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si.com Auburn 2024 Class Snapshot - April Update Jack Singley 5–6 minutes Recruiting is kicking into high gear all across the country, especially in the SEC. April and March have been key months for a number of programs in the conference. Ole Miss gained five of their six commitments last month, Florida has added a five-star safety to their class in Xavier Filsaime, and Alabama just added another talented receiver to a class that already includes five-stars Jaylen Mbakwe and Perry Thompson. Auburn isn't letting a repeat of the last two recruiting classes happen, however, as they refuse to be left in the dust recruiting. During the past 30 days, Auburn has added two key offensive recruits to a class that has exceeded expectations for a year one staff so far. The New Additions: J'marion Burnette: 6'1 225 lbs, Andalusia, Alabama A top running back in the state and the overall cycle, Burnette decided to stay home and committed to the Tigers on March 24th. Burnette was a highly coveted recruit and his addition marks the fourth blue-chip running back that has committed to the Tigers while Carnell Williams has been the RB coach. The only non-blue chip was now starter Jarquez Hunter. Burnette is a larger back and had an amazing Sophomore season where he had well over 2000 rushing yards. In his junior season, he was in more of a committee-style scheme and also dealt with an injury in the playoffs. He has also taken on the role of a recruiter for this class, similar to his future signal caller Walker White. Martavious Collins: 6'3 245lbs, Rome, Georgia The newest addition, Collins is a consensus three-star. Collins is the first high school commitment for new TE coach Ben Aigauama, as he got Rivaldo Fairweather in the portal. Collins is more of a hybrid end as in his HS film he can be seen blocking, lining up on the line, and going for a route, and even some out wide. When Fairweather was brought in the Auburn Daily staff acknowledged the history HC Hugh Freeze has had with dynamic tight ends, the addition of Collins seems to be further evidence that even in a more scheme-style offense Freeze makes the tight end a priority. The Other Guys: Walker White: 6'3 215 lbs, Little Rock, Arkansas White is a four-star on all of the main sites, including 247, On3, and Rivals. He is considered by most the best quarterback in the state of Arkansas. You can see why as he has 48 touchdowns and 4,000 passing yards during his two years as a starter for Little Rock Christian. He also has gained over 1,200 yards rushing with 21 rushing touchdowns during this time. He committed to Auburn on Friday, February 3rd. White has been a key recruiter for the Tigers, as he has constantly hyped up his fellow prospects and has tried to hype up the Tigers to them as well. Jayden Lewis, Four-star Cornerback: 6'0 175 lbs, Anniston, Alabama Lewis is a four-star on all sites. Lewis is a rangy and fast cornerback who has a background in track. Lewis has been an intriguing prospect to watch as he could play anywhere along the defensive backfield for the Tigers. He has also dropped in the rankings and could potentially lose his four-star status The Anniston native joined fellow DB and Alabamian, A'mon Lane, by committing to Auburn on the first of February. A'mon Lane, Four-star Cornerback: 5'11 180 lbs, Mody, Alabama Lane rounds out this trio by also being a four-star on all the major recruiting sites. The class is rounded out by the smaller, twitchy cornerback from Moody, AL. He was previously at Thompson but followed his coach and adoptive father, Jake Ganus to the Moody Blue Devils. Lane has immense speed and great ball skills that will make him a good prospect to watch the rise in the rankings. Lane has been committed since last year's Big Cat Weekend. Lane, similar to Lewis has received a slight drop, but this can be attributed to moving to a much lower classification in high school ball. Where the class stands: Auburn currently sits at 21st in the country according to 247 Sports, the addition of Collins jumped them three spots from their previous ranking of 24th in the nation. In the SEC, they jumped from ninth to seventh. On3 views the Tigers in a bit more favorable light, as nationally they are 14th and in the SEC they are the same as 247's ranking seventh in the conference. With the summer almost upon us, the season of official visits will begin. Auburn looks to be in a position to get multiple five-star prospects on campus and will look to try and gain some flips against their rivals Alabama and Auburn. Big Cat weekend, the annual summer visit and recruiting get-together will also be held at some point in the summer as a date has not been set. The event was held from July 29th-July 31st last year, and expect a similar schedule this year.

