aubiefifty

she cuts through the bull here and it is so refreshing.................

This tells you all you want to know about the whistleblowers and what is actually happening.

news.yahoo.com Barr says Trump's classified documents case is his biggest legal risk Kathryn Watson 5–7 minutes Trump-era Attorney General Bill Barr says he believes former President Donald Trump will be "very exposed" legally if he was playing "any games" with the documents marked as classified that were kept at his Mar-a-Lago estate. In an interview with CBS News senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge Thursday, Barr also said he thinks special counsel Jack Smith could arrive at charging decisions in the Trump investigations as soon as this summer. Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to probe Trump's retention of the documents, and his role in any alleged unlawful interference in the transfer of power after the 2020 election or the Electoral College certification on Jan. 6, 2021. Mar-a-Lago documents Barr believes the special counsel investigations into Trump's handling of classified documents, in particular, should be cause for concern for the former president. "It doesn't go a lot on intent or anything like that. It's very clear that he had no business having those documents," Barr told Herridge. "He was given a long time to send them back. And they were subpoenaed. And I've said all along that he wouldn't get in trouble, probably, just for taking them, just as Biden I don't think is going to get in trouble or Pence is not going to get in trouble." "The problem," he continued, "is what did he do after the government asked for them back and subpoenaed them? And if there's any games being played there, he's going to be very exposed." Barr also thinks Trump's claim in a recent CNN town hall that he was declassifying records as they left the White House isn't going to satisfy the special counsel. Trump said in the town hall that he "took what I took, and it gets declassified." "I don't think that argument's gonna fly," Barr responded. "I don't think the idea that you know, he automatically — that they were somehow automatically declassified when they were put in the boxes. I don't think that will fly." In a recent letter to Congress, Trump's lawyers said the Justice Department should "stand down" on the probe. They also suggested the former president's departure from the White House after the election was hastily conducted and staff "simply swept all documents from the president's desk and other areas into boxes" that were then moved to Florida. Jan. 6 The Jan. 6 investigation is going to be "harder to establish a case," because it could run up against First Amendment issues and also, much of the case relies on proving intent, Barr said. The former attorney general estimated that charging decisions in Smith's investigation related to Trump, his actions around Jan. 6 and the Mar-a-Lago documents could come as soon as this summer. "My guess is that, and this is just, I'm speculating, but I would think they'd want to do it before the end of the year. It could be later in the summer or in the fall would be the earliest I would expect it," Barr said. Trump denies all wrongdoing in both investigations. The Durham report Barr, who appointed special counsel John Durham to look into the origins of the Russia investigation, said a successful probe isn't necessarily measured by how many people were prosecuted. One person pleaded guilty and two others were acquitted in the four-year probe. Durham's report, released on Monday, found the Justice Department and FBI "failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law" regarding the events during the 2016 campaign. "I've said all along that's dangerous to get into the business of saying that the standard is how many people you prosecute, because the object here was to find out what happened and to tell the story, to get to the bottom of it," Barr said. "I think accountability looks like if people pay attention to the truth," Barr added. "I mean, there was a lot of attention paid by the media to all the little details that they thought implicated Trump in collusion with Russia, all of which were nonsense. And yet, we had a two-year steady diet of this nonsense from the media. Now they should pay attention to the actual facts in the report. And that's what accountability looks like." Predicts Trump will be defeated in 2024 GOP primary race Barr continues to believe Trump will not win the Republican nomination next year. But he isn't sure who will. He's also not convinced stricter abortion laws in the states are a winning issue for Republicans. Barr, who said he's always been a "pro-life Republican" and continues his work to support this position, is glad Roe v. Wade was overturned. "But there's a distinction between what people like me and other pro-lifers believe, you know, is the moral principle and what we actually embody in our specific secular laws," he told Herridge. He added, "I think we have to be judicious in what we propose as a law because I think the laws have to have substantial support among the people, have to reflect some kind of consensus, and it has to be a durable solution." "We're talking about rules and restrictions placed on other people," Barr said. "And I think we have to be very careful about that. It's not about us demonstrating our purity. It's about finding something that allows us to live together in a stable way."

