Hugh Freeze – Syndication Server

Auburn lands former Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith out of portal

Auburn football is continuing to improve its receiving corps for the 2024 season, adding Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith

Auburn football is continuing to make moves to its roster through the transfer portal, gaining some high talent from other programs within the last few days.

Things got better for coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and this Tiger offense, as former Penn State wide receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] announced he is joining this new and improved receiving squad on Wednesday.

Auburn lands the senior after he entered the transfer portal on April 15. Lamber-Smith left State College after four years of playing under James Franklin, making a significant impact on the field for the Nittany Lions.

He started in 12 of the team’s 13 games last season. He ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 53 catches on the year and sixth in receiving yards, posting 673.

The 6-1, 185-pound receiver only racked up four touchdowns, with his longest being a 72-yard house call in the Penn State’s season opener with West Virginia. He was able to post over 80 yards catching four times, as well.

He is currently the only player in Nittany Lion history to have ever recorded multiple 80-yard reception. He also has three touchdown receptions of over 70 yards to his name, to go along with his 20 catches of over 20 yards.

Lambert-Smith is set to join veteran transfers [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag] out of Georgia State and [autotag]Sam Jackson V[/autotag] out of California in this receiving corps, to go along with highly touted freshman class the Tigers are bringing in at the position.

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LSU defensive tackle transfer target commits to Auburn

LSU missed on a defensive tackle transfer prospect.

LSU came up short in landing one of its top transfer defensive tackle targets as [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag] committed to Auburn.

Blidi began his career at Texas Tech before transferring to Indiana. He hit the portal again after a year with the Hoosiers, this time garnering SEC interest.

According to On3’s Shea Dixon, Auburn made an impression on Blidi, and the buzz around his recruitment signaled Auburn following Blidi’s visit to the Plains.

Per PFF, Blidi was the 15th-best graded defensive tackle in the Big Ten last year while totaling 15 pressures and 11 run stops.

LSU needs to beef up its defensive tackle group and remains in pursuit of some of the portal’s top players, including DTs [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag].

#LSU hosted Indiana transfer DT Philip Blidi, but all the buzz had been around Auburn following his visit earlier this week. https://t.co/7cWYDtn4eM

— Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) April 21, 2024

Blidi bolsters an already solid Auburn transfer class that ranks 10th in the country, according to On3.

LSU remains well positioned with the seventh-ranked transfer class, but Blidi is a loss given the Tigers’ need at his position.

Brian Kelly said defensive tackle is the only position LSU is after in the spring portal window. [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] are the only two scholarship defensive tackles on the roster who saw time for LSU last year.

Despite the lack of numbers, Kelly feels good about where the position is headed with defensive line coach [autotag]Bo Davis[/autotag] leading the way.

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Former Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith schedules official visit to Auburn

Who says there is such a thing as too much talent in your wide receiver room?

Auburn is set to have one of its most talented wide receiver rooms in recent memory as Georgia State’s leading receiver from last season, [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag], joins the roster in addition to true freshmen [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag], and [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag].

However, [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] wants to give his quarterbacks every advantage possible. Because of this, he is pursuing one of the top wide receivers in the transfer portal.

Former Penn State wide receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] entered the transfer portal this week, and is already filling his calendar with official visits. According to Pete Nakos of On3, Lambert-Smith will be in Auburn for his official visit beginning Thursday.

Lambert-Smith had a productive career at Penn State. In four seasons, he logged 1,721 yards on 126 catches with 11 touchdowns. He completed his best season in 2023 by hauling in 53 passes for 673 yards, both were career-highs. He also tied his career-best in touchdowns with four.

He was Penn State’s highest-graded receiver according to Pro Football Focus with a 74.0. He caught 53 of 85 targeted passes with 11 contested catches and five drops.

Lambert-Smith has scheduled for Texas A&M that will take place following his Auburn visit this weekend. Colorado and West Virginia are other known schools that are actively pursuing Lambert-Smith.

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Four-star OT Broderick Shull locks in Auburn official visit

Auburn is the favorite to land Shull. Can they close the deal during his official visit to campus?

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and the Auburn football coaching staff have found success this recruiting cycle by landing four offensive linemen to its 2025 haul. They are in a great position to land its fifth and could close the deal next month.

[autotag]Broderick Shull[/autotag], a four-star offensive tackle from Bixby, Oklahoma, has locked in three official visits this Summer, with Auburn getting the first one during the weekend of May 31. Texas Tech and Texas A&M are next in line, with Kansas State, Nebraska, and Illinois in the mix to grab his fourth visit.

Auburn getting Shull’s first official visit is important, as the Tigers are considered the front-runner. Earlier this month, Steve Wiltfong of On3 logged a prediction in favor of Auburn with 60% confidence. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine gives Auburn an 89.6% chance to land Shull, with Kansas State currently in second place with a 2.7% chance. Shull has zero Crystal Ball predictions from 247Sports currently.

