aubiefifty

si.com Lighting the fuse: Five numbers Auburn needs to focus on to win more games in 2023 Lance Dawe 8–9 minutes Ten years ago, Bill Connelly boiled down college football to five basic factors that strongly influenced the difference between winning and losing games. Those five factors are explosiveness, efficiency, drive-finishing, field position, and turnover battle. Per Connelly's 2013 breakdown: If you win the explosiveness battle (using PPP), you win 86 percent of the time. If you win the efficiency battle (using Success Rate), you win 83 percent of the time. If you win the drive-finishing battle (using points per trip inside the 40), you win 75 percent of the time. If you win the field position battle (using average starting field position), you win 72 percent of the time. If you win the turnover battle (using turnover margin), you win 73 percent of the time. Auburn was not very good at any of these things in 2022, leading to the Tigers' first losing season since 2012. Let's take a look at the impact these five factors made on Auburn's 5-7 campaign and how the Tigers can best improve in each area. Explosiveness Often times it felt like it was boom or bust for Auburn's offense in 2022, considering the Tigers' poor offensive line play forced them into long-yardage situations far more often than they should have been. According to SEC Stat Cat, this is how Auburn's plays shook out based on yards gained: Negative yards: 9.59% (11th in the SEC) 0-3 yards: 18.48% (11th in the SEC) 4-7 yards: 17.20% (13th in the SEC) 7-10 yards: 8.10% (13th in the SEC) 10-15 yards: 8.24% (13th in the SEC) 15+ yards: 13.72 (3rd in the SEC) It was quite literally all or nothing. Auburn ranked 57th or better in plays of 20+, 30+, 40+ and 50+ yards but 74th in plays of 10+. It's almost funny how the Tigers managed to create a fair amount of chunk plays from a dead offense while having a 62-yard screen pass become their longest play of the season - the shortest of Auburn's longest play from every season since 2013. The takeaway here? Establish a line of scrimmage and even more explosive plays could be on the horizon. Given the stature of Auburn's receiver room and a new quarterback who loves giving players a chance downfield, additional long plays may be in store for the Tigers. Efficiency Anything but efficient. That's what Auburn was in 2022. There was no consistency from drive to drive for Auburn. It was all out of sorts, and it led to the majority of possessions feeling like they were full of desperation. As if if something didn't happen now, it was all going to snowball out of control shortly. Most of the time it did thanks to turnovers and lack of cohesion. The Tigers finished ninth in the conference in success rate and last in the league in scramble percentage (8.73%). Ashford bailed from the pocket far too often either in search of an explosive play or because the line simply couldn't hold up. Even with the Tigers hitting some bombs every now and then, the overall product was horrendous. 92nd nationally is where Auburn fell in points per play margin, averaging -0.08 points every time the ball was snapped compared to the opposition. Not having an established line of scrimmage has prevented Auburn from producing efficient offense for years now. With the way Freeze has recruited o-line for this upcoming season there's an expectation that Jake Thornton will be able to dramatically change some of the Tigers' numbers. Drive-finishing The Tigers' issue wasn't finishing drives. Auburn was top 40 in the nation in redzone scoring percentage. What killed them was not being able to start drives. Auburn was last in the SEC in first downs per drive (1.12), early down conversion rate (62.3%) and plays per drive (4.32). Auburn was 107th nationally in stuff rate (percentage of carries by running backs that are stopped at or before the line of scrimmage) in 2022, per Football Outsiders. Not getting things off the ground on early downs lead to struggles on passing downs. Again, this goes back to scheme and offensive line play. Auburn switched to a run-heavy scheme in 2022 because they had no one to throw the ball accurately on roster. The line couldn't get a consistent push until late in the season and thus Ashford and the offense found themselves getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage way too often. Someone who watched Auburn's o-line woes a season ago could land a pretty good guess as to how often Robby Ashford and TJ Finley were sacked when they dropped back in passing situations considering how predictable the offense felt at times. The Tigers' 12.7% sack rate on passing downs was good for 121st in the nation. The only Power Five teams underneath Auburn were Syracuse, Washington State, Maryland, and Boston College. This is arguably the most important factor outside of turnover margin for the Tigers in 2023, and it comes with a simple solution: Be better on first down. Field position The Tigers actually had a top-five average starting field position in the SEC (31.87) largely due in part to punter Oscar Chapman, who helped the Tigers' defense out by putting them in in good spots - when Auburn made stops, their offense had room to work with. They just consistently failed to put anything together on first and second down. Auburn was 21st nationally in opponent yards per punt return at 4.2 yards. Chapman himself had the lowest return rate in the SEC, per Nathan King of 247Sports. I want to emphasize that while Auburn didn't have all of the margin in the world, their coaching really held them back from taking advantage of their field position. There was a lack of creativity and a lack of execution when new things were tried. I don't think Auburn's talent roster is as dire as some may make it out to be considering the Tigers are still alongside the top teams in the country in the blue chip ratio. Lack of sound coaching and poor play calling was what sunk Auburn when they had opportunities with shorter fields. Take a look at these numbers from BCF Toys: Offensive points per drive: 1.77 (93rd nationally) Points per drive from long starting field position: 0.77 (110th nationally) Points per drive from middle starting field position: 1.81 (81st nationally) Points per drive from short starting field position: 2.61 (108th nationally) These numbers played a major part in Auburn's net points per drive being a pitiful -0.58 points. One would think that Hugh Freeze and Philip Montgomery, known for their strong offensive minds, would be able to put together a much better product to pair with the Tigers' solid special teams. Sometimes Auburn would shoot themselves in the foot even when they got the ball moving... Turnover battle That leads us to the turnover battle, possibly one of the most painful statistics to come out of Auburn football this century. The Tigers were absolutely thrashed in turnover margin last season, finishing -9 in the department and 122nd nationally. Only gaining 13 turnovers was one thing. Averaging 1.8 of your own per game was another. Auburn's roster is fine. It's not talent that's going to kill Auburn in the turnover department this year. At the end of the day it will be coaching and execution. Ron Roberts was brought in to primarily do two things: help Auburn stop the run and create turnovers. If he can do that and Philip Montgomery can pilot a relatively clean ship, the Tigers have a chance to really turn things around. Related stories

