Tag: Antonio Kite

Former San Jose State CB schedules official visit to Auburn

Following the departures of DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett to the NFL, Auburn looks to bring in experience to the cornerback position.

Following the departures of [autotag]DJ James[/autotag] and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] to the NFL, Auburn looks to bring in experience to the cornerback position.

[autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] is the most experienced returner at the position, but who will join him on the other side? Auburn will look to find the answer within the transfer portal by bringing former San Jose State cornerback [autotag]Jayvion Cole[/autotag] in for a visit. The former Spartan will be on campus Monday, May 6 according to Jeffrey Lee of Auburn Live. Auburn will be Cole’s second stop. He will visit the Plains after taking in a stop at Texas this weekend.

Cole was active in his first season at San Jose State in 2023. In 13 games, he made 38 stops with three going to a loss. He also hauled in three interceptions with 13 pass deflections. According to Pro Football Focus, he was San Jose State’s highest-graded defensive player last season with an 86.2. He graded higher than 82 in run defense, pass rush, and coverage. Receivers caught 49% of passes (26-of-53) when guarded by Cole, and he allowed just one touchdown in 697 snaps.

Auburn has eight cornerbacks on its roster, with Keionte Scott and [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag] providing the most experience. The Tigers added [autotag]Antonio Kite[/autotag] from the transfer portal, but he played just 25 snaps at Alabama in two seasons. Adding experience to the defensive backfield will be important this offseason as the unit becomes depleted. Cole would be a valued addition to the program due to his ability to disrupt the opponent’s passing game in several ways.

Former Auburn defensive back Colton Hood transfers to Colorado

Former four-star recruit Colton Hood transferred from Auburn to Colorado on Sunday.

Former four-star recruit Colton Hood transferred from Auburn to Colorado on Sunday. The sophomore cornerback played just one season on the Plains, appearing in three games and recording 3 total tackles.

Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders has been active all offseason in the portal, securing one of the country’s best incoming transfer classes. While Hood may not become a starting player right away, it is feasible to see a path where the Conyers, GA native earns a significant amount of playing time.

Hood’s talents will certainly be missed for an Auburn team that will have an almost completely overhauled secondary in 2024 after losing key contributors like [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag], [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], and [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] to the NFL Draft. The 19-year-old’s departure does open up a chance for Alabama transfer [autotag]Antonio Kite[/autotag] to earn more reps in the secondary.

Hood’s brother, 2024 three-star running back Brandon Hood, will reportedly also join him on the Buffaloes roster next season.

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Auburn loses a pair of cornerbacks to the transfer portal

Colton Hood and Tyler Scott depart after spending one season with the program.

Auburn football’s departing transfer portal class grew Tuesday as two young cornerbacks have elected to take their talents elsewhere.

[autotag]Colton Hood[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyler Scott[/autotag], a pair of cornerbacks who signed with Auburn’s 2023 recruiting class, announced Tuesday that they will be entering the transfer portal. The duo joins defensive lineman Brenton Williams, wide receiver Jay Fair, linebacker Wesley Steiner, and cornerback JD Rhym as spring transfer portal entries.

Hood, nephew of former Auburn cornerback Roderick Hood, joined Auburn’s 2023 class as a three-star according to 247Sports. The McDonough, Georgia native was the No. 48 cornerback and the No. 45 overall recruit from Georgia.

A fellow Georgian, Scott signed with Auburn as a safety before moving to cornerback this spring. He was the nation’s No. 20 cornerback and the No. 19 prospect from Georgia, signing with Auburn out of Pebblebrook High School in Mableton.

According to Pro Football Focus, Hood and Scott combined to play 53 snaps over five games. Hood saw the most action between the two by appearing in four games with 44 total snaps played.

There are now seven cornerbacks on Auburn’s roster following the departures of Hood and Scott. [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] and [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag] headline the position as returners while [autotag]Antonio Kite[/autotag] joins the team as a transfer from Alabama.

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Auburn in tight battle with USC for four-star safety Anquon Fegans

USC remains the favorite to sign the talented DB from Thompson High School, but Auburn is gaining ground quickly.

The Thompson Warriors have become the state of Alabama’s powerhouse by winning four of the last five Class 7A state championships. Safety [autotag]Anquon Fegans[/autotag] has been a major reason why.

Fegans, a four-star safety, has recorded 176 tackles in three seasons as a varsity player for the Warriors, with five tackles for loss and 18 interceptions. He is one of the most sought-after recruits for the 2025 cycle, and it is easy to see why Auburn is working to keep him within the state’s borders.

Auburn is trending upward in Fegans’ recruitment, and one recruiting expert is ready to throw in his prediction. Cole Pinkston of Auburn Live has logged an “expert pick” for Auburn to land Fegans, joining Jeffrey Lee in doing so.

Fegans visited Auburn last month, where he spent time with defensive backs coaches [autotag]Charles Kelly[/autotag] and [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag]. Fegans also mentioned to On3 that defensive backs [autotag]Antonio Kite[/autotag] and former Thompson teammate [autotag]Kaleb Harris[/autotag] are joining Auburn’s coaches in his recruiting efforts.

USC remains the favorite to land Fegans with a 50.1% forecast from On3, but Auburn is next at 41.8%. Fegans is a four-star safety according to all four major recruiting outlets. By On3’s standards, Fegans is the nation’s No. 4 safety for the 2025 cycle and is the No. 3 overall recruit from the state of Alabama.

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Auburn dubbed a ‘transfer portal winner’ by The Athletic

Auburn has reeled in several notable additions from the transfer portal to fill key areas ahead of the 2024 season.

Auburn’s coaching staff is working hard to fill key areas with transfer portal additions, and are currently succeeding.

The Tigers will have added a talented wide receiver, a sturdy offensive lineman, and several solid defensive additions which should help boost its stock in the upcoming 2024 season. The haul has been impressive so far, and outlets such as The Athletic are taking notice.

Manny Navarro of The Athletic recently revealed his winners and losers from the SEC when it comes to their activity in the transfer portal. At the front of the “winners” list is Auburn. Navarro says the Tigers’ transfer additions have outweighed their departures.

Auburn’s recruiting has been on the uptick since Hugh Freeze took over. The 2024 class ranks No. 8 after the early signing period and the Tigers are also bringing in quality talent in the portal. Among the notable additions are former Georgia State standout receiver [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag] (70 catches, 877 yards in 2023), ex-Mississippi State left tackle [autotag]Percy Lewis[/autotag] (seven starts in 2023), former Texas and Minnesota defensive tackle [autotag]Trill Carter[/autotag] (31 career starts), ex-Duke linebacker [autotag]Dorian Mausi[/autotag] (27 starts) and former Texas safety [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag] (31 starts).

Those pickups outweigh the losses of 2022 starting quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] (South Carolina) and linebacker [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag] and safety [autotag]Donovan Kaufman[/autotag], who both ranked in the top 11 on the team in tackles last season and haven’t found new landing spots yet.

[autotag]Antonio Kite[/autotag] (CB-Alabama), Jerrin Thompson (S-Texas), Percy Lewis (OT-Mississippi State), and [autotag]Rico Walker[/autotag] (TE-Maryland) are the most notable transfer additions for Auburn so far, as they all join the roster as four-star transfers according to 247Sports.

Joining Auburn as “winners” include Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Missouri. Arkansas and Florida were teams who “broke even”, while Alabama, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt joined the “losers” category.

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Former Alabama DB Antonio Kite signs with Auburn out of the transfer portal

You don’t see this everyday

The portal madness surrounding the Alabama football program just took a wild turn as former Crimson Tide defensive back [autotag]Antonio Kite[/autotag] has now signed with the Auburn Tigers out of the NCAA transfer portal.

Kite, a former four-star recruit from Anniston entered the portal following the retirement of legendary head coach [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] last week. On Wednesday, Kite officially signed the Crimson Tide’s arch-rival.

Kite signed with Alabama as a part of the 2022 recruiting class and would redshirt during the 2022 season. In 2023, Kite mostly contributed for the Tide on special teams before opting to hit the portal for the final three seasons of his college career.

Stay connected to Roll Tide Wire for more transfer portal coverage as it relates to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

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Alabama CB Antonio Kite enters NCAA transfer portal

On Saturday, former four-star and Alabama cornerback Antonio Kite entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal. Kite spent two seasons in Tuscaloosa.

On Saturday, Alabama cornerback Antonio Kite entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal. Kite became the 23rd Alabama player to enter the transfer portal this offseason.

Coming out of high school, Kite was regarded as a four-star prospect. He was the No. 8 athlete and No. 9 overall prospect in the state of Alabama on the 247Sports’ composite.

In two seasons at Alabama, Kite played in nine games. He primarily played special teams for the Crimson Tide. As a result, he did not record any stats during his time in Tuscaloosa.

When Kite was deciding where he wanted to commit as a recruit, he took official visits to South Carolina and Tennessee. Those are two schools that could potentially reach out to Kite now that he is available in the transfer portal.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest news regarding the Alabama football program and its players that have entered the NCAA transfer portal.

10 Alabama players who should see more playing time in Week 3 matchup against USF

Changes must be made if Alabama wants a shot at the College Football Playoff. Here are 10 names to look out for.

There have been some good things and some bad things that the Alabama football team has done throughout the first two weeks of the season.

Some of the biggest concerns have been the inconsistency at the quarterback position and the inability to effectively create a pass rush. Those two issues will need to be cleaned up moving forward. Alabama could be in for a long, long season ahead if not.

With that said Roll Tide Wire takes a closer look at 10 players that should see more playing time in Alabama’s Week 3 matchup against USF as the Crimson Tide looks to run the table in the remaining 10 games of the season.

10 underclassmen that Alabama fans should know heading into fall practice

There are a handful of underclassmen that Alabama fans be unaware of. Roll Tide Wire breaks down 10 underclassmen that Alabama fans should know before fall practice begins next week.

The Alabama football team will begin fall practice on Aug. 3. After an 11-2 finish to the 2023 season, the Crimson Tide are looking to improve that record in 2024.

Alabama signed the No. 1 recruiting class in the country in 2023. In 2022, the Crimson Tide finished with the No. 2 recruiting class in the country. Needless to say, Alabama has a number of talented underclassmen that can contribute in 2023.

Several true freshmen and sophomores are poised to have breakout seasons for the Crimson Tide. Roll Tide Wire breaks down 10 underclassmen that Alabama fans should be aware of as fall practice begins.

5 second-year defensive players who could break out in 2023

Roll Tide Wire lists five second-year defensive players who could potentially break out in 2023 college football season!

We are just a little more than 100 days away from Nick Saban and the Alabama football team kicking the 2023 season off on Sept. 2 against Middle Tennessee State inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Even though the offseason can seem long and insufferable, is there really ever an offseason with all the outlets that produce non-stop content on the Crimson Tide? That’s why you can count on Roll Tide Wire to be there every step of the way.

Fans are always searching for the next guy on the team to step up and become a household name. Today we look at five second-year defensive players who could break out in the 2023 season.