aubiefifty

yahoo.com Pat Dye Field renovations to occur after 2023 football season Richard Silva, Montgomery Advertiser ~2 minutes The Auburn University Board of Trustees approved a project Friday morning to make improvements to Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium, secretary to the board Jon Waggoner confirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser. According to the materials for the BOT meeting, "the intent of this project is to improve the field drainage, resod the field, modify the perimeter of the field for improved access and circulation, and modernize the on-field electrical and communications infrastructure." The venture is estimated to cost $6 million and be financed by the athletics department. PROJECTING FORWARD: Predicting Auburn football's starters for 2023 after Hugh Freeze's first spring practice TRANSFER PORTAL: 3 positions of need for Auburn football to target Construction is scheduled to begin following the upcoming football season and completed prior to the annual A-Day game in 2024. The board also approved Friday a project to renovate space within the athletics complex "to expand and improve sports medicine services to its student athletes." These services are currently found in the Plainsman Park Strength and Rehabilitation Center; the plan is for them to be relocated into space that was previously held by the football program before its move to the Woltosz Football Performance Center. A price for the project was not listed in the materials, but it's expected to be financed by funds from the athletics department. 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.

since i saw that video of holt trashing some woman at a restaurant i have had no use for him. he is a jerk big time. sorry to rain on anyone's parade but if we all had the same answeres it would be a boring board.

247sports.com 3 For 3: Late flips pay early dividends for Auburn Jason Caldwell 4–5 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—When Hugh Freeze and his staff arrived at Auburn last December, the first order of business was to hit the recruiting trail hard to try to improve the roster. While the transfer portal additions got a lot of the attention, and deservedly so, the Tigers got three huge late commitments when Keldric Faulk flipped from Florida State, Connor Lew flipped from Miami and cornerback Kayin Lee flipped from Ohio State. After watching the three early enrollees during spring practice, Freeze said the early returns have been nothing but positive on his prize recruits. "It's hard for me to tell a lot until I watch the film, but I love Keldric,” Freeze said following the A-Day game. “I love his attitude. I love the way he comes to work. He should still be in high school. He and Connor Lew and Kayin Lee have really stood out as three freshmen that we think in the '23 class we'll look back on and say, 'Man, we've got us three really good ones.'” Despite missing the majority of the winter weight workouts after having surgery to repair a thumb he injured as a senior a Highland Home, Faulk was still impressive as he picked things up quickly in his first spring on the Plains. With the size and athletic ability to get the job done, Freeze said it was more about the way he handled himself that stood out. "No. 1, he's a great human being,” Freeze said. “He doesn't know anything yet about the college game, he's raw in some ways, but he's very, very talented and I love the way he went about his business the whole spring." Impressive freshman Keldric Faulk works on his pass rush moves. (Photo: Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) A major target for Auburn since last spring, Lew was a guy that chose to go elsewhere until the new staff came onboard. It didn’t take long for Freeze, Jake Thornton, Kendall Simmons and others to show him how much he was needed by the Tigers and the opportunity he would have. Once he got on campus it didn’t take Lew to take advantage of that opportunity, showing his coaches and teammates that he’s got a bright future ahead of him. “For him to be that young and play as good as he does, it’s really impressive,” transfer center Avery Jones said of Lew. “I know he’s going to be a heck of a player, especially in the future. He’s already a really good player right now. He can only go up. He’s a really good guy, great teammate and real coachable. Just a great player overall. “He’s just such a quick learner. He just learns everything so quick. Real coachable. Anything Coach Thornton gave to him or shouted at him, he took that in and tried to work on it and get better. He was doing that throughout the whole spring so I think that really made him a lot better.” Coming into a situation where Auburn returned starters D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett with nickel Keionte Scott also capable of playing the cornerback spot, Lee had an opportunity to learn from a group of veterans from his very first day on the job. Showing up ready to work, Lee was yet another home run for Auburn on the recruiting trail, said position coach Wesley McGriff. 6COMMENTS “He wants to be great,” the veteran assistant said. “He has the attitude and demeanor where he wants to be great. You can see it transfer over to the field, so I’m excited about his progression. He’s making plays. He’s got a lot of confidence. The biggest thing about him like that is don’t put too much on his plate and make sure you coach his confidence up. But he’s doing great. I’m excited about him. He will have an impact on this football team and this program.” SIGN UP NOW AND GET 50% OFF ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION ">247Sports

247sports.com TE Martavious Collins locks in commitment date Christian Clemente ~3 minutes Less than a week after A-Day Auburn could be getting some positive recruiting news. Former Alabama tight end commit and Auburn tight end target Martavious Collins announced on Thursday that he plans to commit on Friday. Auburn is the 247Sports Crystal Ball favorite to land Collins currently with two predictions in. After A-Day, Collins said he didn't plan to commit until closer to his senior season. He also noted, though, he wasn't done with his visit and he still had more meetings with coaches and expected them to push hard for a commitment. Collins visited Auburn for the first time last fall for the San Jose State game as an Alabama commit. He returned in January as an Alabama commit and a few weeks later he backed off that pledge. He returned this spring to Auburn for A-Day. Not only is Auburn the Crystal Ball favorite, he came out and said so after A-Day. "Auburn I talk to the most," Collins said. "I talk to Coach Ben (Aigamaua) and them every day. I would say (Auburn's) at the top." In the Class of 2024, Auburn is planning to take two tight ends. Collins profiles as more of a traditional, H-back style tight end capable of lining up in the backfield or next to an offensive tackle and blocking while also being able to catch some passes. The second tight end will likely be a hybrid pass-catcher. During A-Day, Collins was focused on getting a feel for the new Auburn offense and what his fit could look like. "I know the weather was bad and everything, but I got a chance to see what they do on offense and stuff like that," Collins said. "It wasn’t the most beautiful day but I’m going to be back when I see more of what they do on offense." Collins also noted Florida State and Miami as two other schools he's talking to a lot. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite has the 6-foot-3, 241-pound Collins as the No. 507 player, No. 50 athlete and No. 54 player in Georgia. The 247Sports rankings have Collins as the No. 29 athlete and No. 35 player in Georgia. 8COMMENTS In the Class of 2024, Auburn holds four commitments with all being inside the Top247 in Walker White, J'Marion Burnette, Jayden Lewis and A'Mon Lane. Auburn's class is No. 24 in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Four-star WR Chance Robinson to officially visit Auburn JD McCarthy 1–2 minutes The Auburn Tigers are looking to sign multiple impact wide receivers in the 2024 recruiting class and one target is four-star Chance Robinson. Robinson, who is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, seems to have plenty of interest in Auburn as he told On3’s Cole Pinkston that he has set an official visit to the Plains for June 9. Buy Tigers Tickets The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder is the No. 136 overall player and No. 23 wide receiver in the 247Sports Composite ranking. He is also the No. 19 player from Florida. As a junior last season, he was the top wide receiver for St. Thomas Aquinas, which went 14-0 and captured a Florida 3M state title. He caught 29 passes for 540 yards and 13 touchdowns. While there is mutual interest between Auburn and Robinson, it will be tough for wide receivers coach Marcus Davis to pull him away from the in-state Miami Hurricanes, who have hosted him four times already. 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.

saturdaydownsouth.com Joseph Phillips, 4-star LB out of Alabama, names 4 SEC teams amongst finalists Spenser Davis 1–2 minutes Joseph Phillips is continuing to dwindle down his list of potential college programs. Phillips announced a top 5 on Thursday, which included 4 SEC teams: Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas A&M. He’s also still considering Clemson. Here’s his announcement: Where’s Home????? pic.twitter.com/qCuv651JLI — josephphillips_2 (@D1joe22) April 13, 2023 Phillips attends Booker T. Washington High School in Tuskegee, Alabama. He’s listed at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds. He is regarded as one of the top players in the country. Phillips is currently ranked as the No. 198 overall player and the No. 17 EDGE in the country, per 247Sports Composite rankings. He’s also the No. 17 player from the state of Alabama. According to 247Sports crystal ball projections, Auburn is the favorite to land Phillips’ commitment. Auburn currently has 4 commitments in the class of 2024. The Tigers have the No. 24-ranked class in the country, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

247sports.com Auburn DL Jeffrey M'ba to enter transfer portal Christian Clemente ~3 minutes Ahead of the April 15 transfer portal window opening, Auburn defensive lineman Jeffrey M'ba has announced his intention to enter the portal. He is the third Auburn player to begin that process, joining linebackers Kameron Brown and Desmond Tisdol who entered the portal during the spring. "I am grateful to have been a part of the Auburn Tigers community," M'ba wrote. "My time in Auburn has taught me lessons that extend far beyond the football field. I want to give a heartfelt thank you to Coach Harsin for recruiting and giving me the opportunity to play at Auburn. Additionally, I want to thank the entire new Auburn staff for giving me the opportunity to play under their leadership. To my teammates, thank you for always being by my side; you guys have become family to me on and off the field. Without you, I don't think I will be able to make it this far. "A huge thanks to Dom (Studzinski) and the entire strength coaching staff for helping me reach a new level on the field. Most importantly, I would like to thank the Auburn community for embracing and supporting me throughout my time here. I never felt anything but real love from you since day 1. You are all a big family and made a part of it. I will always remember and appreciate you. The time has come for me to enter the transfer portal and take the next step as a football player. It's time for me to start my next chapter of life!" Arriving in the Class of 2022 under Bryan Harsin and Co., M'ba was the No. 1 JUCO player in both the 247Sports Composite rankings and 247Sports rankings, coming over from Independence Community College. Originally from Gabon, M'ba came to the United States from France and began playing football shortly before moving to the United States. In a crowded defensive line room, M'ba appeared in nine games in 2022, recording seven tackles and a sack and a forced fumble, both of which came in the Mississippi State game. 103COMMENTS During the first transfer portal window, Auburn brought in former Kentucky defensive lineman Justin Rogers, former Purdue defensive lineman Lawrence Johnson, former Maryland defensive lineman Mosiah Nasili-Kite and Elijah McAllister to play on the edge. Auburn Undercover will continue to update this story. ">247Sports

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn interested in bringing new faces in during second transfer portal window Daniel Locke ~2 minutes Spring ball is over for Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers and the staff is is the roster evaluation stage. It is no secret that there are areas of the team that could use some improvement and Freeze has been vocal about his intentions to find the best possible fit for each position. The quarterback position has been one of the biggest areas of concern for the roster. Robby Ashford, Holden Geriner and T.J. Finley are the three options currently on the roster and each leaves something to be desired. Buy Tigers Tickets “I feel better than I did 15 practices ago,” Freeze said after A-Day. “I think from this point, now until the end of fall camp, there’s so much that needs to happen for somebody to solidify being ‘the guy.’ I think all have improved. I think all are still inconsistent with some things.” An article from Auburn Undercover written by Christian Clemente lists some candidates that Auburn pursued in the winter. These include Greyson McCall from Coastal Carolina and Devin Leary from N.C. State. Neither option worked out for the Tigers, but Freeze is still trying to make not only the quarterback position but the roster as a whole, as deep as he possibly can. Other positions of interest include offensive line, wide receiver, defensive line, and linebacker. The transfer portal opens again on April 15th. In just a few days, Freeze and company will be able to go back to trying to put together the roster that will get Auburn back on track.

i am sure i will miss more. keep me honest......

thanx i guess i read it wrong.

i have never heard of this cat before for whatever reason. is he legit? lets take him for a test ride.

