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al.com Auburn 4-star commit has surgery, hopes to return for playoffs Updated: Sep. 14, 2023, 1:55 p.m.|Published: Sep. 14, 2023, 1:52 p.m. ~3 minutes Moody's A'mon Lane had surgery on his knee on Wednesday, but hopes to return for the Class 5A playoffs in November. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt Auburn commit A’Mon Lane will likely miss the rest of Moody’s regular season after having surgery on Wednesday. Lane dislocated his kneecap during practice last week and sat out the Blue Devils’ 42-7 victory at Alexandria on Friday. “After talking to Dr. (Benton) Emblum and Dr. (T. Daniel) Smith at Andrews (Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center), we felt it was best to go ahead and get it fixed,” Lane wrote on social media. “Surgery went great yesterday, and I’ve already started therapy. Thanking God, it wasn’t anything more serious.” Moody coach Jake Ganus said doctors have told him recovery from this type of surgery is usually about eight weeks. That would put Lane back in time for the Class 5A playoffs, which start Nov. 10. “That’s the hope,” Ganus said. “It was a 30-minute procedure, very minor. Basically, they re-attached the ligament where it pulled off. A’mon was walking today. He will attack it like he attacks everything, which is full speed. We are not going to be dumb, not going to jeopardize his future. As soon as he is good and he is cleared, he is going to roll.” Lane is the No. 15 senior recruit in Alabama, according to the 247 composite rankings. The 4-star cornerback committed to Auburn on July 30, 2022. He is one of eight players in the top 20 committed to Hugh Freeze and the Tigers. RELATED: 5 Alabama players among top sophomores “This is a minor speed bump for me, and I can’t wait to get back to my teammates for the playoffs,” Lane wrote. “My time for Moody football isn’t over yet.” The fifth-ranked Blue Devils (3-0) host Bishop McNamara, Md., on Friday before returning to Region 6 play on Sept. 22. “Until he gets back, A’mon will put a whistle on for seven or eight weeks and continue to be our leader,” Ganus said. “I think our kids will play hard for him. Our kids will be motivated by the thought of him coming back for the playoffs.” If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

al.com Rewinding Hugh Freeze, Eugene Asante, Rivaldo Fairweather on Auburn’s Tiger Talk show Updated: Sep. 14, 2023, 7:18 p.m.|Published: Sep. 14, 2023, 5:51 p.m. 4–5 minutes Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze greets fans during Tiger Walk before the UMass vs. Auburn football game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Auburn, Alabama. (Julie Bennett | preps@al.com) Julie Bennett | preps@al.comJulie Bennett | preps@al.com Welcome to Week 3, and Auburn football’s Homecoming weekend — well it’s also a homecoming for the football team getting back from last week’s game in California. With the 2-0 football team’s next game on tap for 6 p.m. Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium against Samford, Auburn’s Tiger Talk radio show returns to a live setting at Baumhauer’s Victory Grill in Auburn. Head coach Hugh Freeze was on the show along with linebacker Eugene Asante and tight end Rivaldo Fairweather. Swimming and diving head coach Ryan Wochomurka also chatted about his team. Below is a recap of what Freeze, Asante and Fairweather said on the show. - Hugh Freeze joins the show. Said it’s good to be home, but he again praised Auburn fans for how well they traveled to California. “The Tiger Walk there felt similar to the one here,” Freeze said. “All of us were blown away.” - Freeze said the fact that Auburn fans would travel all the way across the country helps recruiting from the standpoint of showing how passionate the fanbase is. But Auburn isn’t doing much recruiting on the West Coast so that trip itself didn’t matter much for Auburn in a recruiting standpoint. - Freeze said this week of practice was sluggish, but that is fitting for a team that lost a night of sleep on the red-eye flight back home. - Freeze asked who has surprised him the most. He mentions Jeremiah Cobb as the first name that comes to mind. The true freshman’s name has come up frequently of late. “He really jump-started the drive that gave us the win,” Freeze said. - Freeze said Eugene Asante is the defensive player who has surprised him the most. - Freeze said kicker Alex McPherson’s range could go out to 60 yards if Auburn really needed it. But he feels very comfortable 50 yards and closer. - Freeze still believes Auburn would have had possibly another 200+ rushing yards if not for all the penalties and four turnovers in the game. He said Auburn’s offensive line was “mauling” Cal’s defensive line, but mistakes greatly cost Auburn. Freeze has said this throughout the week. He thinks Auburn would have comfortably won that game if not for turnovers and penalties because he felt the offense was much better in the second half. That then goes back to his conversation about Jeremiah Cobb, who had a big play taken off in the second half due to a penalty long behind him on the field. - On the WR room, Freeze said while he still deals with the frustration of receivers not in the right spot, he has to remember how young the group is but also how still fresh to Auburn players like Shane Hooks, Caleb Burton and Jyaire Shorter are — not getting to Auburn until the summer. It’s hard to fit all those pieces together. So in turn it makes sense that Jay Fair and Ja’Varrius Johnson, receivers who have been here, are making quicker impacts. - “I’m excited to see what he will become, but the truth, I’m probably too candid sometimes, he left a lot of yards out there. He was rusty,” Freeze said of getting Jarquez Hunter back against Cal after a murky offseason. Said Damari Alston and Cobb did a better job of waiting for and setting up blocks. - Eugene Asante is a crowd favorite. He and Rivaldo Fairweather join the show for the final segment. - “Playmakers make plays,” Fairweather said of his game-winning catch. “I tell the quarterback, throw it anywhere in my presence.” - Off the field, Fairweather said he plays video games like Madden, NBA 2K and Call of Duty. - Asante said he’s reading “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins. He also said he’s a painter, and he gave this crowd his now famous “Let’s Work!” - Asante said the Cal game was like a home game for Auburn. Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com

