6.12.23 Football Articles

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Who are Auburn football's top offensive players according to Pro Football Focus?

Taylor Jones

5–6 minutes

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Auburn football will feature a steady mix of returning players and solid transfers on its 2023 roster. Which ones are considered the Tigers’ top players?

To answer that question, we used data from Pro Football Focus to determine the top ten (or in this case, eleven) most valuable players on the offensive side of the ball. The lone criteria used is that each player must have appeared in at least 11 games last season.

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When examining the data, we learned that the Tigers’ roster has plenty of talent that can be utilized in many ways. From transfers with over 1,000 snaps of experience, to skill position players that find ways to extend plays after being hit, Auburn fans should be excited to watch their team perform in 2023.

Here’s a look at Auburn’s top offensive players ahead of the 2023 season based on their respective 2022 final grades from Pro Football Focus.

AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker

• 2022 PFF Grade: 65.8

Kicking off this list is ECU transfer, Avery Jones. Jones appeared in 12 games for the Pirates last season, playing 852 snaps at center. Under his watch, he allowed just one sack and eight quarterback hurries.

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

• 2022 PFF Grade: 65.8

The first returning player, and skill position athlete, is running back Damari Alston. Alston got a small taste of action last season by just rushing for 85 yards on 14 carries. He had 40 yards after contact and had three rushes of longer than 10 yards.

Photo by Austin Perryman

• 2022 PFF Grade: 66.9

Another transfer that is expected to make an immediate impact on the Auburn offensive line is Dillon Wade. Wade played 818 snaps, with most of those being at left tackle. In those 818 snaps, only five plays resulted in a sack, and there were only 28 pressures allowed by Wade.

Michael Chang/Getty Images

• 2022 PFF Grade: 67.8

Brandon Frazier played in 11 games and took part in 42 snaps at tight end last season. He caught both passes that were thrown his way for 19 yards, with his longest reception going for 12 yards.

Todd Van Emst/Auburn Tigers

• 2022 PFF Grade: 70.3

Ja'Varrius Johnson was Auburn’s leading receiver last season as he reeled in 26 catches for 493 yards and three touchdowns. He was targeted 45 times in 12 games and extended his receptions by 113 after contact.

AP Photo/Richard W.Rodriguez

• 2022 PFF Grade: 71.4

Jyaire Shorter led receiving yards last season at North Texas with 625. He also led in receiving touchdowns with 11, which was six more than the next receiver. The addition of Shorter should bring Auburn’s passing game to a new level in 2023.

Nic Antaya/Getty Images

• 2022 PFF Grade: 71.8

Payton Thorne completed 62% of his passes last season at Michigan State for 2,679 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was effective at getting the football to his receivers, as just 19 of his 390 pass attempts were dropped and nine were batted. Auburn’s offensive line will look to give him a smoother experience, as Thorne was sacked 19 times and experienced 125 total pressures in 2022.

Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

• 2022 PFF Grade: 72.0

A Jackson State player that DID NOT transfer to Colorado? Shane Hooks was Jackson State’s third-highest-graded receiver last season after leading the team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Hooks was targetted 85 times in 2022 and caught 67 of those passes for 11.5 yards a catch. He dropped only three passes and forced 21 missed tackles. Hooks, along with Jyaire Shorter, will be valuable additions to Auburn’s offense.

Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

• 2022 PFF Grade: 78.6

Gunner Britton was part of a reliable offensive line at Western Kentucky, where four of the five starters logged over 1,000 snaps last season. Britton split time at both left and right tackle, and allowed five total quarterback hurries with three sacks last season.

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

• 2022 PFF Grade: 79.8

Tank Bigsby is gone, which means that it is Jarquez Hunter’s time to shine. Hunter rushed for 668 yards on 104 carries last season, scoring seven touchdowns. He was third on the team with 23 rushes of over 10 yards, with 398 yards taking place after contact.

