6.19.24 Football Articles

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si.com

Big Expectations for New Auburn Tigers Offensive Lineman

Harrison Smajovits

3–4 minutes

The Auburn Tigers could have themselves a gem in offensive tackle transfer Percy Lewis, who committed to the Tigers back in January.

On Tuesday morning, executive director of the Senior Bowl and former long-time NFL scout, Jim Nagy took to X to give the 6-foot-7, 355-pound offensive tackle some considerable praise. 

According to Nagy, Auburn has not had an offensive lineman drafted into the NFL in five years and has not had one drafted on day two since 2018 (Indianapolis Colts OT Braden Smith). However, he said Lewis could be the one to change that. 

What Lewis Brings to the Table at Auburn

Should he continue to develop, Nagy said Lewis would be a “massive portal upgrade” for Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze. Now this comment isn’t just because of Lewis’ stature - though being his size that he is certainly helps. 

Accordion to Nagy, Lewis can provide help to the passing game, something the Tigers need badly. They were last in the SEC in total passing offense for the last two seasons. On top of that, Quarterback Payton Thorne was sacked 31 times in 2023.

"Naturally coordinated big man whose size immediately jumps off tape," wrote Nagy on X. "Former juco product is still work-in-progress technique-wise in run game coming from Air Raid but it's hard to find guys this size that come out of their stance as easily Lewis can. He bends, moves, and adjusts in space well and you can see the natural foot athlete whenever he's working laterally. While not a consistently physical finisher, it's pretty easy for him to use his expansive reach to at least occupy people."

Lewis, meanwhile has allowed one sack on 235 pass-blocking snaps. Pro Football Focus gave him a pass-blocking grade of 73.1. The numbers back Nagy’s claim. This addition could go a long way. 

Lewis even has the precedent to show he can continue to develop. Starting unranked out of high school, he began his collegiate career at the JUCO level playing two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. By 2021, he was considered the No. 2 junior college prospect by 247Sports.

After signing at Mississippi State, Lewis saw no action in 2021 and played only six games the following season. However, Lewis earned the starting job at left tackle five games into the 2023 season and held on to the job the rest of the way. 

Circling Back to That NFL Potential 

Nagy projects Lewis will be, at minimum, a swing offensive tackle in the NFL with the tools to be a starter. So, Lewis is already considered to be an NFL-caliber prospect, and he still has two years of eligibility remaining. 

He finished off his analysis of Lewis by saying, “The talent is there but 2024 tape will go a long way towards Lewis getting his Senior Bowl invite.”

Nagy expects to see Lewis in Mobile showing off what he can do to NFL scouts in late January. Until then he should be an immediate upgrade on Auburn's offensive line.

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athlonsports.com

Auburn Freshmen: Which Recruits Make Immediate Impacts?

Brian Smith

~3 minutes

The 2024 Auburn recruiting class comes in at #8 in the Rivals team rankings. 

How many of the 20 Tigers enrolling at Auburn will make an impact this fall? Breaking down each recruit in a series of articles, the following represents what Tigers fans should expect. Let's begin with defensive lineman Amaris Williams, the No. 69 recruit overall.

Size: 6-foot-2, 270 pounds

Location: Clinton (N.C.) High School

Position: Defensive Line

Prep Profile: This young man is an all-around player. Quarterback, running back, linebacker, and defensive line, Williams did more than just dominate during his high school days, his senior film makes it look like an unfair competition.

Most notably, Williams did his job no matter what the Clinton High School coaching staff needed him to do. His versatility will help him make an early impact.

News And Notes: Williams is familiar with Auburn as a January enrollee. Going through spring practice helps him focus on his long-term football position which is defensive line.

How Can Williams Help Auburn This Season? Pass rushing. He's a speed rusher at the very least. His first-step explosiveness is tremendous despite being a player who could eventually slide inside as a defensive tackle. Now, how quickly will Williams pick up the scheme?

It's paramount that Auburn's coaching staff gets Williams to a point that his head is not swimming with concerns about assignments and adjustments. Yes, college coaches are often very stubborn about a true freshman knowing all the keys before serious playing time comes; Williams is too talented even if he's struggling with something. 

Sic'em! Have him play downhill. He's going to make mistakes. It is what it is. Williams is not going to maximize his learning opportunities unless he's turned loose.

As Williams gains experience the Auburn staff can allow him more and more responsibility and playing time. Williams should eclipse 200 snaps and be a key component of Auburn's pass rush. If he quickly figures out the playbook and the opposition's tendencies, he could see significant time during non-passing situations as well.

Bottom line, Williams is a special talent and one Auburn fans should she play a prominent role before the 2024 season concludes.

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al.com

 

What is Auburn getting in versatile Enterprise safety Eric Winters?

Updated: Jun. 18, 2024, 10:57 a.m.|Published: Jun. 18, 2024, 10:46 a.m.

4–5 minutes

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Enterprise linebacker Eric Winters competes in a 7-on-7 event at Saraland High School on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Saraland, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | preps@al.com)

Enterprise head coach Ben Blackmon hasn’t coached a lot of players with the potential of recent Auburn commit Eric Winters.

“I think he is one of the few kids you get to coach that you could truly project as a guy who will play on Sundays,” Blackmon said.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Winters committed to Auburn over the weekend. He’s likely to play safety for the Tigers, though he also will play wide receiver for the Wildcats this fall and was the team’s quarterback a year ago.

“He’s a very smart football player,” Blackmon said. “Eric has great length. He’s a versatile guy who can play in the box or outside in space. He runs well. He went to the Rivals camp in Atlanta and was the MVP. He just has a ton of upside.”

Blackmon coached a similar player when he was at Spanish Fort. Kris Abrams-Draine was a wide receiver/defensive back who moved to quarterback as a senior out of necessity and led the Toros all the way to the Class 6A championship game. He went on to have an All-SEC career as a DB at Missouri and was a fifth-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos.

“I thought Kris Draine would have a chance to play on Sunday and now he will,” Blackmon said. “Eric is that dynamic. We needed him to play quarterback last year. He did that. He led the basketball team in scoring and took us to the championship game. He’s a phenomenal athlete and the kids really follow him and believe in him. They like their chances of winning because Eric is on their team.”

Enterprise's Eric Winters scores a slam dunk against Hoover during the AHSAA Class 7A boys championship at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, March 2, 2024. (Will McLelland | preps@al.com)Will McLelland

Winters did it all for Enterprise last year, rushing for 699 yards and 12 TDs and passing for 501 yards and 5 TDs at quarterback and making 17 tackles and an interception on defense. He told AL.com this week that it was the right time to commit, and Auburn was clearly the right place.

“It just feels like home,” he said. “It’s not really a four-year decision. It’s a 40-year decision. I wanted to be somewhere where, on any given Tuesday, I could be happy and that’s Auburn.”

Winters is the fifth-ranked senior recruit in the state, according to the 247 composite rankings. He joins Highland Home EDGE Jakaleb Faulk as top 10 Auburn commits in the Class of 2025.

Winters is hoping the Tigers also can add Enterprise teammate Zion Grady to the fold in the near future. Grady, a former Alabama commit, is set to visit Ohio State this weekend, according to Ben Blackmon, and could make a decision as early as next week.

Winters said he believes Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is ready to “flip this thing around” and get the Tigers back among SEC contenders, and he is ready to do his part.

“One thing about me is I’m competitive, and I’m a student of the game,” Winters said. “I’m versatile. I feel like I can do a lot of things. I’m ready to come in there and compete and do my part.”

• 2025 OT Jackson Lloyd commits to Alabama football
• Auburn CF Chris Stanfield transfers to LSU, other MLB Draft process updates
• Alabama, Auburn 2026 RB target Omar Mabson ‘like tackling a tree stump’
• Big weekend for Enterprise: Andrew Purcell becomes latest Wildcat to commit to SEC school
• In it to win it: Saraland QB, Texas commit KJ Lacey heading to Elite 11 with one goal in mind

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247sports.com

 

Revisiting and reranking Auburns 2020 recruiting class

Nathan King

25–32 minutes

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Revisiting and re-ranking Auburn's 2020 recruiting class

It was one of Malzahn's more talented groups on paper, ranked No. 8 nationally by 247Sports, but a large portion was lost during the coaching transition to Harsin

Recruiting season is kicking into high gear at Auburn, on the heels of a resurgent 2024 class, the first full recruiting cycle under Hugh Freeze.

And the Tigers have high hopes for their 2025 class, as Freeze believes if the program can continue recruiting at a top-10, potentially top-5 level, it can acquire the baseline of talent necessary to return to the upper echelon of the SEC and get back on the road to championship contention.

