12/4/22 Auburn Articles

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Snap Reaction: Potential Names for Tennessee Offensive Coordinator Vacancy

Matt Ray

4–5 minutes

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Alex Golesh is headed to be USF’s new Head Coach, and Josh Heupel is now tasked with replacing his first coordinator since arriving on Rocky Top. The news regarding Golesh just broke moments ago, so we are taking the time to make a quick reaction hot board based on individuals we believe, in our opinion, could be potential candidates. 

Joey Halzle

This would be the quick, simple hire for Heupel, and it would certainly make plenty of sense. Halzle has been with Heupel for essentially the entirety of his coaching career, he knows the ins and outs of the Vols offense, and it makes sense for him to coach quarterbacks and serve as OC as well. Halzle is responsible for bring in Nico Iamaleava, who is tabbed as being the future of Tennessee's offense, so it is also likely Halzle wants to stick around to coach the most physically gifted signal-caller he has ever recruited. Off initial gut, one would have to almost think Halzle would be the betting favorite. 

Anthony Tucker, Utah State

Tucker, who spent time with Heupel at UCF, serving as his passing game coordinator, co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach would make a lot of sense as well. He knows the offense, is another rising star, and he has been successful as an OC since making the moving to Utah State. Recruiting at this level would be a key question, but one that all of Heupel’s inaugural staff minus Rodney Garner had to answer.

Brian Hartline, Ohio State

Speaking of rising stars, there isn't a bigger name in those ranks than Brian Hartline. Hartline's name had been mentioned for the Cincinatti job at one point, but we do not believe that got too far down the line. Hartline is currently the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator in Columbus and makes 950k. At worst, Tennessee makes him say no and gets him a raise. At best, you get an elite recruiter, who is another future star in the business and has been a thorn in your side on the recruiting trail. This is just more of a personal thought on who I would call, and I am sure it is a name that has gotten plenty of thoughts across the country. There are no known connections in this one, but there is plenty of intrigue with him. 

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Chip Long

Long was at Georgia Tech until new Head Coach Brent Key relieved him of his duties shortly after being hired. Still, Long seemed to have more success as the OC after Geoff Collins was fired this season. He has a strong history as a tight ends coach, so he could fill the void left behind by Golesh in that phase, but that would certainly not be the deciding factor. As Tennessee could bring in anyone on this list and make a run at Long as tight ends coach if they wanted. He is a guy that it would be easy to see Josh Heupel vetting. 

Phil Longo, North Carolina

Longo's name has been mentioned for the Auburn and Texas A&M offensive coordinator, and it is easy to see why, as he has not disappointed since taking over at North Carolina in 2019. Now, Auburn makes a lot of sense, as Longo and Freeze worked together in the same capacity at Ole Miss. Still, the Tigers have a clear rebuild in front of them, and it is possible the 54 year old Longo is looking for a quick stepping stone to make a run at being a head coach in some capacity. If that is the case, then him showing interest in the Tennessee job would make some sense. Again, these are all early speculations, but there is plenty to like about Longo so far. 

Jeff Lebby, Oklahoma

Lebby left Lane Kiffin last off-season to return to his alma mater, Oklahoma, to call plays for first-year Head Coach Brent Venables. It would probably be hard to pull Lebby out of Oklahoma, and Tennessee might not want to spend the money, but the Sooners offense struggled this past season and appears to be a major work in progress. For Lebby, who is viewed as a rising star as well, a reunion with Josh Heupel could certainly get him back on track. Now, there has to be some question of if there is strain around this relationship as Lebby left Heupel to go call plays for Kiffin, but it would also be foolish to rule this out. Lebby spent two years with Heupel at UCF, including serving as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in 2019.

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StatTiger Column: Freeze has history of offensive success

 

Regardless of how anyone feels about Coach Hugh Freeze, he is now the head coach at Auburn University. Athletic Director John Cohen was never going to make a hire that received 100 percent support from the fan base. The decision was made to hire Freeze as the 31st head coach of the Auburn football program, and the time has come to move forward.

