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Podcast: Can Dillon Wade start for Auburn? Dillon Johnson could pick the Tigers Zac Blackerby ~2 minutes Auburn football and Hugh Freeze added Tulsa transfer, Dillon Wade, over the weekend. Dillon Wade could join Jeremiah Wright and Izavain Miller as potential starters along the offensive line. Also, could Dillon Johnson pick Auburn on January third? The Auburn Tigers are making other fan bases in the SEC take notice of what they've done on the recruiting front. Alabama bloggers are taking shots at Hugh Freeze to a point where it doesn't make sense. On today's Locked On Auburn, Zac Blackerby is joined by Montgomery radio veteran Darrell Dapprich The guys discuss Dillon Wade, the offensive line, Alabama bloggers getting mad, and Dillon Johnson. You can watch the episode below on YouTube or listen to the audio version via Spotify. Locked On Auburn is a daily podcast about Auburn athletics. It can be heard wherever you get your podcasts as well as seen every day on YouTube. It can also be seen and heard every day on Auburn Daily.

theplainsman.com A deep dive into Auburn's 2023 football early signing class - The Auburn Plainsman 22–28 minutes As the fax machines fell silent and the early signing period came to a close on Friday, Auburn’s 2023 football recruiting class began to take shape. Currently, the Tigers have a consensus top-20 class, a far cry from when it was the No. 52 ranked class in the nation shortly after Bryan Harsin was dismissed as head football coach in October. Getting the class to where it is now required hard work and dedication on the recruiting trail, and new head coach Hugh Freeze and his staff hit the ground running to maintain relationships with players already committed while developing new ones with players either unsold or pledged to other programs. Freeze’s comments following day one of the early signing period reflected just that. “It’s been a wild two weeks for us,” Freeze said. “We came into this considerably behind what I think Auburn should be in recruiting.” In total, Auburn signed 16 high school players during this year’s early signing period and two community college players: Izavion Miller, a 6’6”, 320-pound offensive tackle from Southwest Mississippi Community College, and Quientrail Jamison-Travis, a 6’4”, 280-pound defensive lineman from Iowa Western Community College. This year, an emphasis on both lines of scrimmage and the defensive backfield was noticeable, with Freeze and his staff landing six defensive linemen, five offensive linemen and five defensive backs. According to Freeze, this was by design. “I thought we really did well with the DB room and made some dents in our needs in the offensive line room. Edge guys I thought we did really well with on defense; we still have some work to do on the interior and on O-line,” Freeze said. “We’re really not through anywhere. We still have some big targets out there that hopefully we can close on now or in January.” While prized running back commit Jeremiah Cobb of Montgomery (Ala.) Catholic Preparatory did not sign during the early period, this class still ultimately addressed several position groups depleted by NFL declarations and transfers with more time left to add to it. Here is a breakdown of all 16 early signees from the high school level and how they fit into next season’s edition of the Tigers. Keldric Faulk - DL, 6’5”, 240; Highland Home HS; Lapine, Ala. Tied for the highest overall ranked player in the class, Faulk, a consensus 4-star recruit and top-15 defensive lineman that was rated as high as the No. 79 player in the nation by Rivals, was committed to Florida State since July 5, 2022. However, he spurned the Seminoles at the very last second to join Hugh Freeze’s inaugural recruiting class after several pivotal fall visits. With 30 offers, he was highly sought after by programs across the country. As a senior, Faulk led the Flying Squadron to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the AHSAA 2A semifinals. He was selected to the 2023 All-American Bowl, the 2022 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s all-state first team. With NFL draft projections, Faulk is expected to be a major contributor at Auburn. Possessing a long, lean frame, he figures to spend the bulk of his time as a Tiger as an edge rusher. After both Derick Hall and Eku Leota accepted invites to the Senior Bowl, Faulk's arrival will help bolster a position that now features only redshirt freshman Dylan Brooks and fifth-year senior Hayden Brice, whose future is unclear. Kayin Lee - CB, 5’11”, 185; Cedar Grove HS; Ellenwood, Ga. Tied with Keldric Faulk for the highest-rated recruit in the class, Lee has exceptional agility, coverage instincts and ball skills and is a player to watch moving forward. A consensus top-25 player in the state of Georgia, he was committed to both Georgia and Ohio State, who many recruiting experts expected him to sign with, at different points in his recruitment. However, it was Auburn who ultimately ended up with Lee in their 2023 class in the end. As a senior, Lee helped lead the Saints to an 11-3 record and a GHSAA 3A state runner-up finish in a highly-controversial loss to Sandy Creek. A member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s 2022 edition of the preseason all-state “Super 11,” Lee was selected for the Army All-American Bowl and earned AJC first-team all-region honors as a result of his on-field performance. A multi-sport athlete, he was also a track and field letterman. Compared to the other two cornerback commits in this class, who both possess lengthier frames, Lee has a more traditional build. His combination of elite instincts and ball skills, particularly around the hash marks, could make him a valuable slot corner in defensive coordinator Ron Roberts’ scheme. Even so, an experienced cornerback room could relegate him to special team duties next season. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Auburn Plainsman delivered to your inbox Darron Reed Jr. - DL, 6’5”, 260; Carver HS; Columbus, Ga. Another lengthy defensive lineman considered to be a 4-star recruit by On3, ESPN and 24/7 Sports, Reed was generally rated as a top-50 player at his position nationally. Boasting 16 offers from schools including Georgia and Ohio State, Reed originally committed to LSU on July 4, 2022, before decommitting on Nov. 25, to join Auburn’s 2023 class. While at Carver, he led the Tigers to a 9-3 record and a trip to the Georgia 3A state quarterfinals. Reed finished his senior campaign with eight sacks and 33 total tackles, which earned him first-team all-region honors and his being ranked a top-20 prospect in Georgia by both Rivals and 247 Sports. At the moment, it is difficult to project where on the defensive line Reed will be utilized once he fully enters the program. However, based on the tape, he looks well-suited to play either as an edge rusher opposite Keldric Faulk or as a defensive end in the mold of Colby Wooden. With Wooden’s departure to the NFL, there is ample opportunity for Reed to make an early impact at either edge or defensive end given the issues with depth at both positions. Sylvester Smith - S, 5’11”, 195; Munford HS; Munford, Ala. Possessing a prototypical free safety build, Smith was a four-star recruit per ESPN, Rivals and 24/7 Sports that was rated as high as the No. 101 player and No. five safety in the class by Rivals. A longtime Tennessee commit that held offers from schools in all Power Five conferences, he is an explosive athlete that split time as a quarterback, running back, defensive back and kick returner at the prep level. As a senior, Smith led the Lions to a 6-5 record and the first round of the AHSAA 4A state playoffs. His 42 tackles, four tackles for loss, two pass breakups, five interceptions, 1,735 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns, 606 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns as a senior earned him Alabama Sports Writers Association first-team all-state honors in 2022 to go along with his selection as a sophomore in 2020. Smith was also selected for the 2022 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Seeing that Auburn already has seven safeties expected to return for the 2023 season, there should be no sense of urgency to get Smith on the field at his natural position. However, with his proven playmaking ability, he should be a lock to contribute on special teams while he physically prepares for the rigors of SEC play and learns from Donovan Kaufman and Zion Puckett, who both fit Smith’s physical profile. Terrance Love - S, 6’3”, 195; Langston Hughes HS; Fairburn, Ga. The noticeably larger of the two safeties that signed early, Love was a consensus 4-star recruit and considered a top-25 player at his position nationally by Rivals, 24/7 Sports and ESPN. Despite holding 38 other collegiate offers, the former track star committed to Auburn on April 10, 2022, and never looked back. During his senior campaign, the Panthers finished with a 15-0 record in 2022 and won the GHSA 6A state championship. Love finished the season with 69 tackles, which put him amongst the top 35 prospects in Georgia according to On3. During his sophomore and junior seasons, he played as both a safety and wide receiver before transitioning to defense full-time this past year. Love has also posted times in the 100-meter as low as 11.60 seconds and the 200-meter as low as 23.52 seconds. Considering his physical profile, ball-hawking ability and demonstrated willingness to violently fill running lanes, Love projects as a strong safety and compliments Sylvester Smith’s skillset. Similarly to Smith, Love is expected to sit behind players such as Cayden Bridges and Marquise Gilbert while he acclimates to SEC football and learns defensive coordinator Ron Roberts’ scheme. Wilky Denaud - DL, 6’4”, 295; John Carroll HS; Fort Pierce, Fla. Yet another defensive line recruit, Denaud was a steady presence in Auburn’s 2023 recruiting class. The recipient of 22 offers, he committed to the Tigers on July 27, 2022, and only officially visited one other school - Indiana - even during a time of turmoil within the program that saw Bryan Harsin relieved of his duties less than two years into his tenure. As a senior, Denaud led the Rams to a 10-2 record while tallying 79 tackles and five sacks, which made him a consensus top 80 overall prospect in Florida. A multi-sport athlete, he qualified for the FHSAA state track and field tournament as a junior in the shot put in which he placed 13th at the 1A meet. Denaud also averaged 14.8 points and 7.7 rebounds on the basketball team as a junior as the Rams achieved a 22-5 record and made the FSHAA 3A basketball tournament. Possessing a larger physical profile than the three other defensive linemen in this class, Denaud is projected to play in the heart of the defense. While he primarily played on the edge for John Carroll, a few years in Auburn’s strength and conditioning program will see him add the requisite strength and mass to withstand blocks from SEC linemen. With at least eight defensive linemen expected to return in 2023, Denaud will most likely not be asked to contribute much next season. Clay Wedin - OL, 6’6”, 295; Carrollwood Day School; Tampa, Fla. Generally seen as one of the higher-rated offensive linemen signed by Auburn in this class, Wedin held 36 collegiate offers from schools including Michigan and USC. Originally committed to Michigan State for less than four months, he flipped to the Tigers two weeks after an important unofficial visit at the very beginning of October. As a starting tackle, Wedin helped the Patriots to a 6-4 record and an appearance in the second round of the 2022 FHSAA 2A playoffs. According to both 24/7 Sports and Rivals, Wedin is a 4-star recruit, the No. 22 interior offensive lineman per 24/7 and the No. 11 offensive lineman in the state of Florida per Rivals. A lengthy and proportionally-built lineman, Wedin will most certainly play as a tackle for Auburn. While his height would make leverage against stockier interior defensive linemen difficult, it will be an asset against dedicated pass rushers. While the Tigers are in desperate need of quality tackles, Wedin is a developmental project and will most likely not see the field much during his freshman season as he needs to add strength and size