6.24.23 Football Articles

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Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 9 Robby Ashford

JD McCarthy

8–10 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 next is returning starting quarterback Robby Ashford. Ashford flashed his potential last season but struggled at times and is now battling Michigan State transfer Peyton Thorne for the starting job.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Hoover, Alabama

Height: 6-3

Weight: 218

Previous School: Oregon (2020-21)

Class in 2023: Sophomore

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four-Star / No. 12 in AL / No. 12 QB

Career Stats

Year	G	Completion Percentage	Yards	TDs	INTs	Rushing Yards	TDs
2022	12	49% (123-250)	1,613	7	7	710	7

PFF Grades

Year	Offense	Passing	Running	Pass Block	Run Block
2022	58.6	50.1	67.4	62.2	60.6

Depth Chart Overview

Ashford went through spring as Auburn’s No. 1 quarterback but Hugh Freeze and Co. then went out and added a veteran transfer in Thorne and he is certainly the favorite to win the job.

Even if Ashford is unable to win the job, he could still have a role due to his rushing ability. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season and defenses would have to honor his ability to throw the ball.

He is still just a sophomore and if he can improve his accuracy and decision making then he has a chance to be an important part of Auburn’s quarterback room moving forward.

Robby Ashford’s Photo Gallery

San Jose St Auburn Football

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford (9) stiff-arms San Jose State linebacker Jordan Cobbs (44) as he carries…

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford (9) stiff-arms San Jose State linebacker Jordan Cobbs (44) as he carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

San Jose St Auburn Football

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford warms up for the team's NCAA college football game against San Jose…

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford warms up for the team's NCAA college football game against San Jose State on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Auburn Football: A-Day

Apr 9, 2022; Auburn, AL, USA; Robby Ashford (9) looks for a pass during Auburn Football…

Apr 9, 2022; Auburn, AL, USA; Robby Ashford (9) looks for a pass during Auburn Football A-Day at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Photographer: Jacob Taylor/AU Athletics

Mercer Auburn Football

Auburn's Robby Ashford (9) celebrates a touchdown run by Auburn's Jarquez Hunter, not pictured, during the…

Auburn's Robby Ashford (9) celebrates a touchdown run by Auburn's Jarquez Hunter, not pictured, during the second half of an NCAA football game against Mercer on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

Missouri Auburn Football

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford warms up before the start of an NCAA college football game between…

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford warms up before the start of an NCAA college football game between Auburn and Missouri Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Missouri Auburn Football

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford reacts after making a first down during the first half of an…

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford reacts after making a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Penn St Auburn Football

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford rolls out to pass during the second half of an NCAA college…

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford rolls out to pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Texas A&M v Auburn

AUBURN, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 12: Defensive lineman Morris Joseph Jr. #91 of the Auburn Tigers and…

AUBURN, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 12: Defensive lineman Morris Joseph Jr. #91 of the Auburn Tigers and quarterback Robby Ashford #9 of the Auburn Tigers celebrate after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

FTBL: FOOTBALL

Nov 26, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Al, USA; Robby Ashford (9) celebrates touchdown during the game between Auburn…

Nov 26, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Al, USA; Robby Ashford (9) celebrates touchdown during the game between Auburn and Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

FTBL: FOOTBALL

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Al, USA; Robby Ashford (9) celebrates after the game between Auburn and…

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Al, USA; Robby Ashford (9) celebrates after the game between Auburn and Western Kentucky at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Zach Bland/AU Athletics

NCAA Football: Western Kentucky at Auburn

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) celebrates after the Tigers…

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) celebrates after the Tigers scored a touchdown against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

NCAA Football: Western Kentucky at Auburn

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) shows a pass during…

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) shows a pass during the second quarter against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

FTBL: FOOTBALL

Nov 5, 2022; Starkville, MS, USA; Robby Ashford (9) throws for the pass during the game…

Nov 5, 2022; Starkville, MS, USA; Robby Ashford (9) throws for the pass during the game between Auburn and Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium . Todd Van Emst / AU Athletics

Arkansas v Auburn

AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Robby Ashford #9 of the Auburn Tigers looks for an…

AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Robby Ashford #9 of the Auburn Tigers looks for an open player during the first half of their game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) throws the ball as the Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas…

Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) throws the ball as the Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Arkansas Razorbacks leads Auburn Tigers 17-13 at halftime.