During his introductory press conference, Freeze was humble and emotional as he described his journey to Auburn and what the position meant to him and his family. He came across as sincere and expressed gratitude for the opportunity he described as a Top 10 college football job.

Freeze spoke of family and how important the concept of family is to build a strong program. He took the opportunity to utilize “F-A-M-I-L-Y” as an acronym for the elements for building the foundation of his program. He stressed hard work, but more importantly, he was passionate about building relationships and trust with his players.

During his ten seasons as a college head coach, his offenses averaged 450 yards and 33 points per game, winning 80 percent of his games when the offense gained at least 400 yards.

Freeze’s 2015 Ole Miss team compiled a 10-3 record, which had not been accomplished in Oxford since 2003 when the Rebels posted a 10-3 record. 

Say what you will about his history, Freeze who is known to be a players’ coach and a driven individual, displayed in his work ethic that was a big part of getting the Auburn job. These are essential components of leading a program, and he has brought these concepts to every program he directed.

Was hiring Freeze a risk? There are inherited risks of any hire, and his past certainly is a reason for concern. He has worked towards becoming a better coach, a better person and a better man. He openly admitted to the challenges he faced along his path to becoming Auburn’s head coach, but made one request of fans saying “give me a chance.”

Most are aware of the chapters of his coaching history, but no one can predict how the story will end. He mentioned his desire to write a historical ending and to prove Auburn made the right decision to provide him with the opportunity.

Freeze also commented on the importance of having everyone within the university working towards the same goal and how he would not succeed without their support. More importantly, he stressed to the fan base its importance in supporting the program. He understood and expressed the reality that he would have to earn this trust and was not afraid to work towards that goal.

This concerted group dynamic reflects his plan for the family environment. An environment that was displayed at its best under interim coach Carnell "Cadillac" Williams during the final four games of Auburn's 2022 regular season.

Freeze recognized the success under Williams as being vital moving forward and how much he would need his guidance to continue the trend. He touched on his plan to make Auburn a championship program, discussing the importance of his staff and recruiting.

Hugh Freeze (left) poses with his new boss, athletic director John Cohen, at Auburn's press conference introducing Freeze. (Photo: Todd Van Emst, Auburn University)

Though Freeze says he believes the future success of his program will built around high school recruits, he recognized his desire for a quick turnaround would likely come from the transfer portal.

An interesting comment made during his initial press conference this week is the possibility of no longer calling plays, something he has done during his entire career. He specifically mentioned a coach he admitted was a better play caller than himself and that this coach had recently reached out to him about coming to Auburn to be a part of Freeze's staff.

Freeze was not prompted to make this statement and suggested it would allow him to be the complete coach needed to maximize his efforts. He brought with him the reputation of working well with his staff, exemplified by the many messages he received from coaches around the country expressing interest in wanting to be part of his staff. He recognizes his success at Auburn will come from the staff he compiles, and Freeze stressed he must choose wisely. There are no shortcuts to being successful at this level of competition, and Freeze seems very confident in his plan to return Auburn to greatness.

Freeze’s 2015 team at Ole Miss featured an offense ranked No. 10 nationally in yards per game, No. 8 nationally in scoring and No 4 in yards per play. Ole Miss scored a school record of 64 touchdowns that season and possessed the nation’s 14th-ranked pass efficiency offense.

Both school records, the Rebels passed for 4,351 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2015. Auburn fans hope to see his exciting brand of offensive football, especially after their Tigers totaled only 38 touchdown passes during the last three years. Despite their 5-7 record during 2022, Auburn is ranked No. 24 nationally in producing plays of 20-plus yards. Most of those skill players return in 2023, giving Freeze a good head start on offense.

