8.17.23 Football Articles

aubiefifty · August 17, 2023

auburnwire.usatoday.com

Auburn's persistance is key for 2025 QB Deuce Knight

Taylor Jones

2–3 minutes

Hugh Freeze and the Auburn coaching staff have locked in their quarterback for the 2024 cycle, four-star Walker White. Now, they are working towards landing one of the top options at the position from the 2025 class.

Auburn has been on an upward trend for four-star quarterback Deuce Knight for quite some time. However, it may have been a recent act by Freeze that truly sparked his interest in Auburn. Knight, a 2025 recruit from Nashville, Tennessee, began fielding phone calls from college coaches on Aug. 1, the first day that coaches could begin contacting recruits in his class.

Buy Tigers Tickets

The first call of the day came from none other than Auburn’s head coach.

“When that date happened and Coach Freeze hit me up at 5 in the morning — he was actually the first head coach to call me — a couple of head coaches had texted me and stuff. That meant a lot to me,” Knight tells 247Sports. “And them just keeping in contact every day, I’d say that does a lot for me because I’m big on the communication part.”

The recruiting process is still early for Knight, but he says that he has built a bond with 2025 running back Alvin Henderson. Auburn has kept Henderson high on their radar, and his decision could play a role in where Knight ends up.

“That’s my guy,” Knight said of Henderson. “We told each other we were going to talk every day until we both make a decision. Me and Alvin, we’re big on going to college together and being in the same backfield together. Just changing a program together. That’s one thing we’re big on. That’s my dog, we talk every day. It’d just be different if we team up.”

Knight is a 6-4, 195-pound quarterback from Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, and was a high school teammate of Auburn freshman Hank Brown. Notre Dame is the current favorite to land Knight according to 247Sports, and Ole Miss is the forecasted favorite according to On3.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

aubiefifty · August 17, 2023

si.com

Auburn football's most valuable players in 2023: No. 2 DJ James

Lance Dawe

2–3 minutes

James is one of the best cornerbacks in the SEC.

We continue our countdown towards Auburn's 2023 season with a ranking of their most valuable players.

At No. 2 we have cornerback DJ James, one of the best players in the nation at his position.

DJ James' Bio

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

- 6-foot-1

- 218 pounds

- Senior

- Previous school: Oregon

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.

DJ was graded behind only Kool-Aid McKinstry of Alabama at 82.5 and DeShawn Gaddie of Ole Miss (previously at North Texas) at 84.8. He's in for a big 2023 season that will likely shoot him up, draft boards.

There's an argument to be made that James is the best corner in the league, competing with Kool-Aid for the top spot. He has massive value to the Tigers as their best shut-down corner.

Auburn football's most valuable players in 2023:

3. Dillon Wade, OL

4. Jarquez Hunter, RB

5. Jayson Jones, DT

6. Avery Jones, C

7. Nehemiah Pritchett, CB

8. Gunner Britton, OL

9. Shane Hooks, WR

10. Alex McPherson, K

11. Larry Nixon III, LB

12. Rivaldo Fairweather, TE

13. Cam Riley, LB

14. Justin Rogers, DL

15. Keionte Scott, CB

16. Jyaire Shorter, WR

17. Elijah McAllister, JACK

18. Koy Moore, WR

19. Kam Stutts, OL

20. Ja’Varrius Johnson, WR

21. Austin Keys, LB

22. Zion Puckett, S

23. Camden Brown, WR

24. Marcus Harris, DL

25. Robby Ashford, QB

Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials!

Join the Locked on Auburn Discord

Follow Auburn Daily on Twitter

Like Auburn Daily on Facebook

Subscribe to Locked On Auburn on YouTube

aubiefifty · August 17, 2023

saturdaydownsouth.com

Auburn sees veteran lineman leave the program, latest departure from 2021 recruiting class

Keith Farner

2–3 minutes

Auburn’s 2021 signing class is now down to 1 player.

The Tigers this week reportedly learned that Garner Lango of Ocala, Fla., who was a 3-star prospect out of high school and signed with the Tigers over the likes of Florida State, Duke, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Utah, has left the program. His bio page on the Auburn athletics web site is no longer available.

In his 3 seasons at Auburn, Langlo had not played in a game, but during fall camp, he saw time at left tackle with the second-team offense. In Langlo’s absence during Tuesday’s practice, Tulsa transfer Jaden Muskrat reportedly filled in at left tackle with the second-team unit.

His departure means that Jarquez Hunter is the only remaining player from the 2021 class.

TRENDING

58,148 READS

51,772 READS

23,016 READS

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South. Follow on Twitter.

aubiefifty · August 17, 2023

si.com

The Auburn quarterback battle continues to get more and more interesting

Andrew Stefaniak

3–4 minutes

At Tuesday's fall camp practice, Payton Thorne went out first for drills against air, then Robby Ashford went out first for team drills.

After hearing many positive reports about Holder Geriner, he didn't go out first for drills at this practice.

It really is starting to become a head-scratcher as to who will run out with the starters on September 2nd against UMass.

Auburn fans should trust whoever Coach Freeze sends out there, but goodness, it is hard to tell who might be the guy.

I still believe that Payton Thorne will win the job, but it is becoming harder and harder to get a feel for who the guy is every time we have a media viewing period.

Here is the entire schedule for fall camp:

Thurs, Aug 3 8:30 a.m. – Coach Hugh Freeze press conference (Woltosz multipurpose room)

9:30 a.m. – Practice starts – media viewing window time TBA (individual drill periods)

Fri, Aug 4 9:30 a.m. – Practice starts – media viewing window time TBA (individual drill periods)

11:30 a.m. – Player interviews (Woltosz multipurpose room)

Sat, Aug 5 – No practice

Sun, Aug 6 9:30 a.m. – Practice – no media

Mon, Aug 7 11:30 a.m. – Coordinator interviews after practice (Woltosz multipurpose room)

Tues, Aug 8 9:30 a.m. – Practice starts – media viewing window time TBA (individual drill periods)

11:30 a.m. – Player interviews (Woltosz multipurpose room)

Weds, Aug 9 – No practice

Thurs, Aug 10 9:30 a.m. – Practice starts – media viewing window time TBA (individual drill periods)

11:30 a.m. – Defensive assistant coach interviews/not Coach Roberts (Woltosz multipurpose room)

Fri, Aug 11 11:30 a.m. – Player interviews (Woltosz multipurpose room)

Sat, Aug 12 9:20 a.m. – Scrimmage at stadium – media can view individual drill periods (time TBA)

11:30 a.m. – Coach Hugh Freeze interview (Jordan-Hare Stadium media room)

Sun, Aug 13 – No practice

Mon, Aug 14 11:30 a.m. – Player interviews (Woltosz multipurpose room)

Tues, Aug 15 9:30 a.m. – Practice starts – media viewing window time TBA (individual drill periods)

11:30 a.m. – Offensive assistant coach interviews/not Coach Montgomery (Woltosz multipurpose room)

Weds, Aug 16 – No practice – first day of class

Thurs, Aug 17 4:00 p.m. – Coach Hugh Freeze press conference (Woltosz multipurpose room)

5:00 p.m. – Practice starts – media viewing window time TBA (individual drill periods)

Fri, Aug 18 4:10 p.m. – Practice – no media

Sat, Aug 19 9:50 a.m. – Scrimmage at stadium – no media viewing

11:30 a.m. – Coordinator interviews (location TBA)

Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials!

aubiefifty · August 17, 2023

al.com

Damari Alston is throwing up ‘deuces’ and speaking up as a leader for Auburn

Updated: Aug. 16, 2023, 10:29 p.m.|Published: Aug. 16, 2023, 9:16 a.m.

5–6 minutes

It hasn’t taken long for Damari Alston to sound the horn as a vocal leader for Auburn.

He’s only a sophomore, but Alston’s emergence this fall camp isn’t just due to the game-breaking runs he’s produced on the field. In a running back room he said can be quiet sometimes, he wants to be the loudest voice.

That stretches off the field and onto Twitter often — like that time Alston asked if Longhorn Steakhouse is a good spot for a date.

