Tag: Keionte Scott

Auburn loses a pair of cornerbacks to the transfer portal

Colton Hood and Tyler Scott depart after spending one season with the program.

Auburn football’s departing transfer portal class grew Tuesday as two young cornerbacks have elected to take their talents elsewhere.

[autotag]Colton Hood[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyler Scott[/autotag], a pair of cornerbacks who signed with Auburn’s 2023 recruiting class, announced Tuesday that they will be entering the transfer portal. The duo joins defensive lineman Brenton Williams, wide receiver Jay Fair, linebacker Wesley Steiner, and cornerback JD Rhym as spring transfer portal entries.

Hood, nephew of former Auburn cornerback Roderick Hood, joined Auburn’s 2023 class as a three-star according to 247Sports. The McDonough, Georgia native was the No. 48 cornerback and the No. 45 overall recruit from Georgia.

A fellow Georgian, Scott signed with Auburn as a safety before moving to cornerback this spring. He was the nation’s No. 20 cornerback and the No. 19 prospect from Georgia, signing with Auburn out of Pebblebrook High School in Mableton.

According to Pro Football Focus, Hood and Scott combined to play 53 snaps over five games. Hood saw the most action between the two by appearing in four games with 44 total snaps played.

There are now seven cornerbacks on Auburn’s roster following the departures of Hood and Scott. [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] and [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag] headline the position as returners while [autotag]Antonio Kite[/autotag] joins the team as a transfer from Alabama.

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Keionte Scott elected to stay at Auburn, and Wesley McGriff deserves the credit

Scott flirted with the transfer portal in January, but returns to bring experience to a depleted Auburn secondary.

Auburn’s secondary is one of the least experienced units on the defensive side of the ball, so it needs as much leadership as possible.

After the departures of [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], [autotag]DJ James[/autotag], and [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag], who declared for the NFL draft, Auburn needed a player like [autotag]Keionte Scott [/autotag]in-house to provide leadership and experience to the unit. Earlier this week, Scott revealed that he almost left the program, which would have for sure delivered a blow to Auburn’s defense.

Scott entered the transfer portal for a short time in January before pulling his name out of consideration just two days later. What sparked his return? The return of defensive backs coach [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag]. McGriff took a step back from his on-field duties last October before leaving the program to join Mike Elko’s staff at Texas A&M. The deal with Texas A&M fell through, which led him back to Auburn.

Scott says a brief chat with McGriff made the difference.

“We talked a lot throughout the process and stuff like that,” Scott said. He was able to still mentor me through the process of everything. So ultimately having him come back, that was a plus.”

Scott, who will move to cornerback this season, says that the prospective of playing in new defensive coordinator [autotag]DJ Durkin[/autotag]’s defense, and staying at a place he loves in Auburn, also played a role in his decision to stay.

Scott enters the 2024 season with 72 total tackles, an interception, and four pass deflections. He has also returned 29 punts in two seasons on the Plains for 356 yards and a touchdown.

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Report: Auburn CB JD Rhym no longer with team

Rhym is reportedly leaving the program and will enter the transfer portal.

The Auburn secondary will enter the 2024 season depleted of experience, and one of its experienced members is no longer with the team.

According to a report from Auburn Undercover, cornerback [autotag]JD Rhym[/autotag] is no longer with the program. The report by Nathan King shows that Rhym is expected to enter the transfer portal after being dismissed from the program last week.

Rhym sustained a leg injury, as well as a suspension, which limited him to play in three games last season. In two seasons on the Plains, he recorded 20 total tackles with one pass deflection and an interception. His lone interception came in Auburn’s 45-13 win over Samford on Sept. 16.

Rhym took part in 54 snaps this season according to Pro Football Focus, and graded out at 70.2, which ranks No. 13 on the team. He was one of the best-graded tacklers on the team by grading out at 80.9, which was fourth-highest on the team.

With the departure of Rhym, Auburn has eight cornerbacks on its’ spring roster. The headliners this season are [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] and [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag], who combined to record 62 tackles last season with 11 pass breakups.

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Auburn adds former Texas safety Jerrin Thompson from transfer portal

Thompson recorded 105 tackles and five interceptions in four seasons with the Longhorns.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] needs to replenish his defensive backfield, and is on the right track to doing so by adding an experienced safety from the transfer portal.

Former Texas safety [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag] paid a visit to Auburn over the weekend, and ended the trip by pledging his commitment to Freeze and the Tigers.

Thompson has been a vital part to the Longhorns’ secondary over the last four seasons, and he has played in 48 games since arriving to Austin in 2020. In four seasons, he has recorded 105 total tackles and has picked off five passes. He has recorded at least 14 tackles in every season that he has played, and made a career-high 83 stops in 2022. Last season, he made just 38 tackles, but pulled in a career-high three interceptions. One of those interceptions was returned for a touchdown.

