5.9.23 Football Articles

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247sports.com

 

Auburn football generates buzz with transfer additions Hugh Freeze has won the offseason

Brad Crawford

 

The Tigers now have a top-five transfer class and considerable momentum

Auburn football is open for business in the transfer portal under Hugh Freeze. The Tigers are acquiring talent and picking up momentum like few othersy in recent days. Tulsa offensive lineman Jaden Muskrat's commitment Monday was the third pledge in the last week for the Tigers, who generated buzz with additions Payton Thorne (Michigan State quarterback) and Caleb Burton (Ohio State wide receiver).

Paired with a dozen other transfers this recruiting cycle, Auburn now has the nation's fourth-best portal class for 2023. The Tigers rebuilt their offensive front through transfers, now have a potential starting signal caller and are still looking to strengthen their wide receiver room with another addition or two.

Upon Freeze's arrival, this was not a roster conducive to success in the SEC this fall, but that has since changed and there's noticeable momentum.

50 SEC predictions for the 2023 season coming out of spring practice

Here is some of the reaction following Auburn's impressive hot streak in recruiting.

Per Auburn Undercover, Thorne set several Michigan State single-season record in 2021 as a first-year starter after leading his team to an 11-2 record and New Year's Six Bowl win, finishing the year as an honorable mention for All-Big Ten accolades and being ranked No. 8 in the final poll. Thorne completed over 60 percent of his passes for 3,240 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, also rushing for 181 yards and four touchdowns. Thorne's 27 touchdown passes in 2021 broke Kirk Cousins' single-season record at Michigan State.

Package deal? Soon after Thorne's commitment to Auburn last week, the Tigers picked up another pledge from Burton, one of the top pass-catchers available in the portal. Burton arrived on campus at Ohio State behind several stars at the position, including 2023 NFL Draft first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba and projected 2024 Day 1 picks Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, and never found opportunity in a deep room.

Paul Finebaum applauded Auburn's portal efforts and said Freeze is a big winner this spring compared to other first-year coaches nationally.

“I think Auburn fans should be jumping for joy today," Finebaum said Monday on McElroy and Cubelic. "Last week was great. The quarterback pick up, what was the downside? You can quibble about Michigan State’s production, but at worst, he’s an all-turn. At best, he’s your starter and he has a lot of experience. As far as the wide receiver from Ohio State, you look and you (say), ‘he doesn’t have any stats’ but as you look at projections for next year’s NFL Draft, where would you possibly sit in there? That place has a wide receiver room and every other room that looks like an NFL franchise.

"I think Auburn did well, I think more than anything, Hugh Freeze has won the offseason because that’s the only season he’s had so far. Remember, back in November and December, ‘well, can Auburn take a chance on Hugh Freeze?’ None of that matters anymore. It’s a great time for Auburn. I think they’re in a really good place. I feel certain this is a bowl team and that’s all you can hope for in Hugh Freeze’s first season.”

Thorne will immediately step on campus and challenge Robby Ashford for QB1 honors. Ashford, last season, appeared in all 12 games for the Tigers, passing for 1,613 yards and seven touchdowns against seven interceptions. Ashford initially lost the starting competition to T.J. Finley but overtook the former LSU transfer early in the season, starting the final nine contests of the season for the Tigers. Finley has since entered the portal.

Auburn's wide receiver room has depth concerns, but Freeze is doing what he can to fix that in the future. Five-star wideout Cameron Coleman is a major target for the Tigers and knows he'd have an opportunity to start from Day 1 at the SEC West program.

Considering some of the quarterbacks Freeze has developed into college all-star caliber players like Bo Wallace, Chad Kelly and Malik Willis at previous stops, Thorne has a chance to be a difference-maker on the Plains with this level of coaching expertise.

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247sports.com

Auburn depth chart impact OL Jaden Muskrat

Nathan King

35–45 minutes

Could Auburn start four transfers on the offensive line in 2023?

Auburn has dipped into the transfer portal for a fourth Group of Five starting offensive lineman — and the second to play for its offensive coordinator at his previous school.

Jaden Muskrat committed to Auburn on Monday, after he spent the past three years under first-year Tigers offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery when he was the head coach at Tulsa. Auburn’s likely starting left tackle, Dillon Wade, was also a transfer pickup from Tulsa in the first portal window. The Bentonville, Arkansas, native chose Auburn over the Razorbacks, along with offers from Penn State, Ole Miss, South Carolina and others.

Muskrat started all 12 games opposite Wade at Tulsa last season at right tackle, though he likely joins Auburn’s offensive line equation as a guard, considering the Tigers’ relative need there.

The 6-foot-3, 307-pound Muskrat was a first-time starter last season after dealing with an injury in 2021. He was signed by Montgomery in 2020 as a 2-star defensive line prospect, but he was converted to offensive tackle ahead of his freshman year at Tulsa, which he redshirted.

The connection with Montgomery was obvious from the beginning of his transfer recruitment, considering after Muskrat tweeted he’d entered the portal April 15, he tweeted six minutes later that Auburn had extended an offer.

“It definitely helps having Coach Monty,” Muskrat told Auburn Undercover after his visit to the Plains last month. “Learning the offense would be a lot easier for me. It definitely helps.”

Muskrat joins App State pass-rusher Jalen McLeod, Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne and Ohio State receiver Caleb Burton as the Tigers’ four portal additions in the second transfer window. Auburn is now up to 16 total transfer pickups this cycle.

Assuming that Muskrat does in fact slide into the rotation as an interior player, let’s take a look at Auburn’s current personnel at guard and center, and how the Tigers’ newest transfer might fit in.

Seniors: Avery Jones, Kameron Stutts, Jalil Irvin

Juniors: Jeremiah Wright (RS), Tate Johnson (RS),

Sophomores: N/A

Freshmen: Bradyn Joiner, Clay Wedin, E.J. Harris (RS)

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Early depth chart projection

LT: Dillon Wade, Garner Langlo

LG: Jeremiah Wright, Kameron Stutts

😄 Avery Jones, Connor Lew

RG: Jaden Muskrat, Tate Johnson

RT: Gunner Britton, Izavion Miller

Of course, Muskrat could still be a tackle at Auburn. But considering Wade and Western Kentucky transfer Gunner Britton appeared to have locked down their spots at left and right tackle, respectively, in spring practices — and the Tigers still have top JUCO signee Izavion Miller as backup tackle who can swing to either side — Muskrat’s experience would be much better served contributing to a guard spot.

As spring practice progressed, Stutts, a returning piece who started 11 of 12 games last season, began to re-emerge as a consistent piece of the first-team offensive line at right guard. Johnson dealt with a reaggravated elbow injury for most of the spring, which occasionally allowed more opportunities for Stutts and Lew.

Assuming Wright — who position coach Jake Thornton said is “somebody we’re going to build this unit around” — solidifies a starting role at left guard in fall camp, Muskrat’s primary competition at right guard should be the trio of Stutts, Johnson and Lew.

Muskrat certainly isn’t as much of a no-brainer starter like some of Auburn’s other transfer addition, and his experience level doesn’t outweigh many of the Tigers’ other pieces in the room. Still, his addition is part of a continued effort by Freeze to generate a higher floor for Auburn’s offensive line, and bringing in another Group of Five starter will help to achieve Thornton’s goal of entering the 2023 season with a quality two-deep rotation at all five positions.

*** Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more ***

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si.com

 

On3's JD PicKell believes Robby Ashford will continue to play for Auburn football in 2023

Lance Dawe

~3 minutes

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The Tigers quarterback room looks a little different after the spring transfer portal window has come and gone.

The addition of Payton Thorne (Michigan State transfer) and the departure of TJ Finley has shaken up the assumed depth chart heading into the 2023 offseason.

Hugh Freeze now has two quarterbacks he can work with, and barring injury Thorne should be a massive boost for the Tigers' offense.

However, the Tigers still have their primary 2022 starter on roster: Robby Ashford. A dynamic playmaker who was wildly inconsistent during his first season on the Plains.