“Some little girls saying that Longhorn is not a date, and I’m talking to my girlfriend,” Alston said. “We like: ‘We love Longhorn,’ so we going to Longhorn.”

And yes, Alston said it was her idea.

“I’d never been to Longhorn, then she put me onto this ribeye, and I’m like ‘Oh, yeah’” Alston said. “I ain’t been in a minute, but we used to go like every week.”

See, this is Alston joking around. That’s his personality on and off the field, with and without the team. He wants to be a go-to guy, to be vocal.

Throughout fall camp, Alston’s name kept coming up when others were asked about leaders. Head coach Hugh Freeze said Alston was unanimously elected to Auburn’s “culture council.”

Freeze said that demonstrated high praise for Alston from his teammates for them to all say the sophomore running back forwards the culture they want in this program.

This was all a long-set goal for Alston. He said he learned how to be a leader from watching former Auburn running back Tank Bigsby last season. By the time summer workouts began, Alston began to feel comfortable as a leader for the first time.

“You’re talking about a guy that’s selfless, you’re talking about a guy that’s always checking on his teammates, always trying to pour into others,” running backs coach Cadillac Williams said. “Guys know that you can count on Damari, from his support, from his help, from him showing the way, from his work ethic, from his grind. I’m excited about Damari this year.”

Williams said Alston’s leadership comes from a childhood where he had to “grow up fast.” He called Alston humble, wise and a joy to watch. All of that, Williams said, is inspiring.

And that even stretches into recruiting, where Alston has been seen online advertising Auburn to high school players and pushing for them to choose his team.

“I feel like in order for us to get to where we want to be which is winning SEC championships, winning national championships, we have to get the top recruits in the nation,” Alston said. “Like we have to get them. I think we’re on a good start right now, we just have to keep it going.”

That is just part of Alston’s role with Auburn. And on the field, he’s been one of the bright lights of fall camp.

Alston initially saw first-team looks while Jarquez Hunter missed Auburn’s first bunch of practices. Though it’s not as if Alston doesn’t have a role with Hunter back.

Williams said Alston has a “night and day” difference as an improved pass-catcher from a year ago.

“I have so many notes written down in my notebook about just the things that he says to us, and I take it, and I run with it,” Alston said of learning from Williams. “And I just feel like taking notes from him definitely evolved the way that I approached the field, the way that I lead my team, for sure.”

While Hunter may be the more all-around running back, Alston possesses top-end speed. That showed in the three “explosive” runs Freeze said Alston had in Auburn’s preseason scrimmage Saturday.

Auburn has posted a few of those runs on Twitter, like his touchdown Saturday, and another in practice during the week leading up to the scrimmage.

With his game-breaking runs the preseason, Alston may have found himself a new nickname, or at least a new celebration.

When the fast-runner blows past defenders, he throws up the ‘deuces’ celebration, similar to one used by star NFL wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

Alston hasn’t scored a touchdown yet in a game for Auburn. As a freshman, Alston had only 14 carries for 85 yards and caught one pass.

So not only is Alston stepping up as a leader for Auburn during fall camp, but he too is stepping into a much larger role with this offense — he said his goal for this year is to rush for 1,000 yards. So he’s had some time to think about what that first touchdown celebration will be whenever it comes.

“I mean, sometimes in my room I just think about, you know, what’s going to be my first touchdown celebration, but I mean I don’t have another one planned,” Alston said. “That was just kind of natural, because I was just blowing past a guy. I think I’m going to stick with that, and hopefully the crowd catch on, they throw up the deuces, too.”

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

aubiefifty · August 17, 2023

247sports.com

Expanded role expected for Fairweather and Auburn tight ends

Jason Caldwell

4–5 minutes

AUBURN, Alabama—While adding several talented wide receivers to the offense is expected to add some firepower for Auburn’s passing game, one of the most important pieces for Hugh Freeze and company came at another position when Florida International tight end transfer Rivaldo Fairweather joined the program in January.

A former basketball player turned playmaker as a receiver at the tight end position, the 6-5, 245 Fairweather caught 54 passes for 838 yards and five touchdowns in three seasons with the Panthers. Showing the ability to make plays with the Tigers in the spring, Fairweather earned more responsibilities in the offense, said position coach Ben Aigamaua.