ugawire.usatoday.com 4-star LB Joseph Phillips names his top schools James Morgan 2–3 minutes The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top five schools for elite linebacker recruit Joseph Phillips. Phillips’ top schools are Georgia, Auburn, Clemson, Texas A&M and Tennessee. Auburn is considered the favorite, per 247Sports, to land a commitment from the talented class of 2024 linebacker prospect. Buy Bulldogs Tickets Georgia is one of the top schools in the country at recruiting linebacker talent and should not be counted out. UGA inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann helped the Dawgs secure the nation’s best haul at the linebacker position in the class of 2023. The Bulldogs do an excellent job of developing linebackers and producing NFL draft picks. Phillips is a four-star recruit. He plays high school football and basketball for Booker T. Washington High School in Tuskegee, Alabama. Phillips is ranked as the No. 197 recruit in the junior class. The four-star linebacker is considered the No. 17 edge in the country and the No. 14 recruit in Alabama. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker has scholarship offers from great college football programs like Tennessee, Texas A&M, Alabama, Penn State, and Auburn. The Booker T. Washington standout can dunk a basketball and has excellent athleticism. Joseph Phillips has great speed and is not afraid to make a big special teams play. The four-star prospect also plays receiver and tight end. He shows his basketball skills as a receiver and has some incredible jump ball catches in his highlights. Kirby Smart and Georgia football have 12 commitments in the class of 2024. The Bulldogs have a commitment from five-star linebacker Demarcus Riddick, who is the No. 3 linebacker in the class of 2024. So far, Georgia has the nation’s best class of 2024.

yahoo.com 5 biggest winners from Hugh Freeze's first spring practice with Auburn football Richard Silva, Montgomery Advertiser 5–6 minutes AUBURN — Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze still has plenty of work to do this offseason, but some key questions were answered at spring practice. The biggest question mark surrounding the program remains at quarterback, but the offensive line looks improved, the linebacker rotation seems to be sorting itself out and there looks to be more depth along the defensive line, although Jeffrey M'ba announced Thursday he'd be entering the transfer portal. Nevertheless, here are five players that may not necessarily be starters in 2023, but are leaving spring practice on a high note and helped address some of those concerns. PROJECTING FORWARD: Predicting Auburn football's starters for 2023 after Hugh Freeze's first spring practice ROSTER IMPROVEMENTS: 3 positions of need for Auburn football in second transfer portal window RB Damari Alston Jarquez Hunter is going to be Auburn's starting running back next season, and he may even prove to be the Tigers' best weapon. But he'll need to be spelled, and redshirt freshman Damari Alston has been battling South Florida transfer Brian Battie to be Hunter's understudy. The race has been tight, but Freeze offered up some praise for Alston after he rushed for 43 yards on five carries at A-Day: "I didn't give enough credit to him coming into this job," Freeze said of Alston. "But he's had one heck of a spring for us." Jack LB Keldric Faulk Three early enrollees were tagged this spring by Freeze as players who will get on the field in Year 1 − jack linebacker Keldric Faulk, defensive back Kayin Lee and offensive lineman Connor Lew. Of the bunch, none had a better 15 practices than Faulk: "I love Keldric," Freeze said following A-Day. "I love his attitude. I love the way he comes to work." "The kid is talented," said Vanderbilt transfer Elijah McAllister, who is slated to be the starting jack. "... Like I said earlier, it can happen as fast as he wants it. ... He's going to be successful here. He's a guy that I continue to try to mentor him the right way. Not stepping on his toes, but also understanding we have a unique partnership in this position group." DL Mosiah Nasili-Kite Auburn Tigers defensive lineman Mosiah Nasili-Kite (33) runs drills during Auburn Tigers football practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center at in Auburn, Ala., on Monday, April 3, 2023. Freeze was asked earlier this month to name a few players who've improved most from the spring's first practice to its last. The first name out of his mouth was Maryland transfer defensive lineman Mosiah Nasili-Kite, citing the senior's disruptiveness. Nasili-Kite, who totaled 80 tackles and nine sacks in three seasons with the Terrapins, wasn't with the starting unit at A-Day − Jayson Jones, Justin Rogers and Marcus Harris made up that group − but he has been practicing at both defensive end and defensive tackle and should be a key reserve in 2023. LB Robert Woodyard Jr. Wesley Steiner and Ole Miss transfer Austin Keys were the two linebackers in the starting lineup at A-Day, but it only took four plays for junior Eugene Asante and redshirt freshman Robert Woodyard Jr. to rotate in. Defensive coordinator Ron Roberts tabbed Steiner and Keys as the top two LBs at the position in early April, with Woodyard and junior Cam Riley taking the next couple spots. Woodyard, who appeared in four games last season and was the defensive scout team player of the year, looks poised to see the field a lot more in his second season at Auburn. TE Rivaldo Fairweather Of this group, Florida International transfer Rivaldo Fairweather has the best chance to start this fall. Fairweather was consistently with the first team during the offense's pace drills at practice, and Freeze tapped the 6-foot-5 playmaker as the most reliable option in the passing game this spring. Freeze has had some notable successes with tight ends in his career, including a couple who made it to the NFL. Fairweather hopes to be next in line: "(Tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua) and Coach Freeze showed me a couple different ways they used Evan Engram and Dawson Knox from when they were at Ole Miss," Fairweather said of why he chose to transfer to Auburn. "That played a big part in it." Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football: These 5 Tigers impressed most at spring practice

Clemson transfer Ben Middlebrooks has 'incredible' visit to Auburn, will decide soon free article title from on3........grins