to compete in the SEC. Bradyn Joiner - OL, 6’2”, 330; Auburn HS; Anniston, Ala. A stout interior lineman that played for The Loveliest Village on the Plains’ prep Tigers, Joiner transferred from Oxford High School - where he was on MaxPreps’ all-American second team as a sophomore - to Auburn High School as a junior. Mostly seen as a 3-star prospect, Joiner held 34 offers from programs all over the nation. While at Auburn, Joiner helped lead the Tigers to a 12-2 record and an appearance in the 2022 AHSAA 7A state championship game where they were routed by resurgent powerhouse Thompson. His level of play over the years on both sides of the ball earned him numerous accolades, including his selection to the 2022 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, the 2020 Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 6A all-state first-team as an offensive lineman and the 2021 ASWA Class 7A all-state first-team as a defensive lineman. With a robust frame, Joiner is projected to play anywhere on the interior offensive line as he was rated as the No. 1 center in the country and No. 156 overall as a four-star player by Rivals. With former guard Keiondre Jones’ departure to Florida State via the transfer portal and lackluster play across what was an uncharacteristically veteran offensive line last season, Joiner’s size could have him competing for playing time early on. Daquayvious Sorey - WR, 6’2”, 190; Chipley HS; Campbellton, Fla. Hailing from the Florida Panhandle, Sorey was seen mostly as a 3-star recruit and a top-30 receiver nationally according to 24/7 Sports and ESPN. The holder of 22 offers, Sorey was pursued by teams such as Alabama and Tennessee and was committed to Georgia for more than a year before he decommitted in February of this year. After joining Auburn’s 2023 class in August, Sorey never looked back. During his senior season, Sorey helped the Tigers to an 11-1 record and an appearance in the second round of the FHSAA 1A playoffs. As a senior, he recorded 1,121 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns, and as a junior, he recorded 546 receiving yards, eight receiving touchdowns, two punt returns for touchdowns, 28 tackles, nine pass breakups and four interceptions. Sorey was a three-sport athlete who also played basketball and ran track, placing fifth in the high jump at the FHSAA 1A state track meet as a sophomore. A big-bodied receiver, Sorey still has room to grow physically and can become a go-to threat on the outside. On film, his background as a basketball player and a high jumper is evident as he routinely wins at the point of attack and hurdles defenders who fail to keep their heads up through the entire tackling process. As four wide receivers with similar physical profiles are expected to return next season, fans more than likely will not see meaningful reps from Sorey for another year or two. Connor Lew - OL, 6’3”, 280; Kennesaw Mountain HS; Acworth, Ga. An aggressive center from the Atlanta metro area, Lew was a consensus 3-star prospect rated among the top 50 overall players in the state of Georgia by 24/7 Sports, On3 and ESPN, with Rivals and ESPN rating him as a top 10 interior line recruit nationally. Over the course of his career, Lew accumulated 24 offers from schools including Miami and Clemson and was committed to the Hurricanes from August up until he flipped to Auburn less than two weeks ago. While playing center as a senior, Lew helped lead the Mustangs to a 7-3 record while failing to make the playoffs. Despite the disappointing ending to the season, his play warranted an invitation to the 2023 Army All-American Bowl, selection to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s all-region first team and inclusion in the AJC’s preseason all-state “Super 11.” Additionally, Lew was a wrestling letterman. The first thing that stands out about Lew’s game is his eagerness to finish blocks. While he is still undersized physically for the SEC level at 280 pounds, that aggression puts him ahead of the curve as the additional mass will come with time and effort in the weight room. Fans should not expect him to contribute on the offensive line immediately, although a clean slate with new offensive line coach Jake Thornton makes anything possible. Colton Hood - CB, 6’1”, 175; Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy; McDonough, Ga. Auburn’s second cornerback commit from the state of Georgia this cycle, Hood was a 3-star prospect viewed as a top-75 player at his position by both Rivals and 24/7 Sports, with On3 assigning him a 4-star rating and considering him among the top 30 prospects in Georgia. A short-term Michigan State commit, he flipped to Auburn shortly before the early signing period began. During his senior campaign, Hood contributed as a cornerback, wide receiver, quarterback and running back as the Chargers finished the season with a 7-5 record and fell in the second round of the GHSAA 2A playoffs. In 2022, he recorded 40 tackles, 3 interceptions, 647 receiving yards, 11 receiving touchdowns, 279 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 186 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. Hood also lettered in basketball and baseball. A lengthy cornerback, Hood brings prototypical SEC size to the position. His involvement on both sides of the ball along with basketball and baseball immediately shows up on film as he is able to high-point and locate the ball with ease. With a plethora of cornerbacks on the roster with similar physical profiles, Hood is not expected to contribute on the defensive side of the ball, although he figures to be an asset on special teams. JC Hart - CB, 6’2”, 180; Loachapoka HS; Auburn, Ala. A hometown hero, Hart is a local preps product that rounds out Auburn’s cornerback room in the 2023 recruiting class. Rated as high as the No. 24 player in Alabama by On3 and the No. 32 player at his position by Rivals, Hart was a consensus 3-star prospect. The recipient of nearly 30 offers from schools such as USC and West Virginia, he committed to the Tigers on Aug. 12, 2022, and, despite taking an official visit to Mississippi State late in the process, never wavered in his decision. As a senior, Hart helped the Indians to a 9-2 record and the second round of the AHSAA 1A playoffs. He was named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s all-state first team and was selected to the 2022 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. As a junior, Hart registered 63 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions. His father, Corey Hart, played linebacker at Marshall from 2007-09. Like Colton Hood, Hart is a lengthy cornerback prospect who played both ways at the high school level. He consistently demonstrated his ability to make opposing players miss in the open field whether it was on kick returns, receptions or interceptions. The tape also showed Hart’s high football IQ and skill at high-pointing the ball. With a plethora of returning cornerbacks, he is expected to contribute mostly on special teams next season. Tyler Johnson - OL, 6’6”, 300; Natchitoches Central HS; Natchitoches, La. The only player Auburn has signed from the state of Louisiana this cycle thus far, Johnson was mostly viewed by major recruiting services as a 3-star prospect, though Rivals rated him as high as the No. 16 player in Louisiana, the No. 25 offensive tackle nationally and a 4-star recruit. With 11 offers from schools such as Baylor and Texas Tech, Johnson went somewhat under the radar. While a senior, Johnson was an important member of the Chiefs’ 3-7 team that missed the LHSAA 5A playoffs. Despite the disappointing conclusion to his preps career, he was invited to participate in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl. A multi-sport athlete, Johnson, CenLa Preps’ No. 1 offensive lineman in Central Louisiana, also lettered in basketball. Possessing an already large frame that will require additional filling out before he is ready for the rigors of SEC play, Johnson is a long-term project with plenty of upside. On film, his feet are shown to never stop moving, although his finishing of blocks is inconsistent. With the arrival of 2023 community college signee Izavion Miller, it may be two years or more before Johnson sees the field. Brenton Williams - DL, 6’4”, 245; Opelika HS; Opelika, Ala. Another local kid, Williams was a consensus 3-star recruit considered a top 25 player in Alabama by both ESPN and On3. The recipient of 12 collegiate offers, he held scholarships from teams that included Big 10 powers Penn State and Michigan State. A once-Coastal Carolina commit, Williams was offered by Auburn late in the process and pledged himself to the Tigers soon after. As a senior, Williams helped lead the Bulldogs to a 5-5 record as they narrowly missed out on a berth in the AHSAA 7A playoffs. During the season, he recorded 55 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks, which earned him 2022 AHSAA South Region All-Star and Class 7A all-state first team and Opelika-Auburn News all-area team honors. Williams was also a basketball letterman. With a prototypical edge frame, Williams spent the majority of the time in a two-point stance for Opelika. Against large-school competition, his ability to win at the point of attack with his speed and length was noticeable. While he appears ready to contribute from day one physically, Williams will need to add more pass-rush moves to his arsenal before he sees extended playing time, even with Auburn’s lack of depth at edge. Stephen Johnson - DL, 6’4”, 315; Whitewater HS; Fayetteville, Ga. One of six players from the state of Georgia signed by Auburn this cycle, Johnson was a consensus 3-star prospect generally seen as one of the top 110 players at his position nationally. Having 11 offers from teams including Maryland and Arkansas, who he was committed to from June 26, 2022, until Dec. 18, five days after he first received an offer from the Tigers. During his senior campaign, Johnson helped the Wildcats finish with an 8-3 record and reach the GHSAA 4A state playoffs, falling in the first round to Benedictine. He recorded 74 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Johnson was also part of Whitewater’s 2021 team that went 11-2 and reached the quarterfinals of the GHSAA 4A state playoffs. A major contributor in both seasons, he was a two-time second-team all-region honoree. With a massive frame already prepared for SEC play, Johnson is a classic interior big man who will thrive shaded inside either guard or over the center. With a surprisingly quick get-off and an impressive arsenal of pass-rush moves for a high school defensive lineman, he could compete for limited playing time in a rotation featuring at least five returning players with similar physical profiles. Hank Brown - QB, 6’4”, 195; Lipscomb Academy; Nashville, Tenn. The sole quarterback in the class, Brown was a consensus 3-star recruit rated as low as the No. 113 player at his position by On3 and as high as the No. 26 player at his position by Rivals. Having nine collegiate offers from schools including Illinois and Minnesota, he was one of the least-recruited players in Auburn’s 2023 class. A longtime Liberty commit, Brown was not offered by Auburn until shortly after Hugh Freeze was named head football coach. While a senior, Brown led the Mustangs to a perfect 13-0 record, the 2022 Tennessee D2-AA state championship and the No. 17 ranking in MaxPreps’ Top 25 composite high school football rankings. This past season, he passed for 3,264 yards, 47 touchdowns - fifth-most in Tennessee state history - and completed 73.3% of his passes. Like many other signees in this class, Brown was a dual-sport athlete having played basketball. Despite the lackluster rating, Brown shined in away wins against Georgia 7A powerhouse Milton and Alabama 7A heavyweights Thompson, winner of the last four AHSAA 7A state championships. Game film shows an ability to fit the ball into tight windows on long throws, and an elite physical build lends itself to an effortless throwing motion. Despite the fact it may take a while for Brown to grab the reigns, it will happen sooner rather than later. Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman. Daniel Schmidt | Assistant News Editor Daniel Schmidt, senior in journalism, is the assistant news editor for the Auburn Plainsman.

