10.21.23 Football Articles

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saturdaydownsouth.com

 

Scott Van Pelt shares pick against the spread for Ole Miss-Auburn game

Andrew Peters | 11 hours ago

1–2 minutes

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Ahead of another weekend packed with fun college football matchups, Scott Van Pelt made his betting picks for a handful of games.

One of the games he made a pick for was the bout between Ole Miss and Auburn on Saturday. Ole Miss is the favored team in the matchup, but Van Pelt isn’t counting out Auburn to cover the spread.

Van Pelt is picking Auburn to cover the spread in this one, which is set at +6.5.

Ole Miss’ defense has been known to have some lapses so far this season, and Auburn will be looking to take advantage of that this time around.

Ole Miss is coming off a pair of big wins against LSU and Arkansas last week, and the Rebels are looking to keep that winning streak going on Saturday as they continue to chase an SEC West title.

But Auburn is looking for a big upset after what has been a disappointing season so far. The Tigers have played well at home this season, taking Georgia down to the wire a few weeks ago, and they’ll be looking to do that again on Saturday.

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si.com

 

2024 Auburn Tigers Commitment List and Evaluations

Brian Smith

11–13 minutes

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The 2024 Auburn Tigers recruiting class is off to a fantastic start. Down the stretch run, Hugh Freeze and his staff will still need to add even more talent to the recruiting class though.

This is the SEC, where there’s no shortage of talent from the competition. That’s why Auburn Daily will be updating this page with details about each Auburn commitment, including film breakdowns, adding each commitment as it happens, and more.

Bookmark this page to gain easy access to the 2024 Auburn recruiting class as it continuously unfolds! Here’s the breakdown, by position, for the Tigers’ recruiting efforts.

Total Commitments: 16

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Quarterback: 1

Walker White

Walker White

Walker White, 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Little Rock (Ark.) Christian Academy

Committed Feb. 3, 2023

Prospect Evaluation for Walker White

At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, White is already college-ready size. It shows as White has a big arm. It’s all but effortless when he fires a pass down the field. White’s ability to fire a bullet on the run is also a prime attribute. He’s mobile as well, flourishing in the run-pass option game, and even when he decides to just tuck the football and take off. He will fit in well to Freeze’s offensive scheme.

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Running Back: 1

J'Marion Burnette

Brian Smith

J’Marion Burnette, 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Andalusia (Ala.) High School

Committed March 24, 2023

Prospect Evaluation for J'Marion Burnette

Downhill and no-nonsense. Burnette’s ability to immediately hit the hole and gain positive yards fits well with the SEC style of play. As a comparison, he’s built in a similar fashion – and even has a similar playing style – to now Texas running back Cedric Baxter. Burnette provides the ability to stiff arm a defender and get into the secondary even when the blocking is not ideal. His best attribute could be overpowering defenders even when the box is loaded.

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Wide Receiver: 3

Bryce Cain, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Mobile (Ala.) Baker

Committed June 13, 2023

Prospect Evaluation for Bryce Cain

Elusive, explosive, and dynamic. Those categories augment a competitive nature for Cain. He's best known for short-area quickness and juke moves; do not forget that he can also take the football away from defenders when he goes up for the football. He shows that skill several times over from his prep highlights. Cain's body positioning and ability to time when he reaches for the football are tremendous. He's going to likely be a slot receiver, but also one that Freeze and his staff can move to the outside receiver position as well.

Malcolm Simmons, 6-foot, 165 pounds, Alexander City (Ala.) Benjamin Russell School

Committed July 29, 2023

Prospect Evaluation for Malcolm Simmons

A wide receiver that separates from defenders in the open field. Simmons is a player that will add yet another layer of playmaking ability to the Tigers offense. His ability to catch the football is natural, and he's also instinctive and creative with using his vision to find the crease in the defense to create big plays. Also a possible punt return man for the Tigers.

Perry Thompson, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Foley (Ala.) High School

Committed July 29, 2023

Prospect Evaluation for Perry Thompson

A true No. 1 wide receiver candidate stemming from Thompson's natural size, strength, speed, and ability to be physical. He can make a poor throw a big gain; 50-50 balls are likely to be Auburn first downs. Seeing a young man, at Thompson's size, move in and out of the defense, is fun to watch. Out of all the players in Auburn's 2024 recruiting class, Thompson likely possesses the greatest chance to come to the Plains and start before the conclusion of his freshman season.

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Tight End: 1

Martavious Collins, 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, South Pittsburg (Tenn.) High School

Committed April 14, 2023

A power player, Collins is most likely to be an H-back at the college level; he can be in the backfield as a fullback when needed. A powerful upper body and hips allow him to plow through defenders after the catch. Still, his ability to help the rushing attack is a mainstay as to why he's a Power 5 football recruit.

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Offensive Line: 1

DeAndre Carter, 6-foot-4, 340 pounds, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei

Committed Sep. 3, 2023

Prospect Evaluation for DeAndre Carter

Road grader. That’s the easiest way to define Carter’s style of play. Another way to define him would be the hammer hitting the nail. Carter's 340-pound frame is indicative of what Auburn offensive line coach Jake Thornton needs to help kickstart Auburn’s rushing attack into another gear. Here’s the unique part, however. Carter is agile enough to play right tackle if truly needed. His lateral ability is quite impressive. Hard to not see Carter being a starter before the end of his sophomore season despite it being hard for young offensive linemen to break into the lineup, traditionally speaking.

