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Joseph Goodman: Cadillac inspired Auburn with powerful message Published: Dec. 22, 2022, 8:00 a.m. 8–10 minutes Cadillac Williams said something to me after the Iron Bowl that’s worth repeating this holiday season. “Anything that comes from love is going to prosper,” he said. That seems like a message worth remembering this time of year, and every year after this one. Williams was Auburn’s interim football coach for four weeks in November, and during that time his authentic style of leadership inspired Auburn’s struggling team to finish the season with a strong effort. It was so much more than that, though. For everything Williams represented as Auburn’s head coach, and his ability to turn a difficult time for Auburn into a boon for the university, Williams is an easy choice for Alabama’s 2022 sportsperson of the year. GOODMAN: Saban’s dynasty is still alive, and Auburn is back from the dead GOODMAN: Mike Leach’s greatest gift was a love of learning GOODMAN: UAB football is ready to soar into new conference GOODMAN: Appreciating the greatness of Will Anderson Jr. RELATED: Iron Bowl speech by Cadillac Williams This is the first time for me to select a sportsperson of the year in my columns, but after Cadillac’s notable success at Auburn, and the meaning behind it, it seems like a good time to start recognizing uncommon inspiration in our time. Williams is a trailblazer like that, and while his stint as interim coach might not have lasted very long, its legacy will endure here in this space. Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, who is originally from the Gadsden area and starred at Auburn as a running back during his playing days, became the first Black head football coach for either Auburn or Alabama in 2022. On Nov.26, Cadillac became the first Black head football coach in the history of the Iron Bowl. It was Auburn interim athletics director Rich McGlynn who made the decision to promote Williams from running backs coach to interim head coach following the dismissal of Bryan Harsin on Oct.31. Given the opportunity, Cadillac thrived and proved not only that he can be a successful head coach in college football but a program-altering head coach in the SEC. Alabama won the 2022 Iron Bowl 49-27, but Auburn’s offense rushed for a season-high 318 yards. Williams told his team before the game that they were going to run at Alabama, and the Tigers then set about rushing for the most yards by an Auburn team in an Iron Bowl since 1983 (355 yards). That’s the year Bo Jackson rushed for 256 yards against Alabama. Auburn’s 7.4 yards per carry against Alabama in 2022 were the most for the Tigers against an SEC opponent since 2016 (9.53 yards per carry vs. Arkansas), and the most rushing yards allowed by an Alabama team coached by Nick Saban. Williams played in the NFL from 2005 to 2011. He started his coaching career in 2015 at Henderson State through a program for former NFL players. Naturally, I asked Williams after the Iron Bowl if he thought he was a better player or a coach. He offered a long answer to that one. “Well, that is a damn good question,” Cadillac said. “I’ll tell you this. It’s neck and neck because I had the opportunity, God gave me a gift, and I had a dream of going to the NFL and I accomplished that. Buy my momma’s house. I accomplished that. “This is different. So different. It just gave me a joy and a feeling that I can’t even explain. To see those young men, the staff, people around the complex who work in academics, just to see how uplifted they were, how giving they were, the smiles on people’s faces. Just by guys’ attitudes. The way they treat people now. Like, I’m super, super proud of that, and it’s a different type of feeling. So, I would have to say that I’m a better coach.” No argument here. Cadillac was 2-2 as a head coach, but it felt like he scored victories in games even when the Tigers lost. Inside the locker room, Williams changed lives. Inside the Auburn football complex, Williams made people enjoy going to work again. How do you measure that kind of greatness? In dollars, but also in renewed dedication. Auburn’s NIL collective, On To Victory, celebrated enormous gains thanks to Williams, and Auburn sold out games for victories against Texas A&M and Western Kentucky despite a losing record. Williams expressed interest in being Auburn’s permanent football head coach, and he is now Auburn’s associate head coach after the university hired Hugh Freeze on Nov.28. Two days before Freeze was hired, and moments after his time as Auburn’s interim coach was over, I interviewed Williams in the visiting locker room of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Of everything he accomplished in such a small amount of time, Williams was proudest of all for how he and his staff changed the culture within the team. “What I have learned about myself through this whole process is the Good Lord would take an ordinary guy like myself, a guy who was broken, with no experience, and can have an impact on people like I have never seen before,” Williams said. “And, look, I know we’re 2-2 and everyone looks at the football part of it, but if people only knew, man. “We had 12 guys give their lives to Christ. Seven guys get baptized. And we had such a problem with kids going to class, kids missing workouts, kids showing up late. And these kids, their whole attitude changed. That has been mind-boggling to me, and Brother Chette and I talk about it all the time, ‘Bro, I haven’t ever seen anything like this.’” Brother Chette is Chette Williams, who has been Auburn’s team chaplain since 1999. After his post-game prayer following the Iron Bowl, Brother Chette told the team, “This is the most incredible ride I’ve had since I’ve been at Auburn.” Cadillac ran himself ragged in his one month as head coach. He didn’t sleep much. His voice was tired and faded after the Iron Bowl. He was sick and coughing and needed rest. Learning how to sail a vessel during a storm will do that to anyone. The ship did not sink, though. Auburn finished 5-7 on the season, but with Williams as coach the Tigers will go into the 2023 season riding a two-game winning streak at home. After taking over the program on Halloween, Williams and his staff had only a few days to prepare for an away game at Mississippi State. It started off ugly in Starkville, but Auburn rallied at halftime and stormed back from a 21-point deficit to take the lead. Auburn lost 39-33 in overtime to coach Mike Leach and Mississippi State, but the Tigers’ resiliency in the second half lifted the team’s spirits. Leach went out of his way to meet with Cadillac before the game. It was a poignant moment then, but one that will be with Cadillac for the rest of his life after Leach passed away on Dec.12. With Cadillac as the coach, Auburn football captured the hearts of fans, players and coaches throughout the SEC. Closer to home, Williams’ message of selfless service reenergized Auburn’s fanbase, christened Auburn’s new football facility with momentum and sparked a movement inside Auburn football that carried over into early National Signing Day. His message is simple, but it carries great weight. “Anything that comes from love is going to prosper,” Williams said. “Auburn is going to be successful, but it’s got to start with that — caring, serving.” What does that mean? What does that look like in practice? Consider this act of kindness by Williams this holiday season. On Nov.14, I published a column about a family that had lost a child in 2004, but was forever connected to Cadillac through an autographed football he signed for a fellow Auburn student, Kimberly McClendon. McClendon passed away on June 10, 2004. Before her death, she gifted Cadillac’s signed football to her father, Randy. Cadillac read that column, and then read it to his team, and then invited the McClendons to Auburn on Nov.20. He visited with them that Sunday — the beginning of Iron Bowl week — and signed the same ball again. This time he signed as Auburn’s head coach. Beautiful. Priceless. Permanent. In four weeks, Coach Cadillac put his mark on Auburn, and it will remain. Joseph Goodman is a columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of “We Want Bama: A season of hope and the making of Nick Saban’s ‘ultimate team’”. You can find him on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr. Auburn coach Cadillac Williams signed this ball as a player and then later as a coach for Auburn fan Randy McClendon.courtesy photo