But what about Auburn's recent recruiting hauls? Getting top prospects is one thing — which Auburn struggled to do during the Bryan Harsin era — but development and proper progression on the college level are almost equally as important. Of course, those aspects of a player's football journey become a bit easier when the roster is littered with 4- and 5-star recruits. 

In the spirit of recruiting season, we'll be revisiting the Tigers' recent recruiting hauls to see how they held up and delivered at Auburn — and elsewhere.

Next up, we'll take a look back at Auburn's 2020 class, the last under Gus Malzahn. It was one of Malzahn's more talented groups on paper, ranked No. 8 nationally by 247Sports, but a large portion was lost during the coaching transition to Harsin, as only eight players from the class have or will have the opportunity to finish their college careers still in an Auburn uniform. In terms of development, it hasn't been one of Auburn's better classes, either, as few names were able to stick consistently at the Power Five level.

Four years later, let's break down where each player is in their football career and re-rank Auburn's 2020 recruiting haul as a whole. Before we get rolling, here's a refresher on how the Tigers' signees ranked as members of the class. It's important to note that a player's recruiting stature and general expectations from the high-school or JUCO level will factor into our re-rankings.

Check out our 2021 class re-ranking here if you missed it.

1. LB Wesley Steiner

2. RB Tank Bigsby

3. DE Zykeivous Walker

4. DE Jay Hardy

5. WR Malcolm Johnson Jr.

6. WR Kobe Hudson

7. WR Ze'Vian Capers

8. DB Ladarius Tennison

9. ATH J.J. Pegues

10. LB Desmond Tisdol

11. WR J.J. Evans

12. CB Eric Reed

13. TE Brandon Frazier

14. LB Cam Riley

15. DT Dre Butler

16. EDGE Romello Height

17. CB Marco Domio

18. OT Kilian Zierer

19. OL Avery Jernigan

20. S Chris Thompson Jr.

21. DE Daniel Foster-Allen

22. WR Elijah Canion

23. OT Brenden Coffey

24. OL Tate Johnson

25. DT Marquis Burks

26. OT Jeremiah Wright

27. QB Chayil Garnett

27. CB ERIC REED

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 18 S

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2020-21), Georgia Tech (2022)

Player grade: D-

A couple players from Auburn's 2020 class have still yet to appear in a college football game, and one of them is a former blue-chip recruit. Reed was lost in the shuffle of a deep Auburn secondary, then decided to transfer closer to home to Georgia Tech. Ahead of the 2023 season, Reed was removed from the roster, and did not play anywhere last year. He entered the portal this offseason after graduating from Georgia Tech and has not found a landing spot.

26. WR J.J. EVANS

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 35 WR

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2020-22), North Alabama (2023-pres.)

Player grade: D-

Auburn had an exciting wide receiver haul in 2020, but the program wasn't able to reap many benefits from it. With offers from Alabama and other top programs, Evans chose Auburn but never got on the field, and ultimately transferred to North Alabama on the FCS level. Evans caught a touchdown at Florida State this past season and racked up 139 yards overall.

25. DE/OG DANIEL FOSTER-ALLEN

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 35 SDE

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2020-21), South Alabama (2022-pres.)

Player grade: D

Foster-Allen not only changed schools to another in-state program a couple years ago, but he's since also changed positions, now playing offensive guard for the Jaguars. He's bulked up to 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds and is still on the roster for next season, though he's yet to appear in a game in his four-year college career, as well.

24. QB CHAYIL GARNETT

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 30 DUAL QB 

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2020), Tennessee State (2021-23)

Player grade: D

Auburn wasn't planning to sign a quarterback in 2020 until Malzahn took a flier on Garnett, an impressive athlete from Florida. After one season and the following spring at the bottom of the rotation at Auburn, Garnett transferred out and landed at the FCS level at Tennessee State, where he has since changed positions to wide receiver and had five catches last season.

23. OL AVERY JERNIGAN

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 25 OG

Auburn stats: 1 game

Schools: Auburn (2020-23)

Player grade: D

It's tough to break through the rotation on an SEC offensive line, and Jernigan wasn't able to do so in his Auburn career. His first and only game appearance came as a junior against Western Kentucky, then he stepped away from the program before Freeze's first spring practice began last year.

22. CB MARCO DOMIO

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 4 CB (JUCO)

Auburn stats: 8 tackles

Schools: Auburn (2020), UCF (2021), Central Oklahoma (2022)

Player grade: D

Auburn had high expectations for Domio as a top JUCO signee in the secondary, but he spent just one season on the Plains before following Malzahn to UCF after the coaching change. In Orlando, Domio only played sparingly before heading to the Division-II level to play at Central Oklahoma for his final college season.

(Todd Van Emst / Auburn Athletics)

21. WR ZE'VIAN CAPERS

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 30 WR

Auburn stats: 14 rec, 147 yards, TD

Schools: Auburn (2020-22), Western Kentucky (2023), Gardner-Webb (2024-pres.)

Player grade: D

Capers was on Auburn's roster all the way up until the coaching change with Freeze, but after maintaining that he was going to stick around and give the new staff a chance, he hit the portal anyway, choosing Western Kentucky. Capers had a strong freshman year at Auburn before mostly disappearing from the rotation the next two seasons. The former 4-star Arkansas commit had only three catches last season before transferring again.

20. WR MALCOLM JOHNSON JR.

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 27 WR

Auburn stats: 14 rec, 199 yards, TD

Schools: Auburn (2020-23), Bowling Green (2024-pres.)

Player grade: D

Johnson, a top-150 recruit in the 2020 class, was never able to develop properly at Auburn. He reclassified from 2021 to 2020, so he was already young coming in, and his impact was never significant with a Tigers passing game that struggled for the most part while he was on campus. He technically started for Auburn at receiver last season but had only six receptions.

19. S CHRIS THOMPSON JR.

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 48 S

Auburn stats: 8 tackles

Schools: Auburn (2020), USC (2021-23), Tulsa (2024-pres.)

Player grade: D+

Auburn thought the big-bodied Thompson was the type of player who could fill Smoke Monday and Jamien Sherwood's shoes at safety, but the Texas native spent only a year on campus before hitting the portal. At USC, Thompson's production was subpar, with 21 tackles in three seasons. Now at Tulsa, Thompson has changed positions to linebacker.

18. WR ELIJAH CANION

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 121 WR

Auburn stats: 7 rec, 126 yards, 1 TD

Schools: Auburn (2020-21), Purdue (2022-23), Liberty (2024-pres.)

Player grade: D+

Much like Capers, Auburn had some excitement about what Canion, a 6-foot-4 and smooth outside receiver, could develop into. But after a big bowl performance as a freshman, he, too, disappeared from the receiving rotation before hitting the road for Purdue. Canion had only one catch in two seasons with the Boilermakers, and is remaining in the FBS at Liberty.

17. DL JAY HARDY

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 14 DT

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2020), Liberty (2021-pres.)

Player grade: D+

A prized recruit in the 2020 class out of Tennessee, Hardy transferred out after the Tigers' coaching change and actually spent two seasons coached by Freeze at Liberty, where he had 47 tackles in two seasons from 2022-23. Hardy is still on the roster with the Flames and looks to be a starter next season.

16. DE ZYKEIVOUS WALKER

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 3 SDE 

Auburn stats: 41 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 3 sacks

Schools: Auburn (2020-pres.)

Player grade: D+

Walker was an absolutely massive recruiting win for Malzahn and his staff, committing to the Tigers over Georgia, Florida and others. At one point a fringe 5-star recruit, Walker's development at Auburn hasn't been smooth, and he entered the portal and considered leaving after Freeze was hired. But Walker seems to be on the right track after his most productive campaign last season, and he's now primed to be a piece of the Tigers' two-deep up front in 2024. Compared to Walker's recruiting prowess, his career hasn't gone as expected, but he has stuck around on the Plains and may be in line for more production next season.

15. DL DRE BUTLER

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 1 SDE (JUCO)

Auburn stats: 20 tackles, 1 sack

Schools: Auburn (2020-21), Liberty (2022), Michigan State (2023), Charlotte (2024)

Player grade: C

Another top-tier JUCO pickup, Butler looked the part of an SEC defensive lineman, rated as the No. 4 JUCO prospect in the country. But he, too, transferred out after Auburn's coaching change. He had 22 tackles at Liberty, then just eight at Michigan State, and his now on his fifth college program at Charlotte.

(Kyle Okita, 247Sports)

14. TE BRANDON FRAZIER

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 9 TE

Auburn stats: 11 rec, 105 yards, 2 TDs

Schools: Auburn (2020-pres.)