I have not been to a game in so long i have no idea what all we might need. If you have the time what all are we considering or what do we need? thanx

flywareagle.com Auburn football QB credits Hugh Freeze for major improvements Mary Kate Hughes 2–3 minutes Auburn football quarterback Holden Geriner (12) warms up during the A-Day spring football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, April 8, 2023. Quarterback Holden Geriner’s freshman season with Auburn football probably did not go the way he expected it too. There was the quarterback battle that never really ended between TJ Finley and Robby Ashford until Finley’s injury, and the times when Geriner was randomly thrown in the game. Then, the coach that recruited him and had high hopes for him was fired at the end of the tumultuous season. However, Geriner stayed with the Tigers after the new coaching staff was hired, and even found himself throwing the ball alongside Auburn football legend Cam Newton at the Tigers’ Pro Day. Geriner got great reports throughout spring practice, and showed flashes of great talent during the soggy A-Day game last weekend, proving that he’s right there with Finley and Ashford in this year’s QB Battle. According to the young QB, head coach Hugh Freeze and the coaching staff have been a big part of his growth during the offseason, per AL.com: “I definitely think I’ve gotten a lot better this spring with Coach Freeze and coach (Philip) Montgomery and coach (Kent) Austin, all their mentorship and help,” Geriner said. “I think it’s gone really well. It’s been super fun just being out there, just competing every day. I think I’ve definitely improved myself along with all these other quarterbacks and players.” There’s no doubt that there’s a new sense of confidence coming from Geriner, and he has continued to improve in terms of accuracy and long passes. His youth is likely a big reason for his shortcomings, and those will continue to be ironed out as he gets more coaching and experience. Everyone knew that letting go of Bryan Harsin was the right move, but it seems that bringing in Hugh Freeze and his staff was another right move in terms of improving the potential talent on the roster, including that of Holden Geriner. This might be a repeat.................

Auburn makes an offer to a four-star recruit out of Georgia Matthew Jacobs ~3 minutes Josiah Abdullah, a 2025 recruit from Atlanta, Georgia, has received his 27th Division I offer. The latest one comes from the Auburn Tigers. Abdullah does have a connection to a current Auburn Tiger running back, Damari Alston, who attended Woodward Academy. Perhaps that friendship can turn this offer into a commitment. Abdullah, who measures out at five foot eleven inch and 175 pounds, is a wide receiver that has earned a four-star rating from multiple sites. The addition of an Auburn makes this the 9th SEC offer he has received. Abdullah had an impressive Sophomore season for the Woodward War Eagles, he racked up 536 receiving yards and around 8 touchdowns. He has the speed to take the top off the defenses and wonderful hands. It will be interesting to see how much he can grow in every sense of the word to finish out his high school career. The main focus for the next two weeks will obviously be the portal. However, we didn’t want Auburn fans to miss a beat on the recruiting trail. (Special thanks to Jack Singley for the outstanding research work he does for Auburn Daily) You can check out our transfer portal tracker here. Stay up to date on all of the Tigers' commitments, departures, and prospects for key positions at auburndaily.com.

Auburn football transfer portal tracker: Running list of transfers in and out, real-time thoughts Justin Hokanson•about 20 hours Article written by:Justin Hokanson _JHokanson Jeffrey M'ba (Justin Ford/Getty Images) AUBURN — The spring transfer portal window is open from April 15-30. Auburn Live expects a number of current football players to enter into the portal following the completion of spring camp. The Tigers also plan to add another quality haul of transfers coming into the program in the next two weeks. Bookmark this page as we’ll link relevant stories, provide thoughts and track Auburn’s transfer situation during this spring window. Spring transfers out Tar’Varish Dawson Jeffrey M’Ba Kameron Brown Desmond Tisdol Running thoughts on Auburn’s spring transfers out — Dawson, like M’Ba, had thought about entering the portal in the past. Following a spring where he wasn’t able to make a push into the starting rotation, Dawson entering the portal wasn’t a shocker. Auburn has Ja’Varrius Johnson and Jay Fair in the slot, both players who Hugh Freeze singled out for consistent spring efforts. — M’Ba thought about entering the portal after last season, but stayed. He seemed to be happy about how things were going and his position change to defensive end when he spoke to the media during spring camp. Then again, M’Ba is a generally happy person. M’Ba was poised to play significant snaps this fall and provided important depth to the defensive line. — Tisdol and Brown both announced their departures in the middle of spring camp. Neither contributed much and don’t really impact Auburn’s roster in a meaningful way. How many transfers might Auburn target this spring? Auburn is looking at 6-8 spring transfer portal additions, plus or minus some on either side. Of course, this number is fluid based on two things: Auburn actually finding the right fits at the right positions (meaning not taking a player just to take a player), and current players leaving the program matching up with what Hugh Freeze and Co. expect. Quarterback, safety, cornerback, jack/defensive end/rush end, and a “few” offensive linemen are all positions Freeze has specifically mentioned as positions of need during the spring window. Spring transfers in Players and links will be provided as Auburn adds players in the spring transfer window. Running thoughts on Auburn’s spring transfers in Thoughts will be provided as Auburn adds players in the spring transfer window. Transfer portal background information The NCAA Transfer Portal, which covers every NCAA sport at the Division I, II and III levels, is a private database with names of student-athletes who wish to transfer. It is not accessible to the public. The process of entering the portal is done through a school’s compliance office. Once a player provides written notification of an intent to transfer, the office enters the player’s name in the database and everything is off and running. The compliance office has 48 hours to comply with the player’s request and that request cannot be refused. Once a player’s name shows up in the portal, other schools can contact the player. Players can change their minds at any point and withdraw from the portal. However, once a player enters the portal, the current scholarship no longer has to be honored. In other words, if a player enters the portal but decides to stay, the school is not obligated to provide a scholarship anymore. The database is a normal database, sortable by a variety of topics, including (of course) sport and name. A player’s individual entry includes basic details such as contact info, whether the player was on scholarship and whether the player is transferring as a graduate student. A player can ask that a “do not contact” tag be placed on the report. In those instances, the players don’t want to be contacted by schools unless they’ve initiated the communication. The portal has been around since Oct. 15, 2018 and the new calendar cycle within the portal begins each August. For example, the 2021-22 cycle started Aug. 1. During the 2020-21 cycle, 2,626 FBS football players entered the transfer portal (including walk-ons). That comes after 1,681 entered during the 2019-20 cycle and 1,709 during the abbreviated 2018-19 cycle. In comparison, 1,833 Division I basketball players entered the portal during the 2020-21 cycle after totals of 1,020 in 2019-20 and 1,063 in 2018-19.