Freeze praises recruiting efforts of Cadillac, Etheridge, remaining staff Jason Caldwell 3–4 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—Talking to many of Auburn’s football signees on Wednesday, a common theme was their connection to Zac Etheridge, Cadillac Williams and the rest of the staff that stayed engaged fighting the battle for the Tigers through several tough weeks following the firing of Bryan Harsin. Keeping things together on the field and actually building some momentum despite losing both coordinators as well, the staff did the same on the recruiting trail and laid the groundwork for a Top 20 ranking for the Tigers in the early signing period. It didn’t go unnoticed by new coach Hugh Freeze. “I have to say, first and foremost, Zac (Etheridge) and Cadillac (Williams) and even C-Rob (Christian Robinson) and probably others, too, that I’m not totally aware of, but those guys never gave up and trying to hold onto some relationships that had been formed throughout the previous years along with the people in the building,” Freeze said. “They deserve a ton of credit for hanging us in the fight until we could get what these families appear to have some stability and some direction and vision for our program. So I’m thankful for those guys, they were faithful to the Auburn Family and held us in there with a lot of guys.” All you have to do is talk to the players, but also their coaches. With Auburn slacking in that department at times under Harsin, the remaining staff made it a priority to begin rebuilding those relationships. Guys like Will Friend, Roc Bellantoni and Ike Hilliard played a big part in this as well, but it was Etheridge and Cadillac who kept Auburn in the hunt for a guy like Keldric Faulk, something his coach said was a big deal. Committed to Florida State and one of the nation's top players, Faulk flipped to the Tigers on signing day. “Bid kudos to Zac Etheridge and those guys for what they’ve done and the relationships they’ve kept through some of the turmoil,” Highland Home’s Will Pouncey said. “Zac and Cadillac were there to hold everything together and it has really put Auburn in the position they’re in now.” With both Etheridge and Williams stepping in the gap and showing what they can do on the recruiting trail, Freeze said the two were invaluable to Auburn’s efforts to finish off this early class and he appreciates them greatly. “I don’t think I can say it with any more emphasis: I don’t think we sign the class we have today without Zac’s efforts, and Cadillac also,” Freeze said. “I thought those two just played huge roles. Zac was in on most of the current committed guys and then was very vital in turning some from other schools. He was very vital.” ">247Sports

Auburn names Jake Thornton offensive line coach James Hayes 2–3 minutes AUBURN, Ala. (WSFA) - Auburn University announced today that Jake Thornton will become the football team’s new offensive line coach. Thornton has spent the past two seasons as the offensive line coach for Ole Miss. During his time with the Rebels, he was instrumental in helping the team achieve a top-ten national ranking in total offense each year. “Jake Thornton is a rising star in our profession and has established himself as one of the best young offensive line coaches in the country,” Freeze said. “He helped lead one of the top offenses in the Southeastern Conference over the last two seasons and is a great addition to the Auburn program. He will be a difference maker for our offense.” This past season at Ole Miss, the Thornton-led offensive line paved the way for the SEC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-SEC running back Quinshon Judkins. Judkins set a single-season school record in rushing yards at 1,476 and touchdowns with 16. “I’m very honored and excited to join Coach Freeze’s staff at Auburn,” Thornton said. “Coach Freeze is one of the best offensive minds in college football, and I look forward to working with him to help compete for championships at Auburn. Auburn is known for its blue-collar, hard work mentality, and our offensive line will possess that mentality. It’s time to go to work!” During his coaching career, Thornton spent the 2020 season as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Gardner-Webb and was in the same role at FCS school Tennessee Tech in 2019. During his tenure at Tennessee Tech, he helped lead the Golden Eagles to their second-highest offensive yardage production in program history at 4,501 yards. Auburn ranked 10th in the SEC in total offensive yards at 4,542 and is looking for Thornton to help boost those numbers in the upcoming season. Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store! Copyright 2022 WSFA. All rights reserved.

Ben Aigamaua named tight ends coach at Auburn Auburn University Athletics 3–4 minutes AUBURN, Ala. – Ben Aigamaua has been named the tight ends coach at Auburn, head coach Hugh Freeze announced Thursday. Aigamaua comes to Auburn with 13 years of experience at the collegiate level, including seven years at Ole Miss, and spent the last four seasons as tight ends coach at Liberty. "Ben played for me at Lambuth and has worked on our staff in various capacities over the past decade," Freeze said. "He is a tireless worker and has developed into an excellent coach, teacher and recruiter. Ben has a unique ability to connect with people and will be a great mentor and coach for the tight ends room." In his four years at Liberty, the Flames won 34 games and became the third current FBS team to become bowl eligible in each of its first four seasons since transitioning from the FCS (Appalachian State: 2015-2021; Marshall: 1997-2002). The program entered the 2022 season as one of five FBS teams to win three straight bowl games, joining Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana on the list. "I've been blessed to play for Coach Freeze and be a part of his staff for over a decade," Aigamaua said. "My family and I are excited to be joining the Auburn family and I'm thrilled to be coaching at this outstanding institution with such a great football tradition." Under Aigamaua's leadership in 2022, Liberty saw three different tight ends haul in a touchdown pass and the group accounted for 236 yards on 27 receptions. In four seasons, Aigamaua's tight end group hauled in a collective 109 receptions for 1,267 yards and 20 touchdowns while Liberty finished top 25 in the country in total offense on a pair of occasions. The Flames finished the 2020 season with a 10-1 record and ranked No. 17 in the final Associated Press poll, its highest end-of-year ranking in program history. Individually, a pair of Aigamaua's tight ends earned accolades as Johnny Huntley was named to the Phil Steele FBS Independent All-Conference Team in 2020 and 2021, and Michael Bollinger was named to the 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. Prior to his time at Liberty, Aigamaua served as a graduate assistant, offensive analyst and assistant athletic director of community relations at Ole Miss from 2012-18, the first five seasons with Freeze as the head coach. The Rebels were ranked as high as No. 3 in the country on a pair of occasions and finished top 10 in the final polls for the first time in nearly 50 years. The team finished top 25 in the country in total offense five times during the seven-year span. Aigamaua broke into the industry as a graduate assistant at his alma mater of Lambuth in 2010 before spending a year in the same capacity at Arkansas Tech in 2011. Before becoming a graduate assistant in 2010, he was a four-year starter on the defensive line at Lambuth from 2006-09, including the last two seasons with Freeze as the head coach. He was a three-year team captain and two-time all-conference honoree. Aigamaua earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from Lambuth in 2010 and master's degree in integrated sports marketing from Ole Miss in 2015.

