6.25.23 Auburn Football

[aubiefifty 18,259]

247Sports predicts Auburn football to go 7-5 in 2023

Lance Dawe

2–3 minutes

The Tigers are looking for a solid year one underneath Hugh Freeze.

Fans are uncertain of what the ceiling truly is, given Auburn's chaotic nature, but most media outlets have capped Auburn at nine wins in 2023. The majority of opinions float around 6-6 to 8-4.

Brad Crawford of 247Sports recently released his entire 2023 SEC football predictions, placing Auburn at sixth in the SEC West with a 7-5 record (3-5 in SEC play).

Take a look at how Crawford sees Auburn's schedule playing out:

Sept. 2nd vs UMass - W

Sept. 9th at California - W

Sept. 16th vs Samford - W

Sept. 23rd at Texas A&M - L

Sept. 30th vs Georgia - L

Oct. 14th at LSU - L

Oct. 21st vs Ole Miss - W

Oct. 28th vs Mississippi State - W

Nov. 4th at Vanderbilt - W

Nov. 11th at Arkansas - L

Nov. 18th vs New Mexico State - W

Nov. 25th vs Alabama - L

Auburn would start out the year 3-0 before losing three straight through the bye week. Conference wins against Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt would be nice, but Hugh Freeze and the Tigers certainly have more in mind for the upcoming season.

Losing to Arkansas for the second season in a row would be the first time the Tigers lost two straight to the Razorbacks since 2011-12.

"Considering the Vegas number is 6.5, Auburn fans will be excited if the Tigers hit seven wins this fall," Crawford wrote. "On the contrary, a .500 finish is obviously not what Hugh Freeze has in mind for his first season on the Plains. This roster has vastly improved through the portal, but simply isn't strong enough yet to fight for a spot near the top of the division standings. It will come, though."

[aubiefifty 18,259]

6 Tigers tabbed preseason AllSEC by Phil Steele

Nathan King

4–5 minutes

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

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 Bigsby for 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.

Auburn’s 2023 season kicks off Sept. 2 against UMass (2:30 p.m. CST, ESPN).

*** 50% OFF SUMMER SPECIAL: Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more ***

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

A look at Auburn's top NFL draft prospects ahead of the 2023 season

Taylor Jones

3–4 minutes

---

After a disappointing 2022 NFL draft that only saw one player selected, Auburn had better luck in the 2023 edition with five players ultimately hearing their names called.

In a draft headlined by defensive talent, Derick Hall kicked off the draft for Auburn by being selected No. 37 overall by the Seattle Seahawks. Fellow defensive players Colby Wooden and Owen Pappoe were selected in rounds No. 4 and No. 5 respectively. The lone offensive player to be taken was premier back Tank Bigsby, who was selected No. 88 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, with kicker Anders Carlson rounding out the draft by being drafted in the sixth round by the Green Bay Packers.

Buy Tigers Tickets

What could the 2024 NFL draft look like for the Auburn Tigers? Ric Serritella of NFL Draft Bible shared his top five Tigers that have the best chance to be selected in next year’s draft with Lindy’s Sports.

Based on his picks, Auburn’s haul to the NFL draft will once again be defensive-heavy. Here’s a look at Auburn’s top five NFL draft prospects heading into the 2023 season according to Ric Serritella.

Zach Bland / AU Athletics

Position	Height	Weight	Class
DL	6-3	294	Sr

Just like last season’s draft class, expected Auburn to send plenty of defensive players to the next level. Harris has recorded 58 tackles in two seasons at Auburn, and is expected to be a headliner on the Tigers defensive line again this season.

Michael Chang/Getty Images

Position	Height	Weight	Class
CB	6-1	170	Sr

Auburn’s defensive backfield will be the program’s most experienced unit heading into the season, with James headlining the way. James made 37 tackles and eight pass deflections in his first season at Auburn, and was the defense’s highest-graded player with a final Pro Football Focus grade of 82.3.

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Position	Height	Weight	Class
S	6-1	177	Sr

Simpson has improved his stock with every season. In 2022, he met career highs in tackles (37), interceptions (2), and pass deflections (5). If the trend continues, expect the 2023 season to be the best yet for Simpson.

AP Photo/Butch Dill

Position	Height	Weight	Class
RB	5-10	210	Jr

Hunter is the first offensive player to be featured on this list, and, spoiler alert, is the only offensive player to be featured on this list. Hunter has played two seasons in the shadows of Tank Bigsby, and has done well considering. He has 1,261 yards and ten touchdowns in two seasons at Auburn on 193 total attempts. In a new offensive system with a revamped offensive line, can Hunter surpass Bigsby’s production in 2023?

AP Photo/Butch Dill

Position	Height	Weight	Class
CB	6-1	182	Sr

Pritchett made 37 stops in 2022, which is a career high for him. He also runs a 40-yard dash in 4.45. Serritella believes that Pritchett will benefit from getting a year of experience under new defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff  this season. Out of all of Auburn’s candidates, Pritchett has the best chance to hear his name called first.

“Based on his body of work and skills, he seems destined to hear his named called as a top 100 selection.”- Serritella

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

wow there are slim pickings today folks. i will check in out the day for more updates. thanx for stopping by!

[AUwent 3,837]

FINALLY someone else (JHead) expresses concerns I have about the 12-team playoff format.

If it's going to be 12 teams, I would argue that 8v9, the quarterfinals with 3 and 4, the semifinals and the NC should all be NY6 sites--the 24 and 25 NCs are at NY6 sites anyways.

For example, one year you may have Rose be the NC and Sugar be the 8v9. Peach and Fiesta would be the quarterfinals with 3 and 4. Orange and Cotton would be the semis.

Thoughts? The natty and maybe even the semis might look like 2020.

Edited June 26, 2023 by AUwent