Austin Perryman/Auburn Athletics

• 2022 PFF Grade: 87.5

Auburn has caught lightning in a bottle by landing Brian Battie from South Florida. Battie rushed for 1,201 yards and eight touchdowns last season in Tampa, with 597 of those yards coming after contact. He had 36 carries of over 10 yards and had a long of 68 yards.

Not only is Battie great in the backfield, but he is a stellar return option. Battie added 700 yards to his overall total on 35 return attempts for a 20-yard per-return average.

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ESPN FPI gives Auburn a 58% chance to win six games

Andrew Stefaniak

~2 minutes

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ESPN FPI is not buying the hype around this 2023 Auburn football team.

ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) is not buying the hype around this 2023 Auburn football team. 

Auburn added a lot via the transfer portal leading many to believe this football team can win seven-plus games this season. 

The FPI numbers give Auburn a 58.3% chance to win six games. FPI projects the Tiger's record to be in the range of 5.8-6.2, so there isn't a belief this team could be the sleeping giant. 

Auburn has a 0.2 percent chance to win the SEC West. Say you say there's a chance!

What Auburn has done in the portal has impressed many in the national media. 

Many around the program believe this team led by transfer quarterback Payton Thorne could win more games than many believe. 

It will be interesting to see what Auburn is able to do under Head Coach Hugh Freeze. 

Many are sleeping on this Tiger team, and I believe they will wake up soon. 

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247sports.com

 

Fan survey results Auburn fans optimistic for Year 1 of Hugh Freeze era

Nathan King

8–10 minutes

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The majority of Auburn fans who voted in our survey last week expect a few games' worth of improvement from the 2023 team

What are Auburn fans' expectations for Year 1 under Hugh Freeze?

Results from Auburn Undercover's 2023 fan survey, offered to readers last week, shows a healthy optimism from the orange and blue faithful toward the start of the program's new era under Freeze this fall. Fans were also polled about their thoughts on the 2023 schedule, the quarterback competition, transfers and more. We more than doubled our votes from last year's survey, so a big thank you is in order to our subscribers and readers.

Let's break down the voting.

 

How many games will Auburn win in the regular season?

 

(Jake Crandall / Syndication: Montgomery Advertiser, USA TODAY Sports)

• 8 — 49.7% of voters

• 7 — 28.5%

• 9+ — 16.7%

• 6 — 4%

• 4-5 — 1.2%

Nearly half of all voters would take the over for the Tigers in 2023, which is currently set at 6.5 by most betting outlets. The first question in our poll reflects major optimism from the Auburn fan base, as a three-win increase from last season would be an impressive feat for Freeze in Year 1 — especially in the regular season alone.

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Where will Auburn finish in the SEC West?

 

• 3rd-4th — 67.6%

• 5th-6th — 19%

• 2nd-1st — 12%

• 7th — 1.4%

LSU and Alabama figure to be the titans of the division once again — and their matchup Nov. 4 in Tuscaloosa could send the winner to the SEC title game — but there isn’t a clear-cut No. 3 entering the season. Texas A&M will be looking for a bounce-back campaign, and Arkansas has a veteran at quarterback.

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How will Freeze's first full recruiting class (2024) finish nationally?

 

• Top 15 — 48.2%

• Top 10 — 24%

• Top 25 — 8%

• Top 20 — 19.8%

Auburn has only five 2024 commits in the boat at the moment, but the program has gathered plenty of recruiting momentum since Freeze took over, and has already had a number of elite talents on campus in the month of June. 

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Which rival does Auburn have the best chance of beating?

 

(Gary Cosby Jr. / Syndication: The Tuscaloosa News, USA TODAY Sports)

• Alabama — 53.5%

• @ LSU — 41.1%

• Georgia — 5.4%

Freeze gets the advantage of starting in an odd-numbered year, meaning the Iron Bowl and Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry will be played in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Bulldogs seem to have less question marks than the Crimson Tide, at least at this juncture of the offseason. Beating LSU, meanwhile, would mean notching a second straight victory in Baton Rouge after not doing so in 10 straight trips to Death Valley.

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What will be Auburn's record against its other 5 SEC opponents? (@ Texas A&M, vs. Ole Miss, vs. Mississippi State., @ Vanderbilt, @ Arkansas)

 

• 4-1 — 49.6%

• 3-2 — 29.7%

• 5-0 — 16.7%

• 2-3 — 2.9%

• 1-4 — 1.1%

While Vanderbilt and Mississippi State look like matchups Auburn will be favored in, the other three are more difficult to project. Arkansas and Texas A&M on the road will be tough, while Ole Miss had its way with Auburn’s defense in Oxford last season.

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Which of the following SEC games scares you the most?

 

• @ Texas A&M — 62.6%

• @ Arkansas — 21.3%

• Ole Miss — 13.8%

• Mississippi State — 2.2%

Although Auburn beat the Aggies with Cadillac Williams as the interim coach last November, but Jimbo Fisher’s team looks to reload with its immense base of talent, and an SEC road game early in the season (Week 4) is never easy.

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Who will be Auburn's starting QB the majority of the season?

 

(Adam Cairns / Syndication: Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Sports)

• Payton Thorne — 87%

• Robby Ashford — 11.3%

• Holden Geriner — 1.6%

Auburn desperately needed an infusion of experience to elevate its quarterback room in Year 1 for Freeze, and Thorne looks to be the answer after transferring in from Michigan State. With 26 starts and 49 career touchdowns to his name, he certainly is much more proven on the Power Five level than Ashford, who started nine games last year and struggled behind a weak offensive line and with an inconsistent receiving corps.

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Will Auburn have a 1,000-yard rusher?

 

• Yes — 80.1%

• No — 19.9%

Tank Bigsby came just 30 yards shy last season of his second straight 1,000-yard campaign. Now the next in line is junior Jarquez Hunter, who looks to be complemented by USF transfer Brian Battie. Auburn fans are confident that a seemingly improved offensive line will yield a 1,000-yard rusher between those two.

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Who will be Auburn's leading receiver?

 

• WR Ja’Varrius Johnson — 28.5%

• WR Camden Brown — 20.2%

• WR Shane Hooks — 13.9%

• WR Jyaire Shorter — 13.7%

• TE Rivaldo Fairweather — 12.8%

• WR Koy Moore — 5.9%

• Other — 5.0%

Johnson has shown flashes of being an explosive playmaker over the past couple seasons, while a big-bodied target like Brown looked all the part of a huge red-zone threat last season. Auburn also added four transfers at the position, led by Hooks (Jackson State) and Shorter (North Texas), plus Freeze called Fairweather (FIU) the most consistent pass-catcher on the team during spring practice.

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Who will lead Auburn in sacks?

 

• JACK Jalen McLeod — 27.2%

• JACK Keldric Faulk — 22.2%

• JACK Elijah McAllister — 14.3%

• DT Marcus Harris — 9.6%

• LB Cam Riley — 9.6%

•Other — 5.3%

• DE Mosiah Nasili-Kite — 4.9%

• LB Larry Nixon III — 3.6%

• LB Austin Keys — 3.3%

Auburn doesn’t have a single returnee at its edge rusher spot — and that’s where newcomers like McLeod (App State transfer), Faulk (true freshman) and McAllister (Vanderbilt transfer) come in.

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Who will lead Auburn in tackles?

 

(Greg McWilliams, 247Sports)

• LB Cam Riley — 27.1%

• LB Austin Keys — 24%

• LB Larry Nixon III — 19.9%

• LB Wesley Steiner — 12.2%

• S Jaylin Simpson — 5.3%

• DB Keionte Scott — 4.1%

• S Zion Puckett — 3.6%

• Other — 2.2%

• DB Donovan Kaufman — 1.8%

Gone is four-year starter Owen Pappoe, who was Auburn’s leading tackler in each of the past two seasons. The top producing player in that category last season is Nixon, who had 105 tackles at North Texas, while Riley was Auburn’s No. 2 tackler last year. Scott, Kaufman, Simpson and Puckett also combined for 174 stops last year.

