s something we’re going to find out. I don’t think you know,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said during his press conference Monday. “I’m very confident in Carson’s ability to communicate, to understand things… he’s been in our system. You only get good at these situational football things by playing football for a long time. And he’s been with us for a while doing it and this is his first chance to do it on the road.” Unlike Thorne, Beck isn’t new to this league. In his first three seasons in Athens, Beck watched from the sidelines as Stetson Bennett piloted the Bulldogs to a pair of national championships. That means Beck experienced his first game at Jordan-Hare during in front of a capacity crowd during the 2021 season. The second-ranked Bulldogs walked over the 18th-ranked Tigers 34-10 that day as Bennett passed for more than 230 yards and two touchdowns. “He’s been on these road trips,” Smart said of Beck during the SEC coaches’ teleconference Wednesday. “Obviously he hasn’t played, hasn’t been out there. But he’s been on them. He’s seen the environment.” But Beck’s experience from the sideline in 2021 is far different than what he’ll experience come Saturday when he trots onto the field for the first time. It’s pretty standard for coaches to request the help of a program’s fans leading into a home game. But in the case of this weekend Freeze’s plea to Tigers’ fans is likely as genuine as ever. “Thank God we’re in Jordan-Hare,” Freeze said Monday. Georgia having a young, inexperienced quarterback and playing in a rambunctious place like Jordan-Hare Stadium could be the top-ranked Bulldogs’ Achilles Heel – especially considering Georgia is dealing with a pretty banged up crew of running backs, meaning it might lean on the passing game a bit more. Georgia running backs Kendall Milton and Roderick Robinson both missed last week’s game against UAB as Milton is still working through a MCL sprain and Robinson is working through an ankle sprain. Smart said this week that Milton has been able to practice some, while Robinson has remained pretty limited. In the absence of Milton and Robinson, the Bulldogs have looked to Daijun Edwards, Dillon Bell and Cash Jones. Edwards is Georgia’s leading rusher to this point with 32 carries for 184 yards and three touchdowns – including a career-high 118 yards against South Carolina earlier this season. And until last week when Auburn’s defense was gassed in the second half against Texas A&M, the Tigers’ defense has been able to limit the damage of their opponents’ ground game. Prior to last week’s loss in College Station, the Tigers’ defense averaged giving up just 109 rushing yards per game. Granted, the caliber of opponents was much different than the challenge the Aggies presented and surely what the Bulldogs will present on Saturday. Nonetheless, should the Auburn defense stifle Georgia’s run game and force a young Carson Beck to throw the ball around the yard, the Bulldogs’ offense might find that it’s having some trouble moving the chains. The Tigers’ defensive backfield — though thin right now — ranks as one of the best in the league. Auburn’s defense has allowed just 658 yards through the air, which ranks them 17th in the country and third in the SEC. The Tigers have also been able to force eight turnovers on the season, which ties Arkansas for first in the SEC. Six of those turnovers have come by way of interceptions with veteran safety Jaylin Simpson leading the charge with three picks on the year. Last week in College Station was the first game this season in which Simpson didn’t record an interception, so some might say he’s due for another on Saturday. The guys on Auburn’s defense certainly have the potential to create issues for top-ranked Georgia on Saturday. And a rambunctious crowd at Jordan-Hare would only help their efforts. Georgia’s Smart said that every stadium in the SEC is “loud as hell”. But through countless visits to Auburn as a player and coach, he knows Jordan-Hare can be a different beast when brimming over. “Auburn does an incredible job, the fanbase and the atmosphere they create,” Smart said. “Every game I’ve ever played there has never disappointed.” 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.