Category: Alumni

Team War Ready unable to hang close with The Ville in TBT opening round

Team War Ready looks to stay alive in the TBT tournament after dropping their first game.

In the opening round of TBT, [autotag]Team War Ready[/autotag] fell 91-67 at the hands of The Ville.

The game was even in the beginning but The Ville pulled away towards the end of the first period and Team War Ready was never able to catch up.

Team War Ready shot 26-56 (46%) from the field, 11-12 (91%) from the free-throw line, and 4-21 (19%) from beyond the arch.

[autotag]Shaun Willett[/autotag] led the team in scoring with 17 points and in assists with three. [autotag]Horace Spencer[/autotag] led the team in rebounds with 10.

The Ville shot 32-65 (49%) from the field, 18-28 (64%) from the free-throw line, and 9-34 (26%) from three-point range.

Russ Smith led the team in scoring with 21 points. Chinanu Onuaku led the team in rebounds with eight. Peyton Siva led the team in assists with seven.

Other than free throws, the only statistical category Team War Ready led in was blocks. The Tigers alumni team produced one block to the Cardinals’ zero.

The TBT is a single-elimination tournament so Team War Ready’s run has come to an end. The Ville will take on the Jackson TN Underdogs in the second round. The game is scheduled for Thursday at 7:00 p.m. CT.

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Kerryon Johnson named University of North Alabama’s director of player personnel

Kerryon Johnson is back in college football.

Former Auburn running back [autotag]Kerryon Johnson[/autotag] has been named the University of North Alabama’s director of player personnel, UNA’s head coach Brent Dearmon announced the move Thursday night.

Johnson is from Madison, Alabama and the move marks his return to football after his NFL career ended in 2021.

Johnson starred at Auburn from 2015-17 and rushed for 2,494 yards and 32 touchdowns Auburn. He was named the 2017 SEC Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,391 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior, leading the Tigers to a 10-4 record and an SEC West title.

Johnson was then drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He made 14 starts across his first two seasons and rushed for 1,044 yards and six touchdowns but was plagued by injuries. His final appearance came in the 2021 season with the San Francisco 49ers.

The move will reunite him with college teammate [autotag]Deshaun Davis[/autotag], who coaches linebackers for UNA.

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Hugh Freeze among SEC coaches with least amount of pressure heading into 2023 season

On3’s Jesse Simonton says that this season will feature “the least amount of pressure Freeze will face his entire Tigers’ tenure.”

The head coach of Auburn’s football program IS NOT under immense pressure heading into a season? That is a change of pace.

On3’s Jesse Simonton broke down each SEC head coach’s situation heading into the 2023 season and ranked each coach based on the pressure to perform at a successful rate. Simonton wrote that [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has nothing to worry about running into the season, as he is ranked No. 13 in Simonton’s 2023 pressure cooker rankings.

Simonton said his rankings should not be considered a hot seat list, but rather a pressure gauge based on which coaches need to win plenty of games to meet expectations and avoid the dreaded coaching carousel in November.

Freeze may be under a small amount of pressure now, but do not expect that level to remain steady wrote Simonton.

After the disastrous Brian Harsin tenure, Hugh Freeze arrived on The Plains and quickly established some goodwill within the program. He retained key assistants such as Cadillac Williams, signed a bunch of plug-and-play starters from the transfer portal and has Auburn in the mix to sign a top-10 class in 2024.

This is the least amount of pressure Freeze will face his entire Tigers’ tenure, but at least he’s capitalizing on the long leash to start. Auburn has a cakewalk nonconference schedule in 2023, so if Freeze can bank an upset or two in the SEC, he’ll have Auburn positioned for a potential takeoff season next fall.

The only coach under less pressure than Freeze is Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea, who is entering his third season at his alma mater. The top five coaches under the most amount of pressure this season according to Simonton’s list are Jimbo Fisher (Texas A&M), Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri), Zach Arnett (Mississippi State), Billy Napier (Florida) and Nick Saban (Alabama).

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Former Auburn infielder Ryan Bliss earns Player of the Month honors in Texas League

He had a batting average of .410, hit eight doubles and stole eight bases throughout April.

Former Auburn Tigers infielder [autotag]Ryan Bliss[/autotag] was named Player of the Month for the month of April in the Texas League.

The 5-foot-6, 165-pounder had a batting average of .410, scored 17 runs, hit eight doubles and two home runs, drove in 14 runs and stole eight bases throughout April.

Bliss plays shortstop for the Amarillo Sod Poodles, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks selected Bliss in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft with the 42nd overall pick.

The native of Burbank, California is the No. 30 ranked prospect and the No. 6 ranked middle infielder in the Diamondbacks organization and has an MLB eta of 2024 per MLB.com.

During his three seasons with the Tigers, Bliss had a batting average of .328, hit 56 extra-base hits including 20 home runs, drove in 45 runs, a slugging percentage of .514 and a fielding percentage of .972. Bliss started 134 games during his college career.

Aside from Bliss, Auburn had three players selected in the 2021 MLB Draft: [autotag]Richard Fitts[/autotag], [autotag]Tyler Miller[/autotag] and [autotag]Steven Williams[/autotag].

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Florida Atlantic, KT Harrell advance to Sweet 16

If you are needing a team to root for in the Sweet 16, may we suggest the FAU Owls?

Auburn’s run toward another Final Four berth was snapped on Saturday by the No. 1 seed Houston Cougars, but there is still one former Tiger that is keeping his NCAA championship dreams alive.

[autotag]KT Harrell[/autotag], who played guard for Auburn from 2013-15, is heading to the Sweet 16 as a member of Florida Atlantic’s coaching staff, serving as the director of basketball operations.

The No. 9 seed Owls defeated No. 16 seed and potential cinderella team Farleigh Dickenson on Sunday night, 78-70. The Owls advanced to the round of 32 by knocking off Memphis on Friday, 66-65. Florida Atlantic will now face No. 4 seed Tennessee in the East Region semi-finals this weekend in New York City.

Harrell is in his first season as the director of operations for Florida Atlantic after spending the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant under Bruce Pearl at his alma mater. Harrell was on a staff that won an SEC regular season championship. His first season with FAU has been historic, as the Owls have built a 32-4 record and won the Conference USA tournament.

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Former Auburn DB lands high school head coaching job

The former Tiger DB returns to Alabama to lead a perennial winner in Decatur High School.

Ever since [autotag]Aairon Savage[/autotag]’s collegiate playing career ended following the 2010 National Championship season at Auburn, he has stayed connected to the game by participating in several coaching opportunities.

Savage’s journey has taken him through all levels of college football, but his next stop will bring on a new challenge. Savage was named the head coach of Decatur High School on Tuesday, taking over for Jere Adcock, who accumulated 187 wins from 1996-2022.

In an interview with AL.com’s Ben Thomas, Savage calls the opportunity to coach at Decatur High “a blessing.”

“This program has such a rich tradition and history. Guys stay here. Coaches stay here. When you come into a program like this, it is motivating and inspiring to know the tradition. I want to follow those guys and be a pillar in the community. The biggest thing to me is to be able to share, motivate and inspire.”

Savage takes on his new role following a one-year stint as defensive backs coach at Western Illinois. He has also made stops at Louisiana, Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Northern Iowa, Georgia State, and Arkansas Tech in a variety of roles from graduate assistant to quality control assistant.

Savage made 79 total tackles during his time on the Plains from 2006-10. Among his accomplishments include being a member of the All-SEC Freshman team in 2006, and winning a national title in 2010.

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Charles Barkley reveals Super Bowl plans, which team he’s betting on

Not sure which team to root for on Sunday? Here’s who Sir Charles is betting on.

One of Auburn’s most famous alumni has placed his bet for Sunday’s Super Bowl 57 in Glendale, Arizona.

In a recent episode of the Steam Room podcast with Ernie Johnson, former Auburn basketball star [autotag]Charles Barkley[/autotag] revealed that he is placing a hefty bet of $100,000 on the Philadelphia Eagles to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

What sparks his interest in choosing the Eagles? He won big the last time he bet on Philadelphia to win a Super Bowl. It is not certain how much he bet, but he made a relatable comparison during a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2018.

“In Alabama, it’d buy a big condo. In L.A., a small guest house,” Barkley said soon after the Eagles defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl 52.

Barkley also says that he plans to pull an all-nighter in Las Vegas following the Super Bowl. He and 12 friends will be playing golf this weekend before watching the game.

“By the time the game ends, I’ll probably gamble all night Sunday and go straight to the airport,” Barkley said.

Auburn will have two representatives on the Eagles roster for Super Bowl 57 as former offensive lineman [autotag]Jack Driscoll[/autotag] and former punter [autotag]Arryn Sipposs[/autotag] are active members of the Eagles. Former lineman [autotag]Prince Tega Wanogho[/autotag] will represent Auburn on the Kansas City Chiefs roster.

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Auburn set to honor Frank Thomas with statue at Plainsman Park

Auburn Baseball will honor the SEC’s lone member of the Baseball Hall of Fame with a statue this upcoming season.

When college sports fans associate legends with Auburn University, their minds usually go to the three B’s… Bo, Barkley, and the Big Hurt.

[autotag]Bo Jackson[/autotag], who won the Heisman Trophy in 1985, has a statue at the entrance of Jordan-Hare Stadium alongside the program’s other two winners, [autotag]Pat Sullivan[/autotag] and [autotag]Cam Newton[/autotag].

Soon after Jackson’s statue was unveiled, a statue was constructed to honor [autotag]Charles Barkley[/autotag]. That statue now welcomes scholarship donors to Neville Arena on Auburn Basketball game days.

The only statue missing is one honoring [autotag]Frank Thomas[/autotag]. Those days are now numbered.

Thomas, who played baseball and football at Auburn in the late 1980s before enjoying an MLB career that spanned from 1990-2008, will have a statue unveiled at Plainsman Park in his honor on April 8, 2023, according to officials with Auburn Baseball.

Thomas was selected No. 7 overall by the Chicago White Sox during the 1989 Major League Baseball draft and would play for the White Sox from 1990-2005. He spent the final three seasons of his career with the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays.

During his 19-year career, Thomas hit 521 home runs and drove in 1,704 runs while batting .301. He was also a five-time all-star and a two-time winner of the Most Valuable Player award. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as a first-ballot selection in 2014, and remains the SEC’s lone member.

Auburn Baseball head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] says that Thomas’ statue is a testament to the strong history of the program.

“I think it just gives another degree and shows how good our history is with Auburn baseball,” Thompson said in a recent interview with Auburn Undercover. “There are so many other players that I’m not mentioning, but none are bigger than Frank Thomas. For him to get our first statue, I think it’s in line with the other amazing Auburn men and women that have gotten statues.”

Thomas’ statue will be unveiled during a crucial SEC weekend for Auburn Baseball. The Tigers welcome fellow 2022 College World Series participant, Texas A&M, from April 6-8, and the statue reveal will be the icing on the cake.

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Former Tiger lands FCS coaching job

This former All-SEC linebacker is the first hire for new North Alabama head coach Brent Dearmon.

In what has become a trend, a former Auburn football player has climbed the ladder in college coaching.

After spending a season as a graduate assistant for Gus Malzahn and Travis Williams at UCF, former Auburn linebacker [autotag]Deshaun Davis[/autotag] has landed a full-time coaching job at an in-state school.

North Alabama head coach Brent Dearmon, who was hired by the University on Dec. 3, has announced that Davis will be the first addition to his staff, and will serve as linebackers coach for the Lions.

Dearmon got to know Davis from his days as a high school athlete. Dearmon served as offensive coordinator for Vigor High School during Davis’ early days as a varsity player. Dearmon also played a role in Davis signing with Auburn during his time as an analyst under Malzahn from 2013-14.

Davis says that he is excited about the opportunity to lead a position group at North Alabama.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity and extremely excited to have the chance to really control my own room and bring my passion and personality to these young student-athletes,” Davis said in a statement. “I am also coming back to my home state and coaching there will feel like home. My relationship with Coach Dearmon also goes back to when I was in high school and I know his passion for coaching. I’m excited about all the great things we are going to do at North Alabama on and off the field.”

Davis made 266 total stops over his four-year career at Auburn from 2015-18. His best season was in 2018, when he made 116 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

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Karlos Dansby named to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame’s 2023 class

Dansby joins seven other members who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in May.

[autotag]Karlos Dansby[/autotag] had a great career as an Auburn Tiger in the early 2000s.

Dansby began his career as a wide receiver, before moving to safety, then ultimately to linebacker, which would lead to a stellar career in the NFL. Due to his success at both Auburn and during his 14-year NFL career, Dansby has been voted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame’s 2023 class.

In three full seasons at Auburn, Dansby recorded 225 tackles, which included 32.5 behind the line of scrimmage, and 10.5 sacks. His senior season was his most productive. Moving to linebacker, Dansby made 84 stops with 13 going for a loss. He also forced four fumbles during his senior campaign.

Dansby then went on to be drafted 33rd overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2004 NFL Draft, where he would spend eight professional seasons. While in Arizona, he had 776 tackles, with 77 being for loss and 33 sacks.

Dansby also played for the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals.

Joining Dansby is former Alabama and New Orleans Saints linebacker Roman Harper, former UAB and Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White, and Gerald Wallace, who is known for his 18-year stint in the NBA, most notably playing small forward for the Charlotte Bobcats.

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