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al.com Will Auburn's depth chart be impacted by numerous injuries? Published: Aug. 21, 2023, 11:46 a.m. 6–7 minutes To Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze, the second preseason scrimmage Saturday signaled the end of fall camp, and a turning of the page to game preparation — now less than two weeks from kickoff against UMass. Though Freeze’s team isn’t going to start the season healthy. It was already facing a few injuries as fall camp began and returning to live practice with pads was always going to cause a few more additions to the injury report. And as things stand, Auburn’s injuries have hit the wide receivers the hardest. Key players are also banged up in the linebacking group and defensive line. With many yellow jerseys flashing around the field at practice, some projected backups are going to have a chance for expanded playing time early in the season. That starts squarely with Jay Fair. The sophomore wide receiver has looked the part of a starter throughout preseason practices. He’s been generating some of the most buzz of many new faces seeming to rise up the projected depth chart. In drills, Fair has consistently been in the first trio of wide receivers on the field with the rest of the starters, lining up most frequently as a slot receiver. Fair has had a strong camp, but some of that opportunity comes with injuries to Ja’Varrius Johnson, Auburn’s leading receiver from last season. Freeze said Johnson had an incident in practice that caused him to need stitches in his mouth and made it challenging for him to wear a helmet during a stretch of practice. Johnson is back now, but Fair has still be on the field before him. It would seem likely Johnson, when back to full strength, would be back in the role he had last season. But for now, the slot is Fair’s job. Auburn seems content with Omari Kelly on the outside opposite Shane Hooks. Camden Brown, Malcolm Johnson Jr., Koy Moore and Nick Mardner continue to deal with injuries. Brown, Moore and Mardner especially have a chance to work their way back into more playing time when healthy. Moore had a large role with Auburn last season and could again. He has been dealing with a lingering ankle injury from summer workouts. Brown is finally healthy, Freeze said, and returned to practice last week. But he’s still working his way back to full strength. The 6-foot-3 sophomore has strong potential when he is ready — that likely won’t be right away. A relatively new addition to the injury report, Nick Mardner has been a heavily used target during practices, and Auburn will want him as a red zone threat as the season goes on. While Fair certainly seems to have the most to gain with regard to playing time, newcomers Caleb Burton III and Jyaire Shorter could have an expanded role, too. Neither appears likely to start, but will certainly be given extra chances to work into their new SEC team in games where the others are unable to play or much more limited. On the other side of the ball, Larry Nixon III has looked the part of three-down linebacker while Austin Keys deals with a shoulder injury. While Keys stays to the side in a yellow no-contact jersey, Nixon, Eugene Asante and Cam Riley have formed the rotation at linebacker in practice. Though largely Nixon’s spot has been static while Asante and Riley take turns next to him. That battle appears likely to be won by Asante, but for as long as Keys is out, Nixon should be in line to start. Welsey Steiner has also dealt with injuries during the preseason. He’s been comfortably back and now and while he hasn’t seen much, if any, playing time with the top group, he does have on-field experience with Auburn and could remain part of the conversation, though he does appear to be viewed behind Nixon, Asante and Riley. Auburn’s other linebacker position, the jack linebacker, has been among the most talked about rotations in camp because Auburn believes it has three impactful pass rushers there. Then Jalen McLeod picked up an ankle injury at the end of last week. Elijah McAllister may have the most to gain if McLeod isn’t ready for week one. From media sessions with players and coaches, it has seemed like McAllister may be viewed as the third option between McLeod and late-riser Stephen Sings V — though all three have seen time with the projected starters. Auburn could start either Sings or McAllister if McLeod isn’t ready. It wasn’t a guarantee that McLeod was going to start anyway. McAllister is the more experienced player if Auburn chooses him first early, but he and Sings will see a greater share of snaps than if McLeod was in the mix too. Auburn has tried packages using both McAllister and Sings on the field at the same time, too. Either could also show enough to keep a high snap count whenever McLeod is back to health. Defensive end Keldric Faulk has been another recent injury report addition, opening the door to essentially ensure Maryland transfer Mosiah Nasili-Kite will be Auburn’s starter at defensive end. Nasili-Kite had shown to be at the top of Auburn’s rotation even before the talented freshman’s injury. Faulk is still in the process of learning a new position as he moves from jack linebacker. Faulk’s injury could also mean a route to the field for Brenton Williams who has seen some time with the starters in practice as well. 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 to face last team in FBS rankings when UMass comes to town in Week 1 Updated: Aug. 21, 2023, 12:10 p.m.|Published: Aug. 21, 2023, 11:51 a.m. 2–3 minutes Hugh Freeze on Auburn's second fall scrimmage If there were ever a way to ease into the college football season, Auburn is doing it. When first-year head coach Hugh Freeze and the Tigers take Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Sept. 2, they’ll be looking at the worst team in the Football Bowl Subdivision across from them. The Athletic’s Chris Vannini, as well as Athlon Sports and CBS Sports all ranked the UMass Minutemen No. 133 — or dead last — in their FBS rankings. In 2022, UMass finished 1-11 with its lone win coming against FCS opponent Stony Brook in a 20-3 win. UMass hasn’t finished a year with more than one win since the 2018 season, when it went 4-8. The Minutemen tallied losses against Tulane, Toledo, Temple, Eastern Michigan, Liberty, Buffalo, New Mexico State, UConn, Arkansas State, Texas A&M and Army last fall and were outscored 373-150 through the course of the season. Despite the struggles, Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassan anticipates improvement from Don Brown’s UMass team, which allowed opponents to score 31.1 points per game in 2022 — a step up from 43.1 points per game in 2021. “With another offseason to learn under Brown and a handful of additions from the portal, UMass’ defense should take another step forward this fall,” Lassan wrote. “However, for the Minutemen to climb the rankings and exceed last year’s one win, the offense must show marked improvement. This unit averaged only 12.5 points a contest and four yards a play in ‘22.” While Auburn’s Week 1 opponent ranks dead last in the rankings, the Tigers come in at No. 47 in Vannini’s list, No. 34 in Lassan’s list and No. 38 in CBS Sports’ rankings. Though Auburn’s Week 1 matchup won’t serve as a good measuring stick considering UMass doesn’t present itself as the strongest competition, it will be a good opportunity for the Tigers to knock some of the dust off — which could be more important considering some of the injuries Auburn is dealing with heading into Week 1. 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 10 Auburn players who raised their stock in preseason camp Nathan King 16–20 minutes There were plenty of names that popped this preseason camp for the Tigers With preseason camp in the books, Auburn is now inside two weeks until the Hugh Freeze era commences. As the coaching staff puts the finishing touches on game prep for the UMass season opener this week, players will go through their first full practice week of the fall semester — setting expectations for what the next three months will look like. While there were plenty of other names that popped at times this preseason — and the Tigers still have a few practices to go until game week commences in earnest — here are 10 players who saw their stock rise during camp, improving relative to perhaps their offseason expectations, or simply making strides in their position group that couldn’t be ignored by Auburn’s coaching staff. QB ROBBY ASHFORD While the other names on this list may see the field much more than Auburn’s now-backup quarterback, Ashford has, by all accounts, taken some steps forward this preseason. Even though he didn’t win Auburn’s quarterback competition, with Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne being named the starter by Freeze last week, Ashford seems to have improved as a passer after a highly efficient 2022 campaign in that department. Then there’s always his dynamism as a runner, presenting a different element and threat for Auburn’s defense to account for — a tool the other QBs simply don’t possess. After Thorne was named the starter, Freeze challenged his No. 2 QB to respond the right way. What followed were what Freeze called Ashford’s best practices of the entire preseason. The redshirt junior turned in another strong scrimmage performance with his arm, throwing two touchdowns and completing 8-of-15 passes. Thorne winning the job didn’t come as much of a surprise — he was brought in to do so, and possesses a significant experience advantage over the others — but Ashford is giving his coaches something to think about because of his improvements as a passer. ‌ RB DAMARI ALSTON (Austin Perryman / Auburn Athletics) Separate from the drama of the Jarquez Hunter saga, the expected production from experienced transfer Brian Battie, and the excitement of 4-star freshman Jeremiah Cobb, sophomore Damari Alston continued to put in the work this preseason. And continuing where he left off after a strong spring, the former 4-star recruit seems to have made himself an invaluable piece of Auburn’s running game this fall. Alston has garnered plenty of first-team reps, and scored a touchdown in each of the team’s preseason scrimmages. At 5-foot-10 and 209 pounds, Alston has been able to display his shiftiness and power as a sturdy ball-carrier with a low center of gravity, but he’s also been one of the Tigers’ most capable home-run hitters this preseason. Offensive line coach Jake Thornton, whose unit blocked for 1,600-yard rusher Quinshon Judkins last year at Ole Miss, said Alston might be the most explosive running back he’s ever seen. Auburn’s running back room is regarded as one of the team’s strengths, and Alston’s strides have become a reason why. ‌ WR JAY FAIR Perhaps an under-the-radar breakout candidate in a deep receiving corps, Fair came on strong this preseason at the slot position. After catching just two passes last year, the sophomore and former 3-star recruit occupied plenty of first-team reps at slot in practice even before incumbent starter Ja'Varrius Johnson sustained a minor mouth injury and missed a few days of practice. What’s led to Fair’s improvements? After Freeze said Fair was among a few players on offense who had “the most consistent spring camp,” Fair spent a good chunk of the offseason putting in work with Thorne and Auburn’s other newcomers on offense. As a result, he's playing with a lot more confidence,” and “playing a lot faster, being decisive in his decisions,” offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery said. Slot receiver looked to be an easy position to project in the offseason, but Fair has now pushed Johnson, a fifth-year senior, hard for playing time. ‌ WR SHANE HOOKS Speaking of a deep group of receivers: The Tigers needed some names to emerge into primary weapons over the course of camp. It should be one of the more evenly utilized groups on the team, but particularly in the early portion of the season, Thorne and Auburn’s new-look passing game would benefit from some go-to options. It appears Hooks, the leading receiver last season at Jackson State, has more than solidified himself among that group with his consistency, size and playmaking ability. It’s clear from watching practice that Thorne is comfortable looking to Hooks, and the 6-foot-4, 190-pound receiver has made good on his quarterback’s trust. Hooks not only has the length and speed to hurt defenses in multiple ways down the field — we’ve seen him take short passes for big gains and haul in deep shots down the field — but he also might be the most freakishly talented receiver on the roster. That much was apparent when he skied for a one-handed touchdown grab in Saturday’s scrimmage — his second of the day. Hooks was already assumed to be one of Auburn’s top receivers this season all the way back when the Tigers snagged him out of the portal, but his performances this preseason have been encouraging to Auburn’s coaching staff all the same. An honorable mention in terms of consistent pass-catchers on this list would be tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, as it wouldn’t be surprising if he and Hooks were the two most-targeted players on offense this season. ‌ OT IZAVION MILLER In the quest to reverse Auburn’s mostly negative offensive line trends from the past couple seasons, Thornton kept his eyes open throughout camp for any possible advantages or improvements he could make not only to his starting five, but the two-deep in general. It appears Auburn is positioned to have a couple waves of quality offensive linemen for the first time in years, and players like Miller — who was assumed a backup since it seemed Auburn had both its tackle spots locked in — are a big reason why. The nation’s No. 4 JUCO offensive tackle recruit, Miller flipped from Ole Miss to Auburn when Thornton was hired. Thornton has been high on his potential as an SEC tackle for years now. And that potential could be taken advantage of as early as this season, after Miller surged into receiving starting right tackle reps late in camp. That moved Gunner Britton over to left guard, as Thornton and Freeze are comfortable working into the season to find the best combination for their starting five. As Freeze put it, because of how well Miller has practiced dating back even to the spring, “We can’t keep him off the field. He’s going to have to play.” ‌ OG KAMERON STUTTS (Austin Perryman / Auburn Athletics) The fifth-year senior started 11 games at guard last season, yes, but he was far from a projected starter up front back in the spring. Stutts began spring ball getting third-team reps, though he slowly worked his way back up, culminating in a starting nod at right guard in the spring game. After his SEC Media Days selection, Stutts began preseason camp in a starting role, and despite a number of quality contenders around him — Tate Johnson, Jeremiah Wright, Connor Lew and Jalil Irvin, just to name a few — Stutts has yet to relinquish his starting spot. With plenty of shuffling even between starting-caliber players on the offensive line, Auburn has yet to pull Stutts from right guard for more than just a few reps at a time. And according to Thornton, it’s all effort from Stutts: “Every day when he gets in there, he’s the first one in, last one to leave, taking care of his body. The trials that he’s been through, the injuries, the coaching changes and trying to find his way, for him to stick it out and still be here, that alone means the world to me as a coach and to the rest of those guys. And it’s setting a great example to the younger players. Like hey, if you don’t get what you want Year 1? You don’t get what you want Year 2? Stick it out and keep working.” ‌ DE KELDRIC FAULK Is it cheating to include Auburn’s highest-rated defensive line recruit since 2016? Maybe. But the fact that Faulk has seemed to make continual improvements in his second semester of practices on campus signals that the true freshman is more than ready to contribute against SEC competition right away. Auburn’s defensive coaches made the decision after the spring to move Faulk, who’s filled out into a 6-foot-6, 288-pound frame, from the “jack” pass-rusher position to a true defensive end spot. The move made sense on multiple fronts, as it allowed three-year starter Marcus Harris to move back inside to defensive tackle, where position coach Jeremy Garrett said “he’s at his best.” Not only did Faulk make a position change, but when fully healthy, he’s been Auburn’s starter there. A minor hand issue has put him in a non-contact jersey over the past few practices, and Maryland transfer Mosiah Nasili-Kite has filled in. Faulk likely won’t have a massive advantage in terms of playing time at defensive end as only a true freshman, but Auburn’s coaches were elated to see that one of the most talented players on their entire roster continued to take some steps forward this preseason. ‌ OLB JALEN MCLEOD Auburn needed multiple players to step up in order to orchestrate a successful, full-scale overhaul of its pass-rusher spot. All its production from last season either left for the NFL, graduated or exited via the transfer portal. That forced Auburn to heavily mine the transfer ranks for help — and the Tigers’ most productive addition at jack linebacker has been regarded as one of the top overall players on the entire defense. McLeod, whom Garrett said has displayed an “unbelievable” skill set in practice, comes over from App State after he said he had transfer opportunities across most major programs along the east coast. But McLeod chose Auburn because of how familiar coordinator Ron Roberts’ scheme felt to what he ran at App State, and the fact that the Tigers were more than happy to keep him at outside linebacker and not ask him to play in the box. Auburn’s offensive linemen have marveled at his explosiveness off the edge, and the D-linemen say he raises the unit’s pass-rush capabilities exponentially. McLeod is another example of a transfer Auburn knew would be asked to make a significant impact, but has nonetheless outperformed expectations thus far. ‌ OLB STEPHEN SINGS The other side of that coin is Sings, the lone transfer to follow Freeze and a few of his assistants over from Liberty. Whereas McLeod is a nimble pass-rusher, Sings, at 6-foot-3 and 248 pounds, has the size and physicality to play some earlier downs at the position. Sings quickly rose into a first-team role this preseason, where he swapped with McLeod at jack linebacker depending on the formation and alignment — and they also have experience playing together on the defensive front, when the Tigers really want to pin their ears back and attack the quarterback. Sings was a productive player at Liberty over the course of three years given his role, but was, at the end of the day, a rotational piece who wasn’t a splashy pickup for Auburn in the transfer portal. But given his preseason production — Freeze said Sings had one, maybe two sacks in the second scrimmage with McLeod sidelined due to a minor ankle injury — and how well he’s fit into Auburn’s plans to rotate the defensive front, Sings could end up having his best college season in the SEC this year. ‌ LB EUGENE ASANTE (Austin Perryman / Auburn Athletics) Asante’s name may not have been one earmarked by many Auburn fans to keep an eye on heading into the 2023 season, after he played only on special teams last season, and the fact that the Tigers bolstered their linebacking corps in the portal with a couple experienced pickups this offseason. But inside two weeks until the season kicks off, Asante has as good a chance to earn a starting job as most players in Auburn’s defensive front seven. After transferring last offseason from North Carolina — where he tallied 58 tackles across three seasons — Asante missed a couple weeks of last year’s spring practices following the passing of his father. By the time fall camp rolled around, Asante was behind on the defense, and his opportunities to play ahead of names like Wesley Steiner and Cam Riley were slim. But now that the playing field has been leveled, per se, with a new coaching staff, Asante’s motor, effort and enthusiasm have painted him as an important player for the Tigers throughout the preseason. For the better part of fall camp, Asante has been the first-team linebacker on the weak side, and as position coach Josh Aldridge looks to iron out a rotation of four or five starting-caliber players, Asante is undoubtedly near the top of that group. *** 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 *** Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column Thoughts on Auburn foo.tball as the Tigers prepare for the 2023 season under Hugh Freeze VIDEO: How Payton Thorne won Auburn's QB job The best thing that ever happened to Auburn football? There’s no question that Bryan Harsin’s tenure at Auburn will go down as one of the worst in program history, but I contend that it also may become one of the best things to ever happen to the program because of the changes it brought on both inside and outside the new Woltosz Center. I believe it took a mistake the magnitude of Harsin to bring the Auburn people together, both inside the athletic department and for the entire fanbase. For years, Auburn had always been the place that had a bad year or two, but would quickly rebound and make a run at a championship because of the talent level on the roster. That wasn’t going to happen this time. This wasn’t a program under Harsin that had a one-off season and was going to come back strong. It was a program heading for the bottom of the Southeastern Conference and doing it quickly. The first step was putting Cadillac Williams in place last season. That brought unity and pride back immediately, setting the table for Hugh Freeze and this staff to begin the rebuild. And make no mistake, this was a rebuild I have said it many times before, this was a team headed towards a three-win season before the change was made. Since that time, Auburn has lost some players and added more than 40 to the roster. Many of those are going to play key roles this season in Freeze’s first year on the job. And there’s still a long way to go despite adding as many as seven new starters on offense that weren’t on the team last season and another four or five on defense. I’m not expecting a complete 180 like we saw in 1993 and in 2013, but I expect to see a much more competitive team throughout the year than we saw a season ago. I also think we’ll see a team more capable of scoring points and being more explosive on offense. If the defense can find a few playmakers up front then it’s a team that could have a chance to surprise. No matter how things turn out, it’s a program that is on the right track in every aspect. It has been a long time since you could say that about Auburn football. Will that be enough to get Auburn back among the elite this season? Maybe not, but I don’t think it’s too far down the road. A Fairweather fan That’s a term that could have a new meaning this season with FIU tight end transfer Rivaldo Fairweather a guy that everyone around the program expects big things from this season. And I’m in agreement with them after seeing more of him during our extended practice viewing last week. He’s a player that moves like a tight end, but has the receiving skills of a wide receiver. That gets thrown around a lot, but in this case I can definitely see it. What could make him and this Auburn offense very interesting is if they can continue to run the football at a high level during the season. Because of that, you could see multiple tight ends on the field and that will force defenses to change their personnel. That means deciding if you’re going to cover Fairweather with a linebacker or use a defensive back. Either way it’s going to put the defense at a disadvantage if the Tigers can still run the ball. It should open up some big play opportunities for the former basketball player and create a new wrinkle for the Auburn offense. Mr. Simpson I have liked Jaylin Simpson as a safety since he made the move back there full-time. With a year to get bigger and stronger and settle in, the senior looks poised to have a strong season for the Tigers as part of a very experienced secondary. With coverage skills, he’s a guy that can help against teams that spread the field, but he’s also a smart player that is enjoying being able to see everything play out in front of him. Because of his ability to cover ground and react in the passing game, I could see Simpson being a guy that creates quite a few turnovers this fall and that would be welcome news for this team.

auburntigers.com On The Plains with Shane Hooks: ‘I wasn’t supposed to be here’ Auburn University Athletics 6–7 minutes AUBURN, Ala. – Shane Hooks wants to make sure when he makes plays in Jordan-Hare Stadium this season, the fans know him simply as “Hollywood.” The 6-foot-4 wide receiver certainly lived up to the nickname during Saturday’s scrimmage catching two touchdowns, including a spectacular one-handed grab in the back of the end zone that caught everybody's attention. “If it were a game, it would be on Sportscenter tonight,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said. Hooks is a graduate transfer from Jackson State, where he totaled 82 receptions for 974 yards and 12 touchdowns the past two seasons. He began his college career at Ohio University. The nickname, however, started back at Olympia High School in Florida. Hooks came out to practice one day with sunglasses on under his helmet, and his coach said, “You know what? You’re Hollywood.” It stuck. Don’t be fooled by the nickname, though. Hooks might have a knack for making spectacular plays, but he also prides himself on hard work. He plays with a different edge because, as a premature baby who was born three months early, he knows he’s blessed to be playing at all. “I love doing what I do for the people that can’t do it,” Hooks said. “I wasn’t supposed to be here. So, that’s my edge. That’s my push. I do it for others that can’t do it. “I know there are always going to be obstacles in life. What are you going to do? Are you going to fold when they come or are you going to surpass them, jump over them? That’s how I approach it because I know I overcame life in actually being here and pursuing my dreams, so when it comes to football, I know that anything that comes my way, I can handle.” Hooks finds another source of motivation from his family and specifically his mother, Karen Mingo, who works as a pediatric nurse in Orlando where he grew up. He was the only boy on his mom’s side and was raised by all females. “I lost my grandma and my great grandma, so I have to do it for my mom,” Hooks said. “I think that’s why I have such a big heart. I get it from her.” While his love for people and for kids comes from his mother, Hooks credits his drive and his blue-collar mentality to his uncle, Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James. James played 11 seasons in the NFL and currently ranks 13th on the all-time rushing list with 12,246 career yards. He was a four-time Pro Bowler, the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1999 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the class of 2020. He knows what it takes to be great, and he’s tried to impart that wisdom onto Hooks and help him achieve his own dream of playing in the NFL. “I’ve got cousins that play basketball, cousins that play football, and he told us if this is what we want to do, we have to love it every day,” Hooks said. “We have to do it when we don’t want to do it. Just going out, the hot summers, every day – we used to wake up at 6 a.m. and be back in the house at 6 p.m. We were out there all day just working on our craft. It was just the foundation of hard work.” For Hooks, those 12-hour days began as early as 2007 when he was still in elementary school. Now, 16 years later, he’s at Auburn where he’s one step closer to his dream. When Hooks entered the transfer portal after last season, James initially wanted him to transfer to Cincinnati, where his son is committed to play basketball. But then the opportunity to play in the SEC arose, and James knew Hooks had to take it. “Once I got SEC offers, he was like, ‘If you want to be the best, you’ve got to go play against the best, and it’s going to show,’” Hooks said. “I want to go first round, so I know coming to the SEC will get me there.” Hooks had multiple SEC offers after a breakout season at Jackson State last year. Why Auburn? “Why not Auburn?” he asked. “It was mainly Coach (Hugh) Freeze,” Hooks added. “Him being so genuine. He’s a player’s coach. I just wanted to play for him. And he told me that if I come here and do what I’m supposed to do, the story is already written.” Hooks arrived on campus in June. He’s been working hard to learn the offense and put himself in a position to make an immediate impact when Auburn opens the season Sept. 2 against UMass for Kickoff on the Plains. He’s been blown away by the people in Auburn and the “family vibe” and can’t wait to run out of the tunnel the first time at Jordan-Hare. “It’s going to be a surreal feeling,” he said. As a graduate transfer with a bachelor’s degree in communication and sports media, Hooks has just one year to play at Auburn. And then, if all goes according to plan, it’s on to the NFL. Once football is over, he wants to stay in sports and be in front of a camera in some type of capacity. “I'm an entertainer,” Hooks said. Fitting for the man they call “Hollywood.” If Saturday’s performance was any indicator, Hooks will be entertaining Auburn fans quite a bit this season.

si.com What does the future look like for Auburn at quarterback? Daniel Locke ~3 minutes Is Auburn set at quarterback for a while? There is often a significant amount of debate among people who watch the game of football, but one thing the overwhelming majority of people would agree with is how vital a quarterback is to a team. There have been teams at all levels of the sport that have had a plethora of talent on their roster but fell short of their end goal because of inconsistent quarterback play. The Auburn Tigers find themselves in an interesting spot. They currently have two quarterbacks with starting experience on the roster in Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford, an intriguing sophomore in Holden Geriner and an exciting prospect in Walker White. Thorne, a junior, joined Auburn via the transfer portal this offseason. He spent two seasons as the starter for Michigan State and has two seasons of eligibility remaining. In 2022, Thorne went 242-387 for 19 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Freeze announced last week that Thorne would be the starter for Auburn to being the season. Ashford, a sophomore with three seasons of eligibility remaining, also joined Auburn via the transfer portal after seeing no game action in two years with Oregon. Ashford took over as the starter for Auburn last season and went 123-250 for 1,613 yards and seven touchdowns as well as seven interceptions. He also picked up 709 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Geriner is a redshirt freshman who only played against Missouri last season. He was a 4-star recruit ranked No. 242 nationally, No. 14 among quarterbacks and No. 26 in the state of Georgia according to 247Sports. Freeze mentioned how Geriner has developed and "is the most natural passer" on the roster. Geriner has four seasons of eligibility remaining. White has been coined by many as Auburn's "quarterback of the future." He is a 4-star recruit ranked No. 100 nationally, No. 9 among quarterbacks, and No. 3 in the state of Arkansas according to 247Sports. He will join the Tigers next spring. Needless to say, Auburn will have numerous options at the quarterback position for years to come. Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials!

