aubiefifty

247sports.com Freeze looking for playmakers at wide receiver heading into Year 1 with Tigers Jason Caldwell 3–4 minutes Auburn coach Hugh Freeze knows the importance of making big plays at the wide receiver position with the way football is played today. It’s something that was a big part of things for him going back more than a decade when he took over at Ole Miss. In his first season with the Rebels, Freeze had Donte Moncrief and Vincent Sanders, who combined for 94 receptions, 1,256 yards and 12 touchdowns. Laquon Treadwell got added to the mix a season later with Auburn High’s Cody Core and tight end Evan Engram adding more firepower in 2014. Going 10-13 in 2015, Treadwell caught 82 passes for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns while Core added 37 receptions for 644 yards and four touchdowns. Throw in 38 catches for 604 yards and seven touchdowns by Quincy Adeboyejo and that’s 157 catches for 2,401 yards and 22 touchdowns from just three receivers. The last Auburn team to even have that many touchdown catches in a season was 2014 when the Tigers had 23 touchdown receptions, but six of those came from a combination of tight ends and running backs. Finding guys that can make plays on the perimeter in the passing game was one of the biggest reasons why Freeze and his staff went hard and heavy in the transfer portal to try to bolster the receiving corps on the Plains. Adding Nick Mardner before the spring, Auburn added to the group in a big way over the summer with the additions of Jyaire Shorter from North Texas, Shane Hooks from Jackson State and Caleb Burton from Ohio State. Now the search for playmakers begins when Auburn opens preseason practices on August 2nd. Freeze said it’s a huge part of what they need to get accomplished before opening the season a month later. “Well, for our offense, it’s vital,” Freeze said. “It just—it doesn’t work. If we’re truly going to be what we’ve always done, you’ve got to have guys that can win in one-on-one situations. Do we have that right now? I’m not sure. We’re going to find out soon. But I love the way that they’ve been working. I didn’t get to see the full totality of that in spring practice. But I’m excited to see how much better we can get that room.” A guy that will have an opportunity to become a difference maker for the Tigers is Burton. The highest-ranked wide receiver on the roster, coming in as the No. 71 player in the country on 247Sports in the 2022 class, Burton is unlike his fellow transfers in one big way. Redshirting his first season with the Buckeyes, the Texas native still has all of his eligibility remaining. That means Burton is someone that could help now, but also set the tone for what Auburn wants out of its wide receiver room for years to come. “His high school tape was pretty dang special and he’s a future,” Freeze said. “The other guys are one-year stop-gap guys that help improve our room I think some way or another. But Burton’s a little different. Burton’s got four years left with us and I think he’s got skill sets that are really going to help us in the future.”

m Looking at the betting lines for Auburn's 2023 football schedule Andrew Stefaniak 2–3 minutes Auburn opens as an underdog in a handful of games this season. Taking a look at the betting lines, Auburn is an underdog in a whole bunch of their ball games. Lines are out for the matchups with UMass, Texas A&M, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, and Alabama. Let's take a look at these lines. Auburn vs. UMass (Auburn -39) Auburn at Texas A&M (Auburn +8) Auburn vs. Georgia (Auburn +17.5) Auburn at LSU (Auburn +14.5) Auburn vs. Ole Miss (Auburn +1) Auburn vs. Alabama (Auburn +13) This means that of the six games that there are lines out for, Auburn is an underdog in five of them. I was surprised Auburn was an underdog against Ole Miss, especially since this game is in Jordan-Hare Stadium. All this says to me is that people are underestimating this Auburn football team, and they are going to shock some people. It seems like Auburn always has a good season when people predict otherwise, so perhaps that is in store for this Tiger team.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Jyaire Shorter named a top-10 player in the SEC West ahead of 2023 season Taylor Jones ~2 minutes During his SEC West preview, ESPN’s Bill Connelly documented what Hugh Freeze has done to correct Auburn’s passing troubles. “Auburn’s 2022 offense could only run, so Freeze brought in Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne and five receiver transfers,” Connelly said. Buy Tigers Tickets Connelly is keeping an eye on one of Auburn’s five receiver transfers. Included in his preview were his ten favorite players from the SEC West. He mentioned North Texas transfer Jyaire Shorter. Shorter was a valuable asset to the North Texas offense for the last five seasons, with his best season coming in 2022. He reeled in 23 passes for 628 yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns. According to Pro Football Focus, Shorter caught 41% of passes thrown his way with only five drops. Connelly feels that Shorter will be a great deep-ball option for Auburn. In the past 10 seasons, only two players have averaged at least 2.5 yards per route with a catch rate under 50% (and 50 minimum targets): Michigan State’s Jalen Nailor (2021) and Shorter at North Texas (2022). Doing so requires a lot of deep routes. Deep routes are fun. Shorter joins a long list of exciting receiver transfers. Auburn also added Shane Hooks from Jackson State, Nick Marder from Cincinnati, Caleb Burton from Ohio State, and Rivaldo Fairweather from FIU. 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__