On3's JD PicKell recently discussed his thoughts on Robby Ashford's role on Auburn football's 2023 team despite believing that Thorne will end up being the starter.

"When he runs the football, when he tucks it off that zone read? He is one of the most dynamic players on the field,” PicKell said. “There are very few players on your roster that can do what Robby Ashford does with the football in his hands.”

The Tigers relied on Ashford's mobility heavily last season due to their dreadful offensive line. Ashford ended up rushing for 710 yards and seven scores while completing 49% of his passes for 1,613 yards.

PicKell went on to praise Payton Thorne's processing and decision making, but continued to harp on the fact that there are few players that can move like Ashford can.

"...if you want a dynamic runner of the football, you want somebody that can take it 70 on third and two? That could be Robby Ashford for you," PicKell said. "He’s a special talent in that way. There are not many guys who can do what he does when he tucks it and runs.”

It's evident at this point that Thorne will be the Tigers' starting quarterback. PicKell agrees. But Ashford will get involved.

“He’s gonna have to be involved in some way, shape, or form going forward,” said PicKell. “Like he has to have some sort of package in short yardage, or a change of pace package, or when it comes to goal line. You’ve got to have Robby Ashford somehow factored in because of what he does running the football for you.”

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247sports.com

 

Who ya got in Auburn's QB room: Payton Thorne or Robby Ashford?

Chris Hummer

73–93 minutes

 

"I think that Robby Ashford wins the job over Thorne ultimately."

Auburn has finally found its transfer quarterback. After a long offseason of searching and several misses, the Tigers on Friday afternoon landed Michigan State's Payton Thorne. He's a buzzy addition for Auburn. Thorne brings two years of starting experience and projects to aid a Tigers passing offense that ranked 119th nationally last season in yards per game. Thorne has a rating of 87 in the 247Sports Transfer Portal Rankings, making him a high-three-star prospect. 

But is Thorne even necessarily a lock to start?

Thorne's commitment sparked a debate among 247Sports national college football analysts Chris Hummer and Clint Brewster whether or not Thorne is an upgrade given the presence of returning starting quarterback Robby Ashford, who flashed brightly at times last season after transferring in from Oregon. Below Hummer and Brewster make the case about who should start for the Tigers in 2022. 

THORNE MIGHT MAKE AUBURN BETTER IN 2023

"Auburn exited spring practice with a need at quarterback and filled it ably with Payton Thorne. While some probably soured a bit on Thorne during Michigan State's up and down 2022 season, there are still data points that indicate he's still an average to above average Power Five starter. Thorne had the nation's 35th-best QBR rating, took care of the football (with a 3% turnover-worthy play rate) and posted an adjusted completion percentage of 71.7%. Thorne isn't necessarily a game changer for Auburn's offense, but he's a steadying presence the Tigers lacked last year.

"At worst, Thorne is an experienced arm who can push Robby Ashford. If Auburn's o-line is a disaster once again, then I say keep the mobile Ashford out there and develop him via reps. But if the o-line is better? Thorne provides a passing predictability Ashford does not and might yield a better result in 2023. Ashford had an adjusted completion percentage of just 62.2 in 2022 (worst in the SEC) and also put the ball in danger far too often with a 4.4% turnover-worthy play rate. Thorne's ceiling might be lower than Ashford, but you know what you'll get from week to week. And that's invaluable for a Tigers offense last season that was anything but consistent." — Chris Hummer

NO, THE JOB IS STILL ROBBY ASHFORD'S

“I think that Robby Ashford wins the job over Thorne ultimately. Ashford had moments where he showed the type of quarterback he could be last season, making some spectacular downfield throws when he escaped the pocket and also used his legs to carry the offense at times. Auburn was in all sorts of dysfunction last season and Ashford still put together some solid performances like when he completed 24 of 33 passes for 285 yards and a touchdown while also running for 87 yards on 19 carries against Arkansas. He's an elite runner with the football and also rushed for 121 yards and two scores against Alabama. Ashford is by far the superior athlete who can change the dynamic of the game with his feet and I think his arm is probably more talented, too. 