Player grade: C-

Frazier's Auburn career didn't have much to speak of until last season, when he caught two touchdowns against LSU and Maryland. Yes, Frazier hasn't been a spectacular offensive weapon on the Plains, but he now helps to make up a veteran tight end room. His production in conjunction with his recruiting ranking does leave some to be desired, though.

13. LB WESLEY STEINER

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 5 ILB

Auburn stats: 87 tackles, 2 TFLs

Schools: Auburn (2020-23), Washington State (2024-pres.)

Player grade: C- 

The recruiting evaluations fell in love with Steiner for his strength, as a state-record power lifter in Georgia, but he was never able to turn that into consistent playing time at Auburn. Steiner had a starting job at linebacker in 2022, but it faded when he was removed from the rotation late in the season. He now rejoins his former Auburn position coach, Jeff Schmedding, as the defensive coordinator at Washington State.

12. OL TATE JOHNSON

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 45 OG

Auburn stats: 10 games, 4 starts

Schools: Auburn (2020-pres.)

Player grade: C

Johnson gets a nod here above a couple former elite recruits because what was at one time the nation's No. 45 offensive guard prospect has stuck around at Auburn and found himself some playing time. Johnson enters his final college season likely as a backup once more, considering the Tigers' increased depth and talent at guard and center.

11. OL JEREMIAH WRIGHT

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 48 OG

Auburn stats: 18 games, 1 start

Schools: Auburn (2020-pres.)

Player grade: C

Perhaps no one on Auburn's roster has had more of a roller coaster of a career than Wright, who switched back and forth from offensive line and defensive line three separate times, not to mention two significant injuries, including a torn ACL back in the spring of 2021. As Wright said, this spring was his first at Auburn where he's either been fully healthy or not changing positions. He hopes that stability can lead to a starting job at guard — and if it does, Wright would be even higher on this list for achieving that as a lowly rated recruit who was jostled around the roster.

10. OT BRENDEN COFFEY

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 4 OT (JUCO)

Auburn stats: 13 games, 5 starts

Schools: Auburn (2020-23)

Player grade: C+

One of two JUCO tackles on this list, Coffey was Auburn's backup at left tackle in 2021, then moved into a starting role for a few games in 2022 after Austin Troxell's season-ending injury. It's tough to knock Coffey's career at Auburn much, as he was tossed around different offensive line coaches, then went out as a starter.

9. LB DESMOND TISDOL

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 15 ILB

Auburn stats: 17 tackles

Schools: Auburn (2020-22), FAU (2023-pres.)

Player grade: C+

Reuniting with former Auburn assistant Roc Bellantoni as FAU's defensive coordinator, Tisdol was able to find a productive home after transferring last year, as he amassed 71 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss in his first season in Boca Raton. There was expected to be some odd men out at linebacker a couple years ago from Auburn, and Tisdol hadn't been able to crack the rotation. Still, if the former blue-chip prospect can rack up the tackles once more in his final college season, he'll have posted nice numbers after his transfer decision.

8. EDGE ROMELLO HEIGHT

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 24 OLB

Auburn stats: 19 tackles, 3 TFLs

Schools: Auburn (2020-21), USC (2022-23), Georgia Tech (2024-pres.)

Player grade: B-

Height's transfer decision after the 2021 season was part of what deprived the Tigers of depth at their pass-rusher spot, as Height was hoped to be a nice piece for the future. Instead, he went to USC, but he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury after only two games. Height was able to bounce back from that injury with his best season yet in 2023, with six TFLs and four sacks, and he's now playing back closer to home at Georgia Tech.

(Zach Bland / Auburn Athletics)

7. DT MARQUIS BURKS

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 5 DT (JUCO)

Auburn stats: 30 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 FF

Schools: Auburn (2020-22)

Player grade: B-

Burks went from a tweener on the JUCO level to a consistent member of Auburn's defensive line rotation for two seasons, including a few starts at nose tackle in 2022. The space-eating defender had a few impactful games on the Plains, and relative to his billing as a prospect — or his college journey after only a couple Division-I offers coming out of high school — gives him a boost in the top rung of our list.

6. LB CAM RILEY

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 14 OLB

Auburn stats: 120 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 2 sacks

Schools: Auburn (2020-23), Florida State (2024-pres.)

Player grade: B-

Auburn never really decided what it wanted to do with Riley on defense, as multiple coaching staffs deliberated over the potential of moving him full-time to an outside linebacker, pass-rushing role, considering his frame at 6-foot-5. Still, Riley was able to find plenty of production with the Tigers, even when he was rarely a primary option in the linebacker rotation. Riley was originally committed to NC State this transfer cycle before backing off and then choosing FSU.