Jeremiah Cobb did not sign with Auburn on Wednesday. Why is that? Taylor Jones 2–3 minutes When Hugh Freeze took over the head coaching job at Auburn on Nov. 28, he entered a tough situation on the recruiting front. After spending time near the bottom of the SEC rankings, the Tigers ended the day with a top-20 class. The bump was a testament to the hard work of Hugh Freeze and staff to make up for what Freeze felt was unacceptable. Buy Tigers Tickets “It’s been a wild two weeks for us,” Hugh Freeze said Wednesday. “We came into this considerably behind what I think Auburn should be in recruiting.” Loyal commits such as Bradyn Joiner, J.C. Hart, and Terrance Love all signed with Auburn on the first day of the early signing period, while Keldric Faulk, Connor Lew, and Stephen Jackson signed with Auburn after previously committing elsewhere. Despite the excitement surrounding Wednesday’s signees, there was one important name that was not announced as an early signee. Jeremiah Cobb, a four-star running back from Montgomery, did not sign on Wednesday, making him the only 2023 pledge that did not make his commitment to Auburn official. Should this be a concern for Auburn fans? Christian Clemente of 247Sports says that fans should not worry, as Cobb is still a strong Auburn commit. Clemente says that Cobb has elected to wait until February to sign his letter of intent so that he can enjoy the special occasion with his teammates at Montgomery Catholic. Although he is waiting an extra six weeks to sign with the Tigers, Clemente is confident that Cobb is locked in with Auburn and does not see another program in the hunt. Cobb is the No. 12 running back from the 2023 class, and the No. 16 overall prospect from the state of Alabama. Cobb has been committed to Auburn since July 1 and visited the campus three times during the 2022 season.

that will get one fired up.................

Auburn 'in conversations' with more QBs on transfer board Nathan King 4–5 minutes AUBURN, Alabama — Hugh Freeze’s 2023 starting quarterback could very well be on Auburn’s current roster, but it’s still not a shocker that the Tigers’ new head coach wants to evaluate and add at least another passer from the transfer market. On a day Auburn added more depth to its quarterback room — with the signing of 3-star and former Liberty commit Hank Brown — Freeze said, after Auburn’s lone transfer QB visitor so far signed elsewhere, that he and his offensive staff are committed to bringing in a transfer quarterback, and will continue to evaluate available players at the position moving forward. “Yes, we are (going to seek a transfer QB),” Freeze said Wednesday during his signing day press conference. “If it's the right one, that we believe we can win games with.” The No. 1 quarterback in the 247Sports transfer rankings, NC State’s Devin Leary, officially visited Auburn over the weekend but committed to and signed with Kentucky this week. Freeze was also set to welcome another elite signal-caller, Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall, last weekend before his visit was nixed at the last minute. Auburn Undercover has reported that an academic snag led to McCall’s canceled visit, with the prolific passer (77 touchdowns and seven interceptions in three seasons as a starter) needing a significant amount of credits before he’d be eligible to play at Auburn. So with signing day now mostly wrapped up for Auburn in the high-school ranks — save for a couple expected additions — Freeze and his staff will return to their transfer board after a couple days off for the holidays and redirect their attention onto other quarterback targets. “We've gone back and forth on our rankings of them, and we're kind of looking at that list right now,” Freeze said. “And (we’ve been) in conversations with the next man up, and hopefully we'll get the right one.” Transfer visits can resume Jan. 4. Some of the top transfer QBs currently uncommitted are Hudson Card (Texas), Brennan Armstrong (Virginia) and Luke Altmyer (Ole Miss). Auburn returns Robby Ashford, who threw for seven touchdowns and seven picks in nine starts, in addition to former LSU transfer T.J. Finley and 4-star redshirt freshman Holden Geriner. “I think it comes from our system,” Freeze said earlier this month of his past success with quarterbacks. “I think I teach in a way that helps them understand the game, and where the game should be played on a given play post-snap — which is a little different. Not a lot of coaches feel good about giving up that control. But I’ve got to believe I can teach it well enough for our quarterbacks to know, ‘Alright, coach has taught me post-snap, this safety is the insert player, this is the field I need to play on.’ I think (his system) is quarterback-friendly as long as they can be a fundamentally accurate passer.” A late addition to the class, committing Tuesday, Brown is rated as the No. 69 quarterback in the class out of Nashville, where he won a state title playing for Trent Difler at Lipscomb Academy. Brown, who tossed 47 touchdowns to just three interceptions on 73 percent passing last season, had been committed to Liberty since June. “I’m big on not signing a quarterback that I haven’t seen throw,” Freeze said. “I’m very uncomfortable about that. And I’ve witnessed this guy make every single throw that you need to make. And he is a heck of a guy, great family, and is going to be a great addition to our locker room and leadership and see how he competes to throw the football, because he really has an NFL arm. I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes.” *** HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Get 50% off Auburn Undercover subscription (with FREE Paramount+) ***

ia friends son is buying a nice two story home on sand mountain. they have made him take two drug tests to qualify. they got blood and hair. he does not do drugs but i just thought it was odd and an invasion of privacy. is this legal? just curious? thanx for any semi informed opinions.................

Auburn expected to hire former Liberty Flames assistant coach Wade Peery 2–3 minutes Article written by:Wade Peery (Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The Auburn Tigers are expected to hire Liberty special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Tanner Burns in an off-field role, sources told On3’s Matt Zenitz on Wednesday evening. He’s expected to be a leading figure for the Tigers’ special teams’ unit. In joining Auburn, he’ll join his old head coach with the Liberty Flames, newly anointed Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze. Burns made his debut during the 2019 season with the Liberty Flames, when he worked as the teams’ special teams coordinator. He helped to guide Liberty to a bowl game victory. Before joining the Liberty coaching staff, Burns served as a quality control coach for the special teams’ unit at Arkansas for five seasons (2014-2018). He coached Toby Baker, a former Ray Guy Award nominee–the award given to the best punter in the nation. Baker averaged 43 yards per punt in 27 games for the Hogs. When Burns coached at Liberty–three of the team’s 16 players that were named to the 2020 Phil Steele FBS Independent All-Conference team were special teams players: kicker Alex Barbir, kick returner Shedro Louis, and punt returner DeMario Douglas. During the 2013 season, Burns spent time coaching with the Las Vegas Raiders. He worked as an intern for their special teams unit. During the past few seasons, the Flames have become one of the more successful up-and-coming football programs across the college football landscape. They’ve made the jump to FBS football rather seamlessly. They became just the second FBS transitioning team in NCAA history to win three-consecutive bowl games in their first three seasons at the FBS level. Liberty had yet another extremely successful season in 2022 (8-5 overall), even though they ended it with a loss in their bowl game to the Toledo Rockets. The Flames routed the BYU Cougars on Oct. 22 to the tune of a 41-14 beatdown that won’t be soon forgotten by the Liberty faithful. Following the departure of Hugh Freeze, the Flames recently hired former Coastal Carolina head coach Jamey Chadwell.