Shull paid a visit to the Plains in March and tells On3 that several aspects of the trip to Auburn stood out to him.

“It blew me away. The facilities are one of the top in the country, and the coaches are really good. Other than that, I just got a really good feeling there. They have that southern vibe like in Georgia and Alabama, with the trees and it’s near water. It’s just beautiful down there. The towns around that give that hometown, small town kind of vibe, too. I got a really good feeling from the fans and the campus.”

Shull stands 6-5, 275, and is a four-star rated OT by On3, ESPN, and Rivals.

Four-star RB Alvin Henderson chooses Penn State over Auburn

A late push by Penn State erased Auburn’s chances of landing the talented in-state running back on Thursday.

Penn State made a late push in [autotag]Alvin Henderson[/autotag]’s recruitment in an effort to steal him away from the state of Alabama, and it worked.

Henderson, a four-star running back from Elba High School in Elba, Alabama, chose Penn State on Thursday over Auburn, Florida State, Oregon, and Miami. Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and the newly hired offensive coordinator [autotag]Derrick Nix[/autotag] worked to maintain their relationship with Henderson following the departure of former running backs coach [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag]. The effort worked for a while but was not enough to close the deal.

Henderson was expected to commit on April 4, but the announcement date was altered by a week thanks to a late visit to State College. In a recent interview with Tom Loy of 247Sports, Henderson cited that Penn State has recruited him the hardest despite him not mentioning their involvement in his recruitment until the final stages. In their recruiting pitch, Penn State tells Henderson he can be the next great star.

The thing about Penn State is that they consider me as a dude that can come in and be the next Nick Singleton or Kaytron Allen. They are going to leave this year and they consider me the dude that can replace them. Their development at the running back position over the past few years, it’s real. They believe in what coach (James) Franklin has done. They want me to jump on the train and carry the torch that the running backs have started over the years.

Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class is still strong despite Henderson’s decision to commit to Penn State. The Tigers rank No. 8 in 247Sports’ rankings thanks to the commitments of [autotag]Malik Autry[/autotag], [autotag]Jakaleb Faulk[/autotag], and [autotag]Devin Williams[/autotag]. Auburn’s class added a talented offensive lineman earlier this week in [autotag]Carde Smith[/autotag], and are in prime position to land four-star linebacker [autotag]Eric Winters[/autotag] and three-star cornerback [autotag]Dante Core[/autotag].

Four-star WR Travis Smith sets date to visit Auburn

In the midst of many tight recruiting battles, four-star wide receiver Travis Smith has set a date for his official visit to Auburn

Auburn football is currently in the race for many of the nation’s best high school products with the hopes of increasing its recruiting ranking in a big way. Visits play a big factor in these races, so every chance that the Tigers get to show off their campus to these big recruits is crucial.

Four-star wide receiver [autotag]Travis Smith[/autotag] is one of those players in the 2025 class that coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] is after. Luckily for Auburn, the dynamic player out of Westlake High School (Ga.) has set a date to make his official visit to the Plains.

Smith is set to make an appearance on campus on June 7. His visit will be the second of four week stretch where he visits different programs in the SEC.

In addition to the Plains, he is set to visit Georgia on May 31, Alabama on June 14 and Tennessee on June 21. This visit will be critical for the Tigers so they can separate themselves from their rivals that are going after him.

The 6-foot-3, 200 pound star is ranked the No. 90 player in his recruiting class according to the On3 industry ranking, as well as the No. 11 wide receiver in the class. He is also ranked the No. 12 player in the state of Georgia.

Should he commit to Auburn, Smith would be the first wide receiver to join the class, but the 11th overall player. It would also improve the Tigers’ 2025 recruiting class ranking, which currently sits at No. 9 in the country.

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Auburn gets prediction to land 2026 standout Hezekiah Harris

As Auburn football is continually pushing for a great results on the recruiting trail, On3 has logged a prediction for Hezekiah Harris to land on the Plains

Auburn football is in the midst of recruiting battles day in and day out in the offseason, especially with the recent completion of the team’s annual A-Day game. Coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] is trying to impress many potential Tigers and make a national statement.

One of those potential recruits is four-star EDGE [autotag]Hezekiah Harris[/autotag] out of Mae Jemison High School (Ala.), who recently landed a prediction from On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine to commit to Auburn.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder has the chance to be the third player from the 2026 recruiting class to commit to the Tigers. He would join [autotag]Denairius Gray[/autotag] and [autotag]Kail Ellis[/autotag] on that front but would be the first defensive player to join the class.

According to the On3 industry rankings, Harris is ranked No. 24 in the nation in the recruiting class while also being the No. 4 EDGE. In the state of Alabama, he is in the No. 2 spot.

Harris is also being pursued by Alabama and Mississippi State, but Auburn seems to be the heavy favorite as of late.

New RPM Prediction: #Auburn to land in-state future 5-star Edge (On3+) @AuburnLiveOn3

Let’s keep it going.. Been thinking about this prediction for a while now.. I have seen and heard enough. https://t.co/mizFgH12sR

— Cole Pinkston (@ColePinkston) April 9, 2024

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Auburn to officially make the switch from Under Armour to Nike

Auburn’s long-time deal with Under Armour will expire in 2025, paving the way for Nike to become the program’s official uniform provider.

After spending 18 seasons as Auburn’s official uniform and apparel provider, Under Armour will make one last run on the Plains in 2024.

Auburn Athletics announced Tuesday that its deal with Under Armour will end next summer, paving the way for Nike to become the program’s next provider of uniforms, shoes, and apparel. Auburn athletic director [autotag]John Cohen[/autotag] is excited for the next chapter in Tigers’ athletics.

“We are excited to enter this new partnership with Nike, a brand that consistently champions athletes and sport around the world. We are appreciative of their strong support throughout this process. We believe that our 10-year agreement, beginning in July 2025, will continue to elevate Auburn and best serve our student-athletes and our university moving forward. We are also grateful to Kevin Plank and Under Armour for their 18 years of valued partnership in growing the Auburn brand and serving our student athletes, coaches, and fans. We look forward to the opportunity to celebrate this relationship throughout the final year ahead.”

Under Armour became Auburn’s official uniform outfitter in 2006, replacing Auburn’s deal with longtime provider, Russell Athletic. The original contract was for five years and was worth $10.6 million. In 2015, Auburn restructured its contract for 10 years and $78.1 million, plus $10 million in Under Armour stock.

Justin Hokanson of Auburn Live reports that Apple CEO and Auburn alum [autotag]Tim Cook[/autotag] played a major role in negotiations. [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] were also open to moving on from Under Armour in favor of Nike.

Auburn’s current contract with Under Armour will expire in the Summer of 2025, and Nike will become Auburn’s official uniform provider immediately following the final event of the 2024-25 athletic season.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.
July 2025.#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/j0Rr7Zqq9n

— Auburn Tigers (@AuburnTigers) April 9, 2024

Is Auburn finally moving on from Under Armour?

John Cohen provided an update of Auburn’s situation with Under Armour on Tuesday’s edition of The Next Round.

Birmingham-based digital show The Next Round was on campus Tuesday. While there, hosts Lance Taylor, Jim Dunnaway, and Ryan Brown spoke with several Auburn coaches and athletes, as well as Auburn director of athletics, John Cohen.

One of the most discussed issues within the Auburn community is its apparel deal with Under Armour. Programs such as UCLA, Cincinnati, and California have recently axed their deals with Under Armour, and Auburn could be next as their deal with the uniform provider is set to expire next June.

Cohen spoke on the matter during his appearance on the show. He did not share specifics but said that Auburn fans would be happy with the next step in his decision process.

“We feel like we’re in a very, very positive place right now,” Cohen said Tuesday. “I think our fanbase, everyone connected with Auburn is going to be very pleased with where we are. Just not ready to release because not all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed.”

Should Auburn move on from Under Armour, the early favorite for Auburn’s next apparel provider is Nike according to Auburn fans, who have voiced their displeasure with merchandise on social media. It is also rumored that recruits for multiple sports have voiced their preference for Nike. However, Auburn head football coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] shut down those suspicions Tuesday during his press conference.

If Auburn ends its relationship with Under Armour, which uniform provider would be the best fit?

Leadership is strong within Auburn’s QB room

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is pleased with his quarterbacks’ desire to get better ahead of Saturday’s A-Day game.

Auburn fans are set to flock to the Plains this weekend to watch Auburn’s annual A-Day game. One of the many aspects that fans will be watching this Saturday is the quarterback rotation.

[autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] is set to return as Auburn’s incumbent starter, but returners [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] and [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag], as well as true freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag], are working towards taking the starting role.

How have Auburn’s quarterbacks progressed? Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] says that they are not where he would like for them to be, but there is one aspect of the room that he is truly impressed with.

“Leadership has been really good,” Freeze said. “Our decision-making has not been exactly what I want it to be just yet, but, boy, they’re hungry to learn.”

According to a report by Richard Silva of The Montgomery Advertiser, Thorne continues to see the most action with the first team this spring due to his experience in the role, as well as his understanding of opposing defenses. It appears that the backup competition is between Geriner and Brown. Geriner has taken the most second-team snaps, while Brown is looking to build off of his Music City Bowl outing where he passed for 132 yards.

When it comes to White, Silva says that he appears more experienced than his age would lead everyone to believe. Earlier this spring, Thorne told reporters that White is great at asking questions, and is eager to learn as much as he can.

A-Day is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium.