AuburnFamilyNews.com: June 2017

Friday, June 30, 2017

Swimming & Diving. S&D alum Zane Grothe wins 400 free at World Championship Trials

Former Auburn swimmer Zane Grothe won the 400 free at the 2017 Phillips 66 National Championships on Friday night, punching his first individual ticket to the World Championships in Budapest next month.

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Jacobs: Auburn in East makes sense - The Decatur Daily


The Decatur Daily

Jacobs: Auburn in East makes sense
The Decatur Daily
Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs, though, believes it's more than just a discussion for stir-crazy fans and the media 143 days removed from the last college football game and 86 days away from the next one. ... The idea behind moving Auburn to the ...
Auburn angles for move to SEC EastOrlando Sentinel (blog)
'Raising our own' - Former Auburn student-athletes working in Athletics departmentAuburn Tigers Official Athletic Site
Jay Jacobs believes Auburn to SEC East talk should happen soonMontgomery Advertiser
NOLA.com -Kansas City Star -Rivals.com (press release)
all 76 news articles »


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Opening Finals: Day Two, Top 6 WRs

June 30 -- Scout's Greg Biggins and Brandon Huffman take a look at the top six wideouts from day two at the 2017 Opening Finals in Beaverton, Oregon...

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Cam Newton returns to Alabama for annual football camp

The former Auburn Heisman Trophy winner started his foundation in 2014

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Former Auburn softball catcher Carlee Wallace announces transfer destination

The former Auburn catcher is headed to the Big XII for her senior season.

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Cam Newton returns to Alabama for annual football camp

The former Auburn Heisman Trophy winner started his foundation in 2014

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SEC Spring Meetings: Jay Jacobs believes Auburn to SEC East talk should continue - Anniston Star


Anniston Star

SEC Spring Meetings: Jay Jacobs believes Auburn to SEC East talk should continue
Anniston Star
The athletics director at Auburn University made it clear Wednesday afternoon at the Southeastern Conference spring meetings that he would like to restart the communication about moving his athletics program as a part of divisional realignment.
For Jacobs, Auburn to SEC East talk is 'legitimate conversation to have'Dothan Eagle
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey rebuffs Auburn's renewed push to swap divisions with MizzouKansas City Star
Auburn angles for move to SEC EastOrlando Sentinel (blog)
Auburn Tigers Official Athletic Site -The State (blog) -Rivals.com (press release)
all 76 news articles »


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Big defensive tackle Jalen Cunningham talks weight loss, injury, commitment timetable

The good news for Jalen Cunningham is that he is losing the weight college coaches want him to drop.

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Auburn sets date for 2018 A-Day game

Auburn announced the date for its 2018 spring game.

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The Opening: 4* Tindall Talks Top Schools

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Four-star Columbia (S.C.) Spring Valley outside linebacker Channing Tindall has a top five and he gave Scout the latest at The Opening Finals.

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Big defensive tackle Jalen Cunningham talks weight loss, injury, commitment timetable

The good news for Jalen Cunningham is that he is losing the weight college coaches want him to drop.

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W. Soccer. Auburn Soccer Releases 2017 Schedule

The Tigers are set to take on a challenging slate as they will face nine programs that made the 2016 NCAA Tournament

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Auburn sets date for 2018 A-Day game

Auburn announced the date for its 2018 spring game.

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Friday Football & Other Tiger Tidbits

Auburn football, basketball and other AU sports are featured in Friday's edition of Tiger Tidbits from Inside the Auburn Tigers and AUTigers.com.

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Wiley Stepping Up His Game This Summer

Auburn big man Austin Wiley has taken his game to another level this summer playing for Team USA.

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ITAT Radio: Shedrick Jackson, Q And A

Talking about Shedrick Jackson, Austin Wiley's play this summer, and answering your questions about the Auburn Tigers in this edition of ITAT Radio.

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Jason Caldwell's Friday Auburn Mailbag Column

Talking a variety of Auburn sports in a jam-packed Friday Mailbag.

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All-Access: Biggest recruiting 'near-misses' for Alabama, Auburn

History shows us that both Alabama and Auburn will land Top 10 recruiting classes again this winter. But that doesn't mean they'll get everyone they want.

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All-Access: Biggest recruiting 'near-misses' for Alabama, Auburn

History shows us that both Alabama and Auburn will land Top 10 recruiting classes again this winter. But that doesn't mean they'll get everyone they want.

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Auburn MVP 10: Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is No. 6

AL.com continues its countdown of the 10 most important people to Auburn's 2017 success.

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Link sAUsage: 30 June 2017

News and notes from the Auburn corners of the Internet

BASKETBALL

Austin Wiley had another good game for the U19 Team USA squad in an exhibition game against France. He didn't score quite as many points, but he was about at his average from last season with 7 rebounds and a block to go along with it.

The official site wrote about his first game against Lithuania and discussed the start of the actual tournament which begins Saturday in Egypt.

FOOTBALL

CROOTIN'! Auburn picked up their first commitment in a few months last weekend with Shedrick Jackson pledging to the Tigers. Who could be the next to join the fold?

AL.com has been doing a Top 10 MVPs of Auburn's football team that I've apparently not been paying attention to. They're up to #7, where they have Tray Matthews placed.

Check out some hype videos for this season.

We're three years on from Philip Lutzenkirchen's untimely death, and the Lutzie Foundation founded by his father has done a ton of great things since then. Yesterday, they awarded their first scholarships - five of them - from the foundation's endeavors.



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Auburn MVP 10: Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is No. 6

AL.com continues its countdown of the 10 most important people to Auburn's 2017 success.

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Scattered Thunderstorms today!



With a high of 83F and a low of 71F.
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Justin Fields' bond to Cam Newton could lead elite QB to Auburn

The five-star quarterback talks Auburn

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The Countdown to Kickoff: The SEC's best No. 64

There are 64 days until the first Saturday of the SEC football season, and the No. 1 64 in SEC football history is Georgia center Peter Anderson

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Justin Fields' bond to Cam Newton could lead elite QB to Auburn

The five-star quarterback talks Auburn

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The Countdown to Kickoff: The SEC's best No. 64

There are 64 days until the first Saturday of the SEC football season, and the No. 1 64 in SEC football history is Georgia center Peter Anderson

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Thursday, June 29, 2017

AL.com All-Access: Would you trade a football title for one in basketball and baseball?

Auburn’s Austin Wiley shines in USA Basketball’s win over France

Rising sophomore Austin Wiley had nine points and seven rebounds to help USA Basketball to an 82-60 victory over medal favorite France in its second friendly in as many days on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.

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Birmingham's Legacy Arena hosting doubleheader featuring Auburn and UAB

UAB and Auburn agree to Birmingham series

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Austin Wiley helps lift Team USA to win vs. France in final FIBA tuneup

Wiley finished with nine points and seven rebounds against France.

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Swimming & Diving. Neidigh and Tetzloff swim in consolation finals at World Championship Trials

Former Auburn swimmer Ashley Neidigh and current swimmer Aly Tetzloff both swam in consolation finals as action continued at the USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships in Indianapolis on Thursday.

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M. Basketball. Auburn’s Austin Wiley shines in USA Basketball’s win over France

Rising sophomore Austin Wiley had nine points and seven rebounds to help USA Basketball to an 82-60 victory over medal favorite France in its second friendly in as many days on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.

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Physical tools enable 5-star Justyn Ross 'to be as good as any receiver in this class'

Central-Phenix City's Justyn Ross will have a chance to move further up recruiting rankings this week at Nike's The Opening finals in Beaverton, Ore.

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Physical tools enable 5-star Justyn Ross 'to be as good as any receiver in this class'

Central-Phenix City's Justyn Ross will have a chance to move further up recruiting rankings this week at Nike's The Opening finals in Beaverton, Ore.

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Thursday Football & Baseball Tiger Tidbits

Auburn football and baseball are the topics in Thursday's edition of Tiger Tidbits from Inside the Auburn Tigers and AUTigers.com.

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The Opening: 5-star QB looking for best fit

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Justin Fields recently reopened his recruitment and numerous schools are pursuing the five-star Kennesaw (Ga.) Harrison quarterback. He spoke with Scout about his recruitment, future and more at The Opening Finals.

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A Daunting Trip to Baton Rouge. (Previewing Auburn at LSU.)

LSU Guice Preview

Can the Auburn defense slow down Derrius Guice?

