Tag: Cam Riley

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 13 Cam Riley

Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] in his first season on the Plains.

Up next is veteran linebacker [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag]. The junior is coming off his first season as a starter and is one of the leaders of the linebackers.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Evergreen, Alabama

Height: 6-5

Weight: 242

Class in 2023: Junior

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four-Star / No. 13 in Alabama / No. 20 LB

Career Stats

Year G Tackles TFLs Sacks PDs FFs
2020 11 9 0 0 0 0
2021 11 14 1.0 0 0 0
2022 11 65 3.5 0 1 0

PFF Grades

Year Defense Tackling Run Defense Pass Rush Coverage
2020 44.7 43.7 39.5 76.8 45.0
2021 63.7 66.3 62.1 55.2 66.1
2022 57.2 71.7 53.1 55.3 61.0

Depth Chart Overview

Riley took a step forward last season, going from a rotational piece to a starter and is looking to build on that. The biggest area for him to improve in is his consistency, if he can fix his inconsistencies then he has the potential to be a breakout player in the middle of the defense.

The addition of [autotag]Larry Nixon III[/autotag] means he is in a fight to be named the starter at the weakside linebacker but regardless of who wins the battle, each will play a key role in the heart of the defense.

Cam Riley’s Photo Gallery

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 12 Austin Keys

The veteran is looking to become an immediate starter for Auburn.

Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] in his first season on the Plains.

Up next is transfer linebacker [autotag]Austin Keys[/autotag]. One of two linebackers that Auburn plucked from an SEC West rival, Keys is in a battle to be the starting middle linebacker.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Collins, Mississippi

Height: 6-2

Weight: 245

Previous School: Ole Miss

Class in 2023: Junior

247Sports Composite Ranking

three-Star / No. 21 in Mississippi / No. 32 LB

Career Stats

Year G Tackles TFLs Sacks FFs PDs
2020 (Ole Miss) 4 0 0 0 0 0
2021 (Ole Miss) 6 12 0 0 0 0
2022 (Ole Miss) 13 39 3.5 2.0 1 0

PFF Grades

Year Defense Tackling Run Defense Pass Rush Coverage
2020 – – – – –
2021 85.5 83.4 84.1 65.1 74.5
2022 63.7 58.6 64.3 56.2 63.6

Depth Chart Overview

Keys split time with [autotag]Wesley Steiner[/autotag] as the starting middle linebacker during spring practice but Keys was getting more time at the end. He has plenty of experience after spending the past three seasons at Ole Miss and became an important rotational player last season.

Auburn has several options at middle linebacker with Keys, Steiner and [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag] but both Steiner and Riley have struggled to establish themself in past season and Keys has a chance to become an immediate starter.

Austin Keys’ Photo Gallery

Six Tigers earn place on Phil Steele’s preseason All-SEC team

Jarquez Hunter and Nehemiah Pritchett headline Auburn’s representation in the preseason publication’s rankings.

As a program looking to get back to its traditional winning ways, Auburn will have plenty of tools to get them on the right track this season.

Phil Steele has dropped his selections for preseason All-SEC and has included six Tigers.

Steele’s list is headlined by running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag]. Hunter is set to be the team’s premier back after serving two seasons as Tank Bigsby’s protege. As for Pritchett, he returns as one of the top defensive players for the Tigers.

Also included in the list are USF transfer [autotag]Brian Battie[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag], kicker [autotag]Alex McPherson[/autotag], and punter [autotag]Oscar Chapman[/autotag].

Battie will be a part of a three-headed monster at running back alongside Hunter and [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag], but will also be a vital piece to Auburn’s return game. Cam Riley was the team’s second-leading tackler last season and looks to anchor the linebacking corps.

Oscar Chapman returns to Auburn for his third season as the team’s punter, while Alex McPherson takes over the kicking duties to become the first Auburn kicker not named “Carlson” to assume the role since 2014.

Here’s a deeper look at Auburn’s representatives on the preseason All-SEC team from Phil Steele.

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 9 Eugene Asante

The veteran linebacker is entering his second year on the Plains.

Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] in his first season on the Plains.

Up next is veteran linebacker [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag] who is entering his second season on the Plains after spending the first three seasons of his career at North Carolina.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia

Height: 6-1

Weight: 222

Previous School: North Carolina (2019-21)

Class in 2023: Junior

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four-Star / No. 9 in Virginia / No. 20 LB

Career Stats

Year G Tackles TFLs Sacks PDs FFs
2019 (UNC) 13 12 0 0 0 0
2020 (UNC) 12 27 0.5 0 0 1
2021 (UNC) 12 23 0.5 0 1 0
2022 4 1 0 0 0 0

PFF Grades

Year Defense Tackling Run Defense Pass Rush Coverage
2019 69.8 74.3 81.7 53.8 59.5
2020 73.0 52.7 83.0 55.4 62.3
2021 41.2 64.5 46.5 65.3 37.4
2022 65.0 74.3 61.2 – 61.3

Depth Chart Overview

Asante is coming off a disappointing first season on the Plains where he appeared in just four games after transferring in from North Carolina. He is now a member of a talented but crowded linebacker room that also features [autotag]Lary Nixon III[/autotag] and [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag] at the Will spot.

Nixon and Riley are competing for the starting job with Riley being a returning veteran and Nixon bringing plenty of experience and production from his time at North Texas. These three will give Auburn plenty of depth and flexibility at the position, Asante has flashed as a good coverage linebacker while Riley has looked strong as a pass rusher.

Eugene Asante’s Photo Gallery

Mike Farrell talks Auburn’s ‘interesting’ additions of Jalen McLeod and Larry Nixon III

The College Football analyst is intrigued by Auburn’s LB additions from the transfer portal, and is interested to see how they pan out on the Plains.

When it comes to the transfer portal, Auburn football had just as much success in the spring window as it did in the winter by reeling in seven more players which included two linebackers.

Mike Farrell recently spent time breaking down transfer linebackers, and has listed Auburn’s additions of [autotag]Larry Nixon III[/autotag] from North Texas and [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] from Appalachian State as “interesting moves.”

Farrell released his choices for the top five interesting linebacker moves of the spring transfer window and has included Nixon and McLeod in the mix. Starting with Nixon, Farrell says that he will have plenty of opportunities to earn playing time this season.

Having totaled 245 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks during his time with North Texas, Nixon now brings his productive experience to Auburn. He is part of a revamped linebacking group, being the fourth added by the Tigers during this cycle. While [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag] and [autotag]Wesley Steiner[/autotag] are also important returnees at the position, there is plenty of opportunity to earn playing time this fall.

He then mentions McLeod by saying that his production at Appalachian State will provide a quick boost to the position.

McLeod arrives at Auburn in a similar situation as the above-mentioned Larry Nixon. Coming off a season when he finished with 7.5 tackles for a loss and six sacks, his production and playmaking ability will be an immediate valuable asset for the Tigers. However, just like Nixon, he will have to battle with several returning players and other transfers for playing time which will make summer camp very interesting at the position.

Nixon and McLeod are among the seven valuable additions to Auburn’s roster from the spring window of the portal. Quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], offensive lineman [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag], and wide receiver [autotag]Jyaire Shorter[/autotag] brings Auburn’s transfer haul to 21 total members, which is second in the nation behind Colorado.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

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Desmond Tisdol finds new home with AAC program

Tisdol becomes the 10th former Tiger to find a new home since the end of last season.

Former Auburn linebacker [autotag]Desmond Tisdol[/autotag] has become the 10th player from last season’s roster to find a new home.

Tisdol announced Thursday that he will transfer to Florida Atlantic, which sets him up to be reunited with former Auburn special teams coordinator, Roc Bellantoni, who was named the defensive coordinator for the new-look staff at FAU under head coach Tom Herman.

Tisdol had a limited role with the Tigers during his three-year stint, as he recorded just 16 tackles in six appearances since the 2020 season. Last season was his most productive season, where he made 12 stops.

Tisdol was a member of Gus Malzahn’s final signing class in 2020. The class has since broken apart, as a majority of the class has transferred to other programs.

Out of Auburn’s 27 signees from 2020, only 10 remain on the Tigers’ roster. Several key members of the class include Ladarius Tennison and JJ Pegues, who are currently at Ole Miss, and Kobe Hudson, who has since reunited at UCF with Malzahn. [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] was the headliner of the class, and names such as [autotag]Wesley Steiner[/autotag], [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag], and [autotag]Killian Zierer[/autotag] remain on the roster.

Tisdol is the second former Tiger to find a new home this week, joining defensive lineman [autotag]Jeffrey M’Ba[/autotag], who announced his commitment to Purdue.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

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Where Tank Bigsby ranks among Auburn running back legends

How does Tank Bigsby’s career at Auburn stack up with the likes of Bo Jackson, Cadillac Williams, and Joe Cribbs?

A great Auburn career has come to a close, as running back [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] is preparing for the next stop in his football journey by declaring for the NFL Draft.

Bigsby committed to Auburn as a member of the 2020 recruiting class on Aug. 9, 2019. He was the No. 40 overall prospect of the 2020 cycle and was the No. 4 overall running back out of Callaway High School in Hogansville. He was the top recruit in Auburn’s haul, which was No. 8 overall. He joined the likes of [autotag]Wesley Steiner[/autotag], [autotag]Kobe Hudson[/autotag], and [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag] in signing with Auburn during the 2020 recruiting cycle.

He would go on to become the signature back from 2020-22, accumulating 2,903 yards and 25 touchdowns during his three-year career. His best season was in 2021, when he rushed for 1,099 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Auburn is known for producing great running backs, so where do Bigsby’s career numbers rank among those who built upon the legacy of RBU? Let’s take a look.

These rankings are composite and are based on rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and how high they were picked in the NFL Draft.

Photo Gallery: Auburn falls to Alabama in the 87th Iron Bowl

Here are the best images from Auburn’s 49-27 loss to Alabama on Saturday.

Auburn could not carry the momentum that it built over the last two weeks to a third-straight victory, falling to No. 7 Alabama on Saturday, 49-27 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

The loss eliminates Auburn from bowl contention, making it the first time since 2012 that the Tiger finish the regular season without qualifying for a bowl game.

Auburn had a great day rushing the football, outgaining Alabama 318-173 in rushing yards. It marked the third straight game that two players reached the 100-yard mark in rushing. Both [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] rushed for career-highs on Saturday, Ashford led the team in rushing with 134 yards and two touchdowns, while Hunter earned 121 yards.

Auburn also had two players to reach double-digits in tackles. Linebackers [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag] and [autotag]Owen Pappoe[/autotag] recorded 12 and 10 tackles respectively.

Here is the story of the 87th Iron Bowl, as told in photographs.

Auburn Morning Rush: NIL collective reaches goal, Softball player announces retirement

Get the scoop on the latest Auburn Athletics news with the Thursday edition of the Auburn Morning Rush.

Good morning, Tiger fans. It is time to take a look at the latest news in Auburn athletics with the Thursday edition of the Auburn Morning Rush.

It’s Thursday, which means it is gameday for Auburn Soccer. The Tigers welcome an “unknown” opponent in UMass-Lowell to the Auburn Soccer Complex for a 6:30 kickoff. Coach Karen Hoppa says that her club is preparing for the River Hawks the same as they would prepare for any other opponent on the schedule.

“UMass Lowell is a very unknown opponent,” Hoppa said. “But we do know that they’re a great team and that they’re well-coached. We’re going to prepare for them like we would any other game and we’re going to continue to focus on getting better every game.”

Today’s digest also features two football players earning weekly honors. After playing a key role in Auburn’s 42-16 win over Mercer last Saturday, running back [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag] have been recognized by the editors of the USA Today College Wire network.

Auburn softball has lost a member of its pitching staff due to medical concerns. Today’s rush reveals who has announced their retirement, and what Auburn’s pitching depth looks like following the departure.

Finally, good news for all athletes, as a NIL collective has reached a donation goal in a quick fashion.

Get the scoop on the latest news in Auburn athletics with the Thursday edition of the Auburn Morning Rush.

College Wire’s SEC team of the week

SEC editors voted on the top performers in Week 1 with our ‘Team of the Week’, check out to see who made the cut.

Week 1 was officially in the books on Sunday evening. All sights are now firmly on Week 2. Before we close the chapter on the first full week of games, our SEC editors weighed in on the top performers of the week.

Each College Wire SEC site’s editor came up with their top performances at each position.

The Voters:

Without further ado, let’s dive into the selections made by our editorial team: