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al.com Why is Auburn wearing those navy pants with the “power stripe” at fall camp? Published: Aug. 09, 2023, 7:30 a.m. 4–5 minutes Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter, right and the other running backs stretch during practice Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023 in Auburn, Ala. (AL.com Photo/Stew Milne)Stew Milne It all started when Auburn equipment manager Tyler Renard sat down one day and watched SportsCenter. Renard saw footage of the San Francisco 49ers practicing and doing so in a uniform very similar to their game uniforms. And he loved it. Renard said he thought back to the famous saying of current Colorado head coach Deion Sanders: look good, feel good, play good. “How can we execute this for our football team,” Renard said he asked himself then. Renard thought that meant an updated look in practice. Since he began working at Auburn in April 2022, Renard said he and the equipment staff have been working on tweaks to the team’s practice uniform to look more realistic. Now, that meant adding the iconic white, blue and orange “power stripe” onto pants that might not be so traditional. At Auburn, football uniforms are an institution. Auburn’s blue home shirts with power stripe on the sleeve date back to the 1960s, according to AuburnUniforms.com. The power stripe was seen on the white road uniform back in the 1950s. The stripe was added to Auburn’s pants in the 1960s as well. Those pants have always been white. That tradition hasn’t extended to practice. It wasn’t until last year that Auburn had the last name’s on the practice uniforms, and when adding names on the back, Renard said he also worked with Under Armour to add the word “Auburn” on the front. Renard said Auburn has worn navy blue pants at practice over the last two seasons. Players and fans alike both liked the altered look from the Auburn tradition, but Renard said the previous blue practice pants didn’t look as good as he wanted. So he asked Under Armour to add the power stripe to the practice uniform, too. “It’s a good way to get our practice look into our brand,” Renard said. At Auburn’s first practice of preseason camp on August 3, the team ran out wearing navy pants with the power stripe. Auburn’s baseball and softball teams have worn blue pants in games before, but seeing the look on the football team known for white pants caught some eyes. Photos of the updated look quickly spread on social media. Fans clamored for Auburn to bring the all-navy look worn by the offense to game action. “The power stripe is such an identifiable trademark and item,” Renard said. Renard said players asked to wear the uniforms in a game too. The look was so well-received Auburn tweeted to quell the noise. And Renard emphasized these pants aren’t coming to a game anytime soon, if ever. There’s a key problem: the practice pants don’t have a slot for knee pads. But even if Renard were to add the area for knee pads to the navy pants, creating uniforms for practice is a very different process than uniforms for a game. Because of the tradition surrounding the game uniforms, any change would require many more steps and approval from top administrators in the athletic department, whereas Renard and the equipment staff have the say over the practice look. As of now, there is no plan to pursue wearing the power stripe navy pants in a game. Frankly, Renard sees no reason to change Auburn’s tradition. 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.

al.com Challenged by coaches, Auburn's defensive backfield is embracing the task at hand Published: Aug. 09, 2023, 11:00 a.m. 5–6 minutes There are some punchy sayings that Auburn secondary coach Wesley McGriff uses from time to time. “Other side of the pancake,” said senior cornerback D.J. James. “That’s one of his sayings. If he has something else to say about something, he’ll just be like ‘And the side of the pancake is,’ and we laugh every time. It’s funny.” And in terms of Auburn’s experience levels in the defensive backfield, there are certainly two sides of the pancake. If you’re counting snaps from the 2022 season, the Tigers return their six top defensive backs, including James and fellow senior Nehemiah Pritchett. Together, the pair makes up one of the most seasoned and efficient cornerback tandems in the country. Zion Puckett and Jaylin Simpson, both seniors, are set to return as Auburn’s veteran safety group, while juniors Keionte Scott and Donovan Kaufman serve as the program’s most experienced options at the nickel spot. Yet despite Auburn’s secondary coming into the 2023 season as perhaps the most “figured out” unit, the position group isn’t immune to criticism from first-year head coach Hugh Freeze. “I think we’ve got to improve our mental toughness and our attention to detail in the secondary,” Freeze said ahead of Auburn’s first fall practice. “I do think we have some talent there, but it’s some older talent, and then it’s some really good young talent. I don’t think any have been stressed and strained enough to where we need to be.” Auburn’s “really good young talent” is the other side of the secondary’s pancake. Sophomore cornerbacks J.D. Rhym and Champ Bailey are two of the team’s younger guys who are vying for play time this fall. While Rhym boasts a lot of versatility, according to James, Bailey has been the one who is making big strides. “I’ve been seeing a lot of improvement, just growing, him learning. Just him asking me stuff,” James said. “I want to teach him, I want to be there for him. You know, he’s new here, so stuff can be fast. But I’m just taking him under [my wing] with me.” And James isn’t the only veteran in the room who has taken a younger player under his wing. It isn’t uncommon to see a young defensive back paired up and moving step-by-step with a guy who has more experience during drills. “We want them to get as many reps as possible,” defensive coordinator Ron Roberts said. “Any time we get them in those situations where they can do it, we’re trying to get them behind a veteran, so they can see the alignment, the adjustments—and what do they sound like? What kind of communications should they be making on the field? How can they talk to each other? Those things will hopefully help bring them on a lot faster.” Freshman cornerback Kayin Lee is an example of a guy who was brought up to speed quick after enrolling early. Since his arrival, Lee, who is battling Rhym for reps as the No. 3 cornerback, has garnered high praise from just about everyone close to the program. But not every rookie had the luxury of getting to The Plains early. “We’ve got some freshman, obviously, heads are spinning,” said defensive coordinator Ron Roberts. “Their heads are spinning. There’s a lot at them. The tempo, probably, of practice is a head-spinner.” JC Hart, Colton Hood and Tyler Scott are three freshmen who enrolled at Auburn on June 1 and are experiencing their first camp with the Tigers. While the younger players continue to adjust to preparation at the college level, the Tigers look to older players breakout as leaders. So far, it’s been Pritchett, Scott and a handful of others who have started to rise as leaders. But again, the dynamic isn’t perfect. “There’s about six, seven guys that we’ve kind of leaned on. The leadership right now is probably more so from how they conduct their business. We would like it to step into more so how it can lead the individuals on this football team to become better,” Roberts said. “I think we need to take some strides forward with that, if I’m being honest about that. We’ve got to take strides forward.” First coming from head coach Freeze and then Roberts, the Tigers’ secondary, which is set to be one of the team’s stronger units on the field, has taken its fair share of shots this week. And instead of feeling slighted, the position group, led by the elder side of the pancake, is choosing to respond. “It’s just the challenge. Every day, that’s our goal in the room: To get better,” said senior nickelback Keionte Scott. “With us being so talented, the only ways we’re able to give up things is just little mistakes. Being able to hone in on those little things and being able to know the checks and being able think fast and all play on the same level mentally and physically.” 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.