Hugh Freeze hires familiar face as Auburn receivers coach Nathan King 2–3 minutes Hugh Freeze is rounding out his inaugural Auburn coaching staff with a familiar face. Freeze's final hire is former Auburn receiver Marcus Davis, sources informed Auburn Undercover on Tuesday morning. Davis will coach the Tigers' wideouts after holding the same position at Georgia Southern in 2022. Davis, 28, also coached receivers at Hawaii in 2021. A quarterback in high school but recruited as a three-star cornerback in Auburn's 2013 class, Davis switched to receiver before his true freshman season and caught 23 passes for 217 yards during Auburn's run to the BCS national title game. In four seasons on the Plains, Davis, a team captain his senior year, finished with 83 receptions, 650 yards and three scores. After graduating with his master's degree from Auburn in 2017, Davis joined Gus Malzahn's support staff as an offensive analyst for the 2018 season. In 2019, he was promoted to Auburn's assistant director of player development and personnel. Davis was then hired as a graduate assistant on Mike Norvell's Florida State staff shortly after the 2019 season concluded, following former Auburn offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham to Tallahassee. Under Davis' leadership, Hawaii had two receivers with more than 800 yards in 2021. This past season, Davis helped a Georgia Southern passing game that was No. 4 in college football. Davis is now the third Auburn alum on staff, joining Cadillac Williams and Zac Etheridge. With Davis' hire, Freeze's 2023 on-field assistant staff is now complete: • OC: Philip Montgomery • RBs: Cadillac Williams • WRs: Marcus Davis • TEs: Ben Aigamaua • OL: Jake Thornton • DC: Ron Roberts • DL: Jeremy Garrett • LBs: Josh Aldridge • DBs: Zac Etheridge • DBs: Wesley McGriff 39COMMENTS • Strength: Dominic Studzinski (off field) • Special teams: Tanner Burns (off field) ">247Sports