 Some of the detractors will remain, for now, to find his words possibly self-serving. After all, it was a prepared statement for his initial press conference. Still, it is important to see that he primarily spoke from the heart and only referenced written notes on one occasion during his lengthy introductory press conference at Auburn's new football facility. His previous mistakes will always be a part of his history, but he refuses to allow his past transgressions to define him. For now, he appears to be a man committed to being successful at a job he has coveted since his time at Ole Miss.

3COMMENTS

In the end, Freeze will be judged on wins and losses as Auburn’s head coach, no different from the previous men to hold the same position for the Tigers over the years. As elegant his comments were in his first public appearance as Auburn's head coach during his press conference, he would likely be the first to say his actions will speak louder than any words he expressed. The time has arrived for him to implement his plans as he said best. “It's time to put my hands on the plow and go to work.”

">247Sports

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Potential Auburn transfer portal targets

 

Jason Caldwell

 

With the NCAA transfer portal officially opening on Monday, the Auburn Tigers are expected to be busy with some big need areas on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Here are just a few of the guys that Auburn could target as the portal heats up and continues to add more names in the coming weeks.

Texas A&M DL Tunmise Adeleye

One of the top defensive linemen in the 2021 class, the 6-4, 290 Adeleye redshirted his first year with the Aggies. Starting the first two games of the 2022 season, Adeleye has six tackles in his first two games but only played in one more game this past year. With offers from just about everyone in the country coming out of Tompkins High in Katy, Texas, Adeleye will be a top target for many with Auburn one of the schools expected to take a look.

Western Kentucky OL Gunner Britton

There may not be a bigger potential name in the portal for Auburn than the sixth-year senior from Western Kentucky. Entering the program at 6-6, 275, Britton is now 305 and has played in 50 games in his career with the Hilltoppers. This season he started every game at left tackle and would provide a huge boost to an Auburn line that will need tackles for 2023.

Ajani Cornelius OL Rhode Island

One of the hottest prospects in the portal heading into Monday, the 6-5, 310 New York native has started the last 22 games for the Rams and was first-team All-CAA this past season. Going into the portal this past week, Cornelius already has close to two dozen offers from many top programs around the country including the Auburn Tigers.

Gardner Webb OLB/Edge Ty French

A finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award as the top defensive end in college football, the 6-3, 230 junior originally from Colquitt County High in Moultrie, Georgia had a monster 2022 campaign with 68 total tackles along with 15.0 tackles for loss (minus-97 yards) and a Big South-record 11.5 quarterback sacks (minus-72 yards). French also has 19 quarterback pressures this season in 12 starts. If you’re talking about difference makers in the portal for Auburn, French may be right at the top of the list.

Texas A&M DB Brian George

Playing in 19 games the last three seasons for the Aggies after transferring from Highland Community College, the 6-2 cornerback is back on the market. A former Top 10 junior college prospect, George gave Auburn a long look in the 2020 class before choosing the Aggies. The Tigers could be in the running for a veteran cornerback if Nehemiah Pritchett and DJ James both turn pro, but that’s not a given yet.

Alabama OL Damieon George

A 4-star prospect from Houston, Texas, the 6-6, 333 George played in 12 games in 2021 and started the last three for the Crimson Tide at right tackle. Versatile enough to play tackle or guard in college, George has done both at Alabama. With still three seasons of eligibility remaining after playing in just two games this past season, George will have plenty of attention when the portal officially opens on Monday.

Wake Forest DB Gavin Holmes

A 5-11, 175-pounder with two years of eligibility remaining, Holmes has played in 27 games in three years and is coming off his best season with the Demon Deacons. Playing in 11 games, Holmes had 23 tackles and nine pass breakups. A high school teammate of Auburn safety Donovan Kaufman, Holmes is a player that would give the Tigers some added depth in the secondary if he chose the Tigers.

Alabama WR Traeshon Holden

A 4-star wide receiver prospect out of Harbor City, California but originally from Kississimee, Florida, the 6-3, 214 Holden is a player that has the potential to be a number one wide receiver for Hugh Freeze in year one. With two years of eligibility remaining, Holden is coming off a strong season in Tuscaloosa when he caught 25 passes for 331 yards and six touchdowns in just 10 games in 2022. Playing in five games in 2020 as his Covid year, Holden caught 21 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown last season.

Shorter TE Kyle Morlock

There may not be a hotter transfer portal prospect in the country than this 6-7, 245 tight end from the D2 ranks. Coming from Union County HIgh in Blairsville, Georgia, Morlock has become a weapon for the Hawks in the last two seasons. In the last two years, Morlock has 57 receptions for 890 yards and 11 touchdowns in 24 games. With his background of using the tight end, Freeze could make Morlock a big portal target this month.

Cincinnati C Jake Renfro

While the offensive tackle position is a huge need area for the Tigers in the portal, finding help at the center position would also be important if you can add a player like Renfro. A 6-3, 310 standout that will be a wanted man, the Illinois native should have plenty of attention from schools all over the country when the portal opens officially on Monday.

Kentucky RB Kavosiey Smoke

This one would make sense if Tank Bigsby decides to head to the NFL and Auburn is looking for a veteran back to plug into the rotation. A native of Wetumpka, Smoke would be a sixth-year senior in 2023. In his career, Smoke has played in 46 games and has 1,583 yards and 13 touchdowns on 292 carries for the Wildcats.

Oregon edge Bradyn Swinson

A 3-star prospect originally from Chapel Hill High in Douglasville, Georgia, the 6-4, 233 Swinson still has two years of eligibility remaining after playing in 30 games over three seasons for the Ducks. With Auburn losing Derick Hall, Eku Leota and Marcus Bragg at the edge position, the Tigers need experienced help for the 2023 season and Swinson could be that guy.

62COMMENTS

Mississippi State WR Rara Thomas

Playing at Eufaula High School before going to Mississippi State, the 6-2, 200 Thomas is a physical freak that did some big things for the Bulldogs in two seasons in Starkville. In two seasons he caught 62 passes for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns. With two seasons of eligibility remaining, Thomas would be a great addition in a Hugh Freeze offense and give the Tigers a physical presence on the outside.

">247Sports

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23 minutes ago, aubiefifty said:

Potential Auburn transfer portal targets

 

Jason Caldwell

 

With the NCAA transfer portal officially opening on Monday, the Auburn Tigers are expected to be busy with some big need areas on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Here are just a few of the guys that Auburn could target as the portal heats up and continues to add more names in the coming weeks.

Texas A&M DL Tunmise Adeleye

One of the top defensive linemen in the 2021 class, the 6-4, 290 Adeleye redshirted his first year with the Aggies. Starting the first two games of the 2022 season, Adeleye has six tackles in his first two games but only played in one more game this past year. With offers from just about everyone in the country coming out of Tompkins High in Katy, Texas, Adeleye will be a top target for many with Auburn one of the schools expected to take a look.

Western Kentucky OL Gunner Britton

There may not be a bigger potential name in the portal for Auburn than the sixth-year senior from Western Kentucky. Entering the program at 6-6, 275, Britton is now 305 and has played in 50 games in his career with the Hilltoppers. This season he started every game at left tackle and would provide a huge boost to an Auburn line that will need tackles for 2023.

Ajani Cornelius OL Rhode Island

One of the hottest prospects in the portal heading into Monday, the 6-5, 310 New York native has started the last 22 games for the Rams and was first-team All-CAA this past season. Going into the portal this past week, Cornelius already has close to two dozen offers from many top programs around the country including the Auburn Tigers.

Gardner Webb OLB/Edge Ty French

A finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award as the top defensive end in college football, the 6-3, 230 junior originally from Colquitt County High in Moultrie, Georgia had a monster 2022 campaign with 68 total tackles along with 15.0 tackles for loss (minus-97 yards) and a Big South-record 11.5 quarterback sacks (minus-72 yards). French also has 19 quarterback pressures this season in 12 starts. If you’re talking about difference makers in the portal for Auburn, French may be right at the top of the list.