In-state OL Bo Cagle receiving interest from Auburn, other SEC schools Cole Pinkston•about 20 hours Article written by:Cole Pinkston ColePinkston Bo Cagle (Photo- Cole Pinkston/Auburn Live) One name to keep an eye on moving forward is Bo Cagle, an offensive lineman from Mobile (Ala.) Mobile Christian. VIP Article. not much but a kid of interest.

Goodman: Gun culture among athletes must be addressed Updated: Apr. 15, 2023, 7:32 a.m.|Published: Apr. 15, 2023, 6:30 a.m. 6–7 minutes College coaches are always talking about things like “the standard” and “the process” and “team culture.” What about the disease of gun culture? Hopefully coaches are talking about that, too, because it appears to be spreading and needs to be addressed. Gun culture on the streets of America isn’t going away, but the growing trend of young athletes surrounding themselves with guns, and possessing them, simply can’t be tolerated or allowed. As spring football comes to an end, and conferences begin to prepare the agendas for their annual spring meetings, some time needs to be carved into the schedules for serious discussions about gun culture among college basketball and football players. No guns. It’s that simple. Better yet, how about NIL deals for athletes to promote gun-free lifestyles? RELATED: Tony Mitchell suspended by Alabama after arrest GOODMAN: For Nick Saban, decisions have consequences GOODMAN: Can’t ignore nightmares amid Alabama’s dream season GOODMAN: For Alabama basketball, was the price worth the cost Friday marked three months since the shooting death of Jamea Harris involving Alabama basketball players. On Thursday, Memphis-bound basketball player Mikey Williams was arrested in his San Diego suburb for felony assault with a firearm. Williams, who is 18, was not only the crown jewel of Memphis coach Penny Hardaway’s 2023 recruiting class, the five-star recruit is also one of the most prominent high school athletes in the country. He had 3.8 million followers on social media until his account on Instagram was deactivated on Friday. It’s disheartening. Williams had everything, and as college-age players go, they don’t get much more influential. He’s a culture symbol whose fame is tied to becoming the first high school basketball star of the NIL era to sign with a top sports agency. In November of 2021, he landed an endorsement deal with Puma. There was a bright future ahead of him, but now he’s facing three years in jail. Williams puts the spotlight back on guns among athletes. This one is a flashing red light that can’t be ignored. Why are young athletes taking risks with guns? The Memphis Grizzlies, of course, begin the NBA playoffs on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers and star Memphis player Ja Morant was suspended earlier this season for flashing a gun on social media. Williams has a chance at generational wealth. A gun potentially took that away. Gun culture should be treated like an American disease. It can’t be allowed to infect collegiate athletics, and so it falls to coaches and administrators to keep their teams, athletic departments and conferences gun free. This latest incident puts pressure on Hardaway and the University of Memphis. Are they going to cut ties with Williams based on these charges? Memphis said on Friday that it was gathering more information. According to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, the charges stem from a shooting in March at a residence in San Diego County. A verbal altercation occurred at the house, according to police, and visitors were told to leave. Police say Williams fired at the car as it left the scene. Luckily no one was shot. Police added that the car contained three minors. Williams is still in high school, after all, and according to the San Diego Union-Tribune he purchased a $1.2 million home in unincorporated San Diego County last summer. Hardaway, a former NBA star, has proven to be a good college coach for Memphis. He’s facing a big decision here. Based on the police report, Williams shouldn’t be suiting up for the Tigers later this year. Playing basketball in college is no one’s right. It’s a privilege. Let Williams learn this lesson the hard way and then begin his career as a pro basketball player. The same thing should have happened to Alabama basketball player Brandon Miller, who police say transported the gun used in Harris’ death on Jan.14 in Tuscaloosa. Miller remained on the team and never missed a game. Based on how Nate Oats and Alabama handled its star player, I wouldn’t be surprised if Memphis admits Williams for the fall semester. There’s money invested, and there are tickets to sell. Too cynical? Let’s not be naive here. When Alabama basketball player Darius Miles was charged with capital murder, Alabama emphasized that Miles was kicked off the team. Alabama withheld the fact that Miller and teammate Jaden Bradley were also at the scene of the shooting. The omission allowed Miller and Bradley to play basketball without question until their names came up in court during a police testimony a month later. The arrest of Williams for alleged assault with a firearm isn’t an outlier. There is a pattern here. Alabama’s Miles and his friend Michael Davis are in jail awaiting their trial for the alleged murder of Harris. Gun culture is to blame for her death no matter who was or wasn’t charged by the Tuscaloosa County district attorney. Last month, Alabama freshman football player Tony Mitchell of Shelby County had a gun in his car when arrested for drug charges. And let’s not ignore the elephant in the room. Arrests involving guns among young college basketball and football players have been a feature recently in this new era of pay-for-play. The big fear among some coaches and former players on the eve of the NIL era was how young people would react to suddenly having access to new money. That concern remains. I’m not saying extra cash from NIL deals is the cause of this problem. Gun culture among college athletes is the problem. No one is entitled to a college scholarship, though, and at some point the most valuable education of all might just be losing it. Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of “We Want Bama”, a book about togetherness, hope and rum. You can find him on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr.

Auburn draft prospect’s intangibles ‘would be welcome addition to any locker room’ Andrew Hughes 2–3 minutes Auburn football draft prospect Derick Hall's intangibles are a "welcome addition to any locker room" according to Cat Crave's Evan Birchmore Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Auburn football draft prospect Derick Hall has intangibles that would be a “welcome addition to any locker room” according to Cat Crave’s Evan Birchmore. “While Hall is by no means a perfect player, his intangibles would be a welcome addition to any locker room and his production is undeniable,” Birchmore wrote. “While he may not become a superstar in the NFL, the edge rusher could turn into a solid piece for several years.” Birchmore believes Hall could be a good fit for the Carolina Panthers, the NFL franchise Cat Crave covers — making him the second Derick/Derrick from the Plains following former Auburn football star Derrick Brown’s first-round selection in 2020. “The Carolina Panthers already have one former Auburn defensive lineman named Derrick (Brown) on the roster,” Birchmore wrote. “Adding another could be in the cards in this year’s draft, even if this year’s Derick (Hall) spells his name slightly differently than the Derrick who has been on the team since 2020.” Auburn football draft prospect Derick Hall’s game broken down by analyst There’s a lot to like about Hall according to Birchmore, who sees the 22-year-old’s speed and strength being an asset for the Mississippi native’s pursuit of sacks and more general defensive stops at the next level. “Hall uses his quickness to get off the ball and then utilizes his strength to get after the quarterback,” Birchmore wrote. “When opposing signal-callers are flushed from the pocket, the prospect has the speed to chase them down and can run sideline to sideline in pursuit.” Hall didn’t escape criticism altogether, though. Birchmore feels Hall could improve physically and mentally at the next level. “He will need to improve in both his technique and impact against the run once Hall reaches the NFL,” Birchmore wrote. “Simply overpowering blockers will be mitigated at the next level, and his defensive reads will become even more important for him to continue to be effective in getting into the backfield.”

