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Hunter, McPherson earn first team All-SEC preseason honors

RB Jarquez Hunter and K Alex McPherson will be a factor in Auburn’s success this season.

The preseason All-SEC team has been released, and Auburn has two representatives on the first team.

Running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] and kicker [autotag]Alex McPherson[/autotag] are among 29 players from across the SEC to earn a place within the preseason All-SEC team. Hunter joins Georgia‘s Trevor Etienne as a first-team running back while McPherson is tabbed as a first-team kickoff specialist alongside kicker Bert Auburn of Texas and punter James Burnip of Alabama. McPherson also grabbed third-team kicker honors.

Hunter’s first season as the premier back in Auburn’s offense saw him rush for 909 yards on 159 attempts with seven touchdowns. He looks to take his game a step further this season by becoming the first back to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark since [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] rushed for 1,102 yards in 2022.

McPherson earns a first-team nod after connecting on all 40 of his extra point attempts and carving up a 13-for-13 mark in field goals with a long of 53. McPherson battled a gastrointestinal ailment during the offseason and is slowly working his way back to 100%.

In all, Auburn has four representatives on the preseason All-SEC team. [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] is a second-team punt returner while [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag] is a third-team linebacker.

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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.

Alvin Henderson listed as No. 8 running back in 2025 class by On3

Henderson has a chance to win Mr. Alabama honors this season after posting 3,523 rushing yards and 64 touchdowns in 2023.

Four-star Auburn running back commit Alvin Henderson added another accolade to this illustrious high school career last week. On3 sports listed Henderson as their No. 8 running back in next year’s recruiting class.

A consensus top 20 back in the class, Henderson is the second-highest-ranked SEC commit, trailing only future LSU Tiger Harlem Berry on the list. Fellow four-star Auburn target [autotag]Ousame Kromah[/autotag] checked in as number four.

The 5-10, 198-pound Henderson flipped his commitment from Penn State to Auburn back in June. Now entering his senior season at Elba High School in Elba, Alabama, Henderson has a chance to contend for Mr. Alabama honors after a magnificent junior year in which he compiled 3,523 rushing yards and 64 touchdowns. The 3,523 yards were good enough for the second most in the country.

With Auburn’s current starting running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] set to enter his final season on the Plains and the depth chart murky behind him, Henderson can make his case to become the Tigers 2025 starter with a strong final high school season. While he currently sits outside the top 5 in On3’s rankings, another 3,500+ yards on the ground could propel him up the rankings as the fall progresses.

Either way, [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and his staff will surely be excited to welcome the in-state star to the Plains in the summer of 2025. [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] and the Auburn offensive line will try to cement a strong identity running the football until then. Alvin Henderson’s season with Elba High School kicks off on August 23 on the road against Luverne.

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Three Auburn commits listed on MaxPreps All-American Preseason Team

Safety Anquon Fegans, running back Alvin Henderson and safety/wide receiver Derick Smith made the cut.

As back-to-school advertisements air on television, the high school football season, specifically at schools below the Mason-Dixon line, is ready to begin.

With the start of “Friday Night Lights”, MaxPreps released its All-American Preseason High School Football Team. Three high-profile Auburn Tiger commits, safety [autotag]Anquon Fegans[/autotag] (First Team), running back [autotag]Alvin Henderson[/autotag] (Second Team), and safety/wide receiver [autotag]Derick Smith[/autotag] (Second Team) made the cut.

Fegans, who committed to Auburn last month, received the nod on the first team after MaxPreps named his to the All-American team as a junior. The No. 5 safety in the 2025 class is looking to build on a fantastic junior season in which he picked off opposing quarterbacks 5 times while racking up 50 tackles. Health permitting, the Alabaster, AL native should make an impact on the Plains as soon as he lands on campus next summer.

Four-star running back [autotag]Alvin Henderson[/autotag] is the only “full time” offensive Auburn commit to receive Preseason All-American honors. A consensus top 20 back in the 2025 class, Henderson originally chose Penn State before flipping his commitment to Auburn in June. Like Fegans, Henderson has an equal chance to make an immediate impact as a Tiger next season with current Auburn running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] entering his senior season in 2024.

Four-star athlete Derick Smith joins Henderson on the All-American Second Team just two weeks after flipping his commitment from rival Alabama to the Tigers. The talented two-way star will likely line up as a wide receiver once he makes his way to the Plains next summer but will continue to receive reps on both sides of the ball during his senior season at Southside High School in Selma, Alabama.

Besides the trio of highly-ranked Auburn commits, a few other Tiger targets received spots on MaxPreps Preseason Teams. 2025 recruits [autotag]Na’eem Offord[/autotag], [autotag]Andrew Babalola[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Grady[/autotag], as well as 2026 linebacker [autotag]Tyler Atkinson[/autotag] were also featured on the All-American teams.

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OC Derrick Nix wants more ‘explosive plays’ from Auburn offense

Nix says that explosive plays are required in order to score at a high rate.

The Ole Miss Rebels did not become one of college football’s top offenses by playing with a slow tempo.

New offensive coordinator [autotag]Derrick Nix[/autotag], who spent the previous 16 seasons with the Rebels, has been coached several high-octane offenses and looks to produce the same product at Auburn. Not only is he coaching his offense to make plays, he is working to engrave an explosive mindset into the players in hopes of setting a standard.

“Being a fundamentally efficient scoring machine, it requires us to make explosive plays,” Nix said during a recent media availability. “It becomes a standard, and expectation.”

Being an explosive offense runs deeper than solid quarterback and receiver play. Nix says that each position needs to work together in order to build consistency.

“We just try to challenge our guys to expect it. If our offensive line can protect (and) the quarterback makes the right read against the right coverage, you should make the play and it should be explosive,” Nix said. “We should be able to count on that, week in and week out. That is something that we talk about and something that’s expected and needed for this offense to thrive.”

Auburn added plenty of talented wide receivers to its roster over the offseason including Penn State transfer [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and true freshman [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag]. [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag], and [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag] return to head the running back position and [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] is back as the team’s starting quarterback.

This season, up is the only way Auburn can move as they finished No. 14 in passing offense last season among SEC teams. Those skill players as well as a more experienced offensive line should produce the “explosive plays” that Nix hopes to gain this season.

Asante, Hunter among the ‘freaks’ of college football

The Athletic says RB Jarquez Hunter and LB Eugene Asante will be two of the most exciting college football players to watch this season.

You could not tell the story of the 2023 Auburn Tigers without mentioning the efforts and talents of running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag].

Hunter’s debut season as Auburn’s premier back ended with him gaining 909 yards on 159 carries with seven touchdowns while Asante led the team in tackles with 86. The duo are expected to have another great season, so The Athletic has included them on their annual “freaks list” ahead of the 2024 season.

The list, compiled by The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, consists of 101 of the most exciting college football players heading into the 2024 season. Auburn’s representation begins at No. 71 with Hunter. Feldman cites Hunter’s unique weight room methods for including him in this season’s series.

One of the SEC’s top backs, Hunter has rushed for 2,172 career rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in three seasons. The 5-10, 209-pounder from rural Mississippi, who in high school lifted wearing cowboy boots, has squatted 635 pounds and could’ve done more, but the Tigers’ staff stopped him. He’s topped out at more than 22 mph and been clocked at 4.45 in the 40.

Another solid weight room presence is Asante, who checks in at No. 33. Asante also squats over 600 pounds and is quick for his size.

He’s the prototypical heat-seeking missile backer the SEC is known for. Asante led the Tigers in tackles last season (86) and added 8.5 TFLs and five sacks. The 6-1, 219-pound younger brother of former NFL safety Larry Asante is powerful and explosive. This offseason, he squatted 635 pounds, benched 405 and clocked a 4.48 40. He’s also had a max velocity of more than 22 mph.

The SEC is well represented on Feldman’s list. Alabama OL Jaden Roberts and South Carolina WR Nyck Harbor are included in the top 10 of this year’s rankings.

Jeremiah Cobb is glad he ‘stuck’ with Auburn

One of Auburn’s prized 2023 signees, Cobb says that working in a crowded running back room is beneficial to his development.

One of Auburn’s prized 2023 signees has remained loyal to the program through a coaching change and a deep position within the depth chart. His determination is beginning to pay off.

Sophomore running back [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag] enters his second season with Auburn as a more experienced, stronger player. He credits his relationship with fellow backs [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] and [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag] as a source of his growth.

“It’s been very beneficial. I came real close to those guys, we’re brothers now. They teach me everything,” Cobb said of his relationship with Auburn’s running backs. “They help me keep my head up, help me go hard at practice every day and give it my all and they definitely helped me a lot as a freshman, helped me grow a lot.”

Despite his progression, Cobb remains third on the depth chart behind Hunter and Alston. Cobb says that he is pleased with the group’s competition and is excited to work with Auburn’s experienced offensive line. In an era that sees many players dealing with Cobb’s situation, he says that he is happy that he decided to remain loyal to Auburn.

“I’m glad I stuck with it. I’m glad to stick with coach Freeze and the guys in the running back room, and it’s definitely a big change in talent on every position,” Cobb said. “Defense, offense, everywhere.”

Cobb rushed for 172 yards on 33 carries last season with two touchdowns. As a sophomore, Cobb looks to make a name ahead of his junior season in 2025, which will commence without current premier back Jarquez Hunter.

Is Jarquez Hunter Auburn’s offensive MVP?

ESPN’s Bill Connelly explains why Auburn’s offense will thrive as long as Hunter is heavily involved.

Auburn’s offense was less than spectacular last season as it finished No. 11 in the SEC with an average of 351 yards per game. Scoring-wise, the Tigers also finished No. 11 in the conference by scoring 26.1 points per contest.

The only consistent aspect of Auburn’s offense was running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], who ended the season with 909 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Despite Auburn’s additions to its receiver room, Auburn’s success will still depend heavily on Hunter.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly revealed that Hunter is his favorite Auburn player in his SEC preview, and explained just how valuable Hunter was to the Tigers’ offense in 2023.

When Hunter got rolling, Auburn had a chance. Not counting games against UMass and Samford, when Hunter averaged at least 6.0 yards per carry, the Tigers averaged 30.2 points per game and went 3-2; when he didn’t, they averaged 14.2 PPG and went 1-5. He averaged 3.6 yards per carry after contact and ground out 6.4 yards per carry between the tackles. Just imagine what he could have done if Auburn could throw even a little.

Connelly also expects Auburn’s passing game to be upgraded this season due to transfers [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag], as well as incoming freshmen [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag]. Auburn will look to improve upon its No. 102 ranked passing success rate in 2024 with an improved offensive line and revamped targets for quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] to pass to.

Four Tigers selected to preseason All-SEC team

Expect these four players to make an impact on the field this season.

Auburn football is expected to fly under the radar this season, as media members in attendance for SEC Media Days last week in Dallas, Texas picked the Tigers to finish No. 10 in its preseason poll.

Auburn also fell short in the All-SEC team as well, as there are only four representatives on this year’s squad. Running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], kicker [autotag]Alex McPherson[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag], and returner [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] each earned a spot on the preseason All-SEC team, as voted on by media members across the region.

Hunter and McPherson were named to the All-SEC first team after successful seasons in 2023. Hunter finished a few yards shy of 1,000 yards in his first season as premier back in Auburn’s offense. Hunter rushed for 909 yards on 159 carries with seven touchdowns.

As for McPherson, the sophomore kicker was responsible for scoring 79 points last season for Auburn. He accomplished the feat by reaching perfection in every field goal and point after try, nailing every single kick he attempted. He went 40-for-40 in extra point attempts and 13-for-13 in field goal tries with a long of 53 yards.

Asante burst onto the scene last season by recording 86 tackles with five sacks. He is being rewarded with a third team nod, which will allow for him the opportunity to take a first or second team spot by season’s end.

Finally, Scott wraps Auburn’s representation by taking home a third team specialist nod. Scott returned 15 punts for 222 yards for an average of 14.8 yards per return. He also a touchdown last season in Auburn’s win over Arkansas. In addition to his returning duties, Scott will be instrumental in Auburn’s secondary by playing cornerback.

One notable snub is tight end [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag], who missed out on preseason honors after leading the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns last season. Fairweather looks to build upon 2023’s success where he hauled in 38 catches for 394 yards and six touchdowns.

Cole Cubelic believes Auburn offense will be stronger in 2024

After a lackluster 2023 season offensively, Auburn football alumnus Cole Cubelic believes the Tigers’ offense is going to be better in 2024.

The Auburn offense was particularly lackluster in the 2023 season, and a disastrous year left many scratching their heads on what is to come.

At SEC Media Days, many conference foes made comments on how electrifying the atmosphere inside Jordan-Hare Stadium is. Typically that energy propels the offense to success, but as people saw last year, that was not always the case.

While in Dallas, ESPN/SEC Network analyst and former Tigers offensive lineman Cole Cubelic spoke to Paul Finebaum on how he thinks that offense will be better in year two under head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag].

Cubelic believes that for second-year quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], there will be a lot more time in the pocket due to a strengthened interior on the offensive line, a position that has been a large weakness at Auburn for a while.

He also points toward senior running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] as a reason to be optimistic, thinking this will be a breakout year that will have him turning many heads.

“How many people have asked you about Jarquez Hunter in the last 48 hours?” Cubelic asked Finebaum. “Nobody is talking about him. He’s the most proven back in this league. I think you could make the argument he’s the best running back in the SEC right now.”

Cubelic claims that with these improved portions of the offense, the Tigers have the chance to cause some havoc against opposing defense, keeping them on their toes schematically and giving Thorne time to make plays.

“So let’s say middle three, Jarquez Hunter is pretty good, they (Auburn) can run the ball. Well, what do you (the defense) have to do?” Cubelic said. “You have to take your alley defenders, your safeties, add an extra linebacker — you play the run. Well, that’s going to bump coverage off of you or give you less numbers in coverage where Payton Thorne is not going to have as difficult of a time completing passes.”

Thorne was the league’s least efficient passer last season and now hopes to make in impact in his final season of eligibility to help Auburn on its road back to prominence in college football.

These statements will truly be put to the test when the Tigers begin SEC play against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sept. 21, but will start to show when they open up against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs on Aug. 31 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

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