     War Eagle, everybody! It’s time now for another Auburn football preview! On October 14th Auburn will travel to Baton Rouge, to take on the LSU Tigers. It is a venue where Auburn has not won since 1999. In the past decade, the game here has not usually even been close. Auburn did win the SEC West 4 years ago without beating LSU in Baton Rouge, but it’s a difficult road if Auburn loses this one.

     The Auburn Tigers will have opened the season with Georgia Southern, then traveled to Clemson. Auburn will then enjoy an early homecoming game against Mercer, before traveling to Missouri, prior to a home clash with Mississippi State. The Rebels follow at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the following week, before the trip to Louisiana. LSU opens in Houston, Texas with BYU. Chattanooga in Baton Rouge follows, then a tricky trip to Starkville follows, to play Mississippi State. LSU then hosts Syracuse, followed by Troy. LSU then travels to Gainesville, Florida, to play the Gators, before hosting Auburn. It’s a tricky schedule, for LSU. If the offense sputters out of the gate, a loss to the Cougars is certainly possible. Mississippi State and Florida won’t be easy, either.

     On offense, LSU hopes to break out of their accustomed conservative mindset. New offensive coordinator Matt Canada ran about 20 plays in LSU’s spring game, before we ever saw a fullback in the game. What we did see was lots of jet sweep motions, and misdirection. LSU charged down the field to the 1 yard line in that game, then with no fullback and shotgun snaps, had to settle for a field goal. Yes, Auburn fans have become quite familiar with that scenario, over the past few years.

     LSU lost quite a bit of skill talent to graduation, at the end of last year. However, LSU is always loaded with replacements. The main issue will be experience, not talent. Three starting offensive linemen return, along with star running back Derrius Guice. Quarterback Danny Etling returns as well, although the competition is declared still open. Etling was 4 of 11 for 53 yards in the spring game, hardly daunting numbers. A receiving corps will have to be rebuilt, along with depth in the backfield.

     Defensively, LSU lost their top 6 tacklers, including leaders like Jamal Adams, Kendall Beckwith and Duke Riley. Monster defensive end Arden Key returns, maybe. He took the dreaded “leave of absence for personal reasons,” this past spring. LSU also retains big body Christian LaCouture on the line, and star cornerback Donte’ Jackson. Most importantly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda field less than at least a decent defense.

     On special teams, place kicker Colby Delahoussaye will have to be replaced, but punter Josh Growden returns, after doing a decent job as a freshman last season. LSU has some decisions to make as to return men, also. They showed none of those units during the spring game. Derrius Guice was the leading kick returner last season, but can LSU afford to use him there, if he’s now the feature back? Based on what I’ve seen, cornerback Donte’ Jackson may take over on both punt returns and kick returns. Jackson certainly has track star speed. LSU was good at both kick and punt coverage, and figures to be again this year.

Auburn defensive line vs. LSU offensive line: Auburn brings a big, athletic defensive line back this season. Likely starters at tackle are junior Dontavius Russell and sophomore Derrick Brown. Sophomore strong-side end Marlon Davidson was a beast on A-Day. The buck side will likely be manned by a combination of junior Jeffery Holland and senior transfer Paul James III. Auburn has a good bit of depth behind the starters, as well. From left to right, LSU will likely start senior K. J. Malone, junior Garrett Brumfield, junior William Clapp, junior Maea Teuhema, and junior Toby Weathersby. Clapp and Weathersby are all-SEC caliber players, and the rest of these guys should be pretty good. Advantage: Even.

Auburn linebackers vs. LSU backs: The Auburn Tigers have a good cross-trained quartet of upper echelon SEC-caliber linebackers. Junior Deshaun Davis, senior Tre’ Williams, junior Darrell Williams and junior Montravious Atkinson can play all three positions, and we might see any combination of these players out on the field at a given time. LSU will counter with junior running back Derrius Guice, and behind him will be some combination of senior Darrel Williams, junior Nick Brosette and sophomore Lanard Fournette (Leonard Fournette’s little brother!). LSU has a good pair of behemoth fullbacks on the roster too, in senior John David Moore and junior Bry’Kiethon Mouton. It remains to be seen if fullbacks will see much playing time, this year. Auburn’s linebackers did a good job slowing the elder Fournette down, but Guice was a dagger to the Auburn defense, averaging over 20 yards a carry. We were lucky that head coach Les Miles had Guice on the bench, most of the game. Advantage: Even.

Auburn corners vs. LSU receivers: Auburn has a fairly good combination of starting corners, in junior Carlton Davis and sophomore Javaris Davis. The Tigers are hoping that Jamel Dean will be healthy this fall, as he is one of the fastest players on the team. Sophomore Jeremiah Dinson could move over from nickelback, if needed. For LSU, senior D. J. Chark has the most returning experience. Chark caught 26 balls last season, with a gaudy 17.9 yard average per catch. Other candidates have less experience, but there is talent there. I saw enough mixing and matching in LSU’s spring game that I can’t put a definitive label on who’s an inside, or outside receiver. The younger guys include senior Russell Gage, and sophomores Drake Davis, Stephen Sullivan, Dee Anderson, and Derrick Dillon. Advantage: Auburn.

Auburn safeties vs. LSU secondary receivers and quarterback: Auburn’s starting unit features seniors Tray Matthews and Stephen Roberts at safety, and sophomore Jeremiah Dinson at nickel back. There’s not much depth here, beyond senior Nick Ruffin, who’ll probably see as much playing time as the starters. The Tigers are solid here, as long as no one gets hurt. LSU secondary receivers start with junior tight end Foster Moreau, who only caught 6 balls last season. We’ll also likely see some of the receivers from the previous section in the slot. Canada’s offense also likes to use backs out of the backfield in the passing game. Last season, LSU quarterback Etling was efficient, but not flashy. As a senior, he’ll be a veteran presence on the field, if he’s not overtaken by one of the younger guys. None of the younger guys made a move in the spring, and I think it’s a safe bet that Etling will be the man, this season. Advantage: Auburn.

Punting: Sophomore Ian Shannon will likely get the nod as Auburn’s starting punter, after a couple of years of waiting in the wings. Shannon has looked good on A-Day a year ago, in warmups. The Tigers gave up only 19 punt return yards last season, on 6 punts, for a stifling 3.2 yards per return. The Tigers are still auditioning for the punt returner job. It’s thought that senior Stephen Roberts has the inside track, after returning 6 punts last season for 100 yards. Sophomore Josh Growden will punt for LSU, after averaging 41.4 yards per punt, last season. LSU gave up only 3.5 yards per return, last season. Like Auburn, LSU is auditioning for a new punt return man. Advantage: Even.

Kickoffs: Daniel Carlson was very good kicking off last season, notching 57 touchbacks on 72 kickoffs. When Auburn did allow returns, opponents averaged only 18.0 yards per return. Junior Kerryon Johnson is Auburn’s most experienced return man returning, and he averaged 22.2 yards per return last season. Senior Cameron Gamble was LSU’s kickoff man last season, and figures to be again. Gamble posted 14 touchbacks on 63 kickoffs. LSU gave up only 18.8 yards per kick return last season, as their primary strategy seemed to be to try to coffin-kick the ball down inside the 5 towards the sideline. LSU averaged just 19.1 yards per kick return last season. Advantage: Auburn.

Place kicking: Auburn sophomore Daniel Carlson is the man for Auburn. Carlson was 28 of 32 on field goals, and perfect on extra points. One of Carlson’s misses was a block by Vanderbilt. Word from LSU is that this year’s placekicker is still an ongoing battle, between sophomore Jack Gonsoulin and redshirt freshman Connor Culp. Advantage: Auburn.

Auburn offensive line vs. LSU defensive line: It’s still not settled who’ll start for Auburn on the line, although the starters looked pretty good on A-Day. It seems the tackle spots are set, with seniors Darius James and Braden Smith. Senior Austin Golson will likely start at center, although Auburn is bringing in senior transfer center Casey Dunn from Jax State. If Dunn starts, Golson could move to guard. Also transferring in this fall is former Florida State starting guard Wilson Bell. Bell is expected to start at one of the guard spots. If Dunn does not beat Golson out, the other likely starting guard would be sophomore Mike Horton. For LSU, senior Greg Gilmore will anchor the middle, along with senior Christian LaCouture and sophomore Rashard Lawrence on a traditional 3 man front. Buck end/LB will be junior Arden Key, if he’s back this fall. LSU has plenty of depth here, as well. Both Auburn and LSU lines will be good, if not great. I think Auburn’s upside is higher, if everything gells. Advantage: Even.

Auburn backs vs. LSU linebackers: Auburn features junior H-back Chandler Cox blowing open holes. Running behind the big H-back will be massive junior Kamryn Pettway, and the shifty junior Kerryon Johnson in reserve. LSU’s linebackers are a question, this season. Right now, it looks like senior Donnie Alexander will be in a traditional strong side position, with sophomore Devin White in the middle. Senior Corey Thompson leads at the weakside position, which often in LSU’s scheme amounts to a nickel-sort of spot. These guys aren’t completely green, but there isn’t a huge amount of starting experience in there, either. Advantage: Auburn.

Auburn receivers vs. LSU corners: At the end of spring, it looked like Auburn’s two starting outside guys were sophomore Nate Craig-Myers and sophomore Darius Slayton. Both guys can fly, have good height, and great hands. Redshirt freshman Marquis McClain had a great A-Day, and is someone to watch out for on the outside, as well. Junior corner Donte’ Jackson is good enough to probably neutralize one Auburn receiver outside. On the other side, it’s still a battle between sophomore Saivion Smith and junior Kevin Tolliver II. Advantage: Even.

Auburn secondary receivers and quarterback vs. LSU safeties: Auburn has potential threats here, starting with wickedly fast junior slot receiver Will Hastings. Sophomore Eli Stove can also fly. Tight ends Jalen Harris and Sal Cannella are expected to be a big part of the passing game as well. Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham is likely the starter in the opener. In 6 games as a freshman at Baylor, Stidham was electric. That trend continued during A-Day this spring, as Stidham was deadly accurate, and showed great mobility. LSU has a couple of veteran senior safeties that have worked their way up through the ranks, John Battle and Ed Paris. However, freshman Grant Delpit is a future star, and might take one of those starting spots. Advantage: Auburn.

     Last season, Auburn had one of the best defenses in the conference for dealing with those pesky sideline sweeps and screen passes. LSU’s new shift to that sort of philosophy plays right into Auburn’s hands, on paper. LSU will have to have some inside success, and a willingness to throw downfield on first down, to back the Auburn defense off.

     Auburn must not be intimidated by the venue. Not since 2007 has Auburn really come in, and hit LSU in the mouth early in Baton Rouge. Teams in 2009, 2011, and 2015 played timid, and were out of the game early. The 2013 unit also had a rough start, but battled back. This time, Auburn has to come in and serve notice that it will be a long evening for LSU, or this game could also get out of hand quickly.

Prediction: Neither team lets the other one run the ball consistently. Big plays will decide this one. It’s my belief that Auburn’s Stidham will make more plays that Etling, and Auburn will get their first win in Baton Rouge, this millenium. Auburn eeks it out, 20-19.

The post A Daunting Trip to Baton Rouge. (Previewing Auburn at LSU.) appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.



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Auburn wants to add 1 do-it-all tight end/H-back to 2018 recruiting class - AL.com


AL.com

Auburn wants to add 1 do-it-all tight end/H-back to 2018 recruiting class
AL.com
For the 2018 recruiting class, tight ends coach Larry Porter told AL.com in late April that Auburn wants to add a combo tight end/H-back this cycle -- "one guy that we feel like can do it all" -- as opposed to signing one true tight end and one true H ...

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2 Auburn softball players agree to diversion program after marijuana-related arrest

Makalya Martin and Brittany Maresette appeared in court in Auburn on Thursday for their April arrest.

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Thank goodness the NCAA's moving toward removing transfer handcuffs

A Division I Working Group wants feedback on its belief that coaches shouldn't be able to block transfers from going on scholarship at another school.

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Vestavia Hills, Auburn student named to US kayaking team

Auburn sophomore Bennett Smith is part of Team USA's national freestyle kayaking team and is set to compete in the upcoming world championships.

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Auburn MVP 10: Quarterback of the defense Tray Matthews is No. 7

Auburn Targets At The Opening

A look at the Auburn targets in action beginning this week at The Opening in Oregon.

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CROOTIN: Auburn Hoping Jackson’s Commit Kickstarts Strong Summer

Auburn broke a 2 month dry spell with Shedrick Jackson’s commitment and are hoping to land a few more studs over the next 2 months

Fanbases tend to get a bit antsy after a month of no commitments. That concern only doubles in intensity when it goes to two. Thankfully, we didn’t reach three months when people start questioning their existence and whether or not Auburn will ever field a football team again. That could just be me... Either way, 3* WR Shedrick Jackson’s commitment Monday was a welcomed boost to Auburn’s 2018 recruiting class.

Who is next? That’s usually the very next question after a commitment. Well, there are plenty of names to choose from especially with so many targets planning to announce in July and especially in August. Many of these recruits are hoping to have their decision made before their senior year so they can just focus on their final season of high school football. Add in the new early signing period and it makes sense for August to be a busy commit time.

Some of these expected announcements should go Auburn’s way while others not so much. Here’s a break down of whom Auburn has a good chance, 50/50 and not good chance of landing in the next 2 months.

Good

As of today, it’s hard to see 4* WR Matthew Hill, 4* Buck/LB Richard Jibunor and 3* CB Juanyeh Thomas not landing at Auburn. Hill is an admitted Auburn fan who has said the Tigers lead, a big reason being his childhood fandom along with his relationship with Kodi Burns. Justyn Ross tends to get most of the attention from Auburn fans and understandably so as a top 25 player. However, do not sleep on Hill. This kid is an elite WR in his own right who can do a lot of different things from the WR position. He has big time speed on a long frame with great hands and elite playmaking ability. There’s no question he would be Burns’s biggest commit to date.

I have talked a bunch about Jibunor before and like I keep saying this kid has a chance to be special. It’s not easy to win MVP awards at these camps with big time talent on hand. Jibunor has done it twice at two different positions. I honestly can’t remember another player doing that. He’s a guy that like his good friend Prince Tega Wanogho is probably going to need some time to develop but there aren’t many players in this class with higher upsides.

Finally, there’s Juanyeh Thomas who at this point just might be a must sign for Greg Brown. My opinion is Auburn had a top 3 at the CB spot of Jalyn Armour-Davis, Kyler McMichael and Juanyeh Thomas. With the first two off the board, Brown REALLY needs to get his guy in Thomas. And Thomas is definitely his guy. He sports a much lower rating than those other two but was one of, if not the first offer Greg Brown sent out upon arriving at Auburn. Since then, he’s become a top priority and a frequent visitor to the Plains. He’s even mentioned that committing has crossed his mind but has held off. There’s a very good chance that changes in July though his recruitment could last until August. Either way, the Tigers need to reel in Thomas otherwise they risk going 0 for 3 on their top CB targets.

50/50

This group right here is what will make or break this class. If Auburn wins more of these battles than they lose then Auburn fans will be feeling really good about this class as we enter the season. Strikeout and there might be panic. There’re a ton of guys who want to commit in August that I am just not sure where they end up, starting with the biggest fish of all in 5* QB Justin Fields. There’s a chance his recruitment could get pushed into the season which would probably be beneficial to Auburn as it would hopefully give them a chance to demonstrate a resurgent passing offense. As of right now, I honestly do not know where Fields goes as all four sides (Auburn, Georgia, Florida and Florida State) seem to think they are in great position. If I had to make a pick, my guess is he ends up a Tiger due to the fact that Auburn is both close to home and he has really good relationships with the staff and some players. But I don’t have a ton of confidence in that pick.

After Fields, there are two big instate dominoes that are expected to fall in 4* RB Asa Martin and 4* DT Coynis Miller. A month or so ago my prediction would probably be Martin to AU and Miller to Bama. I think I would flip those now. With Zamir White’s commitment to Georgia earlier this week, Alabama has made it clear that Martin is their one and only guy this class at RB. It’s just darn hard to beat Bama out for instate guys when that happens.

On the other hand, there’s a strange sort of confidence coming out of the Auburn camp when it comes to Miller. I am a bit skeptical of it as the Tigers have never signed an instate 4* DT since Nick Saban arrived but the thought of early playing time and Miller’s close relationships with the staff and players, most notably Tadarian Moultry, seems to have Auburn feeling good. So as of this exact moment, my picks would be Alabama gets Martin and Auburn gets Miller but it’s not out of the question either team could get both or they flip the other way.

Auburn’s top two DE targets should also have decisions in the near future. First there’s 3* DE Andres Fox. Auburn was the first “big school” offer Fox landed after a dominating state title performance in Jordan Hare last fall. Since then, Auburn has made Fox a #1 priority and he’s even said the thought of committing has crossed his mind. But this is a battle for sure right now. Ed Orgeron has stepped in and taken the lead in Fox’s recruitment which has lead to Fox saying LSU is recruiting him the hardest. There seems to be some renewal of effort on the Alabama side as well to land the stud DE. I personally think the orange & blue Tigers end up snagging Fox but again it’s just really hard to say. Whomever gets him will be landing one of the highest upside athletes in this state.

The other DE is 4* Caleb Tannor. Tannor’s recruitment exploded this past March when he landed offers from seemingly everyone over a month’s time. This race appears to have turned into an Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee battle with the Dawgs and Tigers probably the top 2. UGA probably has the edge being the instate school and Tannor’s most traveled too destination but Auburn did receive 3 straight visits this spring and Tannor was back on campus recently. Auburn really needs one of Fox and Tannor but I would not be shocked if they pushed for and landed both. As of right now, I am sticking with Fox to Auburn and Tannor to UGA.

The final 50/50 is a different type of battle. There’s no confusion about where 4* LB Michael Harris would like to sign. It’s Ohio State and it’s always been Ohio State. The big question though is whether or not they will take him. Chances are very good that Ohio State knocks Alabama off the recruiting throne this year and it seems like if they want a kid they get him right now. They have a few other big fish they might be waiting on before taking Harris. If he decides to pull the trigger this summer and the Buckeyes won’t take him, he more than likely picks Auburn. It will really come down to what Urban Meyer decides to do more than anything Auburn tries.

Not Good

Now we get to the depressing section. It wasn’t all that long ago that 4* S Quindarious Monday would have been part of the “Good” section but those days are long gone. Now that Clemson has thrown their hat in the ring it’s not looking good for Auburn. Monday has always said that the wrong shade of orange Tigers have been his “dream school” but many thought with their smaller class they wouldn’t have room. Well, Clemson has apparently decided that it would not be wise to pass on a player of Monday’s calibre and offered a few weekends ago. Unless something radically changes, Monday probably lands at Clemson in the near future.

4* CB Jordan Miner was a name mentioned a bunch early in this cycle as a guy the Tigers might make a major push for this summer. That never seemed to materialize and now the talented DB out of Florida is expected to pick the Nittany Lions on July 6th.

The last two names to watch are 4* WR Kearis Jackson and 4* ATH Harold Joiner. Jackson just last night dropped the news he plans on committing in August. Auburn is probably a solid #2 but it’s a distance #2 to Georgia. The Dawgs have been all over Jackson and it would be a shocker if he didn’t pick them this August. The wildcard to watch though is Justin Fields. The consensus among not only insiders but recruits seems to be that where Fields goes, Jackson is likely to follow. So even if Jackson picks UGA in August, don’t be shocked if he becomes a flip candidate if the Tigers can land Fields.

As for Joiner, his recruitment has just been weird all around. It appears he has decided that he not only wants to only play running back but that he wants to be “the guy” for that recruiting class. In other words, if he isn’t your #1 RB prospect you are probably not getting him. Well it looked like LSU was that school. They were telling him all the things he wanted to hear and he reiterated over and over again they were his #1 school. Then this past weekend they took 3 running backs (including 3* Tae Provens) in 3 days. His #2 school in Georgia landed the #1 RB prospect in the country on Tuesday. All of a sudden things were different. Joiner now claims that he’s dropped those two schools and even though that might give Auburn a window of opportunity the Tigers are still recruiting him as an athlete. Meaning they would let him play some RB but want him also to flex out at WR and possibly work some at the H-back. Now it appears that Michigan State is the frontrunner. I am starting to doubt he will commit in August but if he does I just don’t see Auburn being the pick.

That was probably information overload but the next two months are going to get busy. August especially should be a wild month. When September rolls around, chances are really good we will have a much better picture of just how good or bad things are looking for the Tigers on the trail. A strong fall is a necessity for Auburn to close big but it would sure help if a few of these top guys were already on board before the first kickoff.

War Eagle!



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Auburn’s Austin Wiley & USA Basketball open U19 World Cup play Saturday

Rising sophomore Austin Wiley and USA Basketball open the FIBA U19 World Cup in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday against Iran, Sunday against Angola and July 4 vs. Italy. Wiley scored 15 points in an 89-66 victory over Lithuania in a friendly on Wednesday, a day after making the 6,900-mile trip from Colorado Springs, Colo., to Washington, D.C., to Germany and finally Cairo.

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'It's a family' – Nick Ruffin provides senior leadership in Auburn secondary

Thank goodness the NCAA's moving toward removing transfer handcuffs

A Division I Working Group wants feedback on its belief that coaches shouldn't be able to block transfers from going on scholarship at another school.

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Three years after his death, Philip Lutzenkirchen's influence lives on at Auburn

Beloved former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen died three years ago, but his memory is still being carried on at Auburn through Chip Lindsey and Jalen Harris.

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AL.com All-Access: Would you trade a football title for one in basketball and baseball?


It would be Florida. Of course it would.

Of all the schools in the Southeastern Conference, it made perfect sense that Florida became the first to win at least one national championship in football, men's basketball and baseball.

The Gators finally added their first baseball crown Tuesday night by completing a two-game sweep of SEC rival LSU in the championship series at the College World Series.

If you like old-school baseball, you had to love watching Florida win with pitching and defense.

If you like a well-rounded athletics department that's more than a football factory, you have to appreciate Florida's commitment to excellence in all its sports. The only surprise is that it took so long for the Gators to win the College World Series for the first time on their 11th trip.

To their credit, they've won at least one national title in each of the Big Three sports of football, men's basketball and baseball since 2007.

Florida became the fifth SEC program to win a baseball national championship. The others: LSU with six, South Carolina with two and Georgia and Vanderbilt with one each. Missouri won one in 1954, long before it joined the SEC.

Florida is one of three SEC programs with a big ring in basketball. The Gators have two. The others: Kentucky with eight and Arkansas with one.

LSU and Georgia also own football national titles so they're a basketball championship away from the triple crown. Arkansas claims the 1964 football title, but that came long before the Razorbacks joined the SEC.

So what are the chances Alabama and Auburn could join Florida on that exclusive list?

The Tide and Tigers have football titles in the bank, but they've never been to the Final Four, advancing to the Elite Eight once each. The good news: Each program is on the rise under Avery Johnson and Bruce Pearl.

Alabama has finished second at the College World Series twice in 1983 and 1997 but hasn't been there since 1999. Auburn has finished as high as third in 1967 but hasn't been to Omaha since 1997. The good news: Butch Thompson led the Tigers one strike away from a Super Regional this season, and his right-hand man, Brad Bohannon, is the new Alabama head coach.

So there's reason for optimism in both sports on both campuses. Is there enough passion in each fan base in the other sports?

Here's a test: You can make a deal with the sports gods. You're guaranteed a national championship in basketball and baseball in the next five years, but to make it happen, you have to accept that your football program won't win another national title in that same time frame.

Would you take that deal? Let me know on AL.com All-Access.



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M. Basketball. Auburn’s Austin Wiley & USA Basketball open U19 World Cup play Saturday

Rising sophomore Austin Wiley and USA Basketball open the FIBA U19 World Cup in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday against Iran, Sunday against Angola and July 4 vs. Italy. Wiley scored 15 points in an 89-66 victory over Lithuania in a friendly on Wednesday, a day after making the 6,900-mile trip from Colorado Springs, Colo., to Washington, D.C., to Germany and finally Cairo.

from Auburn Tigers News http://bit.ly/2s6dWv4
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Three years after his death, Philip Lutzenkirchen's influence lives on at Auburn

Beloved former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen died three years ago, but his memory is still being carried on at Auburn through Chip Lindsey and Jalen Harris.

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2017 ITAT Football Guide

The 2017 Inside the Auburn Tigers Football Guide is on sale now. Check out how to order your copy!

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AL.com All-Access: Would you trade a football title for one in basketball and baseball?

Florida's the first SEC school to earn national titles in football, men's basketball and baseball after taking the College World Series. Can Alabama and Auburn do the same?

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After fast starts, former Auburn teammates Jonathon Mincy, Duke Williams square off in CFL

During the first week of the CFL season, Jonathon Mincy earned league Performer of the Week honors and Duke Williams caught his first pro TD pass. On Friday night, the former Auburn teammates will be on opposite sides of the football for Week 2.

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Five Impact Freshmen For The Auburn Tigers

Looking at five true freshmen that could make an early impact for the Auburn Tigers this fall.

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After fast starts, former Auburn teammates Jonathon Mincy, Duke Williams square off in CFL

During the first week of the CFL season, Jonathon Mincy earned league Performer of the Week honors and Duke Williams caught his first pro TD pass. On Friday night, the former Auburn teammates will be on opposite sides of the football for Week 2.

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Auburn MVP 10: Quarterback of the defense Tray Matthews is No. 7

Matthews is No. 7 in our countdown because of his production and the presence he commands.

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Lutzie 43 Foundation grows as Philip Lutzenkirchen's family moves forward

The Lutzie 43 Foundation awarded its first five PFL Character scholarships in May, with more plans on the horizon.

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Link sAUsage: 29 June 2017

News and notes from the Auburn corners of the Internet

I'll admit, there's not much out there today. My usually feedly has only one article I can really push and it is more general college football than just Auburn.

BASKETBALL

We knew Austin Wiley was dominating the U19 Team USA World Cup practices. Now, we have game evidence. Wiley put up 15 points and greatly pleased his coach for the event - John Calipari - in the team's first exhibition.

SWIMMING AND DIVING

A current Tiger and now a former Tiger have made the Team USA World Championship roster as Zane Grothe earned a spot on the team.

FOOTBALL

SECcountry.com continues previewing Auburn's positions. They've already hit the QBs and RBs. Now, they're on to the WRs. There are so many unknowns in this group. There is also so much talent, though. They're all so young, but there is potential for this group to be spectacular and most of them will be around for at least the 2018 season, too. Kyle Davis and Nate Craig-Myers alone could be one of the top duos in the conference with Stidham throwing to them. Adding in Slayton, Stove, McClain, Hastings (yes, Hastings, too, he could really find a role with Stidham (just see the A-Day game)) and you've got a great bunch of really young receivers.

Nick Ruffin provides "senior leadership" for the defensive backs and WHEN DID RUFFIN BECOME A SENIOR!? I swear, it seems like he was just a freshman not that long ago.

Two Tigers are on The Sporting News' Pre-Season All-American list and you'll never guess who one of them is! Ok, you'll guess, because it's easy. The other one is a bit surprising, but a pleasant surprise.

In national recruiting news, the NCAA is considering making changes to the transfer rules. Those new rules would have to go through a ton of steps to be official, but it would be interesting to see what happens if they pass. Will it be "free agent free for all PANIC!!!" or will it not mean much at all? I'm betting that regulation never passes. Or, if it does, it won't include the "don't have to sit out a year" part some have mentioned.

That's pretty much it. Like I said, not much out there from yesterday. We'll have some CROOTIN' stuff up for you in a little while.



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Auburn MVP 10: Quarterback of the defense Tray Matthews is No. 7

Matthews is No. 7 in our countdown because of his production and the presence he commands.

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Lutzie 43 Foundation grows as Philip Lutzenkirchen's family moves forward

The Lutzie 43 Foundation awarded its first five PFL Character scholarships in May, with more plans on the horizon.

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Thunderstorms today!



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Previewing Alabama and Auburn recruits at Nike's The Opening finals

AL.com is at the event, which begins today in Beaverton, Ore., with the Elite 11 portion.

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The Countdown to Kickoff: The SEC's best No. 65

There are 65 days until the first Saturday of the SEC football season, and the No. 1 65 in SEC football history is Tennessee defensive lineman Steve DeLong.

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Previewing Alabama and Auburn recruits at Nike's The Opening finals

AL.com is at the event, which begins today in Beaverton, Ore., with the Elite 11 portion.

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The Countdown to Kickoff: The SEC's best No. 65

There are 65 days until the first Saturday of the SEC football season, and the No. 1 65 in SEC football history is Tennessee defensive lineman Steve DeLong.

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Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Football. 'It's a family' - Nick Ruffin provides senior leadership in Auburn secondary

When he was a four-star safety recruit from Duluth, Ga., Nick Ruffin had the opportunity to play college football virtually anywhere he wanted. With offers from practically all of schools in the top 25, Ruffin chose to stay close to home and sign with Auburn.

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'It's a family' - Nick Ruffin provides senior leadership in Auburn secondary

When he was a four-star safety recruit from Duluth, Ga., Nick Ruffin had the opportunity to play college football virtually anywhere he wanted. With offers from practically all of schools in the top 25, Ruffin chose to stay close to home and sign with Auburn.

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Swimming & Diving. S&D Alum Zane Grothe makes Team USA

On Tuesday it was current Auburn swimmer Zach Apple making the United States’ World Championships roster. On Wednesday, it was alum Zane Grothe doing the same, advancing as part of the 4x200 free relay.

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NCAA could look at altering rules regarding transfers, scholarship releases

Changes would not be put up to vote until April 2018

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Auburn's Jarrett Stidham describes sitting out 2016 by doing 'lonely work'

NCAA could look at altering rules regarding transfers, scholarship releases

Changes would not be put up to vote until April 2018

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Auburn MVP 10: All-purpose back Kerryon Johnson checks in at No. 8

Prospect From Mississippi Shines at AU Camp

Class of 2018 basketball prospect Javian Fleming is featured in this recruiting report.

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General News. Sixty-Three Tigers on First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll

Auburn totaled 63 student-athletes from all 17 sports on the 2017-18 First Year SEC Academic Honor Roll list, the conference office announced Wednesday. The football team led the way with 13 honorees, while the swimming and diving team added 11.

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W. Volleyball. Tigers Picked Fifth in SEC Preseason Poll

The Auburn volleyball team was selected to finish the Southeastern Conference schedule in fifth according to the 2017 Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The selection marks the highest selection for the program under head coach Rick Nold.

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Wednesday Auburn Football & Baseball Tidbits

A look at The Opening and Auburn targets in Oregon. Also baseball signees on campus and a former player having a big summer.

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Pick 6: Transfer quarterbacks who could make a big impact

4-Star Recruit Getting Plenty of AU Attention

Auburn coaches are showing plenty of interest in class of 2019 tight end prospect Ryland Goede.

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Treasured rivalries still on indefinite hiatus since the SEC's big expansion

Texas-Texas A&M and the Border War were two of the best rivalries in college sports but may never happen again because of the SEC's last expansion.

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Treasured rivalries still on indefinite hiatus since the SEC's big expansion

Texas-Texas A&M and the Border War were two of the best rivalries in college sports but may never happen again because of the SEC's last expansion.

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Meet the 10 fastest Auburn football players

Four receivers and four defensive backs make the list

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Meet the 10 fastest Auburn football players

Four receivers and four defensive backs make the list

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Good News For Incoming Freshman Okeke

Auburn incoming freshman forward Chuma Okeke injured his knee in Team USA Trials last week but should be good to go according to Coach Bruce Pearl.

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Hoover's Josh Niblett On Star WR And Auburn Commitment Shedrick Jackson "He's Got Every Tool"

Auburn News and Notes: 6/28/2017 Edition

9169235VIIauburnofficialsite

We start things out this morning on a sad note. War Eagle VII, or Nova as most know him, will retire from major events. Nova was born in Montgomery Zoo in 1999 and was named War Eagle VII on November 11, 2006 as he sailed over the field for the first time against Georgia. According to AL.com, Nova has been diagnosed with an abnormal heartbeat. 

Nova’s physicians say he would be at extreme risk with prolonged exposure to high heart rate activities. Chiefly among those are Auburn’s pregame rituals, culminating in the famous “War Eagle” tradition of the circling of Jordan-Hare stadium by one of the majestic symbols of Auburn. This tradition has been long celebrated as one of the best traditions in sports, regularly making top-ten, even top-five rankings. It is truly the most unique of traditions.

A long comment on the AL.com article by a reader who goes by Derkong said: “War Eagle!  But I have to say if I was an eagle I would rather go out flying than stuck in a cage for several more years…”

While fans may be split on whether this would be the right approach, it would certainly fit with the generally accepted War Eagle Legend, as found on AuburnTigers.com

Former Auburn softball players have been involved in some prestigious events recently. Kasey Cooper, Auburn’s most recognized and possibly greatest player in program history, played in international competition in Tokyo where the USA National Softball team dropped the championship game to Japan. USA has been dominant for many, many seasons but entered the All-Star series in Tokyo ranked No. 2, just behind the hosts. Many believe this was a precursor to the 2020 Olympic Championship. Japan needed a walk-off grand slam to shut the door on Team USA. Cooper played in two games and recorded only a walk while striking out twice in her four at bats. 

In National Pro Fastpitch , the USSSA Pride took the championship. Angel Bunner, Auburn’s six-year pro, added two innings of relief to beat the winless Beijing Eagles for the USSSA Pride in the series finale. Haley Fagan pinch ran for her sister, Sami, in a win for the Racers against the aforementioned Eagles although she was hitless as the designated hitter in the early victory against the Pride.

Emily Carosone was left hitless in a split series against the Texas Charge. Auburn’s Jade Rhodes has been unable to crack the starting lineup for the ScrapYard Dawgs. More info on Auburn’s past players can be found at Profastpitch.com

Football and basketball news after the jump:

Auburn basketball‘s Austin Wiley has made the U19 Team USA. While Auburn fans are certainly proud of Wiley’s accomplishments, they should be even happier about the opportunity for Wiley to have extra time to develop. His time on the court with both elite coaching and players will almost certainly pay massive dividends for Auburn’s 2017-2018 basketball season.

Even with Wiley being thrust into the lineup in December of 2016, Auburn still didn’t have an SEC-level big man, which forced the Tigers to rely on the long ball yet another season. When the threes dropped, Auburn won. When the long range shooting went cold, the losses piled up. 

Wiley won gold in U17, and he joins an elite class of Auburn greats. He has done nothing but impress people, and even his physique has drawn comments. 

Chuma Okeke, who made the first cut, suffered a bone bruise. He sat out two days and ultimately flew back to Auburn to recover. While this is the right move for all parties involved, having a second Auburn player on the roster would have tied Kentucky with the most. Regardless, the presence of both players speaks volumes to coaches Bruce and Stephen Pearl’s recruiting ability. 

Danjel Purifoy is looking at moving from power forward to small forward, thanks to the continued development of Okeke. Purifoy, who shot 37 percent from downtown and 88 percent from the charity stripe, has all the physical tools and at 6′ 8″ is looking to be a massive mismatch for most opponents. The only tool he may be missing is the attitude. It seemed that Purifoy took games off last season, and he didn’t play defense for long stretches. 

Auburn football
has secured a commitment from the nephew of Auburn great, Bo Jackson. However, the fact that Shedrick Jackson verbally committed to the Tigers is no surprise as his other offers came from Mississippi State, Memphis, and Georgia Tech. Jackson had a fine season on the way to a 7A State Championship for McGill-Toolen, but his 43 catches for 661 yards and four TDs aren’t exactly earth-shattering numbers.

What we’re hearing about Jackson seems to reveal that the 6′ 2″, 200 pound receiver has yet to show his full potential. The question is, is that a reason for concern due to effort?  He is the seventh commitment for Auburn and plans to enroll early. 

The post Auburn News and Notes: 6/28/2017 Edition appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.



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Link sAUsage: 28 June 2017

News and notes from the Auburn corners of the Internet

SITE NEWS

So, as you know, I put in my official notice the other day. Now, SB Nation is officially looking for my replacement. Check out the details and apply!

SEC EXPANSION

Have you forgotten the primary topic of the offseason over the last few years? Conference expansion/realignment! Well, there isn't a lot of news out there right now, so, of course, AL.com had to write about expansion and the Big XII.

BASEBALL

It's Summer League time! The official site keeps us updated on who is playing where and how they're doing.

BASKETBALL

VCU transfer Samir Doughty has officially signed with Auburn as part of the last recruiting class. He'll still have to sit out a season, but he is officially an Auburn Tiger now.

SWIMMING AND DIVING

Tiger Zach Apple is going to the World Championships! The spring-swimmer has been pretty impressive.

FOOTBALL

Speaking of conferences, let's talk about why you should care about other conferences during the 2017 football season! Last week was the Fun Belt. This week it's #MACtion!

SECcountry.com is previewing the running backs, now. Considering they're all (minus Stanton Truitt) coming back this fall, there is a lot of reason for optimism at that spot.



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Auburn MVP 10: All-purpose back Kerryon Johnson checks in at No. 8

Kerryon Johnson has been and will continue to be used in a variety of roles, which is why he is No. 8 on our countdown.

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Auburn MVP 10: All-purpose back Kerryon Johnson checks in at No. 8

Kerryon Johnson has been and will continue to be used in a variety of roles, which is why he is No. 8 on our countdown.

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Partly Cloudy today!



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The Countdown to Kickoff: The SEC's best No. 66

There are 66 days until the first Saturday of the SEC football season, and the No. 1 66 in SEC football history is LSU guard Alan Faneca.

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The Countdown to Kickoff: The SEC's best No. 66

There are 66 days until the first Saturday of the SEC football season, and the No. 1 66 in SEC football history is LSU guard Alan Faneca.

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4-star Mountain Brook RB Harold Joiner drops 2 major schools from mix

Update on the four-star recruit

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4-star Mountain Brook RB Harold Joiner drops 2 major schools from mix

Update on the four-star recruit

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Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Swimming & Diving. Zach Apple earns spot in World Championships

Then on Tuesday night, he secured his spot on the 4x100 free relay at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budpest and the 2017 World University Games in Taipei, both held this summer.

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Tyrone Prothro on where his ESPY is, his Tecmo Bowl play and the game of his life - AL.com


AL.com

Tyrone Prothro on where his ESPY is, his Tecmo Bowl play and the game of his life
AL.com
Auburn University. He's a communications specialist. Again, pure coincidence. It's not like he walks around bragging about his contributions to Auburn's national championship bonafides or anything. Sure, the framed front page of the special section is ...

and more »


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Swimming & Diving. Joe Patching awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

Joe Patching, who concluded his Auburn swimming career with 16 All-America honors and 51 individual dual meet victories, has been awarded a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

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Baseball. Where are they now? Tito and the Gun Show

For 4.2 glorious innings in 2006, Andrew Hall was untouchable out of the bullpen for Auburn.ERA: 0.00. Four strikeouts. No walks. Then, just like that, it was over.

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How former Auburn football player Roy Tatum found God, stopped cussing, and changed the script to ‘Cannonball Run’

In the late 1970s, Roy Tatum, former Auburn football star turned world-famous Burt Reynolds lookalike turned bigfoot turned ordained minister, stopped cussing. It was kind of a miracle. The language he’d grown up hearing and using was, as he put it, “flowery.” That’s how it goes when you bounce with your dad from construction camp to construction camp. Certain words just kind of embed themselves in your code. He couldn’t break it, but there was never a real reason to. Until the night he spent at home in Atlanta with Billy Graham.

Tatum was growing disillusioned. At least a little. There was good money in bit roles and commercials. Land a spot that ran nationally and you might get $10,000. But playing cops and cowboys didn’t do a lot in terms of personal fulfillment.

It was actually the baseball player gig that finally did it.

“I’d been over to Georgia Tech and had shot a beer commercial,” Roy says. “It was just one of those quick in and out things. I was a baseball pitcher, threw a couple of balls, took a beer, drank it, and boom—it was over. Good money, but just quick. And I thought, ‘man, there wasn’t much to this today.’ So I was just getting kind of bored, kind of jaded with it to some degree. Because it’s not what you think it is.”

In other words, Roy Tatum was thinking there was more to life than television. And he found it in a television.

“I remember going home and it was night and I think my wife was out of town or something, and I was sitting there just thinking through it,” Tatum says. “All of a sudden the TV just came on by itself. It was back before we had remote controls, and I looked up and Billy Graham came on the TV.”

Billy started reading Roy’s mind.

“He said, ‘there’s more to life than what you’re doing.’ He said, ‘I know you know that.’ And I said, ‘this guy’s talking to me.”

Thirty minutes later, Roy was talking to God.

“At the end of his sermon, he said ‘I want you to come up here if you’re really serious about your walk with the Lord, or even if you just want to get saved. Put your hand on the screen.’ He said, ‘there’s nothing mystical about this, it’s just a point of contact, and just pray with me.’ And he prayed the salvation prayer and I thought, ‘you know, that’s something.'”

But what? What did he feel? And was it real? He was skeptical. He needed a sign. He asked for one. It didn’t take long.

“I got up the next morning and an old buddy of mine came over and we were sitting around thinking about what we’re going to do for the day. And something happened.”

He can’t remember what it was. Maybe he dropped a hammer on his toe. Maybe he and the old buddy got into an argument. Whatever it was, it was something that typically would have given bloom to flowery language.

“Normally, I would have cussed a blue streak. And I started to do that, but it kind of hung up in my throat.”

As in, almost physically hung up in his throat. 

“I thought, ‘well, that could have been nothing.’ But it happened again about an hour later, and I thought ‘this is crazy, what’s going on here?'”

Not long after, Tatum flipped through a Bible. He stopped at Ephesians 4:29.

Let no filthy talk be heard from your mouths, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment.

“I thought, ‘well, that’s real stuff'”—so real that two years later it kind of changed a tiny bit of Hollywood history.

 

 

He didn’t even have to read for the part in Cannonball Run (that movie with the Auburn shirt). That’s a good thing about being established in the industry. Casting directors remember that you were there on time for all your Norma Rae scenes and remembered your lines and stuff. You don’t have to prove yourself. You just show up.

His agent called. “Connecticut Patrolmen” sounded innocent enough. It sounded like a part he’d played a million times before without offending the Lord.

It wasn’t, at least in Roy’s mind.

There was nothing PG about Connecticut Patrolman’s reaction to the Lamborghini Girls, not originally. Not that Adrienne Barbeau’s… wallet… wasn’t worthy of flowery language. That was part of the plot. But repeatedly taking the Lord’s name in vain—like, really in vain—wasn’t part of Roy’s plot. Not anymore.

So he did what he had to, paycheck be darned.

“This is something you never really do, but I had to walk up to (director) Hal Needham, and I said, ‘look, nobody sent me the (script) sides here, so I didn’t know what the dialog was until I just got it.’ I said ‘I have a real problem with this.’ I said, ‘listen, I’m a Christian, and I’ve got children at home and people that see me,’ and I said ‘I can’t do this. I can’t say that.'”

“OK,” Needham replied.

“He said ‘you make it work,'” Roy says.

Roy made it work. Connecticut Patrolman still had to obviously enjoy the view when he the Lamborghini Girls got out of the car, but Roy whittled it down to a “hell” and a “damn,” words he wouldn’t use now, “but I was kind of caught in a situation.”

Sure, but c’mon, Roy—it was a nice situation, right? It had to be a pretty fun scene to shoot, right? I mean, Adrienne Barbeau? Dressed like that? How was that?

Matthew 5:28.

“She was a nice gal.”



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Baseball. Numerous Tigers competing in summer baseball leagues

A total of 11 Auburn baseball players – including returning players and newcomers – are competing with several summer teams and organizations around the country during the offseason.

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SB Nation’s Auburn blog needs a new site manager. Is that you?

Come help keep this going.

With Walt leaving the site soon, we’re looking for some new blood to manage the site, as well as come on board as contributors.

If you love Auburn sports, writing, and the idea of running your own site, we'd love for you to be the new College and Magnolia manager. Here's what that person does:

  • Writes multiple articles about Auburn sports each week
  • Manages a staff of other writers, editing and scheduling their work
  • Runs (or delegates) the site’s Facebook, Twitter, and other evolving social platform accounts
  • Makes sure the site publishes enough to grow
  • Trains other writers in SB Nation best practices (headlines, formatting, etc)
  • Maintains a growing and vibrant community and ensures it is welcoming for everyone

This is a part-time contracted position and comes with a monthly stipend. Previous writing experience isn't required (but it does help), but a familiarity with social media tools, an understanding for what is news and how to find it, and a self-starter attitude are required.

If you’re interested in applying, you can do so here.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.



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Auburn coming at Park Crossing 4-star OL Tank Jenkins 'really hard'

Catching up with four-star OL Tank Jenkins

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Auburn coming at Park Crossing 4-star OL Tank Jenkins 'really hard'

Catching up with four-star OL Tank Jenkins

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Auburn looking into scheduling UAB for future football game - NBCSports.com


NBCSports.com

Auburn looking into scheduling UAB for future football game
NBCSports.com
“We've had conversations with them,” Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs confirmed to AL.com this week. “We'd love to .... The university announced Monday that's live eagle mascot, War Eagle VII, has ben grounded for the entire 2017 season. The ...

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Tuesday Tiger Tidbits

Talking about Auburn DB Carlton Davis, basketball thoughts, shortstop Will Holland's summer stats and more.

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In-State Prospect Impresses at AU Hoops Camp

The coach of Diante Wood, an Auburn basketball recruiting target, talks about what makes his rising senior such a good player.

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Auburn's Jarrett Stidham, Florida's Malik Zaire top SEC players to watch

VCU transfer Samir Doughty signs with Auburn Basketball

Samir Doughty, a 6-foot-4, 187-pound guard from Philadelphia, Pa., and VCU, has signed a financial aid agreement to attend Auburn University, head coach Bruce Pearl announced Tuesday. Doughty, who will have two years of eligibility remaining after redshirting this upcoming season, played in 35 games, starting 15, averaging 9.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 23.1 minutes per game as a redshirt freshman for VCU, which lost to Saint Mary’s in the NCAA Tournament first round.

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M. Basketball. VCU transfer Samir Doughty signs with Auburn Basketball

Samir Doughty, a 6-foot-4, 187-pound guard from Philadelphia, Pa., and VCU, has signed a financial aid agreement to attend Auburn University, head coach Bruce Pearl announced Tuesday. Doughty, who will have two years of eligibility remaining after redshirting this upcoming season, played in 35 games, starting 15, averaging 9.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 23.1 minutes per game as a redshirt freshman for VCU, which lost to Saint Mary’s in the NCAA Tournament first round.

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Bruce Pearl's personnel plans for Auburn basketball in 2017-18

Bruce Pearl is weighing how to deploy Auburn's personnel, with the possibility of utilizing two five-man units heavily under consideration.

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Conference Preview: The MAC

"He's Got Every Tool"

Auburn's newest commitment is a player that Hoover Coach Josh Niblett says has worked hard to make himself a better player.

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VCU transfer Samir Doughty officially signs with Auburn

Doughty committed to Auburn on Father's Day after deciding to transfer from VCU in May.

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The Countdown to Kickoff: The SEC's best No. 72 - AL.com


AL.com

The Countdown to Kickoff: The SEC's best No. 72
AL.com
But I don't think Jay (Jacobs) really knew that at the time he hired me. I didn't have that on my resume or anything." Tommy Tuberville definitely has it on his resume. Ditto the championship nod he got from Golf Digest. The former Auburn football ...

and more »


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AL.com All-Access: Who will be Alabama, Auburn's next breakthrough NFL players?

Nick Fairley's career in jeopardy; Julio Jones moves to near top of league's best

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AL.com All-Access: Who will be Alabama, Auburn's next breakthrough NFL players?

Nick Fairley's career in jeopardy; Julio Jones moves to near top of league's best

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Florida State paying Dameyune Craig $8.10 an hour, per report

Former Auburn and LSU assistant getting buyout after being fired by Ed Orgeron.

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Florida State paying Dameyune Craig $8.10 an hour, per report

Former Auburn and LSU assistant getting buyout after being fired by Ed Orgeron.

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UAB should leave Oliver Robinson's retired jersey right where it is - AL.com


AL.com

UAB should leave Oliver Robinson's retired jersey right where it is
AL.com
The knee-jerk response: Take it down. Remove the retired No. 20 basketball jersey from the rafters at Bartow Arena. Don't delay. Do it today. The emotional argument: Oliver Robinson no longer deserves to be honored by UAB because, when it really ...



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How two Alabama grads named Auburn 2004 national champions - AL.com


AL.com

How two Alabama grads named Auburn 2004 national champions
AL.com
The Eufaula Tribune kind of buried the lede. Not that the whole "Auburn National Champs" thing didn't get attention. Fox Sports did something on it. ESPN probably did, too. A bunch of regional papers picked up on it. And Lord knows Finebaum had fun ...



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How two Alabama grads named Auburn 2004 national champions

When Auburn went undefeated in 2004 and was left out of the national championship, one small newspaper made a big statement.

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How two Alabama grads named Auburn 2004 national champions

When Auburn went undefeated in 2004 and was left out of the national championship, one small newspaper made a big statement.

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SEC Expansion: Why the Big 12 is the key to SEC adding more schools

Five years since adding Texas A&M and Missouri, the SEC is a great place. What could lead the SEC to expand again?

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Auburn MVP 10: Special teams weapon Daniel Carlson checks in at No. 9

AL.com counts down the 10 most important people to Auburn's success in 2017.

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Auburn MVP 10: Special teams weapon Daniel Carlson checks in at No. 9

AL.com counts down the 10 most important people to Auburn's success in 2017.

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SEC Expansion: Why the Big 12 is the key to SEC adding more schools

Five years since adding Texas A&M and Missouri, the SEC is a great place. What could lead the SEC to expand again?

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Link sAUsage: 27 June 2017

News and notes from the Auburn corners of the Internet

SITE NEWS

So, in case you missed it, there was some pretty big news published on the site, yesterday.

AUBURN SPORTS

Seventy-two Auburn Tigers were named to the SEC's Spring Academic Honor Roll. Putting the "student" in "student-athlete"!

BASKETBALL

Bruce Pearl is quite happy with his Director of Basketball Operations. And for good reason. Chad Prewett is used to juggling tons of different requirements and shuffling schedules.

FOOTBALL

The Tigers picked up a commitment from a pretty big legacy, yesterday. WR Shedrick Jackson is following his Uncle Vincent's footsteps to Auburn. His offer list isn't the most impressive, but he's showed out at Auburn's camps and has some blazing speed.

SECcountry.com previews Auburn's quarterback situation for 2017. I'd put it in the "cautiously ecstatic" category. Sure, it could go wrong, but Auburn has two very strong options on the table.

Not all the news is good. Nova, War Eagle VII, is going to be sidelined from pre-game flights for the 2017 season with heart disease. Spirit will have to handle all of the flying duties. I don't know if they plan on bringing Valor along eventually, or not,  but right now Auburn is down to just one flying eagle.

In the Nick Fairley saga, it appears the former Tiger is going to have to sit out the 2017 season, as well. His heart issues are not improving at the moment.



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Italy Trip Important For 2017-18 Tigers

Auburn's trip to Italy in August is a big opportunity for improvement said Coach Bruce Pearl

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Partly Cloudy today!



With a high of 87F and a low of 66F.
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The Countdown to Kickoff: The SEC's best No. 67

There are 67 days until the first Saturday of the SEC football season, and the No. 1 67 in SEC football history is Auburn guard Ed King

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The Countdown to Kickoff: The SEC's best No. 67

There are 67 days until the first Saturday of the SEC football season, and the No. 1 67 in SEC football history is Auburn guard Ed King

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The Lindsey Effect: Is Kerryon Johnson the Next Ronnie Brown?

Sep 26, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Kerryon Johnson (21) carries against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

The summer months are always the toughest months for college football fans. They are also one of the best times for writers, bloggers, and reporters as the desire for college football is at a high-water mark while actual news is at annual lows. It’s typically a bad thing if your team finds its way into the news this time of year.

That hasn’t been the case for Auburn Tiger fans. By and large, only good news is coming out of the Plains. Auburn secured a commitment from Bo Jackson’s nephew, and the hype surrounding the Tigers is at a pre-2015 fever pitch. Or, maybe a pre-2003 fever pitch.

Writers and bloggers alike are saturating the internet with talk of Jarrett Stidham and Kam Pettway as co-Heisman contenders while singing Auburn’s praises as a potential playoff team. Yet, many fans (yours truly included) find themselves being Debbie Downers. After all, we’ve seen it before, just go back to 2003 or 2015. The 2003 season was probably the most notable of the years where Auburn was poised for a championship run but crashed and burned down the stretch. 

But, 2003 was followed by 2004 when the Tigers were one of the most dominating teams in college football—on both sides of the ball. Auburn produced a backfield that was entirely NFL first-round draft picks. This included Ronnie Brown, a fantastic all-around player. He could run the ball. He could catch the ball. And in the NFL, we found out he could throw the ball. What set him apart from fellow running back Cadillac Williams was how good he was in space catching the ball.

Earlier this week AL.com had an an article highlighting an Auburn player who has a chance to surpass Brown’s exploits—Kerryon Johnson. There is little doubt that KJ is Auburn’s most versatile offensive weapon, and he is poised to benefit the most from new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, especially in the passing game. That’s because Lindsey’s offense is expected to be a wide-open passing attack with a bruising run game.

But unless you are Ole Miss, simply chucking the ball down the field doesn’t work in the SEC. The touchdowns may be scored on long passes and short runs, but the chains are moved with check-down passes. That’s what Ronnie Brown did, and it’s what Kerryon Johnson may be able to do even better in 2017. 

Brown’s 2004 campaign ended with just over 900 rush yards and eight touchdowns. However, it was his 34 catches for 300 yards and a TD that really made him a first-round pick. Johnson has posted some very Brown-esq numbers rushing the football, and he has 31 catches for 284 yards but no touchdowns—yet—in his career.

Johnson hasn’t shown he can be another Ronnie Brown just yet, and the question is less about his ability and more about Lindsey’s use of him. So is this just idle speculation, or are there some facts behind the claims? To answer that question, we need to take a look at Chip Lindsey’s past as an offensive coordinator.

While Lindsey has been lauded for the job he did with the passing game at Southern Miss, what isn’t talked about is the job he did with the running game. Quarterback Nick Mullens threw for almost 4,500 yards and 38 touchdowns, but he was also effective running the ball when he had to. In addition, Ito Smith and Jalen Richard both rushed for over 1,000 yards apiece and combined for 24 touchdowns. More importantly, the two combined for 79 catches, almost 800 yards and five touchdowns.

However, what isn’t mentioned is Lindsey’s first year at Southern Miss, which didn’t go nearly as well as later years. Mullens had a pedestrian 2,400 yards with 12 TD’s and 9 INT’s. Smith led all rushers with just over 500 yards, and Southern Miss backs combined for only 38 catches for around 350 yards and two TD’s. 

When Lindsey was at Arizona State the Sun Devils struggled. But ASU couldn’t keep a QB healthy, rolling through three starters. What Lindsey did have was Demario Richard, an extremely versatile athlete who posted over 1,000 yards and seven TD’s on the ground to go with 32 catches for 309 yards and three TD’s in 2015. With that kind of multi-purpose athlete, it was expected that Chip Lindsey’s entrance would result in a super star. However, Demario’s production regressed in 2016 as he had only 593 yards and three TD’s for a paltry 3.8 yards per rush average. Additionally, he had 17 catches for 126 yards and no TD’s, his career low in both rushing and receiving TD’s. 

It must be noted that Sun Devils Richard and fellow back Kalen Ballage combined in 2015 for 1,750 yards and 16 TD’s while catching 44 balls for 370 yards and a TD. When you add in DJ Foster, a third running back who moved back and forth in motion as a quasi-slot receiver, those numbers ballooned to 103 catches for 953 yards and six TD’s. 

The evidence seems to point that the media’s conclusions may be counterintuitive if writers are suggesting that Lindsey’s offense will immediately be successful, especially at distributing the ball out of the backfield. The evidence suggests that year one of Chip Lindsey will not be nearly as explosive as advertised and could possibly be rocky.

It is certainly true that Lindsey wasn’t afforded the same talent at Arizona State or Southern Miss as he has at Auburn. But, he also didn’t have to play the SEC West on a weekly basis. Still, it would be hard to throw the ball to running backs less than Auburn has done the past two years. Five different Auburn backs combined for 26 catches in 2016, and Kerryon Johnson’s 17 catches easily led the pack. 

The evidence does show that year two could be magical. If Auburn retains pieces such as Stidham and Johnson, believed to be special, Lindsey’s second year could be one of the very best, if not the best, in Auburn history. Of course, if the offense falters again this year, neither Lindsey nor coach Gus Malzahn may be around to experience it. 

Assuming that it all comes together, it is likely that Kerryon Johnson will be a major beneficiary. Weighing Johnson’s potential in Lindsey’s offense, a season with 1,000 rushing yards and 300-plus receiving yards for him isn’t out of the question. If Kerryon can sprinkle in a few more TD’s, he could overtake Brown as Auburn’s most successful multi-dimensional player.

The post The Lindsey Effect: Is Kerryon Johnson the Next Ronnie Brown? appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.



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Monday, June 26, 2017

Nova, War Eagle VII, sidelined for 2017 Auburn football season

Golloway pulls out of ULM baseball search - Monroe News Star


Golloway pulls out of ULM baseball search
Monroe News Star
Auburn fired Golloway with cause after an NCAA Regional appearance in 2015, alleging that the coach knowingly broke NCAA and university rules. The NCAA cleared Golloway of any major infractions in February. Golloway filed a lawsuit against Auburn's ...



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'Make a difference every day' - Chad Prewett, director of men's basketball operations

Juggling logistics for basketball camps and benefit golf tournaments is no sweat for Chad Prewett, Auburn’s director of basketball operations.

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M. Basketball. 'Make a difference every day' - Chad Prewett, director of men's basketball operations

Juggling logistics for basketball camps and benefit golf tournaments is no sweat for Chad Prewett, Auburn’s director of basketball operations.

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