si.com Auburn’s 2023 position battles: Outside wide receivers Joshua Collins 9–11 minutes Who will Auburn football start at outside wide receiver in 2023? In this story: Auburn Tigers Visiting our Auburn football 2023 position battles series once more, this time with our focus firmly set upon the wide receivers’ room, we ask again that familiar question as to who will Auburn football start at the outside receiver position this upcoming season? With a retooled offensive scheme headed by Coach Hugh Freeze and Coach Philip Montgomery, the Auburn Tigers are looking to air the ball out much more frequently and consistently in 2023. Coach Montgomery has a knack for lulling defenses into complacent positions, then hitting them over the top with a deep passing attack. This new scheme places high priority on big body, explosive, and speedy receivers who are capable of breaking away from coverage to make big plays down the field. With the recent addition of former Auburn Alum, Coach Marcus Davis, who is now leading the wide receivers’ room, the Auburn faithful can rest assured that he will be looking to make a difference right away. Accomplishing this task by fielding the right fit players to this new scheme to make an immediate impact. In keeping this scheme and the skillset required to make it successful in mind, we now make the case for six young men, all vying for that coveted top spot as the starting outside receiver for the Auburn Tigers this upcoming 2023 season. The Case for Shane Hooks: © Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports We begin by making the case for the newly minted plainsman, Shane Hooks. The 6-foot-4, 191-pound receiver hails from Orlando, Florida and joins the roster as a graduate transfer from Jackson State University. Hooks originally committed to the Ohio University Bearcats with their 2018 high school recruiting class, where he played for two seasons before transferring to Jackson State. This young man has played in a total of 35 games during his collegiate career and has posted some respectable numbers so far. Boasting 116 receptions for a total of 1,609 receiving yards, while also lighting up the scoreboard to the tune of 18 total touchdowns. Hooks is a very physical receiver with quick feet and solid hands. In watching film, he could be more consistently explosive off the line at the snap, but he has enough breakaway speed to counter this slight shortcoming. With his strong route running and ball securing ability, Hooks looks to be an extremely strong contender for earning the starting call at outside receiver this upcoming 2023 season for the Auburn Tigers. The Case for Camden Brown: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports Continuing with the battle for starting reps, we will next make the case for a familiar face on the plains, Camden Brown. The returning 6-foot-3, 203-pound sophomore receiver committed to the Auburn Tigers with the 2022 recruiting class by way of St. Thomas Aquinas High School out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Brown made appearances in 12 games for the Tigers during the 2022 season, putting up nine receptions for a total of 123 yards amounting to two touchdowns for his freshman debut. Camden is a speedy receiver with great explosiveness off the snap. This speed allows Brown to get great separation of his defender in coverage, making him a solid big play target. This young man could be more physical on and off the ball during his reps, however he is a young player, and this skillset could be developed with solid coaching. The Auburn faithful could be hearing much more about this young talented player come Fall camp, as he puts in the hard work to place his name in the mix to earn starting outside receiver reps for the Tigers this upcoming 2023 season. The Case for Jyaire Shorter: © Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports Highlighting another new face to the plains, we make the case for Jyaire Shorter. This young man joins the Auburn roster as a graduate transfer from the University of North Texas, joining his fellow teammate Larry Nixon III for another season of collegiate play. The 6-foot-2, 209-pound senior has appeared in a total of 32 games, where he has put up some respectable numbers thus far. Boasting 58 receptions for a total of 1,320 receiving yards to the tune of 20 total touchdowns. Shorter is a competent route runner with solid hands and decent breakaway speed allowing him to bust up coverages. One glaring concern that other media outlets have highlighted is a reoccurring knee injury that has plagued this young man for at least two seasons of his collegiate career. Providing that Jyaire is able to remain healthy throughout the Fall camp and throughout the season, Shorter could be a strong contender to earn the starting outside receiver position for the Auburn Tigers this upcoming 2023 season. The Case for Malcom Johnson Jr.: © John Reed-USA TODAY Sports Closing out our top four is returning junior, Malcom Johnson Jr. another familiar plainsman having played his entire collegiate career with the Tigers. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound receiver presents a strong case for starting reps this upcoming 2023 season. Malcom has played in a total of 18 games for the Auburn Tigers, having put up 8 receptions for a total of 110 yards amounting to one touchdown thus far. Johnson has great hands in tight coverage with lightning speed off the snap, making him a formidable receiver to line up against. Malcom is a very physical receiver and has the speed to effectively run the jet sweep from the outside spot. With a few years of eligibility remaining, I imagine this young man will soon be garnering more media attention as he settles into the new offensive scheme on the plains. Rest assured he is looking to place his name in the mix for starting reps this upcoming 2023 season. The Case for anyone else on the roster: Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Having picked up some solid receiving talent this offseason with the transfer portal, Coach Hugh Freeze & Co. has put their best foot forward to address a need on the offensive front. This being said, there are a few other plausible contenders for at least rotational if not starting reps this upcoming 2023 season. Two players worth mentioning are transfer additions Nick Mardner and Kassidy Woods. Nick Mardner was one of the first transfer portal receivers to join the Auburn football roster this offseason. The 6-foot-6, 206-pound senior comes to the plains having five seasons of collegiate play under his belt. Mardner has appeared in 46 games boasting 81 receptions for a total 1,488 receiving yards which has amounted to 11 career touchdowns thus far. This young man has some familiarity with Coach Davis already, as he played under his tutelage at the University of Hawaii during the 2021 season. Mardner has great size as an outside receiver with quick feet and decent speed. Despite having good hands, Mardner has been seen as being slightly inconsistent when targeted by the passer. Hopefully with some additional development this Fall, this issue can be rectified. I believe Mardner will see the field this upcoming 2023 season, the question is just in what capacity will it be. Kassidy Woods has flown under the media radar with his graduate transfer to the plains by way of Northern Colorado University this offseason. The 6-foot-4 215-pound receiver joins the Auburn roster with four seasons of collegiate play so far. During this career, Woods has put up a total of 63 receptions amounting to 691 receiving yards to the tune of 4 total touchdowns. This young man is a physical player with quick feet and solid hands. Kassidy has decent top end speed which could allow him to breakaway for some big play catches if targeted. Woods could become a key rotational player for the Tigers this upcoming 2023 season. Although all these young athletes look good on paper, it is important to remember that it is not only the stat sheets that determine who play and who doesn’t, its also the player’s determination, drive, hard work, and passion for the game that plays a huge role in the final squad selections. In closing Coach Hugh Freeze & Co. have made some valuable additions to the receiving core this offseason. Adding not only top end talent, but even more so by adding some valuable experience to the receiving room. Should the pieces all fall together. The Auburn fanbase has a lot to be excited about this upcoming 2023 season. Making for some exciting football this year at Auburn University. 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!