me either but metcalf and one of those other cats he coached were beasts......

someone said he was going to be our new receiver coach. is the nasty in like a good nasty? i have not heard anything like that.

this is supposed to be the guy so i am gonna post a little on him. let me say off the bat he was an OC at texas state. Jacob Peeler is in his second season as the offensive coordinator at Texas State after serving one season as the co-offensive coordinator and three years coaching the wide receivers at Mississippi. Peeler helped Texas State’s offense increase its rushing output by nearly 65 percent from the previous season and average 369.7 total yards and 27.7 points per game. It was the most yards gained for the Bobcats since 2015 and the most points score since 2014. The offense also produced five All-Sun Belt Conference players in wide receiver Marcell Barbee, running backs Brock Sturges and Calvin Hill, offensive linemen Russell Baker and Dalton Cooper. Peeler helped Texas State’s wide receivers take on his “Nasty Wide Outs” mantra he brought with him from Ole Miss and California. Barbee led the Bobcats with 40 catches, 584 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. His 10 TDs ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference. Second-Team All-America return specialist Jeremiah Haydel also caught 40 passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns. The wide receivers position accounted for seven of the top nine reception leaders on the team. Peeler comes to Texas State after producing two of the NFL’s best 2019 rookie wide receivers in Tennessee’s A.J. Brown and Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf. Brown joined the Titans after he was a two-time All-American who rewrote the receiving records at Ole Miss. He ended his three-year career as the school’s all-time leader with 2,984 receiving yards and twelve 100-yard receiving performances in his career. Brown earned Second-Team All-America, First-Team All-SEC honors, and was a Conerly Trophy winner and Biletnikoff Award semifinalist after setting the school’s single-season receiving marks both seasons. He set single-season records with 85 catches and breaking his own mark with 1,320 receiving yards in 2018. In Peeler’s first season at Ole Miss, Brown set the school’s previous record with 1,252 receiving yards and tied another single-season mark with 11 receiving touchdowns. He also is the only wide receiver in Ole Miss history with two 1,000-yard seasons. He made an immediate impact during his first season in Oxford when he coined the group ‘Nasty Wide Outs”, a name he brought with him from California. During his tenure, Rebel receivers caught at least 39 passes five times and tallied at more than 600 yards receiving six times. In addition to Brown, DaMarkus Lodge had 65 catches for 877 yards and four TDs in 2018. Lodge (698) and Metcalf (646) combined for 1,344 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2017. Elijah Moore had 67 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns in 2019. A dynamic on-field coach and top recruiter, Peeler served four seasons on the staff at Cal before moving to Oxford. He was a graduate assistant in 2013-14 before being promoted to assistant coach for inside receivers in 2015. Peeler helped turn Cal’s offense into one of the nation’s best, as the Golden Bears ranked in the NCAA’ top 10 leaders in passing offense, top 15 in total offense and top 25 in scoring offense for three straight seasons. As a recruiter, Peeler helped sign a strong 2016 class highlighted by wide receiver Demetris Robertson, considered the nation’s top-ranked receiver by Rivals, 247Sports and 247Sports Composite. In his freshman campaign, Robertson hauled in 50 catches for 767 yards and seven TDs en route to receiving Freshman All-America accolades from several outlets. In 2016, Peeler assisted with a Cal offense that finished fourth nationally in passing (358.8 ypg), 10th in total offense (513.2 ypg), and 22nd in scoring (37.1 ppg). He helped freshman Melquise Stovall (42 catches, 415 yards, 3 TDs) become an immediate contributor and helped senior Bug Rivera (41 catches, 386 yards, 3 TDs) transition to a full-time receiver role and move up the depth chart in his final season in Berkeley. The inside receivers played a significant role in the Golden Bears’ 8-5 record in 2015 and a victory in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl over Air Force, Cal’s first bowl win since 2008. Cal’s offense set numerous single-season records in passing yardage (4,892), passing yards per game (376.3 ypg), passing touchdowns (44), total offense (6,879), total yards per game (529.2 ypg), total touchdowns (63), scoring offense (37.9 ppg), first downs (341) and first downs passing (201). They set new records after each of the marks had been previously established in 2013 and 2014. Cal ranked third nationally in passing offense, eighth in total offense and 17th in scoring offense in 2015, with all of the numbers ranking second in the Pac-12. Peeler coached a trio of inside wide receivers that had at least 40 catches in his first season as a full-time coach in 2015. Bryce Treggs (45 catches, team-high 956 yards, 7 TDs) led the group that included Darius Powe (47-560-8) and Stephen Anderson (41-474-2). Treggs and Anderson were both two-time All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention selections under Peeler. Treggs also finished his career fourth all-time at Cal with 195 receptions, fifth with 2,506 yards receiving and 10th with 15 touchdown catches. All three players signed undrafted free agent contracts following the 2016 NFL Draft, with Anderson going to Houston, Powe signing with the New York Giants, and Treggs hooking on with the San Francisco 49ers. Cal set or equaled nine single-season school or modern-era records on the offensive side of the ball in 2014 while Peeler was a graduate assistant working with the inside receivers. Cal ranked in the NCAA’s top 25 in seven different offensive categories in 2014, including passing offense (6th, 346.0 ypg), scoring offense (10th, 38.3 ppg), and total offense (13th, 495.2 ypg). Despite being the nation’s second-youngest to start the season and having players on the preseason depth chart miss a combined 138 games with injuries, Cal set school records for single-season passing yards (3,977), pass completions (368) and total plays (1,046) during Peeler’s first season in 2013. The passing offense finished third in the Pac-12 and 10th in the nation with an average of 331.4 yards per game . While he was at Cal, Peeler developed the likes of current Green Bay Packers’ tight end and third-round 2014 NFL Draft pick Richard Rodgers, Anderson, Powe, and Treggs during his tenure with the Bears. Peeler joined Cal’s coaching staff after serving on the football staff at his alma mater, Louisiana Tech, in 2009-12. He was a graduate assistant and working with inside receivers in 2012 after serving the three previous seasons in quality control roles on the offense. Before returning to Louisiana Tech, he coached at both Itawamba Community College (Fulton, Miss.) and Independence Community College (Independence, Kansas). Peeler earned a master’s degree in kinesiology in 2008 at Mississippi State after receiving his bachelor’s degree in education in 2007 at Louisiana Tech. He played two seasons (2005-060 on the offensive line at Louisiana Tech and started all 13 games as a senior. He helped the Bulldogs produce 4,479 total yards after redshirting in 2004. Peeler went to Louisiana Tech after playing every offensive snap for two seasons in 2002 and 2003 at Holmes Community College, earning All-America, First-Team All-NJCAA Region 23, and First-Team All-State honors. Peeler and his wife, the former Tori Hollis, have a son, Grayson. i am excited about this hire! i think our "O" is going to be killer once the guys learn the playbook.

this just popped up on youtube for me but it is a repeat guys............sorry.

hell yes! i never liked their head coach dilbert much anyway..............