Former Auburn wide receiver making return in USFL Published: Apr. 15, 2023, 5:00 p.m. ~4 minutes New Orleans Breakers wide receiver Eli Stove poses for a photo at the team’s picture day on March 31, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn.(Photo by Fox Sports/USFL/Getty Images) By Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com If not for an injury, Eli Stove might have been headed for the Los Angeles Chargers’ offseason program next week. Instead, the former Auburn wide receiver is scheduled to make his USFL debut when the New Orleans Breakers play the Pittsburgh Maulers in Birmingham on Sunday. RELATED: USFL RETURNS THIS WEEKEND IN BIRMINGHAM, MEMPHIS After catching 136 passes for 1,186 yards and six touchdowns and running for 554 yards and four touchdowns on 55 carries during his Auburn career, Stove was picked up as an undrafted rookie by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. That was widely reported. But Stove quickly fell off the football radar. Nothing unusual in that. Most undrafted rookies don’t make it to the NFL’s regular season after signing contracts. What wasn’t as widely reported: Stove never got a chance to make it. He never even reached the Chargers’ rookie minicamp. A torn anterior cruciate ligament kept Stove from passing his physical and signing with the NFL team. On Sunday, Stove will be playing for the first time since he caught four passes for 29 yards and returned a kickoff 18 yards in Auburn’s 35-19 loss to Northwestern in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2021. On Tuesday, Stove posted photos of himself in his Breakers uniform on his Instagram account and accompanied the pictures with the Bible verse Proverbs 16:9, which says: “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” The Breakers will square off against the Maulers at 5:30 p.m. CDT Sunday at Protective Stadium. FS1 will televise the game. RELATED: REUBEN FOSTER RETURNS TO ALABAMA FOR HIS FIRST GAME IN MORE THAN 4 YEARS Last season, the USFL played all its regular-season games in Birmingham. This season, the USFL is playing in four cities, with the Breakers sharing Protective Stadium with the Birmingham Stallions. The Stallions kick off their season with a home game against the New Jersey Generals at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. FOX will televise the game. The Maulers and Generals are based in Canton, Ohio. The Memphis Showboats and Houston Gamblers will play their home games in Memphis. The Michigan Panthers and Philadelphia Stars are playing in Detroit. New Orleans will play six times in Birmingham during the 10-game regular season, including bragging-rights games against the Stallions on April 29 and May 27. The Breakers also play at Protective Stadium against the Gamblers on April 22, Showboats on May 14 and Panthers on June 4. New Orleans has four wide receivers on its game-day roster for Sunday, with Stove joining three who played for the Breakers last season. In 2022, Jonathan Adams had 31 receptions for 405 yards and three touchdowns, Johnnie Dixon had 37 receptions for 359 yards and four touchdowns and Lee Morris had one reception for 5 yards for New Orleans. They’ll be catching passes from McLeod Bethel-Thompson. In 2022, the quarterback threw for 4,731 yards and 23 TDs in the regular season and helped the Toronto Argonauts win the 109th Grey Cup. Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

si.com Auburn makes an offer to a four-star recruit out of Georgia Matthew Jacobs 2–3 minutes Wide receiver Josiah Abdullah garners 2025 offer from Auburn. Josiah Abdullah, a 2025 recruit from Atlanta, Georgia, has received his 27th Division I offer. The latest one comes from the Auburn Tigers. Abdullah does have a connection to a current Auburn Tiger running back, Damari Alston, who attended Woodward Academy. Perhaps that friendship can turn this offer into a commitment. Abdullah, who measures out at five foot eleven inch and 175 pounds, is a wide receiver that has earned a four-star rating from multiple sites. The addition of an Auburn makes this the 9th SEC offer he has received. Abdullah had an impressive Sophomore season for the Woodward War Eagles, he racked up 536 receiving yards and around 8 touchdowns. He has the speed to take the top off the defenses and wonderful hands. It will be interesting to see how much he can grow in every sense of the word to finish out his high school career. The main focus for the next two weeks will obviously be the portal. However, we didn’t want Auburn fans to miss a beat on the recruiting trail. (Special thanks to Jack Singley for the outstanding research work he does for Auburn Daily) Dawson joins the following Auburn Tigers that have announced that they will be in the transfer portal. Defensive lineman Jeffrey M'ba Linebacker Kameron Brown Linebacker Desmond Tisdol The Auburn Tigers have pulled in an impressive haul thus far during Hugh Freeze's first season on the Plains, currently sitting at No. 3 nationally in 247Sports' transfer portal class rankings. You can check out our transfer portal tracker here. Stay up to date on all of the Tigers' commitments, departures, and prospects for key positions at auburndaily.com.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Former Tulsa OL Jaden Muskrat receives Auburn offer Taylor Jones ~2 minutes The spring window of the transfer portal officially opened on Saturday, and Auburn is already busy reaching out to potential suitors. The day began with wide receiver Tar'varish Dawson re-entering the transfer portal, becoming the second player to announce their intent to enter the portal, joining Jeffrey M'ba. Buy Tigers Tickets On the flip side, a former Tulsa offensive lineman announced Saturday that he had received an offer from Auburn. Jaden Muskrat, a rising junior from Bentonville, Arkansas, has received an offer from Auburn, becoming the second former Tulsa offensive lineman to hear from the Tigers. The first, Dillon Wade, followed his former head coach, Philip Montgomery, to the Plains during the winter transfer portal window. According to Pro Football Focus, Muskrat played 848 snaps last season primarily at right tackle, opposite Wade. He allowed just three sacks and four quarterback hits in 2022. RELATED: Auburn transfer portal tracker Auburn has added three talented, experienced linemen through the transfer portal in Wade, Avery Jones, and Gunner Britton. If the Tigers were able to add Muskrat, it would allow for more opportunities for the offensive backfield to do damage this season.

Auburn 2024 recruiting class update after landing Martavious Collins Andrew Stefaniak 2–3 minutes Auburn's 2024 class is in good shape after landing Martavious Collins. Auburn landed three-star tight end/athlete Martavious Collins, giving them five players committed in the 2024 class. The addition of Collins took Auburn's 2024 class from 24th in the nation to the 21st spot. The Tigers jumped Arkansas and Ole Miss after landing Collins, putting them seventh in the SEC. Coach Freeze is putting a special class together in his first year on the Plains. Let's take a look at the Auburn 2024 recruiting class. Walker White, QB Ranking (247Sports): 4-Star/ Ranked 103rd in the class Hight: 6'3 Weight: 215 Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas Highlights J'Marion "Phat" Burnette, RB Ranking (247Sports): 4-Star/ Ranked 194th in the class Hight: 6'1 Weight: 225 Hometown: Andalusia, Alabama Highlights A'Mon Lane, CB Ranking (247Sports): 4-Star/ Ranked 315th in the class Hight: 5'11 Weight: 180 Hometown: Moody, Alabama Highlights Jayden Lewis, CB Ranking (247Sports): 4-Star/ Ranked 362nd in the class Hight: 6'0 Weight: 175 Hometown: Anniston, Alabama Highlights Martavious Collins, TE/ATH Ranking (247Sports): 3-Star/ Ranked 509th in class Hight: 6'3 Weight: 241 Hometown: Rome, Georgia Highlights When this class is all said and done, it has a real shot to be top ten in the nation and top five in the SEC. Coach Freeze is cooking up something special in Auburn, Alabama.

for the record one of the podcasts i posted said something about no one being able to speak french or something of that nature and it was frustrating to him. i think i have this correct. at 67 i have to add that disclaimer......

here is what harsin has been up too.................cuss if ya feel like it. i cannot stand the man.

Recruiting NCAA approves major change to football recruiting official visits Published: Apr. 14, 2023, 9:45 a.m. The NCAA Division I Council this week adopted a major change to football recruiting. NCAA Photos via Getty Images NEW! By Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com The NCAA Division I Council this week adopted a major change to football recruiting, namely the number of schools a student-athlete may visit during the process. In the past, recruits were allowed to take official visits to five schools beginning April 1 of their junior year. Now, recruits can make official visits to an unlimited number of schools during that period. Athletes can officially visit each school only once, with the exception of schools that have undergone a head-coaching change since the first visit (in which case a second visit would be allowed). Visits may last no longer than two nights, and schools can continue to cover travel costs, transportation meals and “reasonable” entertainment for prospects and up to two family members. “For young people considering where to go to college, visits to campus — both official and unofficial — are an integral part of the decision-making process,” said Lynda Tealer, executive associate athletics director at Florida and chair of the Division I Council. “This was an opportunity to modernize NCAA rules in a way that provides greater and more meaningful opportunities for prospects going through the recruitment process.” The new rules take effect July 1, so they will be in place for the 2023-24 signing class.

247sports.com Auburn WR Tar'Varish Dawson enters transfer portal Christian Clemente 2–3 minutes Auburn has its second departure to the transfer portal this week, with former 4-star athlete Tar'Varish Dawson re-entering the transfer portal. Dawson originally entered the portal during the 2022 season, but ended up re-joining the team after Bryan Harsin was fired and taking his name out of the transfer portal. During Dawson's freshman season he redshirted, eventually playing at the end of the season and taking his first snaps in the Birmingham Bowl. In 2022, he caught two passes for 30 yards early in the year. Dawson began the season as Auburn's starting slot receiver, though that only lasted for a week before he was supplanted by redshirt junior Ja'Varrius Johnson. After Dawson did not appear in Auburn's Week 4 win over Missouri, he was removed from the depth chart altogether before returning as the co-backup at slot receiver with true freshman Jay Fair. In spring practice, Dawson was getting reps behind both Johnson and Fair again. Dawson was the sixth-highest rated recruit in Auburn's transition class from Gus Malzahn to Harsin, ranked by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite as the No. 351 overall player and No. 22 athlete, projecting as either a defensive back or receiver. 10COMMENTS Defensive lineman Jeffrey M'ba announced his intention to enter the transfer portal earlier this week, along with linebackers Desmond Tisdol and Kameron Brown, who entered the portal earlier in March. The post-spring transfer portal window is open from April 15-30. That's just when undergraduates are required to enter the portal, they are not required to make a commitment and sign with a program then. ">247Sports

saturdaydownsouth.com Auburn analyst reportedly leaves for on-field role with MAC program Keith Farner 2–3 minutes Auburn analyst RJ Fleming is set to be hired as the new wide receivers coach at Toledo, Matt Zenitz of On3 Sports reported. It’s been a busy spring for Fleming, who joined the Jackson State staff after the transition from Deion Sanders to T.C. Taylor as head coach, and then he left for Auburn in March. Fleming worked at Liberty as an offensive quality control and wide receivers coach for coach Hugh Freeze from 2019-20. He helped guide the Flames to their best season in school history finishing with a 10-1 record in 2020. The offense finished ranked 15th in FBS in total offense with 482.7 yards per game. Earlier in his career, Fleming was the running backs coach for Texas State in 2022, and previously a wide receiver and offensive analyst coach for Eastern Michigan in 2021. TRENDING 58,148 READS 51,772 READS 23,016 READS A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South. Follow on Twitter.