you guys forget money guys have put up millions to help freeze who he wants. and folks want to make fun of liberty coaches. why? hell they were giant killers. they beat teams that should have run them off the field. they would have done more but they starting qb was hurt. even the mighty saban struggles with that kind of stuff.look freeze screwed up and he knows it. he still talks about it. this is his chance at the good ol glory days.. this is his chance to rise up and show folks he screwed up, he knows it and he has something to prove. this is not mr potatoe head who was so sorry he was literally working on his tan while our recruiting tanked. this is not mr potatoe head who did not respect many of the coaches or players while he was destroying our program one day at a time. a great coach listens to his players and assistants. we stuck our neck out and gave this man a second chance at what he is good at. you folks do not think he knows how unpopular it was to hire him after the multitude of mistakes he made? i know at the end of the day it is about winning. i think we gave coach a chance when many wanted to but were afraid. he will repay our kindness.he will get us back to the elite and i believe he was have other schools thinking "oh crap here comes Auburn.........it is going to be a long day for us. this whining and crying before he has ever coached a game is just not rational.Auburn has been mostly fair that i know of and it is time to be fair to coach. if he fails do your due diligence and call him out. he was handed a crap show and he has already excelled more than most could or would. we hired the man so be fair and give him a chance. and if he fails then come down on him. but let him call a game or two guys. he is our coach. you have two choices................support the team or give up on the team.but if you give up on him and trash him daily please do not come back in here talking about how great he was all along.