Tigers of the Game: Broome, Williams earn honors after dominant performance at Washington Taylor Jones Thu, December 22, 2022 at 7:00 AM CST Following a tough loss to USC on Sunday, the No. 24 Auburn Tigers traveled to Seattle in hopes to get back in the win column and to carry momentum into the SEC opener next Wednesday. The Tigers did just that by shooting 56% from the field and winning the rebound battle 42-24. Auburn departed from the Pacific Northwest with a dominating 84-61 win over Washington at Alaska Airlines Arena. Four Tigers reached double-figures in the win, with Johni Broome and Jaylin Williams leading the way with 18 points each, followed by Chris Moore and Wendell Green Jr., who scored 12 and 11 points respectively. Not only did Broome and Williams lead the team in scoring, but the duo dominated the boards as well. Both pulled down eight rebounds in the game, with 14 of those combined rebounds coming on the defensive side of the ball. Were their performances enough to earn a vote for the “Tiger of the Game” award? Here is a look at who writers Taylor Jones, J.D. McCarthy, and River Wells voted for as their “Tigers of the Game” following Auburn’s win over Washington. Taylor Jones: Johni Broome Michael Chang/Getty Images Broome matched a season-high in points by scoring 18 in Auburn’s win over Washington. He was also a threat on defense as well by pulling down eight defensive rebounds. J.D. McCarthy: Jaylin Williams Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports Williams has become one of Auburn’s most consistent players, and he showed it again on Wednesday night. Williams scored 18 points and secured eight rebounds, which tied for the team lead alongside Johni Broome. River Wells: Jaylin Williams Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Williams set the tone of the game early for Auburn, as he scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half. Wednesday’s game was the fifth time this season that Williams has reached double-figures in points. His 18 points were the most scored by Williams since he dropped 20 against Georgia State on Dec. 14. Leaderboard John Reed-USA TODAY Sports Here is a look at how many Tigers have earned a “Tiger of the Game” vote this season: Johni Broome 12 Jaylin Williams 8 Wendell Green Jr. 6 Allen Flanigan 2 K.D. Johnson 2 Chris Moore 2 Tre Donaldson 1

Auburn pulls away for 23-point win at Washington, splits West Coast trip Updated: Dec. 21, 2022, 10:57 p.m.|Published: Dec. 21, 2022, 10:17 p.m. 8–10 minutes Bruce Pearl dropped his head into his hands as he watched from Auburn’s bench early in the first half at Alaska Airlines Arena. The opening stretch of No. 23 Auburn’s game at Washington was tough to watch; both teams were struggling to get any semblance of offense going, and play was generally sloppy. It didn’t take long for the Tigers to make things more palpable on their way to an 84-61 win against the Huskies on Wednesday night, as they wrapped up their West Coast swing with a split against their two Pac-12 opponents. “That was an important game for us,” Pearl said. “Adversity reveals character, and obviously losing Sunday to USC was disappointing, and it’s been a long trip. It’s six days -- five, six days now -- so unfortunately we had a long time to have to suck on that USC loss. I thought the guys responded really well.” Auburn (5-of-18) and Washington (4-of-17) combined to shoot 9-of-35 in the game’s opening 11 minutes, as the Tigers held a narrow 13-12 lead at the 8:55 mark in the first half. Then Pearl’s team reeled off a 14-0 run — a stretch during which Washington missed 10 consecutive shot attempts of its own — to build a 15-point lead late in the first half and create a substantial cushion against the Huskies on their homecourt. That big run in the first half was enough to withstand a push from Washington on either side of halftime before Auburn really opened things up in the second half and ran away with its first true road win of the season. The Tigers shot 72.4 percent overall in the second half, including a stretch of nine consecutive made baskets as they watched their lead balloon to 27 points late in the second half. That blistering second-half effort helped Auburn finish with arguably its most complete game of the season. The Tigers shot 55.9 percent from the field (their second-best clip of the season), including 47 percent (8-of-17) from beyond the arc, with a season-high 22 assists on their 33 made baskets. Defensively, Auburn limited Washington to just 37 percent shooting, including 25 percent from deep, and forced 14 turnovers on the night. It’s the seventh time this season Auburn has held an opponent to below 38 percent shooting and the ninth time the Tigers have held a team to 65 points or fewer. “It could be big,” Pearl said of the win. “Obviously, we’re going to feel a little bit better about ourselves. Washington is not a great team... but they’re good; they’re not great. So, it’s a game we kind of needed to have. Look, I told the guys before the game: ‘We got to have this. We want to go to the NCAA Tournament, right? We got to have games and win games like this.’... It was a really good road win against a Pac-12 club, and it was everybody. Our inside guys did great, our guards did great, we made shots, we defended. “Our guys should feel good about the progress we made on this trip.” Here are AL.com’s key takeaways from Wednesday night’s win Frontcourt gets it done Auburn’s starting frontcourt set the tone Wednesday night in Seattle, as Jaylin Williams, Chris Moore and Johni Broome combined for 27 of the Tigers’ 31 first-half points against the Huskies. That included 14 first-half points from Williams, who shot 4-of-7 in the opening stanza with back-to-back made 3-pointers—including one late in the shot clock—along with seven points from Moore and six from Broome. Moore scored Auburn’s first five points of the game as the team weathered a slow start offensively. That trio finished the game with a combined 48 points, including a game-high 18 apiece from Williams and Broome. Moore finished with 12 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting night that included a pair of made 3-pointers. Williams and Broome pulled down eight rebounds each, while Broome added five assists and a block. “We thought we had the advantage inside,” Pearl said. “We went inside to Johni and Jaylin often. We finished much better in the second half. First half I was disappointed that we weren’t able to take our time and score more productively. It’s not about taking shots or getting shots; it’s about making shots. We had the advantage inside, and I just thought that Jaylin Williams was the best player on the floor.... Jaylin’s inside-out ability really shined.” Williams finished 6-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-3 from deep and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. Broome shot 6-of-7 from the field in the second half after going 3-of-10 in the first half. “I feel like in the first half, I was being a little wild, I’d say,” Broome said. “I was trying to get too close to the basket instead of just trusting myself. Second half... I just had the confidence in myself that it was going in.” The big night from Auburn’s frontcourt resulted in a 48-28 advantage in paint points, as well as a plus-18 margin on the boards for the Tigers. “We had the advantage on the inside; we just did,” Pearl said. “Johni took advantage of it. Dylan (Cardwell) made some big plays rebounding the ball. We were physical in there. Jaylin obviously scored at a great percentage, so we took advantage of it.... The rebounding advantage was significant. We were bigger, and we were more athletic, and we used it.” Mistake-filled close keeps it closer at the half Auburn built a 15-point lead heading into the under-4 timeout in the first half, yet the Tigers went into halftime with their lead essentially cut in half, as Washington closed the period on a 9-2 run thanks to a handful of mistakes by the Tigers. Auburn committed four turnovers in the final 3:50 of the half, as Washington scored nine unanswered to cut the lead to six with 22 seconds to play until halftime. That run included three made free throws after freshman Tre Donaldson fouled a 3-point shooter, a 3-pointer that was banked in as the shot clock wound down, and an and-one after Allen Flanigan fouled Washington’s Koren Johnson on a drive to the basket. It wasn’t until Jaylin Williams was fouled on a 3-point attempt in the closing seconds, making two of the three free throws, that Auburn could stop the bleeding and take its eight-point lead into the locker room. For as dominant as Auburn looked for a good stretch of the first half to build that 15-point lead, the Tigers let the Huskies hang around thanks to some sloppy play, including those four turnovers late in the half. Auburn committed 11 total turnovers in the first half, which led to 10 Washington points. Conversely, the Tigers managed just two points off seven Huskies turnovers in the opening stanza. That helped close the gap some during a half in which Auburn shot considerably better than Washington — 40 percent (12-of-30) overall compared to 21 percent (7-of-33) overall, and 38 percent (3-of-8) beyond the arc versus 15 percent (2-of-13) for the Huskies. Backcourt provides separation after halftime Auburn’s guards stepped up in the second half after a quiet showing in the opening period. Wendell Green Jr., K.D. Johnson and Zep Jasper scored 11 of Auburn’s first 15 points in the first 5 ½ minutes of the second half — and provided assists on the Tigers’ other two baskets during that stretch, as their lead ballooned back to 13 after Washington cut it to six early in the second half. During that opening stanza after halftime, Green scored six points—a deep 3-pointer and a trio of free throws—while Johnson and Jasper each knocked down a triple of their own. Green also had an alley-oop to Broome, while Johnson had an assist for a Dylan Cardwell dunk that capped a quick 7-0 spurt that forced a Washington timeout with 14:26 to go in the game. At that point, Auburn’s lead sat at 46-33. “We let one slip at USC,” Broome said. “We were kind of disappointed by that... so we just felt like we needed to get this one. It was very important.... Second half, as you can see, we came out and dominated the game, made our shots inside-out, and we were able to come away with the victory.” Green finished with 11 points, four assists and three rebounds, though he also was responsible for five of Auburn’s 15 turnovers as he continued to play through an ankle injury he sustained against Georgia State last week. Johnson had just five points and a pair of steals, while Jasper’s 3-pointer was his lone basket. Freshman Tre Donaldson led the team with seven assists off the bench. “(Donaldson) just knows how to play,” Pearl said. “I’m on Tre as hard as anybody to try to get him to play with that toughness and intensity.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

