Tag: Gus Malzahn

Son of Tigers’ football legend earns scholarship offer from Auburn

Ready to feel old?

Every college football fan remembers where they were the moment the infamous “kick six” occurred.

On November 30, 2013, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, the Alabama Crimson Tide had one second remaining on the game clock after gaining a first down. In an effort to break a 28-28 tie, and win the game, Alabama head coach Nick Saban sent kicker Adam Griffith to kick a 56-yard field goal. His efforts fell short and into the hands of Auburn returner [autotag]Chris Davis[/autotag], who returned the kick 100 yards for a touchdown, giving the Tigers the 34-28 win.

Fast forward 11 years, and the Auburn legend’s son has the opportunity to continue his father’s legacy.

[autotag]CJ Davis[/autotag], a 2028 running back from Hewitt-Trussville High School in Trussville and the son of Auburn legend Chris Davis, shared on social media Tuesday that he has received an offer from his father’s alma mater. Davis shared the news of the offer by posting a photo of him and his father during the eldest Davis’ playing days at Auburn.

The rising 9th grader has yet to receive a ranking from recruiting outlets but is beginning to rack up offers. In addition to Auburn, Davis has earned offers from Arkansas, Florida State, and UCF, which is led by his father’s college head coach, [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag].

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Former Auburn WR Ja’Varrius Johnson transfers to UCF

With the transfer portal window coming to an end in the college football offseason, former Auburn WR Ja’Varrius Johnson commits to UCF

The transfer portal window is coming to an end in the college football offseason and rosters are becoming set for the 2024-25 year. A lot of moves are being made all around the country, especially ones that should be put on high notice.

One that is potentially very impactful comes from former Auburn wide receiver, [autotag]Ja’Varrius Johnson[/autotag], who has committed to the UCF Knights for next season.

Johnson entered the portal on Dec. 15 with one year of eligibility remaining in his college career. He has spent every season up to this point on the Plains, going through three different head coaches in his time.

The senior racked up 64 receptions for 1,114 yards and eight touchdowns with the Tigers. He capped the 2023 season off with the best game of his season in a loss to Alabama, where he had four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.

He joins former Auburn head coach [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag] in Orlando, as well as former players in wide receiver [autotag]Kobe Hudson[/autotag] and defensive tackle [autotag]Lee Hunter[/autotag].

The Tigers now only notably return their top receiver from last year in [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag], to go along with Camden Brown as main contributors in pass catching from last season.

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Dameyune Craig set to join staff at Georgia State

Craig will reunite with Dell McGee by joining his new staff at Georgia State.

Georgia State made a home run hire by naming former Auburn player [autotag]Dell McGee[/autotag] as its next head coach last month. McGee is quickly proving that he is the right man for the job by putting together a respectable coaching staff.

One of the first hires he has made involves a former Auburn quarterback and assistant coach. Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reports that [autotag]Dameyune Craig[/autotag] will join Georgia State’s coaching staff as an offensive assistant.

Craig joins McGee’s staff after spending the last six seasons at Texas A&M, serving as wide receivers coach. While in College Station, he coached Evan Stewart, Moose Muhammad, and Ainias Smith to successful college careers.

After playing for the Tigers from 1994-97, and later served as a co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag]’s staff during the 2013 season. Auburn had three receivers haul in at least 200 yards during that season, with [autotag]Sammie Coates[/autotag] leading the way with 902 yards and seven touchdowns.

Craig has also served as an assistant coach at LSU, Tuskegee, South Alabama, and Florida State.

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Former Auburn player, analyst expected to be named head coach at Georgia State

Dell McGee played cornerback for Auburn from 1992-95, and later served as an analyst on Gus Malzahn’s first staff in 2013.

A former Auburn player and analyst is set to take on his first collegiate head coaching role.

Matt Zenitz of 247Sports is reporting that Georgia State is eyeing [autotag]Dell McGee[/autotag] to take over as head coach of the football program following the departure of Shawn Elliot.

Zenitz reports that Georgia State held Zoom interviews with candidates on Tuesday, and in-person interviews on Thursday. Former Auburn assistant [autotag]Trooper Taylor[/autotag] was also interviewed for the position.