al.com Auburn QB Holden Geriner in 'much better place,’ more confident than last year Published: Apr. 14, 2023, 11:13 a.m. 6–7 minutes No one would have blamed Holden Geriner for being down on himself after his first college season. The former four-star recruit played only a handful of snaps as a true freshman last season and redshirted while working behind a pair of former transfers in Robby Ashford and T.J. Finley. Then at the end of October, the coach who recruited him to Auburn and who was exceedingly high on his arm talent and future potential, was fired. A new staff entered the fold, and with that came a new offensive system — a switch from a more pro-style scheme that seemed to fit Geriner’s skillset to an RPO-based spread attack. Read more Auburn football: Auburn defensive end Jeffrey M’ba plans to enter transfer portal What we learned about each position on Auburn’s offense this spring Projecting Auburn’s post-spring 2023 depth chart Yet when Auburn wrapped up its first spring under Hugh Freeze with last weekend’s A-Day game, Geriner couldn’t wipe the subtle smile from his face. “I feel like I’ve grown tremendously from a physical aspect, as well as mental,” Geriner said. “I feel like I’m in a much better place mentally and just confidence-wise.” After six weeks of spring practices, it’s easy to see why Geriner has a renewed sense of confidence, even after all the change around him the last five-plus months. The redshirt freshman was right in the thick of a wide-open quarterback competition that will continue through the offseason and into fall camp, and there was a stretch in the middle of spring when he turned a corner with his development and was seen taking first-team reps in practice (albeit while Ashford was limited due to shoulder soreness). Geriner didn’t take any of it for granted, even if he was the third quarterback in the rotation come A-Day, when he completed 3-of-5 passes for 17 yards and ran in a 2-point conversion during the rain-soaked and weather-shortened scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium. “I definitely think I’ve gotten a lot better this spring with Coach Freeze and coach (Philip) Montgomery and coach (Kent) Austin, all their mentorship and help,” Geriner said. “I think it’s gone really well. It’s been super fun just being out there, just competing every day. I think I’ve definitely improved myself along with all these other quarterbacks and players.” Things started to click for Geriner during the third week of practice, after Freeze provided a blunt assessment of Auburn’s quarterback room, saying the Tigers’ trio of returning scholarship quarterbacks weren’t as far along, or as consistent, as they needed to be. Following those remarks, Geriner put together his best week of practice — which also happened to include an off-day opportunity to throw alongside program legend Cam Newton, the former Heisman winner and national champion who threw at Auburn’s pro day last month. “That was an unbelievable experience to be out there with Cam and just throw it around with him, but it was definitely something that I didn’t take lightly,” Geriner said. “I just went out there and just had fun and threw it around a little bit. It was awesome.” That was the same week that Geriner received more first- and second-team reps while Ashford nursed his sore shoulder. The following Monday, Geriner was the first quarterback in the rotation during the window of practice that was open to media, which drew some added attention to the 6-foot-3, 212-pounder. Geriner continued his progress through the final weeks of spring practices, with Freeze crediting his improved accuracy on downfield passes but still making note of areas that need to be improved overall, including his steadiness in the pocket, day-to-day consistency and understanding of the RPO aspect of Auburn’s offense. Like each of Auburn’s three quarterbacks this spring, though, there was good and bad in Geriner’s performances over the course of six weeks. Geriner, for his part, has appreciated Freeze’s honest approach to evaluating the quarterbacks. He’d rather a coach be straightforward in his critiquing than to have to guess what he’s doing wrong or needs to work on. For Geriner, that work is still in progress, but he believes he has made some notable strides in a couple key areas when it comes to the playing quarterback. “I would say just confidence and just staying calm,” Geriner said. “I think that’s something that (Freeze) looks at in a quarterback, just being calm and confident. So, that’s something that I really took to heart and just tried to improve on. And also being able to run. I know I can make all the throws, so just being able to improve my legs is something I’ve worked on a lot.” That growth and confidence was on display throughout the spring, culminating with A-Day. Geriner may have been the third quarterback in the rotation during the spring game, but he also guided a possession with the first-team offense on the final day of spring. The redshirt freshman has gone from the perceived third quarterback in the Tigers’ ongoing race to someone who has more of a realistic opportunity to compete for the job this offseason. “I think he has a real chance to be a solid quarterback,” Freeze said ahead of A-Day. “But I think the other two, again, had good days also. Better days. So, the interesting thing will be their response to the competition that’s created and that has been created, that will continue to go on. Being the quarterback, to me, at an SEC school, at a place like Auburn, carries a lot of weight with it. That weight doesn’t end when spring practice 15 is over. “How does that go through summer? What does that look like in the leadership of this team? That will all play into, ultimately, who gets that first nod. It’ll be interesting to see how they all respond to that.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.