247sports.com A special day as Jakaleb Faulk announces commitment to Auburn Steve Wiltfong 3–4 minutes Russell Faulk would’ve been extremely proud today, his birthday, watching his youngest son in Highland Home (Ala.) High Top247 linebacker Jakaleb Faulk announce his commitment to Auburn, joining his eldest son Keldric Faulk who is already making waves for the Tigers as a true freshman defensive lineman. “With them it’s a very special day,” the Faulk boys mother Lakendral Barnes said. “It’s their dad’s birthday. Their dad was an Auburn fan. “Today is a special day.” The elder Faulk is no longer with us, passing back in 2008, but his boys are certainly representing. “I’m so proud it’s just no words,” Barnes said. “I never thought it would reach this level for them. “It was a thing where I encouraged them to never quit on anything. Whenever they started a sport or started something, it was never quit.” Both Faulk boys are also pretty good basketball players, but football is where the future is. One we can keep up with on The Plains. Keldric flipped from Florida State to Auburn at the end of the last recruiting cycle. Jakaleb chooses Auburn over his other finalists Alabama, Clemson, Florida and Georgia. “With my boys, they’re big on relationships and the relationships are very strong and they’re very like home,” Barnes said. “The guys there, the football players and football coaches are very genuine people. It’s like you did not meet a stranger.” If Auburn doesn’t hire Hugh Freeze, perhaps the Faulks aren’t celebrating today in this fashion. “To me he seems like he’s a man of his word,” Barnes said. “He’s a small-town guy. From so far the things he’s told me, the way he’s building the program and correcting and getting the guys together and bringing in new recruits to the school, I think it’s amazing. It’s like they can see the light again. They have a chance.” Zac Etheridge led the charge in recruiting the Faulk brothers. “He’s a small-town guy, he’s from Troy, Alabama and he has a big heart,” Barnes said. “I’ve been knowing him four years. He’s an in-touch guy. Calls and lets you know what you need to know as a parent.” Linebackers coach Josh Aldridge was also involved in recruiting Faulk who becomes commit No. 2 for Auburn in the 2025 class, joining fellow in-state prospect and defensive lineman Malik Autry. 247Sports ranks Faulk as the nation’s No. 13 edge rusher and No. 111 prospect overall. Today was obviously a special day for Barnes too who looks forward to fun Saturdays inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. “It’s a huge relief to me because I know they’re together again,” Barnes said. “The bond they have is amazing and I know they will do great things. “They’re a dynamic duo when they’re together. They’re just a great duo.”

yahoo.com The Jacksonville Jaguars look like they have a star in rookie Tank Bigsby Natalie MillerMon, August 21, 2023 at 12:07 PM CDT·2 min read0Link Copied ~2 minutes It has become clear throughout Jacksonville Jaguars training camp that rooking running back Tank Bigsby is going to make an impact early on into the season and in his two preseason games Bigsby has cemented that he is going to be a serious game changer for this Jaguars offense. Already proving to be one heck of a steal late in the third round at the 88th overall pick (If you are a believer in preseason film that is). In preseason games against the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions, Bigsby has looked like he is casually shredding through defenders and has more juice than what was previously thought. Bigsby already has 122 rushing yards on just 22 carries for an impressive 5.5 yards per carry. Bigbsy’s vision, power, and ability to hit his second gear in an instant make him a nightmare to try and tackle, and his reputation as a broken tackle machine in college is rapidly translating into the same success at the next level. The rookie is establishing himself as an every-down back, Bigbsy has launched himself into the second running back slot behind Travis Etienne, and ahead of equally impressive veteran D’Ernest Johnson. Though Bigsby will ultimately not be the starting running back given the extreme versatility of former first-round pick and starter Travis Etienne, coaches would be hard pressed to not give Bigbsy a significant number of snaps, both in short yardage and obvious running downs. The rotations between Etienne, Bigbsy, and Johnson could prove to be one of the best running back stables in the league, and the rookie is a large reason why, looking like one of the best first year players at the position early on. Story originally appeared on Draft Wire

i hope it shows on the field. scott is whom i want to watch after reading so muchabout him.