theplainsman.com Players react to Jarquez Hunter's return to practice - The Auburn Plainsman 4–5 minutes Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter made his first appearance to the media at football practice on Tuesday after he was not seen at the two previous practices in which the media got the opportunity to watch. Hunter accumulated nearly 1,500 total yards and 13 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Tigers, and the preseason all-SEC third team member is the presumed starter at running back for the 2023 season. After showing impressive signs as the backup behind NFL running back Tank Bigbsy for two seasons, his teammates were excited to see him back on the practice field Tuesday. “Everyone’s always happy when you have good players on the team,” said Auburn linebacker Wesley Steiner. “You go to a pickup game, you’re gonna want Michael Jordan on your team if you can pick him up, so it’s always good to have good players and you’re always gonna try to get the best ones. So, it’s good to have a good player back on the field.” Auburn receiver Malcolm Johnson Jr. echoed Steiner’s words of how grateful the team is to have him back and cited that their close relationship made him excited for Hunter’s return. “Jarquez, he’s a great guy to be around when you actually get to know him,” Johnson Jr. said. “He’s somebody that I trust, and he just brings a different element to the game that we all enjoy… It’s been exciting to see him back.” Left guard Tate Johnson blocked for Hunter during the first four games of the 2022 season and had a lot of praise for the junior running back. Johnson revealed that the team went live for the last part of practice, and that Hunter made it difficult for the defense to bring him down. “Jarquez is just phenomenal, and it’s awesome having him back,” Johnson said. “We went live the last period, and man, it was hard for those guys to tackle him. So, he’s phenomenal. Everyone knows that, and it’s just awesome to have him back.” Hunter’s talent running the ball was enough to make his teammates excited to see his return, but according to Auburn cornerback D.J. James, there was another reason to be excited. The preseason all-SEC third team cornerback noted that the energy Hunter brings to the team excited him. “Super excited to have him back,” James said. “I’m so happy to see my guy. Just the energy he brings, the confidence he brings to the team, that was just great to have him back out there with us. I’m very excited for him.” Hunter and the Auburn Tigers start the 2023 regular season on Sept. 2 against UMass. Freeze’s debut game at Auburn kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CST and will be televised on ESPN. Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman. Jacob Waters | Sports Editor Jacob Waters is a senior majoring in journalism. From Leeds, Alabama, he started with The Plainsman in August, 2021. Twitter: @JacobWaters_ Share and discuss “Players react to Jarquez Hunter's return to practice” on social media.

247sports.com What Auburn's coordinators are looking for in first preseason scrimmage Nathan King 6–7 minutes The early stages of preseason camp are always swirling with excitement. Everyone looks like a good player in shorts, and reps are spread evenly across the roster. Then things start to button up after the first scrimmage. Regardless of how coaches choose to channel their focus in the first full, game-like practice session, the preseason’s inaugural scrimmage always carries a bit more weight than any of the previous practices, and signals an important shift from then forward in camp. Coaches will review the film and start trimming down reps more significantly, needing to tighten lineups to ensure the year’s most likely contributors are getting plenty of preparation for the season opener. Of course, the stakes are also raised in a scrimmage setting when there’s a legitimate quarterback competition, which Auburn has for the second straight preseason. “I just want to see somebody take control and take a step forward,” offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery said of the quarterbacks in Saturday’ scrimmage. “Separate themselves. That's what you're looking for in your quarterback position, a guy that's gonna lead, guy that's gonna make plays. He doesn't have to be Superman, but he does have to be consistent in his play in his decision-making and taking care of the football. And then moving us down the field and staying ahead of chains. When we do that, then we're always going to be effective. And so the quarterback that does those things at a more consistent pace will be the guy that's going to win the job.” The Tigers will make the short walk from their new, $92 million practice facility over to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday morning for their first scrimmage of the preseason. With classes set to begin at the university next Thursday, Hugh Freeze and his coaches know the week that follows the scrimmage will be key in establishing a more concise pecking order at various position groups. For Montgomery’s unit, essentially every group — even quarterbacks — can be argued as being deeper than last season. The running back room now has four talented ball-carriers at the ready after the return of Jarquez Hunter. The receivers seemingly improved significantly via the transfer portal, and a handful of returning players are stepping up, too. The tight ends might be the most experienced group on the entire roster. And Auburn’s offensive line looks as if it can develop a strong two-deep for the first time in several seasons, with ongoing competitions not only at the two guard spots, but also for both backup tackle positions. It’s those depth pieces that Montgomery will be equally as intrigued with in the first scrimmage, even though they may not enter the season labeled as “starters.” “I think we've got a lot of depth that we've got to continue to keep building on, right?” Montgomery said this week. “And we're going to see those guys start separating themselves as camp goes on. But the battle parts of it, I think, has kept guys really in tune, really focused and really growing as a group and we've got to continue to do that as an offensive unit.” Usually, the defense finds itself ahead of the offense early in 11-on-11 work, considering the quarterbacks and their supporting cast have to all be on the same page in the playbook for a call to work, whereas the defensive personnel can sometimes succeed based solely on effort or instincts to track down where the ball is heading. But first-year Auburn defensive coordinator Ron Roberts isn’t as interested in yardage or the scoreboard Saturday as he is with the execution and discipline of individual positions and players. “There’s two basic things,” Roberts said. “We’ve got to eliminate unforced errors, pre-snap errors. ‘Can I get lined up right? Do I know where my eyes are supposed to be? Do I know what my key is? Those basic things. And then the second one is the tempo of the game. Big emphasis (Monday) was playing fast and figuring out how fast you can play, playing at a different speed of the game. That takes time to develop. It really does. So I thought our kids did a good job of answering that. That will be an emphasis the next four days: Eliminate the pre-snap penalties. If you ain’t in the right spots, you can’t line up, hey, we’ve got problems. That can eliminate a lot of mistakes on defense, just because we can’t adjust to formations properly, or kids can’t be precise on their alignments.” As many potential contributors as Roberts has lined up on his 2023 defense — with a host of newcomers both on the defensive line and in the secondary, and five or six contenders in the linebacker rotation — he admitted the unit as a whole still has a ways to go to generate the depth he feels it will need to survive the grind of an SEC schedule. Roberts said in the spring he wants approximately 25 players he can count on like starters in any given game. He has until the Sept. 2 season opener to get there. “Well, today as opposed to what I’m going to say in two weeks, three weeks — it should be drastically different,” Roberts said this week. “But right now I would say we’re probably at the 15, 16 mark. There’s seven, eight guys — they’ve got to figure out the tempo you’ve got to play the game with, the way you’re supposed to communicate, the consistency to do my job, and those types of things. We’ve got a ways to go, but we’ve got the time to do it.” The pressure will be dialed up a bit Saturday, but even by the time the Tigers finish, they’ll still have 17 practices left before kicking off the 2023 season. “We’ve still got a little bit of time, thank goodness,” Montgomery said. “And then we’ve got to figure it out from there.” The Tigers will report to the stadium at approximately 9 a.m. CST on Saturday, and Freeze will summarize the day’s action with reporters following the scrimmage at 11:30 a.m. *** 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 ***

saturdaydownsouth.com Stanford Steve shares thoughts on Auburn’s schedule in 2023 Ethan Stone 1–2 minutes Auburn football might play the toughest 3 teams in the SEC in year 1 under new head coach Hugh Freeze. The Tigers play LSU, Alabama and Georgia but play a tame non-conference schedule. There are also a few swing games against Arkansas and Ole Miss that could decide a lot about the Tigers’ win total in 2023. On Wednesday, Sportscenter’s Stanford Steve joined McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning to discuss the Tigers’ outlook for the season. McElroy posed the following question: Can he get behind an Auburn win total +7.5? Because of some inconsistency at the QB position from Payton Thorne and considerable roster turnover, Stanford Steve doesn’t think so. Check out his full comments on Auburn below: Truly, Auburn’s record at the end of the 2023 season is among the toughest to predict in the SEC this preseason. The Tigers, as Steve said, are on the wrong side of considerable turnover and face an SEC West gauntlet with the nation’s top team sprinkled in on the other side of things. As Steve argued, getting to 9 wins in the regular season seems to be an impossible task.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Keldrick Faulk is set to make an impact this season Taylor Jones ~2 minutes After the departure of Derick Hall and Colby Wooden to the NFL, Hugh Freeze knew that he needed to bring in experienced players from the transfer portal to fill those roles. He did so by snagging Elijah McAllister, Stephen Sings, and Jalen McLeod. There is zero doubt that their combined experience will be beneficial to the defense, but there is a true freshman in the mix that is poised to be a valuable player for the unit. Buy Tigers Tickets Freshman Keldric Faulk almost went another direction with his recruitment, as he flipped to Auburn just before signing day. Since then, he has proven to be worthy of the flip. He has worked just as hard in the field as he has in the weight room, and it has caused defensive coordinator Ron Roberts to place him in a new spot. “He played Jack most of the spring. A lot of our four-down stuff, it’s the same thing,” Roberts said. “So he was doing it half the dag-gum time, so we moved him to end. He’s 290 pounds by the summertime, so he’s kind of filled that spot. He’s in there fighting for the job. I don’t know how it’s going to pan out the next couple of weeks, but he’s going to be an impact player for us this season.” That says plenty about what kind of player Faulk can be. Sure, the Tigers’ depth chart is filled with plenty of transfers, but Faulk’s quick development could be a great sign of what is to come from the coaching staff. 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 Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

auburnwire.usatoday.com Keldrick Faulk is set to make an impact this season Taylor Jones ~2 minutes After the departure of Derick Hall and Colby Wooden to the NFL, Hugh Freeze knew that he needed to bring in experienced players from the transfer portal to fill those roles. He did so by snagging Elijah McAllister, Stephen Sings, and Jalen McLeod. There is zero doubt that their combined experience will be beneficial to the defense, but there is a true freshman in the mix that is poised to be a valuable player for the unit. Buy Tigers Tickets Freshman Keldric Faulk almost went another direction with his recruitment, as he flipped to Auburn just before signing day. Since then, he has proven to be worthy of the flip. He has worked just as hard in the field as he has in the weight room, and it has caused defensive coordinator Ron Roberts to place him in a new spot. “He played Jack most of the spring. A lot of our four-down stuff, it’s the same thing,” Roberts said. “So he was doing it half the dag-gum time, so we moved him to end. He’s 290 pounds by the summertime, so he’s kind of filled that spot. He’s in there fighting for the job. I don’t know how it’s going to pan out the next couple of weeks, but he’s going to be an impact player for us this season.” That says plenty about what kind of player Faulk can be. Sure, the Tigers’ depth chart is filled with plenty of transfers, but Faulk’s quick development could be a great sign of what is to come from the coaching staff. 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 Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

247sports.com Why Ohio State transfer Caleb Burton is progressing quickly in Auburn's offense Nathan King 5–6 minutes Perhaps it shouldn’t be all too surprising that the former fringe 5-star recruit from Ohio State, one of the top-producing offenses for elite receivers in recent years, has been one of the most talked-up newcomers at Auburn this offseason. There was no doubt about the talent level of Caleb Burton III when Auburn brought him in as one of four transfers at wide receiver, but a seemingly smooth transition for the redshirt freshman thus far in the Tigers’ preseason practices has added to the excitement for what Burton could possibly add to various aspects of Auburn’s passing game in 2023. Both Hugh Freeze and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery have complimented transfer quarterback Payton Thorne early in camp as a player they have to run out of the building — someone who has already demonstrated a tireless work ethic and desire to improve with his new teammates in only a few short months on campus. Burton has been that same sort of player for Auburn this summer and into the first week of preseason practices. His name circulated throughout summer workouts as a player to watch, and through five practices, Burton has rotated plenty with the first-team offense as a result. “I think for him, it's just the understanding of the game, the understanding of how to be a professional about it,” Montgomery said of Burton. “I mean, he's one of the hardest-working dudes. This summer, he's getting his lifts and he's getting all the extra parts of it. … Every day you've got to say alright, it's time to leave the building. Go get you some rest. Go get you something to eat. He's that type of worker, and he's very professional about the way he handles his business. I think, more than anything, his discipline in that sense is the thing that is progressing him up.” Rated as the No. 71 overall recruit by 247Sports in last year’s class, Burton signed with and joined a loaded receivers room. Ohio State returns what’s regarded by many as the top receiving corps in college football, with Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming all back — and that’s after the Buckeyes had the first receiver taken in the 2023 NFL draft in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. As a result, Burton didn’t appear in a game as a freshman last season during Ohio State’s run to the College Football Playoff — so when Freeze and the Tigers recruited him out of the portal in early May, “we base that off of his high-school tape, and we're basically getting a freshman,” Freeze said this offseason. That tape for the No. 10 receiver recruit in the country was, obviously, stellar. From powerhouse Lake Travis High School in Texas, Burton is the son of a longtime, defensive-minded high school coach, Charles Burton, in the Lone Star State. Burton’s route-running and propensity to find himself open within the defense have been his calling cards early in Auburn camp, and Montgomery credited some of that natural understanding of the position — and how to create space in a defense — to his father’s teachings. “I would say his route-running is very unique,” senior wideout Malcolm Johnson Jr. said. “I’ve stolen a few of Caleb’s moves, just trying to add that to my arsenal.” According to senior cornerback D.J. James, Burton has been working mostly at slot receiver, but Johnson said he can play inside and out within the passing game. That tracks with Burton’s size at 5-foot-11 and his shiftiness to play slot receiver, though he was also praised in high school — while garnering some of the best national evaluations from recruiting analysts — for his ability to high-point passes down field and play bigger than his frame would suggest on the outside. “I think he does have the ability to play inside-out,” Montgomery said. “He’s really fluid, natural route-runner. He’s coming from a coaching family; his dad has been a defensive coordinator in Texas for a lot of years. He’s grown up around the game, so he understands spacing and he knows where to find holes and get into them. He’s got really smooth, natural hands. For him, it’s just picking up the offense. He’s been in the film room all summer long.” Burton’s name could be one to listen for when Auburn heads over to Pat Dye Field for its first preseason scrimmage on Saturday morning. The Tigers will report to the stadium at approximately 9 a.m. CST on Saturday, and Freeze will summarize the day’s action with reporters following the scrimmage at 11:30 a.m. *** 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 ***

yahoo.com Keldrick Faulk is set to make an impact this season Taylor Jones ~2 minutes After the departure of Derick Hall and Colby Wooden to the NFL, Hugh Freeze knew that he needed to bring in experienced players from the transfer portal to fill those roles. He did so by snagging Elijah McAllister, Stephen Sings, and Jalen McLeod. There is zero doubt that their combined experience will be beneficial to the defense, but there is a true freshman in the mix that is poised to be a valuable player for the unit. Freshman Keldric Faulk almost went another direction with his recruitment, as he flipped to Auburn just before signing day. Since then, he has proven to be worthy of the flip. He has worked just as hard in the field as he has in the weight room, and it has caused defensive coordinator Ron Roberts to place him in a new spot. “He played Jack most of the spring. A lot of our four-down stuff, it’s the same thing,” Roberts said. “So he was doing it half the dag-gum time, so we moved him to end. He’s 290 pounds by the summertime, so he’s kind of filled that spot. He’s in there fighting for the job. I don’t know how it’s going to pan out the next couple of weeks, but he’s going to be an impact player for us this season.” That says plenty about what kind of player Faulk can be. Sure, the Tigers’ depth chart is filled with plenty of transfers, but Faulk’s quick development could be a great sign of what is to come from the coaching staff. 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 Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__ Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

yahoo.com How versatile can Auburn football's defensive front be in 2023? Richard Silva, Montgomery Advertiser 5–6 minutes AUBURN — Auburn football defensive coordinator Ron Roberts said it in the spring. Speaking to reporters in March, Roberts said there were about 16-17 defenders he was confident putting on the field at any given moment. He wanted to get that number as close to 25 as he could. His update a little over four months later? "Well, today as opposed to what I’m going to say in two weeks, three weeks, it should be drastically different," Roberts said Monday. "But right now I would say we’re probably at the 15, 16 mark. There’s seven, eight guys, they’ve got to figure out the tempo you’ve got to play the game with, the way you’re supposed to communicate, the consistency to do the job and those type of things. "We’ve got a ways to go, but we’ve got the time to do it. If we make progression like I thought we did today ... I don’t know if it’ll be by Game 1, but hopefully it’s by Game 2, 3, 4." SECONDARY: Keionte Scott, Auburn football veteran DBs focused on trying to 'bring our freshmen up' NEWCOMER: What transfer WR Caleb Burton III has done to stand out at Auburn football's fall camp Trying to put your 11 best guys on the field is akin to solving a puzzle, except there could be multiple correct answers. The versatility some players present gives a defensive coordinator more options, but it also calls for more experimentation. One of Roberts' experiments is with freshman Keldric Faulk, the former Highland Home star edge defender who enrolled early at Auburn and drew praise all throughout spring practice from players and coaches alike: "He's special. I watch him, the way he plays, he plays hard," said now transferred defensive lineman Jeffrey M'ba, who left the program in April. "He gives everything he's got every single time. I don't even think he's lost one one-on-one. ... That tells you how good he is. He's not afraid to line up against anybody." Listed as a jack linebacker and playing that through the spring, Faulk has taken reps at defensive end this fall. It's a similar position, moving from one end of the line to the other, but defensive end's often have their hands in the dirt. Jack linebackers often stand up on the edge and are a threat to either rush the passer or drop back into coverage. But when the Tigers ran a defensive front with four down defensive linemen in spring, Faulk was essentially acting as a defensive end. Roberts figured he might as well give the 6-foot-6, 288-pound freshman a true shot at the position. "He was doing it half the daggum time, (in spring), so we moved him to end," Roberts said. "He’s 290 pounds by the summertime, so he’s kind of filled that spot. He’s in there fighting for the job. I don’t know how it’s going to pan out the next couple of weeks, but he’s going to be an impact player for us this season." Auburn jack linebacker Keldric Faulk (15) during a practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center on Aug. 7. Marcus Harris was the starter at defensive end at A-Day on April 8. Vanderbilt transfer Elijah McAllister was the first jack linebacker to jog out onto the field. There's some options along the interior of the line, too. Roberts has a handful of players he appears comfortable playing there, ranging from Jayson Jones and Zykeivous Walker to transfers Justin Rogers (Kentucky), Mosiah Nasili-Kite (Maryland) and Lawrence Johnson (Purdue). Junior college standout Quientrail Jamison-Travis could get into the mix, too, along with a couple of freshmen in Wilky Denaud and Darron Reed. Jones and Rogers are the biggest of the bunch. They collectively weigh nearly 700 pounds and have gotten on the field together a few times during fall camp. Running the ball between the tackles against that much resistance should be difficult for any opposing offense. "Obviously, they’re both really good players and you’re going to need that in this conference," Roberts said. "That’s what it is. It’s a man’s conference, especially up front. The O-line, D-line, those guys up front kind of set the tempo of the ballgame, and they’re going to control it for you. "Skill guys can make big plays, but dagummit you’ve got to win the game up front. So, the more of those guys that we’ve got that can play in that category, that can play big, play physical, control the line of scrimmage, we’re going to be in better shape." Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football: DC Ron Roberts has options on the defensive front

247sports.com PMARSHONAU After more than half a century Pete Jenkins still teaches his game Phillip Marshall 12–14 minutes Pete Jenkins, who spent three seasons at Auburn, is widely considered the best DL coach in the history of the game. Pete Jenkins is still teaching his game to college coaches. In the interest of full disclosure, Pete Jenkins is my friend. He isn’t my friend because he is widely considered the best defensive line coach in the history of the game. He’s my friend because of who he is and not what he is. It is a delight to talk to him about football and about life. Last Monday, I wrote about the changes Auburn offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts have witnessed in their careers. I thought about Pete and decided to give him a call. My intention was to use some quotes from him in that column. But after we talked for an hour about football, family and life as senior citizens, I decided it deserved a column of its own. When Pete arrived at Auburn in 1996, I knew him but not well. The first time I talked to him, he was glowing. His wife, Donna, is an Auburn graduate. She was finally getting to go back home. Over the next three years, I spent a lot of time talking to him. He let me sit in on position meetings. One time, early in the morning during two-a-days, I fell asleep in one of those meetings. I haven't heard the end of it to this day. He taught me about football, particularly the defensive line. It ended too quickly. When Terry Bowden left and Tommy Tuberville was hired, Tuberville did not retain him. Pete and Donna were bitterly disappointed, but they moved on with their overwhelmingly positive outlook on life. Pete spent his first four years out of college as a high school coach. He went to Troy as defensive coordinator in 1968 and helped the Trojans win the NAIA national championship. Thus began a long and distinguished college and professional coaching career that took him to North Alabama, South Carolina, Southern Mississippi, Oklahoma State, three stints at LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn and USC. He coached three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. At 82, Pete gets as excited about the game as he did when he was walking sidelines. So great is his reputation that he is hired by multiple programs every year to visit and share his knowledge with coaching staffs. He is about to make his ninth such trip this year. He visited Auburn for a week shortly after spring practice. He works regularly with seven of 14 SEC programs. He trains NFL players. In the 55 years since he became a college coach, Pete has seen the game undergo revolutionary change. “I think the reason people still hire me is that where I live and work (on the defensive line) hasn’t changed a whole lot,” Pete said. “The game really has evolved, but it’s still about the line of scrimmage. If you’re not successful, you are not going to be very good.” The game of today doesn’t resemble the one Pete played at Hawkinsville (Ga.) High School and coached in his early years. “When I started playing,” Pete said, “there would be 22 of us on one hash knocking the hell out of each other.” The move to the spread-out, fast-paced, athletic game of today really started in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Blocking rules were changed to allow offensive linemen to use their hands. Then other positions were allowed to use their hands blocking. Some coaches groused that they had legalized holding, and they weren’t wrong. “It changed everything,” Pete said. “We changed on defense from shoulders and forearms to hands. Most of the rules passed have been an aid to the offense. We wouldn’t make a tackle now playing the way we did then. We had to start using our hands. That changed us on defense immensely.” That was just the beginning. Pete saw it all, and he loved it. “I think the biggest transition has been at wide receiver,” Pete said. “Those guys went from stalking and cracking on the running game and catching a pass now and then to a group of superb athletes. They are power-forward type guys. When they changed, we had to change corners. You had to have length at corner because they added length and speed at wide receiver. There were some short guys that played wide receiver back in the day. Terry Beasley could catch it today just as well as he did then. But most of the receivers today are tall and fast.” The game is no longer played in a box like it was in Pete’s early days. Offensive linemen no longer have to keep their hands against their chests when blocking to avoid being called for illegal use of the hands. Today’s offenses live to get the ball to elite athletes in space. Players are bigger, faster and stronger. “It was three backs in the backfield and then there was two backs,” Jenkins said. “And then there was a lot of one-back. Today, it’s common to have no backs in the backfield. That changed the linebackers because linebackers are in coverage so much. The guys I looked up to – Dick Butkus, Ray Nitschke and Sam Huff – would be playing guard today. When they spread those backs and started throwing the ball to them, that changed the linebackers.” Defensive line play has changed, too, but not at its core. It’s still about beating the man in front of you, stopping the run game and getting after quarterbacks. And it is still crucial to winning. Pete changed with the times, but his core beliefs of what defensive line play is all about have not changed. Jenkins with the Philadelphia Eagles Pete was as tough and hard-nosed as they come, but he loved his players, and they loved him. They call him still. Donna would make cookies for defensive linemen every week. “What hasn’t changed is you have five offensive linemen,” Pete said. “They have to move people around to establish the running game. They have to protect the passing game. That’s what they were doing in 1964 when I started. I am not saying they haven’t improved. There are a lot of smart people. There are so many protections today. Anytime you call a blitz, it’s just a guess. Protections are so much more multiple. “We have four front guys. And then you have linebackers that aren’t tucked in the box like they used to be. Our job over there is to control the line of scrimmage, whip blocks, don’t give up movement, get off blocks and make plays. When they throw the ball, our job is to affect the quarterback with push and penetration. You want to sack him, but you want to affect him – hurry him, hit him.” Pete and Donna have homes in Baton Rouge and in Destin. He has kept old age at arm’s length. He is still in his element when he is teaching his game to modern-day coaches and players. It’s what he has been doing for more than half a century. And he shows no sign of slowing down. Preseason camp notes, quotes & antecdotes, Day 5 High-speed offense, competition up front and more Competition is fierce on Auburn offensive line (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) AUBURN, Alabama – Playing up-tempo football, Hugh Freeze and Philip Montgomery style, isn’t just hard on skill players. It’s a different kind of challenge for offensive linemen, too. So says junior offensive guard Tate Johnson. “It’s definitely faster than what we’ve had before,” Johnson said Tuesday. “Previous years we’ve been more of a slow, pro-style offense, huddle-up, get a play, get the ball, run the play. But this is run a play, get the ball, run a play, get the ball, run the play,. Coach Freeze is really pushing that tempo, and I feel like it’s going really well. That’s the biggest adjustment, playing with the speed Coach Freeze wants to play with.” Doing that requires a different mindset than what was required before. “There’s two things that are challenging switching over to that particular offense,” Johnson said. “(One) is obviously the conditioning. You have to train your body to go at that speed. And two is getting up to the ball as fast as you can and still making all the calls and going to where you need to go, hitting all your spots. Getting really good at that comes with reps. I feel like this offensive line, even in spring and so far in camp, has done a great job of communicating and playing tempo we’re trying to play with.” On the outside, the conditioning demands are immense for wide receivers. “Man, I would say it's really different,” junior Malcolm Johnson said. “Sometimes your head spins. But it also sometimes confuses the defense, and that makes it easier for us to capitalize. It's really different, especially the conditioning that it takes.” Marcus Davis relates on, off field Auburn receivers coach Marcus Davis, an Auburn receiver himself just seven years ago, has made an impression on his players, and not just on the field. “I would say that Coach Davis is somebody that we can all relate to,” Johnson said. “He's been in our shoes before. He's also a great leader, and he preaches a lot of things I care about like religion and God. He always opens up with a Bible verse with each meeting. I think that's something that really stands out. He also takes it upon himself to make each and every one of us better than we were before. Freshman turns heads at center Freshman center Connor Lew, a prize in Auburn’s last recruiting class is pushing hard at center. Could he be the starter? He could. And Tate Johnson says he knows why. “I can't say enough about Connor,” Tate Johnson said. “Connor is awesome. A, he's a great guy. I love being around Connor. He's a great friend to have. Blessed to call him a friend. B, he's so smart. He's a pilot; I don't know if y'all know that. He's a smart guy. He picks up the offense so well. He knows all the calls to make. “I remember being a young guy, and I struggled with really getting the offense down. And C, he's a great football player. He's athletic, he's strong and he can do everything we have to do. And he plays super hard. I can't say enough good things about Connor, and he has such a bright future here.” D.J. and Crime Dawg Cornerback D.J. James, one of three Auburn players who started their careers at Oregon, has hit off with secondary coach Wesley “Crime Dawg” McGriff. Before practices, McGriff stretches like he is about to play. “Man, I love it,” James said. “Just very hands on. He's very hands on, just drill by drill, everything from what we do from walkthroughs, to in the meetings, to on the field. He's just very hands on with us. He shows us from his perspective first, then he lets us do it. So, it's just fun working with him and just being around something new and somebody that really cares for us as well.” Multiple guards compete for playing time Competition is fierce in the race to be Auburn’s starting offensive guards. At left guard, Tate Johnson and Jeremiah Wright, both Auburn veterans, lead the way. At right guard, its Tulsa transfer Jaden Muskrat and Auburn veteran Kam Stutts. Others are close behind. “Yeah there's a ton of us, and I feel like that's great,” Tate Johnson said. “Me, Jeremiah, Musky, EJ (Harris), Kam Stutts, all these guards that are battling for the guards spots. The thing about it is all these guys are super talented, and competition does nothing but bring the best out of everyone. If everyone's bringing it every day, you can't just come in and take a day off, you have to bring your best every day to make sure no one's pulling ahead of you. I feel like that's what the competition has done for the guard position specifically. It's just helped us bring it every single day.” Dylan Synda ‘a beast’ Freshman Dylan Senda, a recent transfer from Northwestern, is challenging for playing time. He is capable of playing any position on the offensive line. “Dylan is a beast, man,” Johnson said. “I can say this about everybody in the room: He’s a great guy. He wants to be really good. He cares and he’s big, powerful and a smart guy. Like I said about Connor, I can’t say enough good things about Dylan.” The return of Hunter, Wooden Running back Jarquez Hunter was back at practice Tuesday. Questions will remain about Hunter’s extended absence, but getting answers isn’t likely to happen. His absence was never football-related. There was a Title IX investigation involving him and safety Caleb Wooden, who also returned Tuesday, signifying they have been cleared for classes and football. Title IX investigations are not public.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Meet Auburn football's 2023 coaching staff Taylor Jones 4–5 minutes The 2023 season is getting closer, and it will surely be exciting for Auburn as they get set to take the field under new head coach Hugh Freeze. Freeze comes to Auburn after a successful four-year stint at Liberty, where he led the Flames to 34 wins in 49 tries. At Liberty, he earned victories over several Power Five programs such as Syracuse, Virginia Tech, and Arkansas. Buy Tigers Tickets Prior to his tenure at Liberty, Freeze coached Ole Miss for five seasons from 2012-2016. He won 39 games with the Rebels and was best known for his explosive offenses and for beating Alabama two seasons in 2014 and 2015. Freeze hopes to enjoy the same success at Auburn that he had at Ole Miss and Liberty, and he has assembled quite a staff to get the job done. Here’s a look at the 2023 Auburn football coaching staff. Austin Perryman/Auburn Athletics Montgomery comes to Auburn following an eight-year campaign as the head coach of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Prior to being a head coach, Montgomery was best known for his explosive offenses at Baylor. As a coordinator for Art Briles, he coached Robert Griffin III, Nick Florence, and Bryce Petty. Check out the history of quarterbacks coached by Montgomery here. John Reed-USA TODAY Sports Auburn’s favorite son, Cadillac Williams, returns to Auburn’s staff to serve as running backs coach and associate head coach. Williams was called upon to lead the program following the dismissal of Bryan Harsin and ended the season with a 2-2 record. After Freeze was hired, it was imperative that he remain on staff. Austin Perryman/Auburn Athletics A former Auburn receiver, Marcus Davis is set to begin his first season as the Tigers’ receivers coach. He is young in his coaching career, but he has made stops at Florida State, Hawaii, and Georgia Southern prior to his return to his alma mater. Austin Perryman/Auburn Athletics Ben Aigamaua is a 13-year coaching veteran and has built a solid relationship with Hugh Freeze. He spent seven seasons at Ole Miss in a variety of roles, and most recently spent the last four seasons as tight ends coach at Liberty. Austin Perryman/Auburn Athletics Jake Thornton joins Auburn’s staff after spending the last two seasons at Ole Miss. Prior to his time with the Rebels, Thornton spent time with Gardner-Webb, Tennessee Tech, and Western Carolina. © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK Kicking off the defensive side of the football is defensive coordinator Ron Roberts. Roberts has been a coach for 31 seasons and has even been a head coach at Delta State and Southeastern Louisiana. Most recently, he was the defensive coordinator at Baylor for three seasons. Austin Perryman/Auburn Athletics Outside of the three former players on staff, Wesley McGriff has the most experience with being on the Plains, as he returns for his third stint with the program. Last season at Louisville, his secondary forced 10 interceptions, which ranked 10th best in the country. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics Joining Cadillac Williams as a “non-negotiable” in the hiring process, Zac Etheridge returns as the Tigers’ secondary coach. He began his coaching career in 2016 as the cornerbacks coach for Western Carolina for two seasons. He has also coached at Louisiana and Houston. Austin Perryman/Auburn Athletics Josh Aldridge is an up-and-coming linebackers coach who is ready to make an appearance in the Power Five. He comes to Auburn after spending four seasons at Liberty. Prior to Liberty, he was an instrumental part of 10-win teams at Lenior-Rhyne and West Georgia. Austin Perryman/Auburn Athletics Jeremy Garrett comes to Auburn with several years of experience at both the NFL and collegiate levels. He worked with the Cleveland Browns’ staff from 2020-21 before making the move to Liberty in 2022 to work under Freeze.

