Many programs on the Plains got better Wednesday thanks to the Early Signing Period.
Good morning Tiger fans, it is time for the Thursday edition of the Auburn Morning Rush.
In a time that is dominated by football and basketball, there were many programs around Auburn University that got better thanks to the early signing period.
The early signing period began on Wednesday, and many athletes made their commitments official. Today, we take a look at Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, and both Men’s and Women’s Golf teams.
Women’s Basketball signed two centers in this class, providing extra size for next season’s roster. Head coach Johnnie Harris is excited about the added height coming to the Plains.
“They both provide much-needed SEC size and skills that will help boost our program to the next level,” Harris said. “This is an instant impact class that we’ve needed to rebuild this program.”
Volleyball signed a great class as well, which includes two top-10 prospects from their respective states. As for Golf, the men’s team signs three players from the top 25, while women’s golf adds a valuable transfer from the Ivy League.
Get caught up on all of the latest signing day news in today’s Auburn Morning Rush.
Basketball news, as well as interesting notes from Golf and Gymnastics headline today’s Auburn Morning Rush
Good morning, Tiger fans. It is time for another edition of the Auburn Morning Rush.
Today’s rush kicks off with Auburn Men’s Basketball news. The Tigers have matched up with the West Virginia Mountaineers in this season’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge. We reveal what time this year’s battle will take place in late January.
The energetic atmosphere of a NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway will receive a boost on Sunday, as Bruce Pearl has been selected as the honorary starter for the YellaWood 500.
In Gymnastics news, the team finally received their Final Four rings after completing the most successful season in program history. In today’s rush, we take a look at the hardware that each athlete earned.
Finally, Auburn Golf had two representatives on the SEC Weekly honors list.
Take a deeper look into the world of Auburn Athletics with today’s Auburn Morning Rush.
An Auburn southpaw returns to the team in this edition of the Morning Rush:
There’s always something happening on the Plains.
Today, we have a pitcher Auburn will be very happy to have back after an exodus of players to the NBA draft. A former Tigers basketball player and top-five pick returned to campus on Monday, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl is hosting a camp he used to put on in his Tennessee days and Auburn men’s golf released its schedule for the upcoming 2023 season.
It can get hard to keep up with Auburn news as the work week blazes by, so we here at Auburn Wire like to do it for you — here is everything you may have missed in this edition of the Auburn Morning Rush:
Always love hearing why Auburn athletes committed to Auburn.
Former Auburn golfer Andrew Kozan recently shared the story of why he chose to attend Auburn University over Clemson.
Kozan appeared on the “Dad Bod Golf Pod” podcast and told the story. The former Tiger has found some recent success on the Korn Ferry Tour and among discussing that, he talked about his college days.
“I loved Clemson, was a huge fan…pretty sure I was going to Clemson. I was in the store buying all the apparel. I was so sure, I ordered a custom Clemson yardage book with my name on it and the shipping was four to six weeks so by the time it came in, I was committed to Auburn. I still have it, my dad has it sitting around the house somewhere. But I loved Auburn from the second I got here. The coaches were phenomenal, real nice people could tell they really cared about the program. The facilities are awesome too… the top 3 to top 5 in the country in my opinion. I just knew they had what it took to prepare for the next level of golf.
“Clemson was one of the first I visited. The coaches were awesome and I got a home vibe kinda like Auburn. I visited Auburn a week later. I liked it but got a better vibe from Clemson. But then, Corey (Corey Maggard) and Nick (Nick Clinard) showed a lot of interest in me and that made me switch a bit cause they were coming to every golf tournament showing interest and I felt like the Clemson coaches assumed I was going to pick them so they back off a bit before the decision was made and that made a huge impact on me.
“Corey (Corey Maggard) came down (to West Palm Beach, FL) and the next day I was gonna commit to Auburn but knew I needed to call the Clemson coaches first. The joke was going to be that I call them and say, hey coach, I wanna be a tiger but the Auburn Tigers, not the Clemson Tigers, but I didn’t do that.”
[listicle id=28047]
Contact/Follow us @theauburnwire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion.
Wells Padgett had one of the most clutch moments you could think of while on The Plains.
The former Auburn golfer was a crucial part in beating Alabama in the SEC Championship than to a clutch walk-off putt that sealed the win.
He talked about his time at Auburn when he appeared on the “Dad Bod Golf Pod” podcast.
“I knew about three feet out it was tracking outside the right edge and I was like, yep, that’s money,” Padgett said when he was asked about his historic putt.
The former Auburn standout spent time talking about how awesome the support was from the Auburn fanbase. “It’s just really cool,” he said. “Auburn family really is a family.”
It’s always fun to hear why athletes pick to spend their collegiate careers at Auburn. They all seem to have a feeling as soon as they step on campus.
Auburn fans love to claim their success in multiple sports.
The golf teams at Auburn have been successful over the past several seasons thanks to the standout play of Jovon Rebula.
Rebula joined the “Dad Bod Golf Pod” podcast and talked about how Auburn got his attention.
“I received mail from Auburn University (after deciding I actually wanted to go to college) when I was 14 years old,” Rebula said. “So I reached out to the coaches & they messaged me via Twitter. It went from Twitter to Facebook messenger to a Skype session & next thing I know I was taking my SAT’s & signing scholarship papers. I then landed in Auburn of 2016 and it’s been the best since & such a fun ride.”
He also talked about what made Auburn special.
“Man, the campus was great,” Rebula said. “People back home in South Africa always say everything is just bigger in America. Even cars & trucks. I was amazed at the size of the trucks guys drove (at Auburn) compared to the little car I arrived in. So looking at the football stadium was crazy.”
[listicle id=21352]
Contact/Follow us @theauburnwire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion.
Auburn men’s golf head coach Nick Clinard announced Friday the hiring of new assistant coach Chris Williams.
Auburn men’s golf head coach Nick Clinard announced Friday the hiring of new assistant coach Chris Williams.
Williams previously served as assistant coach at Marquette University from 2019-2021. There he oversaw the development of the the program’s career scoring average leader, Hunter Eichhorn. Eichhorn was named the Big East’s Player of the Year as well as PING All-American. Williams also made huge strides for the Golden Eagles on the recruiting trail by signing a pair of top-60 nationally ranked recruits.
Collegiately Williams played for the University of Washington where he was a four-time All-American from 2009-2013. Williams led the Huskies in scoring from 2010-2013 after six tournament victories and 28 top-10 finishes.
After finishing ninth overall in the NCAA Championship Williams earned the title of PAC-10 Freshman of the Year and won the Mickelson Award which is delegated to the nation’s top freshman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtO9S6gxqyQ
As a junior he finished first in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for which he received the Mark H. McCormick Medal presented on behalf of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Williams’ tenure in the top spot of the ranking spanned 46 weeks before he began his senior season.
As a senior Williams received the Ben Hogan Award which the NCAA bestows annually to college golf’s best performer.
In 2011 Williams golfed for Team USA in the Walker Cup and Palmer Cup. The following year he participated once again in the Palmer Cup as well as the World Amateur and in 2013 he competed in Copa De American.
ARDMORE, PA – JUNE 12: Amateur Chris Williams of the United States htis a tee shot during a practice round prior to the start of the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club on June 12, 2013 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Williams began his professional career in 2013 with contests in Canada’s Mackenzie Tour and Latin America’s PGA Tour. His 2013 top amateur appearance in the U.S. Open was his second as Williams’ first came two years before after he secured a spot with a win in a sectional qualifying event.
Coach Clinard was elated to welcome Williams to Auburn saying,
“I’m super excited to have Chris join us in our Auburn family. His pedigree from a golf standpoint speaks for itself as the former No. 1 amateur in the world and a participant in the 2011 Walker Cup. Playing professionally and being in that limelight will bring a lot to our team and to recruiting as well. He’s got a great eye for talent and he knows how to develop young people. He will be a tremendous asset to our program and our quest to win championships.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAu34srBhAQ
Williams feels “blessed” to be at Auburn and detailed his excitement and vision for his future with the program,
“I want to thank Coach Clinard and Auburn University for giving me the opportunity and taking a chance on me. I feel extremely blessed to be welcomed into the Auburn family and the culture that has been established. I’m very excited to be part of the successful golf program at Auburn and continue on the success that Coach Clinard has had during his tenure. I’m committed to helping the program continue to move in the right direction. I’m eager to invest in the student-athletes, help them reach their potential on and off the course and start competing for and winning national championships.”
Welcome to The Plains Coach Williams, and War Eagle!
