9.21.23 Football Articles

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Auburn Wire goes 'Behind Enemy Lines' with Aggies Wire

Taylor Jones

6–7 minutes

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The Auburn Tigers are set to begin SEC play this weekend. First up on the menu is the Texas A&M Aggies.

Texas A&M enters the game with a 2-1 record after earning wins over New Mexico and ULM. Their lone loss was to the Miami Hurricanes, 48-33, in week two.

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The Aggies feature several key players on their roster such as quarterback Conner Weigman, wide receivers Ainias Smith and Evan Stewart, and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. Outside of those players, the biggest storyline heading into the game is the level of intensity that head coach Jimbo Fisher’s seat is enduring.

In an effort to learn more about this week’s opponent, we called upon Aggies Wire editor Cameron Ohnysty, and he delivered.

Ohnysty talks about Conner Weigman, red zone defense, and the heat regarding Jimbo Fisher’s seat in this week’s edition of Behind Enemy Lines.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Aggies bounced back to defeat ULM last weekend. What were your takeaways from the win?

First off, as the kids say, quarterback Conner Weigman is HIM after passing for 337 yards with an 86.2% completion rate. In comparison, senior do-it-all wide receiver Ainias Smith casually led the game in receiving with 127 yards, joining Grand Valley State transfer wideout Jahdae Walker’s 110-yard receiving day. Defensively, the Aggie’s talented defensive front still had issues pressuring the quarterback; however, the linebacker filled their gaps, and the secondary held UL Monroe to 95 yards through the air, so it was a much better showing overall.

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to the ULM game, Texas A&M fell at Miami. What were some of the events that led to the loss?

Defense, plain and simple. While second-year defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin is certainly the man to blame for most of the lapses seen against the Hurricanes, poor tackling, abysmal covering in the deep third, and virtually zero pass rush against an above-average offensive line is purely a combination of a lack of effort, and failure to mix up scheme when needed. Offensively, Conner Weigman threw for over 300 yards, yet the Aggies’ stout offensive line couldn’t pick up a blitz to save their lives, as Weigman faced the pressure of 33 of his 57 drop-back attempts.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Conner Weigman has been one of the most efficient passers in the SEC. Auburn, however, is not known for its pass rush but is strong when it comes to pass coverage. How well does Weigman typically perform against solid secondaries?

Not including lesser opponents in New Mexico and UL Monroe, Weigman’s quick release and ability to hit tight windows was seen in small doses during his four starts in 2022, and against a respectable Miami secondary, which included future NFL safety Kam Kinchens, he continued to exhibit an impressive combination of grit, confidence, and touch on his passes at nearly every level of the field. Auburn’s veteran secondary will be his toughest challenge yet, but with one of the more talented receiving units in the country, his confidence level in the pocket won’t diminish.

Austin Perryman/Auburn Tigers

Auburn has experimented with both Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford at the quarterback position. Which aspect of the Aggie defense will be the strongest against these QBs?

Before the win over Samford, I wasn’t aware of Thorne’s ability to make plays out of structure, making him somewhat of a wildcard ahead of Saturday’s matchup. Robby Ashford’s legs are a constant headache for every defense. Still, sophomore safety/cornerback Bryce Anderson, the fastest defender on the Aggies’ defense, will likely spy both signal callers to prevent explosive pickups on the ground. This will be a big game for Texas A&M’s linebacker duo of freshman Taurean York and junior Edgerrin Cooper, who, after a solid showing against UL Monroe, will need to future enhance their production against an Auburn team looking to establish the run early.

Michael Chang/Getty Images

Ashford usually plays in red-zone situations. How has Texas A&M performed in the red zone defensively?

So far, not great. Through three games, Texas A&M has allowed an 85% scoring rate in the red zone, and knowing how Hugh Freeze is going to utilize Ashford’s strengths, it’s vital that the Aggies stay focused on setting the edge and tackling in space, but let’s be honest; I’ll believe it when I see it.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

What would a loss to Auburn do for Jimbo Fisher’s hot seat?

The flame is already lit, but it’s equivalent to a bunsen burner on the lowest possible level now, if the Aggies were to yet again lose to an Auburn team with one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC, inside a packed Kyle Field nonetheless, a pyromaniac might be put in charge of said bunsen burner. Fisher’s future is based on beating the beatable teams and winning at least nine games in the WIDE open SEC West, and nothing against the Tigers, but the Aggies need to get the job done.

© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

What is your final score prediction?

Based solely on the progress the defense made in the win against the Warhawks, coupled with Conner Weigman’s recent press conference appearance in which he discussed last year’s ugly loss to Auburn and what he has learned since then, has got to make Aggie fans feel like this team has learned from their mistakes in the loss to Miami. The bottom line is if the Aggies’ offensive line holds, and the Payton Thorne/Robby Ashford combination is at least managed defensively, I’m giving Texas A&M a solid start to SEC play.

Final score: Texas A&M 31, Auburn 21

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si.com

 

Taking a look at some interesting stats for the Auburn Tigers three games into the season

Andrew Stefaniak, Zac Blackerby

3–4 minutes

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Auburn has produced some interesting numbers three games into the season.

Auburn started the year 3-0 and is now preparing to make a trip to College Station, Texas, to take on the Texas A&M Aggies. 

Auburn has gotten better each game so far this season, giving fans hope they can win a big SEC West matchup on the road. 

So far, throughout the first three games of the season, the Auburn Tigers have accumulated some interesting stats. 

Let's take a look at some of these stats. 

#1

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Payton Thorne's best completion percentage splits come against the blitz and while he's under pressure. He's 6 for 7 (85.7%) when under pressure for 73 yards (10.3 YPA). He's 12 for 16 (75%) when blitzed for 161 yards.