FTBL: FOOTBALL

10/15/22: Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Robby Ashford (9) points to the sky after a touchdown during the…

10/15/22: Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Robby Ashford (9) points to the sky after a touchdown during the game Auburn vs Ole Miss Austin Perryman/AU Athletics Austin Perryman/AU Athletics

FTBL: FOOTBALL

10/15/22: Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Robby Ashford (9) celebrates a touchdown during the game Auburn vs Ole…

10/15/22: Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Robby Ashford (9) celebrates a touchdown during the game Auburn vs Ole Miss Austin Perryman/AU Athletics Austin Perryman/AU Athletics

Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) passes behind offensive lineman Brandon Council (71), offensive lineman Kilian…

Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) passes behind offensive lineman Brandon Council (71), offensive lineman Kilian Zierer (77) and offensive lineman Kameron Stutts (62) against LSU as the Auburn Tigers take on the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Aulsu14

FTBL: FOOTBALL

Oct 1, 2022; Auburn, AL, USA; Robby Ashford (9) runs the ball during the game between…

Oct 1, 2022; Auburn, AL, USA; Robby Ashford (9) runs the ball during the game between Auburn and LSU at Jordan-Hare Stadium . Todd van Emst / AU Athletics

Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) celebrates his first down run as Auburn Tigers take on…

Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) celebrates his first down run as Auburn Tigers take on Missouri Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.

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Auburn briefing: Tigers in position for high profile names in 2024 recruiting class

Lance Dawe

2–3 minutes

Auburn football continues to make the final cuts for some big time names in the 2024 recruiting class.

Auburn football continues to make the final cuts for some big time names in the 2024 recruiting class.

Auburn's 2024 class includes four-stars Walker White (QB), A'Mon Lane (DB), Jayden Lewis (DB), J'Marion Burnette (RB), Joseph Phillips (LB), and Kensley Faustin (S), as well as three-stars Martavious Collins (TE) and Bryce Cain (WR).

They're in position to get a few more guys within the coming months.

We wrote it

Auburn has their eyes on a lot of 2024 targets.

Here are five names that could change the Tigers' 2024 class into something special.

LJ Cray, a four-star DL out of Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, has included the Tigers in his top five schools. Auburn is alongside Georgia, Florida, Miami, and Florida State.

Read about him here.

Auburn is pushing hard after three-star defensive back Rydarrius "Red" Morgan.

Many hear three-star and lose interest, but if you look at Morgan's offer list, he definitely won't be a three-star for very long.

Read about Red here. 

Tweet of the day

The Kick Six will never, ever get old.

Auburn football kicks off the 2023 season at home vs UMass on September 2nd. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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247sports.com

Most Valuable Tigers No 22

Nathan King

5–7 minutes

We're still in the heart of the college football offseason, more than two weeks removed from spring practice, media days still a month away, and more than two months until the start of the 2023 season, Auburn’s first under Hugh Freeze.

So what better time to crank up the rankings? As we do annually this time of year, Auburn Undercover is counting down the top 25 most valuable players for the Tigers' 2023 season.

A few notes to set the table: These rankings are based on a player's previous contributions to the team, as well as his assumed impact in 2023 — how important he is expected to be to Auburn's success in both production and the win-loss column.

It is not simply Auburn's best players in descending order. If a freshman is included on the list, his positioning is obviously a projection of his talent and significance to his respective position group.

Next up is No. 22: veteran safety Zion Puckett.

AS A RECRUIT

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Class: 2019

247Sports ranking: No. 16 S, No. 190 overall (4-star)

247Sports high school scouting report: “Enough size as both a safety and a wide receiver with the ability to play either on the next level. On defense, shows some nastiness. Has wide receiver caliber ball skills. Instinctive at safety. Is not a rare athlete. Doesn’t show a lot of man coverage reps and may struggle matched up on receivers early in his college career. Has the natural football acumen to be an early contributor on either side of the football and has mid-round NFL Draft upside on defense.”

(Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports)

AS A PLAYER

After how the top of Auburn's 2019 class has since been gutted with departures, Puckett is one of the highest-rated recruits on Auburn's entire roster. But just like his 2019 classmate, receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson, his college progression was underscored by injuries really until last year.

His freshman season, he appeared in only four games to maintain his redshirt. In 2020, the Tigers still had plenty of depth at nickel and safety, but Puckett was able to fashion himself a decent role behind Christian Tutt at the nickel spot, grabbing 15 tackles and two tackles for loss in nine games.

With Tutt gone, though, Puckett had an opportunity for a starting role at nickel in 2021, competing primarily against Vanderbilt transfer Donovan Kaufman. Puckett, a sturdy defensive back at 6 feet and 227 pounds, quietly turned in a productive season, finishing top 10 on the team in tackles with 48. The former top-150 recruit from Georgia could have had more, but he missed four games with a shoulder injury. After the regular season, Puckett decided to undergo surgery and missed the bowl game against Houston.

Last year was Puckett’s most productive all-around college season. With Auburn having lost Smoke Monday, Jamien Sherwood and Bydarrius Knighten to the NFL, Puckett slid into a starting safety role alongside Kaufman. Finishing No. 7 on the team with 45 tackles, Puckett also registered a tackle for loss, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

We’ll continue to reference Pro Football Focus numbers in the series, and although they aren’t everything, they did indicate some big struggles for Puckett last season. He had the worst overall grade on the entire defense, including the worst pure coverage grade (41.4) and the second-worst run defense grade among starters on defense.

2023 OUTLOOK

While Jaylin Simpson looks to have a higher ceiling at the safety position for Auburn this season, Puckett is still an important returning veteran who will help to lead a highly experienced secondary.

Puckett was occasionally fashioned as a linebacker hybrid within Auburn’s defense in his earlier seasons, and while he’s still capable of creeping up to the second level of the defense due to his physicality, another year of stability at safety should serve him well.

The fifth-year senior should have a strong grip on his starting job, but role players like Cayden Bridges and Marquise Gilbert have continued to progress over the past year and will certainly push for more playing time. Kaufman, who split time with Keionte Scott at nickel during spring practice, is also capable of sliding back to safety if need be.

With the Tigers still breaking in a new defensive coordinator in Ron Roberts, Puckett will continue to be looked to as a coach on the field, bringing younger players along and ensuring Auburn is sound in its assignments this season. Puckett was described as that kind of player by his peers and coaches during spring ball, and that could be his most crucial attribute in what could be his final college season. Puckett redshirted his freshman year and still can utilize his COVID-19 season.

WHAT THEY SAID

“We call him Teach Tape 10. He does everything perfect in terms of teach tapes. He does everything right from a technique standpoint. He is really a vocal guy. Everybody in the room, when they have a question they go to Zion because he actually studied the game.” — Auburn safeties coach Zac Etheridge

WHAT SAY YOU?

What do you think of Puckett’s spot in our Most Valuable Tigers rankings? Too high? Too low? Just right? Share your thoughts on the Bodda Getta message board, on Twitter or on Facebook.

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247sports.com

Most Valuable Tigers No 23

Nathan King

5–6 minutes

We're still in the heart of the college football offseason, more than two weeks removed from spring practice, media days still a month away, and more than two months until the start of the 2023 season, Auburn’s first under Hugh Freeze.

So what better time to crank up the rankings? As we do annually this time of year, Auburn Undercover is counting down the top 25 most valuable players for the Tigers' 2023 season.

A few notes to set the table: These rankings are based on a player's previous contributions to the team, as well as his assumed impact in 2023 — how important he is expected to be to Auburn's success in both production and the win-loss column.

It is not simply Auburn's best players in descending order. If a freshman is included on the list, his positioning is obviously a projection of his talent and significance to his respective position group.

Next up is No. 23: North Texas linebacker transfer Larry Nixon III.

AS A RECRUIT

Hometown: Richland, Texas

Class: 2018

247Sports ranking: No. 198 OLB, N/A overall (2-star)

(North Texas Athletics)

AS A PLAYER

If he carves out a significant role in the defense, Nixon would be one of the biggest success stories at Auburn in 2023 in terms of recruiting stature, considering he was ranked as the No. 426 player in the state of Texas alone by 247Sports back in the 2018 class.

Nixon redshirted his first season with the Mean Green and had 17 tackles the following year before settling into a primary role in 2020, logging 23 starts over the following three seasons.

One of the most productive players in the Group of Five last year, Nixon earned first team All-Conference USA honors after posting 105 tackles with the Mean Green. In four years at North Texas, Nixon compiled 245 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

Nixon went through spring practice with North Texas under first-year head coach Eric Morris before entering the portal in late April. Three weeks later, he became Auburn’s 18th transfer pickup of the cycle — and he committed to Auburn on the same day as his North Texas teammate, receiver Jyaire Shorter. Nixon chose the Tigers over transfer suitors Miami and West Virginia.

2023 OUTLOOK

Nixon becomes one of the Tigers’ most veteran pieces for first-year coordinator Ron Roberts’ defense, after he appeared in 40 games playing for North Texas in his home state.

First-year position coach Josh Aldridge said during spring practices that there are a number of players in his room who are versatile enough to play either middle or weakside ‘backer — particularly Cam Riley. Ole Miss transfer Austin Keys has the “perfect Mike build to him,” according to Aldridge, and he and Wesley Steiner shared first-team reps there throughout spring ball.

That would seemingly slot Nixon into a role on the weakside, which would be on track with the skill set he displayed at North Texas. According to Pro Football Focus, only 12.7 percent of his snaps last season came at middle linebacker.

There, he’ll likely compete with the lengthy and athletic Riley, who started eight games last season. But at the end of the day, as Aldridge and Roberts harped on during the spring, Auburn’s defense wants at least four or five linebackers who can consistently rotate over the course of a game. A situation like that of Owen Pappoe — who played an absurd 90.2 percent of Auburn’s defensive snaps last season — should be a thing of the past for a new coaching staff that’s put a big emphasis on depth and rotation.

Considering Nixon’s experience level and superb production last season as the No. 4 leading tackler in Conference USA, there should be little reason to think he won’t be a factor in that refreshing equation for Auburn’s linebacking corps this season.

Nixon could very likely end up as one of Auburn's most important — and productive — players on defense in a starting role, but the Tigers also have a handful of other options in the linebacking corps, and for now he'll sit behind a number of returning starters on both sides of the ball.

WHAT THEY SAID

“Larry Nixon is a tackling machine. … Just his passion, the way he ran to the football and the way he's a solid tackler. You just can't have enough of those guys. And I think he's going to come in and compete for a starting position, I really do.” — Freeze

WHAT SAY YOU?

What do you think of Nixon’s spot in our Most Valuable Tigers rankings? Too high? Too low? Just right? Share your thoughts on the Bodda Getta message board, on Twitter or on Facebook.

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247sports.com

 

How Hugh Freeze fared against every SEC team at Ole Miss

Nathan King

6–8 minutes

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Freeze will coach just one season back in the league before it undergoes expansion to 16 teams next year

Much has changed since the last time Hugh Freeze coached in the SEC. Numerous coaching changes aside, Freeze will coach just one season back in the league before it undergoes expansion to 16 teams next year, adding Texas and Oklahoma.

At Ole Miss, Freeze compiled a 19-21 overall SEC record across five seasons, with a strong two-year stretch from 2014-15 in which the Rebels went 11-5 in the league and were ranked in the top 5 for multiple weeks.

Those numbers, of course, ignore the 27 wins that were vacated from Freeze’s tenure after the program’s NCAA violations.

A comparison from Freeze’s tenure in Oxford to his new situation at Auburn obviously isn’t apples to apples. With the Tigers, he’ll be expected to field more talented squads on an annual basis, and Auburn traditionally has higher standards in terms of wins. Of course, many aspect of Freeze’s contributions at Ole Miss would certainly constitute success on the Plains, seeing as he brought in a pair of top-10 recruiting classes, and had the Rebels ranked in the top 10 for 11 weeks across the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

We’ll take a look here at how Freeze fared against every SEC opponent during his last coaching stint in the conference — and for obvious reasons there’s no Ole Miss here, and Auburn will also be omitted. Ole Miss did not face Kentucky or South Carolina under Freeze.

 

ALABAMA

 

Overall record: 2-3

Biggest win: 43-37 at Alabama (2015)

Biggest loss: 25-0 at Alabama (2013)

Next Auburn matchup: 2023

Naturally, Freeze’s success against Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide generated plenty of attention nearly a decade ago, and it still does now, as Freeze now becomes the only SEC head coach with multiple wins over Alabama in his career. The Rebels almost had a three-peat, too, leading Alabama 24-3 in 2016 before Jalen Hurts led a Crimson Tide comeback in Oxford. The 43 points scored by Ole Miss in 2015 remain the third-most by a team in Tuscaloosa under Saban, after Auburn in 2014 and LSU in 2019.

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ARKANSAS

 

Overall record: 2-3

Biggest win: 34-24 vs. Arkansas (2013)

Biggest loss: 30-0 at Arkansas (2014)

Next Auburn matchup: 2023

Ole Miss seemed positioned for a 10-win season in 2014 before faceplanting on the road in an unsightly loss to the Razorbacks. The loss was one of three straight for Freeze against Bret Bielema and Arkansas, after the Rebels took the first two in the series after Freeze became head coach. Freeze was able to get one back against Arkansas with Liberty this past season, though, taking down the Razorbacks 21-19 in Fayetteville.

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FLORIDA

 

Overall record: 0-1

Next Auburn matchup: TBD

Much like the Arkansas loss in 2014, Ole Miss’ 38-10 defeat in Gainesville was a blemish in an otherwise impressive season that saw the Rebels rise as high as No. 3 in the AP poll after a 4-0 start. The Gators were slated to face Auburn in 2024 before the SEC schedules were reworked in preparation for Texas and Oklahoma joining the league.

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GEORGIA

 

Overall record: 1-1

Next Auburn matchup: 2023

Kirby Smart said earlier this offseason that Freeze brings a “tremendous” offense back to the SEC at Auburn: “He’s got great belief in his players and his system. His players believe in him. He’s a really good leader and a great football coach.” Freeze bested Smart’s Alabama defenses twice in 2014 and 2015, then Ole Miss blasted Smart’s first Georgia team, 45-14 in 2016. In all, Freeze’s offenses at Ole Miss averaged 23.6 points across five meetings against Smart’s defenses — both as Alabama’s coordinator and Georgia’s head coach.

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LSU

 

Overall record: 2-3

Biggest win: 38-17 vs. LSU (2015)

Biggest loss: 38-21 at LSU (2016)

Next Auburn matchup: 2023

Before Freeze arrived, Ole Miss had lost nine of its last 12 meetings against LSU, including a 52-3 shellacking in Oxford the year before Freeze became head coach. After falling 41-35 in Baton Rouge in Year 1, Freeze took two of the next three from the Bayou Bengals, including a victory over No. 6 LSU in 2014, when the Rebels were unranked. Freeze gets the difficult task of not only traveling to Baton Rouge this coming season, but also facing a loaded LSU team that won the division last season.

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MISSISSIPPI STATE

 

Overall record: 3-2

Biggest win: 41-24 vs. Miss State (2012)

Biggest loss: 55-20 vs. Miss State (2016)

Next Auburn matchup: 2023

With the Egg Bowl serving as the biggest rivalry for Freeze’s Ole Miss teams, the matchups from 2012-16 were also during some of the most successful seasons in Mississippi State program history under Dan Mullen. Still, Freeze was able to guide Ole Miss to a winning record in the series overall, including a victory over the No. 6 Bulldogs in 2014, and another ranked win the following year.

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MISSOURI

 

Overall record: 0-1

Next Auburn matchup: 2024

Freeze matched up with Missouri only once — in Year 2 at Ole Miss, when his Rebels lost 24-10 at home to Gary Pinkel’s team. In fact, Ole Miss is 1-7 all time against the Tigers, and Freeze will have an opportunity to notch his first career win in the series next year, when Auburn travels to Columbia as part of the reworked SEC schedule.

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TENNESSEE

 

Overall record: 1-0

Next Auburn matchup: TBD

Freeze’s 2014 team decimated Tennessee, 34-3 in Oxford after beating No. 14 Texas A&M and No. 3 Alabama the two weeks prior. The nearest possible matchup for Freeze to face the Vols again would be 2025, and Tennessee looks to be on a major upswing in both on-field success and recruiting under Josh Heupel.

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TEXAS A&M

 

Overall record: 3-2

Biggest win: 23-3 vs. Texas A&M (2015)

Biggest loss: 41-38 vs. Texas A&M (2013)

Next Auburn matchup: 2023

Freeze and the Rebels fell victim to the Johnny Manziel experience in each of his first two seasons with the program, then the Rebels won three straight over the Aggies, all of which were over top-15-ranked Texas A&M teams. If Freeze is able to win in College Station this September, Jimbo Fisher would have losses to three different Auburn coaches since 2019 (Gus Malzahn, Cadillac Williams and Freeze).

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si.com

DJ James is one of the best returning corners in the SEC

Andrew Stefaniak

~2 minutes

DJ James is one of the highest graded returning corners in the SEC.

DJ James was lockdown for the Tigers last season, and his Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade proves that statement. 

James has the third-best returning PFF grade in the SEC with an 82.3.

James was behind only Kool-Aid McKinstry of Alabama at 82.5 and DeShawn Gaddie of Ole Miss (previously at North Texas) at 84.8. 

James is in for a big 2023 season that will likely shoot him up, draft boards. 

No one would be surprised if James worked his way into a day two NFL Draft selection. 

James and teammate Nehemiah Pritchett will be one of the best one-two punches in college football this season. 

With James locking down wideouts in the SEC, moving the ball through the air against the Auburn Tigers will be tough. 

When it's all said and done, I expect James to be one of the best corners in college football this season. 

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247sports.com

College football Texas AM Miami among CBS Sports projected bounceback teams for 2023 season

Raymond Lucas Jr.

8–10 minutes

Some of these teams are in desperate need of improvement after struggling last season.

The 2022 season is in the rearview mirror as we inch closer to the upcoming season. There are several teams looking to get back on track after struggling last season and CBS Sports' David Cobb listed 10 teams poised for bounce-back seasons in 2023. 

Featured on this list are teams that overachieved, struggled as predicted or took a step forward last season. Cobb pointed at USC and Florida State as examples of programs that were able to bounce back last season. 

"A year ago, USC and Florida State were coming off losing seasons and looking to find their footing again as proud programs stuck spinning their wheels in the mud of mediocrity," Cobb wrote. "Both reclaimed their standing among the sport's premier teams in short order, with USC finishing 11-3 in Year 1 under coach Lincoln Riley and Florida State reaching 10 wins for the first time since 2016."

Get offseason and recruiting information on your favorite college team for $1 for first month.

Below are 10 programs that could bounce back and reach a bowl game in 2023. 

Appalachian State

(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

Appalachian State had a rare down-year last season. It opened the season with a 63-61 loss to North Carolina and then beat Texas A&M the following weekend, so the Mountaineers eventually missing a bowl game was surprising. In 2023, a rematch with North Carolina awaits. A win against the Tar Heels last season would've given Appalachian State enough to play in a bowl game, so winning the rematch could be rewarding.

CBS Sports: "The Mountaineers missed the postseason for the first time since 2014 (a transition year to the Football Bowl Subdivision) after finishing 6-6 last season but weren't bowl eligible since two of their victories were against FCS teams. Don't expect it to become a trend."

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FAU

(Photo: Dylan Widger)

FAU landed Nebraska transfer quarterback Casey Thompson, who showed promise last season in the Big Ten and throughout his time at Texas. He threw 17 touchdowns with 10 interceptions while logging 2,407 passing yards in 2022. Thompson needs to show more consistency before he's deemed savior of the Owls and a fresh start could help him achieve that.

CBS Sports: "Games at Clemson and Illinois are tough. But FAU's AAC slate is manageable and provides a path to bowl eligibility for the Owls."

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Arizona

(Photo: Arizona Athletics)

Can Arizona improve upon last season's growth in a steeper Pac-12 than we saw in 2022? We'll see. The Wildcats have utilized the transfer portal to haul in new talent while developing younger players that saw action last season. How the team blends will determine what type of success we see out of the Wildcats. Progress will be tougher to evaluate this season on the West Coast due to the depth of the Pac-12.

CBS Sports: "Offensively, the Wildcats are well-positioned to score in bunches. If the defense can even be decent, then Arizona will go bowling in coach Jedd Fisch's third season."

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Iowa State

(Photo: Bryon Houlgrave, USA TODAY Sports)

Iowa State's season concluded with a 62-14 loss to TCU. That blowout loss was only the second game the Cyclones lost by double-figures. Losing close games is demoralizing and a reflection of missed opportunities. Proper execution in 2022 would've resulted in a trip to a bowl game, which is why it's not wise to judge a team's 2023 potential strictly off its record from the previous year.

CBS Sports: "Six of Iowa State's eight Big 12 losses in 2022 came by a single possession as the Cyclones limped to a 4-8 mark, ending a five-year bowl streak. But it was likely just an aberration for a program that is on firm footing under eighth-year coach Matt Campbell."

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Virginia Tech

 (Photo: Grant Halverson, Getty)

Virginia Tech opened the 2022 campaign with a 20-17 loss to Old Dominion. It responded with wins over Boston College and Wofford but won just one game from that point. The Hokies open the 2023 season with a rematch against Old Dominion and would love to start the season off right by getting revenge on their in-state foe. The Hokies' toughest ACC foe is Florida State, avoiding a matchup with Clemson along with clashes with North Carolina and Duke.

CBS Sports: "With two non-conference games against Big Ten teams, Virginia Tech is not an obvious choice to make significant strides from last season's 3-8 mark under coach Brent Pry."

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Michigan State

(Photo: Sean Scherer, 247Sports)

Michigan State has had a rough offseason due to the transfer portal, losing quarterback Payton Thorne to Auburn and wide receiver Keon Coleman to Florida State. Thorne wasn't the guaranteed starter, but he had game experience that Noah Kim and Katin Houser both lack. Thorne had 19 touchdowns to 11 interceptions a season ago. What's left is a team that's been counted out and could have added motivation to silence doubters. The Spartans could leave the nation stunned if able to topple Washington in Week 3.

CBS Sports: "MSU finished 11-2 in coach Mel Tucker's first season, but last season marked a disappointing return to Earth."

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Miami

(Photo: Christopher Stock, Getty)

Mario Cristobal enters his second season at the helm of his alma mater and growth is expected now that he's had more time to establish a new culture. The Hurricanes took their lumps last season and the low-point was a lopsided defeat to Middle Tennessee. The 2023 season provides quarterback Tyler Van Dyke an opportunity to silence critics and reinsert himself into NFL Draft conversations.

CBS Sports: "Barring another unthinkable non-conference loss against Miami (Ohio), Bethune-Cookman or Temple, the Hurricanes will need just three ACC wins to reach bowl eligibility. With Georgia Tech, Virginia, Louisville and Boston College on the schedule, that shouldn't be a problem."

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Nebraska

(Photo: Michael Bruntz, Getty)

Nebraska hit the transfer portal hard in search of instant results and the result is a heightened ceiling ahead of Matt Rhule's first season at the helm. Nebraska was a mess last season, falling to Northwestern and Georgia Southern in two of its first three games. The Cornhuskers aren't ready to compete for the Big Ten title but are capable of shaking things up with upset victories.

CBS Sports: "An improvement on last season's 1-2 non-conference record seems like a guarantee in Year 1 of Matt Rhule's tenure."

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Auburn

(Photo: Austin Perryman / Auburn Athletics)

Auburn is in a better place than it was a year ago because of the hire of Hugh Freeze. The Tigers boast the No. 3 transfer class, which features 11 four-stars and eight three-stars. Auburn went 5-7 last season and Freeze has a solid foundation to build on as he looks to rebuild the program into a SEC contender. 

CBS Sports: "The last time Auburn failed to reach a bowl in consecutive seasons was 1998 and 1999. It could be close, but the Tigers ought to reach six wins in coach Hugh Freeze's first season." 

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Texas A&M

(Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)

Everything that could go wrong did for Texas A&M last season and that disrupted its aspirations of competing for the SEC championship. The Aggies are the most talented team in this analysis and in theory, that should translate to it being the top bounce-back candidate. That said, we saw last season that preseason expectations could leave Texas A&M lost in the bright lights.

CBS Sports: "The Aggies rank No. 4 in the Blue-Chip Ratio at 247Sports because of how well they have recruited under Jimbo Fisher. Even if Texas A&M loses at Miami in Week 2, the rest of the non-conference schedule is a cakewalk."

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as always thanx for stopping by!

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6 Tigers tabbed preseason All-SEC by Phil Steele

Five of Auburn’s six selections on Phil Steele’s 2023 preseason All-SEC teams are returning players

Nathan King6 hrs

Auburn certainly bolstered its roster with the nation’s No. 3-rated transfer class, but several of the team’s returning pieces will be crucial to the Tigers’ 2023 success, too.

Five of Auburn’s six selections on Phil Steele’s 2023 preseason All-SEC teams are returning players, led by running back Jarquez Hunter and cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett on the second team. Steele, whose preview magazine is one of the nation’s most extensive and popular, also tabbed Auburn kicker Alex McPherson, punter Oscar Chapman, kick returner Brian Battie and linebacker Cam Riley on his third team. 

A former 3-star recruit from Mississippi, Hunter bided his time behind Tank Bigsbyfor two full seasons, and now it appears he's in line to be Auburn's lead tailback for a new-look Auburn offense. There are plenty of reasons for the Tigers to be excited about that: Hunter was an effective runner as a freshman, then made more strides last year, finishing with 675 yards and seven touchdowns, plus 17 receptions and two more scores through the air. Hunter's 6.5 yards per carry in 2022 are the second-most by a returning SEC running back who had at least 100 carries (Arkansas' Raheim Sanders).

"He's probably the best running back I've ever coached,” Hugh Freeze said during spring ball.

Auburn’s returning leader in pass breakups from last season (eight), Pritchett returned to a full-time cornerback role after playing nickel in 2021, and posted his best all-around college season. The Jackson, Alabama, native turned in 37 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

A glaring omission from Steele’s list is Auburn senior cornerback D.J. James, who does not occupy any of the eight cornerback spots on the four All-SEC teams. James was a breakout player for the Tigers last season, with 37 tackles, six pass breakups and a pick-six against Western Kentucky. Per Pro Football Focus, James allowed only receptions on only 40.7 percent of his targets last season, good for the 10th-best rate among all FBS corners.

Now entering his fourth season as the Tigers’ starting punter after coming over from Australia, Chapman has been one of the most consistent specialists in the SEC over the past two years. Last season, his average net yardage per punt of 42.1 ranked third in the conference, and opponents returned only 17.5 percent of his kicks. 

Auburn’s second straight No. 1 kicker recruit, McPherson will take over next year for Anders Carlson, after doing so toward the end of last season when Carlson suffered a season-ending injury. He made 6-of-7 field goals in the Tigers’ final three games, including a 51-yarder.

The team’s top returning tackler, Riley will be a veteran in Auburn’s linebacking corps, after posting 64 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Battie was also selected by Steele as a third team All-American at the all-purpose position. The USF transfer was a consensus first team All-American kick returner in 2021, after he led all of college football with three kick-return touchdowns, and was No. 6 nationally at 32.5 yards per return.