Tag: Isaiah Raikes

USC players can praise coaches, but it has to mean something for it to matter

The Bear Alexander transfer follows praise of Eric Henderson. Isaiah Raikes praised D’Anton Lynn before transferring. Words mean little.
‘

Bear Alexander praised Eric Henderson — “Coach Henny” — earlier this year at USC. Alexander claimed to know the value of receiving NFL-levle player development from USC’s newest defensive line coach. It turns out that praise really didn’t matter. Bear Alexander is transferring out of USC several months after rumblings that he would do so. That he waited until after the season started only reaffirms how much difficulty Bear Alexander had in making up his mind. It’s not the first time a USC football player has, in 2024, praised a coach and then gone out the door to the transfer portal. Recall Isaiah Raikes on D’Anton Lynn earlier this year:

“I knew their defense had a need for defensive linemen, and I wanted to come into somewhere where I felt like I could make a difference right away,” Raikes told (Trojans Wire’s Tim) Prangley. “Once I found out they were hiring Coach Lynn, that was definitely a big factor.”

“I know he can show me exactly what I need to do, and know exactly what he wants to see out of me to get drafted as high as possible,” Raikes said. He later added that “Physicality is a big thing. We got to be physical at the point of attack. We got to dominate, just taking over as a defensive line.”

The next time a USC player praises a coach, be sure to take it with a grain of salt, or at least be aware of the surrounding context.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, Ducks Wire, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Sophomore Keldric Faulk talks leadership at SEC Media Days

The Tigers’ defense is full of new faces, which gives the 6-6, 290-pound sophomore a unique opportunity to have his voice heard. 

Auburn defensive lineman [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] made history a few weeks ago after his coaches selected him to be one of Auburn’s representatives at SEC Media Day, the first-ever Auburn sophomore to earn such honor.

The second-year Tiger told media members the designation “means a lot…It shows that I’m becoming a leader on my team, and I’m leading the right way on my team.”

A sophomore becoming a leader on a squad as capable and talented as Auburn is a rare feat, but Faulk, who won’t graduate from his teenage years until this fall, has taken command of a defensive front full of new faces. Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has taken notice,

“Keldric has just had an incredible voice that people listen to — because he’s wise for his age and his work ethic is incredible,” Freeze said.

That work ethic and wiseness has been imperative for Faulk to lead a defensive line filled with transfers and freshman. The current Tigers unofficial opening depth chart features just two incumbent Tigers in the top six of the defensive line rotation. Besides Faulk and senior tackle [autotag]Jayson Jones[/autotag], transfers [autotag]Isaiah Raikes[/autotag], [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag], [autotag]Trill Carter[/autotag], and [autotag]Gage Keys[/autotag] are all expected to soak up snaps up front on the Plains.

Despite the college football experience from the aforementioned quartet of big men, none have played a snap with the Tigers, giving the 6-6, 290-pound sophomore a unique opportunity to have his voice heard.

Faulk will not only try to build off an impressive freshman campaign in which he registered 36 tackles and a sack, but he’ll also look towards replicating the qualities of his former Tiger mentors from a season ago.

“Guys like Marcus Harris and Justin Rogers, those two guys, they showed me that being a leader is more than just showing people how to do stuff,” Faulk said. “It’s getting people to follow you in the right way.”

An Alabama native, Faulk’s leadership on the field will be put to the test as camp rolls on in early August before Auburn kicks off the season at the end of the month against Alabama A&M.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Hugh Freeze breaks down Auburn’s most notable position battles ahead of season

Rotations will be key for the Tigers this season, and Freeze wants the best players possible to be involved.

Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers took the stage at SEC Media Days Thursday and one of the many topics up for discussion was position battles within the program.

The most notable battle, at least in the eyes of those outside of the program, is at wide receiver. The Tigers have a revamped wide receiver room which will feature three transfers, four true freshmen, and two returners. However, the most contested battle is on the other side of the line.

Freeze told reporters Thursday that the defensive line will feature a steady rotation this season.

“The most contested, we have six guys on defensive line you might say it’s contested, but I think we need to rotate all six of them,” Freeze said.

Auburn’s defensive line will be experienced as [autotag]Jayson Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] returning with the additions of [autotag]Trill Carter[/autotag], [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag], [autotag]Isaiah Raikes[/autotag], and [autotag]Gage Keys[/autotag] joining the program from the transfer portal. Experience will not be an issue, but it will be up to Freeze and defensive line coach [autotag]Vontrell King-Williams[/autotag] to find the perfect combination to give the Tigers the best chance to succeed.

Another position group of concern is at safety, which was ravaged by the NFL draft. [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] is out, meaning Auburn will need to look to transfers and new faces to fill the role.

“I’d probably say safety. You are going to have Keionte (Scott) and Kayin (Lee) getting the bulk of reps at corner, but we really need (Antonio) Kite and (Jaylin) Crawford, Amon Lane (Ganus), some of these younger guys to get ready to play there,” Freeze said. “(Jerrin) Thompson is the vocal leader there, but we need other pieces to give us depth there.”

Freeze went on to mention that [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] will get the nod at quarterback and that the rotation of running backs will feature [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag], and [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag]. At receiver, Freeze calls for six receivers to step into the rotation. Freshmen [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag], as well as transfers [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag], look to be prime candidates to earn steady playing time at the position.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Auburn football’s spring transfer portal haul receives praise from CBS Sports

CBS Sports’ Clint Brewster is impressed with Auburn’s ability to fill key needs within the transfer portal this spring.

Auburn football quickly assessed its needs following the spring practice session by adding four key players to its roster.

On offense, the Tigers added another experienced receiver in [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] from Penn State to go along with Georgia State transfer [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag] and several key freshmen such as [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag].

Defensively, Auburn filled its front need with three defensive linemen: [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag], [autotag]Keyron Crawford[/autotag], and [autotag]Isaiah Raikes[/autotag]. Auburn added several defensive backs, wide receivers, and offensive linemen during the winter window in hopes of enhancing its six-win campaign from last season.

Following the closure of the spring transfer portal window on April 30, Clint Brewster of CBS Sports graded several top programs’ transfer portal moves. The Tigers’ ability to fill important needs impressed Brewster, who placed the Tigers at No. 2 with a B- grade.

The Tigers addressed the defensive line in the transfer portal with Philip Blidi (No. 291) and Isaiah Raikes (No. 679). Their rankings won’t “wow” you but they’re high three-star guys who project as solid contributors. Auburn also added a deep threat on the offensive side with receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith (No. 68), who had 12 plays of 15 yards or more last season at Penn State. At offensive tackle, Percy Lewis (No. 194) could be a starter after a strong spring.

Alabama was the lone program to top Auburn in Brewster’s rankings. Florida, Florida State, and LSU join Auburn by rounding out the top five.

Auburn reaches out to former South Alabama linebacker Khalil Jacobs

Jacobs made 56 tackles with eight for loss last season at South Alabama.

One of South Alabama’s top defensive players entered the transfer portal on Friday, and Auburn was quick to reach out.

After dipping into the transfer portal in January, South Alabama linebacker [autotag]Khalil Jacobs[/autotag] entered the portal for the second time this week and has quickly garnered the attention of several top programs including Auburn. He tells Pete Nakos of On3 that Alabama, Duke, Indiana, Missouri, NC State, and Tulane have contacted him in addition to Auburn.

Jacobs finished fifth in tackles last season on South Alabama’s defense with 56 tackles, he also ranked second in sacks (3.0), and third in tackles for loss (8.5).

Jacobs could provide Auburn with another pass rush weapon, as he graded 74.9 in pass rush last season according to Pro Football Focus, which was second-highest among South Alabama defenders. He created 17 total quarterback pressures last season with nine hurries and five quarterback hits.

Auburn has enjoyed success by landing three key defensive players from the transfer portal. Former Indiana DL [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag], former Arkansas State EDGE [autotag]Keyron Crawford[/autotag], and former Texas A&M DL [autotag]Isaiah Raikes[/autotag] all joined Auburn’s roster last week.

Auburn transfer Philip Blidi among college football’s ‘best transfer fits’

Blidi will be given the task of replacing Marcus Harris on the Auburn defensive line.

Auburn football has worked diligently to fill needs along its defensive line for the 2024 season and has landed a solid addition in [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag].

Blidi joins Auburn’s roster after making 30 tackles last season at Indiana. Auburn will need to replace outgoing star [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag] on the front, and Blidi will look to develop into a solid contributor to the Tigers’ defense.

The spring transfer portal window remains open through the end of this month, but CBS Sports is already calling the Blidi-Auburn connection one of the best “fits.”

Will Backus of CBS Sports has listed the six best fits within the transfer portal, including Blidi’s commitment to Auburn.

Defensive tackle is a huge position of need for a lot of hopeful contenders in the spring window, so props to Auburn for going out and getting one of the best before another program could swoop in. The Tigers are looking to replace All-SEC performer Marcus Harris and — while Blidi isn’t a ready-made successor — he’ll certainly help in that regard. Blidi spent the first three years of his career at Texas Tech before transferring to Indiana in 2023 and emerging as a starter. He graded out as one of the Hoosiers’ best run-stuffers while tallying 30 tackles and four tackles for loss from the interior.

Auburn has added two more defensive linemen from the transfer portal, [autotag]Isaiah Raikes[/autotag] and [autotag]Keyron Crawford[/autotag]. The Tigers are looking to add more defensive aid and another wide receiver to its spring transfer haul.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Former Texas A&M, USC DL Isaiah Raikes commits to Auburn

Auburn lands its second defensive line transfer in as many days by earning a commitment from Isaiah Raikes.

Auburn football has hit the transfer portal jackpot by securing two defensive line transfers in as many days.

One day after former Indiana defensive lineman [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag] announced his intent to transfer to the Plains, former Texas A&M defensive lineman [autotag]Isaiah Raikes[/autotag] followed suit. Raikes, who spent four seasons at Texas A&M before joining USC‘s roster for a short stint, announced his commitment to Auburn on Monday.

Raikes spent four seasons in College Station, where he totaled 43 stops with 4.3 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 29 total games. The 2023 season was his best, slightly edging his junior season performance in 2022. Last season, Raikes made 17 stops with three tackles for loss, a sack, and a pass deflection. Raikes finished the season as Texas A&M’s No. 7 defensive player according to Pro Football Focus with a 72.3 grade.

Following his stay at Texas A&M, Raikes elected to transfer to USC after the 2023 season. He went through spring practice in Los Angeles but decided to weigh his options again during the spring window, where he ultimately chose Auburn.

Raikes measures 6-1 and weighs 320 pounds, and will play a great role in closing gaps, which will allow players such as Keldric Faulk and Jalen McLeod to earn more tackle opportunities.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Jay Fair becomes second Tiger to enter transfer portal

Fair logged 34 catches for 358 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons at Auburn.

The spring transfer portal window has been relatively quiet for Auburn, as just two players have declared their intention to depart from the program.

Joining defensive lineman [autotag]Brenton Williams[/autotag], wide receiver [autotag]Jay Fair[/autotag] has also elected to dip into the transfer portal after spending two seasons on the Plains.

Fair was a notable player heading into the 2023 season following a successful training camp. The hype bled into the season as he made 14 catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns in Auburn’s first three games. However, his production dipped as he managed to record just 17 catches for 150 yards and zero scores over the final 10 games.

Despite his late struggles, Fair was second in receptions with 31, third in yards with 324, and tied for third with two touchdown catches. Auburn’s leading receiver, [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag], returns to the team for the 2024 season. At the same time, true freshmen [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag], [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag], and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag] are expected to enter the receiver rotation.

Auburn has received one commitment from the spring window, former Indiana defensive lineman Philip Blidi. Former Penn State receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and former USC [autotag]Isaiah Raikes[/autotag] are also high on Auburn’s board.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

USC football evaluations simply have to get better (quickly)

USC coaching staff evaluations of portal prospects were great in 2022, then not very good in 2023.

The Isaiah Raikes transfer from USC isn’t a dark or troubling story. No one got hurt. A player simply chose to leave a program to seek a chance to play somewhere else. The story is, however, frustrating and annoying and a general waste of everyone’s time. USC thought it had a contributing player in January. Three months later, in April, it doesn’t. That’s not the desired outcome for the athlete himself, for the USC coaching staff, for the USC football program, for the fans, for everyone who is interested in the Trojans and their success.

We could choose to blame Raikes for bailing on USC just three months after he entered, but what if other players were simply better than he was in spring practice? If that was the case, Raikes — who would naturally want playing time — is being wise in transferring out. Obviously, though, something didn’t quite hit the mark. What should be the point of emphasis here for USC?

One good answer — not the only one, but a good one — is this: player evaluation.

When a player such as Isaiah Raikes transfers from a prominent program (Texas A&M) to USC, at a position group where the Trojans have an acute need, that player is expected to produce. Bear Alexander, for instance, transferred from Georgia to USC. He delivered the goods. That’s the expected outcome. Raikes not measuring up clearly indicates that if he was deemed to be a valuable player who could contribute right away to USC, that evaluation was way off the mark.

USC needs better evaluations. Let’s keep in mind that multiple offensive line pickups in the transfer portal did not pan out last year: Michael Tarquin and Jarrett Kingston did not work out very well. Emmanuel Pregnon gets one more chance to prove himself this year after a less-than-great 2023 season. The Trojans need evaluations which are accurate. If the staff brings players into the program, those players need to be hits and not misses. The “hit rate” for the staff has to be higher than it was in 2023. The hit rate was much better in 2022, when Bobby Haskins, Jordan Addison, Travis Dye, and Austin Jones were all splash hits from the portal. USC’s evaluations need to be better — soon.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Bear Alexander deserved more of an investment than Isaiah Raikes

We don’t know if Isaiah Raikes asked for a larger NIL cut, but if he did, it was easy for Lincoln Riley to say no.

We don’t know for a fact that Isaiah Raikes asked for a bigger NIL bag from USC. Lincoln Riley declined to elaborate on the details connected to Raikes’ departure from USC football in the transfer portal, days after the Trojans retained Bear Alexander in a dramatic 48-hour sequence. We don’t know with certainty why players leave football programs. This stuff happens behind the scenes, and no one benefits from airing the deeper details of movements inside the locker room the public will never see.

However, while we don’t know exactly what happened, we can imagine what might have happened behind closed doors with Isaiah Raikes and other players who transfer out of a program shortly after coming in. This matter could be as simple as Raikes not being as good as he thought he was. It could be that clear-cut. If there was any friction, however, there’s a chance that Raikes might have angled for a bigger NIL bag.

If we play with this hypothetical, let’s just come out and say it: If Raikes did want a bigger NIL amount, he didn’t deserve it. More precisely, he didn’t deserve NIL at the same level Bear Alexander does. Bear Alexander turned in an actual season of great work for USC. Raikes hasn’t played a down for USC. If we’re comparing those players and any possible NIL investment the two players might deserve, Bear deserved it more than Raikes did.

We talked about this at The Voice of College Football:

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.