"The Tigers desperately need wide receivers to step up (they also added Caleb Burton over the weekend), but if that's still an issue then Ashford gives them more on offense with his ability to run the ball. If Ashford can speed up his processing and accuracy he can actually be a very good QB in the SEC. He's just a sophomore but now he gets the tutelage of Hugh Freeze, who knows exactly how to develop a dual threat quarterback with a skillset like Ashford's. Freeze knows how to marry the passing game with quarterback-run to threaten defenses and Ashford is the perfect quarterback to do this.

"Auburn could surely have offensive line trouble, though it did take huge steps to upgrade via the transfer portal, and there's no question who gives them the best chance if that’s the case. Look for Ashford to hold the starting job and continue to make huge strides under Freeze's guidance." — Clint Brewster

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keeping up with TJ..............

 

 

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yahoo.com

 

Final 3 positions of need for Auburn football as summer approaches

Richard Silva, Montgomery Advertiser

4–5 minutes

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AUBURN — Auburn football's roster overhaul is nearly complete.

The latest addition to the Tigers came Monday evening, as former Tulsa offensive lineman Jaden Muskrat committed to Auburn and reunited with Philip Montgomery, who coached the Golden Hurricane for the last eight seasons before getting fired and then hired to be Freeze's first offensive coordinator at Auburn.

Muskrat is the fourth transfer to commit to the Tigers in May, joining wide receiver Caleb Burton (Ohio State), pass rusher Jalen McLeod (Appalachian State) and quarterback Payton Thorne (Michigan State). Since Freeze was hired in November, Auburn has added 15 players from the transfer portal, with the majority of those newcomers poised to play significant roles in 2023.

With the summer approaching and limited roster spots remaining, here are the last few positions of need Freeze should address ahead of his first season at Auburn.

JOHN COHEN: Why Auburn AD hasn't made up his mind on SEC football schedule decision

RECRUITING: How Auburn football's Hugh Freeze has done in building relationships with in-state coaches

Wide receiver

The Tigers landed a commitment from Burton on Saturday, but that doesn't mean they should be satisfied with their current crop of receivers.

Burton, who was rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 132 player in the Class of 2022, comes to Auburn after not seeing the field in Year 1 with the Buckeyes. He still has all four years of eligibility remaining, and his addition may prove to be one that's more beneficial in the long run than in the short term.

But Auburn also needs immediate impact. The Tigers lost Tar'Varish Dawson and Landen King to the portal in April, and that was after Freeze identified the position in March as one of top the groups that "just have a long way to go." Giving the starting QB − whether it be Thorne, incumbent Robby Ashford or Holden Geriner − more pieces should be Auburn's top priority.

Defensive end

Auburn didn't lose many impactful players to the portal after spring practices, but the biggest departure was defensive lineman Jeffrey M'ba, who joined first-year coach Ryan Walters at Purdue.

M'ba, though he may not have started, was primed to be a key piece in the defensive line rotation. The Tigers have three positions on the line in defensive coordinator Ron Roberts' system: defensive end, defensive tackle and nose tackle. M'ba was practicing as a defensive end, where Marcus Harris started at A-Day.

With M'ba gone, Auburn could use a serviceable backup at the position to spell Harris and provide depth in the event he goes down with an injury.

Linebacker

Speaking to reporters April 4, linebackers coach Josh Aldridge explained how he wants about five LBs to receive meaningful time on the field in 2023. The top two players at the position would see about 45 snaps per game, the following duo would get about 25-30 and the last piece would receive roughly 10-15 plays.

Wesley Steiner and Ole Miss transfer Austin Keys left spring practice in the best position to be starters, with Cam Riley and Robert Woodyard Jr. primarily backing them up. Auburn has other linebackers on the roster, like Eugene Asante and LSU transfer DeMario Tolan, but bringing in another player to compete for that last spot in the rotation couldn't hurt.

Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football still must address depth, quality at these 3 positions

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