9.8.23 Football Articles

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si.com

 

Behind Enemy Lines: Cal expert conveys his thoughts on Auburn’s week two matchup

Joshua Collins

4–5 minutes

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We take a look at Auburn’s week two contest by reaching out to a Cal expert.

In this story:

Auburn Tigers

California Golden Bears

The Auburn Tigers will travel to California for a highly anticipated SEC v PAC-12 matchup this week.

Cal was counted out by ESPN College GameDay analyst this weekend who predicted North Texas to secure the win. After pulling off a routing of the Mean Green on the road in extreme Texas heat the Golden Bears fan base are confident in their team coming into this contest against the Auburn Tigers.

We reached out to Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report to answer a few questions from behind enemy lines. 

How do you think Cal will prepare for this upcoming game against an SEC team?

Faraudo: Cal will view this game as it does any other. With all due respect to the SEC, clearly the best conference in the country, the Bears have actually won their past three meetings against SEC opponents. They beat Ole Miss at home in 2017 and on the road in 2019 and knocked off No. 15 Tennessee in 2007. Cal certainly won’t be overconfident after routing North Texas 58-21 but the Bears won’t be intimidated, either.

Do you think the late kickoff will play a factor in game performance for the Auburn Tigers?

Faraudo: I don’t think so. I’m sure Hugh Freeze will figure out how to minimize what amounts to a 9:30 p.m. kickoff for the Tigers. Players like to play night games, and this is a chance for Auburn to beat a Pac-12 team on the road and send its own season in the right direction.

How do you feel that Cal’s defense will perform against the run game?

Faraudo: This will be a big test for Cal, which held North Texas to 41 net rushing yards and 1.5 yards per attempt. Auburn ran for 289 yards on 6.6 per rush and freshman running back Jeremiah Cobb looks like a handful. The Bears have benefitted from the return of defensive lineman Brett Johnson, who was considered an NFL prospect before missing the past two seasons with separate injures. He had no stats vs. North Texas but the coaching staff said he impacted the game.

Do you believe this will be a close game or a blowout, and in whose favor?

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Faraudo: I expect it to be close. This Cal team looks like it will score some points and its defense will be solid if it can limit big plays. SI Sportsbook favors Auburn by 6.5 points, even on the road, but I don’t think a Cal victory over a team that was 17-19 the past three seasons would be regarded as a huge upset. Both teams are works in progress.

What will this game tell you about Cal’s team for the 2023 season?

Al Sermeno/KLC Fotos

Faraudo: Facing Auburn will be a good measuring stick for Cal. The Bears had their way at North Texas, but this is an entirely different level opponent. If Cal were to get the victory, it would greatly enhance their chances of becoming bowl eligible this season, something that has eluded the program the past three seasons.

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Tale of the Tape: Auburn vs. California

Brian Hauch

4–5 minutes

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A pair of 1-0 teams will face off in week two, when the Auburn Tigers travel across the country to take on the California Golden Bears in Berkley California.

Auburn is coming off a 59-14 thumping of UMass in their home opener, while Cal’s week one game went eerily similar, as they coasted on the road against North Texas, 58-21.

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Despite these similar results and Auburn having to travel all the way to the west coach and play in California Memorial Stadium, BetMGM currently has the Tigers as a 6.5 point favorite, giving the Tigers an implied odds of 71.43 to win the matchup outright.

ESPN’s FPI calculator sees this game going differently, as the Index is giving Cal a 54.9% chance to win their home opener.

With the differing opinions on how this game is going to play out, we’ll take it to the tale of the tape to provide some more clarity.

This game features two transfer quarterbacks who have yet to play a full game for their new teams.

On the home side, quarterback Sam Jackson V played sparingly in his first two seasons for TCU, completing 6 passes in 6 attempts for 125 yards.

Jackson was named the starter in week one, but an early injury forced him to miss the remainder of the game after he completed 3/4 passes for 33 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 18 yards on three carries.

NC State transfer Ben Finley came in to replace him and played well, collecting 279 yards and a touchdown in the win. Still, Cal head coach Justin Wilcox told Jackson he wants him back, as he’s been named the starter for week two.

On the Auburn side of the ball, Payton Thorne played well in his 3+ quarters of action in week one, collecting 141 passing yards and a touchdown while completing 59% of his passes.

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze also used a second quarterback frequently in week one, giving Robby Ashford a handful of packages in the red zone that led to 51 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The edge in the quarterback department goes to Auburn, based on the fact Thorne and Ashford boast much more experience than Jackson and Finley.

As for the battle of the skill positions, that is much closer.

Auburn played week one without their number one running back in Jarquez Hunter. That didn’t stop the Tigers from rushing for 289 yards thanks to great games from their o-line, the aforementioned Robby Ashford, Sean Jackson, and Jeremiah Cobb.

Cal on the other hand rushed for 312 yards on the back of sophomore running back Jaydn Ott’s 188. Ott’s 188 yards and two-touchdown performance comes off the back of a very impressive freshmen season in which he racked up 1,218 total yards (897 rushing) and 11 touchdowns for a team that won a single game.

Ott is probably the best skill position player in this game, and the fact he is paired with a true number-one receiving threat in Jeremiah Hunter (965 receiving yards in 2022) gives Cal the edge over Auburn’s committee backfield and unproven receiver room.

The defenses in this game also stack up fairly evenly. Last year, Cal’s defense was in the middle of the pack in Division 1, giving up an average of 433.2 YPG. Auburn was slightly better, conceding 406.5 YPG to its opponents in 2022.

It was Cal who had the edge in week one of 2023 however, as they were able to hold a solid North Texas team to just 225 total yards. Auburn on the other hand gave up 301 to a UMass team that isn’t very good.

It’s too early in the season to give one team the edge on defense.

If these comparisons have taught us anything, it’s that this game will be as close as many experts expect it to be. These teams very similarly had bad seasons in 2022 and good starts to 2023, but only one of them will continue the positive vibes into week three.