al.com Auburn’s eagle Independence flies at Philadelphia Eagles game Updated: Sep. 14, 2023, 9:39 p.m.|Published: Sep. 14, 2023, 9:32 p.m. ~2 minutes A tradition that is uniquely Auburn made its way to Philadelphia on Thursday night as Independence, one of the eagles that fly before Auburn home football games, circled Lincoln Financial Field. An Auburn athletics department spokesperson confirmed this was Independence, better known as Indy, flying before the Eagles Thursday Night Football game against the Minnesota Vikings. Independence is a bald eagle who lives at Auburn’s Raptor Center, which trains the birds for their famous flight around Jordan-Hare Stadium. Independence is one of four eagles who currently live at the Raptor Center and have flown at Auburn games. The others are Nova (War Eagle VII), Spirit and Aurea (War Eagle VIII). Spirit had once been the only eagle to fly in Jordan-Hare before her retirement in 2021. Indy debuted as Spirit retired. Aurea is a golden eagle who still flies before games, too. Indy was also the eagle to fly at a baseball game in Plainsman Park during the 2023 season. That was the first time the tradition had come to a baseball game. 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 Auburn Opponent Preview Samford defense Jason Caldwell ~4 minutes Following a win over Shorter College to open the season before falling 30-7 last week at Western Carolina, the Samford Bulldogs come into Saturday night’s homecoming game at Jordan-Hare Stadium known more for their offense with quarterback Michael Heirs leading the way. But, this is an opportunity for Auburn’s offense to build some confidence heading into SEC play against a Samford defense that was shredded last week at Western Carolina. The Bulldogs allowed 34 first downs to the Catamounts, giving up 284 yards rushing on 49 attempts and another 262 through the air with WCU completing 29-35 attempts for the game. Leading the way for Samford is senior linebacker Noah Martin. Already with 21 tackles and four tackles for a loss in two games, the 6-1, 232 Martin enters Saturday’s game with 220 career tackles. He’s joined at linebacker by 6-2, 208 Jayden Mosley, who is in his first season with the Bulldogs after playing at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. On the weak side is 5-11, 228 senior Josiah Cotton. Mosley and Cotton are tied for second on the team with 12 tackles each after two games. Playing a 3-4 scheme, the Bulldogs don’t have a ton of size up front, but they do have an anchor in the middle in 6-2, 325 junior Josh Mathiasen. He’s backed up by 6-3, 290 Makhi Gilbert from Central-Phenix City. At defensive tackle, the Bulldogs have 6-1, 270 Nick Jackson with 6-3, 268 Jamall Thompson behind him. On the other side is 6-2, 261 Joseph Mera with 6-1, 263 Johnny Johnson also in the rotation. Thompson and Johnson have one sack each this season, accounting for all of the sacks for the Bulldogs. In the secondary Samford has a pair of transfers that have been very productive so far in South Carolina’s Tyrese Ross and former Auburn High standout Garrett Morris, who transferred from Penn. The free safety, Ross has 12 tackles on the year while Morris has 11 stops playing the nickel. Finishing off the starting group for the Bulldogs on the back end of the defense are cornerbacks Dontae Pollard and Devin Smith along with rover Kortlan Marsh. DEFENSE W 28 Josiah Cotton 5-11 228 Sr. Macon, Ga. / Mt. De Sales Academy 22 Xavier Nurse 6-3 245 Gr. Brooklyn, N.Y. / Maine NT 98 Josh Mathiasen 6-2 325 Jr. Elmhurst, Ill. / Olivet Nazarene 94 Makhi Gilbert 6-3 290 So. Phenix City, Ala. / Central HS DT 97 Nick Jackson 6-1 270 Gr. Orlando, Fla. / Winter Park HS 81 Jamall Thompson 6-3 268 Jr. Sarasota, Fla. / Sarasota HS B 35 Joseph Mera 6-2 261 Gr. Fort Myers, Fla. / Bishop Verot HS 55 Johnny Johnson 6-1 263 Sr. St. Amant, La. / Winter Park HS MLB 32 Noah Martin 6-1 232 Sr. Chattanooga, Tenn. / Baylor School 47 Bryce Graves 5-11 227 Gr. Clayton, N.C. / Elon SLB 33 Jaden Mosley 6-2 208 Jr. Mobile, Ala. / Hutchinson CC 44 Kiylan Miller 6-3 200 Jr. Forest City, N.C. / Coastal Carolina NKL 17 Garrett Morris 6-0 215 Gr. Auburn, Ala. / Penn 40 Wade White 6-0 200 Jr. Prattville, Ala. / Prattville HS CB 23 Devin Smith 5-10 190 Gr. Kennesaw, Ga. / Austin Peay 11 JB Bouye 5-10 173 So. Waco, Texas / Middle Tennessee RVR 1 Kourtlan Marsh 5-11 190 Jr. Warrior, Ala. / Mortimer-Jordan HS 30 Avery Hughes 5-11 180 Gr. Sugar Land, Texas / Texas A&M FS 2 Tyrese Ross 6-0 200 Gr. Jacksonville, Fla. / South Carolina 24 Jonathan Searcy 6-1 193 Gr. Medford, N.J. / Bucknell CB 36 Dontae Pollard 5-10 185 Jr. Pittsburgh, Pa. / Arkon 16 Kamron Smith 6-0 195 Jr. Bonaire, Ga. / Charleston Southern