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Who will lead Auburn in pass breakups?

 

• CB Nehemiah Pritchett — 36.3%

• CB D.J. James — 32.7%

• DB Keionte Scott — 8.5%

• S Jaylin Simpson — 6.6%

• CB Kayin Lee — 4.7%

• S Zion Puckett — 4.1%

• DB Donovan Kaufman — 2.9%

• CB J.D. Rhym — 2.6%

• Other — 1.4%

Perhaps the strongest position group on the entire roster is cornerback, where Auburn’s top two contributors opted to return to school in favor of probable NFL draft selections. Based off last season, fans made the right choice here, considering Pritchett led Auburn with eight PBUs, followed closely by James with six.

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Who will be Auburn's most impactful true freshman?

 

• JACK Keldric Faulk — 54.9%

• RB Jeremiah Cobb — 21.7%

• CB Kayin Lee — 9.2%

• OL Connor Lew — 8.1%

• DL Darron Reed — 2.5%

• Other — 2.2%

• S Terrance Love — 1.4%

Not only did Faulk immediately flash his talent as a top-75 overall recruit during spring practice, but he did so at a major position of need for Auburn on the edge of the defensive line. Cobb will compete for No. 3 reps in the backfield, while Lee could end up as Auburn’s No. 4 cornerback.

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Who will be Auburn's most impactful offensive transfer?

 

• QB Payton Thorne — 67.3%

• TE Rivaldo Faiweather — 7.6%

• LT Dillon Wade — 5.9%

• C Avery Jones — 5.6%

• RB Brian Battie — 5.3%

• WR Shane Hooks — 3.3%

• WR Jyarie Shorter — 2.0%

• RT Gunner Britton — 1.9%

• Other — 1.2%

The top vote-getter here is pretty obvious, but the order of the other offensive transfers is what’s worth analyzing. Wade and Jones seemingly represent major upgrades on the offensive line at their respective spots, receivers like Hooks and Shorter pair directly with Thorne’s success in the passing game.

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Who will be Auburn's most impactful defensive transfer?

 

(Jason Caldwell / 247Sports)

• LB Austin Keys — 21.4%

• NT Justin Rogers — 20.7%

• JACK Jalen McLeod — 16.5%

• LB Larry Nixon III — 12.7%

• JACK Elijah McAllister — 12.4%

• DE Mosiah Nasili-Kite — 9.2%

• DT Lawrence Johnson — 6.8%

• Other — 2.4%

Auburn went heavy on the front seven in the transfer portal, and a pair of SEC transplants ended up as the top selections in this category. First-year position coach Josh Aldridge said in spring practice that Keys (Ole Miss) has “the perfect build” for a middle linebacker, while Rogers (Kentucky) will have an opportunity to unseat Jayson Jones as the anchor of Auburn’s defensive front.

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Jason Caldwells Monday morning quarterback column

Jason Caldwell

~4 minutes

Huge response for Auburn football camps

As I walked around Aubun’s packed indoor facility on Sunday during another Elite Camp in this first week of camp season for the Tigers under Hugh Freeze, I couldn’t help but think about what a difference a year makes.

Despite it being the third individual camp of the week to go along with a 7on7 camp and OL/DL camp as well, there were around 500 prospects in attendance with 2025 and 2026 prospects in abundance throughout the week. That’s what the summer camp season is all about, getting young players on your campus to start building a bond for the future.

In this day and age, it’s rare for upcoming seniors to camp individually at a school unless it’s to get an offer they were hoping for. But the 7on7 tournament is a different story and why it’s such a big deal at a place like Auburn.

This year looked like it did 15-20 years ago with top programs flocking to Auburn for the first of two 7on7’s, and teams that have prospects of their own. Getting Thompson, Central-Phenix City, Hewitt-Trussville, Clay-Chalkville, Vero Beach (Florida), Central Gwinnett (Georgia), Norcross (Georgia) and others on the Auburn campus with all of their prospects in tow was a huge win for Freeze and his staff heading into year number two. And there will be more where that came from this week.

Auburn basketball roster thoughts

With the addition of junior college forward Addarin Scott, coach Bruce Pearl’s Tigers look to be all set for the 2023-24 season and it’s a roster that has a much different look than the Tigers have had the past few years.

There is a whole lot more length for this group than in past seasons with six of the players at 6-7 or taller on the roster, including guys like Chad Baker-Mazara and Chaney Johnson who are capable of playing on the wing for the Tigers. Denver Jones isn’t a huge guard, but gives Auburn more size at the two-guard than they’ve had the last two seasons. 

Perhaps the biggest difference is at the point guard spot. Tre Donaldson is a big, physical guard that has the build of a football prospect (which he was). Aden Holloway is listed at 6-1, giving Auburn more length from the true freshman as well.

An issue for the Tigers the last few seasons has been a lack of length and it has caused some problems on the defensive end. That shouldn’t be an issue this season.

NCAA baseball thoughts

Sometimes you just don’t know how things are going to turn out. I did think two weeks ago that Oral Roberts was a crazy difficult 4-seed for Oklahoma State, but I never thought that would be a team that would make it to the College World Series. They are just the third 4-seed to make it to Omaha, joining Fresno State and Stony Brook to make that unlikely run. Fresno State finished it off by winning the national championship.

I don’t think this team is going to finish this run by dog-piling in Omaha however. I still think I would go with someone from the Southeastern Conference. LSU has to be considered the favorite the way that the one-two punch of Paul Skenes and Ty Floyd are pitching to go along with that offense. 

Last season Ole Miss essentially rode two arms and an explosive offense all the way to a championship. This LSU team could do much the same with a guy like Thatcher Hurd a very capable third option. 

The Tigers are my pick to win it all.

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 0 Koy Moore

JD McCarthy

7–9 minutes

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Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Hugh Freeze in his first season on the Plains.

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Up first is wide receiver Koy Moore who is entering his second season with the Tigers after transferring in from LSU ahead of the 2022 season.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Kenner, Louisiana

Ht: 6-1

Wt: 198

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four-Star // No. 11 in Louisiana // No. 50 WR

Class in 2023: Redshirt Junior

Career Stats

Year	G	Receptions	Yards	YPC	YPG	TDs
2020 (LSU)	8	22	177	8.1	22.1	0
2021 (LSU)	3	5	71	14.2	23.7	0
2022	12	20	314	15.7	26.2	1

PFF Rankings

Year	Offense	Passing	Run Blocking	Fumbles
2021	54.4	57.4	57.5	63.5

Depth Chart Overview

Moore is coming off the best season of his career where he set career highs in every major category and snagged the first touchdown of his collegiate career.

He was Auburn’s No. 2 wide receiver last season and is in contention to be a starter at the Z-Wide Receiver spot with transfer Jyaire Shorter who is just one of the four transfers Auburn has brought in to reshape the wide receiver room.

The additions of these experienced wide receivers should help the entire group as defenses are forced to contend with multiple threats. While it is a new offense, Moore is looking to break out in his second season on the Plains and his fourth season in the SEC.

Koy Moore’s Photo Gallery

AUBURN, AL - 2023.03.01 - Spring Practice

AUBURN, AL - March 01, 2023 - Auburn Wide Receiver Koy Moore (#0) during spring practice…

AUBURN, AL - March 01, 2023 - Auburn Wide Receiver Koy Moore (#0) during spring practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL. Photo by Declan Greene

Koy Moore

Auburn wide receiver Koy Moore carries the ball against Mercer during the second half of an…

Auburn wide receiver Koy Moore carries the ball against Mercer during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Football

Koy Moore (0) celebrates during the Football Game between the Auburn Tigers and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers…

Koy Moore (0) celebrates during the Football Game between the Auburn Tigers and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Jordan Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Nov 19, 2022. Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn Tigers wide receiver Koy Moore (0) catches a pass between LSU Tigers linebacker Harold Perkins…

Auburn Tigers wide receiver Koy Moore (0) catches a pass between LSU Tigers linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (40) and defensive back Colby Richardson (22) as Auburn Tigers take on LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Auburn Tigers lead LSU Tigers 17-14 at halftime.

LSU v Auburn

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 01: Koy Moore #0 of the Auburn Tigers hauls in a pass…

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 01: Koy Moore #0 of the Auburn Tigers hauls in a pass beyond the reach of Harold Perkins Jr. #40 of the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 1, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)

LSU v Auburn

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 01: Koy Moore #0 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates a big gain…

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 01: Koy Moore #0 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates a big gain against the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 1, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)

Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn Tigers wide receiver Koy Moore (0) catches a pass as Auburn Tigers take on Missouri…

Auburn Tigers wide receiver Koy Moore (0) catches a pass as Auburn Tigers take on Missouri Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. Auburn Tigers defeated Missouri Tigers 17-14.

Missouri v Auburn

AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 24: Wide receiver Koy Moore #0 of the Auburn Tigers catches a…

AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 24: Wide receiver Koy Moore #0 of the Auburn Tigers catches a pass in front of defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine #14 of the Missouri Tigers during the second half of play at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Penn St Auburn Football

Auburn wide receiver Koy Moore (0) catches a pass over Penn State cornerback Kalen King (4)…

Auburn wide receiver Koy Moore (0) catches a pass over Penn State cornerback Kalen King (4) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

NCAA Football: Western Kentucky at Auburn

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Koy Moore (0) prepares to catch…

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Koy Moore (0) prepares to catch a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

FTBL: FOOTBALL

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Al, USA; Koy Moore (0) catches a pass from Jarquez Hunter (27)…

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Al, USA; Koy Moore (0) catches a pass from Jarquez Hunter (27) during the game between Auburn and Western Kentucky at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Zach Bland/AU Athletics

Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn Tigers wide receiver Koy Moore (0) goes after the ball against LSU as the Auburn…

Auburn Tigers wide receiver Koy Moore (0) goes after the ball against LSU as the Auburn Tigers take on the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Aulsu25

Mercer Auburn Football

Auburn wide receiver Koy Moore (0) carries the ball as Mercer linebacker Marques Thomas (55) closes…

Auburn wide receiver Koy Moore (0) carries the ball as Mercer linebacker Marques Thomas (55) closes in for a tackle during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

NCAA Football: Western Kentucky at Auburn

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Koy Moore (0) catches a touchdown…

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Koy Moore (0) catches a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

15 Auburn-9

10/15/22; Oxford, MS, USA; Koy Moore (0) carry Auburn vs Ole Miss

10/15/22; Oxford, MS, USA; Koy Moore (0) carry Auburn vs Ole Miss Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

Auburn v Ole Miss

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - OCTOBER 15: Koy Moore #0 of the Auburn Tigers carries the ball during…

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - OCTOBER 15: Koy Moore #0 of the Auburn Tigers carries the ball during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

AU FB practice

Koy Moore (0)

Koy Moore (0) Auburn football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

080522_Training Camp Day 1_Koy Moore_AK-2

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athlonsports.com

 

Auburn Football: 2023 Tigers Season Preview and Prediction

Athlon Sports

5–6 minutes

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A new era at Auburn begins in 2023, as Hugh Freeze takes over as the program's head coach following a two-year stint under Bryan Harsin. Freeze is no stranger to life in the SEC following a previous run at Ole Miss but is inheriting a program in need of repair following an 11-14 mark over the last two seasons. With major needs on both sides of the ball, along with an effort to spark immediate improvement, Freeze hit the portal hard for help. Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne's post-spring commitment solidifies the quarterback spot, while a handful of additions in the December window improved the outlook along a thin offensive line and on defense. Freeze isn't expected to lead Auburn to the SEC title in '23. But if the Tigers can return to the bowl scene and earn a winning record, it will be considered a successful debut for the new regime on the Plains.

