Tag: Dillon Wade

Auburn guard Jeremiah Wright announces return to Auburn football

Wright is set to return after taking over the right guard slot on Auburn’s offensive line in 2024.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] received great news Monday as he looks to construct his 2025 roster.

[autotag]Jeremiah Wright[/autotag], who took over as the Tigers’ starting right guard in 2024, announced Monday that he will return to the team for his fourth season.

Wright is no stranger to seeing time on the offensive line by participating in over 1,200 snaps over the last three seasons. He took over as the Tigers’ starting right guard in 2024, allowing just nine quarterback pressures in 418 opportunities according to Pro Football Focus. Among the pressures were six hurries and two sacks.

As a freshman in 2022, Wright participated in 234 snaps over seven games at left guard, making one start on Auburn’s road trip to Ole Miss. He made the move to right guard for his sophomore season in 2023, where he split time with [autotag]Kam Stutts[/autotag]. Wright saw action in 11 games and totaled 308 snaps.

With the return of Wright, Auburn will return four linemen from its 2024 season including [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag], [autotag]Connor Lew[/autotag], and [autotag]Bradyn Joiner[/autotag]. Freeze will look to fill the right tackle position left vacant by outgoing transfer Percy Lewis with either Virginia Tech transfer [autotag]Xavier Chaplin[/autotag] or USC transfer [autotag]Mason Murphy[/autotag]. Both transfers bring a wealth of experience to the Tigers’ front.

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Auburn loses experienced offensive lineman to the transfer portal

OT Percy Lewis is leaving Auburn after one season.

Several college football players across the country are making late decisions to enter the transfer portal ahead of Dec. 28’s cutoff, including one experienced offensive lineman.

[autotag]Percy Lewis[/autotag], who transferred to Auburn from Mississippi State ahead of the 2024 season, is re-entering the transfer portal after spending one season on the Plains.

Lewis participated in 308 snaps at left tackle this season for the Tigers, making five starts. However, his play time was cut drastically in the second half of the season as he managed to play just 27 snaps over the final six games. [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag] saw a majority of snaps at left tackle (379) this season.

Wade is set to return to the team in 2025. Auburn also added former Virginia Tech tackle [autotag]Xavier Chaplin[/autotag] and former USC tackle [autotag]Mason Murphy[/autotag] from the transfer portal, thus producing a challenging road for Lewis to earn a starting position at either tackle position.

Lewis departs Auburn after appearing in 10 games during the 2024 season. He allowed eight total quarterback pressures, which resulted in four sacks and three additional quarterback hurries. He is the second offensive lineman from the 2024 season to enter the transfer portal, joining [autotag]EJ Harris[/autotag].

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Auburn adds former USC tackle Mason Murphy from transfer portal

Matt Zemek of Trojans Wire sheds light on what Auburn fans can expect from Murphy following his commitment.

Auburn fans woke Tuesday to the news that an experienced offensive lineman would join.

[autotag]Mason Murphy[/autotag], a 22-game starter for the USC Trojans at right tackle, announced his commitment to Auburn on Tuesday morning. His commitment is welcomed as head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and offensive line coach [autotag]Jake Thornton[/autotag] are searching for a replacement at right tackle for the outgoing [autotag]Izavion Miller[/autotag].

What exactly is Auburn getting in Murphy? We asked Matt Zemek of Trojans Wire for insight on Murphy’s time in Los Angeles, and he delivered.

Murphy started all 12 of USC’s games this season, with his best game coming in the Trojans’ 42-20 win over Rutgers on Oct. 25. Pro Football Focus graded his performance 81.0 overall, with an 83.6 in pass blocking. However, he failed to grade above 71.0 in his remaining 11 starts, which caused frustration among the USC fanbase according to Zemek.

“Maybe (Thornton) can create improvements from Murphy, but USC fans winced (and probably yelled with anger) when Murphy made key mistakes which kneecapped the Trojans in 2024,” Zemek said.

Several of Murphy’s mistakes included losing a block against Minnesota on Oct. 5, which forced a momentum-swinging interception that led to a Trojan loss. Murphy also committed four false start penalties in USC’s loss to Washington on Nov. 2.

However, Zemek feels Murphy could become a high-level player with great coaching.

“To be fair to Auburn, USC offensive line coach Josh Henson has not done a good job with the Trojans,” Zemek said. “If Auburn thinks it can coach Murphy better than Henson did at USC, this could all work out. If that was the thought process behind this pickup, it makes sense. Just beware: Mason Murphy was not part of the solution at USC.”

Last season, Izavion Miller earned a grade of 64.4 from Pro Football Focus after allowing 17 pressures with four sacks in 570 snaps at right tackle. However, two key linemen: [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag] and [autotag]Connor Lew[/autotag], were graded above 70 for the season.

Murphy will compete alongside Virginia Tech transfer [autotag]Xavier Chaplin[/autotag] for the role of Auburn’s starting right tackle this spring. Chaplin committed to Auburn Monday after starting 25 games at left tackle for the Hokies over the last two seasons.