FBI ‘Called Bluff’ on Jim Jordan Hearing, Says Ex-Asst. Director William Vaillancourt 3–4 minutes MSNBC Former FBI Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Frank Figliuzzi was critical Thursday of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and other House Republicans after the FBI sent a letter to Jordan saying that two of his witnesses, who would go on to testify before the Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, had their security clearances revoked in May. The letter says that former FBI agent Stephen Friend and current agent Marcus Allen, who is now suspended without pay, were stripped of their clearances due to security concerns, The Washington Post reported late Wednesday. Each were summoned to Congress by Republicans to claim they faced retaliation by the bureau in part for how they responded to the FBI’s investigation into the Jan. 6 insurrection. Yet Friend, for instance, has embraced Jan. 6 conspiracy theories and has even been paid by Trump loyalist Kash Patel, according to Democrats on the committee, The New York Times reported in March. Appearing on MSNBC’s Deadline White House, Figliuzzi was asked by anchor Nicolle Wallace about the letter from FBI acting assistant director Christopher Dunham, as well as a letter to Friend from Jennifer Moore, the FBI’s executive assistant director of human resources, explaining his clearance revocation. “Essentially, Jim Jordan wasn’t ready for this. The FBI has called his bluff with this letter,” said Figliuzzi, an NBC News national security analyst. “It means the FBI has about had it with the myth that they’re retaliating against employees for merely expressing conservative opinions. I lost the date, but apparently we’re to believe the FBI is a left-wing liberal organization. That’s absolutely nonsense.” “What Jim Jordan was going to do was put out a fictional account, right, [that] these poor, pathetic employees have lost their jobs because they merely expressed contrary opinions to the deep state FBI,” Figliuzzi continued. “In my 25 years at the bureau, including positions as chief inspector and a chief of an [Office of Professional Responsibility] internal affairs unit, I have never seen this much come out, and it shows the absolute disgrace that these employees have made of their roles and their missions.” Allen, according to Dunham, “failed to provide relevant information to an FBI Special Agent (SA) regarding subjects who were allegedly involved in criminal activity at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.” Durham also wrote that Allen showed “sympathy for persons or organizations that advocate, threaten or use force of violence … in an effort to prevent federal government personnel from performing their official duties.”

you know you have taken the very same attitude about trump right? "I am ok with whatever". i have yet to ever see you condemn trump for ANYTHING. one would think you guys would at least be upset for him making a mockery of the bible.

mikey has become a joke on the fam. he lies and then smears others to back his lies. he is well known by the mods in fact. he has been known to double back on something he said and change it after the fact. he does not argue in any kind of good faith. he walks around like he has a depends full of doody and it just makes him crazy and he makes a fool of himself. some people you cannot be nice to. they take it for weakness. trust me bird and others have had it out with mikey and the same ol lying bullcrap as always. i have never known bird to ever lie about anything. they need to give mikey a coloring book and put him in the back room to keep him busy and maybe keep his lies off the board.

Rep. Jim Jordan Gets Brutal Reminder Of His Past After Tweet About Whistleblowers Ed Mazza ~2 minutes Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) fired off a message about whistleblowers that his critics find hard to believe. Jordan and other Republican lawmakers say several “whistleblower” FBI agents are proving their claim that the Justice Department has been politicized. Critics argue they’re not even true whistleblowers ― and in fact the FBI said two agents interfered with and/or refused to participate in investigations into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Several admitted on Thursday to being paid by a former Trump administration official. Jordan nonetheless tweeted: His critics were quick to point to some whistleblowers that Jordan hasn’t been as quick to embrace: those related to the claims by multiple athletes that Jordan, who was an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University, ignored molestation allegations against the team’s doctor. Jordan has denied the allegations. “I considered Jim Jordan a friend,” whistleblower and former wrestler Mike DiSabato said in 2018. “But at the end of the day, he is absolutely lying if he says he doesn’t know what was going on.” Jordan’s critics fired back with some reminders: Too bad you were a coward when you coached my brother at @wrestlingbucks then doubled down when you had the chance to make things right. Not a #Whistleblower let me repost this so it is clear to iam and others............ Critics argue they’re not even true whistleblowers ― and in fact the FBI said two agents interfered with and/or refused to participate in investigations into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Several admitted on Thursday to being paid by a former Trump administration official.

Jim Jordan's Weaponization Hearing Descends Into Shouting Match Nikki McCann Ramirez 8–9 minutes Skip to main content Jim Jordan on GOP ‘Whistleblowers’ Getting Paid by Ex-Trump Adviser: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ A House hearing descended into chaos Thursday, with Jordan shouting down members who questioned violations of committee rules Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) conducts the House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, on May 18, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) claims he has testimony from “dozens” of whistleblowers who’ve provided him with proof that the FBI is unfairly persecuting conservatives. This doesn’t actually seem to be the case. The first three of these witnesses whose testimony Jordan received were not really “whistleblowers,” but disaffected former FBI employees receiving financial backing from former President Trump’s ally and advisor Kash Patel. None of them have been given whistleblower protection status by the Department of Justice. Jordan held a hearing of the Judiciary Committee’s Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on Thursday that featured two of these witnesses. During the hearing, Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) confronted suspended FBI agent Garret O’Boyle and former agent Steve Friend as to whether they had received payments from Patel. Both admitted they had. When reporters asked Jordan about the financial ties of his sources, the congressman deflected. “They’ve got a family! How are they supposed to feed their family?” Jordan told reporters before the hearing. Friend was suspended by the FBI after refusing to participate in cases related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. He was also one of three agents who had their security clearances revoked by the FBI, in his case for having “espoused an alternative narrative about the events at the U.S. Capitol” and downloading documents to “an unauthorized removable flash drive.” During questioning, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D- Va.) displayed tweets from the witnesses espousing conspiracy theories about the Capitol riot, including that undercover federal agents had been responsible for the attack. https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1659222608397598722?s=20 Despite their best efforts, Democrats were largely flying blind when it comes to their questioning of witnesses, as Jordan refused to grant them access to testimony in what Democrats contend is a violation of House rules. As previously reported by Rolling Stone, the denial of access to Democrats may be a result of witnesses’ own inability to answer questions about the alleged wrongdoings they witnessed, and defend their own statements on social media. In transcript of an interview conducted by the committee in February with former FBI supervisory intelligence analyst George Hill, Hill admitted he had no firsthand knowledge of “deep state” scandals and conspiracies involving the FBI. “Clearly there is room to grow and improve before [more] public hearings,” on Republican source told Rolling Stone at the time, adding that broadcasting the committees work so far “on live television would make us look like morons.” Thursdays hearing showed little development. Jordan verbally sparred with multiple Democratic members of the committee who pushed back on Jordan’s claims that he would not be sharing evidence with the minority because his witnesses asked him not to. “I find it incredible that evidence that one side has garnered is not going to be shared with the other side. That’s not how committees work,” said Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), calling the hearing a charade to “normalize the events on Jan. 6.” Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Fla.) also questioned his withholding of testimony. “It is my understanding that the minority in this committee, under the rules, is entitled to the same testimony, information, documents, that the majority is entitled,” she said. “I’m not aware that you’re able to withhold information from the minority. Jordan claimed that the witnesses’ status as “whistleblowers” precluded Democrats from viewing their testimony. “These individuals have been determined not to be whistleblowers,” Wasserman-Schultz responded. “They’ve been determined by the agency not to be whistleblowers. Are you deciding that they’re whistleblowers?” When Goldman asked Jordan to point to an exception in the rules that would allow him to withhold evidence, Jordan deflected. “The whistleblower doesn’t make committee rules sir,” Goldman responded.

i see what you did there..............

John Cohen: ‘We’ve had conversations with Under Armour’ Published: May. 17, 2023, 9:11 p.m. 2–3 minutes Auburn athletics director John Cohen said Wednesday his department has begun to discuss its future with longtime apparel provider Under Armour. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics/AU At By Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com Auburn athletics director John Cohen told reporters Wednesday night he is beginning to look into the school’s future with Under Armour. The Tigers have been affiliated with Under Armour since 2005, and signed a 9-year contract extension worth $78 million in 2015. However, the “exclusive negotiating window” between the two parties expires on Sept. 1, after which Auburn would be free to seek out another apparel provider. Cohen, Auburn’s AD since October, said during an alumni event at the Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange, Ga., that his department is beginning to formulate a plan on the future of its apparel deal. “We’ve had conversations with Under Armour,” Cohen said via On3 Sports. “My knowledge of the history of this relationship is a little bit limited, although I’m getting information from our coaches, student athletes and our fans have an opinion. We’re doing a lot of research. We will do our due diligence and be ready to have conversations about the future of Auburn and our apparel partner. We’ll see where it takes us in the future.” Auburn is among more than a dozen FBS schools contracted to Maryland-based Under Armour, a list that also includes South Carolina, Maryland, UAB and Notre Dame. However, Sports Illustrated reported last week that the Fighting Irish have let their negotiating window with Under Armour expire without agreeing to an extension, meaning the school is a “free agent” when it comes to its apparel deal. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Scarbinsky: Alabama softball got gold mine, Auburn the shaft Published: May. 18, 2023, 5:45 a.m. ~2 minutes By Kevin Scarbinsky | Special to AL.com This is an opinion column. It’s not every day you get to play hardball with college softball, but this is the time of year when that sport shines, casuals swell the ratings and visions of a Women’s College World Series start dancing in helmets from the Rhoads House in Tuscaloosa to Jane B. Moore Field on the Plains. Already we’ve seen fist-pumping delirium and eye-rolling disgust, and the NCAA Tournament doesn’t even start until Friday. If the tournament is as dramatic as the selection show, it’ll be must-see TV all the way from here to Oklahoma City. Because this is the way the world works around here in a rivalry that doesn’t stop at the gates of Bryant-Denny and Jordan-Hare, all eyes will be on perennial power Alabama and consistent contender Auburn. The Division I Softball Committee, with some curious seeding and bracketing, put a little extra pressure on the Crimson Tide and gave the Tigers a little added motivation. Well, that’s one way to put it. Here’s another way: Alabama got the gold mine, and Auburn got the shaft. How so? Alabama, despite being the fifth seed in the SEC Tournament, was gifted the No. 5 national seed in the NCAA Tournament. Auburn, the No. 3 seed in the SEC Tournament, was not awarded one of the 16 national seeds and the regional host site that goes with it. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

yahoo.com Bipartisan group calls for investigation into Comer’s remarks about missing whistleblower Lauren Sforza 2–3 minutes A bipartisan organization is calling for an investigation into Rep. James Comer’s (R-Ky.) comments about a missing whistleblower connected to the House GOP’s ongoing investigation of President Biden and his family. “The House Republican Conference is on notice that a key member of their slim majority has likely engaged in criminal activity and may well soon be a convicted felon,” the group wrote in the letter. “Not only has the Republican leadership failed to oust known fabulist George Santos, it appears that they are now mimicking his behavior. We write to you regarding that conduct.” The organization, Facts First USA, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves asking him to investigate Comer, who the group says is likely lying about having an informant related to the GOP investigation into the Biden family. The group said that if he is lying, he could be in violation of federal law. “Representative James Comer recently revealed that the ‘informant’ he is relying on for his unsubstantiated allegations against President Biden cannot be located,” the group wrote. “In truth, there is a strong possibility that the ‘informant’ that Representative Comer has been speaking about does not exist. This would explain why Representative Comer never produces the evidence he says demonstrates criminal conduct on the part of the Biden family.” Punchbowl News first reported the letter. The group is responding to remarks Comer made Sunday on the Fox News show “Sunday Morning Futures,” when he said House Republicans “unfortunately” can’t “track down the informant” they say they were communicating with about their investigation. “We’re hopeful that the informant is still there,” Comer said. “The whistleblower knows the informant. The whistleblower is very credible. And all we’re asking the FBI with respect to the Form 1023 is, what did you do to investigate this allegation? And they send us back a very patronizing letter, basically saying, just trust us and don’t worry about it.” For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

Auburn softball in NCAA Tournament Clemson Regional: How to watch, where to buy tickets Richard Silva, Montgomery Advertiser 3–4 minutes AUBURN — After winning 40 games for the second consecutive season, Auburn softball is heading to the postseason for the 18th time in program history. The Tigers will compete in the Clemson Regional against No. 16 Clemson, Cal State Fullerton and UNC Greensboro. Auburn finished third in the SEC behind Tennessee and Georgia. The Tigers wrapped up the regular season narrowly above Arkansas and Alabama in the conference standings, but both the Razorbacks and the Crimson Tide were chosen to host regional rounds. Auburn was not. The Tigers travel to South Carolina for the Clemson Regional for the second straight year, as they were one win away from advancing to the championship game for a chance at a Super Regional appearance in 2022. AUBURN FOOTBALL: 'People want to follow him': What Tigers are getting in transfer QB Payton Thorne AUBURN BASKETBALL How coach Bruce Pearl's recruiting philosophy has changed over the years "No matter who you face in the postseason, they are going to be a talented team," coach Mickey Dean said in a release Sunday. "We've got to show up and play clean softball. We've been there before. We know what to expect as far as the stadium and the crowd noise. There's some disappointment (in not hosting), but there is a lot of criteria that the committee goes over to make their decisions. You've got to brush that all aside and get ready to play." Here's everything you need to know: 2023 NCAA Softball Tournament Clemson Regional: What time do the Auburn Tigers, others play? First pitch for Auburn: 4:30 p.m. CT, Friday, May 19 vs. Cal State Fullerton Location: McWhorter Stadium Other scheduled games: 1 p.m. CT, Friday, May 19. No. 16 Clemson vs. UNC Greensboro Noon Saturday, May 20. Game 3 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, May 20. Game 4 5 p.m. CT Saturday, May 20. Game 5 11 a.m. CT Sunday, May 21. Game 6 1:30 p.m. CT Sunday, May 21. Game 7, if necessary Where can I watch the Auburn Tigers play in NCAA Clemson Regional? Eric Frede and Madison Shipman will be calling Auburn's first game versus Cal State Fullerton on Friday on ESPN+. Clemson's matchup with UNC Greensboro can be found on ESPNU. TV assignments for the rest of the regional are TBA. Radio options for Auburn Tigers in NCAA Clemson Regional Brit Bowel has the radio call on the Auburn Sports Network, 95.9 WTGZ or 99.9 WQNR. Tickets for access to the entire regional are $50 each and can be purchased online through Clemson using a Ticketmaster account. All of the remaining tickets available are located in the berm, which is a grass hill in the outfield. Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn in NCAA Softball Tournament Clemson Regional: TV, ticket info

How does Auburn’s running back unit look since the end of spring football? Published: May. 16, 2023, 5:29 p.m. 4–5 minutes Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze talks QB battle at Regions Tradition By Nubyjas Wilborn | nwilborn@al.com It was no secret that Auburn had question marks at several positions when Hugh Freeze took over the program after Bryan Harsin’s departure. Freeze openly expressed concern about the quarterbacks, receivers, and depth on the offensive line. For as many areas as Freeze felt he needed to address, he didn’t feel the need to be concerned about the status of Auburn’s runningbacks. Despite losing Tank Bigsby to NFL Draft, where the Jacksonville Jaguars picked him, there wasn’t much panic. Of course, comfort becomes more straightforward when the team has Jarquez Hunter leading the way. Hunter ran for 593 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman in 2021, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. He built on the foundation of his freshman success last season with seven touchdowns and 668 yards on 6.7 yards per touch. Similarly to how Freeze was candid with his critiques for other units at Auburn, he was effusive with praise for Hunter. Read More Auburn Football: Auburn lands 2nd wide receiver from transfer portal since end of spring practices Vote now for the best Auburn football team of all time Looking at Auburn’s cornerbacks and safeties after spring football “I think Jarquez is the best that I’ve coached thus far. We’re excited about his demeanor and how he goes about his work,” Freeze told reporters. “If you want him to play kickoff or punt teams, he’s all, ‘Let’s go. Let’s do it.’ Not that we want him to do that.” Freeze wanted to add to the running back depth. He consulted with offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery and running back coach Cadillac Williams. One of the reasons Freeze doesn’t need Hunter to worry about punt or kick returns was signing Brian Battie out of USF. Battie is a former All-American kick returner and a dynamic running back. “The thing that you notice when you’re around him or even as a person that played against him, he is very difficult to tackle,” Montgomery said. “Right? And he does a great job of setting up blocks and being patient. He can stop and start and create some spacing for himself. And then, I’m just telling you, he hides behind things, and then suddenly, you see him pop out, and good things are happening.” Hunter and Battie form a formidable pair for the Tiger offense. Damari Alston played behind Bigsby and Hunter last season as a freshman. He’s seeking more carries as a sophomore. “With my freshman year and this year, I came in with the same mindset,” Alston said. “Even though Tank and Jarquez were in front of me, I still came in competing like I was coming for the starting job. I feel like that’s how I am this year as well, and that’s how it is now, and it’s still going to be the same.” If that’s enough, don’t forget about incoming freshman Jeremiah Cobb, who comes to the Plains with many expectations as a 4-star running back from Montgomery Catholic Preparatory. “I think there’s a good battle going on in there, yet I think they also understand, especially in the world of college football, it’s probably going to be some version of a rotation that’s going to happen in the backfield,” Montgomery said. I’ve been impressed with that room. I think they’ve got a chance to have a really special season when we all get it going in the right direction, and they’re going to be a vital, vital, vital part of what we are.” Auburn starts the 2023 season at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Sept 2 against UMass. Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.

247sports.com Auburn depth chart impact LB Larry Nixon III Nathan King 31–39 minutes Nixon was one of the most productive players in the Group of Five last season To help offset the loss of Owen Pappoe, Auburn has now picked up an experienced linebacker in each of the two transfer windows. Larry Nixon III marks the second transfer addition of the day for the Tigers, after his former teammate at North Texas — receiver Jyaire Shorter — also committed to Auburn earlier Tuesday. At 6-foot-2 and 236 pounds, Nixon becomes one of the Tigers’ most veteran pieces for first-year coordinator Ron Roberts’ defense, after he appeared in 40 games playing for North Texas in his home state. One of the most productive players in the Group of Five last season, Nixon earned first team All-Conference USA honors after posting 105 tackles with the Mean Green. In four years at North Texas, Nixon compiled 245 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Between Nixon, Ole Miss transfer Austin Keys and LSU transfer DeMario Tolan, Auburn added 2,474 career snaps and 306 tackles to its linebacking corps this offseason. Nixon is the sixth incoming transfer for Auburn in the second portal window — joining Shorter, App State pass-rusher Jalen McLeod, Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne, Ohio State receiver Caleb Burton and Tulsa offensive lineman Jaden Muskrat — and the 18th overall for Hugh Freeze’s transfer class, which has been ranked in the top 5 nationally by 247Sports for most of the cycle. “Hugh (Freeze) did a great job getting everybody here,” Nixon said after his Auburn visit last week. “Excited to see where everything goes.” Now that Auburn has likely finalized its inside linebacker room for 2023, let’s take a look at the personnel for first-year position coach Josh Aldridge, and how Nixon could fit into the rotation in his final college season. Freshmen: Robert Woodyard (RS) Sophomores: DeMario Tolan Juniors: Cam Riley (RS), Austin Keys, Eugene Asante Seniors: Larry Nixon III, Wesley Steiner -- Depth chart projection MIKE: Austin Keys OR Wesley Steiner (1), Robert Woodyard (2) WILL: Cam Riley OR Larry Nixon III (1), Eugene Asante OR DeMario Tolan (2) Aldridge said during spring practices that there are a number of players in his room who are versatile enough to play either middle or weakside ‘backer — particularly Riley. Keys has the “perfect Mike build to him,” according to Aldridge, and he and Steiner shared first-team reps there throughout spring ball. That would seemingly slot Nixon into a role on the weakside, which would be on track with the skill set he displayed at North Texas. According to Pro Football Focus, only 12.7 percent of his snaps last season came at middle linebacker. There, he’ll likely compete with the lengthy and athletic Riley, who started eight games last season. But at the end of the day, as Aldridge and Roberts harped on during the spring, Auburn’s defense wants at least four or five linebackers who can consistently rotate over the course of a game. A situation like that of Pappoe — who played an absurd 90.2 percent of Auburn’s defensive snaps last season — should be a thing of the past for a new coaching staff that’s put a big emphasis on depth and rotation. Considering Nixon’s experience level and superb production last season as the No. 4 leading tackler in his conference, there should be little reason to think he won’t be a factor in that refreshing equation for Auburn’s linebacking corps this season. If he carves out a significant role in the defense, Nixon would be one of the biggest success stories at Auburn in 2023 in terms of recruiting stature, considering he was ranked as the No. 426 player in the state of Texas alone by 247Sports back in the 2018 class.