“We are kind of putting more on his plate as far as the pass game and the RPO world,” the first-year tight ends coach said. “This spring, everyday, he’s doing something out there spectacular with the catches, taking the ball off the DB’s head, whatever it is. He’s been really, really impressive during camp with the work he’s doing in the passing game. Run-game wise, we’ve got to keep improving and keep getting stronger, but overall through fall camp he’s come a long way.”

His teammates have also seen what Fairweather is capable of. After watching him in the spring, Malcolm Johnson Jr. said that the transfer tight end has only continued to improve.

“I know that he's a real baller,” Johnson Jr. said. “He loves to compete, and he's definitely going to go and get the ball. He makes some spectacular catches, and I can't wait to see what he does in the future.”

Fairweather coming to Auburn adds to an already deep tight end room with veterans Luke Deal, Tyler Fromm and Brandon Frazier along with redshirt freshman Micah Riley. Because of the different guys and different styles of play in the room, Aigamaua said they’ve added more for all of the tight ends as they look to make them an important part of the offense.

“We ask those guys to do a lot of things, especially when we’re in our different sets of personnel or guys we need to get into the game,” Aigamaua said. “It has been really, really good to see those guys embrace the role of either being a receiver or being an inline tight end and just going with it with all of the techniques and different things we’ve got to do.

“The biggest thing the guys are getting used to now is the amount of running they are doing out there now. From go-balls to corners to posts to digs, we’ve got a big route tree to run. I think that’s the biggest adjustment for them is just that they are in shape to do those things.”

Everything centers around Fairweather. Athletic enough to play multiple spots in the Auburn offense, he’s someone that Aigamaua said holds a big key to what the Tigers want to do this season.

“His role means a lot because we can do a lot of different things when he is in the game and when Luke's in the game or with (Brandon) and Tyler,” Aigamaua said. “Him and Tyler, they've got to be healthy for us because it creates a lot of mismatches, it creates a lot of problems. And defenses, they've got to figure how they want to play a two tight end system -- We'll even throw three out there and they've got to figure out how to do it... it's very valuable to have guys like him out on the field.

“They've got to see -- do we want the nickel in the game to cover him, and if we get into our bigger sets do they want him to fit the run? I think that's where it's important, they've got to be able to do both in the system and not just be a one trick pony, we've got to be able to do both.”

aubiefifty · August 17, 2023

al.com

A-List No. 8: Joseph Phillips wants to create legacy at Auburn

Updated: Aug. 16, 2023, 8:05 a.m.|Published: Aug. 16, 2023, 7:55 a.m.

5–6 minutes

The A-List is AL.com’s ranking of the top 15 senior prospects in the state of Alabama. We will count down one each day until No. 1 is revealed Aug. 23.

Booker T. Washington linebacker Joseph Phillips’ mind was made up earlier this summer.

“I was going to Georgia,” the 4-star prospect said this week.

That all changed quickly one morning, however.

“My dad thought Georgia might be the best opportunity for me,” Phillips said. “But then one day, he just woke up and told me I would be crazy not to go to Auburn. I always wanted to go to Auburn anyway.

“I just felt like the communication wasn’t there (last fall). I didn’t get that family feel. Georgia was giving me that. When I went to Auburn the last time, it was totally different. I like the opportunity. I’m a hometown kid. I feel like I can create my own legacy by going to Auburn.”

Phillips committed to the Tigers on June 15 starting a busy summer for Freeze and company that also has included 5-star flips from Chilton County linebacker Demarcus Riddick and Foley wide receiver Perry Thompson into this 2024 Auburn class.

“I feel like I kind of started a wave,” Phillips said.

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound senior comes in at No. 8 on AL.com’s A-List of top players in the state of Alabama. As a junior, he finished with 75 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss and nine sacks. He also caught six touchdown passes on offense.

His high school coach, Lawrence O’Neal, said Phillips has NFL potential.

“He has speed, explosiveness,” O’Neal told AL.com this summer. “When he gets to the ball, he’s very violent. He’s also a smart kid. You might get him once, but you are not going to keep getting him with the same thing over and over again.”

It wasn’t too long ago ironically that Phillips thought his future would be in basketball. Until his junior season, he hadn’t played football since the eighth grade.

“I never lost the love of football,” he said. “I just wasn’t playing much, so I started playing basketball. It was my life – dunking, shooting. I loved it. I thought that was my way, but God blessed me in other ways.”

O’Neal had a conversation with Phillips, telling him there weren’t too many athletes his size playing center on the next level.

“But at his size in football, he was already a grown man,” O’Neal said.

That is what Phillips needed to here. He came back out for football prior to his junior season and assumed a leadership role on the team. He started the season on the basketball team but decided not to finish.

Football was his future now.

“It was what I needed to hear,” Phillips said of his conversation with O’Neal. “I was waiting for someone to tell me, ‘Come do this.’ I felt like he was giving me the shot I always wanted. Once I got that shot, I was all in.”

Phillips’ recruiting took off in a hurry. He is No. 6 among in-state seniors in the On3 rankings and No. 10 according to 247 sports. In addition to Auburn and Georgia, he has offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, LSU, Penn State and Tennessee among many others.

He said he may visit Knoxville for a Tennessee game this fall because he promised that staff he would.

“I keep my promises,” he said. “But that would be the only place I would go. No reason to go anywhere else.”

Phillips said he almost committed to Auburn under the previous staff.

“In my head, I was already committed,” he said. “But the communication died down. I got a taste of Georgia and thought that might be the best option. Coach Caddy (Cadillac Williams) gave me the offer at first. Then they came and renewed it later.”

He also had high praise for Freeze.

“He’s the guy,” Phillips said. “I love talking to him. He’s the only coach I talk to, and it’s like talking to one of my home boys. That is the type of coach I like. He’s just like my high school coach. I can talk to them about anything.”

A-LIST NO. 8: JOSEPH PHILLIPS, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Position: Linebacker

Height/weight: 6-3, 245

College status: Committed to Auburn

Randy Kennedy’s scouting report: No prospect in the country has a better motor than Joseph Phillips. Whether he’s setting edge against the run or rushing the passer, Phillips is a maximum effort player. He could grow into a defensive lineman or be a middle linebacker.

THE 2024 A-LIST

No. 15: Josh Flowers, QB, Baker

No. 14: Bobby Pruitt, LB, Theodore

No. 13: JaCorey Whitted, TE, McAdory

No. 12: Kevin Riley, RB, Tuscaloosa County

No. 11: J’Marion Burnette, RB, Andalusia

No. 10: William Sanders, OL, Brookwood

No. 9: Jordan Ross, EDGE, Vestavia Hills

No. 8: Joseph Phillips, LB, Booker T. Washington

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

aubiefifty · August 17, 2023

al.com

Cadillac Williams and how to carry the weight of Auburn expectations

Updated: Aug. 16, 2023, 8:31 a.m.|Published: Aug. 16, 2023, 6:00 a.m.

5–6 minutes

Ask him a year ago — before he led the program he loves into the stadium where he became a star that magical night against the Aggies, before the speaking engagements and the extra recruiting visits, before he fueled and united a longing fanbase — well, ask him a year ago and Carnell ‘Cadillac’ Williams would say he’d never even thought of it.

Even now, with months to reflect back, and he’ll still say he’s walking on air.

“Yo, like I tell people, I am living life,” Williams said Tuesday. “I’m living the dream. Let’s call a spade a spade, I never grew up saying I want to be the head coach at Auburn. Even when I got done playing and I got into coaching, it never crossed my mind to be the head (coach). It never crossed my mind to be a head coach.”

After a career Auburn where he rushed for more than 3,800 yards and an earned plaque on College Street, Williams was brought back in 2019 under Gus Malzahn as the running backs coach. Last season, Williams took over as the interim head coach after Bryan Harsin was first. Auburn played its most exciting football of the season over the four games led by Williams, including his memorable first victory over Texas A&M. Then, Auburn hired Hugh Freeze as the full-time head coach and kept Williams on staff as the associate head coach as well as the running backs coach.

He carried the full weight of Auburn then. It’s not gone from his shoulders now as a position coach, but maybe just a little lighter.

But now he’s had time to think about it all — about the job he never thought he’d have.

As the head coach, Williams said he had “tunnel vision.” There were practices to run, games to coach, media availabilities and recruiting trips and Williams said yes to them all.

Every second was worth it, Williams said, because he saw the hope he brought people.

“I got the opportunity to go out and recruit and go to high schools and read letters from different fans and people and it literally broke me down to just not myself but how much joy that we brought people,” Williams said. “How much hope that we brought not only the Auburn family but people around the country. It was just crazy to hear.”

Williams discussed using the speaking events an Auburn head coach gets slated for as a chance to talk about his faith and about Auburn.

Sure, he’d also call himself an introvert, but in the moment that didn’t matter. He was living out this moment he’d never planned on.

“To be in that role and for the powers that be at Auburn to have trust in me at the time and they called me, it makes me — it brings joy to me that somebody would think so much of me to lead this program,” Williams said.

The end of the 2022 season was that joyride for Williams, even if Auburn only went 2-2 under his lead.

Auburn seemed to play inspired football after Harsin was fired on Halloween. Down 21 points multiple times in Williams’ first game leading the program, Auburn came back to take the lead on the road against Mississippi State before ultimately losing in overtime.

The legend reached a pinnacle the next week against Texas A&M when Auburn won 13-10 in front of one of the most energized crowds Jordan-Hare Stadium had seen in years.

“When you’re united, you’re pulling together, magic can happen,” Williams said. “I’m still on cloud nine about it. Nobody can ever take that away from us, that 2022 team. Those 24 seniors. We had a blast. Like, a blast. Us explaining it and us telling you all how it was, it’s not doing it justice. Guys, we had a blast.”

Still an associate head coach, Williams can now focus on what he was brought to Auburn to do in the first place, coach the running backs. He’s on a staff with other former Auburn players with championship rings like Zac Etheridge, a team captain on Auburn’s 2010 national championship team — Williams having only won an SEC title pounded the table with jealousy during his meeting with the media Tuesday.

Now he has one of the deepest running back rooms Auburn has had in years.

That’s what Williams had when we played for Auburn, and sure, he joked about the NIL deal for Cadillac cars if he could have played now.

Now he’s on the other side of it as a coach. That too, is more than he could have asked for.

“Let me tell you something: instant gratification to be honest with you,” Williams said. “Again, to see these young men in that room, I say to go back, really honing in and the things that we, from Coach Freeze’s vision of this team, from Coach (Montgomery) handling offense, to me being the leader in that room, for those guys to buy into that and have that concept of they are going to put team first and they gonna continue to work their tail off.”

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com

aubiefifty · August 17, 2023

Auburn’s transfer-heavy starting offensive line beginning to take shape

Updated: Aug. 15, 2023, 7:13 p.m.|Published: Aug. 15, 2023, 6:31 p.m.

5–7 minutes

When first-year offensive line coach Jake Thornton arrived to Auburn in December of 2022, he was immediately tasked with piecing together the Tigers’ offensive line.

Except with the offseason Auburn had, imagine working on a puzzle but continuously being thrown new pieces. That was the case as Hugh Freeze and the Tigers continued to add offensive linemen via the transfer portal, the last arriving on July 30 in Northwestern transfer Dylan Senda.

“Like any start of the season, you’ve got growing pains to start out with,” Thornton said Tuesday. “Guys are trying to shake off some rust from the summer and you’ve got new guys adding in there and kinda moving guys around to figure out what gels the best.”

Auburn added 10 new offensive linemen during the offseason, including five out of the transfer portal.

Preceding Senda from the portal was Western Kentucky transfer Gunner Britton, East Carolina transfer Avery Jones and Tulsa transfers Dillon Wade and Jaden Muskrat.

Of those transfer additions, a majority could win starting jobs this fall.

Britton was graded the third-best offensive lineman in the transfer portal by Pro Football Focus this offseason. As a junior last season, Britton allowed pressure in only 1.7% of his pass blocking snaps.

“Gunner, in my mind, he’s a pro in every sense of the word,” Thornton said. “He takes care of his body, he does the technique we teach him to do, he’s always up there watching extra tape because he knows he wants to be perfect in that area of his game.”

From what’s been said and seen during fall camp, Britton is likely a lock as Auburn’s starting right tackle.

At the left tackle spot, it’s Wade who is looking like the Tigers’ eventual starter.

Wade’s transfer to Auburn allowed him to reunite with Philip Montgomery, who was Tulsa’s head coach before coming to The Plains to be Freeze’s offensive coordinator.

“D-Wade in the spring, he comes out there and he’s a great athlete. He’s just kinda out-athleting everybody,” Thornton said. “But as he’s started to face better competition, he’s really honed in on his technique and playing with better pad level, better hand placement. So he’s really devoted himself to that part of his game. Because now he can pair up technique with athletic ability and I think he’s got a chance to be a really good one.”

Moving inside to the guard spots is where things get interesting on Auburn’s offensive line.

At the start of camp, the Tigers had anywhere from four to five guys battling for either of two starting spots. However, Thornton sounds to be seeing some separation between contenders.

Sixth-year senior Kam Stutts, who represented Auburn at SEC Media Days in July, has patiently waited for his opportunity on The Plains.

After being a reserve offensive lineman in his first three seasons, Stutts finally made his way into the rotation last fall, sharing the duties of right guard with Keiondre Jones, who transferred to Florida State.

“In today’s world where it’s so easy to leave and go other places, he stuck it out,” Thornton said. “He’s been through good and bad here. And in our room, man, there’s not a bigger presence for what it means to be an Auburn offensive lineman.”

Come this fall, Stutts is slated to return as Auburn’s starter at right guard.

At left guard, however, there seems to be an ongoing battle between juniors Tate Johnson and Jeremiah Wright — two guys who suffered recent injuries that hindered their preseason development.

“They’re both competitors and the toughness level is there for both of them so they’re both growing as well,” Thornton said. “Jeremiah having not practiced in the spring and not getting any reps there and then Tate getting hurt in Practice 5 and not getting a ton of reps there, you know, both of those guys are starting to gel and are starting to figure it out.”

At center, all signs point to Jones winning the starting spot.

In 852 snaps as the starting center at East Carolina, Jones allowed just 12 pressures.

But, as a center, equally as important as his on-field performance is Jones’ leadership capabilities, which Thornton says are improving as camp progresses.

“He’s done a really good job this camp of being vocal,” Thornton said. “In the spring, he was trying to get comfortable, trying to find his place... I feel like he’s now trying to be more vocal and more in-tune with being that vocal leader in the middle because we’re putting so much on his plate at center.”

While Auburn seems to be narrowing down their looks on the offensive line, it’s just as important to note that the Tigers won’t have any shortage of options behind the team’s starters.

Thornton, who is coming off the same stint at Ole Miss, recognizes the importance of having depth along the offensive front.

“This league is brutal physically,” Thornton said. “For us to say we’re going to stay healthy with the first five guys at the beginning of the year, that’s not going to happen.

“The growth process of the offensive line doesn’t stop when you kick and ball off vs. UMass. It continues to develop all the way through the final game. I’m excited about what we have. Like every group we’ve got to continue to work and continue to get better. We’re not where we want to be but it’s two and a half weeks until game time and we want to get there.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

aubiefifty · August 17, 2023

247sports.com

PMARSHONAU Auburn men share the wisdom of champions with another generation

Phillip Marshall

9–11 minutes

Cadillac Williams, Zac Etheridge and Marcus Davis have championship rings from their Auburn days.

AUBURN, Alabama – Auburn running backs coach Cadillac Williams has lots of stories he can tell his players. He can tell them about that perfect season in 2004 when he and running mate Ronnie Brown were top-five picks in the NFL Draft. He can tell them about coming back from two season-ending injuries and from a disappointing season when hopes were high.

He can tell them about an SEC championship and a national championship that he will always believe should have been. He can tell them about that 80-yard run on the first play from scrimmage against Alabama.

11830181.png?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320

But those aren’t Williams favorite memories now. Nine months later, he looks at last November as the highlight of his time at Auburn. For four games, he was Auburn’s head coach, even if it did have an interim tag. And the more time passes, the more special it becomes.

“Whenever you’re in your job you just have tunnel vision so you don’t really have time to reflect on what you’re doing,” Williams said. But, wow, I got the opportunity to go out and recruit and go to high schools and read letters from different fans and people and it literally broke me down to just not myself but how much joy that we brought people. How much hope that we brought not only the Auburn family but people around the country. It was just crazy to hear.”

Already an Auburn icon, Williams popularity is at another level now.

“I had a lot more speaking engagements And appearances, and to honestly go out and be able to just share my experience, it’s so eye-opening for me to where I’m just, ‘God is good.’ This is definitely God because the Lord knows in some way I’m slightly an introvert, really don’t want to be out there in front. But I actually enjoy blessing others. … I’m just excited how much hope and how much joy that we brought people and showed people that when you’re united, you’re pulling together, magic can happen.”

Williams, secondary coach Zac Etheridge and wide receivers coach Marcus Davis – the Auburn alumni on Hugh Freeze’s staff - all have Auburn championship rings. Williams was part of an SEC championship in 2004, Etheridge overcame a near-death experience on the field to help Auburn go 14-0 and win the 2010 national championship. Davis was a big-play freshman for the 2013 SEC champions that lost a heartbreaker in the BCS Championship Game. They know what it takes to be great.

“Coach Freeze says it all the time: 'Man, you've got to act like a champion,” Williams said. “… To actually have guys in the room that won the SEC championship, national championship and lost in the national championship, won an SEC championship, to have guys in a room and know how it looks and be able to tell these guys, 'Guys, this is how it looks. That's powerful. That's powerful.”

Williams, Brown, quarterback Jason Campbell and cornerback Carlos Rogers could have fled for the NFL after the 2003 team was ranked No. 6 in the preseason polls and staggered to an 8-5 finish. Instead, they returned to lead a team some would say was the best in Auburn history. And they were first-round draft picks.

“I just think to be able to have Auburn guys who've played here and done been through it - I'm not saying that makes us better than anybody else on staff - but to be able to share that with guys that ‘This is how it looks. This is what we did. Even though times changed, this is how we got to where we got. At the end of the day, it's simple. Let's be selfless, let's work our tails off. Let's play efficient on offense, man. Defense, let's run to the football, let's knock heads. Special teams, let's play together and let's all be one and move in the same direction. Let's lean on the Auburn family -- the Auburn family at Jordan-Hare -- and magic can happen. It's proven. The proof is in the pudding. I honestly think that's huge."

Etheridge joined Gus Malzahn’s staff in 2020. He was retained by head coach Bryan Harsin and again by Freeze. His mission is to help Auburn’s defense return to what it was in another day. He shares what it was like to celebrate the ultimate college football prize.

“They have to be able to climb a barbed-wire fence with no shirt on,” Etheridge said, “just the strain and just understanding that they have to go. Just understand that this is Auburn football. I mean, it ain’t finesse. It’s hard-nosed, it’s physical. We want to run and hit. We want to swarm the football. So they see it. We put some clips on the tape, what it looks like as an Auburn defense to go out there and play, but it doesn’t matter what it is, just go swarm the football and go run and hit and play with each other to your left and to your right.”

When Davis, then the wide receivers coach at Georgia Southern, got the call from Freeze with an offer to return to his alma mater, he didn’t hesitate. His mission is the same as Williams’ mission: Make a difference and teach his players what it takes to be champions.

“Yeah, it would be great, because even if I wasn't on a coach on this staff and Auburn won a championship, I'm an Auburn guy through and through. Even if I wasn't on this staff, I would be a proud alum of Auburn. I love this place. But me being part of it makes me challenge the guys to go get it and get after it even more, because I know the benefits that you can get from it.”

Expanded role expected for Fairweather and Auburn tight ends

Auburn football could see more use from its tight ends this season.

VIDEO: How has the Auburn O-line looked during camp?