All three of Thorne's picks come from a clean pocket. Thorne's been given a clean pocket on 82.7% of his dropbacks. He's thrown all three of his picks when the pocket was clean. The opposing defense did not blitz on those plays.

#2

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Dillon Wade has been incredible at pass protection this season. In Wade's 89 pass-blocking reps, he has not allowed a pressure or a sack.

#3

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

DJ James is off to a great start to the season. His assignment in coverage has been targeted 13 times. He's had three pass breakups, a pick, and a dropped interception. That would earn opposing quarterbacks a 34.1 passer rating when targeting James.

#4

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

If you remove quarterback scrambles, half of Auburn's rushing TDs have come from attacking left end. Auburn has scored 10 TDs on the ground this season. Taking out the two touchdowns that Auburn has scored due to QB scrambles, Auburn has scored four of the other eight TDs by running around the left end. Auburn has run the ball around the left end 24 times for 115 yards, four TDs, and ten first downs.

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saturdaydownsouth.com

 

Hugh Freeze gives lukewarm grade to Auburn pass rush

Andrew Peters | 14 hours ago

~2 minutes

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Hugh Freeze has not seen the pass rush defense he has wanted so far this season.

He believes his team has a long way to go in terms of putting pressure on the quarterback without having to bring in his secondary, and that starts with getting his entire defensive front healthy before some big games down the road.

“We’ve been probably average at best at truthfully getting after the quarterback without having to bring extra guys,” Freeze said during the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “Hopefully we can get a little healthier and improve that with just our front because these guys have weapons that you certainly would love to have some guys in coverage and not having to always add to the box to bring pressure.”

It will be extremely important for Freeze to get pressure on the quarterback without having to sacrifice any coverage this weekend as Auburn takes on Texas A&M, who has an elite quarterback in Conner Weigman.

“But (Conner Weigman) is really talented,” Freeze said. “He’s throwing it at a really high level now and using his feet very well when he needs to also and it’d be nice to get some pressure on him with just our front and hopefully we can do that.”

The Tigers and Aggies kickoff at noon ET on Saturday.

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cbssports.com

 

SEC college football picks, odds in Week 4: Can reeling Alabama survive potential shootout with Ole Miss?

Barrett Sallee

9–12 minutes

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Week 4 of the 2023 college football season has arrived, meaning it's time for the SEC championship race to kick into full gear. Five conference games are featured on the schedule Saturday, including a massive game between No. 15 Ole Miss and No. 13 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Crimson Tide are coming off a sluggish 17-3 win over South Florida and will send Jalen Milroe out to take the snaps after the failed Tyler Buchner/Ty Simpson experiment against the Bulls. The Rebels ran away from Georgia Tech last weekend, and there's no doubt that coach Lane Kiffin would love nothing more than to send the Tide into the basement of the SEC West and likely eliminate them from the College Football Playoff race.

No. 12 LSU was dominant in its win over Mississippi State last weekend, and a strong showing against Arkansas in the Battle for the Golden Boot will further validate the Tigers' case to move back into the top 10 as well as the CFP race. A loss, however, would all but eliminate the Tigers from national title contention. 

There's also an interesting matchup in College Station, Texas, featuring Auburn and Texas A&M in what should be a revealing game that gives fans a glimpse into the progress of each team.

SEC Smothered & Covered is here to get you ready for an intriguing Week 4 slate in the SEC universe.

Appetizer: Auburn QB rotation

The Tigers have rotated Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford during the first three games of the season with Ashford serving as the changeup option due to his ability to frustrate defenses with his legs. However, Thorne took the majority of the snaps in the 43-13 win over Samford last week when he went 24-of-32 passing for 282 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Thorne also added in 123 rushing yards with two scores on the ground. Still, the two quarterbacks will again rotate this week, according to coach Hugh Freeze. 

"We have confidence and I thought he (Thorne) threw it really well the other night," Freeze said during his Monday press conference. "He made one bad decision, I thought, but the others, we kind of shed on as coaches, and so I hope he continues to build on that. The guy was 18 yards from doing something that an Auburn quarterback hasn't done in a really long time -- maybe ever. So, I hope we build on that and gain confidence from that. At the same time, I've been clear about Robby (Ashford) having a role and I do believe that, particularly against the level of athleticism we are about to see."

Freeze is clearly concerned with Texas A&M's athleticism, so it'll be interesting to see if he tries to build off Thorne's performance or bring Ashford into the mix even though the Aggies will surely know what his presence on the field means.

Main course: Watch out for the land sharks

The land sharks will be circling Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday when the Ole Miss defense faces off against a reeling offense. The Rebels rank third in the SEC in tackles for loss per game (8.0), which plays directly into the Crimson Tide's most concerning offensive problem: the offensive line. The truth is that Milroe (or Buchner and Simpson) hasn't been given much of a chance for success because of an offensive line that has been getting blown up even by average competition.

Plus, there's the Pete Golding factor. The first-year Rebels defensive coordinator Rebels spent the last five seasons in the same role at Alabama. He knows Milroe. He knows how much the Tide offensive line has struggled over the last two seasons. He knows that, by all accounts, Saban ushered him out the door of the football complex so that Kevin Steele could take over the defense. 

This is personal. Sure, it's personal for Kiffin. We all know that he takes this game much more seriously than others even if he doesn't say so publicly. It isn't just Kiffin this time, though. Expect Golding to get very creative with how he schemes up pressure on Milroe.