si.com Auburn football's most valuable players in 2023: No. 9 Shane Hooks Lance Dawe ~2 minutes Hooks could be Auburn's leading receiver in 2023. We continue our countdown towards Auburn's 2023 season with a ranking of their most valuable players. Wide receiver Shane Hooks makes his way into the top 10 at No. 9. Shane Hooks' Bio © Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports - 6-foot-4 - 191 pounds - Senior Previous school: Jackson State Big body on the outside. That's what Shane Hooks is. Hooks was Coach Deion Sanders and Jackson State's leading receiver in 2022, reeling in 64 passes for 748 yards and ten touchdowns. He played 711 snaps on the outside while only playing 11 snaps in the slot. Hooks also played at Ohio where he recorded 665 yards and six receiving touchdowns over the course of two seasons. Hooks has a very real shot at leading Auburn in receiving this season even with the other additions surrounding him. Auburn football's most valuable players in 2023: 10. Alex McPherson, K 11. Larry Nixon III, LB 12. Rivaldo Fairweather, TE 13. Cam Riley, LB 14. Justin Rogers, DL 15. Keionte Scott, CB 16. Jyaire Shorter, WR 17. Elijah McAllister, JACK 18. Koy Moore, WR 19. Kam Stutts, OL 20. Ja’Varrius Johnson, WR 21. Austin Keys, LB 22. Zion Puckett, S 23. Camden Brown, WR 24. Marcus Harris, DL 25. Robby Ashford, QB Related stories Auburn football announces start time for 2023 fall camp Auburn football 2023 position preview: Quarterback Georgia beat writer says if Bulldogs don't play Auburn annually, 'that's not even college football' Auburn is voted sixth in the SEC West in SEC Media Days Poll Five Auburn Tigers make Preseason All-SEC teams Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials! Join the Locked on Auburn Discord Follow Auburn Daily on Twitter Like Auburn Daily on Facebook Subscribe to Locked On Auburn on YouTube

247sports.com Teammates react to Jarquez Hunter's reinstatement at Auburn practice Nathan King 8–10 minutes "Just the energy he brings, the confidence he brings to the team, that was just great to have him back out there with us." The biggest offseason question mark for Auburn has seemingly been resolved. Following a murky offseason investigation in possible misconduct, Auburn starting running back Jarquez Hunter practiced for the first time this preseason Tuesday morning, suiting up with his teammates after missing the first four days of camp. While the nature of Hunter’s absence has been a subject avoided by Hugh Freeze and Auburn’s football program — considering it was a university issue handled by the school — the Tigers now hope they can put it behind them as they continue to charge forward to the 2023 season opener Sept. 2 against UMass. Though Auburn has other talent and experience in its backfield, the top dog in the room is Hunter, who’s improved in each of his two seasons with the program and is now looking to take over for Tank Bigsby as the starter. And his teammates said his impact on the offense was felt immediately upon his return. “I mean, anyone wants Jarquez back there,” offensive guard Tate Johnson said Tuesday. “Jarquez is just phenomenal, and it's awesome to have him back. Today he was making plays and we went live the last period and man, it was hard for those guys to tackle him.” Hunter immediately slotted back in with the first-team offense in Tuesday morning’s practice. During a break in the action, sophomore tailback Damari Alston approached Hunter with a big smile on his face: “We’re back, baby.” “Super excited to have him back,” cornerback D.J. James said. “I'm so happy to see my guy. Just the energy he brings, the confidence he brings to the team, that was just great to have him back out there with us. I'm very excited for him.” Though he’s back on the practice field, whether Hunter will serve any sort of suspension once Auburn starts the season is something Freeze is likely to address with reporters after Saturday morning’s scrimmage. In May, Hunter was the target of social media allegations from a now-suspended Twitter account, which posted explicit videos and claimed they were recorded and shared without consent of at least one of the participants. That led to a university investigation, the nature of which Freeze wasn’t able to comment on in the offseason. On May 18, a statement from Auburn University was provided to Auburn Undercover that said at least one member of the Auburn football program has been suspended for violation of team rules, though Hunter was never named specifically in any statement. Freeze said of the situation before Auburn’s first day of practice last Thursday: “Matters related to team rules and procedures, they're handled internally, and it will not be discussed publicly." “He’s somebody that I trust,” receiver Malcolm Johnson Jr. said. "He brings a different element to the game that we all enjoy.” After a freshman campaign in which he established himself as the Tigers’ No. 2 ball-carrier, Hunter had more yards (668), carries (104) and touchdowns (seven) in 2022. As Auburn hopes its offensive line production will be significantly improved this season, with 10 newcomers in the room, Hunter will likely be looked to as the driving force of an offense that will need a strong running game to support possibly a new starting quarterback. “I think any team can appreciate having a good player back on the team,” linebacker Wesley Steiner said. “... It’s good to have another good player back on the field.” Alston and USF transfer Brian Battie saw plenty of first-team reps in Hunter’s absence, and 4-star freshman Jeremiah Cobb has been impressive across the first few practices, too. Auburn offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery said this week that the room was taking more of a “by committee” approach — though that was before Hunter’s return to the practice field Tuesday. “All those guys are contributing,” Montgomery said. “And I feel good about where they're headed right now.” *** 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 *** Phillip's Tuesday afternoon musings Hunter returns as the college football landscape continues to change Amid the craziness that continues in board rooms, college football players are doing what they always do in August. They are working in stifling heat toward a season that will be here before you can say “realignment.” At Auburn, there was a bit of good news on Wednesday. Running back Jarquez Hunter returned to the practice field and, according to reports, brought the hammer on some defenders in full-speed work. For players and coaches, excitement is in the air. After all, everybody is undefeated. Meanwhile, athletics directors, presidents and boards of trustees/regents are trying to figure out what the heck has happened to the game and how it is going to impact them. These are unique times and scary times for college football and the non-revenue sports college football supports. Some very random thoughts about those things and more: * It is popular to say that college athletics programs are trying to make a profit. They are not. That’s not what they do. * I read and hear that the term “student-athlete” is no longer fitting. Been hearing that for a long time. Facts: You have to be a college student in good standing to participate in college athletics. How is one who does that not a student-athlete? * I saw a story that said Cal’s athletic department has more than $400 million in debt. How in the world can that be dealt with, other than the university have to shell out the money to pay it. Cal and Stanford, with huge endowments, can do what they have to do. What about Oregon State and Washington State? * A radio talk show host said he talked to Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff at an alumni gathering several months back and asked him what had surprised him most. Kliavkoff said he expected collegiality among programs and conferences when he took the job but instead found a cut-throat mentality. I could have warned him about that. * Those who criticize the NCAA for letting the realignment craziness happen don’t understand or don’t want to understand. The NCAA is not some monolithic organization. It is a collection of universities. The presidents of those universities make the rules. The NCAA has no power to tell any program it can’t change conferences just like it has no ability to regulate coaches’ salaries. * At the American Conference media days, UAB coach Trent Dilfer once again “warned” major programs from trying to poach his players. Dilfer talks a good game, but here is the question: What can he do about it? The answer: Nothing. * I grow weary and have for a long time about the idea that some schools don’t want to be in a conference with others because of academics. Academics are important. Cal and Stanford are among the two top academic institutions in the country. What in the world does who they play in football have to do with that? By the way, don’t buy the notion that they make no allowances for athletes. They always have and still do. * I really wish people would stop comparing college football to the NFL. Other than they both play football, they are not similar in any way. The NFL is made up of 32 teams whose only mission is to win football games. They are part of the wealthiest sports league in the world. College football programs – more than 130 of them in the FBS alone - are not like that. They have students playing their game. They sponsor dozens of other sports. They are not like the NFL, and if they try to be, it will be a disaster. * Did college football – with the help of TV networks – get too popular for its own good? Considering recent developments, that is a legitimate question. * Remember you read this prediction here first. Well, maybe not first. Payton Thorne will be Auburn’s starting quarterback against UMass on Sept. 3.

Jarquez Hunter returns, Robby Ashford’s best day Updated: Aug. 08, 2023, 4:33 p.m.|Published: Aug. 08, 2023, 11:57 a.m. 5–6 minutes Auburn held its third open practice of the preseason Tuesday morning, and its fifth practice overall. After early morning rain, Auburn used both the indoor and outdoor fields, but the biggest headline was certainly junior running back Jarquez Hunter being back on the field. Here are our notes from practice Tuesday, starting with Hunter and hitting other key points on the offense. Jarquez Hunter, Caleb Wooden return to practice In what finally answered a looming question over Auburn’s offense — at least on the field — Jarquez Hunter was seen at practice during the period open to the media Tuesday. Nor did it seem like Auburn was slowly working him back in. Hunter was in pads with the rest of the team and took snaps behind the projected offensive line starters. He’s going to be Auburn’s starting running back, but many questions remain regarding the circumstances of his absence and return to practice. Auburn has not commented on Hunter’s status throughout the offseason after a sex tape was released allegedly showing the running back. Defensive back Caleb Wooden also returned to practice Tuesday. He was also not seen at the first two open periods of Auburn practices. Wide receiver Koy Moore has been at practice throughout the first few days, but has not been a full participant. He was again standing off on the sideline during offense drills Tuesday. Robby Ashford and QB rotation continues During the first two periods of practice open to the media, the order of quarterbacks seemed fairly static. Payton Thorne practiced behind the first-team offensive line, Holden Geriner with the second and Robby Ashford third. That changed Tuesday. Ashford was with that projected offensive line starters, then Thorne, then Geriner. How much does that mean? Well, hard to know. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery both said there would be a rotation of quarterbacks throughout the first five practices before beginning to narrow down. Today was the fifth practice, so Ashford’s play with the top offensive line may be part of that. On Tuesday, Ashford did have his best set of throws during any of the open portions to media, including his best-thrown deep-ball: hitting Cincinnati transfer wide receiver Nick Mardner for a touchdown. But again, all the drills open to media are without a defense. Ashford is Auburn’s incumbent starter after showing some strong flashes at the end of the 2022 season. His 49% completion rate from last season though remains his biggest limitation. Auburn’s next open practice is Thursday. How Auburn whittles down reps — if it does at all — could be telling. Montgomery mentioned looking to Auburn’s scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday as a point where a quarterback could separate themselves. A look at some depth chart changes on the offensive line, wide receivers Outside of Hunter’s return, arguably the biggest change to Auburn’s practice was on the offensive line. After junior Tate Johnson was seen as the left guard on the top offensive line group, junior Jeremiah Wright. Wright started multiple games at that spot last season. Wright had been with the projected second-team offensive line during the first few days of fall camp. Unlike many of the other position groups on Auburn’s offense that have seen significant rotation, the offensive line groupings had been static before Wright’s move. That means a change on the offensive line likely has more significance and in turn signifies Wright back on the first team. Johnson played left guard with the second team. Certainly, a lot of time remains before the opener against UMass on Sept. 2, so nothing is finalized yet. Elsewhere on the offensive line, recent Northwestern transfer Dylan Senda worked on the second group as a left tackle. The wide receivers, meanwhile, saw a lot of rotation again. Nick Mardner, Jay Fair, Omari Kelly, Shane Hooks and Jyaire Shorter all saw some amount of run with the top offensive line grouping and Jarquez Hunter on Tuesday. Ja’Varrius Johnson has been seen with all three offensive line groupings throughout the first feOn the second time through the teams on offensive drills, freshman Jeremiah Cobb played with Ashford and the first-team offensive line. Later in practice, Mardner practiced with the tight end group at the Jugs machine while wide receivers worked elsewhere. 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.

wow. no new articles but one podcast. of course i will check back throughout the day for updates. even tigerland is the same articles that were all posted yesterday.

maybe a mod can come up with a better title. i can see some folks getting messed up on this and made me decide to give it it's own thread. it might be a bunch of hooey or it could be serious. i hope it helps someone.