Sizzling in snowy Seattle: Hot shooting Tigers dominate Huskies Mark Murphy 5–6 minutes Auburn’s final chance to build momentum going into the SEC basketball schedule couldn’t have gone much better for the Tigers, who scorched the nets at Alaska Airlines Arena on Wednesday night in an 84-61 victory over the Washington Huskies. Shooting 72.4 percent in the second half, Auburn improved to 10-2 for the season. Coach Bruce Pearl’s team hit 21-29 of its field goals in the second half and 33-59 for the game to finish at 55.9 percent. The three-point shooting was strong, too, as the Tigers made 8-17 vs. the Huskies, who dropped to 9-4 with the loss. “That’s going to make for a merrier Christmas, don’t you think,” said Pearl, who noted that it was probably the second best road victory of the season by an SEC team. Senior forward Jaylin Williams and sophomore center Johni Broome led the Tigers. Each scored 18 points and pulled in eight rebounds. Broome finished with five assists, one block and one steal. Pearl said both players did a good job vs. the Washington 3-2 zone offense with a game plan set up by assistant coach Steven Pearl. "Against the zone, me and Johni Broome, that is our spot against the zone, especially in the high post," said Williams, who noted that the team did a good job of hitting open shots in the second half. Williams was 6-10 from the field and made 2-3 treys and 4-5 free throws. When Williams was on the court the Tigers outscored the home team by 24 points. Chris Moore, who was good on 5-6 field goals, scored 12 points for the Tigers while Wendell Green added 11 points. “It was great to see Chris Moore shooting the ball like he shot it,” Pearl said. Freshman Tre Donaldson came off the bench to dish out seven assists with just one turnover. His head coach noted that he has been challenging the point guard to step up his game and liked what he saw vs. Washington. Auburn dominated the boards, finishing with 42 rebounds to 24 for the Huskies. Auburn also dominated the points in the paint 48-28, something Pearl said was part of the game plan because the AU coaches believed they had an advantage inside. Jaylin Williams during his productive first half at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle. (Photo: Joe Nicholson, 247Sports) Both teams struggled with their shooting early in the first half. Midway through the period the Tigers were on top 11-7. With the Tigers leading 13-12 they put together a 14-0 run that included two treys and another field goal by Williams, who scored 14 first half points. He hit 4-7 field goals in the period, including both of his three-pointers, and was 5-6 at the free throw line. After Auburn built the lead to 27-12 at the 4:16 mark the home team outscored the visitors 11-4 the rest of the half to cut the Tigers’ lead to 31-23 at intermission. Auburn made 12-30 field goals (40 percent), 3-8 on threes and 4-9 at the free throw line in the half. Washington made 7-33 (21.2 percent) of its first half field goals. The Huskies were 2-13 on threes and 7-8 at the free throw line. The Tigers out-rebounded the Huskies 27-19 in the first half, but turned the ball over 11 times, four more than the Huskies, who outscored AU 10-2 in points off turnovers in the first half. Auburn enjoyed an 18-8 advantage for points in the paint at intermission. Like Auburn the Huskies shot better in the second half, starting with five consecutive makes to begin the period. However, they couldn't keep pace with the Tigers who hit nine consecutive field goals later in the half while pulling away for a lead that climbed to as many as 27 points. For the game the Huskies made 36.8 of their field goals, including 58 percent in the second half. They were 5-20 on threes and 14-18 at the foul line, the only area they out-performed the Tigers, who hit 10-16 free throws. Keion Brooks, Jr., led Washington with 15 points and five rebounds. The former Kentucky starter made 6-16 field goals and turned the ball over four times. The Tigers, who only had four turnovers in the second half, finished the night with 15. one more than the Huskies. Pearl said he thought it was an important win for his Tigers. “I told the guys before the game, ‘We’ve got to have this. We want to go to the NCAA Tournament, right? If we do, we’ve got to win games like this.’” Box Score Stat of the Game: Auburn finished the game with 22 assists on 33 made baskets. The Huskies finished with seven assists on 21 made baskets. Worth Noting, Part 1: Pearl said there were about 1,000 Auburn fans, including members of the local AU club, there to cheer on the Tigers, something he and the players appreciated. "That's just Auburn being Auburn," the coach said. Williams agreed and said the players noticed the support from the Auburn fans, most who had seats in the upper deck among the crowd of 8,502, the largest of the season for the Huskies. 12COMMENTS Worth Noting, Part 2: A dozen Auburn players saw action and each one of them scored at least two points. Up Next: The Tigers won't play again until their SEC opener at Neville Arena on Dec. 28th vs. the Florida Gators. ">247Sports