al.com Auburn's Payton Thorne called 'rare', gets high praise from NFL quarterback trainer Published: Aug. 21, 2023, 6:00 a.m. 8–10 minutes It was early July when Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne last made the eastward trek to work with Will Hewlett, his personal quarterback trainer, just outside of Jacksonville, Fla. “Hey, you’re going to jump in with this workout,” Hewlett told Thorne. The workout in question also featured guys like San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks Kyle Trask and John Wolford. In all, there were about six or seven NFL quarterbacks working out that day, Hewlett says. Thorne, obviously, wasn’t one of them. “I think for him, it was the first time he was ever in that environment,” Hewlett said of Thorne. But Auburn’s newly named starting quarterback didn’t back away from the challenge. Instead, like a chameleon, Thorne blended right in with the likes of the professional quarterbacks he trained with. “I think you would’ve walked away from there, if you were a casual bystander, you wouldn’t have known that he wasn’t one of the pros,” Hewlett says. Passers like Anthony Richardson, who was the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft; Malik Willis, who was Hugh Freeze’s most successful quarterback at Liberty and is now with the Tennessee Titans; NFL veteran Matthew Stafford and the aforementioned are all guys Hewlett has had a hand in training. “I’ve been blessed to be around a lot of great quarterbacks and a lot of great coaches through the collective,” Hewlett said. “And then I’ve been able to mix in a lot of college quarterbacks and a lot of pro quarterbacks.” The “collective” Hewlett refers to is the QB Collective, which advertises itself as the only pro-style development pipeline for high school quarterbacks. Mike Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, Matt LaFleur and Mike McDaniel all serve as coaches with the collective, while Hewlett and other gurus serve as private quarterback coaches. Together, the collective has worked with players like USC’s Caleb Williams, who won the Heisman Trophy last year; Carson Beck, who was recently named Georgia’s starter for 2023; and current Chicago Bears’ quarterback Justin Fields. The list goes on and on. And what Auburn fans want to hear is this: Thorne isn’t an outlier. He, too, fits on that list. “I will tell you this: Payton Thorne is one of the best — if not the best — leader that I’ve ever been around at that position,” Hewlett said. “Just in terms of his presence, his approach, his diligence in terms of wanting to be great at the small things. Ownership on things he wasn’t so good at. He’s rare. I really mean that.” Thorne’s leadership was one of the first things Hewlett noticed about him when the two started working together when Thorne was a redshirt freshman at Michigan State. And if Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze were around to hear that, he’d probably say “ditto”. Despite transferring from Michigan State in May, Freeze had to wait until the start of fall camp in August to see Thorne throw with his own two eyes. But Freeze didn’t have to wait around to see Thorne’s leadership as it was immediately put on display when the fresh transfer asked for photos of everyone who worked in Auburn’s football facility, along with their names. When Freeze named Thorne Auburn’s starting quarterback Thursday, he mentioned that the junior transfer had a slight edge in terms of on-field play. But that was far from the deciding factor. “The reason Payton is getting the nod, is just the leadership ability and the understanding of the offense,” Freeze told reporters Thursday. In a radio interview with Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic Friday, Freeze went on to say that the other guys in the huddle have a different look in their eyes when Thorne is under center. Freeze said it’s a look he can’t explain. It likely means Thorne can pilot an offense – which is the biggest box a quarterback can check. But of course, there are others that Thorne will have to check if he wants to be successful as Auburn’s starting quarterback. Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne (1) throws the ball during practice Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023 in Auburn, Ala. (AL.com Photo/Stew Milne)Stew Milne When Thorne first joined forces with Hewlett, the focus was on tightening up some of his mechanics. “It’s one of those things in high school, when you’re going to be a college quarterback, you can rely on talent,” Hewlett said. “But when you get to the next level, things have to be tightened up fundamentally and we need to get better in areas. That’s kinda where everything started.” Prior to Thorne traveling to Texas — where Hewlett was living at the time — to train for four or five days, Hewlett had been analyzing Thorne’s film and suggesting corrective drills. It all boiled down to making Thorne a more efficient thrower — a process that started from the bottom and worked its way up. “He was somewhat unstable in terms of how he approached the throw,” Hewlett said. “And so we really put him in a position where he was more consistent with his feet and his lower body. And then his upper body was synced up really, really well. That kinda led up to his first year starting at Michigan State.” Thorne was Michigan State’s starting quarterback in 2021 and 2022. He tallied 26 starts during his time in East Lansing, passing for 6,494 yards and 49 touchdowns with a 60.9% completion rating. His campaign as a redshirt sophomore in 2021 was his best for the Spartans, throwing for 3,233 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Thorne also helped Michigan State navigate its way to a 11-2 record and a New Year’s Six bowl game win. In 2022, however, Thorne saw a bit of a drop off. “I know his last year was a tough year there. He was dealing with a lot of bumps and bruises and little injuries he had to work through,” Hewlett said. “Offensively, they lost some key weapons and they just weren’t the same team.” So Thorne made the decision to enter the transfer portal – something Hewlett says felt mutual between Thorne and the Spartans’ program. “I think it was mutual, they felt like change was coming,” Hewlett said. “And I don’t know necessarily that he wasn’t going to be the starter at Michigan State. But I think he just needed a fresh start and kind of a different environment.” Thorne entered the transfer portal on April 30. Five days later, he announced his intentions to join the Tigers on The Plains – a move Hewlett says Thorne made “100% on his own”. Selfishly, having Thorne closer to Jacksonville, paired with the fact that he’s got plenty of friends who are Auburn fans, Hewlett is happy Auburn was the transfer destination. But Hewlett knows being with the Tigers will benefit Thorne leaps and bounds, too. “I was excited for him to come south,” Hewlett said. “Just a fresh start and the SEC is a fantastic proving ground for quarterbacks to try to take that next step to the NFL. I think he was just kinda ready to move on and to take on a new challenge.” Thorne’s transition from the Big 10 to the SEC has been a popular topic of conversation, as it often is. When anyone at any position makes that move, people love to speculate whether or not they’ll be ready to play in the SEC on Saturdays. And generally speaking, that’s a fair concern to have, Hewlett admits. Hewlett worked with Ian Book when he was at Notre Dame. And Hewlett can recall Book saying there was a noticeable difference in the play of the defensive backs when the Fighting Irish played Georgia on Sept. 21, 2019 in a game that saw Book toss two interceptions. “It was like a considerable step up from any other program he had played that year,” Hewlett says. “But the good thing for Payton is he’s on an SEC team. So what you might lose in terms of the lack of explosiveness that you’re seeing in the Big 12 and the other conferences, you’re gonna make up for it with the receiving corps and the skill positions on the offensive side are equally as explosive.” But as is the case with any transfer, there’s going to be an adjustment period, Hewlett says. And it’s unfair to hold Thorne to irrational expectations. “But Auburn, I think, an upgrade in their passing game is something probably that would be helpful,” Hewlett said. “And not a knock on anyone that’s currently there, but I just know Payton will provide a different style of play that they haven’t had there in the last couple of years.” 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 Phillips Monday morning musings Phillip Marshall 5–6 minutes The difficult climb to the top in the SEC Having talented players is not that much of a challenge for SEC teams. They play in the strongest conference in the country. The Southeast is teeming with college prospects. But the problem with playing in the SEC is that, for those who are seeking championships, being good is not enough. Getting from the middle to the top can be more difficult than getting from the bottom to the middle. I don’t believe there is a bad team in the SEC. Even Vanderbilt has taken significant strides. But going from good to being a champion is a long and hard grind. In the last 50 years, six teams have done it – Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Four SEC teams – Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Vanderbilt – have yet to play in the SEC Championship Game. Two others – Mississippi State and South Carolina – have played in it just once. But that doesn’t mean those teams aren’t good or haven’t been good. Most would say Georgia and Alabama are on a different level. Some would say LSU, too. I’m not one of those. It hasn’t always been that way and won’t always be that way. But as the only SEC team that plays Georgia Alabama and LSU every season, it has made that climb difficult for Auburn. Yet, the Tigers won the national championship 13 years ago. Ten years ago, they won the SEC championship and lost a heartbreaker in the BCS Championship Game. They have beaten Nick Saban more than any other SEC team. They were one win away from the SEC championship and a College Football berth in 2017. So, that Auburn can get to the top is beyond debate. Hugh Freeze’s first Auburn team will be good. That could result in a memorable season or something akin to a break-even season. That’s life in the SEC. A terrific season wouldn’t mean the job is done. And a break-even season wouldn’t mean the job won’t be done. Kudos to Tank Bigsby Tank Bigsby is showing out in his first training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars. I am not surprised. If he had played on better Auburn teams, he would have been remembered with the great running backs in Auburn history. Sanders calls for more players to join fights Colorado coach Deion Sanders wasn’t unhappy that he saw a fight at practice recently. He was unhappy more weren’t involved. “He just fought. I saw two of y’all walking off over there and you got a teammate fighting,” Sanders said in a practice video. “Where they do that at?! Where they do that at?. If one fight, we all fight! You understand that? I don’t want to see y’all walking off when somebody’s fighting. Never again!” The problem with that approach is it would seem normal to carry that mindset to the game field. That’s a good way to get players kicked out of games. Clueless commentators If you listen to or watch much football talk, you’ve heard it. Commentators know a lot of details about a handful of teams. They know very little about others. In my car Friday, I heard a five-minute conversation about Auburn. The only name mentioned was quarterback Payton Thorne. One of the show’s host said Auburn would have a hard time because it had transfers who “weren’t good enough to play” where they left. He was wrong, of course. But he didn’t know it because he didn’t know anything of substance about Auburn football. I have no doubt the same is true of others. Stanford makes shocking offer So desperate is Stanford that it has offered to join the ACC and take no share of media rights money. Stanford, with a $38 billion endowment, can afford to do anything it wants. Maybe that makes sense. If it happens, it will be devastating for Cal, Oregon State and Washington State and will be the final nail in the Pac-12’s coffin. But it’s every man for himself in college football these days. Realignment a problem for spring sports One of the more interesting facets of conference realignment is how spring sports schedules are going to work. I am certain an effort will be made to mitigate travel of thousands of miles as much as possible, but I’m not sure much is possible. It’s an unfortunate situation. The SEC footprint is much larger than it once was, but all the SEC states are adjacent to at least one other SEC state. NCAA powerless to control conference realignment Those who say the NCAA should have done something to stop the craziness are just wrong. The NCAA has no authority to tell any school what conference it can join or leave. The notion of the NCAA as a dictatorial organization that can control conference movement or limit coaches’ salaries is off-base. It has no such power. Season’s openers will bring overreaction As I have for most of my life, I look forward to the start of college football season next Saturday. But I know what to expect. There will be immediate overreaction to whatever happens. You can count on it.

247sports.com Jason Caldwells Monday morning quarterback column Jason Caldwell 4–5 minutes The best thing that ever happened to Auburn football? There’s no question that Bryan Harsin’s tenure at Auburn will go down as one of the worst in program history, but I contend that it also may become one of the best things to ever happen to the program because of the changes it brought on both inside and outside the new Woltosz Center. I believe it took a mistake the magnitude of Harsin to bring the Auburn people together, both inside the athletic department and for the entire fanbase. For years, Auburn had always been the place that had a bad year or two, but would quickly rebound and make a run at a championship because of the talent level on the roster. That wasn’t going to happen this time. This wasn’t a program under Harsin that had a one-off season and was going to come back strong. It was a program heading for the bottom of the Southeastern Conference and doing it quickly. The first step was putting Cadillac Williams in place last season. That brought unity and pride back immediately, setting the table for Hugh Freeze and this staff to begin the rebuild. And make no mistake, this was a rebuild I have said it many times before, this was a team headed towards a three-win season before the change was made. Since that time, Auburn has lost some players and added more than 40 to the roster. Many of those are going to play key roles this season in Freeze’s first year on the job. And there’s still a long way to go despite adding as many as seven new starters on offense that weren’t on the team last season and another four or five on defense. I’m not expecting a complete 180 like we saw in 1993 and in 2013, but I expect to see a much more competitive team throughout the year than we saw a season ago. I also think we’ll see a team more capable of scoring points and being more explosive on offense. If the defense can find a few playmakers up front then it’s a team that could have a chance to surprise. No matter how things turn out, it’s a program that is on the right track in every aspect. It has been a long time since you could say that about Auburn football. Will that be enough to get Auburn back among the elite this season? Maybe not, but I don’t think it’s too far down the road. A Fairweather fan That’s a term that could have a new meaning this season with FIU tight end transfer Rivaldo Fairweather a guy that everyone around the program expects big things from this season. And I’m in agreement with them after seeing more of him during our extended practice viewing last week. He’s a player that moves like a tight end, but has the receiving skills of a wide receiver. That gets thrown around a lot, but in this case I can definitely see it. What could make him and this Auburn offense very interesting is if they can continue to run the football at a high level during the season. Because of that, you could see multiple tight ends on the field and that will force defenses to change their personnel. That means deciding if you’re going to cover Fairweather with a linebacker or use a defensive back. Either way it’s going to put the defense at a disadvantage if the Tigers can still run the ball. It should open up some big play opportunities for the former basketball player and create a new wrinkle for the Auburn offense. Mr. Simpson I have liked Jaylin Simpson as a safety since he made the move back there full-time. With a year to get bigger and stronger and settle in, the senior looks poised to have a strong season for the Tigers as part of a very experienced secondary. With coverage skills, he’s a guy that can help against teams that spread the field, but he’s also a smart player that is enjoying being able to see everything play out in front of him. Because of his ability to cover ground and react in the passing game, I could see Simpson being a guy that creates quite a few turnovers this fall and that would be welcome news for this team.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 66 Avery Jones JD McCarthy 3–4 minutes Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Hugh Freeze in his first season on the Plains. Buy Tigers Tickets Up next is transfer center Avery Jones. The veteran has cemented himself as Auburn’s starting center and will look to lead an offensive line that has several newcomers. Preseason Player Profile Hometown: Havelock, North Carolina Height: 6-4 Weight: 307 Previous School: East Carolina (2020-22), North Carolina (2018-19) Class in 2023: Senior 247Sports Composite Ranking Four-Star / No. 12 in North Carolina / No. 14 OG Career Stats Year G 2019 (UNC) 1 2020 (ECU) 9 2021 (ECU) 12 2022 (ECU) 12 PFF Grades Year Offense Pass Blocking Run Blocking 2019 60.0 – 60.0 2020 66.6 59.7 67.6 2021 59.6 61.2 61.3 2022 65.8 78.7 61.6 Depth Chart Overview Jones was one of the best offensive linemen available in the transfer portal this season and was a major get for Freeze and the Tigers. He quickly locked down the starting job and is looking to be a key reason for the unit’s improvement. With several transfers expected to start, it will be important for the room to gel and become a cohesive unit. Having a proven veteran like Jones in the middle will be critical and should help the entire offense. Avery Jones’ Photo Gallery AUBURN, AL - 2023.08.03 - Football Practice AUBURN, AL - August 03, 2023 - Auburn Offensive Lineman Avery Jones (#66) during a Fall… AUBURN, AL - August 03, 2023 - Auburn Offensive Lineman Avery Jones (#66) during a Fall camp practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL. Photo by Austin Perryman AUBURN, AL - 2023.08.19 - 2023 Auburn Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Offensive Lineman Avery Jones (66) during the Auburn… AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Offensive Lineman Avery Jones (66) during the Auburn Football scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL. Photo by Jamie Holt/Auburn Tigers AUBURN, AL - 2023.03.29 - Spring Practice AUBURN, AL - March 29, 2023 - Auburn Offensive Lineman Avery Jones (#66) and Offensive Lineman… AUBURN, AL - March 29, 2023 - Auburn Offensive Lineman Avery Jones (#66) and Offensive Lineman Dillon Wade (#52) during spring practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL. Photo by Austin Perryman Cincinnati E Carolina Football Cincinnati's Jowon Briggs (18) battles with East Carolina's Avery Jones (54) in front of quarterback Holton… Cincinnati's Jowon Briggs (18) battles with East Carolina's Avery Jones (54) in front of quarterback Holton Ahlers (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Greenville, N.C., Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

i agree! i have not been this excited since my ED pills came in the mail............lol

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auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn offers 4-star RB committed to Penn State JD McCarthy ~1 minute Four-star running back Kiandrea Barker may be committed to Penn State but Cadillac Williams and Auburn is still pursuing the 2025 prospect, extending him an offer to him Saturday. From Beebe, Arkansas, he has been committed to the Nittany Lions since April 16 but Auburn is one of several schools that have kept up their pursuit of the 5-foot-11, 183-pounder. Buy Tigers Tickets He is the No. 239 overall player and No. 23 running back in the 247Sports Composite ranking. He is also the No. 38 player from Texas. Auburn already has one commitment in the 2025 class in four-star defensive lineman Malik Autry. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15.

al.com A-List No. 4: Foley WR aims to change landscape at Foley, Auburn Updated: Aug. 20, 2023, 11:12 a.m.|Published: Aug. 20, 2023, 11:02 a.m. 4–5 minutes The A-List is AL.com’s ranking of the top 15 senior prospects in the state of Alabama. We will count down one each day until No. 1 is revealed Aug. 23. Perry Thompson was already familiar with the attention that comes with being a consensus 5-star prospect, but he wasn’t prepared for the direct message that appeared in his social media inbox last month. In language much too colorful to be repeated, former NFL superstar Antonio Brown wondered how Thompson could be considering a flip to Auburn after being committed to Alabama for more than a year. The story was met with skepticism from people who wondered why a former player at Central Michigan would have any interest or knowledge about a high school receiver in Foley. But it was legitimate. “He hit me up in my inbox after he talked to (former Alabama Heisman Trophy winner) Devonta Smith,” Thompson said. “I told him I was going to go where my heart says. He respected that.” Thompson is the best prospect to come out of Foley High School since Julio Jones, who went to high school with Thompson’s mother, a star sprinter herself. Much like Jones made it acceptable for an elite prospect to choose a developing program like Nick Saban’s at Alabama, Thompson could be a similar catalyst for Hugh Freeze and Auburn. While visiting for Auburn’s Big Cat Weekend, Thompson decided to change his commitment from the Tide to the Tigers. “I knew when I went for the visit there was about a 70 percent chance I was going to commit to Auburn. I just had to make sure I still felt the same home feeling again when I got there,” Thompson said. “It felt nice being on campus with the players, so I decided to flip.” Thompson may be the first recruit in history to literally flip from one rival to another. His announcement was punctuated by a flip into the pool in front of coaches and other recruits. The reaction was predictable. “Everybody went crazy,” Thompson said. “Even when I went out that night everybody on campus knew me. So, it was a great feeling.” Before leaving for Auburn, Thompson has big goals for his senior year at Foley. The Lions’ record has improved from 2-7 to 5-5 to 7-4 and a Class 7A, Region 1 championship last season. “Right now, what I’m concentrating on is getting everybody on the team with the same mindset and make sure we keep improving,” said Thompson, who caught 87 passes for 1,059 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior while also doubling as a defensive back. “We think this can be our best team yet.” A-LIST NO. 4: PERRY THOMPSON, FOLEY Position: Wide receiver Height/weight: 6-4, 210 College status: Committed to Auburn. Randy Kennedy’s scouting report: Perry Thompson is the best recruit to come out of Foley since Julio Jones. The comparisons are inevitable because they are both big wide receivers who play the game with passion. On the high school level, Thompson is as good as a safety as wide receiver. THE 2024 A-LIST No. 15: Josh Flowers, QB, Baker No. 14: Bobby Pruitt, LB, Theodore No. 13: JaCorey Whitted, TE, McAdory No. 12: Kevin Riley, RB, Tuscaloosa County No. 11: J’Marion Burnette, RB, Andalusia No. 10: William Sanders, OL, Brookwood No. 9: Jordan Ross, EDGE, Vestavia Hills No. 8: Joseph Phillips, LB, Booker T. Washington No. 7: Sterling Dixon, LB, Spanish Fort No. 6: Isaia Faga, DL, Central-Phenix City No. 5: Jeremiah Beaman, DL, Parker No. 4: Perry Thompson, WR, Foley 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.