USA TODAY Sports' Blake Toppmeyer grades SEC quarterback transfers Taylor Jones 5–6 minutes Athletes who remain in the transfer portal still have time to choose their next destination, but there are several talented prospects who have already found their new home. Now that the calendar has turned to May, USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer has given a grade to each quarterback who has transferred into the SEC this season, including new Auburn signal caller Payton Thorne. Buy Tigers Tickets Thorne joined Auburn’s roster back on May 5 and is poised to compete with incumbent starter Robby Ashford and Holden Geriner for the QB1 spot this fall for Hugh Freeze’s new-look offense. Toppmeyer lists Thorne as the second-best quarterback transfer to enter the SEC this season and gives the former Michigan State Spartan a C+ grade. Hugh Freeze seized a quarterback with two years of starting experience during the spring transfer window. That’s good news after Auburn whiffed on adding a transfer quarterback in the winter. The downside is Thorne threw 21 interceptions the past two seasons. Assemble talent around Thorne, and he looks good. See 2021, when Michigan State went 11-2. Put too much on his shoulders, and he’ll struggle. See ’22, when Sparty regressed to 5-7. Thorne upgrades AU’s quarterback situation as compared to the Bryan Harsin era. Who are the other quarterbacks on the list? Here’s a look at what grades each transfer quarterback within the SEC has received from Toppmeyer. The Courier-Journal NC State transfer Devin Leary is at the top of Toppmeyer’s list. Leary considered Auburn following his move to the portal from NC State, but elected to sign with Kentucky. After the departure of Will Levis to the NFL, Leary slides in as the most experienced quarterback on Kentucky’s roster with 6,807 yards and 62 touchdown passes in 30 games with the Wolfpack. Grade: B Scott Taetsch/Getty Images Trailing Leary is new Auburn quarterback, Payton Thorne. Thorne had a stellar 2021 season where he led the Michigan State Spartans to an 11-2 record and a Peach Bowl win. He sustained an injury in the Spartans’ 2022 season opener, which had lasting effects on his season. However, he played through and is now in competiton with Robby Ashford for the starting quarterback job on the Plains. Grade: C+ Quinn Harris/Getty Images Following Thorne on the list is new Alabama signal caller, Tyler Buchner. Nick Saban, like Kentucky’s Mark Stoops, needs to find a replacement at quarterback after Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young was selected No. 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2023 NFL draft. Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson battled in spring practice, but Saban felt that adding a transfer quarterback would tune up the compeition. Buchner, who played for new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees at Notre Dame, should adjust well to the Alabama scheme. Grade: C For more Alabama football coverage, check out Roll Tide Wire. Bruce Newman / Special to The Clarion-Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK Next up is another former Auburn target in ex-Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders. Sanders landed at Ole Miss where he is competing against fellow transfer Walker Howard and incumbent Jaxson Dart, who himself is a transfer. Sanders is arguably the most experienced quarterback on the list, but injury concerns lead Toppmeyer to place Sanders low on the list. Grade: C Matt Pendleton / USA TODAY NETWORK Another program looking to fill the void of a first round pick is the Florida Gators. Former Wisconsin Badger, Graham Mertz, appears to be the guy that will take over for Anthony Richardson in Gainesville. Mertz’s production at Wisconsin leaves Toppmeyer feeling skeptical when it comes to what he can do at quarterback for Billy Napier’s squad. Toppmeyer cites that Mertz “failed to reach 100 yards passing in three games last season. In 2021, he endured a five-game stretch without reaching 115 yards passing in any game.” Grade: D For more Florida football coverage, check out Gators Wire. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports There are plenty of capable quarterbacks on Toppmeyer’s list, but the one who needs a fresh start more than anyone is new Missouri quarterback Jake Garcia. Garcia had an interesting high school career as he began in California before transferring to Valdosta High School, then later to Grayson High School in Georgia. He signed with Miami as a four-star product of the 2021 recruiting cycle. His career has not gotten off to a great start, as he has thrown for just 950 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons at Miami. Things appear to continue trending downward for Garcia, as Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz says that incumbent starter Brady Cook appears to be the top choice at Missouri heading into the season. Grade: D

saturdaydownsouth.com Josh Pate evaluates Hugh Freeze’s roster overhaul at Auburn Keith Farner 2–3 minutes Josh Pate understands that many analysts have praised Hugh Freeze’s roster overhaul at Auburn, and have even ranked his transfer portal class in the top 5. The 247Sports analyst then shared on WJOX out of Birmingham, Alabama that while Lincoln Riley may have ruined the transfer portal era for head coaches because of his dramatic roster flip, Freeze has taken a hybrid approach. He’s added pieces while also learning about the roster he inherited. The balance to strike is to have enough to excite the fan base in Year 1, but also plan for the future. “To be able to come out of spring, and still be able to go and get a quarterback,” Pate said, “and to also be able to load up with the other guys they’ve gotten, what it does is it gives them a chance to be competitive this year. Like it’s 2023, no fan base wants to hear about your 2- or 3-year plan anymore. They’d love to hear, but they also want to hear about what you’re going to do in the mean time. And they, at the very least, have afforded themselves the opportunity in the mean time to be competitive in every game they play.” TRENDING

auburnwire.usatoday.com Former Jackson State WR Shane Hooks visited Auburn on Tuesday JD McCarthy ~2 minutes Despite the addition of former North Texas wide receiver Jyaire Shorter on Tuesday, the Auburn Tiger may not be done adding receivers. According to Christian Clemente of Auburn Undercover, Jackson State transfer wide receiver Shane Hooks unofficially visited Auburn on Tuesday. Buy Tigers Tickets Hooks entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer on Dec. 21, 2022. He then committed to Ole Miss on April 20 but backed off that pledge on April 28. That is when Auburn got involved, offering him a scholarship on May 13. The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder also has offers from UCF, Utah, Mississippi State and Liberty. This is his second time in the portal, he started his career at Ohio before transferring to Jackson State prior to the 2019 season. He did not play in 2019 or 2020 but started to emerge in 2021. He caught 16 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns in six games. Hooks became Jackson State’s top wideout last season, snagging 66 passes for 775 yards and 10 touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories. Auburn has already added three wide receivers between the two transfer windows, Nick Mardner (Cincinnati) committed during the first window with Caleb Burton (Ohio State) and Shorter (North Texas) committing during the spring. They have also added former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne and FIU tight end Rivaldo Fairweather as they look to overhaul a passing attack that struggled last season. 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