247sports.com LB DJ Barber celebrates 4th of July with commitment to Auburn Christian Clemente ~4 minutes Fireworks are going off in Clay-Chalkville and Auburn linebackers coach Josh Aldridge's office. In-state linebacker D'Angelo 'DJ' Barber announced his commitment to Auburn on Tuesday to celebrate the holiday, choosing the Tigers over Arkansas and Ole Miss. He becomes commitment No. 9 for Auburn in the 2024 cycle. Ranked in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite as the No. 492 player, No. 45 linebacker and No. 25 player from Alabama, Auburn's first-year staff offered him back at the big Junior Day in January and quickly cultivated the relationship. Something that helped Barber land on Auburn when it was all said and done. "It was just the overall home feeling and the family feeling from the jump," Barber told Auburn Undercover about his choice. "Because when I first got offered — you know in the process of recruiting you get offered by people and depending on how much they want you or not sometimes it be kind of relaxed with the recruiting — or you know, we offered him because we like him, but we don’t know if we really want him. But from the jump when they offered me, me and Coach Aldridge, we quickly started to build a relationship. We started texting every day, hop on the phone and not even talking about football, just talking and building a real, genuine relationship." Listed at 6-foot and 221 pounds, Barber returned to Auburn a couple of times in the spring and again over the summer with his team for the 7-on-7 camp. He took official visits to Arkansas and Georgia Tech, but nothing could beat Auburn in the end. "Over time, it just grew larger and larger. It went from me talking to Coach Aldridge every day to me talking to Coach Aldridge, me talking to TReed (Trovon Reed), me talking to the recruiting girls and some of the other coaches, talking to Coach Roberts a few times," Barber said. "It just grew and it quickly started making me realize this is a genuine, real relationship, family atmosphere." Now that Barber is on Auburn's commit list, he plans to attend Big Cat Weekend on July 29 and put on his recruiting hat. With Auburn not signing a high school linebacker in the 2023 cycle, there's a plan to take three or even four linebackers in 2024. Barber knows that and has his focus set on one big name, who plans to make a "final decision" between Auburn, Alabama and Georgia on July 26. "Yeah, yeah it’s time for me. Probably No. 1, I’m going to try and help them lock in Demarcus Riddick," Barber said. "I’m going to help them try to get him. And then I’m going to try to get my teammate Mario (Craver) down there." The idea of landing Riddick along with the heavy pursuit of Bradley Shaw and Wyatt Simmons excites Barber. "I think it’ll be good," Barber said. "I know Demarcus Riddick, we played on the same 7-on-7 team before so I’m used to playing with him. Bradley Shaw, I don’t know him as personally as I know Demarcus Riddick, but me and Bradley Shaw we bumped heads a few games back in middle school, I played him a few times back in middle school so I’m familiar with him." Barber's message to the fans on the holiday? "I’d say first off, War Eagle," Barber said. "And then, I’d just let them know that you’re getting me and you’re getting somebody that’s coming to work every day. Not getting complacent about anything and willing to do whatever it takes to better the team, better the Auburn culture and hopefully bring a national championship in these next few years."

si.com Five 'Season-Defining' Games For Ole Miss Rebels in 2023 John Macon Gillespie 4–5 minutes It is well-documented that the Ole Miss Rebels' 2023 football schedule is among the most difficult in the country. Road trips to Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Athens pave a difficult road for Ole Miss this season, not to mention a road trip to Starkville and home dates with other SEC West opponents. While games against Alabama and Georgia could prove to be "house money" opportunities for the Rebels, this list examines "season-defining" games for Lane Kiffin's team this season. What does that mean, exactly? In short, these are games that could be perceived as toss-ups, or games where a win or loss would drastically change the overall perception of the season in Oxford. While a win over the Crimson Tide or Georgia Bulldogs would certainly fall in that category, a loss to one or both of these programs on the road won't really change how fans view the season as a whole. As usual, this is an exercise in opinion, so my list will likely be different from anyone else's. Still, here are the five games I have circled for Ole Miss this season. 1. Road game at Tulane Green Wave Part of Ole Miss' difficult draw in this season's schedule is not limited to the SEC. Tulane is the reigning Cotton Bowl champion, having knocked off Heisman winner Caleb Williams in that thriller. Even though Tulane is certainly a strong Group of Five team, a loss on the road to the Green Wave would put a sour taste in the mouth of the fan base before the season hits its stride. Make no mistake: this is an important one. 2. Home game vs. LSU Tigers Last season's Magnolia Bowl turned into a disaster for the Rebels, their first loss in a late-season collapse that soured the 2022 campaign. A home win over LSU would go a long way in ensuring that this season is viewed as a success, especially with how talented the Bayou Bengals promise to be. 3. Home game vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Another game in the midst of the Rebels' late-season collapse was a blowout loss at Arkansas. Some may blame this loss on the distraction surrounding Lane Kiffin's possible departure for the Auburn Tigers in the offseason, but regardless, this has become an important game for Ole Miss fans over the years thanks to some thrilling (and oftentimes strange) matchups. Shutting down K.J. Jefferson will be paramount here. 4. Road game vs. Auburn Tigers Speaking of Auburn, since Lane Kiffin did not take the job on The Plains, a familiar face is now in that town, namely former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze. Rest assured that this game will have plenty of storylines in the week leading up to the meeting, and this one could have some personal stakes on the line for both coaches. Freeze will surely want to top his former school, and Kiffin may want to prove that he made the right decision in staying in Oxford. It's just one game, but emotions go a long way. 5. Road game vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Lane Kiffin has only lost one meeting in the Egg Bowl, but in Mississippi, it's important for that not to become a habit. The tragedy of Mike Leach's passing this offseason has placed Zach Arnett as the Bulldogs' head coach, so this will be the first meeting between these two as program CEOs. With this being the final game of the regular season, it'll be important for Kiffin to secure a win in Starkville. You can follow John Macon on Twitter at @JMakeGillespie. Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Rebels? Click Here. Follow The Grove Report On Facebook and Twitter. Want even more Ole Miss Rebels News? Check out the SI.com team page here.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 13 Rivaldo Fairweather JD McCarthy ~3 minutes Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Hugh Freeze in his first season on the Plains. Buy Tigers Tickets Up next is transfer tight end Rivaldo Fairweather. He was Auburn’s first transfer addition of the offseason and brings some needed playmaking ability to the tight end position. Preseason Player Profile Hometown: Lauderhill, Florida Height: 6-4 Weight: 251 Previous School: FIU Class in 2023: Junior 247Sports Composite Ranking Three-Star / No. 348 in Florida / No. 119 TE Career Stats Year G Receptions Yards YPC YPG TDs 2020 (FIU) 3 10 165 16.5 55.0 1 2021 (FIU) 7 16 247 15.4 35.3 1 2022 (FIU) 12 28 426 15.2 35.5 3 PFF Grades Year Offense Receiving Pass Blocking Run Blocking 2020 85.7 90.8 69.7 63.4 2021 52.8 60.4 55.2 38.6 2022 61.9 67.9 55.2 44.3 Depth Chart Overview Auburn returns veterans luke deal and tyler fromm at tight end but Fairweather is a different kind of player. He was a big play machine for FIU, averaging 15.5 yards per catch, and figures to become a weapon in Auburn’s revamped passing attack. He has the athleticism to line up wide and should be a focal point in the passing attack as he is a mismatch due to his 6-foot-4 and 251-pound frame. Fairweather should win the starting job in a deep and talented tight end room and should see a heavy dose of targets from quarterback Payton Thorne. Rivaldo Fairweather’s Photo Gallery AUBURN, AL - 2023.03.22 - Spring Practice AUBURN, AL - March 22, 2023 - Auburn Tight End Rivaldo Fairweather (#13) during spring practice… AUBURN, AL - March 22, 2023 - Auburn Tight End Rivaldo Fairweather (#13) during spring practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL. Photo by Austin Perryman AUBURN, AL - 2023.02.27 - Spring Practice AUBURN, AL - February 27, 2023 - Auburn Tight End Rivaldo Fairweather (#13) during spring practice… AUBURN, AL - February 27, 2023 - Auburn Tight End Rivaldo Fairweather (#13) during spring practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL. Photo by Austin Perryman

si.com Offensive fireworks: The longest play from each of the past 10 seasons of Auburn football Lance Dawe ~3 minutes Happy Fourth of July, everyone. The Tigers have had their fair share of fireworks over the past decade. Let's take a look back at the longest offensive plays from the last 10 seasons of Auburn football. 2022 - Jarquez Hunter 62-yard TD reception (at Georgia) A season full of disappointment was also a season lacking massive plays... Hunter's impressive 62-yard score against the Bulldogs was the longest play Auburn had all season long. 2021 - Jarquez Hunter 94-yard TD run (vs Alabama State) Hunter's dash to the endzone is the longest run in Auburn football history. 2020 - Anthony Schwartz 91-yard TD reception (vs LSU) Nix's toss to Schwartz was the icing on the cake of a blowout in the Tiger bowl. 2019 - Harold Joiner 78-yard reception (vs Ole Miss) Who would have thought that Auburn's longest offensive play in 2019 would be in a game where they only scored 20 points? 2018 - Anthony Schwartz 76-yard touchdown reception (vs Tennessee) It was a bad day overall for the Tigers, but Schwartz's speed is still extremely impressive. 2017 - Ryan Davis 75-yard TD reception (vs Ole Miss) Auburn's blowout victory over the Rebels was largely due in part to a strong first half - one that included their longest play of the season. 2016 - John Franklin III 80-yard TD run (vs ULM) One of Franklin's handful of explosive runs during his time with the Tigers. 2015 - Jason Smith 77-yard TD reception (vs Alabama) Shades of Ricardo Louis. 2014 - Ricardo Louis 75-yard TD rush (vs South Carolina) Auburn's defense was nowhere to be found on this day... but Ricardo Louis found the endzone on this sweep. 2013 - Sammie Coates 88-yard TD reception (at Arkansas) One of Auburn's better crowd silencers of the last decade... a third down bomb to Coates had Hog fans silent.