Bryan Harsin takes the top spot of an undesirable year-end list Taylor Jones 3–4 minutes It is no secret that the end of Bryan Harsin’s Auburn tenure, or the whole tenure for that matter, will forever be a dark chapter in the history of Auburn football. He began his Auburn career as the “out of left field” hire. He was not the most popular name of the search, as he came to the Plains from Boise State with minimal experience coaching football in the south. His first season got off to a hot start, as the Tigers began the season 6-2, with a win over a top-10 Ole Miss team. However, following that game on Halloween weekend, things began to take an ugly turn as Auburn would lose its final five games. Once the offseason began, he would be the subject of a coup to remove him from his job, which he would ultimately survive. That would not clear up the main issues within the program, however. In year two under Harsin, Auburn lost to Penn State at home in blowout fashion and would lose lengthy winning streaks to Arkansas and Ole Miss. In addition to the on-field product, Auburn also fell behind in recruiting. Because of the regression, Harsin was dismissed from his duties on Halloween, two days after Auburn’s 41-27 loss to Arkansas at Jordan-Hare Stadium. His time in Auburn was anything but pretty, which is why he takes the top spot of an undesirable year-end list. On3 recently released their assessments of second-year coaches, from worst to first. Several coaches got a good report, including Tennessee‘s Josh Heupel and Kansas’ Lance Leipold. As for Harsin, he kicked off the rankings by having the worst performance of any second-year coach. Jesse Simonton of On3 sympathizes with Harsin, but also says that Auburn was more motivated to play following his departure. For more than a year, Auburn essentially treated Bryan Harsin like the kid in Toy Story who tortures Woody with a magnifying glass. It was wholly unfair to Harsin. But setting aside all the ugly and unfounded rumors surrounding Harsin and his family, the former Boise State head coach did an awful job at one of the premiere programs in the country. Harsin lost five straight games to end a disappointing Year 1, and things only got worse this fall. After a pair of victories over cupcakes — including a way-too-close for comfort 24-16 win against San Jose State — the Tigers lost 6-of-7, with their lone win a Yakety Sax overtime victory against Missouri. Harsin was poor recruiter (Auburn wasted a historic set of prospects from the state of Alabama in 2022), motivator and leader. It said a lot that the second he was gone the Tigers suddenly started playing inspired and united. Harsin’s Auburn career ended with a 9-12 record. After his dismissal, interim head coach Cadillac Williams led Auburn to a 2-2 record, which ended their season at 5-7.

well i guess it sux to be me.

2023 Auburn Football Schedule Announced JackCondon@CollegeAndMag ~2 minutes For some reason, the SEC decided to drop the 2023 SEC football schedule in the middle of all of this turmoil. Respect our privacy at this tough time. I guess we made some folks mad, because that is not a fun schedule. SEPTEMBER 2 - vs UMass SEPTEMBER 9 - @ Cal (Berkeley) SEPTEMBER 16 - vs Samford SEPTEMBER 23 - @ Texas A&M (College Station) SEPTEMBER 30 - vs Georgia OCTOBER 7 - BYE OCTOBER 14 - @ LSU (Baton Rouge) OCTOBER 21 - vs Ole Miss OCTOBER 28 - vs Mississippi State NOVEMBER 4 - @ Vanderbilt (Nashville) NOVEMBER 11 - @ Arkansas (Fayetteville) NOVEMBER 18 - vs New Mexico State NOVEMBER 25 - vs Alabama Our non-conference slate should bring us to a 4-0 record at minimum, and we get to erase a “never-played” from the non-con group with Cal in Week 2. That’ll be a great trip for Auburn fans, and we’ll likely have an advantage in that stadium since the California teams have not been drawing well as of late. However, we get about the worst start to the conference season with A&M, Georgia, and LSU the first three weeks, with A&M/LSU on the road and Georgia at home. If the Tigers start 3-0, it’s more likely that they’ll end up 3-3 after that stretch. The other two road games are manageable with Vandy and Arkansas, but of course it’s never going to be easy finishing with Alabama. I’m sure that a new coach will have a heck of a time figuring out this slate, because we will have a new coach directing us in 2023.