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Defensive End: 2

TJ Lindsey, 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy

Committed Aug. 12, 2023

Prospect Evaluation for TJ Lindsey

Possesses excellent hands to fend off offensive linemen. Lindsey also showcases some of the best moves of any defensive line recruit from the class of 2024. No doubt, he’s utilizing the coaching that’s coming his way. Lindsey also has the frame to play 3-technique or strong side end, i.e. 5-technique. Depending on down and distance, and game situation, Auburn can move Lindsey into different positions to best utilize his skills. Look for him to be a player that is more than just a big body. Lindsey can rush the passer.

Joseph Phillips, 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, Tuskegee (Ala.) Booker T. Washington

Committed June 15, 2023

Natural edge rusher. Phillips plays fast from a 7-technique and creates pressure on quarterbacks. Also good at timing a blitz from the interior when playing linebacker, Phillips has the tenacity to fend off of a much bigger offensive lineman and chase the quarterback down from behind. He can be utilized in a multitude of ways for Auburn, but his primary objective will be playing on the edge and creating havoc.

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Defensive Tackle: 2

Malik Blocton, 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, Pike Road (Ala.) High School

Committed July 8, 2023

With his natural size, he’s a future 3-technique for the Tigers. The skills are present for him to be a menace as well. Strong hands at the point of attack. To that point, Blocton will shock an opposing offensive lineman with a two-hands to the breastplate, find the ball carrier, and then use his athleticism to make a tackle for loss. Blocton’s power is something that will aid him in competing for playing time earlier than many interior defensive line recruits entering the SEC. Going against top Birmingham competition, his film showcases Blocton moving offensive linemen into the backfield and/or out of his way.

Dimitry Nicolas

Brian Smith

Dimitry Nicolas, 6-foot-3, 300 pounds, Miami (Fla.) Norland

Committed Aug. 25, 2023

Nicolas will be a nose guard for the Tigers, with his frame and style of play fitting in well together with what AU likes to do with their four-man defensive front. As a 1-technique, Nicolas provides the power to take on double teams and hold the point of attack. He’s also that rare player that will reestablish the line of scrimmage with a traditional bull rush. Provides the tenacity and athleticism to create tackles for loss. Do not count Nicolas out as a pass rusher either. He will add more moves once he’s on the Plains, and physical skills are there to one day start for the Tigers.

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Linebacker: 2

D’Angelo Barber, 6-foot, 220 pounds, Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville

Committed July 3, 2023

Barber has an old school feel to his game. Loves to mix it up with interior offensive linemen before scraping off the blocks and finding the running back. From one perspective, he fits what many Auburn fans grew up watching during the Bo Jackson era. What also makes Barber valuable for the spread football era is his ability to run to the perimeter and be a solid pass defender. Many middle linebackers fail at this crucial duty. Barbers’ frame already looks like he's seen ample time in the weight room and he should at least be a special teams candidate as a true freshman for the Tigers.

Demarcus Riddick, 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Clanton (Ala.) Chilton County

Committed July 26, 2023

A tremendously gifted athlete, Riddick will primarily play linebacker for the Tigers despite the physical tools to be any one of a big-bodied outside wide receiver, flex tight end, or even a running back. No question, he could be an edge rusher as well. His film even showcases him returning a punt for a score. He’s often the quickest player on the field despite being well over 200 pounds. Those points help define why Riddick is just an incredible football player. Still, there's more. Riddick’s instincts as a pass defender are elite. He has Sunday ability if he continues to hone his craft as a linebacker because of the natural athleticism that goes along with those instincts. Riddick certainly has a chance to be an instant-impact freshman for the Tigers.

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Cornerback: 2

Jalyn Crawford, 6-foot, 180 pounds, Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview

Committed July 15, 2023

In terms of natural cornerback skills, overall, Crawford is one of the nation’s most well-rounded. Twitchy moving forwards as he comes out of his backpedal; plants one foot to immediately change directions. The downhill speed to break on comeback and curl routes is evident. Crawford also demonstrates good leaping ability. As for his frame, that’s more good news. Crawford’s arm length allows him to deflect passes many cornerbacks simply cannot reach. Look for Crawford to work his way into the rotation no later than his sophomore year, and he holds a chance to be a multi-year starter for Auburn.

A’Mon Lane, 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Moody (Ala.) High School

July 30, 2023

Lane plays cornerback with a strong safety’s mentality. He’s a downhill striker that plays nickel cornerback or outside cornerback. Regardless of where he’s lining up, Lane does his most outstanding work when he’s in bump-and-run coverage. Turns and runs with fluidity as a coverage man. Even versus larger wide receivers or even tight ends, Lane’s ability to play through the intended target when the football arrives allows him to get pass breakups. Perhaps his best attribute is playing the run. Whether blitzing or fending off a blocker to reach a running back, Lane is ultra-aggressive near the line of scrimmage and enjoys contact.

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Safety: 1

Kensley Faustin, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Naples (Fla.) High School

Committed June 13, 2023

Auburn is gaining a defensive back with the ability to play any of free safety, nickel, or even cornerback with Faustin. He’s most often playing a single-high safety spot for Naples High so that's why he's listed with the safety position. That's where he does a tremendous job of running to the play and creating interceptions and pass breakups. The key is Faustin’s initial ability to examine the play quickly, and then use his natural open-field speed. He’s also a bump-and-run candidate from the slot or out wide. Faustin has legitimate cornerback skills. It will be interesting to see how Auburn's coaching staff utilizes Faustin’s skills throughout his time on the Plains.

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

Priority in-state linebacker Eric Winters projected to Auburn

JD McCarthy

~2 minutes

Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class is off to a great start after landing four-star athlete Kendarius Reddick and they could be adding another top target soon.

Listed as a safety, Auburn is recruiting four-star prospect Eric Winters to play linebacker and On3’s Cole Pinkston believes the Tigers are the favorite for the the Enterprise, Alabama product. In fact, he’s so confident that he logged a prediction for Auburn to land him on Friday.

His prediction gives Auburn a 93.4% chance to get Winters according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine. Auburn extended Winters an offer on Feb. 16 and he has taken multiple visits to the Plains since. He has visited Auburn a total of five times, three more than he has visited any other campus.

Winters is the No. 106 overall player and No. 9 safety in the On3 industry ranking. He is also the No. 9 player from Alabama in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

In addition to Reddick, Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class is full of impressive defensive prospects including edge-rusher Jakelb Faulk and defensive linemen Jourdin Crawford and Malik Autry.

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 JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15

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247sports.com

 

The Real Deal Ole Miss gameday edition

Jason Caldwell

2–3 minutes

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Luke Deal talks about the week for the Tigers heading into Saturday's game vs. Ole Miss.

 

Dropping three straight SEC games, the Auburn Tigers look to get back on the winning track on Saturday night at 6 p.m. when the No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels come to Jordan-Hare Stadium for a 6 p.m. game on ESPN. Auburn senior tight end Luke Deal gets you ready for tonight's game, discussing the week of practice, what the Tigers need to do in order to get a win, and more. 

No. 13 Ole Miss at Auburn: How to watch, listen, stream

Hugh Freeze's team looks for its first SEC win of the season

(Photo: 247Sports)

For the third straight game, Auburn (3-3, 0-3 SEC) faces a ranked opponent as Hugh Freeze's team looks for its first SEC win of the season. No. 13 Ole Miss (5-1, 2-1 SEC) visits Jordan-Hare Stadium, giving the Tigers another chance at a signature win in Freeze's first season. Freeze, the Ole Miss head coach from 2012-16, has faced the Rebels once — a 27-14 loss for his Liberty Flames in 2021.

The Tigers lead the all-time series against the Rebels 35-12 and have a 17-3 home record against Ole Miss. Ole Miss earned a 48-34 win in last year's matchup, but Auburn has not lost consecutive games to the Rebels since 1951-52.

Led by quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Quinshon Judkins, the Rebels are ranked 11th nationally in total offense, gaining 489.3 yards per game. The Rebels' defense has not enjoyed the same success as the offense to this point, as the Rebels give up 388.3 yards per game, 80th in the nation. For the second straight game, Auburn faces a pass defense that ranks below No. 100, as the Rebels are 110th in passing yards allowed, giving up 261.5 yards through the air per game.

Here are the details for Saturday's primetime matchup, as Freeze faces his former team for the second time.

HOW TO WATCH

• Time: 6 p.m. CDT

• Channel: ESPN

• Stream: WatchESPN

HOW TO LISTEN

• Auburn Sports Network: List of affiliates

• Coverage starts: 3 p.m. CDT

• YouTube video live stream

• AuburnTigers.com

• Auburn Gameday app

ODDS (BET MGM)

• Spread: Ole Miss -6.5

• Total: 55.5

• Moneyline: Auburn +200, Ole Miss -250

• Ole Miss ATS (2023): 4-2

• Auburn ATS (2023): 2-4

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al.com

3 questions for Auburn football’s matchup vs. No. 13 Ole Miss

Published: Oct. 21, 2023, 6:20 a.m.

6–7 minutes

Hugh Freeze and the Auburn football team return home this week in the start of a two-game homestand.

The Tigers (3-3, 0-3 SEC) are set to see a their third-consecutive ranked opponent Saturday as Lane Kiffin and the 13th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels (5-1, 2-1 SEC) ride into Jordan-Hare Stadium — a place the Rebels have historically had very little luck.

While Auburn will look to return to the win column after suffering three straight losses and still lacking a win in conference play, Ole Miss will be looking to do something that hasn’t been done in 71 years: beat Auburn in back-to-back years.

Last fall, Ole Miss beat Auburn 48-34 in Oxford, Miss.

Saturday night’s game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff and will be televised on ESPN.

Here’s three questions Auburn will have to answer if it wants to come away with the upset Saturday night:

For the second week in a row, Auburn will look to win the time-of-possession battle. Can the Tigers do better than last week?

Look at the 19th-ranked LSU offense and the 13th-ranked Ole Miss offense and one might notice a lot of similarities.

“They are similar,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said of the LSU and Ole Miss offense Monday. “(The Rebels) go faster than LSU. LSU is not tempo all the time. Lane (Kiffin) and Charlie (Weis Jr.) want to go fast all the time. That is hard to prepare for, for sure. They do a few more running things than LSU and probably in the passing game too.”

As such, Freeze and the Tigers will hope to limit the impact of the Ole Miss offense by keeping the football in the hands of the Auburn offense as long as possible. That was the goal during last week’s game in Baton Rouge, but the Tigers failed.

LSU won last weeks’ time of possession battle 34:13 to 25:47.

When Freeze was asked for his keys to this weekend’s game vs. Ole Miss, he emphasized winning the time-of-possession battle.

“I’d love to get into halftime and us have 2-to-1 time of possession,” Freeze said.

And seeing success in the time-of-possession battle hinges on Auburn’s success on third down — an area that’s been of concern all season as Auburn’s offense has struggled to move the chains and Auburn’s defense has struggled to get off the field.

“We gotta look at third downs on both sides,” Freeze said. “Can we have success on both of those downs?”

What will Auburn’s quarterback situation look like this week?

Another less-than-impressive offensive showing on the road in Baton Rouge last week has some Auburn fans clamoring for a change at quarterback.

Against LSU, junior Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne trotted out onto the field to start the game, just as he has in each of Auburn’s six games this season. However, looking for a spark on offense, sophomore backup quarterback Robby Ashford also saw a considerable number of reps under center against LSU.

With the Thorne-Ashford quarterback rotation appearing in yet another game, it’s fair to ask if it’ll return this week against Ole Miss.

On the other hand, some question if last week’s sputtering showing on offense against relatively bad LSU defense will be enough for Freeze to change his approach at the quarterback position and maybe let someone other than Thorne jog out onto the field to open the game.

In his press conference Monday, Freeze hinted that there wouldn’t be any major changes to the offense’s personnel.

“No real Earth-shaking personnel changes,” Freeze said. “Just trying to get the best plan that our kids understand that they can execute with who we have.”

Later in his press conference, Freeze added that he would expect to see both quarterbacks play against the Rebels on Saturday night.

Auburn lacked energy last week. Will that change this week and will Jordan-Hare Stadium help?

There was a team-wide sense of disappointment following last week’s loss to LSU and the days that followed.

Not so much because of the result on the scoreboard, but because of the result on the field and on the sideline.

“They played harder, which is embarrassing and hurtful to say,” Freeze said of LSU on Monday. “And, you know, there’s one thing for a team to have more talent, but I didn’t think we showed up with the right energy and drive and competitive spirit.”

Many of Auburn’s players echoed Freeze’s sentiments regarding the Tigers’ lack of energy last week. And as such, it was huge point of emphasis during the practices leading up to Saturday night’s game vs. Ole Miss.

Instead of doing their walk-throughs in a relaxed practice setting on Friday, Freeze switched things up and had the Tigers do their walk-throughs on Thursday so he could practice with more intensity on Friday. The change was an effort to get Auburn’s juices flowing.

Fortunately for the Tigers, they get to take on Ole Miss under the lights of Jordan-Hare Stadium — a place they’ve played considerably better throughout the course of the season.

“I’m thankful that we’re at home in Jordan-Hare,” Freeze said. “We need it to be at its all-time best and I know it will be.”

And knowing the challenge that lies ahead as the 13th-ranked team in the country comes to town, Auburn’s players are hoping for the same.

“Shoot, Jordan-Hare Stadium can do miracles,” said Auburn freshman defensive end Keldric Faulk.

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auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Five ways that Auburn can upset No. 12 Ole Miss on Saturday

Taylor Jones

3–4 minutes

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Auburn returns to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday night to face No. 12 Ole Miss, and will enter the game as underdogs.

According to the latest line from BetMGM, the Rebels are 6.5-point favorites with the over/under set at 55.5 points. According to ESPN, Ole Miss has a 77% chance to earn the road win.

Auburn appears to not stand a chance on Saturday, but there are several aspects of the game that the Tigers could use to their advantage.

Here’s a look at what all needs to work out in Auburn’s favor in order to secure an upset win over Ole Miss in front of the home fans on Saturday night.

Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is sixth in the SEC with 273 yards passing per game. However, he only completes 64% of his passes, which is 9th best in the conference. If Jaylin Simpson and DJ James dictate the Rebels passing game, the Tigers’ win chance goes up.

Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne has not lived up to his full potential in the passing game this season, as he has been held to under 100 yards passing in three games this season. However, we have seen his potential several times this season. He threw for 141 yards against UMass in the season opener and 282 yards against Samford. Ole Miss’ defense is infinitely better than those two defenses, but if Thorne gets going in the passing game it could mean success for Auburn.

Austin Perryman/Auburn Tigers

Auburn’s 2023 season through six games has been a roller coaster. After a solid opening game with UMass, Auburn struggled to win at California. The trend has continued as Auburn played great against Georgia, but stumbled in its next game to LSU. If consistency remains, Auburn should have a solid showing against Ole Miss.

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Quinshon Judkins has 403 rushing yards this season, which is 9th best in the SEC. Looking at analytics, one of Ole Miss’ weaknesses is run blocking with a grade of 64.4. On the flipside, Auburn has a grade of 83.1 when it comes to stopping the run. Marcus Harris will be the guy to watch this week. If he plays at a high level, Auburn will disrupt the Rebels’ offensive game plan.

Austin Perryman/Auburn Tigers

Backing on what was previously mentioned, Auburn and Ole Miss are No. 4 and No. 5 respectively in SEC’s rushing rankings. Auburn will need to have a big day defensively to stop Ole Miss, but will also need to do their part on offense to counter. A big day from Jarquez Hunter, Jeremiah Cobb, and Robby Ashford is a must.

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

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si.com

 

Five reasons Auburn football can beat Ole Miss

Steve Simpson

3–4 minutes

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While the Auburn/Ole Miss series isn't much a rivalry historically (Auburn leads 35-11), it has taken on some interesting meaning due to the events of the past couple of years. Auburn prevented Ole Miss from an unprecedented eleven win season in 2021 when they beat the Rebels 31-20 in Jordan-Hare. Last season after Ole Miss defeated Auburn 48-34 in Oxford, rumors abounded that Lane Kiffin was going to be Auburn's next coach and the Rebels season collapsed the rest of the way. Then Auburn did hire a former Ole Miss coach in Hugh Freeze. Now the two will meet Saturday night in Jordan-Hare for what may be the last time for a few years. The Tigers can get another win in this series if they can do these five things.

Quinshon Judkins is contained

The Tigers defense must limit the effectiveness of Quinshon Judkins running the ball. I don't expect them to stop him completely, but they must contain him. Anything 100 yards or less would be a win. Ron Roberts also needs to mix some things up with coverages and blitz's to keep Jaxson Dart guessing.

Auburn actually creates a passing game

Whoever Auburn starts at quarterback, Philip Montgomery needs to let them get in a rhythm passing the ball with some quick slants and short passes (5-10 yards). That will open up the running game a bit more and may help the receivers create some separation for deep throws later in the game. Also, mix up the run and pass on first down, maybe use some play action, try to avoid obvious running or passing options.

Brian Battie gets touches

Brian Battie needs to start at running back and he needs to get the ball both in the running game and passing game. Bring in Hunter and Cobb as needed and do the same with them. This is Auburn's most talented room, outside of the secondary. Need to get all of them the ball in creative ways. They did a good job of that with Cobb last week.

The secondary shows out

The secondary has got to come up with at least one interception in this game. I expect Jaylin Simpson to get another one against the Rebels and wouldn't be surprised if D.J. James had one as well.

The atmosphere is effective

Jordan-Hare Stadium will be rocking Saturday night and the team needs to feed off that energy. If they play as inspired as they did against Georgia, the Tigers could win this game by 10 points. Jordan-Hare at night is that big of an advantage.

[SaltyTiger 8,579]

Happy game day and War Eagle Fiddy. Thanks again.

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theplainsman.com

 

Plainsman Picks: Ole Miss

 

7–9 minutes

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Ahead of Auburn's game against Ole Miss, here's what some of our staff has to say about the game, complete with score predictions and analysis.

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Jacob Waters, Sports Editor (47-23): Ole Miss 34-27

"In our preseason schedule predictions, I had Auburn sitting at 3-3 with losses to Texas A&M, Georgia and LSU, and I had Auburn picking up its first SEC win of the season at home against Ole Miss. Prior to the season however, I did not think Auburn's offense would look as bad as it has.

We saw Ole Miss score 55 points a few weeks ago against LSU, and we also saw Auburn score just 18 against that same LSU team. Hugh Freeze said earlier this week that Auburn is not in a place where it can get in a shootout with teams, and I fully agree. Auburn is fortunate this game is in Jordan-Hare Stadium at night, and I think that will go a long way into making this a close game. I also think Auburn coming off three straight losses will be hungry to prove something, but I just don't think it will be enough to conquer the struggles offensively. If this is a relatively high-scoring game, I can't put my faith in Auburn's offense to outplay a Lane Kiffin offense."

Matthew Wallace, Assistant Sports Editor (46-24): Auburn 27-24

"Ole Miss's offense has had great success against the weaker defenses it has faced but against the better defenses, the results haven't been quite as good. The Rebels average 489.3 yards per game but against the top three defenses they have faced, Alabama, Tulane and Arkansas, that number drops to 337.7 yards per game — Auburn is statistically the fourth-best total defense Ole Miss has faced.

Just like the LSU team Auburn faced last week, the Rebels' defense has had success stopping the run but has struggled to stop the pass. No matter who primarily plays at quarterback for the Tigers, the game will be determined by their success passing the ball. At Jordan-Hare Stadium, where Auburn can never be counted out of a game, one big offensive drive or one big defensive stop could determine the game. Behind what will be a raucous sellout crowd, I think Auburn comes up with the one big play it needs to earn the upset."

Grace Heim, Sports Reporter (34-36): Ole Miss 35-20

"For the first time in his Auburn career, Hugh Freeze is set to take on the Ole Miss Rebels, but the Tigers are no stranger to the Rebels. I am always hesitant to count the Tigers out of a contest in Jordan-Hare, but I do not see Auburn keeping up with an explosive Ole Miss offense. The Rebels average 41.67 points per game while allowing 23.83 points per game from their opponent.  Led by quarterback Jaxson Dart, the Rebel offense can do it all, whether it be putting the football in the air or keeping it on the ground. 

While the Ole Miss defense has struggled this season–especially the pass defense, ranking 110th in the nation in pass defense–its pass rush has kept a struggling defense intact. I do not think Auburn will be able to get their offense rolling, largely due to the Rebel pass rush, and I expect Ole Miss to take back to back games against Auburn for the first time in 71 years.” 

Caitlyn Griffin, Sports Writer (42-28): Ole Miss 35-21

"No. 13 Ole Miss readily awaits the Primetime showdown in Jordan-Hare Stadium, looking to add another win to its record. The Tigers have struggled in SEC play, going 0-3 compared to the Rebels' 2-1 mark. But Auburn has the edge over Ole Miss in this historic matchup, leading the 95-year-old rivalry 35-12 (17-3 home, 13-4 away).

Auburn’s defense must be prepared to keep up with Ole Miss's fast-paced offense in order to give the Tigers’ offense a chance to keep it a competitive matchup. Ole Miss has one of strongest offenses in the nation, ranking No. 8 for scoring offense (41.7 points per game), No. 11 for fourth down conversions (75%) and No. 17 for passing offense (306 yards per game)."

Craig Noyes, Sports Writer (47-23): Auburn 27-23

"Last week did not leave Tiger fans with much to be happy about, and with Auburn facing another high-powered offense, the pressure to capture the team's first SEC win is more significant than ever. Ole Miss successfully snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Tigers last season in Oxford. Ole Miss has struggled at besting the Tigers in two consecutive seasons, the last time being in 1952. 

The LSU and Ole Miss pass defense is comparable, with Ole Miss ranking 111th in the FBS, allowing 261.5 passing yards per game. Unlike the LSU Tigers, the Rebels' defense will not have the crowd on their side.  Hugh Freeze will seek revenge against his former school, as the Tiger's 49th-ranked pass defense will cause miscues and errors from Jaxson Dart. The Tigers will grind out a vital home win."

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Patrick Bingham, Sports Writer (41-29): Ole Miss 34-19

“Ole Miss is looking to win back-to-back games against Auburn for the first time in 71 years. The Rebels have also only won in Jordan-Hare Stadium three times in their 20 attempts in this series. But the makeup of these two teams don’t seem to match with what history might suggest about this contest.

Ole Miss is one of 12 schools nationally with at least seven yards per play and one of nine below 23 seconds per play. The Rebels also currently possesses the SEC’s second-best scoring offense at 41.7 points per game, ranking eighth nationally. Auburn got a taste of similar offense down in the Bayou last Saturday in a 48-18 loss to LSU.

Freeze’s first year Tigers just aren’t built to win shootout football games, averaging 27.7 points per game. If the Rebels can get off to a hot start like LSU did last week, and they are certainly capable, it could be another quickly decided game for Auburn.”

Chase Black, Sports Writer (35-35): Ole Miss 34-20

"The Rebels are coming off a bye week, and it is a sure bet that Lane Kiffin and his team will have a game plan ready to attack the Tiger defense. With close wins over Arkansas and LSU, Ole Miss will be looking to put Auburn away early. Led by quarterback Jaxson Dart, the Ole Miss offense is averaging nearly 500 yards per game with over 300 of those flying through the air. Meanwhile, the Auburn defense has surrendered 300-yard passing performances in the past two games. Ole Miss has a talented back in Quinshon Judkins, but it is hard not to see the passing attack playing a large role in this affair.

The Tigers are seeking their first conference win of the season. The contest will also mark Hugh Freeze’s first game against his former team since becoming the Tiger ball coach. Auburn’s passing woes have been well documented, but the running game is still pretty dang good. The Tiger offense is averaging over 190 rushing yards per game and has a trio of talented backs. Getting first downs and keeping it out of Dart’s hands will be a must if the Tigers hope to jump off the three-game slide they are riding."

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al.com

Hugh Freeze threw Auburn a change up this week at practice. What was it and why?

Published: Oct. 20, 2023, 10:28 a.m.

3–4 minutes

Head to Head: Auburn vs. Ole Miss

As the old saying goes, you play how you practice.

And that was an issue last week as Auburn went on the road and fell to No. 22 LSU 48-18.

“Throughout the week last week, we really didn’t have the excitement that we usually have,” Auburn freshman defensive end Keldric Faulk confessed Monday. “When we played Georgia, everybody was flying around and getting to the ball. Last week, it kinda went flat.”

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze was critical of his team’s effort in Baton Rouge the second he walked off the field at Tiger Stadium. And those gripes continued on Monday during his weekly press conference.

“It’s one thing for a team to have more talent,” Freeze said. “But I didn’t think we showed up with the right energy and drive and competitive spirit, and that lies in my lap. That’s disappointing.”

When a handful of Auburn players met with the media on Tuesday, it was evident that Freeze had harped on his displeasure with the energy the Saturday prior.

“Coach Freeze definitely harped on that in the meeting,” said veteran cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett. “I feel like we came out flat also, but we can get definitely change that.”

Knowing a team only plays as well as it practices, if Auburn wanted to see a change on the field Saturday, it first had to see a change on the practice fields.

And from the sounds of it, the Tigers did.

Freeze said Thursday during his time on Auburn’s Tiger Talk radio show that he was looking for “passionate, hard-working” practices on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Which we did,” Freeze said.

Freeze added that having junior defensive back Keionte Scott back in action after being out with an injury for nearly a month helped Auburn’s practice efforts, too.

“Keionte Scott changes our team,” Freeze said. “And he’s been back around us this week and he just picks everybody’s spirits up. He really does, particularly defense.”

Scott suffered a high-ankle sprain against Samford on Sept.16 and has been out of commission ever since after having tightrope surgery on Sept. 18.

Generally, Freeze looks for that same passion and hard work during Thursday’s practice, too.

But this week was different.

“We switched it up and did a walk-through today and are gonna pick it up and go a fast Friday,” Freeze said Thursday. “Just to just to give our kids a little change up.”

Typically, those days are flipped, with Friday’s practice reserved for relaxed walk-throughs.

However, after last week’s enthusiasm-lacking performance on the road, Freeze isn’t taking any chances at the Tigers coming out flat again, despite the fact Saturday’s game against No. 13 Ole Miss will be played in the comfort of Auburn’s home, Jordan-Hare Stadium.

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al.com

How has being at Auburn changed Hugh Freeze's approach to recruiting?

Updated: Oct. 20, 2023, 2:41 p.m.|Published: Oct. 20, 2023, 6:00 a.m.

5–7 minutes

Baumhower’s Victory Grille was overtaken with orange and blue Thursday evening, just as it is anytime the restaurant hosts Auburn’s Tiger Talk radio show with head football coach Hugh Freeze in attendance as it’s an opportunity for Auburn fans engage with Freeze and ask him questions.

And boy, does Freeze get questions from out of left field from time to time.

On Thursday, Freeze was asked what other sport he’d coach if he weren’t coaching football. His answer was girls’ basketball – a sport he was asked to coach when he was still in the high school ranks. He added that he wouldn’t mind coaching golf, either – but for selfish reasons as he’d just want to practice more himself.

Freeze was also asked if he thought he’d be more nervous playing Ole Miss – a team he coached from 2012-16 – at home in Jordan-Hare Stadium or in Oxford, Miss.

Auburn’s first-year head coach started to answer the question, but quickly shifted gears and changed the subject, showing exactly where his mind is at: recruiting.

Freeze’s segue in the exchange was the fact that he doesn’t have much time to let himself get nervous on Saturdays.

“I don’t even get to think about the game until literally… I’ll probably get out there with about 30 minutes left in warmups and you know it’s go time then,” Freeze said.

But rest assured Auburn fans, Freeze isn’t lollygagging around on Saturdays.

Instead, he’s investing in the future of the football program.

“I just think I have to recruit so hard right now and there’s so many good players coming to our games and I feel like I have to meet with them,” Freeze said. “And it’s working. You know, we got another big commitment today from one of the top players in the nation and that make us two this week.”

The NCAA prohibits Freeze from talking about specific recruits until they arrive to campus. But anyone who pays attention to Auburn’s recruiting efforts knows who Freeze was referring to.

Mere hours before Freeze rushed to Baumhower’s straight from practice, as he does every Thursday, Auburn picked up a big-time commitment in Kendarius Reddick – a 4-star athlete in the 2025 recruiting class.

On Monday, Freeze and the Tigers earned the commitment of Jourdin Crawford – a 4-star defensive lineman in the 2025 class.

The 2025 class?

Yes, the 2025 class.

Freeze said the day he was introduced as Auburn’s 31st head coach that he’d have to hit the ground hard and, in a hurry, to restock the same cupboards that were left bare by Bryan Harsin and his staff.

Freeze echoed that again Thursday night.

“I’ve said since I got here — and I hope everybody keeps hearing me — but you know, the ‘24 and ‘25 class will really tell the story of how fast we can close the gap on the upper echelon in this conference,” Freeze said.

When Harsin was fired midway through the 2022 season, Auburn had the 55th-ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports. And it’s for that reason Freeze was left scrambling to piece together a team via the transfer portal throughout the offseason.

But under Freeze, Auburn’s 2024 recruiting class currently ranks 17th in the country and is bolstered by a pair of 5-star recruits in wide receiver Perry Thompson and linebacker Demarcus Riddick.

Meanwhile, Freeze’s commitment to establishing the foundation of his 2025 class has gone on to prove that the early bird gets the worm.

With the additions of Reddick and Crawford, the Tigers now boast the fourth-ranked recruiting class in the nation, coming behind Georgia, Alabama and Notre Dame.

However, none of that leaves Freeze and Auburn’s staff feeling complacent.

“We’ve got another big group coming this weekend,” Freeze said Thursday. “We got two official visits — two guys we really want and plus a bunch of five- and four-star kids that there will be at the game.”

Earlier this week, a pair of 5-star wide receivers in Ryan Williams and Caleb Cunningham announced their intentions of being at Jordan-Hare Stadium for Saturday’s game against Ole Miss.

So, if you think Freeze is overthinking coaching against his former program, think again.

“I don’t have a lot of time,” Freeze said, revisiting the question that sparked the recruiting rant in the first place.

“I leave the hotel as soon as we get through with our last meeting, I get to the stadium and I’m locked in a room meeting with families until they take me to Tiger Walk. And then I come back and I meet again until I just can’t because I want to see them all.”

Freeze’s recruiting efforts during game days are unlike anything he’s had to do in his career, he admitted Thursday night.

Even when he was at Ole Miss a decade ago, he wasn’t having to do this much legwork. But the reason he didn’t might shock some.

“For whatever reason — even though we were winning and doing well — you didn’t have the number of top guys showing up,” Freeze said.

When Auburn hosted No. 1 Georgia on Sept. 30, Jordan-Hare Stadium hosted upwards of 70 recruits.

“And of course, Liberty was nothing,” Freeze said, insinuating that playing for the Flames was the fallback plan for many recruits whose aspirations of playing Power 5 football fell through.

“But this is quite different.”

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Freeze says the ‘process of becoming’ has been harder at Auburn than it was at Ole Miss. Why?

Updated: Oct. 19, 2023, 12:50 p.m.|Published: Oct. 19, 2023, 11:51 a.m.

5–7 minutes

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Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze believes in the “process of becoming.”

It’s the same process that helped Freeze rise from the high school football ranks to being the head coach of a place like the SEC.

It took patience, stops at Lambuth University and Arkansas State and getting over plenty of bumps in the road that came along the way.

That same process is why Freeze prefers recruiting high school kids over plucking them out of the transfer portal.

“My preference would be to develop kids,” Freeze said. “But the process of becoming is kinda being lost.”

Today’s society is one that constantly seeks instant gratification.

When Freeze was introduced as Auburn’s 31st head coach on Nov. 29, 2022, a local television reporter asked the burning question that every Auburn fan in America was itching to know the answer to: How soon?

How soon what?

How soon could they expect their mighty Tigers to be back towards the precipice of college football?

When Freeze was smacked with the question during his introductory press conference, he could’ve easily puffed out his chest and said something along the lines of, “Well, just look at my track record.”

But instead, Freeze took the conservative route.

“I wish I could say,” Freeze said. “I haven’t had a chance to even evaluate our roster yet.”

Eight months later when he met with local reporters in a small breakout room at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Nashville prior to his appearance at the podium at SEC Media Days, Freeze said he was a bit shocked at just how depleted the roster he inherited was.

“I don’t want to be negative,” Freeze said. “Just, it was off from what I believe an Auburn roster should look like.”

Just 277 days stretched between the day Freeze was introduced as Auburn’s head coach and the day the Tigers’ kicked off the 2023 season against UMass on Sept. 2.

Having to work against the hands of time — though he prefers developing players out of the high school ranks — Freeze was handcuffed to the transfer portal, where he hoped he could find quick fixes to plug into certain positions.

Between transfers and freshmen, Auburn welcomed more than 40 new faces to its roster during the offseason and many arrived at The Plains as late as May.

“I don’t even know all the names yet, truthfully,” Freeze said in late-July. “We’re gonna have to wear tape on the helmet again.”

Let that sink in.

Folks were wanting to know just how quickly Freeze could right the ship at Auburn the day he was introduced as head coach. Meanwhile, Freeze admitted to reporters eight months later that he still didn’t know everyone on his roster’s name.

That said, Freeze wasn’t hopeless when he arrived at Auburn. He did mention that he’d had quick success in his previous stops – most notably at Ole Miss.

Before Freeze took over the helm of the Rebels’ program in 2012, Ole Miss had won just one conference game across two seasons.

By year three, Freeze had Ole Miss beating Nick Saban and playing in New Year’s Six bowl games.

Come year four, Freeze and the Rebels beat Alabama again – this time in Tuscaloosa. Ole Miss also returned to a New Year’s Six bowl game – this time beating Oklahoma State.

And as Freeze’s former team comes to visit Auburn for a game at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, it’s easy to want to dig up those comparisons between Freeze’s takeover in Oxford, Miss. and his takeover at Auburn.

But it’s also not fair.

“The one at Ole Miss was similar, but the expectations may not have been as high as they are here, which adds a little pressure to you sometimes,” Freeze said when asked to compare the two situations on Wednesday.

High expectations are good.

But sometimes they need to be tempered.

“We’ve got a team that 11 of the 22 starters at LSU had never started an SEC game prior to this season,” Freeze explained Wednesday. “And only five of the 22 had made an SEC start in three seasons.”

Meanwhile, Brian Kelly’s roster boasts 14 players with double-digit starts with LSU and five players with 20 starts or more with the Bayou Bengals.

Look at Ole Miss’ projected starting lineup for Saturday and you’ll see that the Rebels have 10 starters with double-digit starts with the Rebels and four players with 20 starts or more.

Freeze spent time stammering as he looked for words to further elaborate on the comparison between the situation he inherited at Ole Miss and the situation he inherited at Auburn last November.

“It’s the growing pains,” Freeze finally said. “I think we’re a young team and one that has very little experience playing in this league. “Can we coach better? Yes. And hopefully we can play better. We’ve seen signs of it, but I think we’re a young team and one that has very little experience playing in this league.”

The “process of becoming” comes with growing pains. And after last week’s 48-18 loss to LSU, Auburn coaches, players and fans alike are beginning to feel them.

And patience isn’t an easy thing to have.

“It’s not easy, and it shouldn’t be easy,” Freeze said. “It takes you embracing the grind and then going to work and enjoying the process of becoming.”

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[AUGoo 2,703]

How can you ever come out flat?!?

You practice year round for these opportunities and you are only guaranteed 12 chances, 12 days out of 365.

Don't get it.

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5 minutes ago, AUGoo said:

How can you ever come out flat?!?

You practice year round for these opportunities and you are only guaranteed 12 chances, 12 days out of 365.

Don't get it.

i have never understood it either.

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44 minutes ago, AUGoo said:

How can you ever come out flat?!?

You practice year round for these opportunities and you are only guaranteed 12 chances, 12 days out of 365.

Don't get it.

It’s not just an AU problem. Most people I’ve heard address this problem have usually blamed life as a power 5 college player (and all that goes with it), also age/maturity usually gets tabbed in explaining obvious lack of expected execution.

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al.com

 

Tebow: Auburn ‘is not as far away as many people think’

Published: Oct. 21, 2023, 10:19 a.m.

~4 minutes

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SEC Nation co-host Tim Tebow said Saturday he believes Auburn is very close to returning to among the elite of the SEC West (AP Photo/Michael Clubb, File)AP

By

• Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com

Auburn has lost three straight games and is about a touchdown underdog on Saturday night vs. Ole Miss, but one SEC observer believes the difference between the Tigers and other teams in their conference is not that large.

During a segment on SEC Nation Saturday previewing the Auburn-Ole Miss game, SEC Network analyst and former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow said he thinks the Tigers are on the right track under first-coach Hugh Freeze. After fellow analyst Paul Finebaum said the main issue is how quickly Freeze can choose between Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford and “figure out who his quarterback is,” Tebow said it’s more complicated than that.

“I don’t just think it’s figuring out who his quarterback is,” Tebow said. “It’s how to use them and will they do what he’s kind of training them to do and that’s one being able to hit the downfield pass and being able to throw that accurately to give his receivers a chance. And I also think some of the receivers have to really step up to win some of those one-on-one matchups, because this team is not as far away as many people think they don’t need as many players.

“There’s a few key positions that if they got some guys that are a little more consistent, I think … it would change how competitive they are very fast.”

A third analyst on the SEC Nation panel, former Vanderbilt quarterback Jordan Rodgers, said he’d like to see Auburn get back to what it did late in the 2022 season under interim coach Cadillac Williams — run the ball with authority. The Tigers also ran the ball particularly well in a 27-20 loss to top-ranked Georgia on Oct. 1

“You’re halfway through the season at some point, you’ve got to go, ‘This is who we are and you know what, we’re not a team that’s going to push the ball down(field) consistently,’” Rodgers said. “So I keep going back to last year when Cadillac took over. Everyone and their mother knew they’re running the ball every single play. And what did they do? They ran it right at (Texas) A&M, they ran it right at Bama. They didn’t win (all) those games down the stretch, but they were effective at bullying people.

“They had a mentality that said, you know, ‘we’re going to run it, we know we’re going to run it. We don’t care.’ … Look at this roster, (Freeze) has done a great job of creating opportunities. He’s been creative. But sometimes when you get too creative, you get away from what you do.

“Well, get Jarquez Hunter going downhill, get Jeremiah Cobb — (who) had a big game last week — get him going downhill. Sometimes you just got to go, ‘We’re bad on third down. We’ve got to run the ball right at guys early and often, set ourselves up, because this is who we are.’ And that’s what I hope they kind of get back to today.”

Kickoff between Auburn (3-3, 0-3 SEC) and Ole Miss (5-1, 2-1) is set for 6 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will air live on ESPN.

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