This game should be a doozy, and it all kicks off at 9:30 p.m. CST on Saturday.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

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247sports.com

 

Deal and Auburn offense look to take the next step at Cal

Jason Caldwell

3–4 minutes

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AUBURN, Alabama—Coming off a 59-14 victory over UMass in last Saturday’s season opener for the Auburn Tigers in the first game of the Hugh Freeze era, this week has been one of the most important of the year for the team. There is an old football saying that a team improves more from week one to week two than at any other time in the season.

Auburn hopes that’s the case as the Tigers get ready to cross the country on Thursday ahead of Saturday night’s game against what looks to be an improved Cal Bear team. After rushing for 297 yards and throwing for another 203 with no turnovers against the Minutemen, senior tight end Luke Deal said the offense feels like they’re ready to take the next step.

“We learned that we’re everything we talked about,” Deal said. “We have a chance to be really versatile, explosive, very dynamic. We saw flashes of that in this first game and hopefully we can carry that on. Everything we have been preaching about in the offseason of what this team has the potential to do, we were able to see it. We know each week is not going to be easy. We’ve got to keep putting one foot in front of the other and preparing and doing what we think we can do.”

The competition level steps up dramatically this week for Deal and the Tigers versus a Cal defense that was strong in its opening win over North Texas. After allowing a pair of 75-yard touchdown drives as part of a 21-point first half, the Bears were dominant in the final 30 minutes against the Mean Green. North Texas had the ball six times in the second half, managing just 19 total yards and no first downs.

“I see a really well-coached defense,” Deal said. “I see a very sound defense. I see guys who are in the right gaps and doing the right things, which is something you always look for in a defense because if one guy messes up it can be a touchdown. We’re going to definitely have to calculate each move. We’re going to have to out-physical them, play with speed, and play with great toughness each and every play.”

Looking for win number two in the non-conference, Auburn’s schedule will only get tougher as the Tigers move into SEC play in two weeks. Because of that, Deal said this weekend’s trip to California is a big opportunity for this team as they look to put the program back on the college football map.

“There’s milestones in each season,” Deal said. “Your first game, how do you start? Your first road game, how do you react when you don’t have 90,000 people cheering you on? Whenever you get into conference play, that’s another milestone. Momentum is going to be huge. I just want to see us win the turnover battle, execute and run the football. That’s something you have to do on the road. I have learned that in big road games, if you want to go in and upset somebody you have to be able to run the football.”

Kickoff for Saturday night’s game vs. the Cal Bears is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. central time and can be seen on ESPN.

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Five ways Auburn can lose to Cal

JD McCarthy

4–5 minutes

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The Auburn Tigers (1-0) are looking to keep the momentum going from their season-opening win last week when they take on the Cal Golden Bears (1-0).

The game will be a much tougher test for Hugh Freeze’s team as they will be making the cross-country trek to Berkley, California for the game. The Golden Bears also have several talented players and are coming off a big win of their own after blowing out North Texas to open their season.

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While Auburn is the more talented team, the Golden Bears match up well with Auburn and are certainly capable of pulling off the upset. Here are five ways they can hand Auburn its first loss of the season.

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Ott is Cal’s top player and Auburn will need to have a plan to stop the talented running back. There were questions about Auburn’s ability to stop the run all offseason and those questions have not been answered. They were gashed at times by a UMass offense and will now have to deal with Ott who is capable of ripping off big runs at any time.

He is coming in hot after rushing for 178 yards and two touchdowns last week, and if the Tigers can’t slow him down then it will be a long night for Auburn.

Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

Auburn’s trip to Cal is about as long a road trip as any college football team can make, it is 2,460 miles from Auburn to Berkley, California. The game is also scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. CT, much later than Auburn normally starts its games.

Freeze made it very clear that he was not a fan of the travel needed for this game and it could easily have an impact on Auburn’s players.

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Cal named Sam Jackson V the team’s starting quarterback ahead of their season opener but he played just 18 snaps in their game against North Texas before leaving with a shoulder injury. He was replaced by Ben Finley who answered the call, completing 24-of-34 passes for 289 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

The two have very different skill sets, Jackson has elite speed and is a threat with his legs but is still developing as a passer. Finley is a pocket passer who has more experience but is not a threat to run the ball.

Auburn’s defense will have to prepare for two different offenses and that could be a difference in the game.

Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

Auburn’s running back room is clearly the strength of the offense with Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston and Brian Battie. While Hunter’s status for the game is still uncertain, the other running backs still give Auburn a potent rushing attack that can carry the offense. The Cal defense will pose a tough challenge for Auburn’s offense as they excel at stopping the run and are led by veteran linebacker Jackson Sirmon, who made 104 tackles last season.

It’s a small sample size and against a less talented team, but they held North Texas to 41 yards rushing on 27 carries last week. More importantly, they held opponents to 149.58 yards rushing and 4.21 yards per carry last season. If they can make prevent Auburn from running the ball efficiently it will put more pressure on the unproven passing attack and it could spell disaster for the Tigers.

Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

Auburn’s offense played with some tempo during the UMass game but they dialed it back during the second half. Cal did not make that decision and kept pushing the pace, they ended up running 95 offensive plays as they racked up 669 yards of offense and scored 58 points.

That many plays will test Auburn’s defensive depth as they will be forced to rotate the reserves in to try and keep the starters fresh for the second half. If Auburn’s offense is unable to control the ball it will only get worse and could cause the defense to get worn down as the game goes on.

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247sports.com

 

Deal and Auburn offense look to take the next step at Cal

Jason Caldwell

3–4 minutes

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AUBURN, Alabama—Coming off a 59-14 victory over UMass in last Saturday’s season opener for the Auburn Tigers in the first game of the Hugh Freeze era, this week has been one of the most important of the year for the team. There is an old football saying that a team improves more from week one to week two than at any other time in the season.

Auburn hopes that’s the case as the Tigers get ready to cross the country on Thursday ahead of Saturday night’s game against what looks to be an improved Cal Bear team. After rushing for 297 yards and throwing for another 203 with no turnovers against the Minutemen, senior tight end Luke Deal said the offense feels like they’re ready to take the next step.

“We learned that we’re everything we talked about,” Deal said. “We have a chance to be really versatile, explosive, very dynamic. We saw flashes of that in this first game and hopefully we can carry that on. Everything we have been preaching about in the offseason of what this team has the potential to do, we were able to see it. We know each week is not going to be easy. We’ve got to keep putting one foot in front of the other and preparing and doing what we think we can do.”

The competition level steps up dramatically this week for Deal and the Tigers versus a Cal defense that was strong in its opening win over North Texas. After allowing a pair of 75-yard touchdown drives as part of a 21-point first half, the Bears were dominant in the final 30 minutes against the Mean Green. North Texas had the ball six times in the second half, managing just 19 total yards and no first downs.

“I see a really well-coached defense,” Deal said. “I see a very sound defense. I see guys who are in the right gaps and doing the right things, which is something you always look for in a defense because if one guy messes up it can be a touchdown. We’re going to definitely have to calculate each move. We’re going to have to out-physical them, play with speed, and play with great toughness each and every play.”

Looking for win number two in the non-conference, Auburn’s schedule will only get tougher as the Tigers move into SEC play in two weeks. Because of that, Deal said this weekend’s trip to California is a big opportunity for this team as they look to put the program back on the college football map.

“There’s milestones in each season,” Deal said. “Your first game, how do you start? Your first road game, how do you react when you don’t have 90,000 people cheering you on? Whenever you get into conference play, that’s another milestone. Momentum is going to be huge. I just want to see us win the turnover battle, execute and run the football. That’s something you have to do on the road. I have learned that in big road games, if you want to go in and upset somebody you have to be able to run the football.”

Kickoff for Saturday night’s game vs. the Cal Bears is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. central time and can be seen on ESPN.

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al.com

 

‘I’m not supposed to be here’: Full of gratitude, Gunner Britton reflects on first game at Auburn

Published: Sep. 07, 2023, 6:30 a.m.

7–9 minutes

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The first time Gunner Britton ran out onto Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium, he did so wearing a white and red jersey, looking at Auburn’s more than 80,000 fans from underneath Western Kentucky’s chrome helmets.

A native of Conway, S.C., Britton was only rated a 2-star offensive lineman prospect out of high school and the Hilltoppers were one of just three FBS teams to come knocking with an offer.

“I was No. 54 overall in South Carolina,” Britton said. “I wasn’t the most recruited guy, even at my own high school.”

And in a world so caught up in stars and rankings, Britton spent much of his time at Western Kentucky thinking he was where he belonged.

After redshirting during his first season in Bowling Green, Ky. in 2019, Britton worked his way into the Hilltoppers’ offensive line rotation in his following three seasons. But it wasn’t until the 2022 season that Britton was a consistent starter at WKU.

Nonetheless, as the 2022 season approached, Britton knew — barring he played well — he might have the opportunity to transfer to a bigger program.

During Week 2, the Hilltoppers went out to play Hawaii, where Britton and the WKU offensive line didn’t give up a sack despite 30 pass attempts.

The next week at Indiana, Britton had another solid showing.

But it wasn’t until later in the season Britton finally had himself convinced he could play among the “freak shows” in the SEC.

Ironically, as fate would have it, Britton’s breakthrough came on Nov. 19 of last year when he and the Hilltoppers visited Auburn in a game that was dominated by the Tigers and their run game.

While Western Kentucky’s defense was getting torn apart by Auburn running backs Jarquez Hunter and Tank Bigsby, who combined for 229 rushing yards and four touchdowns, Britton was holding his own against Auburn’s standout defensive end.

“I got the chance to go block Derick Hall from Auburn University and everyone has seen what he’s done here and now he’s in the NFL and was a second-round pick,” Britton said. “And I’m like, okay if I can block this guy then I’m pretty confident I can go to the biggest stage and block seven SEC guys.”

That did it.

That convinced Britton it was time to ignore the stars and what all the recruiting services said about him out of high school and trust what he knew about himself.

Britton entered the transfer portal on Nov. 29 – three days after WKU’s final regular season game of the 2022 season.

By then, those same recruiting services that listed him as a 2-star out of high school, listed him as a 4-star transfer prospect and the fifth-best offensive tackle available in the transfer portal. Dillon Wade, who went on to transfer to Auburn from Tulsa, was rated the best tackle available in the portal.

“It was a lot of prayers, a lot of discussion with my family,” Britton said of his decision to transfer. “Coach Thornton brought it up the other day about what I told him when I came on a visit was pretty much if I can play in the SEC, I’m gonna have a chance to play in the NFL… I felt like coming to Auburn gave me the best opportunity to do that. That made the decision easy.”

Britton arrived to The Plains in January and it took him a while to get adjusted to the magnitude of things at Auburn.

From Auburn’s Woltosz Football Performance Center, to taking a video of the dozen media members interviewing him during his first media availability so he could show his former teammates what it was like in the SEC — it was a lot to take in for a kid who for years thought he was only as good as his 2-star rating.

Nonetheless, it didn’t take long for Britton cement himself as a vital piece of the offensive line first-year head coach Hugh Freeze and Jake Thornton were trying to build at Auburn.

Auburn’s coaching staff toyed around with a number of different combinations along the offensive line throughout fall camp in search of the best rotations – something that’s imperative in an offense as fast-moving as Freeze’s.

“He needs to be on the field, and we need to stay fresh because we do like to go fast,” Freeze said of Britton following Auburn’s win over UMass. “He gives us freedom to move some puzzle pieces around because of his flexibility. He’s really invaluable with that.”

And Freeze didn’t wait to put that on display as Britton was asked to play three different spots along the offensive line on Saturday.

However, if you were to ask him to talk about his play from Saturday, Britton would tell you he thought the Tigers’ offensive front played well and met both of their goals: keeping Auburn’s quarterbacks off their backs and helping Auburn rush for 6.7 yards per carry.

But that might be all he’d have to say about the Xs and Os (Though it is worth mentioning Britton was named the SEC’s Offensive Lineman of the Week for his efforts).

Now, if you were to ask Britton about his entire experience on Saturday, you’d better pull up a chair because he’s got plenty to say.

Auburn’s Tiger Walk triggered Britton’s emotions; he told reporters Monday.

“I’m walking down there and I’m high-fiving all these people and all these people are coming up to me and I’m like, man, this is college football,” Britton said. “This is what I signed up for.”

But Britton’s walk through the sea of people along South Donahue Drive was just the start of his gameday experience.

The last time Britton played a game in Jordan-Hare Stadium, there were more than 80,000 people cheering against him.

However, the second Britton ran out from the tunnel Saturday, he learned quick that those folks weren’t cheering against him anymore. Instead, he had 88,043 fans – a new record at Jordan-Hare Stadium – cheering for him.

“In my life I’ve been doubted by a lot of people, so for me to be able to walk into a stadium and there’s 90,000 people that are cheering for me and wanting me to succeed? It’s a lot different,” Britton said.

After emerging from the tunnel on Saturday, Britton – like many Auburn players – take to the endzone to kneel and pray before kickoff.

In that moment Britton thought to himself, “I’m not supposed to be here.”

But his sizeable entourage that came to The Plains might argue otherwise.

And in those stands filled to the brim with 90,000 people was Britton’s entire family. His parents, both sets of grandparents, his older brothers and his five nieces and nephews, his aunt and uncles – they were all a part of Saturday’s record-breaking crowd.

And it was they who always knew a moment such as this would come one day.

Britton’s older brother always told him he was going to be a great football player. But when you’re in high school waiting for offers to come or sitting the bench at Western Kentucky, it feels like your older brother is just saying that to be a good older brother.

“To see them kind of rally around me as a player and now they get to kind of see the fruits of our labor and stuff — it was really, really special,” Britton said.

Britton’s twin older brothers are 33 and came to The Plains Saturday with families of their own.

Wristbands, towels and whatever else Britton could spare were given to his nieces and nephews after Saturday’s game.

“I talk to them about living their dreams and chasing their dreams and what better example than they can look at their uncle and see that I’m living my dream,” Britton said. “They get to go and tell all their friends at school that their uncle plays at Auburn.”

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247sports.com

 

PMARSHONAU Gunner Britton finds his football home at Auburn

Phillip Marshall

6–8 minutes

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Gunner Britton played three OL positions against UMass. (Photo: Kyle Okita, 247Sports)

AUBURN, Alabama – After Western Kentucky lost to Auburn 41-17 last November at Jordan-Hare Stadium, offensive tackle Gunner Britton’s father was waiting in the tunnel as he left the field.

“He told me ‘Dad, if I don’t go in the draft, I want to be at a place like this,'” John Britton tells Auburn Undercover. "He said 'I want to play in front of 90,000 people, and this is a place I would love to be.’”

Gunner had secured his degree at Western Kentucky in 2021. He had gotten feedback that he could go into the NFL draft and probably be a mid-round pick. But not long after that day at Auburn, he went into the transfer portal.

Offers poured in from most SEC and ACC programs, some in the Big Ten and the Big 12. It was a far cry from what happened after he finished his career back home in South Carolina at Conway High School. He was a two-time all-state selection, a standout baseball player and an honor student. But recruiting interest wasn’t strong.

“I had three FBS offers,” Gunner says. “I was a 2-star and the No. 54 player in the state.” He chuckles at the irony.

On Jan. 7, Gunner made good on what he said last November. He signed with Auburn. On Saturday, he started at left guard and played three positions on the offensive line as Auburn blew out UMass 59-14. He got a 94 grade from his coaches. And he was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after his first Auburn game.

John Britton was on a tractor working at his farm when he got the call from his son. And he wept with joy.

“I had to tear it up then,” John says. “I mean, I love it for him. He has worked so hard. Football is his life now.”

In Hugh Freeze’s first game as Auburn’s head coach, Jordan-Hare Stadium was packed with a record crowd. Tiger Walk was a mass of humanity. For Gunner, it the culmination of a long-time dream.

“When you put on the pads and run out and see 90,000 people or even Tiger Walk walking in there, it's like, ‘Dang, I really do play at Auburn now.’ It’s special,” Gunner says. “I think the transfer portal is something crazy. I remember thinking when I prayed on the field, ‘I’m not supposed to be here.’ Ten years ago, this would’ve never been a thing for a guy to be able to transfer to a big school and play.

“It was just a special moment. It was a special moment for my family. Something we’ll never forget is me running out the tunnel for the first time, me on Tiger Walk, just meeting so many people and people knowing my name and stuff, which is something that’s really special to me. I was emotional about it.”

He wasn’t alone. Forty-nine family members and relatives were to share the moment, and to celebrate the determination of a young man who wouldn’t listen when people told him he wasn’t good enough.

“In my life I’ve been doubted by a lot of people,” Gunner says. “For me to be able to walk into a stadium and there are 90,000 people cheering for me and wanting me to succeed, it’s a lot different. The first time I came to Jordan-Hare, there were 90,000 who didn’t want me to succeed. So to have that, it was really special.”

Gunner Britton played three positions on the OL in his Auburn debut. (Photo: Auburn University Athletics)

Gunner was born to compete. His first word was “ball.” His father coached him like he had coached John Henry and Will, the twin sons of John and Dina Britton, 10 years his seniors.

John Britton is a former police officer. He works 200 acres of land left to him by his grandfather. He owns a landscaping company. He’s a coach. He’s a mentor. He went to work after high school instead of going to college, but he passed on his love for competition to his sons. His oldest sons played at Newberry College.

And now his youngest has finally made his way to college football’s biggest stage.

“Nobody deserves anything in this world,” John says. “You earn it. That’s what I believe. He wants to win. He wants to make a run. Some people say he deserves it. I say, no, he’s earned it.”

