Popular Post bigbird 60,989 Posted June 10 Popular Post Share Posted June 10 https://athlonsports.com/college/auburn-tigers/auburn-daily/football/how-auburn-has-gone-from-one-of-the-worst-offensive-line-recruiting-teams-to-one-of-the-best How Auburn has gone from one of the worst offensive line recruiting teams to one of the best There are a few key reasons for the Auburn Tigers' increased offensive line recruiting. JACK SINGLEYJUN 8, 2024 12:39 PM EDT Over the past five to ten years, Auburn has had one common weakness, offensive line depth and with that lack of depth, the reasoning behind it showed, that the Tigers couldn't recruit high school linemen. Despite that trend, things are looking up for the Tigers as they signed five offensive linemen last year and already have five committed this year with the addition Friday of Broderick Shull. The years before Hugh Freeze came to town were rough when it came to gaining the commitment of an offensive lineman from the high school ranks. Dating back to 2018 former head coaches Gus Malzahn and Bryan Harsin signed a total of 13 high schoolers. Malzahn added two through the transfer portal in Brandon Council and Michael Cone. Including the transfer portal that is a total of 15 over five years for an average of three a year, and with the offensive line having five starters and being one of the most injury-prone positions that does not equal the depth needed to compete in the SEC. The cherry on top of the proverbial sundae is that the highest-rated player was four-star Keiondre Jones who ended up transferring to Florida State. The talent brought in along with the inability to retain it, of the 13 recruited four decided to transfer, which makes it easy to see in the grand scheme of how Freeze and offensive line coach Jake Thornton have been able to appeal to not only high school talent but also transfer portal talent as well. The Freeze staff has signed eight high school offensive linemen with returning starting center Connor Lew and incoming freshman De'Andre Carter both being high-end four-star recruits. They have also brought in seven OL through the portal, being able to sell playing time and SEC experience, due to the lack of talent and depth that the staff inherited. The previous staff managed to snag 15 total with the portal included, in half the time Hugh Freeze and staff have managed to get 15 in just two classes. They will supersede that number once signing day comes as they look to sign at least five high schoolers and will look to replace some starters and depth pieces through the portal after the season. The weakest positions that the staff inherited, the offensive line and wide receivers, have quickly become one of its greatest assets and selling points on the recruiting trail. 14 4 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randman5000 4,300 Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 Good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoAU 1,696 Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 Thank goodness! Hard to win the game when you lose the LOS. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AURex 2,303 Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 I am encouraged by CHF and his offensive coordinators pulling in OL players. We have not seen this for quite awhile and our coaches deserve huge credit for building up the OL and WR ranks. That said. it is really hard to predict how well OL recruits will develop, whether they will become really competitive on game day. Which is why it is so important to build depth -- as CHF is trying to do. I just hope, out of the recent recruiting crops of OL players (HS and portal) that Auburn can build a great OL that can be sustained year after year. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aucanucktiger 1,923 Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 Better thread title: How Auburn has gone from one of the worst O lines on the field to, at this point, one of the best on paper. I'll believe it when we see it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger1985 920 Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 Amazing how recruiting Oline helps. Having backup plans if one doesn’t sign or work out makes a difference. Odd that the two Offensive gurus we supposed had sucked at this aspect of basic football. Go gettum Hugh! I also like that we are nation wide now. The other now retired sob at Bama figured that out long ago for all positions. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old fan 47 825 Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 On 6/11/2024 at 12:49 AM, aucanucktiger said: Better thread title: How Auburn has gone from one of the worst O lines on the field to, at this point, one of the best on paper. I'll believe it when we see it. Regardless of that, it’s apparent our former two coaches failed miserably in that department. If you don’t sign any, of course you’ll never know how they will turn out. HF can recruit, but my biggest question with him is teaching and coaching ability at this level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japantiger 4,185 Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 How would we rate our OL staff in developing players? I honestly don't know. Having bodies is obviously the start. But I look at a place like TAMU who had really good OL on paper all the while the staff they had the most bizarrely complicated blocking schemes I've ever seen, couldn't call blocks at the line and they couldn't block anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auburn93 845 Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 On 6/11/2024 at 12:49 AM, aucanucktiger said: Better thread title: How Auburn has gone from one of the worst O lines on the field to, at this point, one of the best on paper. I'll believe it when we see it. It is not best on paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuscAUse! 