um that is MY job.............but hey guess what son? at the end of the day he did not vote for him but YOU did...............grins.

Open in app or online holy s***, there are no “positive aspects” to slavery. what the **** is wrong with you people let’s get real here. Jeff Tiedrich Jul 23 Share the failed state of Florida has an excellent new idea about how it can miseducate its children. what, and I can not put too fine a point on this, in actual ****. Upgrade to paid holy s***. do I have this right? maybe — but just maybe — it was wrong take a bunch of people, chain them up and pack them into the hold of a ship, starve them, sell them into slavery, dehumanize them, force them to work for free, brutalize them, control every aspect of their lives, kill and rape them with impunity — and do this for hundreds of years — but at least we taught them useful trades, so it all evens out in the end? what. the. ****. Ron DeSantis, the guy who liked to sit in on Gitmo torture sessions so he could have a good laugh, can’t understand what the ruckus is all about. here’s Ron: “they're probably going to show some of the folks that eventually parlayed, you know, being a blacksmith into, into doing things later in life.” folks, can we have a little chat about this guy? this is what your back looks like when you’ve been whipped your entire life. if you’d said to this guy, “we’re going to make it so until the day you die, it will be painful to wear a shirt, but also we’re going to show you how to make horseshoes,” do you think he would have answered “yeah, fair deal, bring it on”? let’s get ******* real here. this “slavery wasn’t really so bad” bull**** has been going on since forever. look how happy they are! Gone With The Wind is basically a three-and-a-half-hour-long pro-slavery manifesto. in one scene: “we didn’t treat them that way.” sure you didn’t. in Germany, schoolchildren are taught about the Holocaust. it’s mandatory. and they don’t sugar-coat it with stupid fairy tales. they don’t try to pretend that Jews learned useful skills like how to hide in an attic. if German schoolchildren can learn about the horrors of the Holocaust, American schoolchildren can learn about the horrors of slavery. stop the bull****. everyone is entitled to my own opinion is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Upgrade to paid You're currently a free subscriber to everyone is entitled to my own opinion . For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. Upgrade to paid Like Comment Restack © 2023 Jeff Tiedrich 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 Unsubscribe , or Jeff Tiedrich From Everyone Is Entitled To My Own Opinion jefftiedrich@substack.com + Add to contacts

i cannot wait until you hjit the ping pong story................people turn their nose up at it but it was a hell of a story and they swear is true. by the way barkleys is pretty good as well.

bo proved he knew what he was doing when he left. unless something bad happens to him this year he will have already proved the transfer was the smart move and he will be worth way more money after he left auburn as well. and this all falls on hars and not auburn.

yahoo.com Auburn offensive lineman makes 247Sports’ All-Name Team JD McCarthy ~2 minutes It hasn’t been determined yet if offensive lineman Jaden Muskrat will be a starter for Auburn this season but he was just named to one of the top groups in college football, the 247Sports’ All-Name Team. Muskrat is entering his first season at Auburn after spending the past three seasons at Tulsa. He entered the portal after the season and decided to reunite with Auburn offensive coordinator Phillip Montgomery, who was his head coach at Tusla. The 6-foot-3, 302-pounder is in contention to be Auburn’s starting guard, battling Kameron Stutts, tate johnson, Jeremiah Wright and Connor Lew for the two spots. Muskrat played 18 games at tackle for Tulsa and could slide back outside for Auburn if needed, but he profiles more as a guard in the SEC and that is his path to playing time.

what the hell is fair about murder and rape? of selling someones kids to others? the truth is most whites in the south care more about losing some of the confederate monuments than they do the treatment of slaves and i will always believe that. and we need to quit changing history and learn from it. desantis can look on the bright side of my ass. it is a dirty shame to hide what these folks went through. we are not supposed to like it. we are supposed to learn from it and move on but to sugarcoat it is an insult. slaves were less than human. they were property. we should learn so this crap never happens again..................

in 73 i went through bootcamp. they taught us to respect peoples right to protest and that it was a sacred right that americans have to be able to do so. now i was 17 and knew nothing much of anything at the time but i have never forgotten it. and many vets including seals has said it is an american right to do so. if someone protests the flag or the natty i am proud they have that right. i think when they beat the crap out of vets in wheel chairs at the 68 dem convention it changed the narrative. and one day i expect somoen on here that is big on rights will want that one taken away.

i just reread that in bo's new bio. it shook the whole team including coach if i remember correctly. greg was a very popular guy with the team. so sad...........

auburnwire.usatoday.com Jalen McLeod brings 'freaky' skillset with him to the Plains Taylor Jones 2–3 minutes Auburn needed a few players to build up its pass rush depth and found just that within the transfer portal and recruiting. Vanderbilt transfer Elijah McAllister and true freshman Keldric Faulk will see action this fall at the JACK position, but there is one player that is not being talked about enough, Appalachian State transfer Jalen McLeod. Buy Tigers Tickets McLeod graded out at 86.6 last season according to Pro Football Focus, and had an incredible output of 90.7 in pass rushing. He created 37 total quarterback pressures last season at Appalachian State, which breaks down to six sacks, eight QB hits, and 23 hurries. Included in those sacks were two sacks of Texas A&M quarterback Haynes King in the Mountaineers’ 17-14 upset win over the Aggies. McLeod is an incredible defensive player and plays the game in a humble way. “He’s a humble guy; he doesn’t brag about it, but we see it on tape,” Elijah McAllister said Tuesday during SEC Media Days. “I’ve never seen that in my life. I’m like ‘dang, Jalen, you did that?’ What did it feel like? ‘I don’t know, I just blacked out, man.'” Although McAllister, or the rest of his Auburn teammates, have yet to see McLeod on a full scale, he assures Auburn fans that McLeod will prove his worth this season on the field. “J-Mac, man, that dude’s athletic, he’s freaky, he’s twitchy,” McLeod said. “I’m excited to share the field with him, I’m excited to continue to learn from him in terms of pass rush.” McAllister also went on to say that he and McLeod will bring a lot to the table, and will provide a solid “1-2 punch” to the JACK linebacker spot. 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__

si.com Five Auburn Tigers make Preseason All-SEC teams Lance Dawe 4–5 minutes No Tiger was higher than third-team All-SEC. Five Auburn Tigers landed on Preseason All-SEC teams. The media voted on the All-SEC teams at SEC Media Days in Nashville, Tennessee this week. No Tiger was higher than third-team All-SEC. Jarquez Hunter (Third-team) Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics Hunter took a dip in YPC as his freshman season progressed, but he broke out this past season with three hundred-yard performances over the final three games of the year - including two huge games against Texas A&M and Alabama. His blend of power and explosiveness has provided Auburn with a fun compliment to star tailback Tank Bigsby - but now that Bigsby is gone, is Hunter ready to carry the load in the backfield? READ: Hugh Freeze says Jarquez Hunter is 'the best running back I've ever coached' All signs point towards yes, and there's reason to believe that OC Philip Montgomery and HC Hugh Freeze will be excited about using him. Hunter has also proven to be the best pass-catcher out of the backfield over the past couple of seasons. Although, there may be someone on the depth chart that could potentially take those passing snaps away from Hunter. Fans should be excited about Hunter's return and should expect him to continue to improve upon the standard that he has set as an explosive, shifty back that's hard to bring down. DJ James (Third-team) Eric Starling/Auburn Daily James, a transfer corner from Oregon, was lockdown for the Tigers last season, and his Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade proves that statement. James has the third-best returning PFF grade in the SEC with an 82.3. He's one of the best cornerbacks in the league and should be higher on this list. Nehemiah Pritchett (Third-team) Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Pritchett will complete James as the opposite corner in Ron Roberts' 4-2-5 defense. He has 93 tackles and two interceptions in his four seasons as an Auburn Tiger. The secondary should be elite in 2023, with Pritchett and DJ James forming one of the best one-two punches in the country. Oscar Chapman (Third-team) Todd Van Emst/Auburn Tigers Chapman was fifth in the SEC in punting average last season and enters this year as one of the conference's best. He's already eighth in total punting yards in Auburn football history. He's sixth all-time in average. Alex McPherson (Third-team) Eric Starling/Auburn Daily McPherson logged stats in three games as a true freshman, putting up six field goals out of seven attempts, earning him an 85.71 FG percentage, hurling a 51-yard field goal as his longest for the 2022 season. This young man looks to be off to an already impressive start as a freshman and looks to have a promising career as an Auburn Tiger. It is for these reasons that I would place my wagers on Alex McPherson being a break out freshman special teams performer for Auburn football during the upcoming 2023 season. Hugh Freeze: Tigers' roster was 'far from what I believe an Auburn roster should look like' Auburn football announces start time for 2023 fall camp Daily Wire's Jake Crain predicts Auburn to finish third in SEC West Jayden Daniels shared his thoughts on playing in Jordan-Hare Stadium Jake Crain believes Auburn football can be 'sneaky' under Hugh Freeze SEC commissioner Greg Sankey discusses the elimination of divisions in future conference scheduling College football expert 'doesn't see' eight wins on Auburn football's 2023 schedule Hugh Freeze provides updates for Auburn players injured in the spring Auburn's Hugh Freeze says new QB Payton Thorne has impressed with his 'attention to detail' Hugh Freeze: 'Robby Ashford helps us win football games' Hugh Freeze provides timeline for Auburn football quarterback battle The Tigers kick off the 2023 season on September 2nd at home vs UMass at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN. Here's a look at the entire 2023 schedule: Sept. 2nd vs UMass Sept. 9th at California Sept. 16th vs Samford Sept. 23rd at Texas A&M Sept. 30th vs Georgia Oct. 14th at LSU Oct. 21st vs Ole Miss Oct. 28th vs Mississippi State Nov. 4th at Vanderbilt Nov. 11th at Arkansas Nov. 18th vs New Mexico State Nov. 25th vs Alabama

si.com Auburn football announces start time for 2023 fall camp Lance Dawe ~2 minutes The Tigers have announced a starting date for practice. In this story: Auburn Tigers The Tigers have announced a start time for practice before the beginning of the season. Fall camp will begin on August 2nd for the Auburn Tigers. It will be Auburn's first season underneath head coach Hugh Freeze and it will be their last as a member of the SEC West. Michigan State quarterback transfer Payton Thorne will be the primary focus of the camp for most Auburn fans, as he is expected to win the starting job over incumbent Robby Ashford. The Tigers kick off the 2023 season on September 2nd at home vs UMass at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN.

si.com Hugh Freeze comments on expectations for Auburn football in 2023 Lance Dawe ~4 minutes What are the Tigers' expectations for the upcoming season? In Hugh Freeze's first season on the Plains, many analysts described Auburn as a "sneaky" team over the past week at SEC Media Days but that didn't make them rank the Tigers higher in the SEC West. Before the poll was released late in the week at media days, Freeze spoke with the media about expectations for the upcoming season. Predictions have been somewhat all over the place, but typically towards the bottom of the SEC West. What are Freeze's expectations for what the Tigers' accomplish? "My expectation is for us to play a passionate 60-minute football game every Saturday and hopefully it's fundamentally sound where we give our kids a chance to win some games in the fourth quarter," Freeze said. It's not about where Auburn finishes for Freeze. He can't control that. "I don't really set some goal on where we're going to finish in the West or where I just, man, can we just play well today at practice, then tomorrow at practice and then 60 minutes on a Saturday and see where that puts us," Freeze said. "I understand why (the media) would have us all over the place. I do. And I'm okay with that. I can't control that. But we can control how we approach preparing for the opportunities that we're going to be given. We're going to be given 12 of them just like everybody else. So we got seven at home and with Jordan Hare and we can make that even more difficult. And so what we will do with those and how we prepare is what really matters, not where somebody picks us or what the expectations are from their point." Freeze also spoke at SEC Media Days about the Tigers' roster. When asked about what the biggest surprise was since taking over the program half a year ago, Freeze was very honest. "I don't want to be negative. Just- it was far from what I believe an Auburn roster should look like," Freeze said. "You know, recruiting has been a little more challenging than I thought for Auburn because what I believe Auburn should be, and what is proven it can be." The Tigers kick off the 2023 season on September 2nd at home vs UMass at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN. Here's a look at the entire 2023 schedule: Sept. 2nd vs UMass Sept. 9th at California Sept. 16th vs Samford Sept. 23rd at Texas A&M Sept. 30th vs Georgia Oct. 14th at LSU Oct. 21st vs Ole Miss Oct. 28th vs Mississippi State Nov. 4th at Vanderbilt Nov. 11th at Arkansas Nov. 18th vs New Mexico State Nov. 25th vs Alabama Hugh Freeze: Tigers' roster was 'far from what I believe an Auburn roster should look like'

auburnwire.usatoday.com Hugh Freeze shares injury update on Brian Battie Taylor Jones ~2 minutes Auburn football has several players that hope to take care of nagging injuries before the season kicks off on Sept. 2 against UMass. Among those injured is USF transfer Brian Battie. Buy Tigers Tickets According to a report by Richard Silva of The Montgomery Advertiser, Battie elected to have surgery in April to repair a broken sesamoid bone in his right foot. His recovery was expected to take four months, is he on track? Head coach Hugh Freeze provided an update earlier this week. “He’s going to suck it up and go,” Freeze said Tuesday. “I wish I felt a little better about his surgery, and maybe I’m just pushing it. I want it faster than what is coming.” Freeze admitted that he was not sure how he would use Battie this season, but that his mind quickly changed after a successful spring practice. “When we took him, truthfully, I was like, ‘Man, this guy is too small to play in this league and run inside the tackles, but he’s going to really help us in the return game and he’s going to really help us on some special designed outside runs,” Freeze said. “Then we get into practice and we start running inside zone with him and the guy is wiggling through holes and falling forward, so I got really, really excited about him, and I think he’s going to add great value to us.” Battie rushed for 1,185 yards and eight touchdowns last season at USF and accounted for 659 return yards. Battie is expected to join a solid rushing attack alongside Jarquez Hunter and Damari Alston. 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 SEC football unfiltered Takeaways most intriguing team information from 2023 media days Brad Crawford 14–18 minutes The biggest insider news out of SEC Media Days. NASHVILLE -- One learns considerably more about SEC football teams at media days from team insiders, analysts and sources than what's said on the record from coaches and players, which often provide formulaic responses. The meeting of minds offers opportunity to gauge how others view certain teams and new hires, while gleaming information from those close to certain programs and embedded in those respective universities. Coming out of 2023 SEC Media Days in Nashville, Georgia is the program every other elite is chasing and Kirby Smart knows it. Others say they are not worried about what happens elsewhere, but it's hard to ignore the nation's longest winning streak. There were audible murmurs about Texas and Oklahoma too, and Greg Sankey's continued reign as the commissioner all other Power Five decision-makers follow. It's a good time to be the SEC in college football's realignment era and this league has shown no signs of slowing down. Get offseason and recruiting information on your favorite college team for $1 for first month. There is a lot to know from SEC Media Days: Mississippi State Bulldogs (Photo: Keith Warren, 247Sports) There was a feeling Mississippi State would be picked last in its division judging by the overall uncertainty around Zach Arnett — and the Bulldogs are fine with the lack of buzz. The truth is, very few actually studied this roster and the talent coming back. This is the ninth time in the last 12 years that Mississippi State slotted at the bottom of the conference in the preseason, but only three times since SEC expansion in 2012 has the team actually finished in that spot. It's hard not to be impressed with the way quarterback Will Rogers carried himself in Nashville. Much of what was said had "wait and see" type phrasing with bordering on cockiness. ‌ Texas, Oklahoma buzz (Photo: USA TODAY Sports) Soon after news broke of 2024 SEC Media Days heading Dallas next summer to commemorate Texas and Oklahoma joining the league, there was a palpable buzz about the SEC's incoming powerhouse programs. A throng of Texas and Oklahoma media members made the trip to Nashville to see what the SEC's all about and the Longhorns and Sooners are getting themselves into next summer. One Texas source provided interesting commentary about the Longhorns' offseason hype and legitimacy of this team being a playoff threat in 2023. "They always seem to stick a banana in their tail pipe, but this is the first time since 2009 I would say Texas feels really good about their (conference) championship shot," the source said. ‌ South Carolina Gamecocks (Photo: Ryan Bethea, 247Sports) Along with Sam Pittman, suffice to say Shane Beamer is the SEC's universally most well-liked coach? It feels that way. Polarizing team opinions came during the week, but any time the Gamecocks' head coach was mentioned, everything came up roses. Maybe that's part of the reason South Carolina was picked third in the division — Beamer's largely getting the benefit of the doubt. The general consensus was that South Carolina had the talent necessary to topple Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri — the three teams perceived on the same level as the Gamecocks behind Georgia. Those close to the program painted a much different picture, however. ‌ There are holes in the roster, particularly at running back and in the trenches. South Carolina's offensive line play was inconsistent at best last fall and the Gamecocks rely on new faces that need to be better than your average SEC starter for this first-year offense to really go under Dowell Loggains. Spencer Rattler is the SEC's "biggest enigma" at quarterback. If he is a difference maker, perhaps the Gamecocks could shield a few potential deficiencies with another impressive season. ‌ KJ Jefferson, Dan Enos marriage at Arkansas (Photo: Arkansas Communications) Is a pro-style look going to work out for the Razorbacks this season? Team insiders suggest it is, but those not so close to the action are not as convinced. Will the SEC see a more developed passing game with Dan Enos calling the shots and if so, how will that translate to production? “It’s going to develop me as a passer — not a thrower — as a quarterback,” Jefferson told 247Sports. “And also, (Enos) just gives me the freedom to develop for the next level. When I say freedom, I mean (identifying) the Mike (linebacker) and getting us in the best play at that particular time depending on what the defense gives us." ‌ Pittman suggests the transition from Kendal Briles to Enos will be smooth for his senior quarterback, who has another season of eligibility post-2023 if he chooses. "I think he's going to fit great," Pittman said. "His extra study off the field has gone through the roof. I think he believes in Dan. I know Dan believes in him as well as I do. I think it's going to be best season he's had. Whether we run him quite as much as we have in the past, I don't know that. Maybe we throw the ball a little bit more than with him carrying it. We have to keep him healthy. "Obviously, we have Jacolby Criswell and Cade Fortin behind him, but he's one (No. 1) for a reason. I think he's going to be very active but he's probably going to throw the ball a little bit more than what he has in the past." ‌ Texas A&M Aggies (Photo: Michael Reaves / Contributor, Getty) Before answering a question from Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Jimbo Fisher giggled, offering up his usual here-we-go-again nod before sharing very little on his offensive plan with Bobby Petrino. Fisher's reluctancy to share if he's relinquishing play-calling duties in full to his new this season was the primary takeaway from Texas A&M's availability. Fisher also injected confidence serum into the veins of all attendees for the Aggies, who seem convinced they were better last season than their 5-7 record indicated. Texas A&M defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson's remarks that the Aggies were extremely close from being one of last year's elites missed the mark a bit. Texas A&M was picked to finish third in the west by media members, so there's an obvious level of respect that exists for this talented roster despite an odd few hours in Nashville. ‌ LSU Tigers (Photo: Kirby Lee, Getty) A year into his tenure at LSU, Brian Kelly looked at home at SEC Media Days and was extremely comfortable talking about this season's Tigers. He was never flustered despite being pestered for sound bites. The most interesting portion of his commentary came in his suggestion that the infrastructure and buy-in were already in place. Only five active coaches in Power Five college football won a title and Kelly is on the short list of candidates to be the next first-time winner. "When we get our shot, when we get our opportunity, we’ve got to be able to maximize it," Kelly told 247Sports. ‌ Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo: Stuart McNair, 247Sports) Rumblings began early Wednesday morning prior to Nick Saban's appearance at the podium at SEC Media Days that the Alabama coach was "running hot" and bothered by remarks made, notably Paul Finebaum, questioning his legacy should the Crimson Tide fail to win the national championship. Lane Kiffin, who playfully thanked Finebaum for kicking the hornet's nest, later defended Saban. The beef between Saban and Finebaum stretches back several years, most notably in 2016 at SEC Media Days when the pair went back and forth on set after the SEC Network host critiqued the leader of Alabama's handling of a situation involving a player's arrest. Saban was noticeably subdued at the podium, handled very few interviews on radio row besides national appearances and was more amped to leave the Grand Hyatt than he was lingering around to tout this season's hungry team coming off disappointment. One of his quotes was particularly difficult to grasp given his program's "standard" and the fact all seasons defined by competing for titles. "I'm not here to create expectations for our team. Lots of people will do that," Saban said. "Expectations in some way are a premeditated way to create disappointment. We need to stay process-oriented, not focused on outcomes." ‌ Auburn Tigers (Photo: Johnnie Izquierdo, Getty) Scale back "quarterback competition" label on the Plains The perceived two-player race between Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne and incumbent Robby Ashford is more like a "we really hope the new guy is as good as advertised" plan for the Tigers. Thorne will be QB1, perhaps as early as the first week of training camp, and the coaching staff is anxious to see what he has to offer a passing game that was big-play strapped at times last fall. The lack of belief in Ashford is mainly due to his inconsistencies as a passer. He helped Auburn move the football at times with his mobility, but his tendency to freelance a bit after an initial read was covered or shakiness in the short to intermediate throw game caused headaches for the offense overall. Status of play-making ballcarrier remains unknown The situation is fluid on the availability of Jarquez Hunter according to Hugh Freeze, but sources said the Tigers remain hopeful he is available for the opener if he's not back by the start of fall camp pending the university's handling of a unique situation. Hunter became the target of social media allegations following the release of an explicit video. Hunter was not mentioned in any statement by the university, but Auburn did acknowledge at the time that at least one player had been suspended for a violation of team rules. ‌ Tigers aren't there yet, but it's coming Freeze gave a long-winded, pro-Auburn answer about where his team stacks up, but it was evident that more work must be done and he knows it. "I love our team. They're my team. They're Auburn's team. We're going to coach the heck out of them," Freeze said. "Does our roster from top to bottom look like Alabama's, Georgia's, LSU's, Florida, A&M, Ole Miss? I don't know yet. I know a couple they don't because I've watched the tape. Do I think we've improved Auburn with the additions that we've had since I've been there? Yes. Does that mean we close the gap at all? I have no clue. "I do know we improved Auburn, and I hope that means that we somehow close the gap enough to -- if we have a good game plan, to be in some of those games in the fourth quarter and have maybe a shot to pull an upset. It's too early for me to really say, but I do know we improved our roster. But at the same time, they're constantly improving theirs it seems like." ‌ Tennessee Volunteers (Photo: Tennessee Athletics Communication) The hype behind Tennessee's starting quarterback is real Make no mistake — Tennessee's coaching staff has always thought Joe Milton could ball and the idea he lost a prior quarterback competition to Hendon Hooker previously in Knoxville is off the mark a bit. Milton "takes it personally" when people say he has lost quarterback battles at Michigan and Tennessee as a collegian. By his estimation, Milton wasn't fully-healthy in 2021 at Tennessee, which led to Hendon Hooker assuming first-team reps and never looking back under Josh Heupel. He had a thumb injury that bothered him in the past, too. Across the spectrum of possibilities for Milton this fall, he could be the SEC's best player at the position, or be mired by inconsistencies as a passer. "I've never a covered a quarterback who, on one hand, I could see being a first-rounder and on the other, might lose his job midway through the season," one reporter who covers the Volunteers told 247Sports. ‌ Tennessee's transfer to watch Bru McCoy's name came up, as well as Ramel Keyton as Tennessee's potential top receiver, but the pass-catcher most often mentioned at media days within and around the Tennessee program was Oregon transfer Dont'e Thornton. Listed at 6-5, 214 pounds, Thornton averaged 21.5 yards per catch last for the Ducks and has looked the part with the Volunteers. Part of the reason he left Oregon was due to limited targets and not being the right scheme fit. He "feels at home" in Knoxville and is a weapon who makes the staff feel better about the wide receiver room after losing Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman. ‌ Georgia Bulldogs (Photo: Brett Davis, 247Sports) 'Better never rests' and could easily three-peat Kirby Smart reiterated points made previously and continues to insist his Bulldogs' primary opponent this season is complacency in their quest to three-peat. The last program to win three consecutive national championships was Minnesota in the mid-1930s. “It would be a lot of hard work that had been acknowledged,” Smart said. “I think we’re a long way from that, so to make that assumption or that theory relevant, we would have to get to that point in time. But I can assure you if we get to that point, I’m going to be worrying about the next day’s work more than I am the achievement.” Without pads, America's best tight end looks ordinary He's Hercules on the field, but outside of his uniform, All-American Brock Bowers could pass for an employee at the Daily Bugle. Smart joked that getting anything out of Bowers would be a difficult task before his best player sat in front of the microphone, and he was right. Top247 LB Tylen Singleton staying home "Everybody dreams about playing for LSU from Louisiana Brian Kelly and the Tigers land a commitment from another top in-state target. Many (La.) High Top247 linebacker Tylen Singleton announced his commitment to LSU on Saturday night choosing the Tigers over his other finalists in Arkansas, Texas A&M, Tennessee and TCU. Singleton becomes commit No. 20 for head coach Brian Kelly and his staff in the 2024 recruiting cycle. “One-hundred percent committed,” Singleton posted on social media.. “I would like to thank all the coaches for recruiting me and giving me to opportunity but I will be staying home.” Singleton raved about the LSU program this past week in an interview with 247Sports. “Everybody dreams about playing for LSU from Louisiana,” Singleton said. “Coach BK (Brian Kelly) came in his first year and did some crazy things and I think they’re going to keep heading in that direction.” Singleton was recruited to Baton Rouge by defensive coordinator Matt House. "I love Coach House," Singleton has told 247Sports in the past. He will return to campus this weekend. "I went up there and loved talking to him in his office for two hours. I love the position of linebacker and everything about it. I can play for my home state and that's another big thing about it too." 247Sports ranks Singleton as the nation’s No. 15 linebacker and No. 150 prospect overall. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite slots him at No. 10 and No. 140 respectively. As a junior Singleton had 75 tackles, four interceptions and two pick sixes. With his verbal, LSU now has commitments from five of the top six players in the state and eight of the Top 10. A full look at this 2024 LSU class here, a haul that rises to spots to No. 12 in the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings.