aubiefifty

Battie brings 'speed and quickness' to Auburn offense Jason Caldwell 3–4 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—Late in the 2022 season, coach Philip Montgomery’s Tulsa Golden Hurricane had a matchup with a South Florida team that had already seen its coach fired during the year and was running on fumes. While the Bulls were really struggling, that didn’t mean they didn’t have some things for Tulsa to worry about heading into the game. The main thing on the minds of the defensive coaches was trying to stop Brian Battie. “He was the guy we needed to stop, for sure,” Montgomery said. “Because he’s electric with the ball in his hands.” Tulsa won the game 48-42, but they didn’t come close to stopping Battie. Carrying the ball 18 times for 169 yards and a touchdown, Battie also added a two-point conversion for South Florida in the loss. Making the move to Auburn to work as the offensive coordinator for the Tigers, Montgomery knew right away that Battie was a guy he wanted to work with as soon as the speedy running back entered the portal. Now that he’s on campus, the diminutive back has shown exactly why he was so tough to tame. “The thing about Brian, and he’s got really good speed, but the thing that you notice when you’re around him or even as as person that played against him, he is very, very difficult to tackle,” Montgomery said. “And he does a great job of setting up blocks, being patient. “He can really stop and start and create some spacing for himself. And then, I’m just telling you, he hides behind things and then all of a sudden you see him just pop out and good things are happening. Really impressed with what he’s been able to do so far.” A 1,000-yard rusher for a bad South Florida team, Battie was often the focus for the opposing defense but he still managed to make plays. It’s something that teammate Damari Alston has seen already this spring out of Battie and he knows the reason why. “He definitely adds some speed and quickness,” Alston said. “He's a really quick guy. He can obviously take kicks back as well. I just feel like he adds that speed and that quickness that we need in the room.” 17COMMENTS Now with Battie in his offense and getting a chance to coach him instead of against him, Montgomery said he’s excited to see what he can bring to this offense as the Tigers get ready for the 2023 season. “When you get him out in space and all of a sudden he’s this and he’s got that shake to him, he can get you off balance,” Montgomery said. “And if you notice, if you go back and truly watch his tapes, he doesn’t take many just straight-on hard hits. He’s a guy that just understands how to maneuver himself and find ways to stay positive and finish forward.” ">247Sports

Auburn unveiling a Frank Thomas statue april 8th this is all i have on this. there was no link not story.

i am going to wait on responding to this any further. my blood pressure is running 150 over a 100 so i need to be a little more careful until i get this adjusted. for a 67 year old fatman that is a scary number.this is the fourth day it has been high. trust me i love going toe to toe with you guys but not at the expense of my health.

you certainly did not care when trump was prez. i wanted too throw that zinger in there to match yours you shot my way. i will admit you finally got off the trump band wagon and saw the light but that does not mean it no longer needs to be discussed.

your statement is just not true mikey. Unlawful entries along U.S.-Mexico border plummeted in January after expansion of migrant expulsions Camilo Montoya-Galvez February 2, 2023 / 10:26 AM / CBS News The number of migrants apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol after illegally crossing the southern border dropped by roughly 40% in January, when the Biden administration announced a revamped strategy to discourage unlawful crossings, according to preliminary government data obtained by CBS News. Border Patrol agents recorded approximately 130,000 apprehensions of migrants who entered the U.S. between official ports of entry along the border with Mexico, compared to the near-record 221,000 apprehensions in December, the internal preliminary figures show. The number of Border Patrol apprehensions in November and October totaled 207,396 and 204,874, respectively. The statistics indicate that January saw the lowest levels of illegal migration along the U.S.-Mexico border since President Biden's first full month in office in February 2021. The figures do not include migrants and asylum-seekers processed at official border crossings. Senior U.S. officials said the sharp drop in illegal entries last month stemmed from the Biden administration's expansion of a strategy it launched last year to reduce the number of Venezuelans entering U.S. border custody. In early January, the administration announced it would use a pandemic-related authority known as Title 42 to swiftly expel Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians and Venezuelans to Mexico without allowing them to seek asylum if they attempted to cross into the U.S. without legal permission. Before the announcement, Mexico generally only accepted Title 42 returns of its citizens and migrants from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and, after October 2022, Venezuela. The repressive governments in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, which are sanctioned by the U.S., have for their part severely limited or rejected U.S. deportations of their citizens. Officials simultaneously announced that the U.S. would allow up to 30,000 migrants from these four countries to fly into the U.S. on a monthly basis if Americans agreed to sponsor their arrival. The administration is also allowing a limited number of migrants in northern Mexico to request a humanitarian exemption to Title 42 at ports of entry through a mobile app. Migrants wait at the U.S.-Mexico border on Jan. 8, 2023, in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Christian Torres/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images While migrant arrivals along the U.S. southern border have historically dipped in January due to a holiday season lull and colder temperatures, the drop over the past few weeks has been most pronounced among migrants from countries whose citizens are subject to the new procedures, government statistics show. The daily average of Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians and Venezuelans crossing the southern border illegally has dropped below 200, down over 90% from a peak of 3,367 in December, according to the government data. It's unclear, however, whether the downward trend will continue in the coming months. The Biden administration has itself conceded that the policies announced last month are stopgap measures prompted by Congress' failure to reform U.S. immigration laws since the 1990s. The strategy's deterrence component relies on a pandemic order the Biden administration tried to end last spring and that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials have said they no longer can justify on public health grounds. The CDC's move to terminate Title 42 in May 2022 was halted after Republican state officials convinced a federal judge in Louisiana to block the termination on technical grounds. Title 42 was again set to end in late December, but the Supreme Court, at the request of the Republican-led states, suspended a lower court ruling that had declared the policy illegal. Those cases could be rendered moot on May 11, when the Biden administration is expected to terminate the national public health emergency over COVID-19. The CDC said in its Title 42 order that the expulsions would be halted if the health emergency was lifted. On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of senators reintroduced a bill that would prolong Title 42 for at least two months after the emergency declaration expires and require the Department of Homeland Security to submit a plan to Congress on how it will manage migration after the expulsions are halted. Biden administration officials said they have been preparing for Title 42's end for the past year, including by expanding a process known as expedited removal that allows U.S. border officials to rapidly deport migrants who don't ask for asylum or who fail to establish credible fear of persecution. The administration is also planning to publish a regulation that would generally disqualify migrants from asylum if they do not ask for protection in third countries on their way to the U.S. Those subject to the policy could be deported without a court hearing. Mr. Biden's strategy is also under legal jeopardy. Twenty states led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit last month seeking to halt the sponsorship program for migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela. The states argued the policy is an illegal expansion of the parole authority, the law the Biden administration is using to allow those arriving under the program to live and work legally in the U.S. on a temporary basis. The Biden administration has said the lawsuit, if successful, would fuel more illegal border crossings since Mexico made its decision to accept migrants returned by the U.S. contingent on the U.S. fulfilling its pledge to take in 30,000 migrants each month via the sponsorship program. "These expanded border enforcement measures are working," Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said last week. "It is incomprehensible that some states who stand to benefit from these highly effective enforcement measures are seeking to block them and cause more irregular migration at our southern border." President Biden walks along the U.S.-Mexico border fence in El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 8, 2023. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images In addition to the constant criticism from Republican lawmakers who have accused Mr. Biden of not fully enforcing U.S. immigration laws, his administration has recently faced pushback from some Democratic allies angry with the policies that limit access to the asylum system. The proposal to disqualify migrants from asylum in particular has garnered strong opposition from progressive advocates and dozens of Democrats in Congress, who have noted the policy is similar to a regulation the Trump administration enacted in 2019 before it was struck down in federal court. Andrea Flores, who was a National Security Council official until late 2021, criticized the reliance on Trump-era measures to manage migration. "Any border management policy that relies on a short-term public health authority is not a sustainable solution to mass migration," said Flores, who now serves as chief counsel to Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. "A single weather or political event could happen next month, Title 42 could disappear, and the whole situation could change in an instant." But the Biden administration has argued the measures are needed to address the unprecedented migration crisis the U.S. government and local communities along the southern border have faced over the past year. In fiscal year 2022, federal officials along the southern border stopped migrants over 2.3 million times, a record high. While Title 42 was used to carry out over 1 million expulsions during that period, hundreds of thousands of migrants were allowed to stay in the country and submit asylum requests before an overwhelmed court system. The humanitarian crisis along the U.S. southern border is part of a mass displacement event in the Western Hemisphere that has seen millions of people uprooted from their homes by poverty, hunger, violence and authoritarian rule. Over the past year, hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans have journeyed to the U.S. border, fleeing economic instability and political repression in their homelands. Thousands of Haitians have also sought to reach the U.S. in hopes of escaping the political turmoil and gang violence plaguing the destitute Caribbean nation. Camilo Montoya-Galvez Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics. Twitter Thanks for reading CBS NEWS.