Republicans Should Rejoice: We Are Now Numb To Gun Violence 26 Bruce Maiman Thu, April 13, 2023 at 4:45 AM CDT A makeshift memorial is set up on the steps of Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, where a gunman, a 25-year-old bank employee, opened fire Monday, killing five people and wounding at least eight others before police fatally shot him. A makeshift memorial is set up on the steps of Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, where a gunman, a 25-year-old bank employee, opened fire Monday, killing five people and wounding at least eight others before police fatally shot him. There is a stark, startling conclusion one can draw from the endless string of mass shootings we’ve seen in America: Murder is one of the prices we pay for the freedoms we say we want. Or at least the freedoms some of us say we want. I think it’s worse than that. I don’t think we care. Or at least not anymore. There was a time when such a thing shocked the nation. Who remembers the reaction to the Columbine shooting? Maybe it was a shock because it was a first — the first such incident in recent memory. Maybe we thought it was a one-off, so let freedom ring! - ADVERTISEMENT - But the shootings continued. They happen with such frequency now that a national complacency has set in. We have become numb. Beyond the communities in which they happen, are we shocked anymore? Does the nation grieve? Is there any remaining description a president or elected official hasn’t uttered yet? At least a particular class of lawmakers have abandoned the old “thoughts and prayers” routine. Either we don’t care, or we’ve given up. It doesn’t matter how many were killed, whether children were killed, or whether the motive was racism or anti-gay. Such incidents seem so commonplace now that we brush them aside as just another day in the United States. The numbers don’t matter no matter how startling they are. In each of the last three years, there have been over 600 mass shootings in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research database. That is more than 12 mass shootings a week. And yet, some say that’s the price we pay for freedom. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk says we have to accept mass shootings to protect the Second Amendment. “Don’t let shooting victims define the narrative,” he said on his podcast in reaction to the latest mass shooting in Louisville. By “shooting victims,” I assume he means the ones who aren’t dead. Jeez, what a Republican! So many of us seem to shrug our shoulders. “It won’t happen to me,” we say. “It won’t happen here.” A gangland shooting? I’m not in a gang, not my world. Not my problem. Suicide, ya gotta be depressed or mentally ill. I’m not either, so not my problem. But mass shootings? We may not know the people who died, but we know people just like them. A Lunar New Year shooting earlier this year happened in Monterey Park, California, a city listed as one of America’s best places to live and raise a family. Hey, I live in a place where it’s great to live and raise a family! Maybe it could happen here. Maybe it could happen to me. Do these mass shooting incidents give you pause about attending certain events, or, when attending such events, are you mindful of what to do should such a terrifying moment arise? Where I grew up, where violence was not uncommon, you learned at a young age to have an escape route, to know where the exits are, and to avoid certain kinds of locations lacking some form of egress. You prepare for the eventuality and think, what do I do if? Do you do that? Have you done that? Are you more inclined to do that now? How long before you let your guard down? Been to the movies lately? Maybe a lot? Maybe you forgot about what happened in Colorado. Or that grocery store in Buffalo? How about a nightclub? Folks in Orlando thought that would be okay. Or a music festival? You do recall what happened in Las Vegas. Or maybe you’ve been to a political rally. Forget what happened in Tucson? How about your house of worship? Mr. Kirk says the Second Amendment protects all other freedoms. Apparently not. A makeshift memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 children and two adults. A makeshift memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 children and two adults. According to a national poll released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on healthcare research, the fear of gun violence is impacting where people go when outside the home: decisions to take public transit, dine out, attend a concert, and where they send their child to school. Eight in 10 participants said they took at least one precaution to protect themselves or a loved one from the possibility of gun violence. The survey found that 1 in 5 has had a family member killed by a gun, 1 in 5 has been threatened with a gun, and nearly as many have personally witnessed a shooting. One in 5 parents has considered changing where their child attends school. Smaller percentages have shot a gun in self-defense or been injured in a shooting. More than half (54%) have experienced or had a family member who experienced gun violence. Most of these incidents happened in the home, either through domestic violence, accidents or suicides. Either way, it has affected our behaviors outside the home. The survey’s broader conclusion: We’re a nation living in fear. I would say we are a nation living in apathy. Or maybe it’s resignation. Opponents of stricter gun laws often oppose such regulations saying it doesn’t work. They point to California’s gun laws as proof given those three nearly back-to-back mass shootings earlier this year. Those shootings offered “a lesson in the limits of state power to stop American gun violence, even with the political will at all levels of the state government to do so,” a New York Times piece reported. Its headline: “California Has More Than 100 Gun Laws. Why Don’t They Stop More Mass Shootings?” What critics don’t point to, aren’t able to point to, is what didn’t happen because of those gun laws. It’s what Garen Wintemute calls the Paradox of Prevention. Wintemute is a renowned expert on the public health crisis of gun violence and director of the University of California Violence Prevention Research Program. “California gun laws are tough,” he told HuffPost. “But you only hear about the failures. They work more often than they fail because when they work, nothing happens.” “Nobody tells the story of the thing that never happens.” But it turns out California’s firearm violence and firearm homicide rates are far below the national average. The state’s suicide rate is among the nation’s lowest. “As of 2020, the most recent data, the rate in the other 49 states taken together is 60% higher than the rate in California,” Wintemute said. “If the country had California’s firearm death rate in 2020, we would have saved nearly 16,000 lives.” “In the roughly half a dozen states with firearm violence death rates lower than California’s, every single one of those states has a legal regulatory apparatus that is as strict as ours, or stricter,” he added. “When people say gun laws don’t work, then how do you explain this?” That same study found there were about 1,500 more gun deaths in Texas alone than there would have been if Texas had California’s firearm death rate. “Did those 1,500 people have to die?” asked Wintemute. “That’s a question for Greg Abbot.” (Abbot is the current governor of Texas.) People visit a memorial for those killed at Pulse nightclub on June 16, 2016, in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people were killed