It’s here. We’ve made it. Summer is winding down, the air is getting cooler, days are slowly getting shorter. Hugh Freeze is back for his second season as head coach of your Auburn Tigers, joining with new coordinators on both sides of the ball. DJ Durkin is tasked with scheming up the defense and Derrick Nix (no relation to Bo) will be calling the plays for the offense in the Fall.
Payton Thorne returns at quarterback for his 6th season of football, hoping to summon some of the magic he created in the 2021 season when he helped lead the Michigan State Spartans to an 11-1 record, throwing for 27 touchdowns before transferring to Auburn.
Spring practice has passed, fall camp has come and gone, students from coast to coast are moving into their dorms, which only means one thing. Week 1 of the college football season is upon us. Strap in. Here’s the first look at your Auburn Tigers:
OFFENSE
QB1: #1 Payton Thorne (RS SR) 6-2 203lbs.
QB2: #15 Hank Brown (RS FR) 6-4 208lbs.
QB3: #9 Holden Geriner (RS SO) 6-3 205lbs.
QB4: #11 Walker White (FR) 6-3 225lbs.
Auburn is hopeful that experience and a second year under Hugh Freeze’s tutelage will do wonders for Thorne, who with a full regimen of spring ball under his belt this year was able to hold off Auburns additional talented but more inexperienced quarterbacks. At one time committed to Hugh Freeze at Liberty, Hank Brown gets the nod at QB2 on the depth chart as he showed flashes of arm talent in Auburn’s bowl game loss against Maryland. With Holden Geriner slotting in at QB3 and true freshman Walker White rounding out the quarterback room nicely.
WR1: Cam Coleman (FR) 6-3 197lbs.
Camden Brown (JR) 6-3 200lbs.
Caleb Burton III (SO) 5-11 174lbs.
WR2: KeAndre Lambert-Smith (SR) 6-1 182lbs.
Malcolm Simmons (FR) 6-0 179lbs.
Sam Jackson V (JR) 5-10 187 lbs.
WR3: Robert Lewis (SR) 5-10 188lbs.
Perry Thompson (FR) 6-3 222lbs.
Inarguably Auburn’s most improved position group from a year ago, the wide receiver room has gotten a facelift, headlined by freshman phenom from Phenix City Cam Coleman, along with fellow freshmen Perry Thompson, Malcolm Simmons, and Bryce Cain. These talented youngsters join transfers Caleb Burton (who was on the team last season) and Robert Lewis who transferred in from Georgia State after he caught 70 balls in the 2013 campaign. These explosive new playmakers hope to give Auburn a major boost in the passing game this season.
RB1: #27 Jarquez Hunter (SR) 5-10 209lbs.
RB2: #0 Damari Alston (JR) 5-9 209lbs.
RB3: #23 Jeremiah Cobb (SO) 5-11 196 lbs.
Auburn’s running back room looks to be another strength in 2024. Having returning starter Jarquez Hunter begin the season fully healthy should give the Tigers running game a needed jolt, and backups Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb round out the room nicely. Both backs look to improve on their 2023 seasons and give Auburn a potent rushing attack in 2024, while giving Hunter a needed breather from toting the rock as their lead back. Alston managed 64 carries last year while Cobb managed just 33 carries, so both look to to those workloads heading into the 2024 season.
TE1: #13 Rivaldo Fairweather (SR) 6-4 252 lbs.
TE2: #87 Brandon Frazier (SR) 6-7 262lbs
TE3: #86 Luke Deal (RS SR) 6-5 259lbs.
Rivaldo Fairweather headlines the tight end group, as Freeze brought him to Auburn from FIU after the 2022 season. Fairweather boasts a size and speed combo that has offensive coordinators drooling, while causing nightmares for opposing defensive players. Besides Thorne, Rivaldo could be the next biggest beneficiary from the addition of all the incoming explosive weapons on offense, and hopes to be a security blanket for Payton this coming season. Brandon Frazier and Luke Deal round out the room as experienced seniors who look to improve on their “blocking tight end” stigmas in 2024 even though Frazier had a touchdown versus LSU in a lone bright spot during that SEC showdown.
LT1: #73 Percy Lewis (SR) 6-7 355lbs.
LG1: #52 Dillon Wade (RS SR) 6-3 303lbs.
C1: #75 Connor Lew (SO) 6-3 302lbs.
RG1: #77 Jeremiah Wright (RS SR) 6-5 333lbs.
RT1: #72 Izavion Miller (SR) 6-5 301lbs.
Everyone knows football, especially SEC football, is won and lost on the lines of scrimmage. Auburn hopes their offensive line continues to improve heading into the 2024 season. With additional continuity with many returning starters, along with mammoth transfer Percy Lewis from Mississippi State currently penciled in as starter at the left tackle spot, the Tigers hope this group can establish a nasty demeanour and pave holes in the running game, as well as afford Payton Thorne time to throw when Auburn elects to pass the ball. Dillon Wade shifts to guard, Connor Lew returns at center, and this position group has the opportunity to be a pleasant surprise in 2024.
DEFENSE
DE1: #15 Kendrick Faulk (SO) 6-6 288lbs.
DE2: #91 Zykeivous Walker (RS SR) 6-4 291lbs.
Faulk looks to improve mightily on his steadfast 2023 freshman campaign and offer Auburn some much needed pass rush off the edge. Auburn is looking for a much improved 2nd season for him in the SEC getting after opposing quarterbacks on passing downs. Maybe not adding the same explosiveness in the pass rush game, Walker earns his spot with his experience, teamed with his stout run defending which should benefit the Tigers, allowing them to boast a strong defensive line rotation.
NT1: #22 Isaiah Raikes (RS SR) 6-1 223lbs.
NT2: #99 Jayson Jones (RS SR) 6-6 355lbs.
Beginning his career in the SEC at Texas A&M then moving to USC for a short time, Isaiah Raikes transferred back to the SEC to play for Auburn and earned the starting spot in Spring/Fall camp. Bringing his gritty SEC demeanour to the middle of Auburn’s defensive line, Raikes along with Jayson Jones are paramount pieces for Auburn to inject into their defensive line rotation as mentioned before, and provide potent run defending along with their counterparts.
DT1: #96 Philip Blidi (SR) 6-3 284lbs.
DT2: #47 Malik Blockton FR) 6-3 291lbs.
A mix of experience (although not at Auburn) and youth headlines the defensive tackle group here. This interior defensive line group remains a question for Auburn, and will remain a question mark until much later in the season. The players aren’t untalented, just unproven in SEC ball. Blidi transfers in from Texas Tech after beginning his career in the Big 10 at Indiana, while Blockton comes in as a freshman from Pike Road, Alabama and looks to make an instant impact at defensive tackle in the SEC.
BUCK 1: #35 Jalen McLeod (SR) 6-1 236lbs.
BUCK 2: #24 Keyron Crawford (JR) 6-4 245lbs.
Although the interior defensive line is a question mark for the Tigers, fans should be excited for what they could see coming off the edges this season, as returning pass rusher Jalen McLeod returns for another season at Auburn after earning 6 sacks in the 2023 campaign. McLeod battled some injuries in 2023, and is hoping to remain fully healthy in the 2024 season to allow him free rein in DJ Durkin’s scheme to chase down quarterbacks in the SEC. Crawford had 5.5 sacks last year for the Red Wolves of Arkansas State, and paired with McLeod and Auburn’s plethora of other pass rushers looks to improve on that number in the upcoming season.
WLB1: #9 Eugene Asante (RS SR) 6-1 219lbs.
WLB2: #17 Robert Woodyard (RS SO) 6-0 220lbs.
Auburn’s linebackers could be another strength of their team, as with all the question marks along the defensive line, this group boasts experience and tenacity off the ball at linebacker. Eugene Asante had a fantastic breakout 2023 season, excelling both in coverage and while rushing the passer. Backup Robert Woodyard from nearby Mobile, Alabama returns for his Sophomore season at Auburn, looking to mimic Eugene Asante and experience a breakout 2024.
MLB1: #12 Dorian Mausi (SR) 6-1 234lbs.
MLB2 #38 Fa’Najae Gotay (RS SR) 6-0 226lbs.
The middle linebacker corps at Auburn probably doesn’t boast and major name brands in this case, however DJ Durkin looks to scheme up the Duke transfer Mausi and is counting on him being a hard-nosed, well coached player coming from the tutelage of Mike Elko. Gotay comes in from Maryland and looks to try his hand in the SEC and bolster an Auburn linebacker room that has some more experienced and productive names currently ahead of him on the depth chart.
SLB1: #6 Austin Keys (SR) 6-2 247lbs.
SLB2: #16 Demarcus Riddick (FR) 6-2 217lbs.
Austin Keys comes back for his second year at Auburn after retransferring from another SEC program in Ole Miss. Keys finished with 30 tackles for the Tigers in 2023 and mixed in 2 sacks as well, while Demarcus Riddick comes in as a highly touted true freshman that looks to harness his natural talent and learn from his fellow, more experienced linebackers. Riddick flipped his commitment from Georgia to Auburn and has fans palpably excited for him to continue the storied lineage of linebackers that have donned the orange and blue for years.
LCB1: #4 Kayin Lee (SO) 5-11 181lbs.
LCB2: #20 JC Hart (RS FR) 6-2 199lbs.
Once committed to Ohio State, Lee ended up choosing the Tigers over the Buckeyes and saw some significant playing time as a freshman on an island at corner at 2023 in the SEC. Kayin cut his teeth having to cover the plethora of talented receivers the SEC threw his way in 2023 including Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas JR (now both in the NFL). Lee presents quick, light feet and immense talent for the position. It will be up to coordinator DJ Durkin to put him in position to improve on his 2023 freshman campaign. The sky is the limit for him.
SS1: #1 Jerrin Thompson (SR) 6-0 186lbs
SS2: #19 Sylvester Smith (RS FR) 6-0 192lbs.
Jerrin Thompson transfers in from Texas, playing a ton of snaps in the Big 12 and bringing that experience to the plains for his senior season. Auburn is counting on his experience to lead the back end of their defence and be able to coach up youngsters like Kayin Lee and JC Hart so they don’t get overwhelmed by the talented SEC wideouts they are scheduled to face.
FS1: #21 Caleb Wooden (JR) 6-1 192lbs.
FS2: #19 Kaleb Harris (FR) 6-1 201lbs.
Wooden saw a hefty amount of playing time for the Tigers during their 2023 campaign, and returns for his sophomore season in 2024. Wooden showed range and coverage skills in 2023, and another full offseason in Auburn’s strength and conditioning program should do wonders for his physique and confidence on the field. He hopes this will lead him to a breakout 2024 season.
RCB1: #0 Keynote Scott (SR) 6-0 192lbs.
RCB2: #8 Antonio Kite (RS SO) 6-0 175lbs.
Scott flirted with entering the transfer portal after the 2023 season but elected to return to Auburn for his senior season. Scott was a Swiss Army knife in 2023 for the Tigers, returning punts along with being a mainstay on defense as a slot corner. Scott showed off his range and run defence prowess and looks to be a bright spot in a talented Auburn secondary in 2024. Kite began his career at rival Alabama and transferred to Auburn after the 2023 season after being a 4 star cornerback prospect out of Anniston, Alabama.
STAR1: #25 Champ Anthony (JR) 5-11 182lbs.
STAR2: #30 Jahquez Robinson 6-2 200lbs.
Champ Anthony comes to Auburn from Fort Worth, Texas. Anthony takes his talents to Auburn after going the JUCO route.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PT: #91 Oscar Chapman (SR) 6-3 211lbs.
Chapman returns as punter, hopefully the offence is much better in 2024 so we don’t have to see him on the field much. (Not that he’s bad).
PK: #38 Alex McPherson (RS SO) 5-9 156lbs.
There’s been rumours that McPherson has suffered from sickness and has missed a good chunk of spring/fall camp. McPherson was a fantastic kicker for Auburn last season, as he did not miss an extra point or field goal attempt.
KO: #38 Alex McPherson (RS SO) 5-9 156lbs.
Lots of touchbacks please Alex!
LS: #44 Reed Hughes (RS SR) 6-1 233lbs.
PR: #0 Keynote Scott (SR) 6-0 192lbs.
Scott is back! Hope he stays healthy.
KR: #23 Jeremiah Cobb (SO) 5-11 196 lbs.
Third string running back Cobb gets a taste at kick returner to start the season. Hope he can add some explosive special teams plays in 2024 and improve Auburn’s field position.
