Tag: Jaden Muskrat

Auburn shakes up depth chart for Week 9 matchup with Mississippi State

Austin Keys and Keionte Scott are back as starters after returning last week from injury.

Auburn returned two starters on defense last week and they are now back in the starting lineup ahead of Auburn’s Week 9 game against Mississippi State.

[autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] missed three games after undergoing ankle surgery but couldn’t be kept off the field against Ole Miss. He played 71 snaps and made five tackles and defended two passes and is back as the starting star cornerback.

Middle linebacker [autotag]Austin Keys[/autotag] also made his return after missing five games, playing 26 snaps and making four tackles. He and [autotag]Larry Nixon III[/autotag] are both listed as the starting middle linebacker for Mississippi State, separated by an OR

There was another change along the defense with [autotag]Justin Rogers[/autotag] now listed as the starting nose tackle after backing up [autotag]Jayson Jones[/autotag] all season, Jones is now the backup.

Rogers actually started against Ole Miss and played a season-high 42 snaps. He made the most of his opportunity, making four tackles, including one for a loss.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and Co. also tweaked the offensive depth chart, [autotag]Jeremiah Wright[/autotag] is now listed as a backup right guard with [autotag]Jalil Irvin[/autotag]. Wright was previously listed as the backup right tackle but has been replaced by [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag].

Here is a look at the complete depth chart.

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 63 Jaden Muskrat

He is yet another transfer looking to help turn around Auburn offensive line.

Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] in his first season on the Plains.

Up next is transfer offensive lineman [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag]. The veteran was a late addition from the portal and can play several spots along the offensive line for the Tigers.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Berryhill, Oklahoma

Height: 6-3

Weight: 302

Previous School: Tulsa

Class in 2023: Junior

247Sports Composite Ranking

Two-Star / No. 22 in Arkansas / No. 206 DT

Career Stats

Year G
2020 (Tulsa) 2
2021 (Tulsa) 4
2022 (Tulsa) 12

PFF Grades

Year Offense Pass Blocking Run Blocking
2020 52.4 23.7 58.8
2021 60.3 33.7 71.5
2022 61.2 61.8 61.3

Depth Chart Overview

He spent the last three seasons at Tulsa and his familiarity with offensive coordinator [autotag]Phillip Montgomery[/autotag] will help the Tigers get adjusted to the new system.

Muskrat played right tackle for Tulsa last season but he has the ability to play tackle or guard for the Tigers and while he may not win a starting battle at either spot, he provides essential depth and is someone the coaches can plug in if needed.

Jaden Muskrat’s Photo Gallery

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 62 Kameron Stutts

The veteran is looking to become Auburn’s starting right guard.

Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] in his first season on the Plains.

Up next is veteran offensive lineman [autotag]Kameron Stutts[/autotag]. He is in a battle to be Auburn’s starting right guard during fall camp.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Killen, Alabama

Height: 6-5

Weight: 343

Class in 2023: Senior

247Sports Composite Ranking

Three-Star / No. 17 in Alabama / No. 46 OT

Career Stats

Year G
2018 1
2019 11
2020 0
2021 12
2022 12

PFF Grades

Year Offense Pass Blocking Run Blocking Special Teams
2018 59.5 – 59.2 –
2019 65.5 77.9 64.0 64.1
2020 – – – –
2021 65.3 78.8 63.7 65.3
2022 57.1 61.4 58.1 64.5

Depth Chart Overview

Stutts started 11 games last season for the Tigers but is back in a stiff competition to return as a starter with Auburn rotating him, [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag], [autotag]Jeremiah Wright[/autotag] and [autotag]Tate Johnson[/autotag] at the two guard spots.

He appears to have separated himself as the favorite to win the starting right guard spot but Muskrat is still pushing him. Stutts is capable of playing both spots and is an important member of the offensive line group due to his extensive experience and versatilty.

Kameron Stutts’ Photo Gallery

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 54 Tate Johnson

He is battling to be one of Auburn’s starting guards.

Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] in his first season on the Plains.

Up next is offensive lineman [autotag]Tate Johnson[/autotag]. After winning the starting center job last year, he has switched to guard and is firmly in the mix for a starting spot.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: LaGrange, Georgia

Height: 6-4

Weight: 302

Class in 2023: Junior

247Sports Composite Ranking

Three-Star / No. 53 in Georgia / No. 27 OG

Career Stats

Year G
2020 1
2021 0
2022 4

PFF Grades

Year Offense Pass Blocking Run Blocking
2020 66.4 72.5 65.6
2022 55.3 47.4 58.5

Depth Chart Overview

Johnson is in a battle with [autotag]Kameron Stutts[/autotag], [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeremiah Wright[/autotag] for the two guard spots. This battle will likely last into the season and could see several changes as the coaches look to find the best combination along the line.

Johnsons has the ability to play center and was Auburn’s starter last season before suffering a season-ending injury. If starter [autotag]Avery Jones[/autotag] were unable to go he could very well slide over and that versatility makes him an important member of Auburn’s offense and someone to keep an eye on.

Tate Johnson’s Photo Gallery

Auburn offensive lineman makes 247Sports’ All-Name Team

Jaden Muskrat has been named to one of the top groups in college football.

It hasn’t been determined yet if offensive lineman [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag] will be a starter for Auburn this season but he was just named to one of the top groups in college football, the 247Sports’ All-Name Team.

Muskrat is entering his first season at Auburn after spending the past three seasons at Tulsa. He entered the portal after the season and decided to reunite with Auburn offensive coordinator [autotag]Phillip Montgomery[/autotag], who was his head coach at Tusla.

The 6-foot-3, 302-pounder is in contention to be Auburn’s starting guard, battling [autotag]Kameron Stutts[/autotag], [autotag]Tate Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Jeremiah Wright[/autotag] and [autotag]Connor Lew[/autotag] for the two spots.

Muskrat played 18 games at tackle for Tulsa and could slide back outside for Auburn if needed, but he profiles more as a guard in the SEC and that is his path to playing time.

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Auburn football ranks last among Power Five teams in offensive line continuity

The Tigers will have plenty of new faces gracing the offensive line this season.

Out of all units that Auburn football will trot out onto the field in 2023, the offensive line will see the most changes.

It comes with good reason, as the Tigers’ line allowed 32 sacks last season, and they were only able to help their offense gain just 378 yards per game. Most of that was due to inconsistency within snap counts.

According to Pro Football Focus, only two offensive linemen were on the field for more than 700 snaps, [autotag]Killian Zierer[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Council[/autotag]. The next player on the list was [autotag]Austin Troxell[/autotag], who played in 482 snaps over eight games.

If those facts sound crazy, that is because they are. Auburn’s continuity rate among offensive linemen was super low last season. So low, that it was the worst among Power Five teams.

College Football Graphs recently shared its list of offensive line continuity, and Auburn ranks No. 69 among Power Five programs with a rate of 35.6%.

While only three players played more than 400 snaps on the offensive line last season, a total of six were able to play 345 or more snaps last season. Among the nine players who shuffled through Auburn’s offensive line last season, only three return to the 2023 roster: [autotag]Tate Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Jalil Irvin[/autotag], and [autotag]Jeremiah Wright[/autotag].

Hugh Freeze hopes to increase Auburn’s continuity rate in 2023 by sending several of his experienced transfer portal finds to pick up the slack. Several names that should contribute heavily to Auburn’s line this season are [autotag]Avery Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Gunner Britton[/autotag], [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag], and [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag].

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Jones, Britton included in impact transfers list

Auburn added two solid Group of Five linemen in the initial transfer portal window.

Auburn football needed a boost to its offensive line. Thanks to the transfer portal, they received it.

Auburn landed several talented linemen from the transfer portal, which could ultimately lead to their skill players becoming more productive. Two of Auburn’s additions have made a special list from On3.

[autotag]Gunner Britton[/autotag] and [autotag]Avery Jones[/autotag] are both ready to make an impact in the SEC after spending time in the Group of Five division. On3’s Jesse Simonton feels that they are ready to make the jump, as he has included both Britton and Jones in his list titled The 25 most impactful 2023 D-II, FCS, and Group of 5 transfers making the jump to the Power 5.

Britton played in 51 total games at Western Kentucky during his four-year stint there. He was the Hilltoppers’ top-graded lineman last season by receiving a 78.6 from Pro Football Focus while totaling 1,039 snaps in 14 games. His versatility will mesh well with his experience says Simonton.

The former Western Kentucky tackle comes to Auburn after starting all 12 games for the Hilltoppers in 2022. Capable of playing left or right tackle, the 6-6 senior figures to start at one of the two spots for Huge Freeze this fall on The Plains.

Jones played in 31 games at East Carolina in three seasons. Last season, he logged in 852 snaps at center and allowed just 12 pressures.

Jones was a last-minute flip to Auburn during the winter window, opting to play in the SEC over heading to Illinois as originally planned. A three-year starter at center at East Carolina, the 6-4, 310-pound center has already grabbed a spot with the 1s for the Tigers.

Britton and Jones should make an immediate impact on the Auburn offensive line this season. Also, look for Tulsa transfers [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag] to see plenty of action up front this season.

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PFF ranks Gunner Britton as one of the best returning offensive linemen in the SEC

Hugh Freeze has overhauled Auburn’s offensive line and Britton is one of his top additions.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has done a great job flipping Auburn’s roster ahead of his first season on the Plains and perhaps the position where he has done the most work is along the offensive line, where the Tigers have landed nine newcomers this offseason.

One of the biggest additions is transfer offensive tackle [autotag]Gunner Britton[/autotag], who spent the past five seasons at Western Kentucky. He started 14 games for the Hilltoppers last season and is poised to be the Tigers starting right tackle for the 2023 season.

The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder was one of the top players in the transfer portal and PFF has him graded as one of the top returning offensive linemen in the SEC, his grade of 78.6 is the fourth highest among returning players.

He is one of four transfers Auburn has landed along the offensive line and all have a good shot at starting. With Britton anchoring the right tackle spot, [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag] (Tusla) is expected to start at left tackle with [autotag]Avery Jones[/autotag] (ECU) playing enter and [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag] (Tulsa) battling for one of the guard spots.

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Mike Farrell talks Auburn’s ‘interesting’ additions of Jalen McLeod and Larry Nixon III

The College Football analyst is intrigued by Auburn’s LB additions from the transfer portal, and is interested to see how they pan out on the Plains.

When it comes to the transfer portal, Auburn football had just as much success in the spring window as it did in the winter by reeling in seven more players which included two linebackers.

Mike Farrell recently spent time breaking down transfer linebackers, and has listed Auburn’s additions of [autotag]Larry Nixon III[/autotag] from North Texas and [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] from Appalachian State as “interesting moves.”

Farrell released his choices for the top five interesting linebacker moves of the spring transfer window and has included Nixon and McLeod in the mix. Starting with Nixon, Farrell says that he will have plenty of opportunities to earn playing time this season.

Having totaled 245 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks during his time with North Texas, Nixon now brings his productive experience to Auburn. He is part of a revamped linebacking group, being the fourth added by the Tigers during this cycle. While [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag] and [autotag]Wesley Steiner[/autotag] are also important returnees at the position, there is plenty of opportunity to earn playing time this fall.

He then mentions McLeod by saying that his production at Appalachian State will provide a quick boost to the position.

McLeod arrives at Auburn in a similar situation as the above-mentioned Larry Nixon. Coming off a season when he finished with 7.5 tackles for a loss and six sacks, his production and playmaking ability will be an immediate valuable asset for the Tigers. However, just like Nixon, he will have to battle with several returning players and other transfers for playing time which will make summer camp very interesting at the position.

Nixon and McLeod are among the seven valuable additions to Auburn’s roster from the spring window of the portal. Quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], offensive lineman [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag], and wide receiver [autotag]Jyaire Shorter[/autotag] brings Auburn’s transfer haul to 21 total members, which is second in the nation behind Colorado.

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Auburn named a spring transfer portal winner

The Tigers have added eight transfers during the spring window, including quarterback Payton Thorne.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] inherited a roster that needed a massive injection of talent if the Auburn Tigers were going to compete in the SEC in his first year on the Plains.

Well, he went out and got the talent and on Thursday the Tigers were named a winner of the spring transfer portal by Ralph D. Russo of the Associated Press.

Auburn has brought in quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] (Michigan State) and wide receivers [autotag]Shane Hooks[/autotag] (Jackson State), [autotag]Caleb Burton[/autotag] (Ohio State) and [autotag]Jyaire Shorter[/autotag] (North Texas) to fix a passing attack that was one of the worst in the SEC last season.

While Thorne struggled last season, Russo points out that his 19 touchdown passes were over double the nine that Auburn managed.

The Tigers also added offensive lineman [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag], who started for offensive coordinator [autotag]Philip Montgomery[/autotag] at Tulsa last season.

It wasn’t just the offense that got reinforcements though, they added linebackers [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] (App State) and [autotag]Larry Nixon III[/autotag] (North Texas) and defensive end [autotag]Stephen Sings V[/autotag] (Liberty) to shore up the front seven on defense.

McLeod and Sings are both expected to help rush the passer at the Jack linebacker spot as defensive coordinator [autotag]Rob Roberts[/autotag] looks to create more “havoc” plays.

Nixon, who made 105 tackles last season, will help shore up the middle of the defense.

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