12/24/22 Auburn Articles and merry christmas to everyone!

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Auburn football, men's basketball and women's hoops Tiger Tidbits

Mark Murphy

5–6 minutes

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Starting with football:

* Talking to a variety of people inside the football program and others who work with the coaching and support staff on a regular basis, not one person has told me that the program was in a better place with Bryan Harsin running the show than it is currently with Hugh Freeze in charge. There is plenty of optimism that the bottom of the downward trend was hit in 2022 and things are now trending in a positive direction.

* Talking to people who were in the middle of the recruiting battles working to line up prospects to sign in the early period, a common theme is that Carnell “Cadillac” Williams rose to the occasion when it was most needed in stabilizing the situation with recruits and their families during his time as interim coach. He got plenty of help from the other staff members who pulled together in the football program’s time of need.

* I was told that Auburn’s new tight ends coach, Ben Aigamaua, is very pleased with Thursday’s signee at his position, 6-5, 242 Rivaldo Fairweather, a transfer from Florida International University where he was a productive player. Before that he was a football and basketball standout at Boyd Anderson High in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., where he caught 40 passes for 812 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior. He also helped out on defense. As a senior he made 23 tackles with six quarterback sacks.

On the subject of Aigamaua, he is the coach on the Auburn staff with the longest relationship with Hugh Freeze. “Ben played for me at Lambuth and has worked on our staff in various capacities over the past decade,” Freeze pointed out. “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.” Aigamaua is from American Samoa.

In basketball:

* The second half of the Washington game is the best Bruce Pearl’s team has played this season. In the final 20 minutes at Alaska Airlines Arena the Tigers made 21-29 field goals for 72.4 percent, 5-9 threes (56.5 percent) and 6-7 free throws (85.7 percent).

Additionally, the Tigers were plus 10 in rebound margin in the period and turned the ball over four times, three fewer than the Huskies, leading to a 14-5 advantage in points off of turnovers. The Tigers held a 9-0 edge in second chance points, a 6-0 edge in fastbreak points and allowed Washington just one offensive rebound in the second half.

* The margin of victory for the Tigers, 23 points, is the largest for the team in a game away from Neville Arena since defeating Nebraska 99-68 last December in the Holiday Hoopsgiving game in Atlanta. That game featured an outstanding shooting performance by the Tigers in the second half, but didn’t match the accuracy numbers the Tigers put up against the Huskies. Against Nebraska the Tigers shot 66.7 percent from the field after halftime and made 7-14 threes plus 3-5 free throws.

* Freshman point guard Tre Donaldson is getting praise for his recent performances from Pearl. Women’s team coach Johnnie Harris is excited about what she is seeing from her freshman point guard, Sydney Shaw, who like Donaldson was a high school star in the state of Florida last season.

Tre Donaldson comes up with a loss ball in Auburn's victory over the Washington Huskies. (Photo: Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports)

Shaw is the third-leading scorer for the 10-2 Tigers averaging 9.5 points. She has hit 21-51 three-pointers for a very impressive 41.2 percent and has a nice assists-to-turnover ratio of 1.77-1 that ranks eighth in the SEC. It is important to have a point guard who can make free throws. Shaw leads the team in that category at 87.5 percent

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* On the subject of guard play on the women’s team, senior Honesty Scott-Grayson is making 47.9 percent of her field goals, which ranks sixth in the SEC. She has been even better from three-point range, making 25-51 for 49 percent. Part of the reason for that is point guard Shaw is doing a going job of setting up her teammates for good looks at the basket.

That is also showing up in the team statistics with the Tigers making 44.3 percent of their field goals, up from last season’s 38.7 percent. It is also showing up in three-point shooting, which is up from 28.5 percent last season to 38.2 percent this year, which ranks second in the SEC.

">247Sports

Edited December 24, 2022 by aubiefifty

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Hugh Freeze announces hiring of 3 defensive assistants to Auburn coaching staff

Andrew Olson

3–4 minutes

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Hugh Freeze’s Auburn defensive staff is coming together. Freeze announced the hiring of 3 defensive assistants on Friday.