al.com Can Hugh Freeze find Auburn a top wide receiver? The first two games weren't promising. Published: Sep. 14, 2023, 6:30 a.m. 5–6 minutes Auburn Football Auburn football doesn’t have a No. 1 receiver. Does it matter? Auburn wide receiver Jay Fair reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against California, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)AP Auburn wants rotation at the wide receiver position. And its gotten that. But there comes a point where rotation may mean ineffectiveness. Through two games, Auburn may be getting that, too. Auburn has five wide receivers listed as starters, but only four total wide receivers have a catch. Auburn quarterbacks have completed 24 passes over two games and seven players have catches. But two players — Jay Fair and Ja’Varrius Johnson — make up more than half the receptions. Two of the wide receivers Auburn lists as starters — Jyaire Shorter and Omari Kelly — don’t have catches at all. Here’s the thing: This isn’t necessarily a new problem for Auburn. It’s been well documented that Auburn only has two 1,000-yard receivers in the school’s history. For a program so nationally known for running the ball, it’s hard to find many truly go-to receivers in this program’s past. But this is a different offense. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is prioritizing the running game because Auburn has such a deep running back room. But Freeze is known for developing quarterbacks and the passing offenses his teams have had. Not being able to throw the ball is an anomaly. Freeze has talked this week about re-evaluating Auburn’s changes at quarterback. All three of Payton Thorne, Robby Ashford and Holden Geriner have seen playing time this year — albeit Geriner’s largely in mop-up duty with Auburn out to a comfortable lead over UMass in Week 1. None have gotten help from wide receivers. “We haven’t proven we can do it yet,” Freeze said of his wide receivers. “Until you do, we’ve got to prove we can win some one-on-ones, and get the right balls to them. We’ve got to improve that room; I’ve said that since I got here. That’s still the case.” While Freeze and players have spoken about the potential of Auburn’s wide receivers, there have been clear issues for the position group throughout the preseason. Freeze called out his wide receivers for lining up wrong in the team’s first two scrimmages, for “loafing” on the field and not giving the type of consistent effort he hoped for. He specifically mentioned starting receiver Shane Hooks. Freeze held out hope because he envisioned between eight-to-nine receivers providing contributions. In reality, it’s only been two so far. The problems continued into the season with receivers struggling to get open. The only two receivers who have been productive have been Jay Fair and Ja’Varrius Johnson. Johnson was Auburn’s leading receiver last year, but had fewer than 500 yards for the season. Fair was among the biggest risers on Auburn’s roster during fall camp, and so far he has delivered. He leads Auburn in both catches (7) and yards (81). Fair has scored in each of Auburn’s first two games. But neither Fair or Johnson are able to play on the outside. Auburn hasn’t necessarily used them on the field at the same time because they have similar skill sets, but Freeze said that may have to change. “I said they needed to get more touches,” Freeze said. “Does that look like them playing more at the same time? Maybe. We’ve got to figure that out this week for sure -- or today.” That doesn’t preclude Auburn’s desire to find a receiver who can win on the outside. That was supposed to be Shane Hooks, a transfer from Jackson State. That hasn’t happened yet. Hooks has two total catches this year. He changed his number from 11 to 3 before Auburn played, Cal, that didn’t change his struggles from playing UMass. Auburn tried to take shots downfield in the abysmal offensive display against Cal. But the receiver play was a key reason why that didn’t work. “But there were times that we, I thought, early in the game I know we had one real shot and we read a different side of the field,” Freeze said. “And then our receivers didn’t win a few of the others that were called. They were in man coverage quite a bit and they won some of those battles on us. It’s all why through two games Auburn, the three quarterbacks combined don’t have 300 total passing yards yet. Are any of these receivers going to break the 1,000-yard receiver drought? Unlikely. But if Payton Thorne is going to cement himself as the only quarterback to consistently throw the ball, he’ll need some help. Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

247sports.com Backfield balancing act: Tigers look for best running back rotation Nathan King 5–6 minutes In preseason camp, Hugh Freeze said Auburn’s offense had been consistent in a couple areas he deemed necessary for the success of an offense: running the ball, and taking care of it. So the Tigers’ four turnovers — including three fumbles, two by the tailbacks — came as a surprise to the running back room. “That wasn't us,” Damari Alston said this week. “I don't think we've turned the ball over that much during camp or even in the scrimmages. Got to be better from that aspect.” It wasn’t just Alston’s and Jarquez Hunter’s fumbles — both of which were in crucial situations — that were frustrating for the Tigers’ running game in the 14-10 win over Cal. Auburn certainly found more success on the ground than through the air, rushing for 136 yards. Hugh Freeze wasn’t necessarily pleased with how he was able to utilize the group’s depth, which was heralded all offseason as arguably the deepest top-to-bottom position on the roster. Hunter and Alston combined for 19 carries and 104 yards, but Freeze knows the other two ball-carriers — true freshman Jeremiah Cobb and USF transfer Brian Battie — need to be more involved. Granted, there weren’t a bunch of snaps to go around. “I’ve never had as deep a running back room as I’ve had here, so it’s a challenge,” Freeze said Wednesday. “It’s also a challenge when you only have 50 offensive plays (against Cal). That was not a normal game to judge anything on.” When Auburn’s running game seemed to find its footing against Cal, even just for a play or two, the Tigers were seemingly hit with a penalty, turnover or other setback every time. Their limited time of possession and turnover debacle derailed what Freeze thought was set up to be a successful night running the ball. “I was absolutely very pleased with our run-blocking,” Freeze said. “We should have rushed for 250 or 300 had we not had four turnovers." Alston echoed those comments earlier this week, when he said he felt Auburn’s offense was simply out of sync throughout the game — and when they were able to settle into a rhythm for a couple plays, or on the go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, they settled right back into what they thought would be a successful game plan. "I just feel like that drive we kind of calmed down a little bit,” Alston said. “I just feel like from the beginning of the game, I don't know, we weren't as calm as we were supposed to be. Going into the game we had a pretty good game plan and I think the coach's called some great plays that should've hit. That last drive is how we should've played all game. That's the football team that we are." Now the challenge is for Freeze to find a way to best utilize the backfield’s strengths — starting this Saturday against Samford (6 p.m. CDT, ESPN+). It’s the last tune-up opportunity for Auburn’s offense before seven straight SEC games. “I hope we can find a way to keep them all involved — because I think they all add something to us that can help us win,” Freeze said. “But it is a challenge.” Hunter made his return against Cal after missing the season opener while serving a suspension, and Freeze admitted the junior was “rusty.” The primary contender atop the rotation seems to be Alston, a sophomore who was one of the offense’s top risers in the preseason. The career yardage nod goes to Battie, who transferred over from USF after rushing for 1,185 yards last year. He played only three snaps against Cal and had just one carry, which Freeze said immediately after the game was unacceptable. The wild card might be true freshman Jeremiah Cobb, who has the highest yards per carry of the bunch (9.6). “I hope to see him on the field a little bit more,” Alston said of Cobb. “Just the spark that he creates when he touches the ball, when he makes plays, I feel like he’ll be a really good player for us going forward.” Freeze’s eyes light up when he talks about Cobb, the program’s highest-rated running back signee since Tank Bigsby in 2020. His early flashes have made it tough for Auburn’s staff to keep him off the field. And maximizing the production of what now looks to be a true four-man rotation is now part of a list of offensive to-do’s for the coaching staff — though they likely anticipated as much heading into the season. “I love it every time (Cobb) has the ball in his hands — the problem is I also like Damari and Jarquez and Battie,” Freeze said.

saturdaydownsouth.com Hugh Freeze evaluates QB rotation, says it’s not ‘healthy for anyone’ Andrew Peters | 2 days ago ~3 minutes Hugh Freeze has been looking to multiple quarterbacks to start the season, but the Auburn head coach believes it might be time for a change. On Saturday against Cal, Freeze didn’t get strong play from either of his quarterbacks. The starter, Payton Thorne, had just 94 yards and threw an interception. Robby Ashford got just a handful of reps and didn’t complete a pass. While Freeze thinks Ashford is capable of starting and playing big reps, the 2 quarterback system isn’t benefitting the team. “I’ve said and I mean this: Robby needs touches. But the cycling in and out, I don’t think is healthy for anyone,” Freeze said during the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “We’re still learning. Everyone in this building understands that you’ve got to earn the right to maintain your playing time. Payton gives us the best chance to run the entire offense.” But Freeze also mentioned that Ashford and Holden Geriner are “nipping at his heels,” so it could be a matter of time before Auburn has a different starter. Auburn will have a chance to get the offense in motion this weekend as the Tigers host Samford. After this week, Auburn will get into some tough SEC games, so this week will be vital in getting things dialed in. Auburn and Samford kickoff at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.

wsfa.com Samford football looks to bounce back with road trip to Auburn Jake Stansell ~2 minutes BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - After a lengthy weather delay and a tough 30-7 loss to Western Carolina last weekend, the Samford Bulldogs will try to bounce back in their penultimate non-conference game of the season on The Plains. The first road game of the season featured a nearly six-hour lightning delay in a game where quarterback Michael Hiers threw for 315 yards and a touchdown. Samford hits the road once more in the all-Alabama affair, looking for the program’s first win over an SEC opponent since defeating Ole Miss in 1936. Samford, with a 1-1 record on the early season, will treat the game against Auburn like a home game with the two schools being about two hours apart in distance. Players and staff will get the chance to sleep in their own beds before making the trip to Jordan Hare Stadium. Plenty of local interest surrounding this matchup as the Bulldogs play for the upset and a chance to hand the Tigers their first loss of the season. “You don’t get to play in this type of atmosphere often, especially at Auburn, who has a tremendous atmosphere and only two hours down the road,” Samford head football coach Chris Hatcher said. “So, we’re excited about it, we’re looking forward to it. It’s a lot of fun, guys get on national TV, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.” In 29 tries, Samford has yet to defeat Auburn but will try again come Saturday night at 6 p.m. when the Bulldogs and Tigers tee it up at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here. Copyright 2023 WBRC. All rights reserved.