they do not care. my personal opinion is if you want to play with military grade weapons you should have to join the military. life is sacred until it comes to gun control and then all of a sudden it is not. because you cannot stand for the rule of law that gets people killed daily life is not sacred anymore. ask our school kids who are scared to go to school now. and those gun drills will traumatize children for years to come. i still remember the fear i was taught during the cuba thing and the cold war learning how to crawl under a desk and covering up. and you gun fanatics can save your time because i will not change my mind. hell forget russia or china we are our own worst nightmare and it sucks. it is like a third world country now. you can get killed shopping or praying or going to school among other situations. but feel free to answer if you must. but you will not change my mind. our children are sacred and we have thrown them to the wolves................

i do not believe lies should fall under freedom of speech. i hope they make fox and company pay. and not just the company but tucker and lou and all those who lied to fill their pockets with more money due to ratings. it also ratchets up the hate and violence as people want to get out there and protect their vote with protests where many on the right at these protests look for a reason to hurt people. trump started all this mess and the right to include right wing news have all bought in to the hate. and claiming the whole time they are christian.

i think some coaches like to approach spring ball and especially with freshmen where they tear you down and build you back up.

yardbarker.com Auburn LB target Chris Cole calls Tigers a 'powerhouse,' expects to visit soon Matthew Jacobs 4–5 minutes One day, you are just a high school kid playing ball. Going about your business, attending school and practice... life is normal. Then one day your phone won’t stop ringing. That's been the case for Chris Cole. The three-star linebacker has quickly become a busy man. After Cole won the MVP at the Gameday Camp Series, Texas A&M noticed his stellar performance and made him his first scholarship offer. That garnered national attention and the floodgates opened. Or, as Cole himself put it: “things changed”. A few short weeks later he has over twenty offers on the table. One of which is from Auburn. What Chris Cole brings to the table The Auburn staff immediately saw the physical traits and ability Cole brings to the table. Out of Salem High in Salem, Virginia, the rising 3-star recruit, (expected to make a leap with a solid senior season) stands at 6 feet 4 inches and is framing 210 pounds before ever stepping into a college training program. Cole brings a size that has offensive and defensive coaches around the country foaming at the mouth. His speed with that size, currently the fourth fastest 60m guy in the nation, is just what the SEC ordered. He has shown flashes of brilliance at multiple spots on the field. He could legitimately play wide receiver, multiple linebacker positions, and safety at the collegiate level. When I posed the question of what position he thought he would want to play in college, he quickly responded: “I will play wherever they put me.” Smart answer from a smart young man. Auburn’s role in Cole’s future Auburn has offered Cole a scholarship opportunity to come get his degree and play for championships in the SEC. Due to restraints in Cole’s schedule, contact with the coaching staff has been minimal to this point. When I asked Chris about that he made it clear that since Auburn has recognized his ability as a recruit, that he looked forward to continuing to build that rapport and relationship with the staff. When I pressed further about what he liked about Auburn as his possible choice the young man just reiterated that he liked how Auburn was a “powerhouse SEC program” and knew that Head Coach Hugh Freeze was in the rebuilding phase of getting this team back to greatness. That was the perfect segue for me to sneak in “the” question: When are you going to visit Auburn and where do they stand in your list? Cole noted that Auburn had invested an offer in him, and it was “only right for he and his family” to come and have a visit and they were all just trying to find a date that works. As far as the second part of my question, he slyly would only say he is searching for a place with the perfect program fit for him. I brought his attention to how many recruits seem to be finding Auburn’s program and facilities to be the perfect fit and falling in love with it, he responded with a smile and a heart gesture. I did want to follow up on a rumor that has been circulating that Cole really wanted to stay within his home state and Auburn could turn his head from that. He said his home state had nothing to do with his traveling then repeated that it was all about a program fit for him. What will the future hold for Chris Cole? We closed it out with what his goals were for his senior season. The young man’s passion for the game could not be hidden: “Ball out!! Finish strong!! Get bigger, faster and stronger. I’m prepping for college” I couldn’t help but think that was an interesting take considering how many colleges were suddenly prepping for him. He has another year to add more muscle to his frame and perhaps get even faster. Maybe he will even narrow down to a position. The talent is definitely there, and this man should definitely be considering one of the SEC schools to find out if he can get to the next level. When Auburn gets him on campus, that could be a major turn in this young man’s life. Whatever he chooses, I will remember him as one of the most professional recruits I have had the pleasure of interacting with. His presence far exceeds his age. In the end, his maturity is why every school will end up wanting him. Hopefully, we get to see this young man “ball out” on Saturdays at Jordan-Hare.

Auburn football WR breakout candidate: AU is ‘going back to the fast stuff’ Mary Kate Hughes 2–3 minutes Auburn football AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 24: Wide receiver Camden Brown #17 of the Auburn Tigers looks to run the ball by defensive back Jaylon Carlies #1 of the Missouri Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) If you go back to 2014, a popular slogan within the Gus Malzahn-coached Auburn football team was “Auburn fast.” The Tigers were known for a fast-paced offense, with guys like Cam Newton, Ontario McCalebb, and others demonstrating their speed in orange and blue. Oftentimes the offense would snap the ball so quickly that it was slightly disorienting to the opponent defense, and the “Auburn fast” brand became an Auburn thing. However, in the years since the early 2010s, much has changed. Now, with Hugh Freeze at the helm of the Auburn football program, the Tigers are expected to return to that pace with a more up-tempo offense with a focus on the RPO. This is a definite change from the past few seasons, where wide receivers have been less productive than fans would like to see. Sophomore wide receiver Camden Brown, who has been getting a lot of praise during this year’s spring practice, is a big fan of the new offense, per The Montgomery Advertiser, and he hinted that “Auburn fast” could be making its return to the Plains: “I’m not going to lie, it brings me back to St. Thomas (Aquinas High in Florida) with (coach) Roger Harriott and (offensive coordinator) Wes Carroll, going back to the fast stuff,” sophomore receiver Camden Brown said Wednesday. “I remember last year, I had never been in like a huddle before. It was kind of weird because it was slowing down my play.” Of course, the Tigers are embracing change during this offseason, attempting to correct problems regarding the quarterback, wide receivers, offensive line, and overall unity on the team. Hopefully, getting an element of speed back in the offense will increase productivity for the receivers, because it definitely is not a talent issue. With new addition Nick Mardner and quite a few returners in the room ahead of the 2023 season, if they can adjust to the new schemes the Tigers should have a more successful offense this fall

flywareagle.com Auburn football QB commit Walker White actively recruiting Cam Coleman Mary Kate Hughes 2–3 minutes Auburn football wide receiver Omari Kelly (19) reacts after making a catch as Auburn Tigers take on LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Auburn Tigers lead LSU Tigers 17-14 at halftime. One of the biggest wins so far in recruiting for the Auburn football program has been the commitment of 4-star quarterback Walker White. It was somewhat of a surprise when the 2024 prospect committed to the Tigers, as most people expected him to choose Clemson. Some were skeptical of his early commitment, but White did a lot to affirm that Auburn football was his final choice, including naming a long list of prospects he hoped to get to the Plains to play alongside him. Since his commitment, he has been actively recruiting many top-ranked players in his class, including J’Marion Burnette, who committed last week. Another prospect on his list is 5-star wide receiver Cam Coleman. The in-state receiver was considered to be an Alabama lean for awhile, but he has been made a top priority by the Auburn football program and his recruitment has definitely been heating up. He unofficially visited campus twice in one week, on March 23 and 29, according to his 247 Sports recruiting profile. Coleman, from Phenix City, is ranked as the #21 overall prospect and the #7 wide receiver in the class of 2024, and is the #4 recruit out of the state of Alabama. He has over 20 offers so far, but his 247 Sports profile claims that his top interests at the moment are Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, and LSU. Not only is the Auburn staff making Coleman a priority, but so is Walker White. The wide receiver reported that White definitely wants to be throwing to him on the Plains in the future, per Auburn Live: “He was just texting me the other day,” Coleman said to Spiegelman. “Walker is in my ear a lot … really, ever since he committed. I know that he wants me down there for the spring game and to come and build a relationship with him.” The future is looking bright for the Tigers, and hopefully Cam Coleman will be a player that gets them back to the top where they belong.

sports.yahoo.com Five-star wide receiver Mike Matthews ‘loved the energy’ at Auburn’s practice JD McCarthy 2–3 minutes The Auburn Tigers hosted five-star wide receiver Mike Matthews on an unofficial visit Friday and they are starting to become a factor in his recruitment. It was his second visit to the Plains and Matthews, who included Auburn in his top 12 schools, told Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports that the visit “went good.” He was impressed with the energy Auburn had at practice and enjoyed getting to meet with Hugh Freeze and wide receivers coach Marcus Davis. Matthews is the No. 6 overall player and No. 1 wide receiver in the 247Sports Composite ranking. The Lilburn native is also the No. 2 player from Georgia. His mother Regina was with him and also had a great time. “On our second visit to Auburn, we had a great sunny day to watch practice, put names/voices with faces and tour the new football facilities,” she told Wiltfong. “Mike had the opportunity to see the practice up close and personal and speak with the great football coaching staff. The Auburn campus is so picturesque and we enjoyed our time there. It is important to experience a day like that during the recruiting process.” The visit gives Auburn a chance for the talented wide receiver who has also unofficially visited Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and has scheduled an official visit to USC. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder caught 48 passes for 1,030 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior for Parkview High School. On defense, he made 20 tackles and picked off one pass as a safety. More Recruiting! Auburn's A-Day game ranked among this season's most intriguing spring games Auburn makes top 12 for 5-star wide receiver Mike Matthews Auburn has reached out to Washington State transfer TJ Bamba 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. Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

al.com Auburn's top-rated 2022 signee 'looks like a whole new guy' this spring Published: Apr. 01, 2023, 9:40 a.m. 5–6 minutes AUBURN, AL - March 01, 2023 - Auburn Linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr. (#17) during spring practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL. Photo by Declan GreeneAuburn University Athletics The highest-rated signee in Auburn’s 2022 class is on track to be a regular contributor for the Tigers’ defense this fall after redshirting as a true freshman last season. Robert Woodyard Jr., who flipped from Alabama to Auburn during the early signing period in December 2021, contributed mostly on special teams while appearing in just four games last season. This spring, however, the former four-star in-state prospect has carved out a spot for himself in the Tigers’ core linebacker rotation. “He looks like a whole new guy from a couple months ago during the season at practice,” junior linebacker Cam Riley said. “…If you see Robert now, he looks like a whole new person.” Read more Auburn football: Trio of transfers has “absolutely improved” Auburn’s offensive line this spring “He’s a monster”: Auburn trying to temper expectations for freshman edge rusher Keldric Faulk Auburn’s wide receivers look to “change the narrative” this season Woodyard has been working mostly alongside Riley with Auburn’s second pairing at inside linebacker, while Ole Miss transfer Austin Keys and senior Wesley Steiner have been the first grouping in the rotation this spring. It’s a promising step forward for Woodyard after playing sparingly during his first season on the Plains, when he was relegated mostly to special teams work and earned the designation as defensive scout team player of the year. “He’s got a tremendous attitude,” linebackers coach Josh Aldridge said in February. “He’s always in the building, which is what everybody told me when I got here, that he was the guy that spent a lot of time in that facility. And so that so far has been really good. Pretty mature for a young kid.” Woodyard is the youngest player in a surprisingly experienced linebacker room for Auburn this spring. Despite losing leading tackle, team captain and four-year starter Owen Pappoe to the draft, Auburn returns Riley and Steiner from its primary rotation last season, as well a veteran Eugene Asante, while also bringing in a pair of transfers with SEC experience in Keys and LSU transfer DeMario Tolan. The 6-foot, 241-pound Woodyard signed with Auburn as the nation’s No. 141 overall prospect and a top-10 player in the state. A highly touted linebacker out of Mobile, Woodyard was committed to Alabama for a year and a half — since the summer before his junior year — but the Tigers’ former staff managed to flip him during the early signing period that cycle. He became the first player to flip from Alabama to Auburn since Opelika safety Stephen Roberts did so during the 2014 cycle. Though he was the highest-rated player in Auburn’s class, he spent part of the offseason before his freshman year recovering from a meniscus injury that cost him the final three games of his senior season at Williamson. Now fully healthy and with a year of learning experience under his belt, as well as a new coaching staff in the picture, Woodyard is positioned for a key role in the Tigers’ defense this season. Roberts said last week that he would like to be able to go three-deep at the two inside linebacker spots this fall, and he believes he currently has five linebackers who are game-ready. Woodyard is one of them. “He can strike,” Roberts said. “He can make tackles. He’s athletic. For him, it’s just being young, and you want to be able to see him be more vocal on the field with communication and getting everybody in the right spots, being able to help people out on the field. That’s some of the things we kind of expect from that position, so we kind of need him to take those growth steps forward.” While Woodyard still needs to develop from that standpoint, he at least has the ideal size to play the Mike position in Auburn’s defense and the kind of hard-hitting mentality required to be an effective linebacker in the SEC. “He’s a physical guy; he’s always around the ball,” Riley said. “He has a knack for the ball, like he wants to make every play He takes the time to actually learn the defense. He’s a new guy, man. I can’t believe it.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Two SEC schools are co-leaders for four-star wide receiver Mario Craver JD McCarthy ~2 minutes Auburn is looking to sign an impressive wide receiver class in the 2024 recruiting cycle and a key target is four-star receiver Mario Craver. Craver is from Pinson, Alabama and the Tigers are one of the top teams in his recruitment. They are battling a host of other schools, but Craver told Blake Alderman of 247Sports that Auburn and Florida are his top two schools. Buy Tigers Tickets “Amazing, he said of the process. “It’s really going pretty quick. This is the moment where everyone is starting to push. I am trying to stay true to who has been sticking with me the longest and try to see through the fake.” The 5-foot-9, 152-pounder took unofficial visits to both schools in March and is planning to officially visit both later this spring or in the summer. He also revealed that he plans to commit before his senior season starts. Craver is the No. 239 overall player and No. 35 wide receiver in the 247Sports Composite ranking. He is also the No. 14 player from Alabama. Hugh Freeze and Auburn have already landed an impressive haul of in-state targets in the 2024 cycle. They have commitments from the No. 8 (J'Marion Burnette), No. 18 (A'mon Lane), and No. 22 (Jayden Lewis) players in the state. 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.

Five 2024 defensive recruits that the Auburn Tigers have their sights set on Jack Singley 4–5 minutes The Auburn tigers defensive potential and their actual product on the field have been quite different in the past few seasons. As the experience and the talent was there for many positions but due to a large quantity of younger players transferring, the depth and youth that the defense needed was not there. With Zac Etheridge and Wesley McGriff leading the charge during the last recruiting cycle the DB room is the most talented and deep room on this team, that includes the offensive side of the ball as well. The defensive line and linebacker rooms though didn't suffer massive losses this offseason from the portal it saw stars like Owen Pappoe, Derick Hall, Colby Wooden, and Eku Leota all leave for the NFL draft. The needs that this new defensive staff, led by new DC Ron Roberts, have to focus on are the LB group and the DL/Jack groups. The following is a list of players by the Auburn Daily, that we believe will be targeted and pursued to fill these needs 1. Joseph Phillips - LB Phillips, who is an Alabama native, is being heavily pursued by Auburn, who was one of the first P5 schools to offer him. He has established a connection with DC Roberts and LB coach Josh Aldridge. Phillips obviously likes not only these coaches but the staff and university as a whole, he has visited Auburn three times in 2023. The 4-star plays for Booker T. Washington High and was a focal point of the defensive scheme as he had 75 total tackles along with nine sacks and 18 tackles for loss. 2. Jeremiah Beaman - DL A 6'4 265 defensive demon, Beaman looks to be one of the best DL of this class. He has the quickness and versatility to play on the interior and set up as an edge rusher, this skill combined with his frame he could bulk up and be a productive interior lineman at the next level. Beaman has visited Auburn only once in 2023, but Auburn, along with Clemson and Alabama seem to be the top three for this Birmingham native. He complied 50 total tackles, including 10 sacks and 10 TFLs during his Junior season. 3. Kamarion Franklin - DL The highest rated player in Mississippi according to 247, has broken records for his high school and of all the lineman and rushers in this list has the most career sacks. Franklin who was offered by Auburn in September 2022 has only visited once, but had high praises for the Tigers. As mentioned he has an absurd amount of career sacks, he has totaled 29 sacks in 24 career games. His frame sets him as a future interior DL as he is a large 6'5 and 265 pounds. 4. Jordan Ross - EDGE The consensus number one player in the state of Alabama and the number two edge prospect in all of the country, Ross is a priority almost every power five program. There’s no doubt to as why, he’s a 6’5 215 pound force of power and speed on the edge. The Tigers have not managed to get the Vestavia Hills native on campus, as he rarely takes visits. Jeremy Garrett has been pushing him to come and their connection seems to be growing. 5. KJ Bolden - ATH The Buford, GA prospect is one of the top 15 recruits in all of the 2024 class. He has offers from pretty much every P5 program. Bolden plays Safety and there’s a reason he’s the only DB amongst this group, he is one of the best hybrid safety prospects in years. He isn’t afraid to get in the box and lay a big hit, despite his smaller frame, 6’0 185. Zac Etheridge has made it a priority to get Bolden on campus and Bolden has been impressed, saying he looks to visit more in the future. These players, all four-star or above, would bolster this class undoubtedly but would make the first season of the Hugh Freeze era a notice to the rest of the SEC that Auburn can and will get the big guys away from their rivals.

247sports.com Battie brings 'speed and quickness' to Auburn offense Jason Caldwell 3–4 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—Late in the 2022 season, coach Philip Montgomery’s Tulsa Golden Hurricane had a matchup with a South Florida team that had already seen its coach fired during the year and was running on fumes. While the Bulls were really struggling, that didn’t mean they didn’t have some things for Tulsa to worry about heading into the game. The main thing on the minds of the defensive coaches was trying to stop Brian Battie. “He was the guy we needed to stop, for sure,” Montgomery said. “Because he’s electric with the ball in his hands.” Tulsa won the game 48-42, but they didn’t come close to stopping Battie. Carrying the ball 18 times for 169 yards and a touchdown, Battie also added a two-point conversion for South Florida in the loss. Making the move to Auburn to work as the offensive coordinator for the Tigers, Montgomery knew right away that Battie was a guy he wanted to work with as soon as the speedy running back entered the portal. Now that he’s on campus, the diminutive back has shown exactly why he was so tough to tame. “The thing about Brian, and he’s got really good speed, but the thing that you notice when you’re around him or even as as person that played against him, he is very, very difficult to tackle,” Montgomery said. “And he does a great job of setting up blocks, being patient. “He can really stop and start and create some spacing for himself. And then, I’m just telling you, he hides behind things and then all of a sudden you see him just pop out and good things are happening. Really impressed with what he’s been able to do so far.” A 1,000-yard rusher for a bad South Florida team, Battie was often the focus for the opposing defense but he still managed to make plays. It’s something that teammate Damari Alston has seen already this spring out of Battie and he knows the reason why. “He definitely adds some speed and quickness,” Alston said. “He's a really quick guy. He can obviously take kicks back as well. I just feel like he adds that speed and that quickness that we need in the room.” 3COMMENTS Now with Battie in his offense and getting a chance to coach him instead of against him, Montgomery said he’s excited to see what he can bring to this offense as the Tigers get ready for the 2023 season. “When you get him out in space and all of a sudden he’s this and he’s got that shake to him, he can get you off balance,” Montgomery said. “And if you notice, if you go back and truly watch his tapes, he doesn’t take many just straight-on hard hits. He’s a guy that just understands how to maneuver himself and find ways to stay positive and finish forward.” ">247Sports

si.com Auburn DB target Jalewis Solomon ranks Tigers high on his recruitment list Matthew Jacobs 3–4 minutes Solomon wants to make the switch from receiver to defensive back in college. Great minds think alike Solomon, class of ‘24, a current four-star wide receiver, out of Schley County High School in Ellaville, GA, seems to be on every top football program’s wish list. With over thirty standing offers, he visited Auburn again last week for the first time this year with the Hugh Freeze staff and new football facilities. He and defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge had a conversation and found out they both wanted the exact same thing. Solomon wants to be a defensive back; coach Etheridge wants him as a defensive back. Sometimes things just click. Stats and Skill With a senior season left to build on his foundation, Solomon lists out at six feet one inch and weighs in at a lean 190 pounds. He has great hips and footwork that would only get better under the tutelage of a coach with the experience of Auburn’s Coach Etheridge. His field awareness and the quickness with which he processes information tells of a young man with a high football IQ. He has amazing speed running laterally and backwards with his eyes towards the offense. The odd thing is he might end up having the best hands on the field out of any of defensive backs he plays with. His skillset translates wonderfully to being a lockdown corner in the SEC that could be a nightmare for both receivers and quarterbacks. There could be a lot of pick-sixes in this man’s future. Where Auburn fits There are some serious schools in the mix for this young man that he is very high on. Including the likes of South Carolina, Florida State, Florida, and that school across the state of whose name we do not speak. However, when I asked Mr. Solomon about his Auburn visit, he lit up and said, “It was amazing!” There appeared to be a solid relationship forming with Coach Etheridge. It was uncanny how both of them ended up being on the same page about a lot of things concerning Solomon’s future prospects. Solomon has already scheduled another visit for Auburn’s A-Day Spring Game on April 8. Perhaps the loveliest village on the plains can bring this man into the Auburn family. As busy as Mr. Solomon is, he did have time for one last question. I asked if there was anything he would like to say to the Auburn fans. His answer: “Let Auburn fans know I haven’t forgot about them, and I will return.” - Jalewis Solomon He already sounds like an Auburn man. Hopefully, he will become one.

yahoo.com Multiple SEC programs have reached out to Yohan Traore Taylor Jones 1–2 minutes As a five-star center that ranked in the top 25 of the 2022 recruiting cycle, it is easy to see why Auburn was elated to receive the signature of Yohan Traore. As he begins to explore more opportunities within the transfer portal, it is also easy to see why many programs are making the most of their second chance. Traore entered the transfer portal on March 28 following his freshman campaign and has already heard from 11 programs. Among those that have reached out are two SEC rivals of Auburn — Alabama and LSU. According to recruiting analyst Andrew Slater, Traore has also heard from Oklahoma, TCU, Saint Louis, Memphis, Arizona State, Cincinnati, NC State, DePaul, and UC Santa Barbara in addition to Alabama and LSU. Traore, along with Chance Westry, announced their plans to depart Auburn following their freshman seasons. Traore appeared in 25 games this season and averaged 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds. What am i missing here?Do they think they can coach him up? If he is that talented why get rid of him? a bad fit maybe? I am a huge bruce fan so this is no slight it just shocked me for some reason.

you side has not done a damn thing to stop this gun madness. and ol raygun outlawed assault rifles. it has gotten completely out of hand and thousands dying now because if it. we sell to people who do not deserve a gun. in fact i believe one dude on your side was talking to give felons their gun rights back. maybe he did not reflect the whole party but the truth is if you take countries that do not allow guns have pretty much no shootings or massacres. it has gotten so bad it is to the point cops are afraid to go in like the um shooting before last. the point is the right is responsible for this along with the nra. we are gun crazy in this country and if i am not mistaken we are the most violent non third world country existing today. and since you want to insult biden your guy just got indicted on the first of what i believe will be many charges against him. i could care less if he is a former president. no one should be above the law. the point is your side does not want to do a damn thing about guns and making america safer. in using those three words you guys have made it worse. you might as well own it. you can act all outraged but i am outraged because we are allowing our kids to be murdered and all you guys have is thoughts and prayers. what a shame. and you are damn straight i am mad about it. and you kiss ,y ass buddy for enabling this crap to continue because you damn sure have not mentioned one word on alternatives. and kids die. and then you make fun of them when they get on the air and try to envoke some kind of change themselves. see how that works? that is the truth. you guys made fun of the the on kid to the point of him getting death threats after he survived a school shooting many of his friends did not.

yahoo.com Auburn’s A-Day game ranked among this season’s most intriguing spring games Daniel Locke 2–3 minutes A new era is underway for the Auburn Tigers Football Program. The hiring of Hugh Freeze has sparked a lot of interest and excitement that the program has not been surrounded by for the past two seasons. A 247Sports article written by Will Backus listed the spring games with the most interest in 2023 and Auburn’s “A-Day” game made the cut. Backus is looking forward to seeing Freeze back in the SEC. “If nothing else, this marks coach Hugh Freeze’s return to the SEC stage. The former Ole Miss coach who had his tenure with the Rebels end amid an NCAA investigation into numerous recruiting violations rebuilt his career at Liberty. Now he is right back in the SEC West, trying to revive a program that desperately lost its way under former coach Bryan Harsin. Freeze was relatively vocal about his displeasure at the roster he inherited, thanks to Harsin’s lackluster recruiting efforts, which translated into Freeze hitting the portal hard for 12 prospects. Seven of those play along the offensive or defensive line. Auburn’s spring game is key for those pieces gelling together.” According to 247Sports, the Tigers have the No. 18 recruiting class and the No. 4 transfer class in 2023. Among these recruits is defensive lineman Keldric Faulk and cornerback Kayin Lee. Both players are ranked in the top 20 at their position. Some of the biggest hits Auburn made in the portal include linebacker DeMario Tolan from LSU and defensive lineman Justin Rogers from Kentucky. Auburn’s spring game is scheduled for April 8th and kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium. More Football! What is the one question that Auburn must answer ahead of the 2023 season? Auburn football: Nonconference tilt listed among best matchups of 2023 Former Alabama quarterback praises Auburn tradition Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

happy april fools day!!!!! grins

terry had a pin for every year he was there and i had all of them once. i think we should do this again with freeze and have an orange and blue swagger pin made. sometime back then they resurfaced legion field and i got a piece of that with 23 22 on it celebrating bo over the top. i thought it was a fun little item to collect. i paid ten bucks for it at the Gadsden mall in Penneys......

i love me some bruce. we are so lucky to have him. the man is still popular enough it is hell getting an autograph of him on ebay.

Montgomery Real-Time News Man dies in fall from wall outside Skybar Cafe in Auburn Published: Mar. 31, 2023, 2:41 p.m. NEW! By Carol Robinson | crobinson@al.com A man was found dead Friday morning outside Skybar Café in Auburn. Auburn police received a 911 call at 10 a.m. reported a person down in the 100 block of West Magnolia Avenue. The caller told dispatcher the person was a white male and appeared to be dead, said Assistant Police Chief Clarence Stewart. Police and medics responded to the scene and confirmed the man was dead. His identity has not been released, but Stewart said he was a 36-year-old man from Georgia. Video footage reviewed as part of the investigation showed the man had fallen from a wall. Efforts to reach Skybar were unsuccessful. A representative from Skybar Café told WRBL that it appears the man fell from a wall separating Skybar from other local business. Stewart said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Auburn police. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Cole Cubelic believes Freeze off to a great start. https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/35525685