McGee has been a part of Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia since the 2016 season, serving in various roles including running backs coach and run game coordinator. McGee has coached in the college ranks since 2013, beginning as an analyst on [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag]’s initial staff.

Following his departure from Auburn, he served as running backs coach at Georgia Southern for two seasons. He even led the Eagles to a bowl win as an interim head coach in 2015 after former Georgia Southern head coach Willie Fritz left to take the Tulane job.

Before his time at Auburn, he was a successful high school head coach at Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia, where he produced talented players such as running back Isaiah Crowell, linebacker Jarvis Jones, and former Auburn defensive lineman [autotag]Gabe Wright[/autotag].

McGee played cornerback for the Tigers from 1992-95. He went on to become a fifth-round selection by the Arizona Cardinals in the 1996 NFL draft.

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Former Auburn football commit Kendarius Riddick flips to UCF

After he committed to Auburn on Oct. 19, 4-star safety Kendarius Riddick flipped his commitment to the UCF Knights and former Tiger coach Gus Malzahn.

Auburn’s recruitment of the 2025 class has been going particularly well. It hit a bump on Saturday when Thomas County Central High School (Ga.) and four-star safety Kendarius Riddick unexpectedly flipped his commitment.

The No. 7 ranked safety according to On3 industry ranking committed to the UCF Knights and former Auburn head coach [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag] after having been committed to the Tigers since Oct. 19.

The Georgia native is also ranked as the No. 74 overall player, and No. 12 in the state in the class.

Auburn’s 2025 class is now ranked No. 9 in the country following the flip, while UCF ranks No. 12. This is the Knights’ first safety in the class. The class has five defensive commitments, mostly on the defensive line. Opelika’s Malik Autry remains the class’ top commitment by being the No. 7 defensive lineman for 2025, and the No. 8 overall prospect from Alabama. Four-stars [autotag]Antonio Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Jakaleb Faulk[/autotag], and [autotag]Jourdin Crawford[/autotag] also occupy the class.

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Trovon Reed to join Gus Malzahn’s staff at UCF

Reed reunites with his former head coach in order to take on an on-field role.

One of Auburn’s top recruiters is leaving the program to take on an on-field role.

[autotag]Trovon Reed[/autotag], who played cornerback and wide receiver at Auburn and most recently served as Auburn’s Director of Football and Recruiting Relations, is heading to Orlando to become the next cornerbacks coach at UCF. The move will allow Reed to reunite with his college head coach, [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag].

Reed joined Auburn’s athletic staff in 2021 and served as Director of Football and Recruiting Relations through both seasons of the [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] era, as well as the debut season for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]. He was known as a popular figure among recruits due to his ability to build solid relationships with each one.

He now departs to UCF for his first on-field coaching role. He will join former Auburn players [autotag]Kam Martin[/autotag] and [autotag]Nate Craig-Myers[/autotag] as members of the Knights staff. Since becoming head coach in

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USC EDGE, former Tiger Romello Height enters transfer portal

A member of Auburn’s 2020 haul, Height is seeking other opportunities following a two-year stay at USC.

A member of Auburn’s 2020 recruiting haul is exploring new opportunities.

[autotag]Romello Height[/autotag], a former four-star EDGE who signed with Auburn during the 2020 recruiting cycle, announced Friday that he is entering the transfer portal after spending two seasons at USC.

He played in nine games in two seasons at Auburn, recording 18 total tackles. His best games in an Auburn uniform took place during the 2021 season against Alabama State and Arkansas when he made four stops each.

His most productive season at USC was in 2023, where he competed in 11 games and recorded 20 tackles. Six of those tackles were for a loss. He recorded a season-high five tackles in the Trojans’ win over Arizona State on Sept. 23. He also recorded two tackles for loss, and recovered a fumble.

Height was a part of Auburn’s 2020 class that ranked No. 8 in the nation and turned out to be the final signing class under former head coach [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag]. He was the No. 16 recruit of Auburn’s 27-member signing class. Several headliners of the class include [autotag]Wesley Steiner[/autotag] and [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] and several who transferred away from the program such as [autotag]Kobe Hudson[/autotag], [autotag]JJ Pegues[/autotag], and [autotag]LaDarrius Tennison[/autotag].

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Cadillac Williams resigns from position as Auburn’s associate head coach

The former Auburn running back resigns after spending five seasons as an assistant coach under three different head coaches.

The latest move regarding Auburn’s coaching staff involves a program legend.

[autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag], who played for Auburn from 2001-04 and served as an assistant coach for his alma mater over the last five seasons, resigned from his position as associate head coach and running backs coach late Thursday evening.

Williams shared his reasoning for the move in a press release. He says that he is looking to pursue other opportunities.

“After taking time to pray and reflect, I have made the decision to resign from my position with Auburn football to pursue other opportunities. I love Auburn, the players and AU family with all my heart, but this decision is what is best for me, my wife and sons. I am extremely grateful for the coaching opportunity given to me first by Coach Malzahn and most recently by Coach Freeze. These past five years on the Plains have been nothing short of incredible. Auburn is and always will be a special part of my life.”

War Eagle!

Williams first joined Auburn’s football staff during the 2019 season under head coach [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag], and would go on to serve on the staffs of [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] and [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]. Following the firing of Harsin during the 2022 season, Williams was named interim head coach. During his time as interim, Williams led the Tigers to a 2-2 record which included an emotional home win over Texas A&M.

Williams is also known as an effective recruiter, as he played a role in landing running backs [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag], [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag], and [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag]. He was also the primary recruiter for offensive linemen [autotag]Clay Wedin[/autotag] and [autotag]Bradyn Joiner[/autotag].

Williams’ resignation marks the fourth assistant coach to leave the staff since the offseason began. Defensive coordinator [autotag]Ron Roberts[/autotag] is now a member of the staff at Florida while defensive backs coach [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag] has joined Mike Elko’s staff at Texas A&M. Auburn has also parted ways with offensive coordinator [autotag]Philip Montgomery[/autotag].

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Former Arkansas QB Jefferson joins former Arkansas OC Malzahn

Arkansas’ all-time leading passer is headed to Central Florida to play for Gus Malzahn, a man plenty familiar with Razorbacks country.

KJ Jefferson and Gus Malzahn both know what it’s like to beloved then cast aside by Arkansas.

That isn’t the primary reason they will team up in 2024, of course, but their mutual connection to the Razorbacks is more than just a standard line in the story after Jefferson, Arkansas’ starting quarterback the last three years, committed to Central Florida, coached by Arkansas’ offensive coordinator in 2006, on Monday.

Jefferson had long been rumored to head to UCF as the fit made a ton of sense. Malzahn has been a fan of running quarterbacks for a majority of his college coaching career.

And Jefferson can run. He’s second all-time for yards rushing by a quarterback in Arkansas history and he’s the school’s career leader in yards passing and passing touchdowns.

He also, unfairly, fell out of favor of a certain portion of the Razorbacks fan base after the Hogs struggled to a 4-8 season. Jefferson threw for 2,107 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2023. He was also sacked more than any quarterback in FBS as Arkansas finished 129th out of 133 FBS team in sacks allowed.

Malzahn spent just one controversial year with the Razorbakcs in 2006 before moving to Tulsa and Auburn as offensive coordinator from 2007-2011. He then returned to coach Arkansas State in 2012 before landing at Auburn from 2013-2020 and began at UCF in 2021. The Golden Knights went 6-7 in 2023.

Ranking every SEC recruiting class after the early signing period

Auburn has the No. 7 class after the first day of the early signing period, here is how their class compares to the rest of the SEC.

It was another successful start to the early signing period for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and the Auburn Tigers.

They pulled off their fifth flip of the 2024 recruiting cycle: four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Amaris Williams[/autotag], who flipped his commitment from Florida.

They lost three-star tight end [autotag]Martavious Collins[/autotag], but the two sides have been headed in opposite directions for quite some time and his departure was expected. They signed 22 players, and [autotag]Dimitry Nicolas[/autotag] was the only commit not to sign.

The moves give Auburn the No. 7 class in the 247Sports team composite. It is the first time it has cracked the top 10 since 2020 when [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag] inked the No. 7 overall class.

However, the SEC is the best conference in the sport for a reason, and it starts with their recruiting. Here is a look at how Auburn’s class compares to the rest of the conference.