Dessert: Yes, LSU is still a monster

Let's not play the transitive property game and say "man, since Florida State struggled against Boston College, LSU must be a pretender." All that Florida State did in the 45-21 win over the Tigers in Week 1 was exploit the one concern coach Brian Kelly had entering the season: secondary play. Two games later, things appear to be progressing nicely. More importantly, Jayden Daniels looked like a monster as he scored four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) and wide receiver Malik Nabers put up 239 yards and two touchdowns in the 41-14 win over Mississippi State in Starkville, Mississippi.

This sport is all about progress. We saw that last year with these very same Tigers, national runner-up TCU and several other teams. Why can't LSU repeat the feat? It can, and it should. The Tigers are a national title threat, and a win over Arkansas should vault them back into a rightful place in the top 10.

Picks

Straight up: 36-4 | Against the spread: 17-10-1

*Picks use SportsLine consensus odds and were made on Instagram since SEC Smothered & Covered started in Week 2

UAB at No. 1 Georgia

The Bulldogs offense got right in the second half of the win over South Carolina last week, and that will continue this week. Daijun Edwards cracked the 100-yard mark on the ground and Carson Beck took more control of the offense to lead the Bulldogs back from an 11-point halftime deficit. Coach Kirby Smart and offensive coodinator Mike Bobo will build off that in the first half against the Blazers. However, the staff will tap the brakes in the second half in order to keep the starters healthy with the meat of the SEC schedule looming. Pick: UAB +42

Arkansas at No. 12 LSU

Arkansas was a disaster in last weekend's loss to BYU, and LSU will light that defense up like a Christmas tree. The Razorbacks aren't built to stretch the field deep and its pass defense, while improved, is nowhere close to playing at the level it needs to be in order to shut down Daniels and Co. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The threat of a backdoor cover by the Hogs is on the table, but give me the Tigers to get the job done. Pick: LSU -17.5

No. 15 Ole Miss at No. 13 Alabama

This one will be a shootout -- one during which the Crimson Tide will not be able to keep up. The offensive line is the unit plaguing the Tide right now, and the Rebels pass rush will tee off on Milroe when things start to get wild in the second half. It's shocking that Alabama is even favored in this game, much less by a touchdown. Take the Rebels to cover and win outright. Pick: Ole Miss +7

UTSA at No. 23 Tennessee

The status of Road Runners quarterback Frank Harris is up in the air as he continues to recover from a turf toe injury, which is a big reason the Volunteers are such big favorites. The Vols defensive front didn't play up to its capabilities last week against Florida, but it'll rebound this week either against either a limited Harris or backup Eddie Lee Marburger. The possibility for a backdoor cover is in play, but the Vols will get the job done in the end. Pick: Tennessee -20.5

Charlotte at No. 25 Florida

The Gators dominated Tennessee last week in a game that showed the offensive line has progressed in a big way. That allowed the running game to flourish, quarterback Graham Mertz to shine like a star and this Gators team to look like a threat in the SEC East. Coach Billy Napier will take that knowledge, build off of it and then pull the starters earlier than expected. That will allow Charlotte to get the late cover. Pick: Charlotte +28

Auburn at Texas A&M

The Aggies have dominated weaker competition this year, but Auburn doesn't fit into that category. The Tigers have been lights out on defense, and they'll show it again on Saturday in College Station, Texas, with a dominating performance against quarterback Conner Weigman. Will the offense build off of last week's performance? That remains to be seen. But it will do enough to spring the upset. Pick: Auburn +7.5

Kentucky at Vanderbilt

Kentucky's defense has been very solid all season long, giving up 4.38 yards per play including 3.62 in last week's win over Akron. Can Vanderbilt flip the script? Maybe not to get a win but enough to make it closer than the oddsmakers expect. Quarterback AJ Swann is a little banged up, but he will still find a way to connect with wide receiver Will Sheppard early and often. With that said, Kentucky's defense will force some late mistakes and get out of Nashville with a close win. Pick: Vanderbilt +14

Memphis at Missouri

The battle of two Tigers with 3-0 records will go down on Saturday night in Columbia, Missouri. Memphis topped Navy last week in a wild one, but not as wild as Missouri's 30-27 walk-off win over Kansas State on a 61-yard field goal by Harrison Mevis. Missouri quarterback Brady Cook had his most impressive performance in that nail-biter, and he will continue to shine this weekend in a win over Memphis. Still, the Memphis offense is no slouch either and will keep this one close to the bitter end. Pick: Memphis +7

Mississippi State at South Carolina

Daniels lit up the Bulldogs defense last week, and Spencer Rattler will do the same on Saturday. In that case, it'll be up to the Bulldogs offense led by quarterback Will Rogers to keep up. The problem is that Rogers isn't capable of doing that since Mississippi State is starting to transition away from the Air Raid. Take the Gamecocks ... big. Pick: South Carolina -6

Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 4, and which underdogs will win outright? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread -- all from a proven computer model that has returned almost $2,500 in profit over the past seven-plus seasons -- and find out.

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athlonsports.com

Hugh Freeze makes honest assessment of Auburn's roster

Zach McKinnell

~2 minutes

Hugh Freeze faced a massive challenge when he stepped into the head coaching role at Auburn. The Tigers underperformed under former head coach Bryan Harsin, including a 5-7 season just a year ago.

Auburn struggled to build strong recruiting classes and never finished above No. 16 nationally over Harsin's two seasons. Freeze was able to help Auburn's 2023 recruiting class finish No. 17 in the nation after the class ranked outside the Top 50 during the season under Harsin.

Freeze offered an honest assessment of Auburn's roster compared to the teams the Tigers will face over the next three weeks.

"I'm probably too candid and honest sometimes for people," Freeze said. "But let's be clear: We're getting ready to play three teams that have, over the last four or five years, ranked in the top 5-7 in recruiting. You're playing the best recruits in the nation.

"We're going to be there soon and that doesn't mean you can't compete and win the game. It's a tall challenge for us, in Year 1, to stand toe-to-toe with A&M and Georgia next week and LSU the following week.

It's our goal to get there, but that's what reality is. We've had about eight months to recruit half a class. These others have been stacking it."

The Tigers will begin one of the most difficult three-game stretches in the country as Auburn travels to face Texas A&M this weekend. Auburn will then host No. 1 Georgia and finish the gauntlet with a road trip to No. 12 LSU after a bye week. 

Kickoff for the Texas A&M-Auburn matchup is scheduled for Sept. 23 at 11 p.m. CDT on ESPN. 

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247sports.com

By the numbers How Auburn statistically stacks up entering SEC play

Nathan King

5–7 minutes

How do the Tigers compare to the rest of the league heading into their first SEC contest?

So far in the early stages of Hugh Freeze's debut season at Auburn, the Tigers have avoided major statistical pitfalls on both sides of the ball. But even after handling Samford 45-13 over the weekend — and as one of only five unbeatens left in the SEC — there's plenty of areas that will need some, if not major improvements for Auburn to compete with some of the teams upcoming on its gauntlet of a schedule. And it starts this weekend against talent-rich Texas A&M.

Statistically, here is where Auburn stands in conference and national rankings as it enters its SEC opener at Texas A&M (11 a.m. CDT, ESPN). Auburn Undercover will track and present these weekly statistics moving forward for the rest of the season.

Of course, it's still early in the season, relatively speaking, and a major caveat to this statistical breakdown is that things will become clearer for every team in college football by the week. After this weekend, every SEC team will have opened conference play, so strengths and weaknesses will step more into focus in the next few games.

OFFENSE

QB rating: 147.45 (11th SEC, 54th nationally)

Passing offense: 212.3 YPG (12th, 89th)

Yards per pass attempt: 8.2 YPA (9th, T-48th)

Rushing offense: 215.7 YPG (1st, 18th)

Yards per rush attempt: 5.18 (4th, 30th)

Scoring offense: 39.3 PPG (4th, T-26th)

Total offense: 428.0 YPG (6th, T-48th)

Points per play: 0.575 (3rd, 13th)

Points per drive: 2.60 (6th, 41st)

Third-down conversions: 47.22% (6th, 39th)

Red-zone TD rate: 66.67% (T-7th, T-52nd)

Explosive passing plays (30-plus yards): 7 (T-5th, T-26th)

Explosive rushing plays (20-plus yards): 3 (9th, T-71st) 

Sacks allowed: 5 (T-5th, T-40th)

Tackles for loss allowed: 14 (T-5th, T-47th)

Fumbles lost: 4 (T-13th, T-126th)

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DEFENSE

Total defense: 264.0 YPG (3rd SEC, 15th nationally)

Opposing passer rating: 94.38 (2nd, 9th)

Opposing completion percentage: 56.8% (4th, T-42nd)

Passing yards: 155.0 YPG (1st, 13th)

Rushing yards: 109.0 YPG (7th, 43rd)

Yards per carry: 3.44 YPC (9th, 54th)

Scoring defense: 12.3 PPG (3rd, T-18th)

Points per play allowed: 0.178 (2nd, 12th)

Points per drive allowed: 0.77 (1st, 6th)

Third-down conversions: 24.39% (2nd, 5th)

Red-zone TD rate: 42.86% (T-4th, T-26th)

Explosive passing plays allowed (30-plus yards): 3 (4th, T-26th)

Explosive rushing plays allowed (20-plus yards): 3 (T-11th, T-62nd)

Sacks: 8 (T-7th, T-40th)

Tackles for loss: 18 (T-9th, T-66th)

Interceptions: 5 (T-2nd, T-11th)

Forced fumbles: 2 (T-7th, T-57th)

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SPECIAL TEAMS

Net punting: 38.25 (11th SEC, T-81st nationally)

Opposing punt returns: 8.50 YPR (8th, 76th)

Own punt returns: 9.86 YPR (9th, 46th)

Field goals: 100% (T-1st, T-1st)

Opposing kickoff returns: 19.40 YPR (7th, 67th)

Own kickoff returns: 25.89 yards (4th, 25th)

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Miscellaneous

Penalties: 5.3 per game (5th SEC, T-49th nationally)

Turnover margin: 0 (T-7th, T-60th)

‌

ESPN FPI

Strength of record: No. 8 nationally

Game control: No. 35

Remaining strength of schedule: No. 3

Offensive efficiency rating: No. 79

Defensive efficiency rating: No. 4

Special teams efficiency rating: No. 2

‌

ESPN SP+

Offensive efficiency rating: No. 33 nationally

Defensive efficiency rating: No. 17

Special teams efficiency rating: No. 80

Overall ranking: No. 23

‌

Remaining schedule (ESPN FPI)

@ Texas A&M

Win probability: Texas A&M 67.3% chance to win

Change from preseason ESPN FPI: Auburn +9.2%

vs. Georgia

Win probability: Georgia 79.5% chance to win

Change from preseason ESPN FPI: Auburn +11.3%

@ LSU

Win probability: LSU 78.2% chance to win

Change from preseason ESPN FPI: Auburn +10.5%

vs. Ole Miss

Win probability: Ole Miss 71.1% chance to win

Change from preseason ESPN FPI: Auburn -4.9%

vs. Mississippi State

Win probability: Auburn 67.0% chance to win

Change from preseason ESPN FPI: Auburn +11.6%

@ Vanderbilt

Win probability: Auburn 85.4% chance to win

Change from preseason ESPN FPI: Auburn +16.5%

@ Arkansas

Win probability: Auburn 57.8% chance to win

Change from preseason ESPN FPI: Auburn +9.0%

vs. Alabama

Win probability: Alabama 77.4% chance to win

Change from preseason ESPN FPI: Auburn +14.1%

‌

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Passing

Yards per game: Payton Thorne — 172.3 (12th SEC)