auburntigers.com Auburn alumni assistants have 'so much love for this program' Auburn University Athletics 3–4 minutes AUBURN, Ala. – Zac Etheridge, Carnell Williams and Marcus Davis each left Auburn University with a degree in one hand and a championship ring on the other. They came back to the Plains to help others do the same. "To have guys who went through this program come back years later to serve and give back to their alma mater that's been so inspirational to them, it's special," said Williams, Auburn's associate head coach and running backs coach who provided inspired leadership while serving as interim head coach for the final four games of the 2022 season. Auburn's program leader with 46 touchdowns and second-leading all-time rusher, Williams helped the Tigers win the 2004 SEC Championship during a 13-0 season while earning All-America honors. Auburn's secondary coach, Etheridge arrived in 2007, captaining the 2010 national champions as a senior. While 2023 marks Williams' fifth season as an Auburn assistant coach and Etheridge's third, receivers coach Marcus Davis joined head coach Hugh Freeze's first staff in December. "You know what it takes to win here," said Davis, a receiver and punt returner for the Tigers from 2013-16. "It's an honor to be back and a privilege to serve these student-athletes who I get to lead. I know to whom much is given, much is required." Ingrained with the Auburn Creed, the trio of Tiger alums seeks to pass along to their players the attributes that have fostered Auburn football success since the days of Shug Jordan to Pat Dye. "We all love Auburn," Davis said. "We all know what it truly is to be an Auburn man. We all believe in work, hard work. We want to create that for the next generation, the guys we get to mentor." "We all think the same way with the work, hard work," Etheridge said. "We're not selling Auburn. We actually lived it. It's in our DNA to share with families how we've been able to come to Auburn and be successful by the way we walk and how we treat people." "They bring that blue-collar mentality and that work ethic," Williams said of his fellow Auburn football lettermen. "They're out there giving back, serving guys. We have a chip on our shoulder and so much love for this program because it's been dear to us and so good to us." While striving to win games and experience championship seasons as they did in their playing days, the homegrown coaches are motivated by a higher calling. "It's bigger than football for me," Davis said. "It's about changing lives in the way that Auburn changed my life and giving them the opportunities I had." "It's easy for us to work together because we all understand what Auburn is about," Etheridge said. "We understand what it's like to put on that AU every day. We don't take it for granted. This is an opportunity to work for this university that helped us get to where we are now." "A lot of people poured into my life," Williams said. "I tell student-athletes you're giving people hope. Whatever community you're from, you're an inspiration and a role model. Truly changing lives. I think this is what it's all about. We are competitors. We want to see this program back on top." Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer

247sports.com Backfield balancing act: Tigers look for best running back rotation Nathan King 5–6 minutes In preseason camp, Hugh Freeze said Auburn’s offense had been consistent in a couple areas he deemed necessary for the success of an offense: running the ball, and taking care of it. So the Tigers’ four turnovers — including three fumbles, two by the tailbacks — came as a surprise to the running back room. “That wasn't us,” Damari Alston said this week. “I don't think we've turned the ball over that much during camp or even in the scrimmages. Got to be better from that aspect.” It wasn’t just Alston’s and Jarquez Hunter’s fumbles — both of which were in crucial situations — that were frustrating for the Tigers’ running game in the 14-10 win over Cal. Auburn certainly found more success on the ground than through the air, rushing for 136 yards. Hugh Freeze wasn’t necessarily pleased with how he was able to utilize the group’s depth, which was heralded all offseason as arguably the deepest top-to-bottom position on the roster. Hunter and Alston combined for 19 carries and 104 yards, but Freeze knows the other two ball-carriers — true freshman Jeremiah Cobb and USF transfer Brian Battie — need to be more involved. Granted, there weren’t a bunch of snaps to go around. “I’ve never had as deep a running back room as I’ve had here, so it’s a challenge,” Freeze said Wednesday. “It’s also a challenge when you only have 50 offensive plays (against Cal). That was not a normal game to judge anything on.” When Auburn’s running game seemed to find its footing against Cal, even just for a play or two, the Tigers were seemingly hit with a penalty, turnover or other setback every time. Their limited time of possession and turnover debacle derailed what Freeze thought was set up to be a successful night running the ball. “I was absolutely very pleased with our run-blocking,” Freeze said. “We should have rushed for 250 or 300 had we not had four turnovers." Alston echoed those comments earlier this week, when he said he felt Auburn’s offense was simply out of sync throughout the game — and when they were able to settle into a rhythm for a couple plays, or on the go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, they settled right back into what they thought would be a successful game plan. "I just feel like that drive we kind of calmed down a little bit,” Alston said. “I just feel like from the beginning of the game, I don't know, we weren't as calm as we were supposed to be. Going into the game we had a pretty good game plan and I think the coach's called some great plays that should've hit. That last drive is how we should've played all game. That's the football team that we are." Now the challenge is for Freeze to find a way to best utilize the backfield’s strengths — starting this Saturday against Samford (6 p.m. CDT, ESPN+). It’s the last tune-up opportunity for Auburn’s offense before seven straight SEC games. “I hope we can find a way to keep them all involved — because I think they all add something to us that can help us win,” Freeze said. “But it is a challenge.” Hunter made his return against Cal after missing the season opener while serving a suspension, and Freeze admitted the junior was “rusty.” The primary contender atop the rotation seems to be Alston, a sophomore who was one of the offense’s top risers in the preseason. The career yardage nod goes to Battie, who transferred over from USF after rushing for 1,185 yards last year. He played only three snaps against Cal and had just one carry, which Freeze said immediately after the game was unacceptable. The wild card might be true freshman Jeremiah Cobb, who has the highest yards per carry of the bunch (9.6). “I hope to see him on the field a little bit more,” Alston said of Cobb. “Just the spark that he creates when he touches the ball, when he makes plays, I feel like he’ll be a really good player for us going forward.” Freeze’s eyes light up when he talks about Cobb, the program’s highest-rated running back signee since Tank Bigsby in 2020. His early flashes have made it tough for Auburn’s staff to keep him off the field. And maximizing the production of what now looks to be a true four-man rotation is now part of a list of offensive to-do’s for the coaching staff — though they likely anticipated as much heading into the season. “I love it every time (Cobb) has the ball in his hands — the problem is I also like Damari and Jarquez and Battie,” Freeze said.