Gunner could have been a graduate transfer any time after earning his degree in May of 2021. His father thought it would be a good idea, but Gunner did not feel he had finished his commitment to Western Kentucky.  After last season, he was ready.

“I knew in my heart that when he entered that portal, his phone would blow up,” John says. “And it did.”

Gunner established a tight relationship with the late Mike Leach, Mississippi State’s head coach. Leach’s tragically passed away the day after Gunner’s visit to Starkville. His next visit was to Auburn, and it would be his last.

“I went with him on the trip to Auburn, and that was it,” John says. “He’d planned to use three more visits. Deion Sanders had offered. Texas had come in. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. A bunch of Big Ten schools. When we went to Auburn, it was an automatic fit."

John was convinced as Gunner finished his high school career that his son could play at a high level. He doesn’t understand to this day why there wasn’t more interest.

“I knew he could,” John says. “I knew his body was young, and it was going to take some time for him to grow into it. I knew if he ever got a shot he could do it. I don’t understand this star system. I am sorry. I just don’t.”

Gunner was 6-foot-5 and weighed 275 as a high school senior. He would have been a major league draft prospect had he not given baseball as a senior to graduate early and enroll at Western Kentucky. But even Gunner, who is listed now at 6-6 and 312 pounds, had his doubts.

Gunner Britton played for four seasons at Western Kentucky. (Photo: Western Kentucky Athletics)

“There were times at Western that if you would’ve told me I was going to play college football at this level, I would’ve been like, ‘There’s no way,’” Gunner says. “It all came to fruition. I get to play at Auburn. How special it is. That’s what I like to tell kids when I go to different elementary schools or I see a kid and he asks for an autograph. Just follow your dreams. I’m not supposed to be here, and look at me now.”

The Brittons are long-time South Carolina supporters. John was, for years, a season-ticket holder. The Gunners, Britton and his family, have been welcomed and embraced even more than they could have imagined. They are Auburn people now.

As Gunner neared the gate at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, a crowd of children were clamoring for autographs. He stopped and signed them all.

It had taken him a while, but he knew he belonged.

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i was a gunner fan but now i am a huge gunner fan! i believe he is a true Auburn man! now back to our regular programing..........

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i am sure not many like to watch our band but some do and here it is...............

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ok sports fans this looks to be it for the morning. i will check back during the day for updates.

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al.com

Brian Battie’s addition, Keionte Scott’s improvement boosting Auburn’s special teams

Published: Sep. 08, 2023, 5:00 a.m.

5–6 minutes

Cornerbacks don’t have the ball in their hands all the time, so it’s hard to blame Keionte Scott for being so anxious to make a play. As Auburn’s punt returner, he stands back on his own all the way down the field, waiting for the ball to come to him and thinking about how he can impact the game with the ball in his hands.

One problem. Scott was so giddy to start his return that he well, didn’t exactly make sure he had control of the ball.

Fumbles were a key issue for Scott as a returner in 2022. He muffed two punts last season. Catching punts is something Scott said he had to work on over the offseason.

“I had to learn a fair catch is not a bad play,” Scott said on Monday. “I felt like last year I was too antsy to make a play, like I was forcing it. This year it’ll be more of a -- hey, if I get the opportunity, I’ll make the play. If it hangs up there, make the fair catch and get the offense on the field.”

It was a focus on confidence underneath the sailing ball, Scott said, that helped him improve this year, compared to plays like missed punt in last year’s Iron Bowl.

Scott says he has that confidence now, and he showed it Saturday.

Standing inside Auburn’s 30-yard-line, Scott fielded a UMass punt that bounced a few yards in front of him. His blockers immediately created a seam which Scott burst through before cutting left around the Auburn 45-yard-line. He swung all the way over to the left sideline and kept racing past the potential UMass tacklers all the way to inside the UMass redzone.

The 56-yard return set up for a touchdown from quarterback Robby Ashford, and the beginning of Auburn pulling away UMass for good.

“Oh, 100%,” Scott said when asked if he thought he could have scored on the return. “I watched it 60 times on Sunday to see if I could’ve cut it back. I don’t think I could have. But I’m definitely excited this year. I’m looking to get into the end zone, for sure.

There too was Brian Battie, a transfer from USF who quickly slotted in as Auburn’s top kick returner. He had previously been an All-American at the position.

He too, quickly gave Auburn a boost on special teams as he brought the game’s opening kickoff from deep in the endzone out to Auburn’s 38-yard-line. It set up Auburn with good field position to ultimately score a touchdown via a Damari Alston run on the game’s opening drive.

Battie had 117 all-purpose yards in the win — 86 of which were kick return yards. He averaged 29 yards per return. Scott finished with 67 punt return yards over his two punts.

“I thought our special teams, the positives were we started really fast,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said in his Monday press conference. “I think we had 131 return yards in the first quarter, which is pretty awesome. Average first half starting field position was the plus-35, plus-48 for the whole game. So that’s really good.”

But compare that to Auburn’s return stats from a year ago to see just how much of an impact Battie and Scott gave Auburn on special teams.

As a team, Auburn averaged 8.5 yards per punt return last year. That was the 55th-best rate in the nation and eighth in the SEC.

The 17.22 yards per kick return Auburn averaged last year was the second-worst in the SEC and ranked 114th nationally out of 130 teams.

Sure, it’s just one game, but fast forward one season.

Battie’s average kickoff returns put Auburn fifth in the SEC and 22nd nationally. Scott’s punt return average was third-best in the nation and second-best in the SEC.

Their returns set up multiple Auburn touchdowns on a day where the team went on to score 59 points. The last time Auburn even scored more than 45 points was putting up 60 on Sept. 11, 2021, against Alabama A&M.

Battie was never one of Auburn’s most talked about transfers. He’s listed as the third running back on Auburn’s depth chart. But as one of the nation’s better kick returns, something he’s proven throughout his career, he is setting up Auburn’s offense in strong positions.

And Scott seems to be making sure he has the ball in his hands before making big plays, these days.

[aubiefifty 18,259]

l.com

 

Bo Nix can be himself at Oregon, felt Auburn legacy pressure: ‘This school has changed my life’

Updated: Sep. 08, 2023, 6:04 a.m.|Published: Sep. 08, 2023, 5:57 a.m.

~3 minutes

---

 

How has Oregon impacted Bo Nix

Bo Nix said this week playing at Oregon has allowed him to be himself. By doing so, he escaped what he described as Auburn legacy pressure.

The 2023 Heisman Trophy contender was explaining what being a Duck meant to him, and the former Auburn quarterback revealed the pressure of playing on The Plains.

“This school has changed my life,” Nix said of Oregon. “This school just gave me an opportunity to be myself again and get out of the spotlight of, ‘You’re playing because your dad played here,’ or ‘You are only doing it because you are an Auburn fan’ or this and that. But now I can just go do it because I love playing quarterback.

“I love being around a group of guys, and love leading a group out there with a common mission to win. We were fortunate enough to do a lot of that last season but we came up short in some other times, so now, another reason you came back to have another try at it, and learn from what you did right, learn from what you did wrong and go out and fix it.”

Nix threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns before heading for the bench early in the third quarter and No. 15 Oregon built a 43-point halftime lead en route to an 81-7 victory over Portland State on Saturday.

Nix left Auburn after an up-and-down three seasons. Still, the Auburn legacy and former five-star prospect finished his career on the Plains as the No. 3 passer in program history, finishing with 7,251 career passing yards. That’s just 48 yards shy of Jason Campbell’s record at No. 2 on the list.

Nix completed 59.4 percent of his passes over the last three seasons, threw for 39 touchdowns and accounted for 57 total scores during his time with the Tigers. He’s also second in program history in career pass attempts with 1,057 and second in career pass completions with 628. Both of those records would have been in reach had Nix either returned for his senior season or finished his junior campaign healthy.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of

[aucanucktiger 1,892]

I seriously think illiterate children and/or Bama grads write many of these stories. Cal will "where down" Auburn's D?

[AUGoo 2,703]

3 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

I don’t think a Cal victory over a team that was 17-19 the past three seasons would be regarded as a huge upset. Both teams are works in progress.

 

[Hank2020 3,358]

1 hour ago, AUGoo said:

 

I bet if it happens they will project it as one, it’s probably more about their conf. Vs. ours. IMO

[Paladin 3,307]

Keionte Scott brings his new Auburn family back home to California

Auburn's California kid is headed back home for the Tigers' Week 2 road game against the Golden Bears

NATHAN KING7 hrs14

Keionte Scott wants his teammates to take a deep breath.

Metaphorically, of course, they need to do so ahead of Auburn’s tricky road test at Cal this Saturday night. Scott, in his second year with the program after transferring in as one of the top JUCO players in the country last year, has emerged into a big-time leader for Auburn and its new staff under Hugh Freeze and is one of several veteran players in the Tigers’ secondary, helping drive the defense’s success from the back end.

But also, literally, he wants them to take a deep breath getting off the plane.

“I just tell them we're gonna breathe a lot better,” Scott said this week of advice he’s given his teammates about traveling from the aggressively humid Alabama to the West Coast. “Just be ready for that.”

One of only two players on this Auburn roster from California — alongside defensive end Mosiah Nasili-Kite — Scott returns to the Golden State this Saturday when Auburn takes on Cal in Berkeley (9:30 p.m. CDT, ESPN). This time last season, Scott was still getting his feet wet with his new program before settling in as a starter in the secondary. Now he’s one of the Tigers’ most crucial pieces on either side of the ball — and on special teams, where he’s hoped to be an electric playmaker on punt returns.

Beyond that, though, Scott has earned the respect of his new coaches for his role in helping Auburn transition from the failed Bryan Harsin regime into Year 1 under Freeze and company.

Of course, Freeze and his coaching staff are far from the first to be impressed by Scott’s blend of talent and maturity.

“In coaching, sometimes you come across guys who are just different,” said Tanner Jacobson, Scott’s head coach for his two seasons at Snow College in Utah. “Guys who have some innate features that maybe start out as God-given, then they develop those talents,” Jacobson said. “For Keionte, it’s a little bit of both. He’s obviously extremely gifted physically, but what really sets him apart is his mentality. He’s the perfect balance of fun and seriousness. He’s going to come to work and be focused, but he’s going to do it with a smile on his face.”

Scott played 18 games over the course of a single calendar year in 2021 because of COVID-19. Snow College’s spring season spanned all the way into June because Scott’s team made the NJCAA national championship game, then things got cranked up again in early September for the fall season.

Jacobson saw glimpses of Scott’s abilities in practice ahead of the spring season, but as he put it, “coaches never really know what they have until they see it on the field.”

That didn’t take long. In Snow College’s first game, Scott blasted an Iowa Western running back in the backfield for a tackle for loss. The hit was so hard that when Scott pulled off his helmet, he was bleeding from his forehead. Scott grabbed a bandaid, slapped it on and kept chugging.

Scott is about as dynamic an athlete as they come, which has become clear in his role on special teams now at Auburn. Scott was No. 4 in the SEC in yards per return last season, and had a 56-yard return that nearly went to the house in the season-opening win over UMass.

He was ready for an even bigger role in Year 2 at Snow. He approached Jacobson in practice, telling him he wanted to start returning kicks.

“Every good skill player swears they can return punts and kicks,” Jacobson joked, noting that Snow had a pair of quality return men, both of whom were named All-NJCAA in the spring season.

Finally, Jacobson budged.

“He begged me, so I finally was like fine, I’ll let you take back this kickoff during the bye week,” Jacobson said. “And it was just, boom, touchdown against our starting kickoff team. Nobody touched him or even got close. So I was like man, we may be missing an opportunity here.”

Scott was the No. 4 JUCO player in the country when he joined Auburn's 2021 class (Photo: Snow College)

The following game, Scott had two kickoff returns for touchdowns — though one was called back for a penalty.

“Both times, just completely untouched,” Jacobson said.

Scott had received Power Five interest after Snow’s spring season, but things really ramped up once he started showing his potential in the fall.

Auburn was one of the first major programs to give Scott and Jacobson a call — and they certainly weren’t the last.

“I had to put into my schedule every day, ‘Recruiting calls for Keionte,’ because everyone was blowing up my phone and his phone,” Jacobson said. “Every time I saw an area code I didn’t recognize, I knew what it was going to be.”

Lekisha Hayes knows her stuff now. Her son plays in a storied program in the SEC, and she’s plenty aware of the level of competition Scott faces every week — and what it means to be one of the most important players at Auburn.

When Scott’s recruit took off at a blinding pace, though, she sometimes felt like her sons were speaking a foreign language when they’d show her the offers Scott had been posting on Instagram.

“Google and Siri are my best friends,” laughed Hayes, who remembers when Scott would post offer after offer in 2021, and Scott’s siblings would excitedly keep her updated and show her their phones — if Scott hadn’t called her first.

Hayes remembers one of Scott’s earliest offers during the 2021 spring season quite vividly. Scott called her, and all she could hear at first was just “yelling and screaming.”

“Mom!” Scott blurted, “Deion Sanders just called my phone!”

“Oh,” Hayes remembers responding. “Well, what did he want?”

She said her kids still tease her to this day for asking that question. Of course, Jackson State had offered, and Sanders had told the young defensive back that his tape reminded Sanders of his own playing days.

But Hayes is a mom first and foremost. She proceeded to ask Scott, “Aren’t you supposed to be in class right now?”

Eventually, Scott knew he needed to get mom more involved in the whole process. “You’ve got to talk to mom now,” he would tell coaches after receiving an offer. Scott knew her and their family would be the ones traveling, so their opinions factored into his decision, too.

That aspect of his recruitment didn’t surprise Jacobson at all.

“That young man is everything to his family, and his family is everything to him,” Jacobson said.

So Hayes’ phone joined Jacobson’s and Scott’s on the call list for all of Scott’s suitors.

“My first thought was, ‘Son, how are you going to tell all these nice people no?’” Hayes said. “So I just became the prayer person. I just took that journey with him. And I knew what he was looking for in terms of a school and a home. We were all there to help him achieve that. Now, as soon as he started talking about Pac-12, Pac-10, SEC, Big 12, I was out.”

Scott is one of a few NFL-caliber players in Auburn's 2023 secondary (Photo: Kyle Okita, 247Sports)

Scott visited Auburn, Oregon, Miami, BYU and hometown San Diego State. The trip down to the Plains was for the 2021 Iron Bowl, where the Tigers took No. 2 Alabama and Heisman winner Bryce Young to four overtimes in a thriller of a loss. Scott was recruited by then-Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Mason, who left for Oklahoma State just over a month after Scott committed.

It was obviously a hike for Scott’s family from the West Coast to the heart of the south. But they immediately latched onto life in the orange and blue.

“Our family, when we have a team, we have a team,” Hayes said. “All those babies out there are important. If they’re important to Keionte, they’re important to us.”

***

Scott’s family is “diverse,” as Hayes described it. Scott’s grandmother is the youngest of 10, so there’s “plenty of aunts and uncles to go around.” Scott’s father is in prison, so Hayes is a single mom, and she said she instilled in her children from a young age the importance of leadership and integrity. She said Scott, who was named to Auburn’s “culture council” this season, has always been more mature than others his age.

“It’s an incredible blessing to have this kind of support as a single mom,” Hayes said of Scott’s family, along with those he’s grown to know at Auburn. “It’s kind of indescribable.”

As a mom and a supporter, Hayes strives to be the very best for Scott. Jacobson said she made a massive impression on his program in Scott’s time at Snow College, and that people around the building still talk about her and Scott’s impact as people.

When Jacobson talks to her, he hears so much of what he learned to appreciate about Scott and his character.

“Her as a support system for him, and vice versa, it’s just special, and honestly it’s inspiring,” Jacobson said. “It’s not every day as a coach you get a parent like that. If I called her and needed something, she’d drop everything to come help me. So it’s no surprise Keionte is the same way.”

Although Scott’s transfer to Auburn was a massive trek, it just so happened to open even more doors for his family — in addition to the relationships Hayes has made with those at Auburn. Scott’s great great grandmother was born in Arkansas, and being more centralized with that side of the family helped them to reconnect.

“It’s allowed us to meet family members we just wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet before,” Hayes said. “There’s been a lot of opportunities we just wouldn’t have encountered before we came to Auburn.”

That first Auburn home game last fall, Hayes wondered, “How can he even hear anything?” Through the tension of the unsightly exit for Harsin and the majority of his coaching staff, Hayes said Scott made a large effort to keep the team focused and together. But the waiting game for a new head coach was difficult.

Then Freeze arrived, and Hayes couldn’t have been much more impressed.

Scott's name is always one of the first mentioned by Freeze in terms of leaders on his 2023 team (Photo: Auburn Athletics)

“They just take the time, you know?” Hayes said. “I remember Coach Freeze, stopping what he was doing to take the time to shake my hand, meet me and make sure, hey, if I have any questions or concerns at any time, here are the people in place to help you. But I haven’t had many (questions) because they’re so on top of it. It’s such a special thing as a parent to watch your child walk away from you and be with other people, and to know they’re in good hands and cared for and loved.”

Scott was recruited by Mason and is now on his second Auburn defensive coordinator, but the thought of leaving the program amid all the changes last fall.

“He’s loyal to this team, regardless of who the coach is,” Hayes said. “And a lot of his best friends on the team felt the same way.”

***

Scott is an old hand at this by now. He goes home to California “any chance I get.” He’s experienced enough to sleep on the plane, which he knows many of his teammates won’t be able to do.

But they have tools at their disposal, and Scott will encourage them to utilize the support they have on Auburn’s staff during what will inevitably be a tricky weekend of travel and acclimation.

“The main thing is just getting used to the time change and the flight over,” Scott said. “A lot of guys really don't like flying, and that four-hour flight could affect us. But our trainers and our nutritionists are already on top of it with the things that we need to do — posture for sitting on the plane, hydrating, stuff like that.”

How many family and friends will Scott have on hand Saturday night in Berkeley?

“Oh, boy,” Hayes laughed.

Most notably, Saturday is Scott’s grandfather’s birthday, and they’re surprising him by taking him to see Scott play. So nobody send this story to “Papa” just yet.

“He just thinks we’re going to a game,” Hayes said. “He has no idea Keionte’s playing. It will be a special night."

Hayes then paused briefly, and spoke passionately: “Auburn has just put our family together in so many ways. It’s kind of hard to explain. Does that make sense?”

For so many who have walked a similar path — from outsider to Auburn Tiger — there’s no doubt it does.

[Paladin 3,307]

Kaufman makes big impact off bench

Bryan Matthews • AuburnSports

Senior Editor

AUBURN | Donovan Kaufman didn’t start in last Saturday’s blowout win over UMass, but he made as big an impact as any of Auburn’s defenders.

The junior had four tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, one sack and one forced fumble.

“DK is special, in terms of his pass-rush bag, and in terms of his coverage. He's a jack of all trades,” said linebacker Eugene Asante. “He reminds me of, like, that honey badger-type player. His work ethic, his drive, just the way he is in terms of being a pro.

“Those are all things I admire, and actually inspires me to even do more within myself. Because I know DK, he's a pro to the top. So I've got to be on my game. Congrats to DK, man. He did his thing out there.”

Kaufman was Auburn’s second-highest rated defender according to PFF with an 86.2 grade. Only safety Jaylin Simpson, who returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown.

He worked as Keionte Scott’s backup at the nickel position, which AU calls the Star, and at safety.

“Being in a situation like that where you're learning multiple positions, and you don't really know what the situation is -- just being ready to go. I feel like he stepped in and made some effective and big plays for the defense,” said Scott.

“Just being able to have that rotation with him coming off, or him being on, is a good thing.”

Edited September 8, 2023 by Paladin

[3rdgeneration 6,650]

That Keionte Scott story is fantastic! Great young man!!!

Edited September 8, 2023 by 3rdgeneration

[aubiefifty 18,259]

247sports.com

PMARSHONAU Auburn has more talent but will that be enough

Phillip Marshall

4–5 minutes

Is Auburn’s football team talented enough to beat California on Saturday night in Berkley? It almost certainly is. But that does not mean it will happen.

So much in this game seems to be in Cal’s favor. It will be Auburn’s second game with a new head coach, mostly new assistants and dozens of newcomers on the roster. Traveling across the country and playing at 9:30 p.m. CDT is a challenge like no Auburn team has faced.

The 2002 team played USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum, but it was the first game of the season on Monday night. The 2013 team played in the BCS Championship Game at the Rose Bowl, but it was there for a week before the game.

This feels different and is different. Auburn’s football team arrived Thursday night, some 48 hours before Saturday night’s game. Head coach Hugh Freeze said he would have preferred to go Friday and not have all that time to wait. But, as anyone who traveled to the West Coast knows, it takes time for body clocks to adjust.

And, while Auburn’s team might be bigger and faster and more athletic, Cal is good enough to win if the Tigers are not the best they can be at this point in the building process. That means, among other things, not turning the ball over, not getting needless penalties and resolving the alignment problems that surfaced on defense in a 59-14 victory over UMass.

Auburn played last week without cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett, Jack defender Jalen McLeod and running back Jarquez Hunter. Pritchett and McLeod are expected to play. Their return should be helpful. Hunter, who was suspended for the first game, made the trip, but his status is uncertain. Middle linebacker Austin Keys is out indefinitely. That will not help.

Most of the Auburn newcomers were enthralled by the atmosphere in their first game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Now, they have to deal with playing on the road before a sellout crowd. Auburn fans will be there and be heard, but it will be a hostile environment. That will be another first for those newcomers.

A win would allow the Tigers to almost certainly go to Texas A&M in two weeks with a 3-0 record and lots of momentum. A loss would be disappointing but certainly not season-destroying.

So it is going to be in more games than not as this team pursues its destiny.

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS

Pregame yapping

Pregame talk is just that. It’s talk. I have never seen a game decided by what someone said before the game. The biggest potential impact is on the talker. I have been quoting the late Pat Dye a good bit recently, but here is another Dyeism: “The less you say, the less you have to take back.”

SEC teams still have points to prove

How many SEC teams have proved themselves going into the second full weekend of the season? None, to be exact. The ones who were tested in Week 1 – LSU, South Carolina and Florida – failed miserably, all losing by double digits. Everybody else feasted on cupcakes. There will be some legitimate tests this weekend, but also more cupcakes. We are just getting started.

Is it time to waive the waivers?

The NCAA’s final ruling is that wide receiver Tez Walker is ineligible for the 2023 season, and North Carolina coach Mack Brown is going off on the NCAA. Would Brown be as incensed if Walker was a walk-on instead of a player who could help him win? Of course he wouldn’t.

It seems the NCAA is now strictly enforcing the rule that athletes get one-time penalty free transfers. After that, they have to sit out a year. I have no problem with that. In fact, I believe it should be automatic. You get one bite at the apple. After that, you must sit out – no hardship waivers or any other kinds of waivers.

The attempts to frame the NCAA as some evil organization out to do harm really is just wrong. The NCAA is the membership. The membership can change rules. The presidents have final say.

The NCAA has made plenty of bad decisions in recent years, more because of inaction than action. But if there are no rules, what then? Maybe the power programs will eventually pull out of the NCAA, though I doubt it. Even if that were to happen, there would be rules that had to be enforced.