and 53 others were wounded. People visit a memorial for those killed at Pulse nightclub on June 16, 2016, in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people were killed and 53 others were wounded. The Paradox of Prevention may become the fate of the gun control bill signed into law last year, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Media outlets celebrated its passage as the first major gun safety legislation passed by Congress in nearly 30 years. That’s nothing to celebrate when it took roughly a quarter-century of increasing rates of mass shootings to pass legislation that Joe Biden conceded. “Doesn’t do everything I want.” It’s none of what gun advocates want. “President Biden is pushing politically divisive measures that could seriously damage our right to keep and bear arms without making the nation any safer,” the Heritage Foundation proclaimed. The National Rifle Association repeated its fallback panic position: “Biden wants to ban guns.” Gun rights groups threatened legal action against the executive order designed to increase background checks that Biden signed last year. It’s going to target legal gun owners! Yet the Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that some of those legal gun owners aren’t exactly responsible gun owners. Among the 4 in 10 respondents who said there was a gun in their household, more than half said they stored at least one gun in the same location as the ammunition. Four in 10 stored their firearms in an unlocked location, and more than one-third said they have a loaded gun in the house. Parents with children? Four in 10 with children under age 18 say there is a gun in their household. Among that group, one-third say the stored gun is loaded or stored in an unlocked location. More than 6 in 10 said they stored any gun in the same location as ammunition. Some take comfort in a concealed carry permit. I don’t oppose them, but I’m skeptical. Anyone can go to the shooting range and learn to hit a stationary target. But firing a weapon under duress, when someone is firing in all directions, or firing at you… Try firing your weapon then. Being a good guy with a gun doesn’t necessarily mean a guy who is good with a gun. Another question is what to do if you encounter something that raises a red flag. “We did a large-scale statewide survey in California,” said Wintemute. “At any moment in time, one adult in eight — 12% of us — is aware of at least one person, someone they know personally, who they believe is at risk of harming themselves or somebody else.” “We have to be willing to make the call [notify the authorities]. Otherwise, we may have to be living with the consequences of not doing so,” he said. That has a disturbing feel to it. How many people would feel comfortable ratting out someone we know personally? Yet recently passed laws in some states allow you to sue anyone who assisted another in getting an abortion. Well, it’s about saving the life of the unborn child. How about saving the lives of who knows how many when the next mass shooting comes along? Speaking of which, the leading cause of death among children is now firearm violence. Gun safety advocates participate in the March for Our Lives rally in downtown Orlando on June 11, 2022. Similar marches have been held across the U.S. in the wake of recent mass shootings. Gun safety advocates participate in the March for Our Lives rally in downtown Orlando on June 11, 2022. Similar marches have been held across the U.S. in the wake of recent mass shootings. Most mass shootings have familiar telltale benchmarks. An angry person. A person with no recourse. Targets. Guns. Victims. Often, instead of suicide notes or rambling screeds in a diary, digital breadcrumbs tempt us into thinking we could have prevented such a tragedy had we only known about this tweet, that Facebook page, or TikTok video. But such clues are only realized in hindsight. Maria Martinez and her daughter told Denver’s KDVR of their disturbing encounter with the accused Club Q shooter Anderson Lee Aldrich, who they recorded spewing racial slurs and death threats while getting off a plane. “Even my friend was like, we won’t be surprised, like, if he’s a mass shooter,” Martinez said. The Club Q shooting happened four months later. George Sodini, who killed three people and wounded nine others in 2009, kept a blog online detailing his plans to commit a mass shooting at a specific health club in Pittsburgh. He indicated that he was profoundly unhappy. He felt women did not like him. He claimed not to have been in a relationship for 25 years, and he resented that. His blog even contained such astonishing things as his date of death, which he listed as Aug. 04, 2009, the day of the shooting. It was a date he entered long before it had arrived. Classmates of the Uvalde school shooter suspected something was off. A year before the tragedy, he had threatened women, shared graphic descriptions of violence and rape, carrying around a dead cat, and been nicknamed “school shooter,” which had been something of an inside joke among his peers. But he had no record, so he went undetected by law enforcement. And no one said anything to anyone. It was a minor miracle more people weren’t killed when Stephen Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of his hotel room into an estimated crowd of 22,000 people. Fifty-eight dead, nearly 900 wounded. But Paddock left no clues, no grandiose manifesto. His brother described him as just another guy, and apparently, a wealthy one: A retired multimillionaire real estate investor. Investigators found no “single or clear motivating factor” to explain why he carried out the attack. But even if he had left a trail of breadcrumbs, if you happened to encounter someone whose behavior was alarming or chilling, or if you stumbled upon a menacing social media post, would that have compelled you to call the police? Most of us would’ve dismissed the matter, thinking, “Oh, another kook.” The more you talk about this, the more you come to realize that you have to accept one of two conclusions: Either murder is the price we pay for living in a society with the freedoms we (or enough of us) say we want, or, we’ve given up any hope in our lifetimes of ever resolving the problem of gun violence in America. And that raises a larger question: How comfortable are you with the fact that perfection eludes us in the temporal realm and that we can’t prevent shootings like the one in Louisville, Nashville, or wherever the next one takes place? And who would be astonished if, as soon as you read these words, somewhere another mass shooting may strike? What freedoms do we give up in exchange for those demanded by others? People have a right to be wrong in their choices. They don’t have a right to be wronged by the choices of others. Reflexively, we talk about gun laws or someone’s mental stability. Polling data shows that Americans supportstricter gun regulationsand a ban on assault-style weapons. Yet we continually elect and reelect people who oppose such bans. I used to think that one day enough would be enough. That one day, a shooting so grievous, so horrific, would impel us to finally take action. But after events like Sandy Hook, Las Vegas, Virginia Tech, Uvalde, and so many others, I don’t know what it will take. Until we confront this issue willingly, honestly and accordingly, we will have to live with the discomfiting reality that mass shootings are the unfortunate outgrowth of our free society. We do not seem capable of perfecting a system that can prevent them, nor do we have enough societal will to try.

yahoo.com Auburn football: Can QB Robby Ashford be the leader coach Hugh Freeze desires? Richard Silva, Montgomery Advertiser ~4 minutes AUBURN — Auburn football quarterback Robby Ashford, by his own admission, wasn't where he needed to be mentally. The 6-foot-3 Hoover native, who made nine starts for the Tigers in 2022 and totaled over 2,300 all-purpose yards, was about to begin his second spring at Auburn since transferring from Oregon in January 2022. Ashford was entering the race to be the starting QB for coach Hugh Freeze in his first season back in the SEC. Then Freeze pulled Ashford to the side: "He challenged me to be that guy, that leader," Ashford explained after A-Day. "If I feel like I'm getting in a down space, come to him. ... Just to hear that from him means a lot because he's a coach that cares. He has challenged me every single day." POSSIBLE IDENTITY: Can the run game be a strength for Hugh Freeze, Auburn football next season? AUBURN FOOTBALL: How Tigers took 'the right step' during Hugh Freeze's first spring practice In a rainy and disjointed spring game Saturday, Ashford completed one of his three passes for 39 yards − the lone connection was a deep ball down the seam to Tar'Varish Dawson − and ran for an additional 38. A-Day's first score came on his 7-yard touchdown run on the opening drive. Those numbers, rivaled only by solid production from running backs Sean Jackson (77 yards) and Justin Jones (50 yards), were good enough to earn him offensive MVP honors. It's the second year in a row he won the award. The Tigers went 3-6 in games he started in 2022. At times, he flashed arm talent − his 20-yard touchdown throw in the Iron Bowl sticks out − but he was more often erratic, as he finished with an SEC-worst 49.2% completion rate among starters. "Last year, I was kind of uptight (and) playing off raw ability," Ashford said. "(I) don't want to say it in a bad way, (but I) didn't feel like I was getting coached as good as I could have been. ... You always have questions as a quarterback, and when you can come to your coach and they have the answer for everything, and then even (answer) in more depth, that just helps you. "That gives me the confidence to go out there and just be like, 'Hey, just go out there and relax, kid, and have fun and just be you.'" Where is the Auburn quarterback competition after spring practice? Signs are pointing toward Ashford taking the starting role come September, but Freeze has said all along that this QB contest would not be resolved at spring practice. Ashford's teammates and competition are, of course, TJ Finley and Holden Geriner. After Ashford trotted onto the field first at A-Day, Finley came in second. Geriner got the third drive. There's also potential that Freeze's quarterback isn't even on the roster yet. The second transfer portal window is set to open Saturday: "We are open to any position that'll help us improve our team," Freeze said after A-Day. "... That includes the quarterback room." Asked if he'd be open to remaining on the team as a backup, Finley said he wasn't sure. But he did express desire to win the job: "If I didn’t want to be (the starter)," he said, "I wouldn’t be here." 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: Coach Hugh Freeze has challenge for QB Robby Ashford

not much out there today but tommorrow is the day the portal opens up so it is going to pick up quick. and picking up bama players? that would be sweet..........

i posted this for me..................

247sports.com Transfer Avery Jones finds a home at Auburn Jason Caldwell 3–4 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—A standout at East Carolina before deciding to enter the transfer portal for his final season of eligibility, Avery Jones committed to Illinois before a last-minute phone call and visit to Auburn changed his plans in a big way. Flying in to Auburn for a visit just hours before the visit window closed, Jones knew it was the right place for him and he hasn’t looked back since. “I’m just glad to be here,” Jones said following the A-Day game. “Thankful I made the right choice to come to Auburn. It was a whirlwind with my recruiting process. I’m just glad I ended up in the right spot.” Starting his career at North Carolina before deciding to look for a better fit, Jones wound up at East Carolina where he became a fixture on the offensive line while playing multiple positions. Following the same path that Auburn coaches like Pat Dye and Hal Baird did before him along with defensive lineman Doug Smith, Jones said he’s fortunate to have this opportunity. “I love being at Auburn,” he said. “I’m glad I got the opportunity to come here after transferring two times. In the past, that wasn’t really a possibility. I wouldn’t be here without the transfer portal and how immediate things can be in this day and age. I’m glad I’m here.” Jones is one of three transfers that are expected to be starters on Auburn’s offensive line in 2023, joining tackles Dillon Wade and Gunner Britton. That could be a tough process at some places, but Jones said at Auburn the move was made easy because of the current players on the roster. “I think the other guys have made it easy for us,” Jones said. “Just transferring in and spring ball. Just being friendly, being nice. Helping us. We’re all learning a new scheme together so it wasn’t too hard getting into the mix and building those relationships.” Saying that the group continues to gel together as they get more comfortable around each other, Jones said he’s already feeling the camaraderie that coach Jake Thornton is building up front on offense. That’s a big deal heading into a hard summer of workouts to prepare for the season. 9COMMENTS With spring done and in the books, Jones said the offensive line and offense as a whole is happy about the progress that they made. Now it’s time to put the work in to make sure it’s even better when the season kicks off this fall. “I feel really excited about it,” Jones said. “The whole group feels excited about the season coming up. We all feel like we’re on the same page and stuff. We’re all making calls and working together. As an O-line, you’ve got to be on the same page to be successful. So I think that’s what this whole spring was about, just getting comfortable with each other.” ">247Sports

al.com What we learned about each position on Auburn’s defense, special teams this spring Updated: Apr. 12, 2023, 7:47 a.m.|Published: Apr. 12, 2023, 7:05 a.m. 6–8 minutes The Hugh Freeze era is in full swing, as Auburn wrapped up its first spring under its new head coach with Saturday’s A-Day game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. It was the culmination of 15 practices over six weeks, as Freeze and his staff worked to install their offensive/defensive schemes and instill their culture on the program Freeze took over at the end of November. Auburn is still a work in progress, of course; Freeze has a full-on rebuild on his hands after the Tigers posted back-to-back losing seasons under Bryan Harsin, and spring practice was just the first step in the process. Read more Auburn football: Projecting Auburn’s post-spring 2023 depth chart Revisiting five key spring position battles for Auburn Road to the Pros Part 1: Derick Hall’s journey from premature birth to the pride of Gulfport, Mississippi Freeze and his staff learned a lot about their personnel over the last six weeks. Likewise, players learned a lot about the systems they’ll be running come fall and what to expect under this new regime. We also learned a fair deal about Auburn as it steps into this new era (and will learn more in the months ahead leading up to the season opener against UMass on Sept. 2). On Tuesday, we took a look at what we learned about each position on the offensive side of the ball this spring. Now, let’s examine the other side and go over what we learned about each position on Auburn’s defense and its specialists. Defensive end What we learned: Marcus Harris is the leader of the defensive line, taking the helm after the departures of Colby Wooden and Derick Hall, and Auburn knows what it’s getting with him. Auburn also moved Jeffrey M’ba to defensive end full time after he played a few different roles during his first season on the Plains. M’ba has settled in and found his identity at end, and now his goal for the upcoming season is, simply, to “destroy people.” Defensive tackle What we learned: Auburn has a massive tandem to plug the inside of the line at tackle and nose in Roberts’ defensive front with Jayson Jones (6-foot-6, 339 pounds) and Kentucky transfer Justin Rogers (6-foot-3, 340 pounds) getting the most first-team reps together this spring. Rogers started out the spring at nose, but defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett wanted to get him comfortable playing the other tackle spot, and he seemed to settle into that role over the final month or so of practices. Those two aside — and taking a big-picture look at the defensive line overall — Garrett wants to go eight-deep for the three defensive line spots (not including the JACK linebacker, which we’ll get to next). JACK linebacker What we learned: Freeze believes Auburn is still “deficient in true pass-rushers” and wants to find more help on that front in the post-spring transfer portal, but after losing Derick Hall, Eku Leota and even Marcus Bragg from last year’s roster, the Tigers leaned on a pair of newcomers this spring: Vanderbilt transfer Elijah McAllister and four-star freshman Keldric Faulk. McAllister brings a veteran presence to the group, along with SEC experience, while Faulk looks the part — he’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds — and should be a factor as a true freshman off the edge. Still, Auburn needs more help at the position. Even if it can find some on the transfer market, don’t be surprised if someone like redshirt freshman Powell Gordon gets some work off the edge to add depth to a room that also includes Dylan Brooks and freshman Brenton Williams. Inside linebacker What we learned: Even after losing four-year starter, team captain and leading tackler Owen Pappoe to the NFL, Auburn’s inside linebacker group was a pleasant surprise this spring. Along with returning veteran contributors Cam Riley and Wesley Steiner, the Tigers got an infusion of SEC talent and experience with Ole Miss transfer Austin Keys and LSU transfer DeMario Tolan, plus the continued development of redshirt freshman Robert Woodyard Jr. The Tigers want to go three-deep at linebacker this season, with a more evenly distributed snap-count than last season’s top-heavy rotation that leaned heavily on Pappoe, Riley and Steiner. Cornerback What we learned: Auburn should have one of the better starting cornerback duos in the country, with Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James back for another season from a secondary that ranked top-25 against the pass last season. Depth behind them was a concern this spring, though freshman early enrollee Kayin Lee made some noise and will be counted on immediately this season. More reinforcements will arrive this offseason in the form of incoming freshmen Colton Hood and Tyler Scott, plus the return of a healthy J.D. Rhym STAR What we learned: Auburn has a “1A and 1B” at STAR, with Keionte Scott and Donovan Kaufman both returning this season. The position will have a bit more importance in Ron Roberts’ defensive scheme, with it not only serving as a nickel/slot defensive back, but a player who will be asked to blitz more often and drop into the box as another linebacker. Safety What we learned: Auburn has experience at safety with both Zion Puckett and Jaylin Simpson back, while Marquise Gilbert and Cayden Bridges also return, but the Tigers feel like they need more depth on the back end. Even with a pair of freshmen (Sylvester Smith and Terrance Love) arriving this summer, Auburn will seek some more experienced depth in the post-spring transfer portal window to really bolster the secondary. Special teams What we learned: We didn’t get to see too much in terms of special teams this spring, but the kicker and punter jobs are locked in with Alex McPherson taking over full time following the end of the Carlson kicking dynasty and Oscar Chapman back for his senior season at punter. After helping Auburn finish top-10 in net punting last season, Chapman wowed Freeze at times this spring, including during the special teams period before the official start of A-Day. As for the return game, we got limited glimpses of it during practices, but USF transfer Brian Battie should be a lock to be the Tigers’ top kick returner, considering he was a consensus All-American in that role with the Bulls in 2021. Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.