Passing touchdowns: Payton Thorne — 4 (T-11th SEC)

Interceptions: Payton Thorne — 3 (T-12th SEC)

Completion %: Payton Thorne — 68.3% (8th SEC)

Yards per attempt: Payton Thorne — 8.3 (T-8th SEC)

Rushing

Yards per game: Payton Thorne — 46.7 (16th SEC)

Yards per carry: Jeremiah Cobb — 6.7 (6th SEC)

Touchdowns: Robby Ashford — 4 (T-1st SEC)

Receiving

Receptions: Jay Fair — 14 (T-11th SEC)

Receiving yards per game: Jay Fair — 58.0 (14th SEC)

Receiving touchdowns: Jay Fair — 2 (T-10th SEC)

‌

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al.com

 

How Eugene Asante's father and his Ghana roots helped shape his 'Let's work!' mentality

Updated: Sep. 20, 2023, 9:14 a.m.|Published: Sep. 20, 2023, 6:00 a.m.

7–9 minutes

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Eugene Asante’s parents Paul Asante-Manu and Juliana Mensah, came to the United States by way of Ghana in 1996.

“My parents came from poverty,” Asante said. “They wanted to come to America to get to opportunity.”

Asante’s parents left a lot behind when they made the decision to leave Ghana, where Paul shared bloodlines with kings and queens of the Ashanti Empire.

But with them, they brought an unchanged work ethic that their sons applied to the football field.

Eugene’s older brother, Larry Asante, played safety at Nebraska and went on to have a five-year career in the NFL.

“As far as Ghana is concerned, we are prideful people. Ashanti people, we take pride in the work and the name on the back of our jerseys,” Larry Asante said in an interview with AL.com. “We come from nothing but hard workers. And it’s everything. Y’all see it out there on the field. I told my brother that we don’t take not one lazy step in anything that we do.”

Both Eugene and Larry Asante would tell you that no one exemplified hard work better than their father.

That example was taken from them on Feb. 23, 2022, when Paul Asante-Manu died following a lengthy battle with kidney disease.

And like any young man who idolized his father, Eugene Asante had a hard time grappling with the loss.

“I always tell him that if I would have lost my pops while I was in college at Nebraska playing football, I don’t know how I would have handled it,” Larry Asante said. “And he’s handled it gracefully. But last year was a struggle for my brother, I’m not even gonna lie.”

Larry didn’t recognize his grieving younger brother . It wasn’t the Eugene he knew.

Kyle Simmons, who coached him throughout high school at Westfield High School in Virginia, says Eugene was the type of kid to show up to the practice field with one kneepad in and his cleats untied.

He was goofy and nothing was ever too serious.

Eugene’s older brother agrees.

“He has this charisma, this personality about him,” Larry Asante said. “I’m like, antisocial. I want to be left alone. But him? He’s like a connector of people. He’s like a bridge. I’ll call Eugene a bridge He brings people together.”

But after their father’s death, Eugene clammed up.

“To be honest, I didn’t recognize the guy,” Larry said. “He was quiet and he needed that support.”

While Larry went overseas to Ghana to bury their father, Eugene stayed in Auburn, where former head coach Bryan Harsin spent an entire day with Eugene to ensure him that he would be supported.

With how Harsin’s tenure ended, Larry Asante can see why people might want to compare coaching staffs. And while Harsin wasn’t what the Asante’s were “looking for from a football aspect”, they’re appreciative of Harsin and his family for being there for Eugene while he mourned his father.

But when it came time to return to the football field, the transition wasn’t seamless.

Before coming to Auburn for the 2022 season, Eugene played three seasons at North Carolina, appearing in 37 games.

In Year 1 on The Plains last season, he only appeared in the first four games.

“It was a big reflection piece for me,” Eugene said of last season. “Last year I was very upset within myself in terms of, I just didn’t get on the field. I really don’t know why that was.”

So Eugene consulted his older brother, who offered him the same advice his late father probably would’ve: just keep working.

“Whether it was on scout team, whether it was whatever… whatever service he was doing to Auburn football, I told him to use it to better your skills,” Larry Asante said. “And I believe that what he’s doing out there on the field now is the product of him literally just perfecting his craft last year.”

After being a hot topic throughout fall camp, Eugene finally had his breakout performance on Sept. 9 somewhere in the hills of Berkeley, Calif.

The Auburn Tigers found themselves playing at a Pac-12 program after dark – an unfamiliar environment known for causing visiting football teams fits.

And Auburn experienced just that as its offense floundered against the Cal Golden Bears, leaving it up to the Auburn defense to consistently bail the Tigers out.

“I think the biggest thing is in the midst of chaos, there’s opportunity. Everybody sees this chaotic scene, but there’s an opportunity to put water to the fire and cover our brother’s backs. We are our brother’s keeper,” Eugene Asante said following the game at Cal. “That’s the biggest thing, just not being frustrated. Not being disappointed. But just going out there with a positive mindset and just playing play after play.”

Against Cal, Eugene Asante posted a heroic performance, tallying 12 tackles – 9 solo – a sack and a pair of quarterback hurries.

That performance led to Eugene being named the SEC’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week for Week 2.

When Eugene learned of the honor, it came with a surreal feeling – especially considering what he went through last year. And instead of immediately thinking about himself and patting himself on the back, Eugene steered the conversation in a different direction.

“It’s surreal, to be honest with you,” Eugene said. “I’m grateful to God that I didn’t give up on myself. When I first got here, my dad passed away in February, I had to go through spring ball battling a whole lot of things and as a young man in this world, you need your father. It was a hard thing losing him because he was my best friend. So just to experience being the SEC Player of the Week, I’m just praying I made him proud.”

SEC honor or not, there’s no doubt Eugene’s father would be proud of him as he has consistently mirrored the example of hard work, he grew up seeing from his father.

And even better, Eugene has young eyes watching him now, too.

Larry Asante has three children. His oldest two, Larry Jr. and Ziyah are both athletes themselves.

Larry Jr., age 9, plays baseball, while Ziyah, age 7, runs track and competes in gymnastics. Together, the pair share a best friend in Uncle Eugene.

“Uncle Eugene is a kid. He’s one of them,” Larry Asante said. “They love Uncle Eugene. They know when Uncle Eugene comes around, it’s fun time.”

You hear that? It’s fun time — not work time, like Eugene’s iconic catchphrase that has taken over the Auburn football program might suggest.

Fun time with Uncle Eugene means getting snuck snacks that dad said they couldn’t have.

“He thinks I don’t know,” Larry said of Eugene’s slight of hand. “But I do know.”

But at the end of the day, Larry feels comforted by the example his children have in an uncle.

“After the Cal game, my son was like, ‘Man, Uncle Eugene is my role model.’,” Larry said. “And just to hear that – I don’t know – It’s almost like a proud father or whatnot. I’ve been watching this kid grow and blossom into what he’s blossomed into.

“And he’s not done yet. That’s all I can say. He’s not done yet.”

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al.com

Senior Bowl executive director: Auburn's Asante has 'gotten our attention early this season'

Updated: Sep. 20, 2023, 5:14 p.m.|Published: Sep. 20, 2023, 4:28 p.m.

~3 minutes

Auburn Football

Senior Bowl executive director gushes about Auburn LB Eugene Asante, says draft stock is rising

Hugh Freeze, Auburn players celebrate with Tiger fans after beating Cal

Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, was driving home from the Texas-Alabama game on Sept. 9 and was listening to Auburn’s game against Cal on the radio.

During that stretch, Nagy kept hearing the broadcasters repeat one name over and over again.

That name was Eugene Asante.

More: How Auburn LB Eugene Asante continues to honor Ghana roots, father’s legacy in breakout season

“Wasn’t on the 2024 Senior Bowl watch list but has gotten our attention early this season,” Nagy said in an interview with On3 on Tuesday. “Played primarily on the scout team last year for former Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin. Popped off tape in the Cal game with violent take-on ability and disruptive closing speed.”

Against Cal in Week 2, Asante posted a hero-like performance to help the Tigers squeak out a weird and wonky win on the road.

Asante tallied 12 sacks — nine of which were solo — two quarterback hurries and a sack against the Golden Bears. And if the quantity of plays isn’t enough to impress, the quality of Asante’s plays should be. Asante made five third-down stops against Cal, forcing the Golden Bears to settle for field goals.

Nagy calls Asante a “naturally aggressive downhill off-ball linebacker who trusts what he sees and pulls the trigger” and commends his “playmaking knack as a blitzer”.

Through three games, Asante leads the Auburn defense with 19 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss and a pair of sacks.

Last fall, Asante watched the game pass him by from the sideline as former Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe led the charge for the Tigers. And according to Nagy, it appears Asante might’ve picked up a thing or two from Pappoe, who went on to be a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

“Similar sideline-to-sideline speed as the guy he replaced in the starting lineup, Arizona Cardinals fifth-round pick Owen Pappoe,” Nagy said. “But Asante is more of a natural football player and makes more plays. It’s worth noting that Pappoe was the fastest linebacker at 2023 NFL Combine, so the speed comparison was not taken lightly.”

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[gr82be 14,913]

@aubiefifty, I know you asked for help for tomorrow's articles due to a doctor's appointment. If I had the patience I'd help but posting all of these articles is a labor of love for you. We appreciate it. We can also wait until later in the day if that's when you can get around to it. If by chance you don't feel up to it then don't worry. You won't be letting anyone down. Take care of yourself and if you need the day off then take it. We'll be fine. Thanks again for the work you put it. 

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1 minute ago, gr82be said:

@aubiefifty, I know you asked for help for tomorrow's articles due to a doctor's appointment. If I had the patience I'd help but posting all of these articles is a labor of love for you. We appreciate it. We can also wait until later in the day if that's when you can get around to it. If by chance you don't feel up to it then don't worry. You won't be letting anyone down. Take care of yourself and if you need the day off then take it. We'll be fine. Thanks again for the work you put it. 

thank you! i really hate going to the doc because it is almost always bad news. i am going to see if i can walk in today and i have had nothing but water so i can do the bloodwork and stuff. if not then i will just be late tomorrow. anyway the articles are not that hard. i hit four sites. sometimes i do extra. i just hate to let people down after i have started something. thanx for the support. i do love my fellow auburn fans!

[AUpreacherman22 3,945]

1 hour ago, aubiefifty said:

All three of Thorne's picks come from a clean pocket.

Correction:  They may not have blitzed on the first Samford pick, but he was well outside the pocket when he threw the pick.  
 

His accuracy numbers under pressure and while being blitzed are encouraging!!!

[SaltyTiger 8,579]

1 hour ago, aubiefifty said:

thank you! i really hate going to the doc because it is almost always bad news. i am going to see if i can walk in today and i have had nothing but water so i can do the bloodwork and stuff. if not then i will just be late tomorrow. anyway the articles are not that hard. i hit four sites. sometimes i do extra. i just hate to let people down after i have started something. thanx for the support. i do love my fellow auburn fans!

I have no problem with you being a little late although I enjoy skimming through during coffee then circling back throughout the day. In the future try to schedule medical appointments after football season. 
 

Hope all is well and good doctor visit Fiddy.

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7 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said:

I have no problem with you being a little late although I enjoy skimming through during coffee then circling back throughout the day. In the future try to schedule medical appointments after football season. 
 

Hope all is well and good doctor visit Fiddy.

nothing but meds this morning and i have to give blood to get them. the problem is the blood work keeps coming up with stuff. i am going to be there at eight and pretend i did the ol confused geezer thing and get them to see me today. but you are right about football season! you have become one of my favorites on here. gotta throw on a s*** and head out. i am lucky my doc in the box is only a couple miles from my house.

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Auburn football bowl projections: Tigers could face a very familiar coach in the postseason

Lance Dawe

3–4 minutes

Could Auburn face off against Gus Malzahn at the end of the year?

Auburn football is currently projected to go 7-5 by ESPN's FPI.

That's probably good for another Florida bowl for the Tigers.

If they end up going 8-4, like the SP+ rankings project, then maybe we will see Auburn do something outside of the state of Florida or Alabama in the postseason.

Most projections currently have Auburn in FL once again. One projection, however, one site has the Tigers facing off against a very, very familiar head coach that currently resides in the Big 12.

Take a look at some bowl projections from various outlets.

ESPN

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl - vs Coastal Carolina OR Army

There have been no previous matchups between Auburn and Coastal Carolina.

Army leads the all-time series over Auburn 2-1. Their two wins came in 1922 and 1923. The Tigers took their lone victory in 1996.

CBS Sports

AutoZone Liberty Bowl - vs UCF

Auburn leads the all-time series over UCF 3-1, defeating them in three consecutive seasons from 1997-1999. The Golden Knights beat the Tigers in the Peach Bowl back in 2017.

UCF's current head coach is former Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, who lost to UCF in that Peach Bowl.

USA Today

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl - vs Tulane

Tulane leads the all-time series over Auburn 17-15-6. The Tigers and Green Wave played consistently from 1921-1955 before taking a break despite Tulane still playing in the SEC until 1966.

Auburn has won the two most recent outings, beating the Green Wave in 2006 and 2019.

The Action Network

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl - vs West Virginia

Auburn and West Virginia are tied 1-1 in their all-time series. The two programs played a home-and-home during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. The Mountaineers won at home in '08 before losing in a chaotic game 41-30 in Jordan-Hare Stadium the following season.

Birmingham Bowl - vs South Alabama

Auburn and South Alabama have never faced each other in the history of their two programs.

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Five reasons Auburn won't upset Texas A&M

JD McCarthy

4–5 minutes

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Auburn is looking to improve to 4-0 in the Hugh Freeze era but their set to face their toughest opponent yes as they take on the Texas A&M Aggies (2-1) this weekend.

The Aggies have had an up-and-down start to the 2023 season, they utterly dominated New Mexico and ULM but lost to Miami 48-33. Making the game even tougher, Auburn has to travel to Kyle Field to take on the Aggies and what should be a loud and energetic crowd. All of this has combined to make Texas A&M a 7.5-point favorite over Auburn, according to BetMGM.

Buy Tigers Tickets

Here is a look at five reasons why Auburn won’t be able to pull off the upset Saturday and will suffer their first loss of the season.

Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M has one of the most rabid fan bases in college football and this will be the toughest test for Auburn’s offense yet. The offensive line will have to be ready for the noise and have a plan for communicating.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Hugh Freeze referenced the talent on the Texas A&M roster at his weekly press conference and Auburn will have to be on top of their game if they want to overcome the gap. Texas A&M is the No. 5 roster in the 247Sports College Football Team Talent Composite, with 10 five-star and 42 four-star recruits while Auburn is No. 18 and has zero five-star and 35 four-star prospects.

“It is a great concern. I want to be really clear; we are getting ready to play three teams that have – over the last four to five years – ranked in the top seven to five in recruiting. You are playing the best recruits in the nation. We are going to be there soon. That doesn’t mean you can’t compete. There is a reason they are third in the nation on third-down defense. They have a bunch of five-stars in the defensive line, linebacker and that safety, and that corner. They are really talented. When you put on the film you see that. Their closing speed is incredible. They are physical up front, and it is a tall challenge for us in year one to stand toe to toe with A&M and Georgia next week and LSU the following week. It is our goal to get there. But that is what reality is, we have had about eight months to recruit about half a class and these others have been stacking it, and that is why they are ranked third in the country (on third-down defense).”

Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

Auburn’s running backs were expected to be the strength of the offense but they have had two rough performances in a row. Against Cal they ran the ball well but turned the ball over, against Samford they were unable to pick up yards efficiently and relied on the runs of quarterback Payton Thorne.

The Aggie’s front seven is more talented than anything Auburn has seen this season and has held opponents to just 3.39 yards and one touchdown on the ground this season. With a strong showing against Miami earlier, Texas A&M’s defense should have confidence in their ability to slow down Auburn’s run game.

(AP Photo/Stew Milne)

Samford came into Auburn with one of the top passing attacks at the FCS level but it did not boast nearly the level of talent that the Aggies have. It starts with quarterback Conner Weigman, who is still developing but is extremely talented and is capable of making any throw.

Their wide receivers are no joke wither, Evan Stewart is averaging 128.5 yards per game this season and will be a tough matchup for Auburn’s defensive backs due to his athleticism and speed. He is joined by Noah Thomas, who has already caught four touchdowns this season.

Auburn’s cornerbacks have been great to start the season but this will be their toughest test yet.

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn is down several important players at spots at a time they need to be healthy. Starters Austin Keys (middle linebacker) and Keionte Scott (star) are both going to miss an extended period of time and Jalen McLeod (Jack), Nehemiah Pritchett (cornerback), Donovan Kauffman (star) have also missed games this season, and are working to get healthy.

Follow all your favorite Alabama teams at Auburn Wire and Roll Tide Wire!

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al.com

 

Freeze says Auburn's pass rush has been 'average'. Can the Tigers find another gear vs. TAMU?

Updated: Sep. 21, 2023, 9:59 a.m.|Published: Sep. 21, 2023, 9:00 a.m.

6–7 minutes

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When Texas A&M sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman came to Jordan-Hare Stadium last fall, he was a wee freshman that had just taken over the Aggies starting job and had yet to win a SEC game on the road.

“My head was spinning,” Weigman said Monday when asked about last year’s game at Auburn.

Weigman went 14-for-36 through the air against Auburn and threw one touchdown. All the while, the Auburn defense harassed the rookie, sacking him three times for a loss of 26 yards and hurrying him six other times.

Auburn went on to win a 13-10 low-scoring affair, giving Cadillac Williams his first win as the Tigers’ interim head coach.

But a “whole lot” is different between Weigman last year and Weigman this year, the sophomore quarterback says.

“I feel a way better grasp on the offenses and knowing what defenses are trying to do to confuse me,” Weigman said Monday.

And to date, Weigman’s stats back that up.

Through three games, Weigman has passed for just more than 900 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. His average of 303 passing yards per game ranks 10th in the country.

On the year, Weigman boasts a 70% completion rating. Last week against Louisiana-Monroe, Weigman completed more than 86% of his passes for 337 yards, good for a stat line that — regardless of opponent — is impressive.

“He’s throwing it at a really high level right now,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said of Weigman.

However, Weigman — like most quarterbacks — doesn’t play the same when he’s under pressure.

When working with a clean pocket, Weigman has completed 80% of his passes for 622 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. On the other hand, when Weigman is forced to work in the face of pressure, his completion percentage plummets to 52.4% and he’s been good for just 287 yards.

And here’s more good news: The Texas A&M offensive line isn’t great at pass blocking.

Of the 133 teams in the FBS, PFF rates the Aggies No. 98 in pass protection as the Texas A&M offensive line has allowed 45 pressures, 37 quarterback hurries and four sacks.

By contrast, Auburn’s offensive line has allowed just 14 pressures, nine quarterback hurries and three sacks.

So the opportunity to disrupt Weigman and the Texas A&M offense is certainly there. Can the Tigers’ defense do it, on the other hand, begs a different conversation.

Auburn’s defense is good — like really, really good — in some areas.

The Tigers boast the No. 1 red zone defense in the country, leads the SEC in fewest number of passing yards allowed and has the best defensive efficiency in the conference, which is good for the fifth-best in the country.

In other areas, however, the Auburn defense leaves plenty to be desired. And the defensive line is one of those areas.

“We haven’t done really well rushing the passer with just the front,” Freeze said Monday.

Come Wednesday, Auburn’s head coach doubled down on his concern.

“We’ve been probably average at best at, truthfully, getting after the quarterback without having to bring extra guys,” Freeze said. “Hopefully we can get a little healthier and try to improve that.”

It’s no secret that not having Jack linebacker Jalen McLeod available due to an ankle injury in two of Auburn’s three games hasn’t helped. He’s a guy the Tigers desperately want to get back.

“He’s probably our best pass rusher, and we’ve missed having him healthy for sure,” Freeze said. “We’ve had to create it other ways.”

Fortunately for Auburn, signs are pointing towards McLeod returning to action this Saturday against the Aggies — a team the Appalachian State transfer is familiar with.

Last fall, McLeod and the Mountaineers walked into Kyle Field and snatched a 17-14 win out from under the Aggies.

McLeod tallied three tackles, two tackles for a loss, two sacks and forced two fumbles — including strip sacking former Texas A&M quarterback Haynes King on a critical down. A Texas A&M offensive lineman went on to recover the fumble, only for McLeod to strip the ball again — this time for it to be recovered by Appalachian State.

Getting McLeod back would be a huge win for Auburn, especially considering the Tigers’ defensive backfield will be thinned in the absence of nickel back Keionte Scott, who suffered a high-ankle sprain against Samford and had surgery Monday.

“These guys have weapons that you certainly would like to have some guys in coverage and not always add to the box to bring pressure,” Freeze said.

Sophomore receiver Evan Stewart is Texas A&M’s receiving leader with 19 receptions, 257 receiving yards and two touchdowns. After missing last week’s game against Louisiana-Munroe, Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher expects Stewart to be available against Auburn.

And Stewart certainly has the respect of Freeze and the Tigers.

“They have great receivers. One of the best I’ve ever seen in (Evan) Stewart,” Freeze said. “He’s really talented, and I think they’re doing some really good things offensively.”

Senior receiver Anais Smith is another guy that has helped Texas A&M’s offense produce. He’s added 13 catches and 194 yards through three games and led the team with 127 yards on seven catches last week in Stewart’s absence.

But the successes of guys like Stewart and Smith can largely be limited if the Tigers’ defense can get after Weigman.

And that starts with Auburn’s defensive front.

“It’d be nice to get some pressure on him with just our front,” Freeze said. “And hopefully we can do that.”

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