247sports.com Jason Caldwells Monday morning quarterback column Jason Caldwell 3–4 minutes A BIG Big Cat There’s no doubt about it. More names will be added to the list in the coming days and weeks, but the list that Hugh Freeze and his staff are assembling for Big Cat later this month is beyond impressive. On Sunday, 5-star Alabama commitment Perry Thompson announced his intentions to be in Auburn that weekend. It continues to show the fruit of what this staff has done since they arrived on campus, focus hard on recruiting the State of Alabama and making those players a priority. Thompson, Cam Coleman, Joseph Phillips, A’Mon Lane, J’Marion Burnette, Jayden Lewis, Bradley Shaw, Bryce Cain and others have been made a priority in the 2024 class. They’ve done the same in 2025 with guys like Zion Grady, Malik Autry, Jakaleb Faulk, CJ May and others all saying they’ll be back in Auburn in late July. If you’re going to win and win big at Auburn, the first thing you’ve got to do is get your share of players from inside the border. That’s something this staff recognized early and they’re focused on doing something about it. Quarterback thoughts This is always the time of year when my mind begins to really get back to football. Once you pass the July 4th timeline, college football is just around the corner. For this Auburn team that means what I believe is going to be a serious quarterback battle in August. As I mentioned in my quarterback preview last week, the addition of Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne has taken things to another level for the Auburn quarterbacks this summer. You never know how that will translate onto the field when the team comes together and the offense is playing as a unit, but in terms of just the quarterback position, I think this group is going to take some major strides from last year. Thorne is a professional. That’s what I have been told and just being around him a few times this summer, I can see the maturity and veteran leadership that I have heard about. That’s a good start to doing what he needs to do, but the ultimate determination will come when the Tigers put on the pads in August. Thorne’s arrival has definitely given Robby Ashford and Holden Geriner a boost in terms of pushing them to improve every part of their games. When the new coaching staff arrived it increased the level of competition immensely during the spring, but there’s nothing like adding a transfer to make it even stronger. That happened at several other positions as well, but the addition of Thorne is one that is going to pay dividends for this team no matter what happens with the quarterback competition in August. A shooter I was talking with someone that has been around some basketball practices this past week and to say that newcomer Aden Holloway has been impressive would be an understatement. He’s a player that has put on some impressive displays since he arrived on campus and recently he made around 80 percent of his shots from behind the three-point line in a shooting workout. Now, those aren’t coming with defenders in his face or after running up and down the court playing defense, but shooting at that high of a clip is a great sign for the newcomer. If he can deliver a deadly stroke from the perimeter to go along with the return of big guys like Johni Broome and Jaylin Williams, it should put Auburn in a good spot next season.

