Auburn Football names captains for 2023 Season

Four players have been announced as captains this season, including two transfers.

The Auburn Tigers have their leaders for the 2023 football season. Offensive lineman [autotag]Kam Stutts[/autotag], quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Luke Deal[/autotag], and defensive lineman [autotag]Elijah McAllister[/autotag] were named the team’s captains on Tuesday.

The decision to make Stutts and Deal captains for the 2023 season is far from surprising, as both players have been with the team since 2019. The slight surprise on this list are [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] and [autotag]Elijah McAllister[/autotag], both of whom attended other schools in 2022. It speaks to both Thorne and McAllister’s character that the coaching staff saw enough from them in such a short period of time to make them captains of their peers.

[autotag]Kam Stutts[/autotag] has been with the Tigers since 2019, playing sparingly his first few seasons before starting at both guard positions a season ago. He was also one of the Auburn players made available to the media on Monday, showing the staff’s confidence in him to be the face of the line in front of the press. The fifth-year senior earned his bachelor’s degree last spring, and will begin working towards a master’s degree in business administration this fall.

Like Stutts, tight end [autotag]Luke Deal[/autotag] is entering his fifth season with Auburn. The former high school quarterback has never seen much action on the field, but his consistent leadership off of it has defined his Auburn career. Deal was also made available during Monday’s media session. Like a true leader, Deal spent the majority of his time with the media praising his teammates, specifically the running back room.

Over the previous five years, only twice has the Auburn coaching staff named their starting quarterback a captain; ([autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag] in 2020 and [autotag]Jarrett Stidham[/autotag] in 2018)  In both of those cases, the quarterback was coming off a great season at Auburn in which he had the whole previous year to lead his teammates into battle every Saturday.

2023 captain [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] has yet to play a snap for Auburn. That just alludes to the kind of leader that Thorne is, and can be, for this newly put-together Auburn team.

Defensive lineman [autotag]Elijah McAllister[/autotag] is the fourth and final captain for Auburn’s football team in 2023. The senior from Asbury Park, NJ was “The Boss” during his time at Vanderbilt, serving as team captain twice and playing in 36 total games for the Commodores.

McAllister will go into the season as the starting EDGE linebacker for Auburn, or as they like to call the “jack.” He’ll have plenty of early opportunities against lesser competition to make a name for himself on Auburn’s defensive front.

The announcement of Auburn’s 2023 captains has officially buttoned up a long, active, offseason on the Plains. [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]’s team finally gets to play a meaningful game in Jordan-Hare this Saturday at 2:30 CST vs. UMass.

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Tim Tebow visits Auburn ahead of season opener

The former Gator provided words of encouragement to the Tigers.

Former Florida Gators quarterback [autotag]Tim Tebow[/autotag] took some time this week to stop by Auburn’s training camp to deliver a speech to the team ahead of their season opener on Sept. 2 vs. Umass.

While Tebow never beat Auburn during his illustrious Heisman Trophy-winning college career, his accomplishments as a football player, motivational speaker, author, and even baseball player, inclined Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] to give him a call.

In a video released by Auburn’s official Football account on X (formerly known as Twitter), Tebow implores the young Auburn men to go the extra mile, putting in extra work to find moments that will differentiate themselves from other teams across the country.

“What are the differentiating moments for you? Is [it] that you are actually passionate, meaning when it gets hard, this is where I want to be different.. I want to suffer so I can be the best, so we can be the best, meaning you care so much for something you’re willing it suffer for it.”

That message is essential for an Auburn team with transfers starting at nearly every positional group. While the long offseason of two-a-days and camps certainly gave the team time to bond, the grind of an SEC season is entirely different.

It may sound cheesy, but if this Auburn team is going to do something special, they will need to be willing to sacrifice for each other.

Tebow also let the Swamp know where his loyalty lies after Auburn posted the video on Twitter, poking fun at himself for never beating the Tigers as well.

Auburn’s season kicks off one week from today in when the Tigers welcome the UMass Minutemen to Jordan-Hare.

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Auburn announces enhancements to Jordan-Hare Stadium

The Auburn game day experience just got better for 2023.

Fans attending Auburn games at Jordan-Hare Stadium this fall will notice a few upgrades.

Auburn University announced more than 20 improvements to the greatest stadium on the Plains on Thursday. Among them are more seating, in-stadium entertainment improvements, quicker concession stand options, and new accessibility options.

Due to the demand for season tickets, Auburn University has introduced additional premium seating options, which will push Jordan-Hare Stadium’s capacity to over 88,000.  Fans will also have fast access to concessions, thus cutting down on time away from the action.

Here’s a full rundown of stadium enhancements ahead of the 2023 season.

How Payton Thorne can win the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (and maybe the Heisman)

Is a special season brewing for Payton Thorne?

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Foundation released its preseason watch list on Wednesday. Among the quarterbacks listed was recently named Auburn starting signal caller [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag]. 

After coming to Auburn as the favorite to quarterback the team in 2023, Thorne struggled a bit in spring and fall camp, allowing [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] to push the quarterback competition all the way up to mid-August before he eventually won the job last Thursday.

Thorne spoke to the media for the first time since being named QB1 on Wednesday. He seems confident in his growth within the offense. 

“I think I’m an accurate quarterback… I feel like when we’ve been going fast in my past [in the] two-minute drill, I feel like we were efficient doing that,” Thorne said. “With the up-tempo stuff, I feel like that was a plus in my game the last two years. Just seeing defenses, being able to think quick and process quickly is definitely something you have to do in this offense and I feel like I’m able to do that. Now [it’s] about going out and executing.”

Thorne will need to go out and execute at a high rate frequently this year if he hopes to win the Golden Arm Award, which is given to the top upperclassman quarterback in college football. The watchlist includes 47 other names from across the NCAA, including Heisman favorites like [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Quinn Ewers[/autotag], and old friend [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag]. 

Thorne’s path to winning the Golden Arm will undoubtedly be difficult (he is currently +20000 to win the Heisman on Fanduel), but as NBA legend Kevin Garnett once said, “anything is possible.” If he can accomplish these four things, he’s got a chance.

Five Tigers named to preseason All-SEC third team

Georgia and Alabama led the way with 14 selections, followed by LSU.

Five Auburn Tigers were selected to the preseason All-SEC third team on Tuesday.

Running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Luke Deal[/autotag], offensive guard [autotag]Kam Stutts[/autotag], cornerback [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], and punter [autotag]Oscar Chapman[/autotag] received the honor after being selected by SEC coaches. No players on Auburn’s roster cracked the first or second team.

[autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] may be the name most familiar to Auburn fans. The junior tailback is coming off a strong season in 2022, totaling 899 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns. He should be a focal point of [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]’s offense in 2023, and it wouldn’t be a very big surprise to see him jump up to the second, or even first team by season’s end.

Senior tight end [autotag]Luke Deal[/autotag] has yet to see significant playing time during his Auburn career but brings leadership and experience to an Auburn locker room filled with new faces. Deal also has an opportunity to break out with [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], who threw for 546 passing yards and four touchdowns to tight ends in 2022.

Guard [autotag]Kam Stutts[/autotag] has been locked in a positional competition all camp long. The sixth-year lineman was shaky in 2022 but will hope to have a starting role throughout the season on a revamped offensive line.

The lone Auburn defensive player to be selected by SEC coaches to the preseason All-Conference team, cornerback [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] has been a key member of Auburn’s secondary for the past three seasons, totaling 89 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 25 PD, and two interceptions in that span.

Aussie punter [autotag]Oscar Chapman[/autotag] rounds out the Auburn selectees. The senior punter’s boot has been electric at times during his tenure on the plains. Chapman averaged 43.9 yards per punt last year, sending 12 of them over 50 yards.

Auburn’s five selections to the All-Conference team were among the lowest in the SEC. Georgia and Alabama led the way with 14 selections a piece, with LSU closely trailing behind with 11 players selected.

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Auburn gymnastics reveals 2024 home schedule

It’s another loaded slate of home meets for Auburn in 2024.

Auburn gymnastics unveiled its home schedule for the 2024 season on Monday and there will be some great matchups on the Plains. The schedule includes meets against perennial powers, as well as the first quad meet in Neville Arena history.

“There’s no place like the Southeastern Conference where you can create a home schedule like this,” head coach [autotag]Jeff Graba[/autotag] said. “It will be a tremendous challenge and a lot of fun in 2024. On top of a great conference schedule, we’re excited to host the first regular season quad meet in Neville Arena history. So, fans need to renew their tickets soon!”

Auburn is entering a new era without superstars [autotag]Suni Lee[/autotag] or [autotag]Derrian Goubourne[/autotag] but is returning veterans [autotag]Cassie Stevens[/autotag], [autotag]Sophia Groth[/autotag] and [autotag]Aria Busch[/autotag]. Former five-star recruit [autotag]Olivia Greaves[/autotag] is also set to compete after missing last season with an injury.

While the road schedule has not been revealed, the Tigers will have five home meets during the season and here is a look at each matchup.

Megan Schofill becomes first Auburn Tiger to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur

Schofill admitted she was in shock after her big victory.

[autotag]Megan Schofill[/autotag] won the 123rd U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship on Sunday, defeating Latanna Stone 4&3 in the 36-hole championship match.

She is the first-ever Auburn woman to win the prestigious event.

“It’s definitely a dream come true, but I’d be lying if I wouldn’t say I’m still in shock,” Schofill said after the victory. “I feel like it still hasn’t set in yet. Latanna [Stone] played a great match. It was really fun to be able to walk the fairways with her and I felt like we both played really solid golf. I can’t put into words the emotions I’m feeling and it’s just such an honor to be able to say that I won this year.”

Auburn head coach [autotag]Melissa Luellen[/autotag] was in attendance and praised the fight she showed during the tournament.

“Just so excited for Megan. She truly played better golf than anyone else in the field this week. She swung the club so beautifully and when she lost a hole she fought right back. I am so honored that I was able to be here this week to witness it.”

Stone, who attends LSU, took an early lead but Schofill seized the momentum back with wins on holes seven and eight. Stone tied it back up with a birdie on No. 12.

Schofill took command of the match by winning holes 15-17 to take a 3-up lead after the first 18 holes.

“I felt like that was huge going into the second 18,” Schofill said. “I felt like the momentum was on my side.”

Stone wasn’t done yet though, she birdied the 24th hole to cut the lead back to 2-up. Schofill quickly extended her lead, winning the next two holes to move to 4-up, and went on to secure the 4&3 championship match victory with a win on the 33rd hole.

With the win, Schofill has clinched spots in the 2024 Chevron Championship, Women’s British Open, Evian Championship and Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

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Auburn promoting Steven Pearl to associate head coach

He is entering his 10th season with the program.

[autotag]Steven Pearl[/autotag] has received a promotion ahead of his 10th season on the Plains. Auburn announced on Tuesday that he was being named associate head coach.

“Steven has been an integral part of the success that we’ve had at Auburn from the beginning,” head coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] said. “Many people may forget that he started as an assistant strength coach and worked his way up through our program. He has been able to recruit and coach at a very high level. His ability to communicate and teach our system to our players is second to none. He is truly one of the best assistant coaches in the country and has earned this promotion.”

With Steven on the bench, Auburn has won three SEC Championship titles and made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including the first Final Four in program history in 2019.

“I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity and the trust so many people here at Auburn have put in me,” Steven said. “To BP, our administration, the board, our amazing coaching staff, our student-athletes, supporters of our program and the Auburn Family at large – thank you for this honor. I recognize how privileged I am to be able to come to work every day for the Auburn men’s basketball program, and I do not take that for granted.

“I couldn’t be more fired up about the direction and future of our program. I promise you I will stop at nothing to help the program bring home more championships to Auburn. We are just getting started. War Eagle!”

He has helped bring several talented transfers to Auburn, being the primary recruiter for [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag], [autotag]Wendell Green Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Johni Broome[/autotag] and [autotag]Denver Jones[/autotag].

Auburn is set to open the 2023-24 season on Nov. 7 against Baylor. The game will be a neutral-site matchup in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

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Former Auburn pitcher Grant Dayton retires from baseball

Dayton saw Major League action with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves over his five-year career.

Former Auburn pitcher [autotag]Grant Dayton [/autotag] has announced his retirement from professional baseball after a career that spanned 12 years.

The Huntsville, Alabama native played five seasons at the Major League level. He was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2016-2017 and of the Atlanta Braves from 2019-2021. The left-hander’s career ERA is 3.43 with 119 strikeouts to 39 walks in 102.1 innings of work.

His best season came in his rookie campaign when he struck out 39 batters in 26.1 innings for the Dodgers in 2016. He saw the highest number of innings in 2020 when he tossed 27.1 innings for the Braves.

Dayton played for Auburn from 2008-2010 and recorded a 4.66 ERA with 217 strikeouts to 49 walks in 249 innings of action. He struck out 79 batters during his freshman season in 2008 and would strike out 69 batters in his sophomore and junior seasons.

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ESPN lists Ron Roberts among most interesting coordinator hires

Hugh Freeze refers to Roberts as “the mad scientist.”

Auburn has a historic reputation as a strong defensive team. However, that was one of the many aspects of the team that struggled under [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag].

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] wanted to hire a coordinator capable of lifting Auburn back to its expected level of defensive play and is confident [autotag]Ron Roberts[/autotag] is the man for the job.

Roberts previously served as the defensive coordinator of the Baylor Bears.

An article from ESPN by Adam Rittenberg discusses the most interesting coordinator hires in college football heading into the 2023 season and Roberts made the cut.

The article included quotes about Roberts that Freeze told ESPN’s Heather Dinch.

“The mad scientist,” Freeze said. “He truthfully is probably the most knowledgeable coordinator out there that has trained pretty much everybody in this conference right now that’s doing [the
system]. That was the value I was looking for.”

According to Freeze, Roberts is excited about improving the Auburn defense.

“The biggest challenge I have with Ron is, ‘Let’s don’t do everything in Year 1. Let’s just do what we can do,'” Freeze said. “But I love his maturity and his wisdom.”

Roberts will have his work cut out for him but seems excited about his journey on the Plains.

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