5. DB LADARIUS TENNISON

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 5 ATH

Auburn stats: 43 tackles, 4.5 TFLs

Schools: Auburn (2020-21), Ole Miss (2022-23), UCF (2024-pres.)

Player grade: B

A downright thumper in the secondary, Tennison showed some big-time potential as an impactful athlete at Auburn before he bounced after one season under Harsin and his staff. In Oxford, Tennison flourished as the type of player Auburn hoped he could be, with 94 tackles and 13.5 TFLs across two seasons. He's now back with Malzahn at UCF as a high-profile transfer pickup this offseason.

(Greg McWilliams, 247Sports)

4. OT KILIAN ZIERER

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 3 OT (JUCO)

Auburn stats: 24 games, 16 starts

Schools: Auburn (2020-22)

Player grade: B

Everyone at Auburn knew Zierer's potential, and it was only a matter of time after his injury recovery that he was going to find a starting role with the Tigers. Following a knee injury at the JUCO level, Zierer bided his time at Auburn and proceeded to start the better part of two seasons at left tackle. He went undrafted last year but landed with the Texans, and was able to sit on their active roster for most of the season.

3. DT J.J. PEGUES

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 7 ATH

Auburn stats: 7 rec, 57 yards, 16 tackles, 2 TFLs

Schools: Auburn (2020-21), Ole Miss (2022-pres.)

Player grade: A-

One of the most intriguing athletes of the Malzahn era, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Pegues was first utilized as a jumbo tight end, before Harsin's staff fashioned him along the defensive line. That's where he stuck after transferring to Ole Miss, and Pegues is considered a likely draft pick at defensive tackle after next season. Still, his rare athleticism allows him to still be used in offensive gadget plays by the Rebels.

2. WR KOBE HUDSON

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 28 WR

Auburn stats: 51 rec, 650 yards, 4 TDs

Schools: Auburn (2020-21), UCF (2022-pres.)

Player grade: A-

It was a dramatic exit for Hudson at Auburn, after he maintained he was kicked off the team after leading the Tigers in receiving in 2022. At UCF, Hudson has only continued to improve every season, including 900 yards and eight touchdowns last season, as he's now one of the most productive returning players in the Big 12. Malzahn thought Hudson had NFL potential when he recruited him, and now he'll have an opportunity to see that through.

(Zach Bland / Auburn Athletics)

1. RB TANK BIGSBY

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 6 RB

Auburn stats: 2,906 yards, 25 rushing TDs

Schools: Auburn (2020-22)

Player grade: A

An absolute no-brainer for our top spot, Bigsby could be argued as one of the most individually talented players to ever carry the ball at Auburn. Limited by a couple seasons' worth of dreadful offensive line play, Bigsby was still able to rush for more than 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns over his sophomore and junior seasons. He was the seventh running back off the board in the 2023 draft, going in the third round to the Jaguars. Few Auburn recruits — particularly on offense — have been so overwhelmingly successful over the past several seasons.

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College football recruiting: Elite 11 Finals top storylines, biggest questions, names to know

The quarterback showcase is ripe with recruiting intrigue.

The premier annual quarterback showcase on the college football recruiting trail gets underway this week as the Elite 11 Finals hosts 19 of the nation's top high school quarterbacks. Tennessee commit George MacIntyre was part of the 20-player field but will not participate due to injury, but in his absence, many blue-chip recruits promise to put on a show with their tremendous playmaking ability.

The Elite 11 Finals MVP award is often an indicator of future college and NFL success, and there is a decent chance that a future Heisman Trophy winner resides within this year's crop. Whether it be Ohio State-bound Tavien St. Clair, recent Alabama commit Keelon Russell or another big-name recruit, the 2024 MVP figures to enjoy a remarkable career in the years to come.

National recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna and director of scouting Andrew Ivins detailed on the 247Sports Football Recruiting Podcast the most important storylines, biggest questions and names to know ahead of the competition.

RELATED (VIP) — 2024 Elite 11 Preview: Favorites, challengers and dark horses for summer's premier QB competition

Here are all of the key storylines surrounding the 2024 Elite 11 Finals:

 

WHICH QUARTERBACK PUSHES FOR A FIFTH STAR?

 

Matt Zollers (Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)

Names to know: Matt Zollers (Missouri), Keelon Russell (Alabama), Deuce Knight (Notre Dame)

Ivins: "We've got five quarterbacks inside five stars for us. Four of them will be throwing out here. Bryce Underwood is not making the event… The way we positioned our rankings, you've got some guys who we'd call 'striking distance.' I think that group is Matt Zollers, the Missouri commit, Keelon Russell, the new Alabama commit after he flips from SMU, and then Deuce Knight. I think all those guys are in the striking distance. For me, the biggest storyline is who rises alongside the 'best of the best.'"

 

WHO JUMPS INTO THE SECOND TIER?

 

Akili Smith Jr. (Photo: Brandon Huffman, 247Sports)

Names to know: Akili Smith Jr. (Oregon), Ryan Montgomery (Georgia), Malik Washington (Uncommitted), Ty Hawkins (TCU), KaMario Taylor (Mississippi State)

Petagna: "What are we going to see from Akili Smith? What are we going to see from Ryan Montgomery? How is Malik Washington going to handle himself? Ty Hawkins is a guy that's been picking up interest. Does KaMario Taylor come out and impress? Or is it a name we're not even talking about? Is there a guy that we're maybe overlooking that says, 'I am a top-64 prospect.' Right now, there does not seem to be an obvious choice outside of that."

 

WHAT IS THE RECRUITING JUICE GOING TO BE LIKE?

 

Julian Lewis (Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)

Names to know: Julian Lewis (USC), Deuce Knight (Notre Dame), KaMario Taylor (Mississippi State), Bryce Baker (North Carolina), Malik Washington (Uncommitted), Tramell Jones Jr. (Florida State)

Ivins: "Normally it's kind of quiet on all fronts. Maybe it's like one guy that's deciding. This year, you look at the board — Julian Lewis is taking visits. Deuce Knight has been linked to another school. You can go up and down the board. Keelon Russell, he obviously just flipped. There's some drama potentially out there. KJ Lacey is committed to Texas. What is Auburn going to do? KaMario Taylor took a visit to UCF. Bryce Baker, he's been linked to Alabama in the past. Malik Washington, is it Maryland or is it UCF? It just feels like there's a ton of movement. Tramell Jones committed to Florida State; there's some Florida smoke behind the scenes."

 

FAVORITES TO WIN MVP:

 

Tavien St. Clair (Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)

Names to know: Tavien St. Clair (Ohio State), Keelon Russell (Alabama), Ryan Montgomery (Georgia), Julian Lewis (USC)

Ivins: "Tavien St. Clair, I think, if I was handicapping this. Obviously he's our No. 2-ranked player. But seeing his workout there at the Elite 11 Regional in Columbus, and then everything I learn about Tavien, I just can't get enough of it. I think he is wired the right way… I love the arm. I thought his workout — out of all the ones I saw in person, out of all the ones I studied on tape — probably my top one. That's the one I would score the best on this regional circuit tour."

Petagna: "Outside of Tavien St. Clair, it's like, who does your mind go to? I would say two guys: probably Keelon Russell, but really Ryan Montgomery for me. I think those are going to be the two biggest challengers… Julian Lewis is kind of the other guy I really want to see how he stacks up."

 

DARK HORSES TO WIN MVP:

 

KJ Lacey (Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)

Names to know: KJ Lacey (Texas), Tramell Jones Jr. (Florida State), Matt Zollers (Missouri)

Ivins: "KJ Lacey is another kind of super dark horse out there. What he's been able to do at Saraland, a three-year starter… The tape is the north star, and KJ Lacey's got a ton of tape. He's played since he was a freshman. He can spin the football, and he's a guy that is no stranger to the camp circuit, the 7-on-7 circuit."

Petagna: "I'm going to go Tramell Jones, Florida State. Tramell Jones was a surprise invite when he got one, at least for me. It wasn't one of these late ones. It was right after the event. That means that the staff at Elite 11 with Brian Stumpf felt very convicted and very confident in what they saw in person. I was there at that event. He was just solid. You talk about a guy that was just consistent throughout the entire workout… The other one would probably be Matt Zollers. That guy has got all the physical capability in the world. If he puts it all together for two out of three days, he's going to push."

 

MOST EXCITING PLAYERS TO WATCH:

 

Bryce Baker (Photo: Jim Hawkins/Inside Carolina)

Names to know: Bryce Baker (North Carolina), Deuce Knight (Notre Dame), Husan Longstreet (Texas A&M), Akili Smith Jr. (Oregon)

Ivins: "Bryce Baker, the North Carolina commit. I saw him at the national combine. I kind of loved what he put on tape, what he brings to the table in terms of the dual-threat capabilities. Really kind of excited to study him and see how he matches up. He's not the biggest individual. 6-2.5, and seeing him in person, he wasn't some type of creature. Just want to see what the arm looks like in that type of setting. And then Deuce Knight. Just give me as much Deuce Knight as I can, because I want to see if he can take those three really good days where it was best-on-best at the Overtime OT7 Finals and if he can follow it up with a favorable showing here at the Elite 11."

Petagna: "Husan Longstreet, can't wait to see. I have not seen him in person, but he has one of the most explosive arms I think I've seen in the last three years. Middle infielder type of build. Quick twitch. Like the way he moves. The last Elite 11 Regional I think was a little bit up-and-down. I want to see if he can kind of polish some of those things up. How about Akili Smith? Committed to Oregon. He's kind of the lost man here. Big, long frame. Athletic. Agile. I would say the arm talent is adequate to above-average, but he does some things that I really, really like. He's not as collegiate-ready as these guys. He's a little bit more of a slow burn. I still think there's some good things there with Akili Smith."

 

FINALIST THAT HAS NOT BEEN TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH:

 

Luke Nickel (Photo: Christopher Stock, 247Sports)

Names to know: Julian Lewis (USC), Luke Nickel (Miami), Alex Manske (Iowa State)

Petagna: "How about Julian Lewis? We've got this kid ranked inside the top 32. He's a reclassification. We've seen him a bunch. I'm just excited to see where he stacks up physically with a lot of these guys. Stumpf talked about it — there's a lot of 'physical traitsy' dudes that might not be as polished as a Julian Lewis, but they're what you want. Your eyes immediately gravitate to them. Julian Lewis is not that guy. Julian Lewis is a very cerebral, intuitive player. That is really his super power when you see him on the field — his decision-making, his decisiveness."

Ivins: "The one for me: Luke Nickel, Miami commit. Actually, we do talk about him enough, because we're asked about him all the time on the podcast about his ranking. Luke Nickel, a guy I saw the first game or second game of his junior season down in Florida. Wasn't the best exposure point. What did he do after that? He went and he won a state title in one of Georgia's highest classifications. He was the point man. He was the trigger man. He was the guy that ran that offense… Alex Manske, the Iowa State commit — I was surprised when that invite went out. He's a guy that I had pegged for my Freaks List, like a four-sport athlete, another dual-threat talent."

This article originates on 247Sports.

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al.com

Former Auburn tight end scores on UFL’s top play of 2024

Updated: Jun. 18, 2024, 2:40 p.m.|Published: Jun. 18, 2024, 2:30 p.m.

~3 minutes

Arlington Renegades tight end Sal Cannella gets behind the St. Louis Battlehawks defense for a touchdown reception during a United Football League game on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas.(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/UFL/Getty Images)

By

Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com

A trick play that ended with the football in the hands of former Auburn tight end Sal Cannella for a touchdown was the top play in the United Football League this season, according to the league’s picks.

The UFL has released a video of the top 10 plays of the 2024 season, and a fake end-around flea flicker by the Arlington Renegades got the nod at No. 1.

On May 25, Cannella caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Luis Perez on the play in the Renegades’ 36-22 victory over the St. Louis Battlehawks on May 25.

In his second season with Arlington, Cannella led the league in touchdown receptions with six. He had 53 receptions for 497 yards in 10 games in 2024.

The Birmingham Stallions won the United Football League Championship Game 25-0 over the San Antonio Brahmas on Sunday and appear three times in the top 10 plays:

· Quarterback Adrian Martinez’s 80-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. in a 39-21 victory over the Memphis Showboats on May 4 ranked fourth.

· Wide receiver Amari Rodgers’ 50-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Matt Corral in a 20-18 victory over the D.C. Defenders on April 20 came in eighth.

· Cornerback Daniel Isom’s 48-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 31-18 victory over the Michigan Panthers in the USFL Conference Championship Game on June 8 placed 10th.

Birmingham Stallions have a handle on winning under Skip Holtz

Birmingham Stallions bury San Antonio Brahmas in UFL Championship Game

Another Stallions’ season concludes in a championship game

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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