5.21.24 Football Articles

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athlonsports.com

An Updated Look At Auburn Football's 2025 Recruiting Class

Lance Dawe

3–4 minutes

The Auburn Tigers are putting together another amazing recruiting class.

After finishing with the No. 8 class in the 2024 cycle, Hugh Freeze and the Tigers are looking to lock down another list of high-profile commitments.

Here's an updated look at the class following the commitment of Dante Core, a 3-star cornerback who chose the Tigers on Saturday.

National Rankings

247Sports: No. 11

On3: No. 9

Rivals: No. 10

Commitments

DL Malik Autry (4-star)

6-foot-5, 320 pounds

Opelika High School (Opelika, AL)

247Sports describes Autry as "possessing a rare combination of size, power, and athleticism on the interior defensive line." He "projects to a high level multi-year starter at a Power Four program with the ability to develop into an all-conference caliber prospect and a potential early day NFL Draft choice."

EDGE Jakaleb Faulk (4-star)

6-foot-3, 225 pounds

Highland Home (Highland Home, AL)

Projects as a "high level multi-year starter at a Power Four program while possessing the ability to offer some pass rush ability off the edge before more than likely settling into an off-ball linebacker role at the next level." There's an ongoing discussion as to whether or not Faulk will play EDGE or outside linebacker at the next level, but regardless, he's ranked as the No. 9 EDGE in the nation.

DL Jourdin Crawford (4-star)

6-foot-1, 300 pounds

Parker High School (Birmingham, AL)

Totaled 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks during his sophomore season. He's the No. 157 overall player in 2025.

LB Tyler Lockhart (4-star)

6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Winona High School (Winona, MS)

Lockhart was projected to land at Mississippi State but chose the Tigers in early May of 2024.

CB Devin Williams (4-star)

5-foot-10, 165 pounds

Played at both cornerback and wide receiver during his junior season. Played with 5-star quarterback Dylan Raiola. Should play slot cornerback.

OT Travaris Dice (4-star)

6-foot-4, 295 pounds

Langston Hughes High School (Fairburn, GA)

Has high physical upside and has the ability to move inside if needed, according to 247Sports.

OT Carde Smith (4-star)

6-foot-5, 285 pounds

Williamson High School (Mobile, AL)

Expected to add weight to his frame in college, excellent run blocker.

TE Ryan Ghea (3-star)

6-foot-5, 230 pounds

Described as a "spirited blocker" with soft hands. Needs to add weight but will be an offensive threat given his frame.

CB Dante Core (3-star)

5-foot-11, 165 pounds

Fort Walton Beach High School (Fort Walton Beach, FL)

Totaled 22 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions on defense while also catching 10 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns on offense.

OT Spencer Dowland (3-star)

6-foot-6, 290 pounds

Athens High School (Athens, AL)

The Tigers' third offensive tackle pickup in the 2025 recruiting class. Ranked as the No. 62 tackle in 2025.

IOL Tai Buster (3-star)

6-foot-3, 280 pounds

A L Brown High School (Kannapolis, NC)

Primarily played at left tackle during his junior season but projects out as an interior player.

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waka.com

 

Auburn running back Brian Battie on ventilator after weekend shooting in Florida, coach says - WAKA 8

WAKA Action 8 News

~2 minutes

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Auburn Football

Posted: May 20, 2024 4:17 PM CDT

Updated: May 20, 2024 5:20 PM CDT

by WAKA Action 8 News

Auburn running back Brian Battie has been hospitalized following a weekend shooting in Sarasota, Florida, where his brother was killed and three others injured.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s office said they responded to a strip mall at about 3:30 a.m. Saturday, finding a large crowd and multiple shooting victims in the parking lot. The office said in a statement that Tommie L. Battie IV was pronounced dead at the scene. Four others, who weren’t named, were taken to hospitals in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze updated Brian Battie’s condition in a social media post on Monday.

“Auburn family. Please continue to pray for Brian Battie,” Freeze wrote on X. “There was a set back last night and he’s still on a ventilator.”

Battie spent three seasons at South Florida before transferring to Auburn. He ran for 227 yards and a touchdown last season while ranking fourth in the Southeastern Conference in kick return average (23.0 yards).

The 5-foot-7, 168-pounder ran for 1,186 yards in 2022 and finished his South Florida career with 1,842 yards and 10 touchdowns.

A GoFundMe page was started by two women who said they were godmothers of the Battie brothers. The page had raised nearly $60,000 by Monday.

(Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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al.com

Auburn’s Brian Battie suffers ‘set back’ after Florida shooting; Hugh Freeze asks for prayers

Published: May. 20, 2024, 11:38 a.m.

~3 minutes

Auburn running back Brian Battie (21) pushes past Arkansas defenders to score a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)AP

Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze is asking for prayers for Auburn running back Brian Battie after being injured in a shooting in Sarasota, Florida early Saturday morning.

“Auburn Family. Please continue to pray for Brian Battie,” Freeze wrote in a post to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Freeze continued to write that Battie experienced a “set back” Sunday night and is still on a ventilator.

Multiple Tampa-area media outlets reported Battie was one of the victims in a shooting the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office says happened in the 3400 block of 17th Street, Sarasota at approximately 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

Sarasota Director of Community Affairs Evan Keats confirmed to AL.com that Brian Battie’s older brother, Tommie Battie, 24, was killed in the shooting.

While unable to name any other victims of the shooting, Keats confirmed there were four other victims who were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

On Sunday, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help aid the Battie family. The fundraiser was launched with a goal of $100,000 and had already raised more than $59,000 by Monday at 11:30 a.m.

“Brian Battie remains in critical condition at a local hospital. We know he will continue to fight and overcome this, just as he has overcome so many other obstacles in his life,” wrote the GoFundMe’s organizers.

“We ask that you continue to pray for Brian to make a full recovery to return home with his loving family. With all of the emotional pain and stress that tragedy brings, it also brings financial burdens. We would like to raise money for the Battie family to help with unforeseen funeral expenses and medical bills. The family is understandably shocked by this loss and not prepared for all that is happening at this time.”

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have a great one folks.today and tomorrow are chemo days.........