Tag: christian tutt

Former Auburn cornerback signs with USFL’s Houston Gamblers

Tigers add another player to the USFL as former cornerback signs with the Gamblers.

On Thursday, the Houston Gamblers from the newly-established USFL added former Auburn defensive back [autotag]Ryan White[/autotag] to their roster. After releasing a previous draft pick in Howard Wilson, they made the decision to add White to their roster.

The USFL consists of eight different teams that will play all their games in Birmingham, Alabama at UAB’s Progressive Stadium. The teams will be split into two divisions. There will be 10 games in the regular season. The playoffs will consist of the top two teams from each division in a semifinals round and the winners will face off in the league’s first championship.

White spent a total of four seasons with the Tigers. He played from 2010-2013. In 2010, he was a part of a national championship team. Although he didn’t have a large role on that team, he would finish his Auburn career having played in 31 games. It is also important to note that White accumulated 83 tackles, 1 interception, and 10 pass defelctions while he was on the Plains. The Florida native signed with the Packers practice squad in 2015, but he never saw any on-field action. Now, he joins the Gamblers with hopes of making a name for himself.

Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Several other players that will compete in the USFL are John Franklin III, [autotag]Calvin Ashley[/autotag], [autotag]Christian Tutt[/autotag], and [autotag]Sal Cannella[/autotag]. Former Auburn offensive tackle [autotag]Marquell Harrell[/autotag] was slated to join the Michigan Panthers prior to being placed on reserve/did not report. The Tigers will be well represented in the new league. White is the only former Auburn player on the Gamblers. It will be interesting to see how he does with the new opportunity.

3 things I, Shea Brennaman, want to see from Auburn in last 4 games

Shea Brennaman doesn’t ask for much but is requesting these three things out of Auburn in the Tigers last for games.

[jwplayer GJ7OzBQz]

What a week for a bye week am I right?

We’re more than halfway through this abbreviated college football season. As it stands right now, Auburn sits third in the SEC West behind Alabama and Texas A&M who the Tigers conveniently play back-to-back at the end of their schedule. The Tigers are 4-2 and seemingly turned a corner offensively this past weekend against LSU. Can they hold on to that momentum when this bye week concludes?

With only four games remaining on Auburn’s schedule there are a few things I would like to see to ensure the Tigers finish on a high note.

1. Continuous improvement in third-down and passing defense

Through the first six games of this season, Auburn has allowed opponents an average of 236 yards per game. Sure that’s doable, but three of the four teams remaining on Auburn’s schedule are averaging well over 236 yards per game. Here are Auburn’s future opponents and where they currently stand in passing offense:

  • Mississippi State – ranked 18th overall, averaging 318.6 ypg
  • Tennessee – averaging 188.2 ypg
  • Alabama – ranked 3rd overall, averaging 380 ypg
  • Texas A&M – ranked 40th overall, averaging 252.2 ypg

In the Tigers’ last two games the passing defense shut down two top 20 passing offenses in both LSU and Ole Miss. Auburn only allowed LSU (who averages 338 passing ypg) 315 yards and forced three turnovers. The Tigers allowed Ole Miss (who averages 325.3 ypg) only 161 yards and forced two turnovers.

It would appear that at this point in the season the Tigers are coming along nicely in passing defense, but goodness gracious they have to get off the field on third down against both Alabama and Texas A&M.

The Tigers are ranked 103rd overall in third-down defense and its opponents are 49/94 on third down. Both Alabama and Texas A&M are ranked in the top five on third-down conversions. This next topic may assist the Tigers on defense in a multitude of ways, however.

2. The return of KJ Britt

The All-SEC linebacker had thumb surgery following the Georgia game and has not played since, but is expected to return for both Alabama and Texas A&M. In his first two games this season he recorded 23 tackles. The defense has managed well in his absence, but Britt’s leadership and experience will be impactful when he returns.

3. KEEP RUNNING THE BALL

Auburn is outrushing opponents by an average of 15.6 yards per game. The Tigers have scored 10 rushing touchdowns and average 4.67 yards per rush. This is obviously in huge part to freshman stud Tank Bigsby. In six games Bigsby has rushed for 503 total yards and five touchdowns.

Is it doable for Tank to become Auburn’s next 1,000 yard rusher? Probably, but he’ll have to put in absolute work in Auburn’s remaining games. After Kerryon Johnson’s string of injuries in 2017 I live in fear of the Tigers running their star RB into the ground, so I really want to see other backs in the rotation here.

DJ Williams was limited after the Georgia game and did not play this past weekend against LSU. I would love to see him return soon. Another back who has been missing in action this season is Shaun Shivers. Shivers missed the Georgia, South Carolina, and Arkansas games due to an undisclosed injury but returned to action just in time to deliver a Shivers’ hit to LSU star defensive back Derek Stingley Jr.

I want to see more of both of them in the backfield rotation.

Auburn I know I don’t ask for much, but if you give us these three things the possibilities could be endless. Take the bye week to think about it if you must.

Twitter reacts to Auburn routing LSU

For the first time in a long time Auburn fans could enjoy a football game without nearly having a heart attack. Auburn defeated LSU 48-11 and exorcised some demons from the last three years. This was a fun one to watch folks. Here’s what people had …

For the first time in a long time Auburn fans could enjoy a football game without nearly having a heart attack. Auburn defeated LSU 48-11 and exorcised some demons from the last three years. This was a fun one to watch folks. Here’s what people had to say:

It started off in scary Halloween fashion when Zakoby McClain was nearly ejected for targeting and Seth Williams fumbled near the end zone for a touchback.

It didn’t help that Gary Danielson was insufferable either.

But let me tell y’all what. Eli Stove came to PLAY today.

So did the defense.

EVERYBODY CAME TO PLAY TODAY!

As time waned off the clock, it became apparent to all of America that this game was a good ole-fashioned butt whooping. Auburn fans loved every minute of it.

War Eagle! And finally,

 

Auburn football: Six Tigers earn spots on preseason Coaches All-SEC team

The Tigers put two players on the first-team All-SEC team as voted on by the coaches.

Big things are expected of Auburn’s defense and that is apparent by placement of two Tigers on the first-team All-SEC defensive team by conference coaches.

Defensive lineman Big Kat Bryant and linebacker K.J. Britt earned those spots on the first team. As a junior in 2019, Britt made 69 total tackles along with 10 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Bryant, looking to replace Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson as studs along the defensive line, made 16 tackles, two tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries and recovered one fumble last season.

Brodarious Hamm, one of the new-look offensive lines for the Tigers, earned second team honors. Bo Nix, Seth Williams and Christian Tutt were named to the third team. Tutt earned spots at the all-purpose position, defensive back and return specialist.

2020 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Team (* – ties)

First Team Preseason All-SEC

OFFENSE

TE          Kyle Pitts, Florida

OL         Alex Leatherwood, Alabama

Trey Smith, Tennessee

Darian Kinnard, Kentucky

Landon Dickerson, Alabama

C            Drake Jackson, Kentucky

WR        DeVonta Smith, Alabama

Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

QB         Kyle Trask, Florida

RB          Najee Harris, Alabama

Kylin Hill, Mississippi State

AP          Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

DEFENSE

DL          Bobby Brown, Texas A&M

LaBryan Ray, Alabama

Big Kat Bryant, Auburn

Jordan Davis, Georgia

LB          Dylan Moses, Alabama

K.J. Britt, Auburn

Nick Bolton, Missouri

DB         Patrick Surtain II, Alabama

Derek Stingley, LSU

Richard LeCounte, Georgia

Jacoby Stevens, LSU

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK          Brent Cimaglia, Tennessee

P            Max Duffy, Kentucky

RS          Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

Second Team Preseason All-SEC

OFFENSE

TE          Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M

OL          Sadarius Hutcherson, South Carolina

Deonte Brown, Alabama

Landon Young, Kentucky

Austin Deculus, LSU*

Brodarious Hamm, Auburn*

Wanya Morris, Tennessee*

Ed Ingram, LSU*

C            Trey Hill, Georgia

WR        George Pickens, Georgia

Terrace Marshall, LSU

QB         Kellen Mond, Texas A&M

RB          Rakeem Boyd, Arkansas

Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M

AP          Derek Stingley, LSU

DEFENSE

DL          Kobie Whiteside, Missouri

Malik Herring, Georgia

Aaron Sterling, South Carolina

Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt

LB          Henry To’o To’o, Tennessee

Monty Rice, Georgia

Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State*

Nakobe Dean, Georgia*

Ventrell Miller, Florida*

DB        Kaiir Elam, Florida

Eric Stokes, Georgia

Demani Richardson, Texas A&M

Tyree Gillespie, Missouri*

Marco Wilson, Florida*

Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina*

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK          Cade York, LSU

P            Jake Camarda, Georgia

RS          Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss

Third Team Preseason All-SEC

OFFENSE

TE          Arik Gilbert, LSU

OL          Carson Green, Texas A&M

Kenyon Green, Texas A&M

Evan Neal, Alabama

Dan Moore, Texas A&M

C            Landon Dickerson, Alabama

WR        Seth Williams, Auburn

Elijah Moore, Ole Miss

QB         Bo Nix, Auburn

RB          Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss

Larry Rountree, Missouri

AP          Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss*

Kadarius Toney, Florida*

Christian Tutt, Auburn*

DEFENSE

DL          Zachary Carter, Florida

Josh Paschal, Kentucky

Kobe Jones, Mississippi State

Glen Logan, LSU

LB          Boogie Watson, Kentucky

Dimitri Moore, Vanderbilt

Nolan Smith, Georgia*

Ernest Jones, South Carolina*

Andre Mintze, Vanderbilt*

DB         Jaycee Horn, South Carolina

Bryce Thompson, Tennessee

Yusuf Corker, Kentucky

Christian Tutt, Auburn*

Josh Jobe, Alabama*

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK          Evan McPherson, Florida

P            Mac Brown, Ole Miss

RS          Christian Tutt, Auburn

Auburn will have a new look secondary in 2020

Auburn had five defensive backs on the field for the majority of their snaps last season and to do so in 2020 they will be turning to four new starters.

Auburn had five defensive backs on the field for the majority of its snaps last season and, to do so in 2020, the Tigers will be turning to four new starters.

Gone are senior safeties Jeremiah Dinson and Daniel Thomas and cornerbacks Davis and Noah Igbinoghene. Those four combined to make 247 tackles, 12 tackles, four interceptions and break up 15 passes.

The Tigers still have experienced players on their roster and will turn to a group of juniors to emerge as the core of the secondary in 2020 and there is confidence in the unit as a whole.

At safety, Smoke Monday and Jamien Sherwood are poised to step in as starters and to have just as much success as Dinson and Thomas did a season ago.

“To be completely honest with you, they’re going to be better,” Dinson said in December. “Those guys have so much potential to be better than me and Daniel. I see it now, to be honest with you. Long guys, they can do both — play the run and play the pass. Man, the sky’s the limit for them.”

Both of the juniors have been immediate contributors, with both playing in all 26 games since their arrival on campus and have made some key plays.

Monday recorded the game-ending sack of Washington quarterback Jake Browning that ultimately sealed an Auburn win in 2018 and had a 29-yard interception return for a score in Auburn’s win over Alabama last season.

Sherwood was graded as the best freshman safety in the country in 2018, per Pro Football Focus, and has already emerged as one of the leaders of the defense.

The question about safety isn’t about the starters, it’s about who will rotate in alongside Monday and Sherwood and, thanks to defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, we have a better picture of how that battle is going.

In a recent Zoom press conference, he announced that senior Jordyn Peters had moved to safety from nickel and, he along with freshmen Chris Thompson Jr., are the two rotating behind the starters.

Peters has been a star on special teams, blocking three punts in 2018 before a foot injury limited his impact a season ago. Peters is another player with plenty of experience (37 appearances) but has minimal starter experience.

Thompson will have a chance to follow a similar path to Sherwood and Monday by enrolling early and immediately factoring into the rotation. He was a four-star recruit and top 200 player nationally and top 20 at his position, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Thompson is a hard hitter who will be capable of providing run support and protecting the middle of the field.

Auburn may be replacing both starting corners but there was never any doubt about who was going to get one of the jobs.

Roger McCreary may have been the teams No. 3 corner but he played just as much as the starters and is the clear frontrunner as the teams new No. 1 corner. The junior finished last season with 36 tackles, one interception and a team-leading 12 pass break ups and has his teammates and coaches expecting big things of him.

“I’d say he’s a top-3 corner in the SEC, honestly,” junior wide receiver Anthony Schwartz said. “Seeing him now, he’s more confident in his craft. I think he’s going to be able to lock down that side of the field.”

“Roger McCreary has really taken the next step,” Gus Malzahn said. “You can just tell his confidence level is at a different level. He’s had an excellent camp so far. He’s one of our leaders.”

The question about corner is who will line up across from him on the other boundary, with Marco Domio, Nehemiah Pritchett, Matthew Hill, Devan Barrett and Jaylin Simpson all in the mix.

Hill, a converted wide receiver, has enjoyed a smooth transition to defense so far and it trying to follow in Igbinoghene’s footsteps as a former wide out turned dominant corner.

Domino, a JUCO transfer, has experience and is a strong contender to emerge as the team’s second corner. Pritchett played in seven games as a freshman in 2019, totaling four tackles. Reed, a four-star safety signee is listed at corner.

Auburn’s lone returning starter is Christian Tutt, who totaled 32 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, two pass breakups and two interceptions from the nickel spot last year. According to Steele, Zion Puckett and Ladarious Tennison are backing up Tutt at nickel.

Puckett totaled four tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup in four appearances as a freshman last season. Tennison was a coveted four-star athlete out of Rockledge, Florida, who is another early enrollee who could see early playing time.

“He can play Star, corner, he’s an excellent returner,” Malzahn said about Tennison.

With the way Steele handles his defensive rotations most of these players will play and the backups may play just as much as the starters as McCreary did a season ago.

Auburn football: 3 Tigers named to CBS preseason All-America team

Auburn begins its season on Sept. 26 against Kentucky in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Let the preseason award watch begin!

On Monday, CBS released its preseason All-America teams for the 2020 college football season and it included three Auburn players, all on the second team.

Defensive lineman Big Kat Bryant, who will look to fill the holes left by Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson, was one of the Tigers named. As a junior in 2019, Bryant recorded 16 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and nine quarterback hurries while also recovering a fumble.

Linebacker K.J. Britt, the heart and soul of the 2020 defense, also saw his name on the list. He made 69 total tackles for the Tigers last season along with 10 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

The third Tiger on the list is Christian Tutt who earns the spot on the second team at punt returner. The defensive back returned 23 punts for a total of 313 yards as a sophomore in 2019 while also making 32 total tackles, four tackles for a loss, one sack, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.