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al.com Hugh Freeze has changed recruiting at Auburn. And all it took was a bit of effort. Published: Aug. 05, 2023, 4:00 p.m. 7–9 minutes Jackson High School produces college football players. Take Auburn cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett for example. Pritchett played for the Aggies in west Alabama from 2015-19, helping them to a combined 35-15 record through his four seasons and earning a 3-star rating as a prospect before enrolling with the Tigers. “We’ve got teachers here in the school that are talking about (Pritchett) getting drafted and stuff, so you know, there’s still a lot of close ties with Auburn,” said Jackson’s head football coach Cody Flournoy. Despite Auburn having one of its former players on the roster, when Bryan Harsin was the head coach of the Tigers, Jackson didn’t get much love from Auburn. Up until Hugh Freeze and his staff took over, current Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, who previously held the same title on The Plains from 2016-20, was the last Auburn coach to contact Flournoy and Jackson. “That’s the last time we ever heard from anybody at Auburn and we’ve got a player there,” Flournoy said. No one on Harsin’s staff gave Jackson the time of day. “At Jackson, every year or two, we’re always going to have good players. And that’s not that I’m producing good players, but Jackson and this community… this Highway 43 corridor in West Alabama that we’re on… there’s always players coming out of it,” Flournoy said. “What I’m getting at is to not hear from Auburn… it’s like at least y’all could give us a call or something. We’ve got a guy there. It’s like, y’all know where (Pritchett) come from, don’t ya?” Less than 10 miles east of Auburn’s campus in Opelika, Erik Speakman, head coach of the Bulldogs’ football program, shared many of the same stories. Speakman, who has been at Opelika for more than 20 years, tried giving Harsin and his staff the benefit of the doubt in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. “He came in under Covid so you kinda give him a pass in year one,” Speakman said. “But then you really never saw much of those guys. And it wasn’t just him, but the whole staff.” The state of Alabama is regarded as one of the best in producing college football talent. According to Bleacher Report, Alabama is the fifth-ranked state in terms of football talent for the 2024 class with two 5-star prospects and 19 4-star prospects. Alabama’s neighboring states, Georgia and Florida rank No. 3 and No. 2, respectively. “I don’t know why he didn’t put an emphasis on recruiting, maybe they just thought they could out-coach people,” Speakman said of Harsin. “But with the quality of coaching and the quality of players in this league, it’s not just coaching and it’s not just recruiting. So it’s not one or the other, you’ve gotta do both.” Harsin’s 2021 recruiting class ranked as the 18th in the nation after neglecting to land a 5-star recruit and reeling in seven 4-star prospects. Auburn’s 2022 class ranked as the 21st in the country and again didn’t feature a 5-star. Emphasizing recruiting is especially vital at a place like Auburn, where your program is sandwiched between two of the country’s recruiting powerhouses in Alabama and Georgia. In Freeze’s first true recruiting cycle at Auburn, he’s already done what Harsin could never do in securing the commitments of a pair of in-state, 5-star prospects in linebacker Demarcus Riddick and wide receiver Perry Thompson. Making the blue-chip duo’s pledge to the Tigers that much most remarkable was the fact that Riddick flipped from Georgia and Thompson flipped from Alabama. The Tigers also added 4-star athlete Malcolm Simmons during Big Cat Weekend, securing yet another in-state commitment. Granted, there’s still a while to go before Auburn’s current commits put pen to paper and sign their letters of intent, which bind them to the university. “It’s still a recruiting win when you’re getting three really good players out of the state of Alabama to commit to you,” Speakman said. “And for whatever reason, that wasn’t happening the last two years. Those kids would not have been coming to Auburn. “You really better do your homework, And I think that’s what you’re seeing now with Coach Freeze is his familiarity with the SEC from his time at Ole Miss and just the emphasis on getting in-state guys that wanna be at Auburn and wanna play for Auburn and then those guys in Georgia and some guys from Florida.” And a lot of those in-state guys do want to play for Auburn. Sure, most of the time the local high school teams are a balanced mix of Crimson Tide fans and Tigers fans. But an Auburn offer, especially if it comes to a kid without an Alabama offer, gives the Tigers a pretty considerable chance. “For us being this close, it’s probably 90 percent of them (want to play for Auburn),” said Opelika’s Speakman. “They’re either going to be an Auburn fan or an Alabama fan growing up here. They may like other schools… But if you threw out an Alabama or an Auburn offer to them, they’re going to take those first. To get that Auburn offer is huge for these kids.” Take the example of Jarell Stinson for example. Stinson, a 4-star cornerback prospect and 10-time track state champion out of Opelika High School, was recruited to Auburn by Gus Malzahn’s staff in 2020. Even after Malzahn’s firing, sold on playing for a program and not a specific coach, Stinson committed to his hometown team. On June 18, 2021, six months after Auburn hired Harsin, Stinson returned to campus for an official visit. Twenty six days later, on July 14, Stinson decommitted from the Tigers. “I don’t know, he was just never sold on the previous group (at Auburn),” Speakman said when discussing Stinson’s flip. So what exactly is Auburn’s current staff doing to sell players and local high school players alike? Local coaches’ answers might infuriate Tigers fans. “They’re just putting forth some effort,” Flournoy said. “And it doesn’t take a ton of effort, but come by and see me. And they have… It doesn’t take much. Show your face, wear your Auburn gear and it makes a big impact.” Auburn wide receivers coach Marcus Davis and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery have each made the three-hour trek down to Jackson to visit with Flournoy and discuss his program and its prospects. Speakman says Davis and defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett have passed through Opelika to do the same. Freeze was asked about Auburn’s recent recruiting successes Thursday as he opened fall camp with a press conference. “I’ve always felt like — I want this to sound the right way — I was pretty decent at recruiting,” Freeze said. “I had a good plan and a good plan for the staff. I’m not really shocked. Freeze admits to being a little shocked by the talent, or perhaps lack thereof, on Auburn’s roster when he first got to The Plains. And he, like the rest of those who have watched Auburn recruiting over the years, whether as a high school coach or a fan, express a sense of confusion as it relates to the lack of recruiting success the past two seasons. “I think it’s easy to recruit to Auburn. This is one of the elite programs in the country. Maybe we haven’t had the production in the last few years that is expected. I wasn’t here, I don’t know. I’m not really surprised that you can recruit at Auburn.” 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 Hugh Freeze has changed recruiting at Auburn. And all it took was a bit of effort. Published: Aug. 05, 2023, 4:00 p.m. 7–9 minutes Jackson High School produces college football players. Take Auburn cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett for example. Pritchett played for the Aggies in west Alabama from 2015-19, helping them to a combined 35-15 record through his four seasons and earning a 3-star rating as a prospect before enrolling with the Tigers. “We’ve got teachers here in the school that are talking about (Pritchett) getting drafted and stuff, so you know, there’s still a lot of close ties with Auburn,” said Jackson’s head football coach Cody Flournoy. Despite Auburn having one of its former players on the roster, when Bryan Harsin was the head coach of the Tigers, Jackson didn’t get much love from Auburn. Up until Hugh Freeze and his staff took over, current Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, who previously held the same title on The Plains from 2016-20, was the last Auburn coach to contact Flournoy and Jackson. “That’s the last time we ever heard from anybody at Auburn and we’ve got a player there,” Flournoy said. No one on Harsin’s staff gave Jackson the time of day. “At Jackson, every year or two, we’re always going to have good players. And that’s not that I’m producing good players, but Jackson and this community… this Highway 43 corridor in West Alabama that we’re on… there’s always players coming out of it,” Flournoy said. “What I’m getting at is to not hear from Auburn… it’s like at least y’all could give us a call or something. We’ve got a guy there. It’s like, y’all know where (Pritchett) come from, don’t ya?” Less than 10 miles east of Auburn’s campus in Opelika, Erik Speakman, head coach of the Bulldogs’ football program, shared many of the same stories. Speakman, who has been at Opelika for more than 20 years, tried giving Harsin and his staff the benefit of the doubt in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. “He came in under Covid so you kinda give him a pass in year one,” Speakman said. “But then you really never saw much of those guys. And it wasn’t just him, but the whole staff.” The state of Alabama is regarded as one of the best in producing college football talent. According to Bleacher Report, Alabama is the fifth-ranked state in terms of football talent for the 2024 class with two 5-star prospects and 19 4-star prospects. Alabama’s neighboring states, Georgia and Florida rank No. 3 and No. 2, respectively.

247sports.com Auburn DBs welcome high expectations with humility Were not anybody Nathan King 5–6 minutes Auburn’s defensive backs are well aware of the responsibilities that fall on their shoulders this season. Almost undeniably, the secondary is the most polished and complete unit on the entire roster. Nine of 11 contributors from last season are back, including all five starters. Then the Tigers added eight more DBs in their 2023 recruiting class — half of which are blue-chip prospects. Hugh Freeze knows he has to treat that group differently than, say, a position group with far less experience, or one with less familiarity with one another. So he’s not afraid to start putting some pressure on the likes of D.J. James, Jaylin Simpson, Nehemiah Pritchett and Keionte Scott this preseason — hoping to push some of the more talented players on his squad to their potential. “I think we've got to improve our mental toughness and our attention to detail in the secondary,” Freeze said on the first day of preseason camp Thursday. “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 but I do think we have some talent there. So I want to see them improve that aspect of it.” As the Tigers defense gets into the swing of preseason camp, first-year coordinator Ron Roberts has plenty of question marks to address over the next month. Most of those stem from a defensive front seven that was gashed as one of the SEC’s worst run defenses last year, and then lost a handful of NFL players. The secondary will be relied upon for its consistency and experience. Coaches won’t be pleased veteran starting cornerbacks like James and Pritchett aren’t winning battles on the outside. Fifth-year senior safeties Zion Puckett and Simpson shouldn’t be giving up a ton of yardage downfield. Scott, the team’s No. 2 returning tackler from last season, and his running mate, Donovan Kaufman, are expected to know the defense inside and out from the all-important “star” position, otherwise known as the nickel spot. “The only ways we’re able to give up things is just little mistakes,” Scott said Friday. “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. I think it really just comes with chemistry. At the end of the day we’re all different talents and (have) different abilities. But being able to all come in and be able to think as one group, as a DB group no matter who’s in the game, that’s going to be something that’s super important for us.” It helps that the group has familiar faces on the coaching staff, too. Zac Etheridge is entering his third season back on staff at his alma mater, after he was one of two assistants (running backs coach Cadillac Williams) retained from Bryan Harsin’s 2022 staff. With Etheridge now specializing in the safeties, Wesley McGriff has returned for his third coaching stint at Auburn to oversee the cornerbacks. While he didn’t coach under Harsin, he was last on Auburn’s staff in 2020, and he recruited and coached players like Pritchett, Simpson and Puckett. “Shaq and Kobe,” Scott said with a laugh, describing the relationship of Auburn’s two coaches in the secondary. “Chemistry, They’ve got chemistry already. … You’ve got an old-school coach with more old-school tradition and you’ve got a new-school coach. Being able to merge those together — it’s crazy to see it sometimes.” While all eyes are affixed on the quarterback competition this preseason, those attempting to thwart the passing game are among some of the best players on the roster. James, after posting the best Pro Football Focus coverage grade among SEC corners last season, said this offseason he won’t be satisfied unless he’s an All-American. Pritchett also could have turned pro last season after receiving a Senior Bowl invite. Etheridge called Simpson a “Sunday player” now that’s moved full time from cornerback to safety. The leaders in Auburn’s secondary are challenging themselves to balance that established production with a hunger to improve. “Everyone knows we have one of the top groups in the country,” Scott said. “Just being able to go to practice knowing that we’re not nowhere, we’re not anybody, we’re not ranked in the country, we’re not anything. … Offensive coordinators around the country are going to know. We just want to live in that. We want to let everyone know that there’s not going to be a person you can pick on in our DB 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 ***

247sports.com Auburn swoops in late lands commitment from 4star CB Jalewis Solomon Christian Clemente 2–3 minutes The younger brother of Zykevious Walker is now headed to Auburn himself After growing up with his older brother Zykevious Walker, Jalewis Solomon will now join him on the Plains, announcing his commitment to Auburn on Saturday over South Carolina, Florida State, Texas A&M and Kentucky. A dynamic athlete at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Solomon is ranked in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite as the No. 230 player, No. 19 athlete and No. 30 player from Georgia. While some schools recruited the Schley County product to play receiver, Auburn secondary coach Wesley McGriff zeroed in on him as one of his top cornerback targets. "Man, Coach Crime is electrical," Solomon said. "He’s always going to make sure I have a great time here, he’s always going to make sure I love it. He makes feel like an Auburn DB as of right now. "I’d love to play for Coach (Hugh) Freeze, like why not? He kind of made a point when we were talking to him, he’s — whenever he beat ‘Bama in 2012 — it’s like, man, that’s different. He was saying that whenever I get here he’s going to make me a big impact for this team and I feel wanted here." Already holding commitments from Jayden Lewis, A'Mon Lane and Jalyn Crawford to play cornerback or nickel — with Kensley Faustin at safety — Solomon was the top option that Auburn was still after at cornerback. As a junior, Solomon caught 86 passes for 1,210 yards and 10 touchdowns for a Schley County squad that went 12-3 and played for a Peach State Class A Division II title. On defense, he was credited with 29 tackles, 4 PBU and 3 INT. Also in the family is 5-star linebacker/edge rusher Zayden Walker, the No, 9 player in the Class of 2025. With the commitment of Solomon, Auburn's class jumps from No. 18 to No. 16 in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Social media reacts to Auburn landing 4-star CB Jalewis Solomon JD McCarthy ~2 minutes Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers stayed hot on the recruiting trail Saturday, landing a commitment from four-star cornerback Jalewis Solomon. Solomon is the younger brother of Auburn defensive lineman Zykevious Walker and picked the Tigers over South Carolina, Florida State, Texas A&M and Kentucky. Buy Tigers Tickets He is the fourth blue-chip recruit Auburn has added in the past 10 days, giving them 15 total commitments and the No. 16 ranked class in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite. Solomon joins a loaded secondary class that includes four-star cornerbacks A'mon Lane, Jayden Lewis, Jalyn Crawford and safety Kensley Faustin. His addition fired up the Auburn fanbase which took to social media to celebrate, here are their top reactions. This should remind South Carolina of 2010 SEC Championship — Auburn Memes (@AuburnMemes) August 5, 2023 Hugh Freeze and Auburn are on a recruiting tear. Couple five-star flips and then this Jalewis Solomon commitment sure felt like a flip. — Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) August 5, 2023

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn offers elite 2025 WR Cortez Mills JD McCarthy ~2 minutes Auburn’s recruiting has kicked it up several notches under Hugh Freeze and the Tigers are looking to keep the momentum going. While it’s the 2024 class that has gotten the attention, Auburn’s coaches are starting to work on the 2025 cycle and on Friday they offered Cortez Mills, one of the top wide receivers in the country. Buy Tigers Tickets Mills is from Homestead, Florida, and already has over two dozen offers and more are surely on the way for the talented pass catcher. He is the No. 98 overall player and No. 16 wide receiver in the 247Sports Composite ranking. He is also the No. 19 player from the Sunshine State. Making the jump from the Sun Belt to the SEC, Auburn wide receiver coach Marcus Davis has proven he can recruit at the highest level and Mills would be another big get. He has already flipped five-star wide receiver Perry Thompson from Alabama and landed four-star targets Bryce Cain and Malcolm Simmons, all in less than one year on the job. The Tigers currently have one commit in their 2025 class, four-star defensive lineman Malik Autry. #AGTG truly blessed to receive an offer from Auburn University 🦅@CoachDavisWR @G_miller11 @AuburnFootball pic.twitter.com/KmfHUXe5sR — C3🐐 (@whycover3) August 5, 2023 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 @jdmccarth

auburnwire.usatoday.com Rivaldo Fairweather named to John Mackey Award watch list JD McCarthy 1–2 minutes Rivaldo Fairweather is the latest Auburn Tiger to make the watch list for a prestigious award. Auburn’s tight end was named to the John Mackey Award watch list on Friday, the Friends of John Mackey announced. Fairweather is entering his first season on the Plains but impressed in his three seasons at FIU, catching 54 passes for 838 yards and five touchdowns. The 6-4, 251-pounder has the athletic ability to be a difference-maker in the passing game and has a knack for making big gains, he averaged 15.5 yards per catch for FIU, and with more targets, he has a chance to help turn around Auburn’s passing attack. Buy Tigers Tickets The John Mackey Award has been presented annually since 2000 to the most outstanding collegiate tight end and is voted on by the John Mackey Award Selection Committee. 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.

for those not in the know he is threatening folks on truth social.................LOCK HIM UP!!!!!

yahoo.com Opinion | Here’s the Intelligence Assessment of Donald Trump that the Government Can’t Write Donell Harvin 10–13 minutes Federal intelligence and national security agencies — from the FBI to DHS — are in universal agreement that domestic extremism and terrorism is the leading threat to the U.S. homeland. But homeland security officials are also trained to be apolitical, so here’s what they can’t tell you: Donald J. Trump poses a significant threat to homeland security. While generally highly decentralized and fractured, violent extremist groups have begun to mesh over a unifying figure: Trump. The former president has become a focal point of domestic extremism, and by not denouncing them — and sometimes courting them — he has been adopted by these groups as a de facto spiritual leader. In some ways, Trump has also co-opted these groups to boost his own support. This, in my assessment, makes the former president a leading driver of domestic extremism, and an unprecedented danger to our security. The indictment of Trump for his push to overturn the 2020 election puts that in stark relief. I do not issue this assessment lightly. Such statements are considered blasphemy in domestic intelligence circles and will undoubtedly draw the ire of many both inside and outside of the profession. To name a political figure, or any prominent U.S. person, in a domestic intelligence assessment is taboo. Intelligence analysts and the agencies that oversee them are taught to not politicize threat assessments. To do so would potentially run afoul of civil rights and civil liberties and the First Amendment. But times have drastically changed since the Trump presidency began. Even as the homeland security profession has resisted involving itself in politics, politically motivated violence has emerged as a major threat to our homeland. This has led to the rise of stochastic terrorism, which occurs when prominent figures demonize, marginalize or openly target a specific group or individual and violence ensues. Trump’s affinity for violent extremists and conspiracy theorists is an unspoken concern for many homeland security professionals. Throughout his presidency, he consistently failed to condemn white supremacists and far-right militia groups and created an environment ripe for potential violence. More importantly, the legitimization of extremists and so-called “patriots” by Trump and other prominent Republicans has helped them win converts to their violent ideologies. The culmination of Trump’s attraction to these hateful elements unfolded for the world on Jan 6. In the months and years since then, despite the prosecution of hundreds of the rioters and the recent indictment of the former president for his role in fomenting the violence, the danger of extremist violence has not abated. Instead, it has morphed. Donald Trump still poses a clear and present danger to the United States of America. I saw the chaos of Jan. 6 up close. At the time, I was the head of the District of Columbia’s Fusion Intelligence Center, one of 80 “fusion” centers around the country tasked with the collection, analysis, contextualization and dissemination of threat intelligence. It was clear to all on my team that the intent of Trump and his supporters was mass violence on a scale not seen in the District in decades. Throughout his time in office, Trump openly advocated violence on numerous occasions. Whether it was suggesting that protesters should be roughed up or praising those who engaged in violence against journalists and dissenters, his remarks encouraged a dangerous disregard for the rule of law and the sanctity of peaceful protest. But most significantly, he normalized the notion of politically motivated violence. In doing so, he emboldened individuals and groups whose base instinct or lack of civil restraint inclined them to protest with their fists and weapons, rather than their voices. It was this assessment that prompted me to reach out to every hospital in Washington, D.C., days before Jan. 6 to warn them to be fully staffed and prepared for a mass casualty event, including stockpiling blood supplies. I also briefed the District’s chief medical examiner and told him to be prepared for a large-scale crime scene with multiple fatalities. I remain grateful to law enforcement officers that the tragedy, as deadly and damaging as it was, never reached the worst proportions imaginable and as the insurrectionists planned it to be. While the Justice Department and FBI have done a commendable job of rounding up and charging the foot soldiers responsible for Jan. 6, the leaders and members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys can’t be the only ones who see consequences for the attack on our democracy. Without encouragement from Trump, these previously unaffiliated groups would never have been able to effectively unite and attempt the violent overthrow of our government. Trump assembled, addressed, hyped-up and dispatched a crowd of insurrectionists to do his bidding and attack the Capitol to stop the certification of the vote that he lost. He sat idly in the White House for nearly three hours resisting any efforts to stop what he had started. He knew those in the crowd in the Ellipse were armed, armored and ready to fight. Even after the Capitol had been desecrated, according to special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation, Trump and his co-conspirators were allegedly making last ditch efforts to try to persuade Republican senators to delay certification of Joe Biden’s victory. Finally, the former president is facing accountability for what happened that day. As a former intelligence chief, I believe the indictment of Trump for his conduct in the runup to and on Jan. 6 is crucial to maintaining the long-term security of our nation and the foundations of our democratic society. However, in the near term, we should acknowledge and prepare for the potentially fraught homeland security consequences. The former president is fomenting a radicalism that affects not only those in extremist groups or far-right individuals (lone actors), but has also permeated the mainstream of civil society, the media and public life. This is certainly not to say that all Trump supporters or those that ascribe to the “MAGA” doctrine are extremists. But these adherents still form a deep pool of potential recruits into extremist groups, people who could seamlessly and quickly shift from law-abiding, nonviolent citizen to violent extremist. Of the over 1,000 individuals charged for attacking the Capitol, the vast majority have a minor or no prior criminal record and were, by all accounts, law-abiding citizens up until the day Trump radicalized them. Roughly 15 percent of those charged were current or retired military or public safety professionals, individuals sworn to defend the Constitution and the public. Trump understands the considerable influence that he has over the radical and violent members of his following, and after Jan. 6, he is fully aware of their capabilities, and triggers. He not only courts them, but simultaneously manipulates them. His numerous public statements show support for domestic violent extremist groups — from “very fine people on both sides” to “stand back and stand by” to promises to pardon many of those convicted on charges related to Jan. 6 should he land in the White House for a second term. A trial and conviction of Trump could expand the number of disaffected and radicalized citizens who see violence as the only means to solve perceived political and societal wrongs. That’s particularly true because Trump is sure to continue his narrative of victimization and martyrdom. A central theme in violent extremism is a sense of aggrievement, victimhood and isolation, all sentiments Trump will cultivate as he moves through the justice system. Violent groups and individuals are drawn to Trump because he does not reject and in many cases defends their varied ideologies, be they anti-government, anti-federal law enforcement or anti-immigration; his exhortations that the left or the “Deep State” is coming after you or trying to take your country away provides the type of existential threat to his followers that is essential for the pathway to violence. The result is that disparate groups on the fringes of our civil society have found a central rallying point in Trump and “MAGA.” The confluence of extremist groups with differing issues, grievances and capabilities have unified under Trump to form a “salad bar” of violent ideologies. A successful conviction is likely to make Trump a martyr amongst these groups and could lead to disorder in the short term. But regardless of the outcome of the impending trial, the indictment of Donald Trump is a critical step toward healing the gaping and festering wound that Jan. 6 has left in American society. In fact, it is a necessary step toward bolstering our homeland security. Not holding those to account for the planning, execution or complacency required to make Jan. 6 a reality only encourages lawlessness and further attacks on our democracy. And while we should have no illusion that a Trump conviction will sway or de-radicalize the most hard-line elements of his following or those who have slipped into the abyss of domestic extremism, it could help stanch the pipeline of those on the cusp of transitioning into violent extremism and cut off the flow of members and sympathizers that these groups rely on to fund and swell their ranks. Trump’s willingness to fan the worst flames of discord and division is why, in my assessment, he is currently the greatest threat to our nation. My national security friends and colleagues might argue that it is a beleaguered and inflamed Russia, or a rising and emboldened China that are more serious threats to our security than a single failed politician. What they would miss in that argument, however, is that Trump is not a single person. He has become an ideology, one that tens of millions of Americans embrace; many are willing to commit acts of violence, go to prison, forfeit their marriages and relationships, and even die for it. How can any foreign adversary be more dangerous to us than ourselves? It’s why our adversaries expend great effort at sowing domestic division with elaborate and sophisticated mis- and disinformation campaigns. From the distant past, Abraham Lincoln whispers this premonition to us: “Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the ocean and crush us at a blow? Never! … If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher.” As it was in Lincoln’s time, the greatest threat to our homeland is ourselves; today, Donald Trump is that catalyst.

you folks always crying about me posting trump articles.....which are relevant by the way so i decided to be nice. no more posts about either biden and i will not post anymore about trump. have we got a deal?

auburntigers.com On The Plains with Marcus Harris: ‘A dream come true’ Auburn University Athletics 7–9 minutes AUBURN, Ala. – As a 5-year-old, Marcus Harris just could not wait until he was old enough to start playing league football. Now an established veteran at Auburn, his passion for the game is just as strong if not stronger than it was the day his little league coach told him he was finally old enough to play. “I started playing when I was 6 years old,” Harris said. “I wanted to play when I was 5, but they said I was too young. So, I had to wait another year.” Harris, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, started his college career at Kansas but entered the transfer portal after two seasons because of a coaching change. When he received an offer to play for Auburn in May 2021, it was a dream come true. Moving from Kansas to the Loveliest Village on The Plains was the opportunity of a lifetime for the highly driven defensive lineman. “It was all I dreamed about growing up and something I looked forward to, but I never saw this coming,” said Harris, who recorded 30 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss last season. “If someone had told me during my senior year of high school that I would be playing football at Auburn, I wouldn’t have believed it. I’m taking full advantage of my opportunity here.” “It was amazing having the opportunity to come here and be so close around my family, and Auburn having a family environment for me to come into and play. It is such a dream come true for me.” Everything about the Auburn offer seemed right to Harris. Auburn is just up the road from where he grew up and more convenient for him and his family. The southern hospitality and family environment is second to none. And he had several former Auburn football players, including current NFL players Marlon Davidson and Daniel Thomas, who encouraged him and supported his decision to be a Tiger. “They told me, ‘If you’re going to go to the league one day, you have to do it at Auburn,’” Harris said. “Many defensive linemen before me have gone to the NFL, and Auburn was one of the best choices for me.” Harris saw that in his first two years at Auburn, too, where he played alongside guys that are now on NFL rosters. They made a big impact on him and showed him what Auburn meant to them. “Colby (Wooden) took me in from day one and showed me the ropes around Auburn football, showed me how to do things, and how to be an Auburn Man.” Harris said. “Owen Pappoe stepped in and showed me how to keep my body right off the field so I can perform on the field. Zakoby McClain and Smoke Monday were also a positive influence on me being here. “Eku (Leota) and I came in together with chips on our shoulders (as transfers). Both of us were trying to get on the field early, so we stuck together. All of those guys really helped me to get where I am today.” Last year, however, the Auburn football program went through its share of adversity with a coaching change in the middle of the season. Harris faced the challenge head on. “It’s not really about the challenges, it’s just trying to stay consistent throughout all of the coaching changes and any adversity that hits you,” he said. “You must stay consistent with yourself before you can stay consistent as a team. I felt like our team and I handled everything the best we could. “I see each coaching change in a different way. Each coach has his own philosophy, plans and practices. We had to adapt to that. My teammates and I have been adjusting to that really well. Coach Cadillac (Williams) and Coach Hugh Freeze understand and know how it feels to go through adversity throughout the season. Coach Cadillac got us through that adversity last season. Then when Coach Freeze came, he knew what to change to turn this program around and what it takes with his philosophy. Coach Freeze tells us to not be content with ourselves, and to use that adversity as motivation to push through and get stronger and tighter as a team.” Freeze, who began his first Fall Camp as Auburn’s head coach on Thursday, has added an element of fun back to the program, while also pushing the limits on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom. “Everyone has just been feeling looser. Everyone is happier. The team started coming together to see the good in what we must work on,” Harris said. “What I have seen with this team is that no one is complaining; everyone wants to work and get better and perfect their craft. The team as a whole has gotten better since Coach Freeze came in. It’s just freer and more fun.” With Kickoff on The Plains less than a month away, consistency is the trademark for this upcoming season. “We need to be consistent and not have any more up-and-down games, keeping the main focus in mind and buying into the work and being together as a team,” Harris said. “This is the most ‘together’ team we have had since I’ve been here, and I can’t wait to show the world.” Throughout Harris’ time with the program, he has learned valuable assets that will not only take him far into his football career, but into his personal life as well. “Prioritizing is important,” he said. “When you have those bad days and you’re facing adversity, you have to know how to separate your personal life from business, and that’s a big thing for me. Something could be going on at home, but when you get onto that football field, you have to prioritize football. Then when you get home, that’s your family personal time. So, it’s OK to put football to the side for a little bit and focus on family. If you always focus on football, you won’t get their attention. “Being time-oriented is also a big one for me. I have schedules laid out so I can have my days planned ahead of time and don’t run late to anything. There are no excuses for being late.” An interdisciplinary studies major concentrating in business and communications, Harris plans to enter the NFL Draft after he graduates from Auburn this December. But more importantly, he wants to leave as an Auburn Man. “Auburn has helped me make connections with people that I never would have made connections with at other universities,” Harris said. “It has helped me build connections with people for life. Every coach I have played for has helped me by emphasizing how to be a young man on the field and off the field – how to handle situations and how to walk away from situations, and to not let your pride get hold of you. "Auburn has taught me how to become a man, and how to handle business in a work environment, as well as a school environment. I will always have appreciation for that.”

yahoo.com Brian Battie included in Hornung Award watchlist Taylor Jones ~2 minutes Brian Battie’s versatility was attractive to Hugh Freeze, which is a major reason why he was pursued. Battie rushed for 1,185 yards in 2022 at South Florida. Before his breakout season on the offensive side of the ball, Battie was known for his return skills. In three seasons at USF, Battie had 59 kick returns for 1,427 yards and three scores. As Battie moves to the SEC, he has found a place on an impressive postseason award watchlist. The Louisville Sports Commission announced Thursday that Battie has been included in the Paul Hornung Award watchlist. The Paul Hornung Award, named after the 1956 Heisman Trophy Winner from Notre Dame, is given annually to the nation’s most versatile player. The award has been given out each season since 2010, with players such as LSU‘s Odell Beckham Jr., Michigan‘s Jabrill Peppers, and Alabama‘s Devonta Smith all winning the award. Last season, the honor went to Oregon State’s Jack Colletto. 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 Why Keionte Scott compares Auburn football's Zac Etheridge and Wes McGriff to 'Shaq and Kobe' Richard Silva, Montgomery Advertiser 2–3 minutes AUBURN — Under Auburn football's last regime, assistant coach Zac Etheridge guided the secondary by himself. But after coach Hugh Freeze was hired in November, he elected to bring in Wes "Crime Dawg" McGriff and also retain Etheridge, putting the latter in charge of the safeties and the former in charge of the cornerbacks. It's McGriff's third stint on the Plains, as he was with the Tigers under former coach Gus Malzahn in 2016 and from 2019-20. In the handful of months they've been together, the relationship between Etheridge and McGriff couldn't be better, according to one of their likely starters. “Shaq and Kobe," junior cornerback Keionte Scott said of the duo Friday. "Chemistry. They’ve got chemistry already. They took a chance. Best friends. Inseparable. They’re always together. They’re able to talk and come together with things. You’ve got an old-school coach with more old-school tradition and you’ve got a new-school coach. Being able to merge those together is crazy to see sometimes.” Etheridge, 35, started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Penn State in 2012 following his days as a safety at Auburn from 2007-10. McGriff began at his alma mater of Savannah State from 1990-94. "Crime is Shaq," Scott said. "Coach E is Kobe.” QB COMPETITION: Payton Thorne takes first-group reps as Auburn football's Hugh Freeze says rotation begins GETTING STARTED: Why this fall camp is the 'most uncomfortable' for Auburn football's Hugh Freeze 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: Keionte Scott on pair of Auburn football coaches: 'Shaq and Kobe'

not much new out this morning.i will check back during the day to see if anything is added.thanx for stopping by.

al.com Observations from the first two days of Auburn preseason practices Published: Aug. 04, 2023, 5:00 p.m. 6–7 minutes The first two days of Auburn’s preseason practices have wrapped up Friday afternoon. The quarterback battle will be the biggest on-field story, and through two days there may be a few beginning inkling of the hierarchy. But it’s not the only open job on Auburn’s roster, far from it, and the on-field stories may not be as crucial as the off-field ones. Here are some observations, notes and storylines from the first two days of camp. Who wasn’t there may outshine who was We can start with the obvious one. Junior running back Jarquez Hunter didn’t practice on either Thursday or Friday during the open period with media members. His status remains clouded by uncertainty. Following the release of a sex tape allegedly depicting Hunter, Auburn announced it had given indefinite suspensions to some football players but didn’t say who, how many, or why. Sophomore safety Caleb Wooden was not at either of Auburn’s first two practices either. Junior wide receiver Koy Moore has been at practice and in uniform, but was not a full participant. On Friday, he stood off to the side during offensive team drills, and at the end of the period open to reporters, was in the indoor field seeming to be stretching with a coach. It’s unclear what specifically is keeping Moore out. Your scheduled quarterback update Through two days of fall camp, Michigan State transfer Payton Throne has been the first quarterback taking snaps with the presumed first-team offensive line group. In the time open to reporters, Thorne hasn’t shown anything particularly notable for the practice highlight reel, but he has been reliable and precise with most of his throws. It’s unclear to what extent he feels comfortable with a new offense at this point, and how much of the playbook is being opened up in team drills with media present. Sophomore Holden Geriner has been the second quarterback out each of the first two days, and may have shown the best flashes of Auburn’s main trio. His deep ball touch has been the best of the quarterback room so far. Head coach Hugh Freeze frequently would bring up Geriner before Throne or Robby Ashford when discussing Auburn’s quarterbacks, and while he may not win the job, it certainly makes sense why Freeze is a believer. Ashford may have the most potential of any quarterback on the roster, but he’s struggled during the open periods. Ashford showed many flashes of elite play when he took over as Auburn’s starter at the end of last season. But through two days of fall camp, many of his limitations — especially with regard to accuracy — have shown. On Friday, Ashford underthrew a crossing route in the flat to his left side, leading to an incompletion. Later in the team drill, he threw a deep ball down the right sideline and while the pass was completed, the wobbly, underthrown ball likely would not have been if the offense was not playing against air. On Thursday, Ashford hardly threw the ball at all during the same team drill. Most of his plays were designed runs. Last season, Ashford has a 49.2% completion rate. Though all quarterback observations do come with the caveat of the media watching quarterbacks play without facing a secondary. Okay, outside of quarterbacks, who might be starting? Let’s start with the offense. That offensive line group Thorne was throwing behind? Those five remained the same during the first two days of practice, and shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Tulsa transfer Dillon Wade played left tackle, junior Tate Johnson lined up at left guard, East Carolina transfer Avery Jones was the center, senior Kam Stutts played right guard and Western Kentucky transfer Gunner Britton was the right tackle. Yet while that group seems fairly stead-fast, they were surrounded by a ton of skill position rotation. Maybe the most notable player to see time in team drills with the first group of offensive linemen and Thorne was freshman running back Jeremiah Cobb. Cobb could be in for a huge role if Auburn is without Hunter. Damari Alston played with Thorne on Thursday. In terms of wide receivers, the group has been far from set. On Thursday senior Ja’Varrius Johnson lined with the third group on offense, but on Friday was with Thorne. Sophomore Cam Brown and junior Malcolm Johnson Jr. were also with Thorne’s group along with FIU transfer tight end Rivaldo Fairweather. Transfers Nick Mardner and Shane Hooks have each stood out purely from their height, though Caleb Burton has been the most impactful big-play receiver of the group of new guys to this point. Again, all needs to be taken with a grain of salt without facing a secondary in front of media. Okay, so how about the defense? The first group on the defensive front was jack linebacker Elijah McAllister, defensive linemen Marcus Harris, Jayson Jones and defensive end Mosiah Nasili-Kite. Austin Keys and Eugene Asante lined up in the middle as the linebackers and Keionte Scott, D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett were the first corners in defensive drills. Jaylen Simpson was the first safety. Much of that is as expected. Highly touted freshman Keldric Faulk lined up as a defensive end on the second group of defensive players. He is listed on the roster at 6-foot-6, 288 pounds. A final defensive note: Auburn had some freshmen in the secondary shadowing the presumptive starters, seemingly as a means of learning from Auburn’s top guys in a secondary room that seems to be a team strength. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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