1,727 Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 2 hours ago, Auburn93 said: It is not best on paper. Could you explain? Are you ranking them or .....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TigerOne 1,312 Posted June 16 Share Posted June 16 On 6/10/2024 at 11:49 PM, aucanucktiger said: Better thread title: How Auburn has gone from one of the worst O lines on the field to, at this point, one of the best on paper. I'll believe it when we see it. Let’s see if Freeze and staff can coach these quality players. so far it hasn’t happened 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auburn93 845 Posted June 16 Share Posted June 16 On 6/14/2024 at 2:21 PM, JuscAUse! said: Could you explain? Are you ranking them or .....? You go first. Explain how two three stars on paper by 247 make it the best ever. How many guys are number one at their position nationally? Do we have ED KING or Ben T committed? I'm excited that we are currently ranked #6 overall by 247. Here we can aim for have one of the best recruiting class and yet the OP was that the OL is the best ever on paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuscAUse! 1,727 Posted June 16 Share Posted June 16 3 hours ago, Auburn93 said: You go first. Explain how two three stars on paper by 247 make it the best ever. How many guys are number one at their position nationally? Do we have ED KING or Ben T committed? I'm excited that we are currently ranked #6 overall by 247. Here we can aim for have one of the best recruiting class and yet the OP was that the OL is the best ever on paper. I was serious, but you be you. I expect a certain amount of hyperbole on a fan site. I'll move on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKEEL75 2,567 Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 This is a great start. It all starts in the trenches. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodford 3,783 Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 I’d like to hear an “off the record” reason why CGM quit signing guys. I refuse to believe he’s that incompetent in recruiting. Development and evolving as an offensive coach? Absolutely, but not in recruiting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
augolf1716 22,094 Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 1 hour ago, woodford said: I’d like to hear an “off the record” reason why CGM quit signing guys. I refuse to believe he’s that incompetent in recruiting. Development and evolving as an offensive coach? Absolutely, but not in recruiting. Mostly threw all his recruiting in for certain 4/5 star lineman and once we lost the battle had no backup linemen being recruited if I recall correctly.... 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miscram6 134 Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 Better thread title: One of the Two Reason why Auburn Lost Bo Nix to Oregon (the 2nd reason, of course: Harsin) 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper 3,587 Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 On 6/17/2024 at 12:58 PM, augolf1716 said: Mostly threw all his recruiting in for certain 4/5 star lineman and once we lost the battle had no backup linemen being recruited if I recall correctly.... As I have oft used in sales…if you are only hunting the big elephant, you aren’t hunting correctly. You will soon starve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aubiefifty 18,508 Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 2 minutes ago, Viper said: As I have oft used in sales…if you are only hunting the big elephant, you aren’t hunting correctly. You will soon starve. dude no snake can take down an elephant................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper 3,587 Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 (edited) 22 minutes ago, aubiefifty said: dude no snake can take down an elephant................... Bro that’s why you pick the Tigers over the dumbass elephants. Edited June 20 by Viper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexava 6,977 Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 On 6/18/2024 at 2:33 PM, miscram6 said: Better thread title: One of the Two Reason why Auburn Lost Bo Nix to Oregon (the 2nd reason, of course: Harsin) 😄 The only reason I have heard him speak of is fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milehighfan 1,256 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 On 6/17/2024 at 11:01 AM, LKEEL75 said: This is a great start. It all starts in the trenches. Absolutely, I have been sating that for a few years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryAU 1,958 Posted June 26 Share Posted June 26 On 6/20/2024 at 12:39 PM, Viper said: As I have oft used in sales…if you are only hunting the big elephant, you aren’t hunting correctly. You will soon starve. "Bulls make money, bears make money, pigs get slaughtered" You can't get too greedy or have tunnel vision with an unwillingness to hunt small game in order to stay alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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