Texas A&M DB Brian George

Playing in 19 games the last three seasons for the Aggies after transferring from Highland Community College, the 6-2 cornerback is back on the market. A former Top 10 junior college prospect, George gave Auburn a long look in the 2020 class before choosing the Aggies. The Tigers could be in the running for a veteran cornerback if Nehemiah Pritchett and DJ James both turn pro, but that’s not a given yet.

Alabama OL Damieon George

A 4-star prospect from Houston, Texas, the 6-6, 333 George played in 12 games in 2021 and started the last three for the Crimson Tide at right tackle. Versatile enough to play tackle or guard in college, George has done both at Alabama. With still three seasons of eligibility remaining after playing in just two games this past season, George will have plenty of attention when the portal officially opens on Monday.

Wake Forest DB Gavin Holmes

A 5-11, 175-pounder with two years of eligibility remaining, Holmes has played in 27 games in three years and is coming off his best season with the Demon Deacons. Playing in 11 games, Holmes had 23 tackles and nine pass breakups. A high school teammate of Auburn safety Donovan Kaufman, Holmes is a player that would give the Tigers some added depth in the secondary if he chose the Tigers.

Alabama WR Traeshon Holden

A 4-star wide receiver prospect out of Harbor City, California but originally from Kississimee, Florida, the 6-3, 214 Holden is a player that has the potential to be a number one wide receiver for Hugh Freeze in year one. With two years of eligibility remaining, Holden is coming off a strong season in Tuscaloosa when he caught 25 passes for 331 yards and six touchdowns in just 10 games in 2022. Playing in five games in 2020 as his Covid year, Holden caught 21 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown last season.

Shorter TE Kyle Morlock

There may not be a hotter transfer portal prospect in the country than this 6-7, 245 tight end from the D2 ranks. Coming from Union County HIgh in Blairsville, Georgia, Morlock has become a weapon for the Hawks in the last two seasons. In the last two years, Morlock has 57 receptions for 890 yards and 11 touchdowns in 24 games. With his background of using the tight end, Freeze could make Morlock a big portal target this month.

Cincinnati C Jake Renfro

While the offensive tackle position is a huge need area for the Tigers in the portal, finding help at the center position would also be important if you can add a player like Renfro. A 6-3, 310 standout that will be a wanted man, the Illinois native should have plenty of attention from schools all over the country when the portal opens officially on Monday.

Kentucky RB Kavosiey Smoke

This one would make sense if Tank Bigsby decides to head to the NFL and Auburn is looking for a veteran back to plug into the rotation. A native of Wetumpka, Smoke would be a sixth-year senior in 2023. In his career, Smoke has played in 46 games and has 1,583 yards and 13 touchdowns on 292 carries for the Wildcats.

Oregon edge Bradyn Swinson

A 3-star prospect originally from Chapel Hill High in Douglasville, Georgia, the 6-4, 233 Swinson still has two years of eligibility remaining after playing in 30 games over three seasons for the Ducks. With Auburn losing Derick Hall, Eku Leota and Marcus Bragg at the edge position, the Tigers need experienced help for the 2023 season and Swinson could be that guy.

62COMMENTS

Mississippi State WR Rara Thomas

Playing at Eufaula High School before going to Mississippi State, the 6-2, 200 Thomas is a physical freak that did some big things for the Bulldogs in two seasons in Starkville. In two seasons he caught 62 passes for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns. With two seasons of eligibility remaining, Thomas would be a great addition in a Hugh Freeze offense and give the Tigers a physical presence on the outside.

">247Sports

 

would someone that follows recruiting more than I do tell me if these names are actual targets or are Jason  Caldwell's personal picks/suggestions?