Jeremy Garrett (defensive line coach), Wesley McGriff (defensive backs coach) and Josh Aldridge (linebackers coach) were all formally announced as hired.

Garrett is a former Ole Miss player who follows Freeze from Liberty. He was on the Cleveland Browns staff before joining Freeze at Liberty.

“I’ve known Jeremy since I was an assistant coach and he was a player at Ole Miss,” Freeze said in a released statement. “He is a tremendous coach who has been involved in every level of the game from the high school ranks to the National Football League. Jeremy can teach and develop players, is a very good recruiter and is an outstanding individual who we’re excited to have join our staff.”

McGriff returns to Auburn after 2 previous stints in 2016 and 2019-20. A veteran secondary coach with defensive coordinator experience, McGriff was on staff at Louisville during the 2022 season.

“Wesley is no stranger to Auburn and the SEC and will bring a veteran presence to our staff,” Freeze said in the hiring announcement. “He has established himself over the last two decades as one of the top recruiters in our conference and brings great energy and enthusiasm to the table.”

Aldridge follows Freeze to Auburn after the past 4 seasons at Liberty. He coached the defensive line for 3 seasons and was co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach last season.

“Working closely with Josh the last four years, I have witnessed a coach who is a very good teacher, motivator and relates well with his players,” Freeze said in a program release. “He has a tremendous work ethic and will be a great fit with our staff and our culture at Auburn.”

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Jeremy Garrett named defensive line coach at Auburn

Auburn University Athletics

4–5 minutes

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AUBURN, Ala. – Jeremy Garrett has been named the defensive line coach at Auburn, head coach Hugh Freeze announced Friday. A former defensive lineman at Ole Miss, Garrett has over a decade of experience coaching in the National Football League, and the collegiate and high school levels, after most recently serving in the same capacity at Liberty.

"I've known Jeremy since I was an assistant coach and he was a player at Ole Miss," Freeze said. "He is a tremendous coach who has been involved in every level of the game from the high school ranks to the National Football League. Jeremy can teach and develop players, is a very good recruiter and is an outstanding individual who we're excited to have join our staff."

Garrett coached one of the most productive defensive fronts in college football in 2022 as Liberty led the country in tackles for loss (109) and ranked third in sacks (41). Under Garrett's guidance, standout defensive end Durrell Johnson led the nation with 22.5 tackles for loss and added 8.0 sacks en route to being named to the Ted Henricks Award Watch List. Led by Johnson, three members of the Flames defensive line registered double-digit tackles for loss. 

Garrett came to Liberty in 2022 after spending the previous two seasons as the assistant defensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns (2020-21).

"Auburn is one of the elite programs in college football with a strong tradition of outstanding defenses," Garrett said. "I look forward to helping build a defensive front that will relentlessly compete each and every down. I'm appreciative to Coach Freeze for this opportunity and am excited to be joining the Auburn Family."

Garrett joined the Browns in 2020 and helped the run defense finish ninth in the league after finishing 30th the previous season. He helped defensive end Myles Garrett earn first team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as he ranked among the league leaders in strip-sacks (tied for second with four), forced fumbles (tied for third with four), fumble recoveries (tied for third with two) and sacks (sixth with 12). Along with defensive end Olivier Vernon (nine), the Browns were one of just four teams to have a pair of teammates each record at least nine sacks in 2020.

The Browns finished the 2021 season fifth in the NFL in total defense, marking just the third time since 1970 the team ranked in the top-five and the club's highest finish since 1987. Myles Garrett earned first team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after setting the franchise single-season record with 16 sacks in 2021, including a team single-game record of 4.5 in Week 3. The 25 combined sacks between Garrett (16) and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (9) were the second-most by a pair of Browns teammates in a season, trailing only the 26 by DE Reggie Camp (14) and LB Clay Matthews (12) in 1984.

Garrett got his coaching start at the collegiate level in 2019 when he spent one season at Vanderbilt as a defensive quality control assistant. He worked closely with Vanderbilt's defensive line in his one season with the Commodores.

Prior to this time at Vanderbilt, Garrett spent eight years at Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tennessee (2011-18). During his time at Ensworth, Garrett served in a variety of roles that included associate director of admissions, assistant track and field coach, assistant defensive football coach, fitness department chair and head football coach.

During his one season as head football coach, the Ensworth Tigers finished the 2018 season with a 7-5 record and advanced to the Division II-AAA quarterfinals.

Garrett got his coaching start in 2010 as an assistant coach at Southaven High School in Southhaven, Mississippi.

Garrett was a four-year letterwinner at Ole Miss (2004-07), earning All-SEC Academic team honors. He was also the Ole Miss Lifter of the Year and Chucky Mullins Courage Award winner. He graduated with a business degree from Ole Miss in 2007 and an MBA from Harding University in 2010.

Garrett, who is a native of Senatobia, Mississippi, was a defensive lineman at Ole Miss while Liberty's Head Coach Hugh Freeze served as a tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator (2006-07).

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Auburn in contact with Oklahoma State transfer QB Spencer Sanders

Nathan King

~3 minutes

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As Hugh Freeze shared this week, Auburn is continuing to peruse the transfer market for prospective quarterbacks. And the Tigers are now pursuing the most experienced passers in the portal.

Spencer Sanders, a four-year starter at Oklahoma State, has been in contact with Freeze and Auburn's coaches recently, per a report Friday by 247Sports' Chris Hummer.

A four-year starter at Oklahoma State, Sanders threw for 67 touchdowns and 40 interceptions on 61 percent passing. The Cowboys went 35-15 during that span, and Sanders, the Big 12 offensive freshman of the year in 2019 and the first team All-Big 12 QB in 2021, is now the most experienced quarterback on the transfer market, after entering the portal Dec. 6.

“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.”

Transfer visits can resume Jan. 4. Last weekend, Auburn had 247Sports' No. 1 transfer QB, Devin Leary from NC State, on campus, but Leary committed to and signed with Kentucky a few days later.

Freeze said 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.”

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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.”

">247Sports

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McGriff the latest official hire for Auburn football staff

Jason Caldwell

7–8 minutes

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AUBURN, Alabama—Returning to Auburn for his third stint on the Plains, Wesley McGriff, has been named defensive backs coach, Tigers’ head coach Hugh Freeze announced Friday. McGriff, who served as an assistant coach at Auburn in 2016 and again in 2019-20, was the secondary coach at Louisville this past season.

McGriff becomes the sixth assistant to be officially announced for Freeze's first staff, joining offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery, defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, offensive line coach Jake Thornton, tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua and defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett.

At Louisville in 2022, McGriff mentored one of the stingiest secondaries in America as the Cardinals forced 15 interceptions, good for the 10th best total in the country and second best in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The team allowed the fourth fewest passing yards per game (206.5) in the league, and junior defensive back Kei’Trel Clark went on to earn all-ACC honors for the third straight season.

“Wesley is no stranger to Auburn and the SEC and will bring a veteran presence to our staff,” Freeze said. “He has established himself over the last two decades as one of the top recruiters in our conference and brings great energy and enthusiasm to the table.”

A native of Tifton, Georgia, McGriff came to Louisville after one season at Florida where he served as the secondary coach. The Gators were one of the top teams against the pass, finishing 25th nationally with an average of 203.9 yards through the air.

“The opportunity to work for Coach Freeze again and return to Auburn is humbling and an honor,” McGriff said. “I love Auburn and am so excited to be working for Coach Freeze. He has a proven track record of winning and there’s no doubt that he will do that again here on the Plains. It’s great to be home. War Eagle!”

While at Auburn, the Tigers’ defense ranked eighth nationally in both red-zone and third-down defense in 2019, allowing only 19.5 points per game against a schedule that featured six 11-win opponents. Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene was a first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins and Daniel Thomas (Jacksonville) was a fifth-round selection that season.

During his first stint with Auburn, McGriff helped the Tigers to a Sugar Bowl berth as the Tigers went from the bottom third of the SEC in 2015 to top three in the league in 2016 in scoring defense (11th/26.0 to 2nd/15.6), rushing defense (11th/182.7 to 3rd/124.8) and third-down conversion defense (13th/44.9 to 2nd/34.0).

McGriff served as defensive coordinator at Mississippi during the 2017-18 seasons, adding the title of associate head coach during his second season. During the 2017 campaign, McGriff guided a defense that included NFL draft picks in Breeland Speaks (second round) and Marquis Haynes (fourth round); the pair combined for 14.5 sacks, and both earned second team all-SEC honors.

Linebacker DeMarquis Gates had his biggest season, registering 114 tackles, the most by a Rebel in a single season since 2006. In 2018, sophomore linebacker Mohamed Sanogo was fourth in the SEC with 112 tackles and joined Gates in 2017 as the only two Ole Miss defenders with 100+ tackles in the previous 12 seasons.

McGriff spent three seasons in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, working with the defensive backs. In his first two seasons, McGriff oversaw the development of safeties Rafael Bush, Kenny Vaccaro and Pierre Warren and cornerback Terrence Frederick, while also depending on safety Jairus Byrd and cornerback Keenan Lewis, who led the Saints with 13 passes defensed, while adding two interceptions. Vaccaro led the New Orleans secondary with 113 tackles.

In his first season in New Orleans, the Saints ranked fourth in the NFL in total defense (305.7 ypg.), second in opponent passing yards per game (194.1 ypg.) and fourth in scoring defense (19.0 ppg.), posting an 11-5 record and advancing to the divisional round of the playoffs. McGriff spent 2012 as co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks at Ole Miss, which finished second in the SEC and in the top 15 in the NCAA in tackles for a loss (7.7) and sacks per game (2.8). Linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche was named to the FWAA All-America and SEC all-freshman teams, defensive tackle Isaac Gross earned conference all-freshman honors and was named to the CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-America team and safety Trae Elston was named to the ESPN SEC all-freshman team.

McGriff spent the 2011 season as defensive backs coach/recruiting coordinator at Vanderbilt, where he helped the Commodores to only their fifth all-time bowl appearance. His secondary produced 12 interceptions (three returned for TD). McGriff helped Green Bay Packer Casey Hayward become the first Vanderbilt All-American in four years, posting seven interceptions, the third-highest season total ever by a Commodore. McGriff spent four seasons as the secondary coach at Miami (Fla.).

In 2010, the Hurricanes ranked second in the nation in pass defense, allowing just 164.3 yards per game; the Miami defense ranked 16th nationally and 21st in scoring defense. In 2009, he tutored All-America defensive back Brandon Harris, seven-year NFL veteran safety Kenny Phillips (2007 All-American and first round NFL draft pick) and Green Bay defensive back Sam Shields. McGriff served as the defensive backs coach/recruiting coordinator at Baylor from 2003-06 and enjoyed his first SEC stint at Kentucky from 2001-02.

He spent 2000 as the secondary coach at Eastern Kentucky where he mentored all-Ohio Valley Conference DB Yeremiah Bell, who was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round in 2003. From 1995-99, McGriff served in multiple roles including assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Kentucky State and was named the AFCA’s NCAA Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year.

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He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Savannah State, from 1990-94. Starting as a graduate assistant, McGriff tutored running backs before coaching the secondary in 1991 and later serving as defensive coordinator and interim head coach.

McGriff started at linebacker for Savannah State from 1987-89 and was named the conference’s 1989 Male Academic Athlete of the Year. He received his bachelor’s degree while graduating cum laude in 1990 and earned a master’s in public administration from Georgia Southern in 1993. McGriff was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1990 and was a member of the Army Reserves until 2001.

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Ranking every SEC recruiting class after early signing day

JD McCarthy

5–7 minutes

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Hugh Freeze put Auburn recruiting back on the map with an impressive start to the early signing period.

The Tigers put an exclamation point on a successful first day by flipping 4-star defensive end Keldric Faulk from Florida State and 4-star cornerback Kayin Lee from Ohio State. The moves and the rest of the additions make Auburn one of the winners of the early signing period and have helped fill several holes on Auburn’s roster.