Auburn football: Tigers looking to take this RB from the transfer portal Mary Kate Hughes 2–3 minutes Auburn football Mississippi State QB Will Rogers (2) hands off the ball to DL Dillon Johnson (23) at the 2022 Egg Bowl at Ole Miss' Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., Thursday, November 24, 2022. Mississippi State beat Ole Miss with a final score of 24-22. Ejs 3957 The Auburn football program had an extremely successful signing day under new head coach Hugh Freeze, but the recruiting for the 2023 cycle is not over yet. There are still high school prospects that plan to sign in February, and many transfers are to be looked at in the portal. So far, Freeze and his coaching staff have taken three transfers out of the portal: former Vanderbilt edge Elijah McAllister, former Tulsa offensive tackle Dillon Wade, and former Florida International tight end Rivaldo Fairweather. Still, Freeze has said from the beginning that they plan to lean heavily on the transfer portal in year one, so the hunt is still on. One of the transfers that the Tigers have taken an interest in is former Mississippi State running back Dillon Johnson. Tank Bigsby announced that he will be entering his name into the 2023 NFL Draft, so even with Jarquez Hunter bringing his talent back for another season, the staff is looking for another experienced running back to play alongside him while rising sophomore Damari Alston and incoming freshman Jeremiah Cobb continue to learn and work their way up. According to Auburn Undercover, Dillon Johnson officially visited the Plains earlier this month and liked what he saw: Insert Mississippi State transfer Dillon Johnson, who visited before the dead period and Auburn is trending in the right direction with. Johnson is an experienced pass-catcher from his time in Mike Leach’s offense and is a physical runner, too. He’s about perfect for what Auburn is looking for and someone who could fit in well with Freeze’s system. Johnson plans to make a final decision on January 3, according to Kieth Niebuhr of Auburn Live, and it will all come down to Auburn football, Louisville, South Carolina, or a possible return to Mississippi State.

AuburnSports - Davis returns as WR coach Bryan Matthews AuburnSports Davis returns as WR coach 1h ago ~2 minutes AUBURN | A familiar name is returning to Auburn as an assistant coach. Marcus Davis, who was a receiver at Auburn from 2013-16, is expected to be hired by Hugh Freeze as wide receivers coach, a source confirms to AuburnSports.com. Davis has spent the previous season as the wide receivers coach at Georgia Southern. Davis began his coaching career as an offensive analyst and strength and conditioning intern at Auburn in 2018. He was promoted to assistant director of player personnel and player development the following year. His meteoric rise through the coaching ranks continued as a Florida State graduate assistant in 2020 and the wide receivers coach at Hawaii in 2021. GSU put up big passing numbers this fall as Khaleb Hood led the Sun Belt with 80 receptions for 896 yards and three touchdowns. Davis had two other wide receivers in the league's top five as Jeremy Singleton had 66 catches for 714 and two touchdowns and Derwin Burgess Jr. had 58 receptions for 717 yards and seven scores. GSU finished fourth nationally averaging 327.8 passing yards per game under offensive coordinator Bryan Ellis, who spent the previous three seasons at Western Kentucky. Davis was part of AU's SEC Championship team in 2013 that lost to FSU in the BCS national championship game. He played in four bowl games during his AU career and finished with 83 receptions for 650 yards and three touchdowns in 50 games. A native of Boynton Beach, Fla., Davis is married to Amberly and has a daughter, Milaf Price. The hire of Davis will complete Freeze's first on-field staff at Auburn. i am so confused about Auburns WR coach. this is the third one i believe?

Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column Jason Caldwell 4–5 minutes Great gifts over the years Just the other day I watched the special on the SEC Network about play-by-play guys in the league over the years and it brought back some great memories for me, but it also made me think of just how fortunate I am to have this job and be doing what I love. I grew up listening to Jim Fyffe. Some of my fondest memories are of cutting wood on Saturdays with my dad while listening to the Auburn game on the radio. That carried over to basketball season where I would listen to Sonny Smith's teams in the mid-80's and hang on every word. When I got into this job I got to know Jim before he passed away and built a great friendship with Rod Bramblett, Andy Burcham, Stan White, Quentin Riggins, Paul Ellen and the crew. Sitting there watching the special the other night made me realize just how fortunate I am and reminded me not to take for granted the opportunity I have been given. I have been part of many special moments over the years and hope there's many more to come. The next step for Auburn football I remember growing up following Auburn football and being able to turn on the TV on Sunday to watch the two games that were being shown and could usually find a former Tiger playing a key role for his NFL team. Names like William Andrews, James Brooks, Joe Cribbs, Byron Franklin, Doug Smith, Lionel James, Ben Thomas, Kevin Greene, Gerald Robinson, Gerald Williams, Steve Wallace, Tommie Agee, Kevin Porter, Walter Reeves and others were all guys that were playmakers and names known around the league. They set the table for a strong 20-year run of Auburn in the National Football League, but if you want to look at the state of the program and the reason why the Tigers are on their third coach in the last four years, it’s because of the lack of talent in the program as a whole. That shows up when you get guys to the next level and they become stars. Auburn’s last Pro Bowl selection was in 2021 when long snapper Josh Harris was picked for the honor. He was the first Auburn player since 2018 to get selected. By comparison, Alabama has 11 former players in this year’s Pro Bowl alone. That’s the challenge for Hugh Freeze and company. Getting guys to the NFL and winning games. That’s the key to getting better and better players and giving yourself a chance to compete for championships. The last month has shown this current staff has the ability to compete and win some of those battles. That’s just the beginning of getting Auburn back to where the program belongs. Go time for Auburn basketball Coming off perhaps its best performance of the season to this point, Bruce Pearl’s Tigers open SEC play Wednesday at 6 p.m. when the Florida Gators come to Auburn to open SEC play. That’s very good news considering the struggles that Auburn has had going on the road to Gainesville for much of the last 20 years, but the Gators have been tough no matter the venue. This will be the first meeting between mentor and pupil with Todd Golden in his first season with the Gators after coming from San Francisco. Florida is 7-5 overall, but has played a strong schedule with losses coming to Xavier, West Virginia, UConn and Oklahoma along with Florida Atlantic. 47COMMENTS The challenge for Auburn will be handling big man Colin Castleton. Averaging 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this season, Castleton had two huge games against the Tigers last season with 22 points and 10 rebounds in a loss at Auburn Arena before having 19 points and 8 rebounds in a Florida win in the rematch last year. Getting a win would be a big deal for the Tigers with some challenging games ahead to open league play. Following Florida, Auburn travels to Georgia before playing host Arkansas, going to Ole Miss and then playing at home vs. Mississippi State. If the Tigers can build on what they did against Washington then I like their chances to build some momentum. ">247Sports

out of all the names folks call coach good or bad i like FREEZE WARNING. it has that certain ring to it.