247sports.com Most Valuable Tigers No 16 Nathan King 5–6 minutes We're still in the heart of the college football offseason, more than two months removed from spring practice, media days later this month, and more than two months until the start of the 2023 season, Auburn’s first under Hugh Freeze. So what better time to crank up the rankings? As we do annually this time of year, Auburn Undercover is counting down the top 25 most valuable players for the Tigers' 2023 season. A few notes to set the table: These rankings are based on a player's previous contributions to the team, as well as his assumed impact in 2023 — how important he is expected to be to Auburn's success in both production and the win-loss column. It is not simply Auburn's best players in descending order. If a freshman is included on the list, his positioning is obviously a projection of his talent and significance to his respective position group. Next up is No. 16: App State transfer pass-rusher Jalen McLeod. AS A RECRUIT Hometown: Washington, D.C. Class: 2020 247Sports ranking: No. 68 ILB, No. 1,640 nationally AS A PLAYER (App State Athletics) McLeod instantly began impacting App State’s defense as a true freshman during the COVID-impact season in 2020, logging a couple sacks and a forced fumble. He continued settling into a larger role over the next two years, culminating with an All-Sun Belt campaign last year. In 2022, he finished second on the team in both tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (six), and also recorded two strip-sacks and a fumble recovery. Some of his best performances last season came on the biggest stages, too. In App State’s historic upset at No. 5 Texas A&M in September, McLeod not only sacked Aggies QB Haynes King twice, but he forced two fumbles on the same play — first stripping King, then swiping the ball from the offensive lineman who picked it up, as App State ultimately scooped it up for a turnover. McLeod also had 1.5 sacks in the Mountaineers’ narrow loss at Coastal Carolina in November. McLeod was Auburn’s first transfer pickup following spring practice, and the Tigers’ staff made an emphasis to grab a quality transfer at a tremendous position of need. 2023 OUTLOOK The Tigers have been thin at their pass-rusher spot for the better part of the past two seasons, and were again searching this offseason. Starters Derick Hall and Eku Leota departed for the NFL, and former top-100 recruit Dylan Brooks entered the portal following spring practice. That left only Vanderbilt transfer Elijah McAllister, along with true freshmen Keldric Faulk — the top-rated signee in Auburn’s 2023 class — and 3-star freshman Brenton Williams. McLeod’s recent production is a welcome addition for new coordinator Ron Roberts’ “jack” linebacker spot, considering McAllister was the only player in the room with any college experience — and his last sack came in 2019. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, McLeod fits the bill of an outside linebacker who thrives as a pass-rusher but can also slide back if need be. He played 31.3 percent of his snaps last season off the line of scrimmage as a box linebacker. By games played, McAllister is still the most experienced player in the room, though McLeod was far more productive at his previous program. Neither present the kind of raw talent that Faulk has — a former top-75 overall recruit who had a standout spring as an early enrollee with the team. But Auburn’s coaches reiterated in the spring that they weren’t going to put too much pressure on Faulk to produce too quickly. The addition of McLeod is a nice solution right away, though down the line he still has two years of eligibility remaining. Whereas McAlliser and Faulk are much larger defenders and can flex to a defensive end spot, McLeod is a nimble and explosive pass-rusher who should be heavily utilized by Roberts in third-down packages. WHAT THEY SAID “Incredible pass-rusher, which we need desperately, and toughness. Plays the game hard, high motor. Really excited by Jalen.” — Freeze WHAT SAY YOU? What do you think of McLeod’s spot in our Most Valuable Tigers rankings? Too high? Too low? Just right? Share your thoughts on the Bodda Getta message board, on Twitter or on Facebook. MOST VALUABLE TIGERS No. 25: LB Cam Riley No. 24: DL Mosiah Nasili-Kite No. 23: LB Larry Nixon III No. 22: S Zion Puckett No. 21: K Alex McPherson No. 20: LB Austin Keys No. 19: WR Camden Brown No. 18: WR Shane Hooks No. 17 P Oscar Chapman *** 75% OFF: 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 ***

al.com Auburn’s Carlee McCondichie won’t play 5th year of softball: ‘When you fail, you are immediately benched’ Published: Jul. 03, 2023, 1:50 p.m. ~3 minutes Auburn's Carlee McCondichie follows through on a throw between innings during an NCAA softball game against Louisiana Lafayette on Friday, May 20, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. Auburn won 4-3. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)AP Auburn’s Carlee McCondichie revealed on Twitter on Sunday she isn’t returning for a fifth year of softball on “The Plains.” The second baseman earned the COVID year but has decided to step away. She said the move was in no way a slight at Auburn, it appeared to be just that. “I will not be taking a 5th year,” she tweeted. “This thread is not directed toward Auburn University. I love Auburn with my whole heart and every single girl that is part of the Auburn softball program. It is sad when a young girl who has played the sport for 18 years of her 22-year life has no interest or desire in playing a 5th year. “That’s what happens when you play for a program where when you fail, you are immediately benched. A program where you aren’t pursued. A program where you are only looked at from an athletic perspective, not a personal perspective.” McCondichie hit .303 with 36 home runs and 22 RBIs last season. However, in conference games, she batted .154 with a home run and 3 RBIs. “For me, I can stand here confidently and say I gave my absolute all to the Auburn softball program,’ she continued. “In return, I got benched as a starter on SENIOR DAY. This isn’t for attention, this is for the athletes to come. THEY DESERVE BETTER. STUDENT-ATHLETES ARE MUCH MORE THAN STUDENTS & MUCH MORE THAN ATHLETES. They are human beings. With that being said, I will always continue to support Auburn Softball PLAYERS. But for me, my softball career is OVER and the thought of even playing one game brings me much anxiety, sadly.” As a junior, McCondichie was one of two student-athletes to appear in all 57 contests. She started 56 of those games, while leading the team with 46 hits and a .338 batting average. McCondichie, who played at Gardendale High School, was a four-time Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 6A All-State selection. Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily. 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.

i do not like the softball coach. he is an ass. we are much better than we have shown. but hey lets get dean another season or two of lackluster coaching before we make a change and run off our decent players. i get so mad at the assistant coach shagging some of our kids when we were winning and having to settle for this guy........

i wonder why the MAGA's are not in here worried about this man. Do you guys he was thrown in the can so he deserved it? i mean gosh he is black and mentally ill? is this correct?

you always show your true colors..............grins. and look dude i do not car how much you bang on brandon he will never be as bad a trump ever. i bet he will have over a hundred indictments before it is over. but you keep telling yourself he will be a great press after he tried to steal the election from millions of americans. you people have no shame. none. give me some more negs i love them. it means i am right and you cannot deny the truth.

you sure took up for him back in the day. you going to deny that as well?i am sure many here remember. hell you guys were ok with making fun of handicaps. many of you said he did not do it. it was on natty tv. i saw it. but you will always have that trump taint on you. all you maga;s will............

i could care less about that. trump is the gift that keeps on giving. you had it for him bad. i remeber well.

says the man that loved him some trump back in the day.

i ber iam offered to buy this guy a hell of a steak.......grins

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn football has SEC's fifth-toughest schedule according to CBS Sports Taylor Jones ~2 minutes Auburn football and challenging schedules are a perfect match for each other. That will not change as the Tigers get set to take on the 2023 slate. Auburn will host Alabama and Georgia this season and will pay a visit to Texas A&M and LSU. Those four games alone would be considered a brutal draw for any team, but it seems to be the norm for Auburn. Buy Tigers Tickets How challenging is Auburn’s 2023 schedule? CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee ranked each SEC team’s schedule and has declared Auburn’s slate to be the 5th toughest within the conference. Sallee says that Auburn will undoubtedly play a tough schedule, but there are several games that make the 2023 slate manageable. The Tigers’ schedule is always difficult with rivals Alabama and Georgia on the docket, and there’s nothing first-year coach Hugh Freeze can do about that. However, both of those games are at least at home. The Tigers draw Vanderbilt as their rotating cross-division game, and their Power Five nonconference game is at California. Those games don’t move the meter at all. This is a relatively manageable slate by Auburn’s wildly high scheduling standard. According to Sallee’s rankings, Florida holds the SEC’s toughest schedule while Georgia will play the easiest schedule. Auburn football’s 2023 schedule Sept. 2 UMass Sept. 9 at Cal Sept. 16 Samford Sept. 23 at Texas A&M Sept. 30 Georgia Oct. 14 at LSU Oct. 21 Ole Miss Oct. 28 Mississippi State Nov. 4 at Vanderbilt Nov. 11 at Arkansas Nov. 18 New Mexico State Nov. 25 Alabama 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: Jack linebacker Zac Blackerby 4–5 minutes Who will Auburn start at Jack in 2023? Auburn fans became accustomed to seeing Derick Hall and Eku Leota at EDGE over the last two seasons. With their departures and a new defensive scheme, Auburn's EDGE position will look a little different. Under new defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, the position group will now be labeled as Jack linebackers and will be asked to do more than just primarily rush the passer. They'll need to drop in coverage, set containment, as well as pursue opposing quarterbacks this season. The room will look vastly different. With Hall and Leota gone, Marcus Bragg running out of eligibility, and Dylan Brooks transferring, Auburn returns no production at the position outside of Jayden Brice's two snaps in 2022. Auburn went out and added several pieces via the portal in Vanderbilt's Elijah McAllister, Liberty's Stephen Sings, and App State's Jalen McLeod. We also saw the prize of the 2023 class, Keldric Faulk, play Jack in the spring but there's been a lot of talk about him playing more defensive end this season due to positional needs. Let's look at who could start at Jack for Auburn this season. The case for Elijah McAllister Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Many expect the former Vanderbilt standout to start for the Tigers and it's a pretty easy case to make. He and Faulk appeared to play the most at the starting Jack spot this spring and he probably has the highest floor among all of the players in the room. He is not elite at stopping the run or rushing the passer but he can do both at an SEC level. We've seen him do it at Vanderbilt. There's a chance in a situation where the athletes around him are better, he could excel more this year in the SEC West. My prediction is that McAllister starts and plays the early downs for the Tigers but is asked to step to the side when the defense has the opposing team in key passing situations. The case for Jalen McLeod Michael Reaves/Getty Images McLeod's ability to rush the passer may allow him to lead the team in sacks and pressures this season. Roberts' scheme is famous for helping defenders create chaos and havoc against opposing offenses. If McLeod is able to reap the benefits from some of that scheme and face mismatches at the end of the line of scrimmage, he could be a huge part of what Auburn does at the Jack position this fall. While I believe his role will be large, I don't think he starts. I think he will be the go-to guy when it comes to generating pressure and will often replace McAllister in passing situations this fall. The case for anyone else on the roster Eric Starling/Auburn Daily The next guy in the pecking order is Keldric Faulk. The more folks I talk to within the program, the more I believe he will play both Jack and defensive end but after the second transfer window, it seems like he will be asked to play more end than anywhere else this fall. If asked, Faulk could play and exceed in several position groups on the defensive line. Stephen Sings transferred from Liberty so he knows what head coach Hugh Freeze and defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett want from him. Sings will more than likely be a rotational piece this season and could contribute at a high level but I don't see him getting more reps than anyone else we've mentioned here. Auburn's past rush will be crucial this season as it reloads at the position group and will need to again this offseason as the position group is still filled with veteran players. In Freeze's first season, he's done a great job building the Jack linebacker room on paper. In the fall, we will get to see how it translates to the field. Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials! Join the Locked on Auburn Discord Follow Auburn Daily on Twitter Like Auburn Daily on Facebook Subscribe to Locked On Auburn on YouTube

auburnwire.usatoday.com Walker White listed as a top-10 QB in 247Sports 2024 recruiting rankings Taylor Jones 3–4 minutes The Auburn Tigers are on the right track to becoming a national power in a few seasons. Hugh Freeze will need a buffer at quarterback for a season or two, but four-star Walker White will be sure to take the offense to places it has not experienced in several seasons when his time comes. Buy Tigers Tickets White has passed for 4,103 yards and 49 touchdowns over the last two seasons, and has rushed for an additional 1,381 yards. He has the skill set that will flourish in Freeze’s system and is seen as one of the top quarterbacks for the 2024 cycle. Auburn’s rebuild is off to a great start with White leading the way as Auburn’s top 2024 commitment to this point. Where does he rank among the best quarterbacks in the nation? Here are the top-10 quarterbacks according to 247Sports rankings as the calendar turns to July. Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports Hometown Height Weight 247Sports rating Committed to Midland, Texas 6-3 230 4-star Purdue Jake Crandall/The Montgomery Advertiser Hometown Height Weight 247Sports rating Committed to Little Rock, Arkansas 6-3 215 4-star Auburn Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Hometown Height Weight 247Sports rating Committed to Santa Ana, California 6-1 200 4-star Stanford Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports Hometown Height Weight 247Sports rating Committed to Charlotte, North Carolina 6-0 202 4-star Michigan For more Michigan recruiting news, check out Wolverines Wire. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports Hometown Height Weight 247Sports rating Committed to Willis, Texas 6-2 225 4-star Florida For more recruiting news from Florida, visit Gators Wire. Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports Hometown Height Weight 247Sports rating Committed to Fairburn, Georgia 6-3 195 4-star Ohio State For more news on Ohio State recruiting, visit Buckeyes Wire. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Hometown Height Weight 247Sports rating Committed to Saline, Michigan 6-2 195 4-star Notre Dame For more Notre Dame recruiting news, visit Fighting Irish Wire. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Hometown Height Weight 247Sports rating Committed to Savannah, Georgia 6-4 185 4-star Florida State Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Hometown Height Weight 247Sports rating Committed to Carlsbad, California 6-1 195 5-star Alabama For more on Alabama recruiting, visit Roll Tide Wire. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Hometown Height Weight 247Sports rating Committed to Buford, Georgia 6-3 220 5-star Georgia For more Georgia recruiting news, visit UGA Wire.