si.com Elijah McAllister shouts out Auburn fans for making the trip out west Andrew Stefaniak 2–3 minutes Elijah McAllister thinks Auburn fans traveling to the Cal game helped the Tigers. Elijah McAllister joined The Next Round to discuss the game the Tigers just won over the Cal Bears. McAllister was asked if it felt weird playing on the West Coast, and this was his response, "Honestly, not so much because I think about 10,000 or more fans traveled from all across the country to come to support us in Cal, so it felt like we were supported really well. It felt comfortable in the stadium, obviously, with the travel and everything else going on that was a big emphasis on the week, but I felt like we handled it pretty well and got the win, so that's a positive." It's not easy to travel across the country to play on the road, so all of the Auburn fans who made the trip to support the Tigers clearly made a difference. Having a fan base like the Auburn Tigers do has to be a great feeling for the players as they know no matter where they travel, there will be fans in the stands cheering them on. McAllister made it clear that Auburn fans made a real difference in this game for the Tigers and helped them leave with the victory over the Pac-12 foe.

auburnwire.usatoday.com How does Payton Thorne's QBR stack up with fellow SEC quarterbacks? Taylor Jones 2–3 minutes Through two games, quarterback Payton Thorne has not had an opportunity to unleash his full potential. Hugh Freeze brought in Thorne from Michigan State to lead the offense, but he has not earned Freeze’s full trust to this point in the season. Freeze has rotated Thorne and Robby Ashford at the position, with neither doing enough to take the starter role for themselves. Buy Tigers Tickets How has Thorne performed compared to other SEC quarterbacks entering week three? College Sports Wire breaks it down. College Sports Wire’s Ryan Haley shared his take on SEC quarterbacks based on ESPN’s QBR. Thorne checks in at No. 9 this week with a rating of 63.4. Why is his rating so low? Haley explains. Thorne has attempted the fewest passes (31) and thrown for the fewest yards (235) of any starter in the SEC through two weeks, but ESPN contests volume is not the only way to measure impact. In Week 2 on the road against California, Thorne threw for 94 yards on 14 attempts, but he threw for both of Auburn’s scores in the 14-10 victory, including the eventual game-winner to tight end Rivaldo Fairweather in the final quarter. The former Michigan State starter did attempt more than 380 passes in each of his last two seasons with the Spartans, so time will tell if Freeze lets his quarterback air it out a little more as the season progresses. Through two full weeks of action, Texas A&M’s Conner Weigman leads the SEC in QBR with 89.5. Quarterbacks such as Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Alabama‘s Jalen Milroe, and South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler are ahead of Thorne, while Georgia‘s Carson Beck, Tennessee‘s Joe Milton, and Florida‘s Graham Mertz trail behind. 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__

featuring Hugh Freeze, Eugene Asante, Rivaldo Fairweather, & Ryan Wochomurka

for the record i was not thinking of you when i wrote that. it was directed to the gloom and doom. i posted the new auburn everyday and it is a great show. opens with the locker room speech after the cal game. but no sir i had not probs with what you said.

great show!

wow. the honeymoon is over and we have not lost yet. the man has said repeatedly it is a work in progress. as far as who's "O" we're running i thought it was a combination of montgomery and freeze? i also think this D will help keep us in ballgames.