The Tigers signed 18 of their 19 commits and there is little reason to be worried about 4-star running back Jeremiah Cobb who did not sign.

They now have the No. 20 class in the 247Sports Composite team ranking and while that is lower than Auburn needs to be, with what Freeze inherited it is unfair to call it anything but a major success.

However, the SEC is the best conference in the sport for a reason and it starts with their recruiting. Here is a look at how Auburn’s class compares to the rest of the conference.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 54

Total Players: 20

Top Signee: 4-star CB Martel Hight

The Commodores reeled in one blue chipper in what was another solid class for Clark Lea. They will always be more focused on development than landing elite prospects than the rest of the SEC.

Missouri Tigers

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 36

Total Signees: 19

Top Signee: 4-star TE Brett Norfleet

Missouri’s class lacks the star power they had last year with five-star Luther Burden and Eli Drinkowitz will need to land some impact players in the portal if they are going to build on a 6-6 season.

Ole Miss Rebels

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 35

Total Players: 12

Top Signee: 4-star LB Suntarine Perkins

Lane Kiffin prioritizes the transfer portal but this is a very disappointing class for the Rebels and he will need to add some impressive talent through the portal to keep up.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 26

Total Players: 25

Top Signee: 4-star S Isaac Smith

This will always be a special class for the Bulldogs and everyone involved deserves a tremendous amount of credit for how they have handled a tragic month.

Kentucky Wildcats

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 25

Total Players: 17

Top Signee: 4-star WR Shamar Porter

The Wildcat’s biggest win was landing transfer quarterback Devin Leary. They surrounded him with a solid class that just made it inside the top 25 nationally.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 22

Total Players: 20

Top Signee: 4-star CB Jaylin Braxton

The Razorbacks suffered a few blows and lost their defensive coordinator but they were able to hang on to most of their top targets and it was another good day for Sam Pittman.

Auburn Tigers

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 20

Total Players: 19

Top Signee: 4-star DE Keldric Faulk

For the first time in years, Auburn was relevant during the early signing period and Hugh Freeze and Co. deserve a ton of credit for what they have done in such a short amount of time.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 18

Total Players: 22

Top Signee: 4-star IOL Markee Anderson

The Gamecocks have landed nine players along the trenches and they continue to improve under Shane Beamer.

Texas A&M Aggies

Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 15

Total Players: 18

Top Signee: 5-star RB Rueben Owens

The Aggies landed some elite players in what has become a smaller class by design but 5-star DL David Hicks did not sign his letter of intent and other schools are in hot pursuit. How his recruitment goes will have a major impact on how this class is viewed.

Florida Gators

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 12

Total Players: 20

Top Signee: 4-star QB Jaden Rashada

The Gators needed a strong recruiting class to help make up for a disappointing season on the field in Billy Napier’s first season. They are doing that with a class that is knocking on the top 10 and has several elite players.

Tennessee Volunteers

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 10

Total Players: 25

Top Signee: 5-star QB Nico Iamaleava

Tennessee had a breakout season under Josh Heupel and helped use that success to land an extremely talented quarterback and a top 10 class. Things are trending upward in Knoxville.

LSU Tigers

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 6

Total Players: 25

Top Signee: 5-star OT Zalance Heard

In his first season at LSU, Brian Kelly did a great job keeping some of the best players from Louisianna home and surrounded them with some elite offensive linemen.

Georgia Bulldogs

Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 2

Total Players: 27

Top Signee: 5-star EDGE Damon Wilson

The Bulldogs completed an impressive haul along the lines by adding Wilson and four-star defensive tackle Jordan Hall during the early signing period. They can now turn their full attention back to the College Football Playoff and repeating as champs.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: 1

Total Players: 27

Top Signee: 5-star safety Caleb Downs

Nick Saban once again dominated the recruiting cycle, hauling in six 5-star recruits and landing an elite player at every position on the field.  Alabama isn’t going anywhere and their ability to land elite talent is why.

Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

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Zac Etheridge among top recruiters for 2023 cycle

Taylor Jones

Fri, December 23, 2022 at 7:00 AM CST·2 min read

In this article:

Cadillac Williams

American football player and coach (born 1982)

Outside of his amazing recruiting efforts in a short amount of time, Hugh Freeze has made two great decisions since being named Auburn’s head football coach on Nov. 28… retaining both Cadillac Williams and Zac Etheridge from the previous staff.

 

Both Williams and Etheridge have developed key relationships with high school recruits, which was instrumental in keeping the 2023 class together for the most part, and even helped in flipping talent who had previously committed elsewhere. Because of this, the latter is deemed one of the best recruiters in the country.

Auburn managed to sway several players away from other programs such as four-star EDGE Keldric Faulk (Florida State), four-star safety Sylvester Smith (Tennessee), and four-star cornerback Kayin Lee (Ohio State) thanks to the efforts of Etheridge. Once the dust settled from the opening day of the early signing period on Wednesday, Etheridge found himself ranked No. 12 among the top recruiters for the 2023 cycle according to 247Sports.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Out of Auburn’s 18 high school signees, Etheridge had a hand in eight of them. He also was the primary recruiter of four-star running back Jeremiah Cobb, who will sign with Auburn in February. His efforts played a part in Auburn signing the No. 20 recruiting class according to 247Sports.

Etheridge joins the likes of Alabama assistants Freddie Roach and Robert Gillespie, Ohio State’s Brian Hartline, and Clemson‘s Nick Eason as assistant coaches who rank in the top 15 of college football’s best recruiters.

Here’s a look at the 2023 signees that were recruited by Zac Etheridge.

Four-star EDGE Keldric Faulk

The Montgomery Advertiser

Four-star RB Jeremiah Cobb

The Montgomery Advertiser

Four-star DL Darron Reed

The Montgomery Advertiser

Four-star CB Kayin Lee

The Columbus Dispatch

Four-star S Sylvester Smith

Ed Browning

Four-star S Terrance Love

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Three-star CB Colton Hood

Savannah Morning News

Three-star CB J.C. Hart

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Three-star EDGE Brenton Williams

The Montgomery Advertiser

Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

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Jeremiah Cobb did not sign with Auburn on Wednesday. Why is that?

Taylor Jones

2–3 minutes

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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.

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“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.

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holy moly......guys watch this for the very first play. the man is a serious beast!

[AUinMS9528 1,086]

47 minutes ago, aubiefifty said:

holy moly......guys watch this for the very first play. the man is a serious beast!

That looked just like the “excessive blocking” play from The Blind Side!   AUsome!!!!

[AUinMS9528 1,086]

Thanks @aubiefifty for feeding us this info everyday!   Merry Christmas!!!

[EagleEye67 1,948]

Merry Christmas to all!   May your Auburn season be merry and bright :)

[AUGoo 2,703]

2 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

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 keep seeing Finley mentioned.

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4 minutes ago, AUGoo said:

I keep seeing Finley mentioned.

i believe if he was staying something would have been said. last i hear he cleaned out his locker and is finishing his degree so he can go play with his brother.

[AUGoo 2,703]

1 hour ago, AUinMS9528 said:

That looked just like the “excessive blocking” play from The Blind Side!   AUsome!!!!

That is FUN to watch!

He is a pancaking, cockroaching machine!

I thought we signed him as a Center though.

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1 minute ago, AUGoo said:

That is FUN to watch!

He is a pancaking, cockroaching machine!

I thought we signed him as a Center though.

i am not sure but if he was coming for me i would dot my britches just saying.............grins

 

[AUGoo 2,703]

Just now, aubiefifty said:

i am not sure but if he was coming for me i would dot my britches just saying.............grins

 

After one of the cockroaches, he stands up, picks the kid up by his shoulder pads and pats him on the head! LOVE IT!!

LOL!

[SMITTY4AU 29]

Merry Christmas and thank you aubiefifty for all that you do.

[bishoptf 736]

7 hours ago, SMITTY4AU said:

Merry Christmas and thank you aubiefifty for all that you do.

Same from me Merry Christmas and Happy Festivus @aubiefiftyappreciate posting the articles every day...hope you have a good one!