Hugh Freeze optimistic about Auburn’s 2022 recruiting class James Hayes ~2 minutes AUBURN, Ala. (WSFA) - Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze held a press conference today to talk about national signing day. Freeze opened up the press conference by stating, “It’s been a wild two weeks.” He mentioned that when he came to the school, the recruiting was considerably behind, but he was happy with how far they have come to this point. Coach Freeze also mentioned that he was proud of how the coaching staff was able to bring this recruiting class from 60th in the nation up to a top 20 class. He was particularly happy with the defensive backs, offensive line, and edge rushers saying, “I thought we did really well.” Understanding there is work to be done, it was also mentioned that the process to improve the offensive line and the middle of the defensive line is still a work in progress. Amid the recruiting class this year is Loachapoka High School stand-out JC Hart. Hart is a three-star recruit at defensive back that will add some depth to the Auburn defensive backfield. The coaching staff also signed quarterback Hank Brown from Lipscomb Academy in Nashville. “He has an NFL arm,” stated Freeze. Brown was committed to Liberty, where Freeze coached before taking the Auburn head coaching job, but he backed off that commitment to follow Freeze to Auburn. Brown threw for 3,264 yards and 47 touchdowns during his senior season at Lipscomb Academy. “There is no question we improved our current state.” Freeze said about this recruiting class. Auburn will open up the 2023 football season on Sept. 2nd against UMass at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store! Copyright 2022 WSFA. All rights reserved.

Auburn HC Hugh Freeze: 'We’re really not through anywhere' after massive Early Signing Day Lance Dawe 4–5 minutes The residents of Auburn, Ala. woke up to a “hard Freeze alert” from the Weather channel; although the warning had nothing to do with the university’s imminent early signing day class, the foreshadowing was nothing short of poetic. After being named head coach of the Tigers on Nov. 28, Hugh Freeze vaulted the program’s singing class from a low 50s ranking nationally to the top 20 with specific placement varying from site-to-site. “We’ve been able to, in a short amount of time, depending on what you look at…go from somewhere like 60th to whatever we are today,” Freeze said. “I’ve seen 20th, 19, 16. I never know exactly what those mean, but we’re somewhere in that ballpark.” The first-year head coach tipped his cap to the likes of Carnell Williams and Zac Etheridge, commending them for their efforts in retaining commitments in a state of uncertainty. “They deserve a ton of credit for hanging us in the fight until we could get what these families appeared to have some stability and some direction and some vision for our program,” Freeze said. “So I’m thankful for those guys. They were faithful to the Auburn family and held us in there with a lot of guys.” Between the extensive work put in by the previously employed members of his staff and the group’s ability to make a slew of late pushes, Freeze was pleased with the strides his program made – on both sides of the ball – throughout the early portion of the signing day. “Thought we really did well with the DB room and made some dents in our needs in the offensive line room,” Freeze said. “Edge guys, I thought we did really well with. On defense interior, we still have a little work to do; we left some work to do on the O-line, we’re not through there.” While the Tigers successfully added a slew of talent, no additions provided more momentum than the group’s implementation of “flipmas. Originally committed to Ohio State, corner Kayin Lee made his commitment to the Tigers on national signing day; Freeze noted the significant nature of the acquisition. “Kayin Lee, man, what a big-time get there,” Freeze said. “Flipping him from Ohio State out of Georgia.” Lee was not the only commit who was swayed from his original pledge by the orange and blue; rather, he was the tip of the iceberg. Defensive lineman Keldrick Faulk spent a wealth of time with the Auburn coaching staff in the waning days of his recruitment process, ultimately decommitting from Florida State and pledging the Tigers on Wednesday afternoon. “Keldrick Faulk, man what a battle,” Freeze said. “I probably spent more time on this one than any. Just love this kid, love his family…so thrilled that they decided to trust in the vision here and to join us.” Although the 6-foot-5 Highland Home, Ala. native required the most attention from Freeze and company, the Tigers’ new face of the porgram was sure to mention the battle he fought to flip four-star center Connor Lew from Miami. “Connor Lew, one of the best centers in America out of high school, that was a hard task there,” Freeze said. “To convince them that this vision here and the stability now, he was ready to come. It took us a while, but he and his family came on another visit and it was awesome to get them.” Between high school signees and transfer portal additions, Auburn’s inking of 19 players provided much-needed momentum as the program prepares for spring ball; Freeze said they are far from done with roster improvements. “We’re really not through anywhere,” Freeze said. “We still have some big targets out there that, hopefully, we can close on either now or in the second wave when we hit the road when we get back in January or the early visits in January.” In large, the jury is still out on the current direction of the Auburn football program; however, if today’s results are any implication, it’s difficult to envision a scenario in which Freeze’s staff pumps the brakes on the recruiting trail. Some other Auburn signings from Early Signing Day Clay Wedin signs with Auburn Bradyn Joiner signs with Auburn Stephen Johnson signs with Auburn Tyler Johnson signs with Auburn Darron Reed signs with Auburn Sylvester Smith signs with Auburn Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials!

Every Auburn football commit from the 2023 class with highlights Published: Dec. 21, 2022, 10:56 p.m. 5–6 minutes It was a multi-pronged effort with three head coaches, but the early work is done on Auburn’s 2023 recruiting class. Hugh Freeze made his mark, adding 18 players so far with a handful of high-profile flips. Overall, it went better than most expected. Per the 247Sports Composite team rankings, the Tigers produced the No. 19 class overall and eighth in the Southeastern Conference. And while Freeze admitted there’s still room for growth in the transfer portal, most of the signees were confirmed on Wednesday. Here is the future of Auburn football. OFFENSE The quarterback: Hank Brown Lipscomb (Tenn.), 3-star No. 69 QB Hugh Freeze never offers a quarterback he hasn’t assessed in person. Good thing he’s watched Brown, a former Liberty commit, extensively. The skill positions: Daquavious Sorey Chipley (Fla.), 4-star No. 477 nationally, No. 63 WR The Tigers only added one pass-catcher to start the signing period but made it count with Sorey who’s a playmaker and should be able to get involved in the offense in multiple ways. The offensive linemen: Clay Wedin Carrollwood Day (Fla.), 4-star No. 411 nationally, No. 28 IOL At 6-foot-6, 295-pounds, Wedin can use his size and agility to clear the way for Auburn’s ball carriers. Bradyn Joiner Auburn, 3-star No. 471 nationally, No. 33 IOL The first commit of the class held his commitment all year and was an avid recruit for the Tigers. Now, the former two-way trench player provides the line with depth. Connor Lew Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.), 3-star No. 514 nationally, No. 38 IOL Freeze identified the 6-foot-3, 280-pound Lew as one of the best high school centers in the country. Lew was a part of the Tigers’ seven flips. Izavion Miller Southwest Mississippi Community College, 3-star No. 11 JUCO, No. 4 OT Tapped as a possible early starter by Freeze, Miller is a 6-foot-5, 320-pound people-mover. Tyler Johnson Natchitoches Central (La.), 3-star No. 688 nationally, No. 53 OT A former Texas Tech pledge, Johnson has “sleeper” potential if he can pair technique with his 6-foot-6, 300-pound frame. DEFENSE The secondary: Kayin Lee Cedar Grove (Ga.), 4-star No. 209 nationally, No. 25 CB The Tigers had two signing day steals, adding Lee from Ohio State in the afternoon. Lee can be a lockdown cornerback. Sylvester Smith Munford, 4-star No. 222 nationally, No. 17 S Part of Freeze’s job will be to rebuild relationships in Alabama. He took a step forward with that by acquiring Smith, a hard-nosed tackler. Terrance Love Langston Hughes (Ga.), 4-star No. 275 nationally, No. 24 S Love recorded 69 tackles and three interceptions while helping his high school team to an undefeated season and state title in the Peach State’s Class 6A. Colton Hood Eagles Landing Christian (Ga.), 3-star No. 530 nationally, No. 54 CB A Tigers legacy, Hood flipped from Michigan State as part of the Tigers’ pre-signing day rush. JC Hart Loachapoka, 3-star No. 677 nationally, No. 68 CB Hart figures to be a special teams contributor early with his speed and at cornerback with his ball skills. The defensive linemen: Keldric Faulk Highland Home, 4-star No. 81 nationally, No. 10 DL The story of the day for Auburn, Faulk has a high motor and the ability to become an SEC star. He’s the Tigers’ lone top-100 prospect. Darron Reed Carver (Ga.), 4-star No. 190 nationally, No. 26 DL The best signee under interim head coach Cadillac Williams, Reed is a 6-foot-4, 270-pound force that figures to come off the edge for Freeze and co. Wilky Denaud John Carrol (Fla.), 4-star No. 398 nationally, No. 48 DL Arguably the best name in Auburn or Alabama’s signing class, Denaud has the length to be a factor in the run and pass defense. Brenton Williams Opelika, 3-star No. 778 nationally, No. 73 edge A big-bodied rusher at 6-foot-4, 245-pounds, Williams is another in-state win. Quientrail Jamison-Travis Iowa Western Community College, 3-star No. 31 JUCO, No. 5 DL A byproduct of new position coach Jeremy Garrett’s recruiting efforts, Auburn hopes Jamison-Travis can be a second-impact lineman in as many years a la Jeffrey M’ba. Stephen Johnson Whitewater (Ga.), 3-star No. 149 DL A former Arkansas commit, Johnson is a 6-foot-3, 320-pounder that was one of two SEC flips in one day for Freeze. Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com

#PMARSHONAU: A big day for Auburn football, basketball Phillip Marshall 4–5 minutes Wednesday was quite a day for Auburn athletics. It started with Hugh Freeze and his staff landing a recruiting class of a caliber that would have been deemed impossible three weeks ago. It ended with Bruce Pearl’s basketball team smashing Washington 84-61 on the road. After Wednesday night’s game, Pearl, as is his way, took time out from praising his own team to congratulate Freeze and his staff for a job well-done. “I want to congratulate Coach Freeze and his staff,” Pearl said. “When I say staff, I mean all the staff – the coaches, the support staff. … I am just so happy for them. We all have work to do, but he saved us and that roster. I’m just so happy for him and so proud of him.” Freeze took over a program on life support on Nov. 28. Cadillac Williams had injected hope and energy, and Freeze and his staff hit the recruiting road and took advantage. The Auburn football machine, wheezing and coughing after a strange two years under a strange coach, showed signs of life. Freeze won’t build a championship contender with one recruiting class, but the signal was clear. Auburn football is on its way back. Auburn basketball has never really gone away, but it often had not looked the part of a team that has won more SEC games than anybody over the last five years. Just in time for next Wednesday’s SEC opener against Florida at Neville Arena, it looked the part Wednesday night in dismantling Washington in the second half. FOOTBALL THOUGHTS Perhaps the most impressive part of Freeze’s first recruiting class was the flips. Seven players who were previously committed to other programs signed with Auburn on Wednesday. Defensive lineman Keldric Faulk flipped from Florida State and defensive back Kaylin Lee from Ohio State. Earlier, center Connor Lee flipped from Miami, defensive back Colton Hood from Michigan State, offensive lineman Tyler Johnson from Texas Tech, offensive tackle Izavion Miller from Ole Miss and quarterback Hank Brown from Liberty. Is that the most flips Auburn has had in a single recruiting cycle. I have to believe it is. *** First-year UAB coach Trent Dilfer gets credit for the most bizarre statement of the day, saying “We’re looking for the best players in Alabama. If they go to the University of Alabama, that is awesome. But we are going to be the next best option.” Really? Maybe it will go something like this: “Son, you don’t want to go to the SEC, play in front of 87,000 every Saturday and play on national TV against the best teams in the game. Your best option is to play in Conference USA before a crowd of 30,000 on a good day and, on occasion, be televised on ESPNU. I admire what UAB has done, but come on man! Was Dilfer's statement meant meant as a slap at Auburn? Of course it was. Why did he feel compelled to say it. I have no idea. *** I don’t believe Auburn’s recruiting class is even close to being done. Players will continue to enter the portal until it closes in mid-January. More will enter when it opens again in mid-April. There will likely also be more incoming freshmen signed on national signing day in February. *** BASKETBALL THOUGHTS Freshman Auburn point guard Tre Donaldson isn’t going to be just a good player. He is going to be a great player. In just nine minutes Wednesday night, Donaldson took just two shots, but he had seven assists, four rebounds, two steals and just one turnover. *** “You are the best player on the floor. Act like it!” That was Pearl’s message to Jaylin Williams during Wednesday’s game. Williams responded with 18 points and eight rebounds. He hit two of three 3-pointers. Pearl’s biggest complaint about Williams is that he is too unselfish, which says a lot about who Williams is. 5COMMENTS *** Johni Broome was the dominant player Saturday night that he was signed to be. He scored 18 points, had eight rebounds and five assists. He also blocked a shot. ">247Sports

ok thank you.