Auburn Tigers football coach Hugh Freeze is introduced at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, Ala., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022
It’s a new era in Auburn football. Hugh Freeze has returned to the SEC and landed on The Plains.
The hope is that Freeze can boost the program back into conference and national prominence like he did at Ole Miss, where the Rebels rose to a No. 3 national ranking in both 2014 and 2015 after back-to-back victories over Alabama.
Freeze has hit the ground running both in recruiting and the transfer portal. It should be interesting to see what the team looks like when the fall of 2023 rolls around. Here are 10 burning questions as the Tigers head into the offseason.
In a word, “yes.” But he’ll need total cooperation from boosters and administration on down to coaches and players.
Ole Miss was a dormant program before Freeze arrived on the scene. Oh, there were some decent seasons here and there. But Freeze won 19 games in 2 seasons (2014-15), the most in any 2-year stretch for the program since the 1961-62 campaigns.
Yes, Freeze knows how to make a program successful. Who among us had ever heard of Liberty before Freeze coached there?
That has been the big question for many years at Auburn. It was obvious that they didn’t for predecessor Bryan Harsin. But that didn’t deter Freeze from jumping at the chance to coach in the SEC again. So at least he has the confidence that Auburn Naton can come together and pull in the same direction.
Though he had his moments, the Oregon transfer struggled for the most part, as did the entire team. It seems like a foregone conclusion that Auburn must add at least 1 more viable quarterback to the roster before the 2023 season.
Freeze is hoping to draw the attention of Oklahoma State’s Spencer Sanders, who is looking to transfer from the Cowboys’ program. Sanders would do well in Freeze’s system.
Somebody will have to be. The Tigers lose both Derick Hall and Colby Wooden, their 2 top sackers from 2022. While the entire defensive line will be somewhat of a rebuild, it is key that McAllister step up his game at defensive end.
The 5th-year senior transfer from Vanderbilt recorded 6.5 tackles for loss in 36 games. At 6-6, 265, McAllister will be an imposing figure on Auburn’s defensive front.
The offensive line is an area that Freeze has spent an abundance of time looking to upgrade. And with practically no experience at either tackle spot, Wade becomes a key to Auburn’s success next season. The Tulsa transfer was rated No. 3 among tackles in the transfer portal by 247Sports. The 6-4, 290-pounder played in 17 games over 2 seasons at Tulsa.
The departure of Owen Pappoe leaves huge shoes to fill. Freeze may have to hit the transfer portal for answers. Cam Riley and Wesley Steiner are serviceable, with the most experience on the current roster, and they will certainly have to step into leadership roles in 2023.
Riley was second on the team in tackles (66) behind Pappoe, and Steiner was 5th (46). The combination should ease the pain somewhat of the loss of Pappoe, but depth is still an issue.
The Tigers will likely have the top DB coaching staff in the conference with Zac Etheridge and Wesley McGriff. And that should fit well with what looks to be the strength of the Auburn defense.
Super senior Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James are returning to help form what should be among the top position groups in the conference. Pritchett started all 12 games last season for Auburn, and he leads a group of standouts returning to the position.
It’s a stellar group that also includes Keionte Scott and Jaylin Simpson.
He will definitely need to in order to lead the Tigers’ run game. And he showed signs of becoming Auburn’s go-to back over the latter part of the 2022 season. In each of the final 3 games, Hunter rushed for 100-plus yards, and he averaged a whopping 9.8 yards per carry.
He also caught 17 passes out of the backfield last season for 224 yards and a pair of TDs.
Of course, that depends on QB play. But a year of playing experience coupled with a new system should be helpful to both Ja’Varrius Johnson and Koy Moore. The pair led all Auburn receivers with a combined 46 catches for 807 yards and 4 TDs.
That doesn’t sound like much, and it really wasn’t considering Auburn had the worst passing game in the SEC in 2022. But expect significant improvement in the play of those 2 receivers, as well as the passing game in general, as Freeze puts his system into play for 2023.
The big 6-5, 245-pound transfer from FIU could play a key role in the Auburn offense. The departure of stalwart John Samuel Shenker leaves a void in a critical position in Freeze’s system.
Fairweather led FIU with 165 receiving yards in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Over 3 years there, he hauled in 54 passes for 838 yards and 5 TDs.
View Comments
"Can Freeze turn around the Auburn program like he did at Ole Miss?"
Yes, and the transfers are pouring in.
" the Oregon transfer struggled for the most part, as did the entire team."
I love it how you left out the fact that he was playing hurt. Also, he looked really good against Alabama. Oh, and Harsin was awful. Oh, and there was no O-line to protect him.
"The offensive line is an area that Freeze has spent an abundance of time looking to upgrade."
Yeah uh...there have been several new O-linemen come in just in the last few weeks. Upgrades are already there.
"Can Jarquez Hunter pick up where Tank Bigsby left off?"
AU is fine at the RB position.
"How much will the WR corps improve for 2023?"
You forgot to add in the TE's.
Freeze has already turned around the program. It is amazing to watch.
Auburn has all the resources and Freeze is not wasting them.
He's def building up the O-Line which has been missing for a decade now.
Which is smart because the foundational strength of any really good team in football whether in college or the pro's is along the line of scrimmage. In the last month of the season Cadillac succeeded in finally giving Auburn a powerful ground game that nearly won at Miss St., won 2 games at home and rushed for more yards against Saban than any team has during his tenure as HC at Alabama. Seems obvious that Freeze intends to build on that strength and go forward.
It's early in Freeze's tenure....as in very early, but it's nice to see a renewed emphasis on recruiting.
"Which is smart because the foundational strength of any really good team in football "
Stetson Bennett would be running for his life if he did not have that O-Line. The O-line is what made Brady such a great QB.
My biggest frustration with Ashford was how down on himself he would get when the threw a pick, etc. Maybe that was Harsin coaching? Maybe Freeze can get him in the "flush it and move on" mentality. But we need someone that is fearless at QB, whomever that migh be.
" Maybe that was Harsin coaching? "
Are you a real person?
Yessir. Maybe I shouldn't have used the words "Harsin" and "coaching" in the same sentence.
I think it was more Robbie being very emotional, he'll mature and get it right.
Barpig,
Ashford had a hurt shoulder for most of the season. AU was awful on offense which wasn't Ashford's fault. O-line was garbage, offensive play calling was really bad and Harsin had no idea what he was doing.
Caddy comes through, players played inspired ball, and Robby plays very well in the Iron Bowl.
I'm not sure why you're talking down about Robby.
I don't think that's coaching sir.
1998.
9-3
1998
You're 60 years old btw.
... 1998
Like Coach Dye used to say......"when you're a coach you gotta know when to kick'em in the butt and you gotta know when to love on 'em and hug 'em" Robbie is one of those kids who's driven to succeed and needs to be hugged on a lot. Look at how well he played under Carnell Williams running what was essentially a simplified variant of the veer. As Carnell Williams said when he took over....those kids needed a lot of love to pick them up and needed to "believe and serve".
Auburn is the best team UGA plays next year and UK is a distant 2nd. I expect AU to whoop up on most of the West Division next year.
You don't think TN will be good? AU will be middle of the road, but improved in many ways.
I think UT takes a step back on offense and defense.
AND defense????
You HONESTLY think that Tennessee will somehow get any WORSE on defense???
Rat poison.
Without a doubt UGA will be the best team AU plays next year. Hell....UGA will the best team ANYONE plays next year. However, I don't see UK stepping past Alabama or LSU in terms of talent next year.
Froggy, are you referring to the comment that Auburn and KY will be the toughest teams on the UGA schedule next year? I ask bc I don’t see UGA playing Bama or LSU next year unless it’s at the SECCG. Just curious.
Freeze may be able to get significant improvement out of Ashford, but he still needs to bring somebody else in. I’m guessing he will. I just hope it isn’t Nussmeier from LSU.
No doubt AU needs depth at the QB position, but Ashford reminds me a lot of Malik Willis who played for Freeze at Liberty and is a young man longing to get better who's got a really good attitude.
Malik was a better passer than Ashford. But as Ron has mentioned Ashford was playing hurt most of the season. And running for his life the whole season. I may not be being fair in that assessment.
The Geriner kid may be pretty good.
Freeze put Malik Willis in the NFL.
Howard from LSU is available. Auburn should go after him.
And he’s gawd awful
Most rookie NFL qbs are. Just sayin.
Malik has a QBR of 12.
He won’t be on a roster next year.
Hugh loves a transfer QB
It has been 8773 Days since Tennessee last won an NCAA Football Title.
Good article and I agree that HF can turn it around at Auburn IF they'll rally behind him and support whatever he decides must be done and remain aligned.
But saying Auburn has the best DB coaches is a bold statement given that Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp and Fran Brown handle the secondary at UGA (and if you don't think KS and WM hands-on coach the DBs there you've never been to a UGA practice).
I would think after winning their 2nd consecutive natty UGA fans would be a little less sensitive. I guess I'm wrong.