Related: College Football Rankings for 2023

Previewing Auburn's Offense for 2023

New head coach Hugh Freeze is tasked with injecting life into an offense that ranked 11th in the SEC in scoring (24.8 points) and yards per play (5.7) while featuring one of the nation’s worst passing attacks (119th nationally). He brought in Philip Montgomery as offensive coordinator, and the two aim to implement a productive RPO-based spread system.

They revamped the offensive line, bringing in a trio of plug-and-play transfers at left tackle (Tulsa’s Dillon Wade), center (ECU’s Avery Jones) and right tackle (WKU’s Gunner Britton). Another Tulsa transfer (Jaden Muskrat) was added after the completion of spring practice and could help at guard this fall.

The Tigers have a running back room led by Jarquez Hunter (career 6.5 yards per carry) and a receiving corps that prioritized length this offseason, with 6-foot-4 tight end transfer Rivaldo Fairweather (FIU) and 6-6 receiver Nick Mardner (Cincinnati) joining a group that includes 6-3 sophomore Camden Brown, who was underutilized in 2022. Finding help at receiver was a priority in the spring portal window, and Freeze landed former four-star recruit Caleb Burton from Ohio State, Shane Hooks from Jackson State and Jyaire Shorter from North Texas.

The question is whether they have the quarterback to make it all hum. Robby Ashford (who started the final nine games of 2022), T.J. Finley (who started the first three) and Holden Geriner competed for the job through spring. However, Finley transferred to Texas State, and former Michigan State signal-caller Payton Thorne committed to play for Freeze in May. Ashford left spring as the favorite to start, but Thorne's experience and overall play in the Big Ten should give him the inside track to start once he gets acclimated to the new offense.

Previewing Auburn's Defense for 2023

Auburn’s defense fell off a cliff in 2022, allowing the third-most points in program history (29.5 per game; 98th nationally) and giving up more 40-point games (five) than any other season before it. Enter Ron Roberts, the new defensive coordinator who spent the last three years at Baylor and whose coaching tree includes Dave Aranda, Pete Golding and Patrick Toney.

Roberts wants to generate a havoc rate (TFL, forced fumble, INT or PBU) north of 20 percent with a restocked defensive line that returns Marcus Harris and adds a trio of Power 5 transfers, including former Kentucky interior lineman Justin Rogers. Questions remain off the edge, where Auburn is short on true pass rushers. However, the arrival of Appalachian State transfer Jalen McLeod to join former Vanderbilt edge Elijah McAllister and freshman Keldric Faulk has eased concerns. 

The back seven returns every key piece, including corners Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James, from a unit that finished among the nation’s top 25 in pass efficiency defense (121.34) and fewest yards allowed per pass attempt (6.48).

Related: SEC Football 2023 All-Conference Team

Previewing Auburn's Specialists for 2023

The Carlson kicking dynasty is over at Auburn, making way for a member of another big-name kicking family: Alex McPherson, the younger brother of NFL standout Evan McPherson. Alex McPherson was 6-of-7 on field goals in three games late last season and takes over the job full time. The Tigers also return senior punter Oscar Chapman, who was ninth nationally in net punting (42.3 net yards per punt), and welcome return specialist Brian Battie, who was a consensus All-America kick returner at USF in 2021.

Final Analysis

Freeze has his work cut out for him trying to revive a program that bottomed out under Bryan Harsin, finishing 5-7 and missing a bowl game for the first time since 2012. Freeze, in his return to the SEC after six seasons away, has tried to temper expectations while still maintaining a belief he can turn things around in quick order. Whether he’ll be able to do that will hinge on finding the right quarterback to helm his system, but just making a bowl in Year 1 should be considered progress.

National Ranking: 39

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