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Auburn lands Virginia Tech transfer Xavier Chaplin

Chaplin aims to earn a starting spot within Auburn’s offensive line in 2025.

Virginia Tech offensive lineman [autotag]Xavier Chaplin[/autotag] committed to the Auburn Tigers on Sunday from the transfer portal. The 6-7, 323-pound offensive tackle started every game for the Hokies over the last two seasons after redshirting his freshman campaign in 2022.

A former three-star recruit, Chaplin has outperformed projections significantly during his college career. 247 Sports ranked the South Carolina native as the second-best offensive tackle in the 2025 transfer cycle, giving Hugh Freeze a much-needed anchor of an offensive line set to lose a few pieces next season.

After helping his Hokies rank No. 22 in rush yards per game in 2023, Chaplin again paved the way toward a successful rushing attack in Blacksburg this season. Running back Bhayshul Tuten finished the season with glaringly similar numbers to Auburn starter [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], although Tuten’s scoring production (15 touchdowns) outpaced Hunter’s.

Chaplin will be entering his junior season in 2025 on the Plains. Still with two years of eligibility remaining, the former Hokie will have a direct path to earning a starting role along the offensive line next season. While left tackle [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag] is reportedly returning for his final season, right tackle [autotag]Izavion Miller[/autotag] is out of eligibility, leaving a void likely to be filled by the newest Tiger.

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Asante, Hunter headline Auburn’s Senior Bowl watchlist representation

Auburn football is well represented on this season’s watchlist.

The coveted Senior Bowl watchlist has been released, and Auburn is well represented.

A total of 14 players on Auburn’s roster made the cut, with linebacker [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag] and running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] headlining the representation.

Asante broke onto the scene last season by recording a team-leading 86 tackles with 8.5 going for a loss. He also tipped a pass and returned a fumble 67 yards for a touchdown in Auburn’s loss to Texas A&M. As for Hunter, he came close to reaching the 1,000-yard mark in rushing for the first time in his career last season. He ran for 909 yards and scored seven touchdowns while reeling in 18 passes for 118 yards.

Joining Hunter as offensive players to make the list are QB [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], WRs [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag], and offensive linemen [autotag]Percy Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag].

Thorne is projected to take a step forward this season thanks to the additions of Lambert-Smith and Lewis, who were stars at Penn State and Georgia State respectively. Fairweather will be a great threat in the passing game as he returns after hauling in 38 catches for 394 yards and six scores last season. Finally, Lewis joins an experienced offensive line after spending the previous two seasons at Mississippi State. Wade’s 819 snaps were the most among Auburn offensive players last season. In that frame, he allowed just two quarterback sacks.

Six defensive players were also labeled. Outside of Asante, DLs [autotag]Jayson Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag], LB [autotag]Austin Keys[/autotag], and defensive backs [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] and [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag] are also considered for a roster spot.

McLeod holds the highest grade among returning defenders from PFF with an 80.8, which was third-highest behind [autotag]DJ James[/autotag] and [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag], who has since departed for the NFL. Scott had a great season by leading all defensive backs in tackles with 42 with five pass deflections in 2023. He will team up with Thompson, who hauled in three interceptions at Texas last season, to provide experience to the Tigers’ defensive backfield. In two seasons at Auburn, Jones has complied 48 tackles with one registering as a loss.

The final representative on the Senior Bowl watchlist for Auburn is punter [autotag]Oscar Chapman[/autotag]. Chapman recorded 61 punts last season for a career-high average of 44.6 yards.

The 2025 Senior Bowl will take place on Saturday, Feb. 1 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. The game will begin at 1:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted live on NFL Network.

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Auburn lands Mississippi State OT transfer Percy Lewis

Auburn has landed Percy Lewis, who will compete to be the starting left tackle for the Tigers in 2024.

Auburn has landed its first offensive line transfer of the offseason and it is a big one. Former Mississippi State offensive tackle [autotag]Percy Lewis[/autotag] signed with the Tigers Thursday night, he is Auburn’s seventh transfer addition this cycle.

Lewis started the final seven games at left tackle for the Bulldogs during the 2023 season. He rotated in their previous five games and allowed just one sack in his 235 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

The 6-foot-8, 345-pounder visited Auburn and Arkansas last week and will have two seasons of eligibility on the Plains. The Sallis, Mississippi, native started his career at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College before transferring to Mississippi State ahead of the 2022 season.

Offensive line coach [autotag]Jake Thornton[/autotag] and Auburn have been looking to solidify the offensive line by adding an offensive tackle, allowing them to move [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag] inside to guard to help replace departing starters [autotag]Gunner Britton[/autotag] and [autotag]Kam Stutts[/autotag].

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Decision coming soon for Mississippi State OT transfer Percy Lewis

Percy Lewis allowed just one sack last season and he is ready to make his decision.

Auburn hosted Mississippi State offensive tackle transfer [autotag]Percy Lewis[/autotag] on an official visit and the Tigers are now a finalist for him.

He also visited Arkansas earlier in the week and following his visit to the Plains, he will no longer be visiting Ole Miss.

“I just took two visits — I ain’t going to take no more,” Lewis told Auburn Undercover’s Nathan King. “It’s time to narrow it down because it’s getting about that time again. So I ain’t going to keep going on these visits. I’m just going to narrow it down. Get home tonight, do a little thinking by myself and just make my move in the morning.”

The 6-foot-8, 345-pounder appeared in all 12 games for the Bulldogs at left tackle, starting the final seven. He allowed just one sack and four hurries in 235 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

A former JUCO product, Lewis spent two seasons at Mississippi State and will have two seasons of eligibility at his next stop, though he is hoping to play just one before entering the NFL.

Auburn is looking to add one or two offensive linemen through the transfer portal after losing starting guards [autotag]Gunner Britton[/autotag] and [autotag]Kam Stutts[/autotag]. Last years starting left tackle, [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag], is exepcted to move inside to guard, freeing up a tackle spot.

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Auburn showing interest in Texas A&M OL Chase Bisontis

Bisontis is one of the most popular names currently in the transfer portal.

[autotag]Chase Bisontis[/autotag] was a productive member of Texas A&M‘s offensive line in 2023.

In 12 games, he played 544 snaps, with 543 of those at right tackle according to Pro Football Focus. Bisontis also allowed just four sacks in 290 pass plays this season for the Aggies.

So it is easy to see why he is gaining interest from several Power Five programs, including Auburn, now that he has officially entered the transfer portal.

Bisontis has received interest from over 20 programs according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Auburn is one of 10 SEC programs that have reached out to Bisontis in hopes that he will choose them as his next home. On3’s Pete Nakos lists LSU as the early favorite to land Bisontis, but Bisontis has not officially announced a commitment date.

It never hurts to have depth at the offensive line unit, but the tackle position is not an immediate need for the Tigers heading into 2024. The team’s primary tackles, [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag] and [autotag]Izavion Miller[/autotag], are eligible to return to the team next season. However, Bisontis was a talented piece of the 2023 recruiting cycle by being ranked the No. 2 offensive lineman of the class, and the No. 1 player out of New Jersey. If he were to consider Auburn, Freeze and offensive line coach [autotag]Jake Thornton[/autotag] could work with him in order to find the role that is best suited for him.

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Memphis OL Mak Pounders earns Auburn offer, schedules visit

One of Memphis’ most productive offensive linemen in 2023 will visit the Plains on Sunday.

Out of all the transfers that [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and Auburn acquired from the transfer portal in 2023, among the most reliable were those who joined the offensive line.

Players such as [autotag]Gunner Britton[/autotag], [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag], and [autotag]Avery Jones[/autotag] were incredibly beneficial to the Tigers offense this season, and Freeze is looking to find the next man up within the portal.

[autotag]Mak Pounders[/autotag] is one of Auburn’s early targets to fill gaps within the offensive line next season. Pounders served as Memphis’ left tackle this season and was one of the Tigers’ most productive linemen. He announced Friday that he has received an Auburn offer, and Jeffrey Lee of On3 reports that Pounders will be on campus for a visit this Sunday, Dec. 10.

According to Pro Football Focus data, Pounders played 673 snaps this season at left tackle for Memphis, which was the 5th-highest among Memphis players last season, and the 4th-highest among linemen. In 388 snaps where a pass was attempted, Pounders allowed just 11 pressures this season with six hurries and one sack.

In addition to Auburn, Pounders has received offers from South Carolina and Texas Tech.

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Recently offered JUCO DL Brien Taylor sets official visit to Auburn

Auburn has entered the race for Brien Taylor and he has already scheduled an official visit to the Plains.

Auburn defensive line coach [autotag]Jeremy Garrett[/autotag] has dipped into the JUCO ranks with his latest scholarship offer, the recipient is [autotag]Brien Taylor[/autotag] and it’s safe to say that he is excited about the offer.

“The offer, it was real exciting,” Taylor told Christian Clemente of Auburn Undercover. “My dog, one of my best friends, he goes there. He’s the left tackle ([autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag]) at Auburn. That’s real exciting that we’d be able to live out the dream if Auburn was home for me.”

Taylor and Wade have been friends since childhood and both played at Cy Fall High School in Houston, Texas. Auburn is far from the only SEC school pursuing Taylor though, he has offers from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Mississippi State.

Taylor is the No. 12 overall player and the No. 3 defensive lineman in the 247Sports JUCO rankings. He is also the No. 2 player from Texas.

The 6-foot-5, 270-pounder is currently playing his sophomore season at Blinn College and will have two seasons of eligibility at his next school. With limited time left to play he is looking to make an immediate impact at his next stop, something Auburn can offer with several players set to graduate after this season along the defensive line.

Taylor has already set an official visit to Auburn for Oct. 21, the weekend Auburn will host Ole Miss. He has also scheduled official visits to Georgia (Nov. 11) and Florida (Nov. 25) and previously took one to Oklahoma State.

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