With Christmas here it’s a quiet time on campus and for Auburn’s intercollegiate athletic teams, both athletes and coaches alike, as we come to the end of 2022, a year full of highs and lows on the Plains. On the plus side it was an historic season for the men’s basketball team, which moved to No. 1 in the polls for the first time in program history. On the down side, the Tigers peaked too early and struggled in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments. The football season began with major concern about the direction of the program, which proved to be warranted, sparking a late season purge with Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and the reworked coaching staff making positive changes on the fly for the final four games. With Hugh Freeze now leading the way, the Tigers will enter the new year with very realistic expectations that better days are on the immediate horizon. After a down 2020-21 sports year on the Plains, 2021-22 was much better for many Auburn teams. Two that really stood out as having the best seasons in program history are the gymnastics and volleyball teams and there is no reason each group can’t do it again. There have been multiple sightings of AubieClaus around the area in recent weeks and if he has been checking out Christmas wish lists for Auburn’s head coaches they are definitely hoping for a variety of gifts they can use throughout the coming year. For Bruce Pearl, who is always into giving in a major way, the coach could use the gift of consistent three-point shooters and strong guard play, which have been keys to success for his previous Auburn basketball teams. For baseball coach Butch Thompson, AubieClaus could make him happy by bringing long-discussed major upgrades to Plainsman Park, the home of the baseball Tigers. If it is not too much to ask, another trip to the College World Series would be appreciated. For women’s basketball coach Johnnie Harris and volleyball coach Brent Crouch and their players, a great gift would be more fans when they play at Neville Arena. Both programs are trending in a positive direction. The volleyball team, a freshman dominated group this year, started to see fan support grow during the 2022 home schedule, but there will still be plenty of good seats available for both teams in 2023. A program not having trouble putting fannies in the seats is gymnastics. Coach Jeff Graba’s 2023 team is talented and experienced. Maybe this is the year the Tigers can bring home one of the big prizes in their sport, either an SEC or NCAA team title. *** Subscribe: Receive the latest Auburn intel and scoops*** Over at Jane B. Moore Field, perhaps the best gift softball coach Mickey Dean could receive is a 2023 season with all of the players staying healthy, which would greatly enhance the odds of the group earning a trip to their sport’s world series in Oklahoma City. Aubie Claus is always a favorite of Auburn fans, young and old. (Photo: John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports) Golf coaches Nick Clinard and Melissa Luellen have their programs in great shape and, if it is not too much to ask, AubieClaus needs to look into his bag of presents to see if there are any national championships in there. Both have come very, very close to winning the big one on their watches so those shiny new red bike type of presents seem to be reasonable requests. For soccer’s Karen Hoppa, whose teams are almost always very good defensively, the best presents she could find under the Christmas tree are a couple of players who are excellent scorers. If that happens the Tigers will be back in the NCAA Tournament right away. *** Get FREE Auburn breaking news in your inbox *** Two programs on the rise are the women’s and men’s tennis. For coaches Caroline Lilley and Bobby Reynolds the best gift would be continuing their success with bringing in better and better players so both teams can challenge for SEC titles and make deeper runs into the NCAA Tournament. On the subject of programs on the rise, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving squads are making a strong comeback after too many years of neglect from previous AU administrators. Hopefully, new athletic director John Cohen will give Ryan Wochomurka and his assistants all of the tools needed so Auburn can once again become a championship program in this sport. Leroy Burrell should have one of the longer wish lists of any of Auburn’s coaches. In addition to much needed upgrades to the Hutsell-Rosen Track and Field complex, AU’s second newest head coach could use athletes who run faster, jump higher and throw things farther for the 2023 season and beyond. 16COMMENTS For equestrian’s Greg Williams, whose teams are always strong, SEC and national championships are always the gift of choice, even though the Tigers already have a lot of them. Last, but not least AubieClaus, you need to seriously consider filling up a whole row of stockings for new head football coach Hugh Freeze. He needs one of almost everything when it comes to football players and at many positions he needs multiple newcomers to arrive ready to be positive difference-makers to expedite the rebuilding process for the football program. ">247Sports