Deferred Retirements, Unemployed Spouses, Field Officers Working as Generals: Democrats' Memo Details Effects of Tuberville Blocking Military Promotions Rebecca Kheel Wed, September 13, 2023 at 1:56 PM CDT·5 min read 302 At least 25 three- and four-star officers were forced to delay retirements to ensure continuity of command due to a Republican senator's months-long blockade against hundreds of military promotions, according to a new memo from Senate Democrats. The memo released by Democrat lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday evening details personal stories of hardship and breaks down an array of effects stemming from Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on confirming general and flag officer nominees. Tuberville, who opposes a Pentagon policy allowing troops leave time and travel expenses for abortions, is a member of the committee. "Most of these officers have served for 30 or 40 years, mobilized for numerous combat deployments, and have missed countless birthdays, anniversaries, children's births, sports games and music recitals," the memo said, referring to service members who have put off retirement because their replacements can’t be confirmed. Read Next: Air Force Says It Remains Confident in Osprey Aircraft Despite Recent Deadly Mishaps - ADVERTISEMENT - Military leaders have repeatedly argued the Tuberville blockade hinders the military's effectiveness in part by adding stress to military families, but have provided few specific examples of the harm to families. The memo from Senate Democrats details several specific anecdotes of turmoil brought to military families. For example, a Navy spouse is now unemployed after she gave up her job as a public school teacher in anticipation of her husband's overseas assignment that has been delayed by the hold, according to the memo. At least three officers have, at their own expense, moved their families to their expected new duty stations without them so that their children could enroll in school, the memo said. In two other cases, officers disenrolled their children from school in anticipation of their moves but now can't enroll them in a new school. In the Marine Corps, a coast-to-coast move for a senior officer and his family was canceled after their household goods were already shipped, and the items are now sitting in storage at their future duty station, according to the memo. And two Air Force officers are living in temporary housing and paying out of pocket for storage because they sold their homes in anticipation of having to move. "Military families bear the costs of the senator's hold more than any other group. These affected families have been understandably reluctant to share their experiences, likely due to fear of political retribution," the memo said. "These examples are but the tip of the iceberg, snapshots and stories of those willing to share. The true impact of the senator's actions may not be known for years." Meanwhile, 22 field officers who have been nominated for their first star will have to assume the duties of a general officer without getting the raise they earned, according to the memo. Another 20 officers who have been nominated for their second star will similarly have to do work above their paygrade without the corresponding raise. In all, according to the memo, the hold is snaring 139 nominees for one star, 70 nominees for two stars, 54 nominees for three stars, and 10 nominees for four stars. The missive comes as Democrats and Pentagon officials have been working to raise pressure on Tuberville, of Alabama, to end his six-month hold before the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is legally required to retire at the end of the month. Since late February, Tuberville has maintained what's known as a hold on all nominees for promotion to one-star general and admiral and above over his opposition to the Pentagon policy. He has vowed not to lift the hold until the Pentagon reverses its abortion policy or Congress enshrines the policy into law. A hold cannot prevent the Senate from confirming nominees, but it does require the chamber to take lengthy individual roll call votes on nominees it would otherwise quickly confirm in batches with voice votes. With 273 nominees officially caught in Tuberville's hold right now, it would take approximately 689 hours and 20 minutes for the Senate to confirm them all, according to a Congressional Research Service report also released Tuesday by Senate Democrats. That translates to 89 days if the Senate exclusively voted on the nominees for eight hours a day. That estimate takes into account only nominees who have already been advanced by the Armed Services Committee. When adding in officers who have been nominated but not yet voted on by the committee, there are more than 300 generals and admirals awaiting Senate approval. The standoff has already led to vacancies in top posts, including the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Democrats have signaled they are not planning to hold a roll call vote for the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs, meaning the most senior position in the military is also on track to sit vacant by the end of the month. The Pentagon said this week that the Joint Chiefs vice chief would perform the duties in an acting capacity if the Senate cannot confirm a chief. But it also warned that the dual role would be very difficult for any one person to fill. Tuberville has dismissed warnings from Pentagon officials and Democrats that his hold has harmed the military, instead blaming Democrats for the vacancies by not holding roll call votes on the nominees. "If Democrats were actually worried about readiness or about military families, then we would be voting on these nominees," Tuberville said on the Senate floor Monday. -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on X @reporterkheel. Related: Joint Chiefs Prepare for Vacancy at the Top as Senate Bickers over Confirmations Blockade YOU folks on the right know China and others are licking their lips at the damage tubs is doing as well as pissing on folks who put their lives on the line to serve and protect this country. screw tubs and anyone who supports this. i would bet most that support this have never served a day of their lives in service to their country. patriots my ass.................

why no it does not. i have a long memory when it comes to trump, joe will never be the crook trump is. you cannot fix stupid but you can sell it in a red hat..............