Auburn football has not been impressive in recent years, pushing out three consecutive losing seasons since 2020. Now, the Tigers are trying to build the program back up to prominence in the SEC, making many additions to their roster through recruiting and the transfer portal.
While the process of rebuilding might take a while, many who follow the team are optimistic that Auburn is on the right track, including analyst Greg McElroy.
The Tigers’ offensive performance was not anywhere close to optimal in 2023, having one of the worst passing attacks in the league. That has a lot to do with who is on both ends of the ball, especially the talent of the wide receivers.
Since the season ended, and even throughout the season, Auburn made pushes on many talented wide receivers and landed a number of them, massively improving the options quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] has to throw to and something McElroy feels good about.
“I am optimistic, though, that they have added and addressed the issues of last year’s team,” McElroy said. “The biggest problem with last year’s team? People might say quarterback. Might say, at the beginning of the season, the offensive line. Maybe the front seven defensively. I think the biggest issue was wide receiver. They went out and they addressed that very quickly.”
The Tigers added players like the highly powerful [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] in recruiting and transfer [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] in the transfer portal, just two of the standout new faces on the squad.
McElroy believes that if the offense utilizes this talent correctly and has some early success, things could be brewing on the Plains.
“We know what happens with Auburn when they get going a little bit, right? When they get going and they have a really good September, have a good start to October? The momentum gets going. Then, next thing you know, they become very, very difficult to deal with down the stretch,” McElroy said. “That could happen with this year’s team with the schedule, the way it sets up.”
Should that success become present in 2024, Auburn has the opportunity to be dangerous, especially with five straight home games to start before a difficult road slate.
The Tigers will look to start making that happen on Aug. 31 when they kick off their season against Alabama A&M.
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