Caldwell Column: Auburn football Christmas wish list Jason Caldwell 4–5 minutes Santa came early on Friday for the Auburn football Tigers when Tulsa offensive lineman Dillon Wade committed to Hugh Freeze’s program. Already with a strong group of offensive linemen in the 2023 class with Bradyn Joiner, Clay Wedin, Connor Lew and Tyler Johnson on board from the high school ranks and Izavion Miller from junior college, Auburn continued perhaps its best offensive line haul in a decade with the addition of Wade on the eve of Christmas eve. Wade is a talented offensive line prospect who projects as a starting tackle for the Tigers, and that’s a big deal with no experience returning on the current roster at that position. A physical player who was a wanted man with offers from all over the country once he went into the portal, Wade is a huge present under the tree for the Auburn program and great news for new OL coach Jake Thornton. There is still more work to be done for the Tigers up front with a veteran center and another experienced offensive lineman an ideal finish to a strong group. There are still a few names on the board and several more will likely enter the portal in the next few weeks as bowl games wrap up. If Auburn can add two more veterans to an already strong group, it will be perhaps the most important present the program could have gotten this year. Just like the offensive line, Auburn needed to get help up front on defense in a big way following the losses of Colby Wooden, Derick Hall and Eku Leota. While the Tigers have done a strong job of shoring things up with the additions of high school signees Keldric Faulk, Darron Reed, Wilky Denaud, Brenton Williams and Stephon Johnson, junior college signee Quientrail Jamison-Travis and Vanderbilt transfer Elijah McAllister, adding another experienced pass rusher would be the icing on the cake heading into the 2023 season. A lot has been made of Auburn looking for a quarterback and not getting Devin Leary from NC State and passing on Grayson McCall from Coastal Carolina. It appears that Spencer Sanders from Oklahoma State is on the Tigers’ radar, but I believe we’re going to see a big run on quality quarterbacks entering the portal following bowl season. A name to watch is Garrett Nussmeier at LSU. A redshirt sophomore in 2023, Nussmeier would likely be sitting another season at LSU with the return of Jayden Daniels next year. After lighting up Georgia in the second half of the SEC Championship Game, Nussmeier would be an intriguing addition to the portal should he decide to dip a toe into the waters following LSU’s bowl game against Purdue on Jan. 2. While adding a big, physical wide receiver is going to be important as well, I think the position that slides to the top for the Tigers is linebacker. Even though Cam Riley, Wesley Steiner and Desmond Tisdol return after all got valuable experience a year ago, Auburn definitely needs help at the position with new defensive coordinator Ron Roberts counting on the linebackers in a big way in his 3-3-5 scheme. 36COMMENTS With Robert Woodyard and Powell Gordon both coming off redshirt years, Auburn will add two athletic players to the bunch, but the Tigers need some experience from a true middle linebacker for the 2023 season. Like with the other positions, I would expect some talented names to enter the portal in the coming weeks and Auburn will be on the lookout. Merry Christmas to everyone that makes this place so special. Thanks for joining us and letting us into your lives to share the story of Auburn athletics. We truly couldn’t do this without you! ">247Sports

Looking at Dillon Wade's PFF grades Zac Blackerby ~2 minutes Auburn keeps landing offensive linemen under Hugh Freeze. The latest is transfer offensive tackle Dillon Wade from Tulsa. His previous relationship with offensive coordinator Philip Montogmery makes him an even greater fit on the Plains. He will have three years of eligibility. After looking at some numbers on PFF, here are a few things worth noting about Wade's game. He took a huge step forward in playing time from 2021 to 2022. During the 2021 season, Wade played 39 snaps on offense. This past year, Wade became a full-time starter and played 818 snaps. In 2021, 37 of his 39 snaps were at right tackle. The other two were at an inline tight end. In 2022, 816 snaps were at left tackle. The other two were at inline tight end. He also played 45 snaps on the field goal unit. Wade's PFF offensive grade for the 2022 season was 66.4. His pass block grade for the season was 66.7. The run-blocking grade was 67.2. His biggest jump from 2021 to 2022 came in the pass-blocking category. In 2021, he graded out at 36.1 in pass protection. That jumped to 66.7 this past year. Run blocking appears to be Wade's biggest strength when it comes to PFF. Wade was flagged six times on penalties during the 2022 season. He was flagged twice in 2021. Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials! Join the Discord

What is Hugh Freeze saying in this cryptic tweet? Zac Blackerby ~2 minutes The Auburn coaching staff is coming together under Hugh Freeze. Many are waiting for the announcement of who will be named Auburn's next wide receiver. After Ike Hilliard was not retained, the most popular name has been Missouri wide receivers coach Jacob Peeler. On Christmas morning, Freeze quote tweeted a message from Matrix Analytical that was praising Missouri's wide receivers since 2009. Freeze just added the "eyes looking" emoji to it. Peeler arrived in Columbia to coach wide receivers in January of 2022. So it isn't a perfect match to the tweet but it certainly matches what a lot of the rumors could be. Missouri's season ended with a loss in the Gasparilla Bowl at the hands of Wake Forest. If both parties were waiting for the season to end, the timing now seems right. This is all speculation and some Christmas fun from Freeze and breaking down a cryptic tweet. Auburn fans are catching on. One of the top responses is someone using a peeler.

Five things that Hugh Freeze has given Auburn fans for Christmas Zac Blackerby ~3 minutes The first month of the Hugh Freeze era at Auburn has been a wild ride. From celebrating the "Merry Flipmas" season by flipping over a third of the class to join the 2023 Auburn Tigers, to building out a staff that can compete in the SEC, Hugh Freeze is winning Auburn fans over at a very quick rate. It's Christmas, and the Auburn Daily staff hopes that you all have a very happy day with your loved ones. We put together a list of five things the Freeze has already given Auburn fans for Christmas this year. A revamped 2023 class As stated above, Auburn has found a way to flip key players like Keldric Faulk and Kayin Lee to join the class. He's also led the charge in starting to assemble a transfer class to help build a better roster for the 2023 season. An offensive scheme that makes sense in 2023 Freeze has had an elite offense everywhere that he's been. Auburn got a taste of what elite offenses looked like in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017 and have been chasing that high ever since. Perhaps Freeze will get Auburn back to the top offensively soon. He kept Caddy home Every Auburn fan wanted Carnell Williams to stay on staff following his run as Auburn's interim head football coach. While the move wasn't permanent, Auburn fans wanted him around for the Freeze era. One of the first decisions made was to keep the Auburn legend on staff and give him a promotion. He also kept Zac Etheridge, another Auburn legend, on staff. A quick way to garner some love from the fanbase. Yahtzee We had the "Boom" during the Gus Malzahn era and the "Just Watch" motto didn't stick during Bryan Harsin's time on the Plains. While "Yahtzee" is a little cheesy, I love it. Freeze seems to be leaning into it already. Hope For the first time in several years, this part of the year has been fun for Auburn football fans. Early signing day was a blast, the weeks leading up to it were energetic, and the public statements acknowledging that Auburn isn't where Auburn needs to be is refreshing. Having someone at the helm of Auburn where Auburn fans feel hopeful for the future is something that all Auburn fans are happy to see under their tree this Christmas. Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials!