Tag: D.J. James

Former Alabama defensive back Antonio Kite transfers to Auburn

Former Alabama defensive back Antonio Kite transfers to Auburn

For just the second time in the modern football era, a former Alabama recruit has transferred to become an Auburn Tiger.

Former four-star cornerback Antonio Kite announced his intention to sign with Auburn on Wednesday, giving the Tigers immediate help in a depleted defensive secondary set to lose [autotag]D.J, James[/autotag], [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] and others.

An Anniston, AL native, Kite joined more than 20 of his teammates when he entered the transfer portal after Nick Saban announced his retirement.

The defensive back played sparingly during his time in Tuscaloosa but still has three years of eligibility remaining. His playing time should increase immediately with [autotag]Kionte Scott[/autotag], [autotag]Kayin Lee,[/autotag] and Texas transfer [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag] listed as the only likely starters.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 182 pounds, Kite could be a candidate to fill a nickel-back role if the Tigers decide to move the aforementioned Scott to the outside in 2024.

If anything, Auburn’s newest addition provides depth and youth in a secondary desperately needing a rejuvenation.

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Auburn adds former Texas safety Jerrin Thompson from transfer portal

Thompson recorded 105 tackles and five interceptions in four seasons with the Longhorns.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] needs to replenish his defensive backfield, and is on the right track to doing so by adding an experienced safety from the transfer portal.

Former Texas safety [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag] paid a visit to Auburn over the weekend, and ended the trip by pledging his commitment to Freeze and the Tigers.

Thompson has been a vital part to the Longhorns’ secondary over the last four seasons, and he has played in 48 games since arriving to Austin in 2020. In four seasons, he has recorded 105 total tackles and has picked off five passes. He has recorded at least 14 tackles in every season that he has played, and made a career-high 83 stops in 2022. Last season, he made just 38 tackles, but pulled in a career-high three interceptions. One of those interceptions was returned for a touchdown.

In his most recent game, Thompson made three tackles in Texas’ 37-31 loss to Washington in the Sugar Bowl, which was a College Football Playoff semi-final game. In the Longhorns’ 34-24 win over Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 9, he made four stops and recorded and interception.

Thompson ranks No. 9 in Texas’ defensive grades from Pro Football Focus with a 73.1. His strong suit is pass coverage, which he graded out at 77.1, third-highest among Longhorn defenders. Opposing receivers hauled in 58.1% of passes when guarded by Thompson, or 18-of-31. He would also break up five passes.

The Tigers will lose plenty of experience from its defensive backfield in the likes of [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag], [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag], and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag]. The defense does however return [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag], [autotag]Caleb Wooden[/autotag], and [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag]. Adding Thompson to complement Wooden at safety will be a great addition.

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Auburn names Charles Kelly co-Defensive Coordinator

Auburn names Charles Kelly co-Defensive Coordinator

Charles Kelly has been named the co-defensive coordinator for Auburn’s football program.

Hugh Freeze announced on Friday that Kelly would be joining the staff and co-leading the defensive unit in 2024 and beyond.

A former player on the Plains, Kelly was the defensive coordinator for the resurgent Colorado Buffaloes in 2023. Along with head coach Deion Sanders, Kelly helped Colorado become the story of the early college football season before reality struck.

Kelly won several awards during his time in the Centennial State, most notably winning the 247Sports National Recruiter of the Year award in 2023. The long-time coach also was ranked in the top five the year prior.

The 56-year-old started his coaching career directly following his playing career at Auburn, coaching high school football in Alabama until accepting a job at Jacksonville State as the running backs coach in 1993.

The defensive coach made stops at Nicholls State, Georgia Tech, and Florida State before most notably becoming the assistant defensive coordinator at Alabama from 2019-2022.

Kelly now “comes home” to coach his alma-mater in a major transitional period for the Tigers.

He’ll bring four career conference championships and two career national titles to an Auburn locker room that is sure to have plenty of new faces next season.

Auburn’s newest staff member is certainly excited to be joining the team in 2024, stating,

“I am very grateful to return to a university and a football program that have meant so much to me growing up in this state and playing for Coach Dye. It’s an honor to work with Coach Freeze, whom I have a tremendous amount of respect for, and I’m appreciative of him for this opportunity. I look forward to helping Coach Freeze and this staff bring our program back to the caliber of championship football that Auburn deserves. As the Auburn Creed states, ‘I believe in work, hard work.’ I do not take this opportunity lightly and am ready to go to work. War Eagle!”

We’ll see if Kelly can help navigate a defense set to lose stars [autotag]D.J James[/autotag], [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag], and [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] in 2024.

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Texas DB Jerrin Thompson to visit Auburn

The former Longhorn recorded 38 total tackles and three interceptions during the 2023 season.

Following the departures of [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag], [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag], and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], the Auburn secondary will be seriously depleted of experience ahead of the 2024 season.

The Auburn coaching staff is looking to solve that issue by hosting a defensive back with four seasons of experience this weekend.

According to a report by Jeffrey Lee of Auburn Live, former Texas defensive back [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag] is set to pay a visit to Auburn on Friday. Thompson was one of Texas’ most productive defensive backs over the last four seasons by totaling 175 tackles, four interceptions, and 18 pass deflections.

Thompson’s most productive season was in 2022 as a junior. The safety recorded 82 total tackles with seven pass deflections and and interception. However, he was a threat to opposing passing games in 2023. He picked off a career-high three passes last season, which included a pick-six in the Longhorns’ 31-10 win over Wyoming on Sept. 16.

In Texas’ College Football Playoff semi-final loss to Washington on New Year’s Day at the Sugar Bowl, Thompson made three stops.

Auburn has landed seven roster additions from the transfer portal since the first window opened on Dec. 2, 2023. Among those is Thompson’s teammate at Texas, defensive lineman [autotag]Trill Carter[/autotag].

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Justin Rogers announces intention to declare for NFL draft

After spending one season on the Plains, the Kentucky transfer is ready for the next step in his career.

After spending one season on the Plains, Auburn defensive tackle [autotag]Justin Rogers[/autotag] is ready to embark on the next stop of his football career.

Rogers, who spent one season at Auburn after transferring in from Kentucky ahead of the 2023 season, announced on X (formerly Twitter) Thursday that he is declaring for the upcoming NFL draft.

In the tweet, Rogers expressed gratitude towards his family and coach Mike Stoops, his former coach at Kentucky. He also took time to give thanks to Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag], as well as Tiger fans.

A sincere thank you to Coach Freeze and the Auburn Family for their warm welcome. The indescribable love and support I’ve experienced in just one short year here is truly remarkable. Thanks to my teammates and coaches for making this time special. WDE!

Rogers competed in nine games during the 2023 season for Auburn, recording 17 total tackles with one sack. His best games were against Cal on Sept. 9, and at LSU on Oct. 14, where he made three stops each. According to Pro Football Focus, Rogers created nine quarterback pressures for Auburn.

Rogers joins a lengthy list of former Tigers who have declared for the NFL draft. That lists includes DL [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag], DB [autotag]D.J James[/autotag], and DB [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag].

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Report: Auburn starting cornerback Keionte Scott to enter the transfer portal

Auburn could be losing one of its most important players to the transfer portal.

Auburn could be losing one of its top returning players to the transfer portal as starting cornerback [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] is expected to enter the portal, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.

Scott has been one of Auburn’s most productive and vocal players over the past two seasons after starting his career at Snow College, a JUCO program. He has excelled as the starting STAR (nickel) cornerback and punt returner in that time.

With starting outside cornerbacks [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] off to the NFL, Scott was expected to transition to outside corner, a role he played in Auburn’s loss to Maryland in the Music City Bowl.

Prior to the bowl game, there was speculation that Scott would also declare for the 2024 NFL draft, but he announced he would be returning for the 2024 season on social media. It was a massive break for a secondary that has already lost James, Pritchett and starting safeties [autotag]Zion Puckett[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag].

Since then Auburn underwent coaching changes in the secondary with cornerbacks coach [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag] leaving to take a job at Texas A&M and [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] bringing on former Colorado and Alabama defensive coordinator [autotag]Charles Kelly[/autotag].

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Marcus Harris accepts invitation to Reese’s Senior Bowl

Marcus Harris has accepted his invitation to play in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Auburn defensive lineman[autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag] will play one final college football game before entering the 2024 NFL draft.

The senior officially accepted his invitation to join the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl on Friday, making him the fourth Tiger to join the All-Star game.

Harris will join defensive backs [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag], [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], and [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] as participants in the game.

The Senior Bowl appearance will be the first time Harris steps onto the field since the “Milroe Miracle” ended the Iron Bowl, as he opted out of Auburn’s Music City Bowl loss to Maryland.

The 6-foot-3, 295-pounder was Auburn’s best defensive lineman this season, leading the team with 7.0 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.

A Montgomery native, Harris earned First-Team All-SEC Honors from the Associated Press this season. He was also named to PFF’s First-Team All-SEC after grading as the fourth-best defensive lineman against the run in 2023.

Like many seniors, Harris has the disadvantage of being older than most players in the NFL Draft pool, but that shouldn’t stop him from being selected sometime on Day 2 or 3 in April.

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Tale of the Tape: Auburn vs. Maryland

The Tigers are a touchdown favorite to win the Music City Bowl, but could this game be closer than oddsmakers expect?

The 6-6 Auburn Tigers return to action for the first time since losing the Iron Bowl later this week when they take on the 7-5 Maryland Terrapins in the Music City Bowl on December 30.

Auburn finished the regular season with back-to-back losses but managed bowl eligibility in the first season under new head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag].

On the other side, Taulia Tagovailoa and Maryland had an up-and-down season in the Big 10, winning 7 games in 12 tries.

The all-time leading passer in Big 10 history has opted out of this game, giving Auburn a significant edge according to oddsmakers. The Tigers are currently a full touchdown favorite on BetMGM.

ESPN FPI believes this game should be much closer, as Hugh Freeze’s squad has just a 52.4% chance to win according to the model.

Will the tale of the tape show us this game will be a Dixieland Delight for Auburn fans, or will Maryland fans be singing the Victory song on Broadway after the Music City Bowl?

As always we’ll start with the quarterbacks.

Tigers quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] initial season on the Plains was much like a Sky Dog at 2 AM. The junior was a bit disappointing, but ultimately got the job done for the most part.

Thorne finished the regular season with 1,671 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions as Auburn’s QB1(a).

Hugh Freeze’s QB1(b), [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], has joined thousands of other players in the transfer portal, leaving Thorne with the keys to the Honda Accord that is the Auburn offense.

With Ashford all but gone and incoming four-star recruit Walker White cooking in the background, Thorne has one final chance in game action to prove he can lead the Tigers into 2024.

As for the team up in Maryland, senior sensation Taulia Tagovailoa has chosen to opt out of this game, leaving sophomore quarterback [autotag]Billy Edwards Jr.[/autotag] and freshmen [autotag]Cameron Edge[/autotag] as the lone signal-callers on the Terps roster.

Both players combined for just 13 passing attempts this season although Edwards Jr. was used as a goal line quarterback, most notably rushing for 3 touchdowns against No. 1 ranked Michigan.

Maryland’s passing offense was explosive this season but the loss of Tagovailoa gives the edge to Thorne and the Tigers.

The skill positions across the offense are a different story. Auburn holds the edge at running back thanks to the electrifying [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] but the wide receiver gap is larger than Old Line State’s obsession with Old Bay.

Maryland often employs three-reciever sets with [autotag]Jeshaun Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Tai Felton[/autotag], and [autotag]Kaden Pranther[/autotag]. Those three combined for nearly 500 more receiving yards than Auburn quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] had in passing yards this season.

The Terrapins fourth target, tight end Corey Dyches, would have paced all Auburn pass-catchers as well.

Auburn tight end Rivaldo Fairweather had a solid season but the edge clearly goes to Maryland, especially considering the Tigers will be without [autotag]Ja’Varrius Johnson[/autotag] in this one.

Auburn’s defense is clearly the better unit on that side of the ball, but defensive coordinator [autotag]Ron Roberts[/autotag] has some work ahead of him due to opt outs.

Cornerbacks [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] as well as defensive lineman [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag] won’t be availbile for this one, leaving the 21-ranked defense according to ESPN FPI shorthanded in Nashville.

James and Harris were arguably Auburn’s two best players on the defensive side of the ball this season. It helps that linebacker [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] are staying on the Plains and will be playing, but the loss of Harris, James, and Pritchett will be felt.

Maryland’s defense on the other hand isn’t great but it’s not anemic either. The Terps were solid all year long, but did give up an average of over 30 points per game in losses this season.

Head coach [autotag]Mike Locksley[/autotag] isn’t dealing with any major opt-outs on that side of the ball, making the gap between these two teams closer than the stats say.

Still, Auburn gets the edge here.

There is a reason ESPN FPI has these two teams ranked next to each other in overall ranking. While the loss of Taulia Tagovailoa gives Auburn an edge in this game, the Music City Bowl could very well come down to the wire.

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Auburn updates depth chart for Music City Bowl after departures

Auburn’s depth chart looks quite different for the Music City Bowl.

It is nearly time for Auburn football to return to action in the Music City Bowl against the Maryland Terrapins.

The Auburn team will look quite differently after several players have entered the transfer portal and are no longer with the team. The biggest losses are on the defensive side where starting cornerbacks [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] and starting defensive tackle [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag] have all opted-out of the game as they prepare for the NFL draft.

The wide receiver position has been hit particularly hard with four players, including the leading wide receiver [autotag]Ja’Varrius Johnson[/autotag], entering the transfer portal. The group is down to just seven scholarship wideouts. Here is a look at the new depth chart after all of the departures.

Edge rusher Jalen McLeod returning to Auburn for another season.

Jalen McLeod is officially returning to Auburn for another season.

Jack linebacker [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] will officially return to the Plains for his senior season next year.

The Appalachian State transfer became a key member of the Tigers front seven this season, recording 46 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and one pass defended.

After injuries caused the Washington, DC native to start slow on the Plains, McLeod dominated late in SEC play, earning Team of the Week honors for his 9-tackle, 3-sack effort against Arkansas.

The junior didn’t stop his great play there, as he led the team in tackles in an overall phenomenal defensive effort against Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

His late production paired with fellow linebacker [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag]’s great season helped the Tigers finish just outside of the top 20 in defensive efficiency according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.

Both players are now officially returning for Auburn in 2024, giving the Tigers one of the best 1-2 punches at the linebacker position in the SEC heading into next season.

The news is especially reassuring to Tiger fans as the secondary is set to lose some key pieces in safety [autotag]Zion Puckett[/autotag], cornerbacks [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], and possibly safety [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag].

Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has some holes to fill along the defense, but he can take solace in the fact his linebacking core is mostly set heading into his second season on the Plains.

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