In his most recent game, Thompson made three tackles in Texas’ 37-31 loss to Washington in the Sugar Bowl, which was a College Football Playoff semi-final game. In the Longhorns’ 34-24 win over Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 9, he made four stops and recorded and interception.

Thompson ranks No. 9 in Texas’ defensive grades from Pro Football Focus with a 73.1. His strong suit is pass coverage, which he graded out at 77.1, third-highest among Longhorn defenders. Opposing receivers hauled in 58.1% of passes when guarded by Thompson, or 18-of-31. He would also break up five passes.

The Tigers will lose plenty of experience from its defensive backfield in the likes of [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag], [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag], and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag]. The defense does however return [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag], [autotag]Caleb Wooden[/autotag], and [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag]. Adding Thompson to complement Wooden at safety will be a great addition.

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Brian Battie withdraws from transfer portal, decides to stay with Auburn

Auburn’s top kick returner from the 2023 season is set to return to the Plains.

A valuable piece of Auburn’s running back depth is set to return to the program for the 2024 season.

[autotag]Brian Battie[/autotag], who transferred to Auburn from USF before the 2023 season, announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 1. However, he has changed his tune. Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported Tuesday that Battie has elected to withdraw his name from the transfer portal, and will return to Auburn.

Battie joined Auburn’s roster after rushing for 1,842 yards in three seasons at USF. His best season in Tampa came in 2022 when he rushed for 1,186 yards and eight touchdowns.

He gained 227 yards on 51 carries during his initial season on the Plains but was utilized more as a returner. He recorded 29 kickoff returns last season for 645 yards.

Battie’s return to Auburn provides much-needed depth to its running back room, as well as its return game. Battie will re-join the running back group headlined by [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag], and [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag].

His decision to come back is key for the return game, as it ensures that Auburn’s top punt and kick returners are back for the 2024 season. [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag], Auburn’s top punt returner, announced earlier this week that he has also withdrawn from the transfer portal.

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Keionte Scott announces he will be staying at Auburn

Auburn will be holding onto Keionte Scott.

[autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] is staying on the Plains.

After it looked like he would be entering the transfer portal, and potentially heading elsewhere for the 2024 season, Scott took to social media Monday night to announce he would be staying at Auburn.

“Thankful for the patience and the honest opinions but the REAL know where home is for me. #WDE,” he wrote.

Scott is Auburn’s only returning starter in the secondary and one of the leaders of the defense. Starting at nickel the past two seasons, he has made 97 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, one sack, defended nine passes and intercepted one in 22 total games over that span.

With D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett off to the NFL, Scott is expected to play outside cornerback next season. He started there in Auburn’s bowl loss to Maryland.

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Report: Auburn starting cornerback Keionte Scott to enter the transfer portal

Auburn could be losing one of its most important players to the transfer portal.

Auburn could be losing one of its top returning players to the transfer portal as starting cornerback [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] is expected to enter the portal, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.

Scott has been one of Auburn’s most productive and vocal players over the past two seasons after starting his career at Snow College, a JUCO program. He has excelled as the starting STAR (nickel) cornerback and punt returner in that time.

With starting outside cornerbacks [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] off to the NFL, Scott was expected to transition to outside corner, a role he played in Auburn’s loss to Maryland in the Music City Bowl.

Prior to the bowl game, there was speculation that Scott would also declare for the 2024 NFL draft, but he announced he would be returning for the 2024 season on social media. It was a massive break for a secondary that has already lost James, Pritchett and starting safeties [autotag]Zion Puckett[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag].

Since then Auburn underwent coaching changes in the secondary with cornerbacks coach [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag] leaving to take a job at Texas A&M and [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] bringing on former Colorado and Alabama defensive coordinator [autotag]Charles Kelly[/autotag].

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Tale of the Tape: Auburn vs. Maryland

The Tigers are a touchdown favorite to win the Music City Bowl, but could this game be closer than oddsmakers expect?

The 6-6 Auburn Tigers return to action for the first time since losing the Iron Bowl later this week when they take on the 7-5 Maryland Terrapins in the Music City Bowl on December 30.

Auburn finished the regular season with back-to-back losses but managed bowl eligibility in the first season under new head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag].

On the other side, Taulia Tagovailoa and Maryland had an up-and-down season in the Big 10, winning 7 games in 12 tries.

The all-time leading passer in Big 10 history has opted out of this game, giving Auburn a significant edge according to oddsmakers. The Tigers are currently a full touchdown favorite on BetMGM.

ESPN FPI believes this game should be much closer, as Hugh Freeze’s squad has just a 52.4% chance to win according to the model.

Will the tale of the tape show us this game will be a Dixieland Delight for Auburn fans, or will Maryland fans be singing the Victory song on Broadway after the Music City Bowl?

As always we’ll start with the quarterbacks.

Tigers quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] initial season on the Plains was much like a Sky Dog at 2 AM. The junior was a bit disappointing, but ultimately got the job done for the most part.

Thorne finished the regular season with 1,671 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions as Auburn’s QB1(a).

Hugh Freeze’s QB1(b), [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], has joined thousands of other players in the transfer portal, leaving Thorne with the keys to the Honda Accord that is the Auburn offense.

With Ashford all but gone and incoming four-star recruit Walker White cooking in the background, Thorne has one final chance in game action to prove he can lead the Tigers into 2024.

As for the team up in Maryland, senior sensation Taulia Tagovailoa has chosen to opt out of this game, leaving sophomore quarterback [autotag]Billy Edwards Jr.[/autotag] and freshmen [autotag]Cameron Edge[/autotag] as the lone signal-callers on the Terps roster.

Both players combined for just 13 passing attempts this season although Edwards Jr. was used as a goal line quarterback, most notably rushing for 3 touchdowns against No. 1 ranked Michigan.

Maryland’s passing offense was explosive this season but the loss of Tagovailoa gives the edge to Thorne and the Tigers.

The skill positions across the offense are a different story. Auburn holds the edge at running back thanks to the electrifying [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] but the wide receiver gap is larger than Old Line State’s obsession with Old Bay.

Maryland often employs three-reciever sets with [autotag]Jeshaun Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Tai Felton[/autotag], and [autotag]Kaden Pranther[/autotag]. Those three combined for nearly 500 more receiving yards than Auburn quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] had in passing yards this season.

The Terrapins fourth target, tight end Corey Dyches, would have paced all Auburn pass-catchers as well.

Auburn tight end Rivaldo Fairweather had a solid season but the edge clearly goes to Maryland, especially considering the Tigers will be without [autotag]Ja’Varrius Johnson[/autotag] in this one.

Auburn’s defense is clearly the better unit on that side of the ball, but defensive coordinator [autotag]Ron Roberts[/autotag] has some work ahead of him due to opt outs.

Cornerbacks [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] as well as defensive lineman [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag] won’t be availbile for this one, leaving the 21-ranked defense according to ESPN FPI shorthanded in Nashville.

James and Harris were arguably Auburn’s two best players on the defensive side of the ball this season. It helps that linebacker [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] are staying on the Plains and will be playing, but the loss of Harris, James, and Pritchett will be felt.

Maryland’s defense on the other hand isn’t great but it’s not anemic either. The Terps were solid all year long, but did give up an average of over 30 points per game in losses this season.

Head coach [autotag]Mike Locksley[/autotag] isn’t dealing with any major opt-outs on that side of the ball, making the gap between these two teams closer than the stats say.

Still, Auburn gets the edge here.

There is a reason ESPN FPI has these two teams ranked next to each other in overall ranking. While the loss of Taulia Tagovailoa gives Auburn an edge in this game, the Music City Bowl could very well come down to the wire.

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In-state safety Kaleb Harris signs with Auburn

Kaleb Harris has the ability to play all over for Auburn’s defense.

Coming off an extremely successful high school career at Thompson, three-star safety [autotag]Kaleb Harris[/autotag] has signed his letter of intent with the Auburn Tigers.

Listed as a safety, Harris can play several spots for [autotag]Rob Roberts[/autotag]’ defense, he has the physicality to play a linebacker role near the line of scrimmage as well as helping out in coverage as a safety or at star.

That versatility will be critical in a secondary that is losing all four of its starters at safety and cornerback to the NFL. The only returning starter is star [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag], who will be transitioning to outside corner. Harris is not as highly rated as some of Auburn’s signees in the secondary but he has the ability to push for early playing time and will be a name to watch next season.

Harris is the No. 646 overall player and No. 69 safety in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 32 player from Alabama.

Stay up-to-date with the latest signing day news by checking out Auburn Wire’s early signing period tracker.

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Rivaldo Fairweather to return for second season on the Plains

Rivaldo Fairweather will be back for a second season on the Plains.

Auburn is getting its top receiving threat back for the 2024 season.

Tight end [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag] made it official Monday, announcing he would be back for a second season on the Plains instead of entering the NFL draft.

Fairweather became Auburn’s top receiver during his first season on the Plains, leading the team in receptions (33), yards (349) and touchdowns (6). He was named to the AP’s All-SEC second team for his work.

He is setting high expectations for himself next season.

“I just felt like I left a lot of food on the table,” Fairweather said. “It’s unfinished business here. I know Coach (Hugh) Freeze has a great plan for us here and that we will be way better than we were last year. Last year was just the first step and this year I feel like we’re going to take a second step and definitely make that 12-team playoff for next year.”

He joins defensive back [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Euegen Asante[/autotag] as key contributors to announce their return for the 2024 season.

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