Tag: Keionte Scott

Hugh Freeze provides injury update ahead of Auburn’s game against LSU

Hugh Freeze provided an injury report ahead of Auburn’s matchup with LSU.

Auburn had an extra week to get healthy ahead of their game against LSU but they are still pretty banged up [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] revealed Monday.

Starting linebacker [autotag]Austin Keys[/autotag] and nickel cornerback [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] are both still out for the “foreseeable future.” He also reiterated that starting defensive end [autotag]Mosiah Nisili-Kite[/autotag] is done for the season.

He did provide positive news about starting safety [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] who he expects to return.

“He’s day-to-day and said he’s feeling better each day, so I’m hopeful and expecting that he will go.”

Switching to the offensive side of the ball, running back [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag] is doubtful, wide receiver [autotag]Malcolm Johnson[/autotag] is day-to-day and [autotag]Ja’Varrius Johnson[/autotag] is questionable with an elbow injury.

“So, that’s where we are,” Freeze said. “It’s the next man up, and we’ve got to get some of these younger kids to play more consistently. We worked on that hard last week in the open week. They got a ton of reps, because we’re going to need them before this season is over, with the remaining seven games we have.”

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Auburn DE Mosiah Nasili-Kite out for season with torn bicep

The veteran appeared in every game before suffering the injury against Georgia.

Auburn’s defense has lost yet another starter to injury, and this time it’s for the rest of the season.

Starting defensive end [autotag]Mosiah Nasili-Kite[/autotag] suffered a torn bicep in Auburn’s game against Georgia and will miss the rest of the 2023 season [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] announced Wednesday.

“Unfortunately, we lost Mosiah for the year,” Freeze said. “That’s really going to hurt us in the defensive line.”

Nasili-Kite played in all five games this season, making 10 tackles, 0.5 for loss and two quarterback hurries. True freshman [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] has emerged as his backup and will likely see a larger role moving forward.

Auburn is dealing with a rash of injuries and is hoping to use its bye week to get healthy ahead of next week’s game against LSU. On the offensive side of the ball, running back [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag] is recovering from a separated shoulder and wide receiver [autotag]Ja’Varrius Johnson[/autotag] is battling a hamstring injury.

Defensively, safety [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] left the Georgia game with a calf injury, defensive back [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] is recovering from surgery to address a high ankle sprain and middle linebacker [autotag]Austin Keys[/autotag] is still weeks away from returning after breaking his thumb.

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Auburn adjusts depth chart for Week 5 after injuries

Auburn has announced its depth chart for their matchup with Georgia.

Auburn has revealed its depth chart for its Week 5 game against the Georgia Bulldogs and has once again made some slight changes due to an injury.

With [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] still out, Auburn has named a new starter at both star and punt returner. [autotag]Donovan Kaufman[/autotag] has been elevated to starter at star and [autotag]J.D. Rhym[/autotag] is now listed as his backup.

While [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] was listed as the top punt returner last week, [autotag]Koy Moore[/autotag] was used and has been put as the starter for this week with Simpson as his backup.

Here is a look at the full depth chart ahead of Auburn’s game against Georgia Saturday.

Auburn announces depth chart ahead of matchup with Texas A&M

Auburn has made two changes to the depth chart ahead of their game against Texas A&M

For the second week in a row, Auburn has made some changes to its official depth chart. The Tigers unveiled their depth chart for their Week 4 showdown with Texas A&M on Monday and there is a change on offense and on special teams.

With primary punt returner [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] expected to miss “considerable time,” [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] has been named the new starter. Simpson has returned one punt in his time at Auburn, back in 2021 he had a return of -1 yards.

The other change to the depth chart was the addition of freshman running back [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag]. He has looked impressive in the first three weeks of the season and has earned more playing time in a crowded backfield.

Here is a look at the full depth chart ahead of their game against Texas A&M Saturday in College Station.

Instant Analysis: The Freeze era debuts with dominating win over UMass

Auburn cruises to a 59-14 win over the UMass Minutemen to begin the season, 1-0.

The Hugh Freeze era has gotten off to an incredible start, as he has led the Auburn Tigers to a gigantic win to kick off the 2023 season.

Auburn (1-0) outgains UMass (1-1) 495-301 in the yards department, including a 289-140 discrepancy in the run game to win, 59-14.

The Tigers took a 17-7 lead into the second quarter but would proceed to score 21 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters to pull away from the Minutemen in the season-opener.

Auburn got on the board first at the 11:28 mark in the first quarter. USF transfer [autotag]Brian Battie[/autotag] returned the opening kick to the Auburn 38-yard line from seven yards deep in the endzone. The drive ended with a two-yard rush by [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag], capping off an 11-play, 62-yard drive.

In the Tigers’ first drive, quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] completed 1-of-3 passes for nine yards and rushed for 16 more. Alston rushed for 25 yards and Battie gained nine yards on one carry.

The Minutemen answered on the ensuing drive by tying the game at 7-7 with 7:20 remaining in the quarter. UMass quarterback Taisun Phommachanh scored on a 1-yard rush to close out an 8-play, 89-yard drive. Phommachanh rushed for 50 yards on the drive, while Kay’ron Lynch-Adams rushed for 26 yards.

The Tigers’ second drive would see the season debut of Robby Ashford, who subbed in at quarterback for three plays, where he completed a pass for four yards and rushed for eight more. The drive would stall out, however, as Auburn was forced to kick a field goal. [autotag]Alex McPherson[/autotag]’s 37-yard attempt was true, thus extending Auburn’s lead to 10-7 with 2:11 remaining in the first quarter.

After forcing UMass to punt, returner [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] set Auburn up in a great field position with a 56-yard return to the UMass 16-yard line. The drive was short-lived, as Ashford checked into the game to score on the opening play of the 2nd quarter on a 10-yard rush to extend Auburn’s lead to 17-7.

Ashford’s momentum carried into the next drive. He entered the game on the final three plays of Auburn’s next possession and rushed one yard into the endzone for his second score of the game to advance Auburn’s lead to 24-7 with 10:11 in the first half.

His third score of the game would come in the Tigers’ next possession. Auburn increased its lead to 31-7 thanks to a four-yard rush by Ashford to cap a five-play, 35-yard drive.

The Tigers ended the first half with 237 net yards. Thorne completed 9-of-16 passes for 112 yards. Ashford rushed for 36 yards on six carries, scoring three times. Auburn’s leading rusher was Alston, who carried the ball eight times for 43 yards. [autotag]Jay Fair[/autotag] reeled in four catches for 27 yards, while [autotag]Shane Hooks[/autotag] led in overall receiving yards with 41 yards on two catches.

Defensively, [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag] led the way with five tackles. [autotag]Donovan Kaufman[/autotag], [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag], and [autotag]Elijah McAllister[/autotag] each recorded a sack while Asante and freshman [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] teamed up to record another.

The second half began with a bang as [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] picked off Phommachanh on the second play of the third quarter. Simpson returned the interception 50 yards for a Tigers touchdown, increasing Auburn’s lead to 38-7 with 14:43 remaining in the quarter.

Auburn quickly scored on its first true possession in the second half. The Tigers needed just one play and 10 seconds for Thorne to connect with Fair from 29 yards out for the first touchdown pass of his Auburn career to move the lead to 45-7.

Freshman [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag] broke onto the scene later in the quarter by taking his second-ever college carry 42 yards for an Auburn touchdown to move the lead to 52-7 with 5:25 in the third.

Two of Auburn’s three touchdowns in the third quarter lasted just one play. Auburn ran just six plays in the quarter.

UMass got off one final punch in the 4th quarter. Minutemen quarterback Carlos Davis connected with Anthony Simpson for 58 yards to cut into Auburn’s lead, 52-14, with 8:50 remaining in the game.

[autotag]Sean Jackson[/autotag] became the fourth rusher to put points on the board. His 45-yard rush with 7:02 to go in the game pushed Auburn’s lead to 59-14.

The Tigers (1-0) will make the trip out west next weekend to face Cal at California Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. CT and can be seen on ESPN.

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Fourteen Tigers named to Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list

Auburn has plenty of talented veterans on its roster.

Auburn has struggled to produce draft picks over the past few NFL drafts but that could be changing soon. The Reese’s Senior Bowl revealed its annual watch list on Wednesday and the Tigers are well represented with 14 players making the list.

The group includes six offensive players and eight defensive players. The offensive group consists of quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], left tackle [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag] and wide receivers [autotag]Jyaire Shorter[/autotag], [autotag]Ja’Varrius Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Shane Hooks[/autotag].

Auburn’s secondary is full of players to monitor with cornerbacks [autotag] DJ James[/autotag], [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] and safety [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] making the list. They are joined by defensive linemen [autotag]Justin Rogers[/autotag] and [autotag]Elijah Mcallister[/autotag] as well as linebackers [autotag]Larry Nixon III[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag].

The 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl will be played on Feb. 3, 2024, and will be shown on the NFL Network.[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1364]

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Auburn’s secondary is back, and stronger than ever

Auburn’s secondary has a chip on its shoulder heading into the 2023 season.

Everywhere you look, it seems that each position group has been upgraded thanks to the transfer portal. However, there is one group that will return most of its experienced players.

The defensive backfield at Auburn will have the most “homegrown” players heading into the 2023 season as players such as [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Puckett[/autotag], [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag], [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag], and [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] return. In fact, four of those five previously named players are among the Auburn defense’s top returning players.

Although this unit is the most experienced, they are still learning new things ahead of the season. Auburn’s secondary welcomes the new strategies and ideas set forth by defensive coordinator [autotag]Ron Roberts[/autotag] and secondary coach [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag] to go along with the familiar style of safeties coach [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag].

When it comes to McGriff and Etheridge, defensive back Keionte Scott compares their relationship to one of the NBA’s best duos of all time, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

“Chemistry, They’ve got chemistry already,” Scott said. “You’ve got an old-school coach with more old-school tradition and you’ve got a new-school coach. Being able to merge those together — it’s crazy to see it sometimes.”

The unit appears to be meshing well with the new style, but what does that mean for expectations? Scott says that the transition has been easy, as the expectations for Auburn are considered to be low.

“Everyone knows we have one of the top groups in the country. Just being able to go to practice knowing that we’re not nowhere, we’re not anybody, we’re not ranked in the country, we’re not anything… Offensive coordinators around the country are going to know,” Scott said. “We just want to live in that. We want to let everyone know that there’s not going to be a person you can pick on in our DB group.”

Auburn’s projected rotation in the defensive backfield combined to make 248 stops last season and accounted for four interceptions.

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Pro Football Focus releases preseason ELO rankings. Where is Auburn?

Pro Football Focus becomes the latest outlet to reveal its preseason rankings.

As the summer continues, more and more publications are beginning to reveal their preseason rankings. Pro Football Focus is the latest to do so ($), using its unique formulas to compile rankings.

Pro Football Focus uses a metric called “ELO”, which meshes grades for each team’s offensive, defensive, and special teams output. Auburn’s grades place them at No. 40 to begin the season.

To prove just how deep and talented the SEC is, Auburn has 12 teams within the conference ahead of them despite their No. 40 ranking. Auburn only ranks ahead of Vanderbilt in the ELO rankings, who comes in at No. 84.

The Tigers have a lot of questions to answer ahead of the 2023 season, as most units on both sides of the football enter the program as transfers. Looking at Auburn’s top returning players, seven of the top ten highest-graded offensive players are transfers while four of the top ten highest-graded defensive players are transfers.

RELATED: Lindy’s Sports predicts Auburn football’s depth chart for the 2023 season

When it comes to top units that will feature the most “homegrown” players this season for Auburn, look at running back and defensive back. Running backs [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] and [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag] return to the gridiron this season, while the defensive backfield welcomes back [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag], [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag], and [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag].

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Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 6 Keionte Scott

Scott is looking to put together another strong season in Auburn’s secondary.

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 cornerback [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag]. He became Auburn’s primary nickel or Star cornerback in his first season on the Plains and looks to be poised to win the battle with [autotag]Donovan Kaufman[/autotag] for the starting job.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: San Diego, California

Height: 6-0

Weight: 188

Previous School: Snow College

Class in 2023: Junior

247Sports JUCO Composite Ranking

Four-Star / No. 1 in CA / No. 1 CB

Career Stats

Year G Tackles TFLs INT’s PDs FFs
2020 (Snow) 6 27 5.5 3 13 0
2021 (Snow) 8 27 2.5 1 7 1
2022 12 53 4 1 4 0

PFF Grades

Year Defense Coverage Tackling Run Defense Pass Rush
2022 71.7 71.0 58.9 70.9 68.5

Depth Chart Overview

Scott is back for his second season on the Plains after a great debut season last year after starting his career at the JUCO level. He emerged as one of Auburn’s top defensive backs and became the team’s primary nickel corner, a job he was once again battling [autotag]Donovan Kaufman[/autotag] for during the spring.

Scott looks to once again have the upper hand due to his coverage ability and was seeing more and more reps as spring practicing went on. He gives Auburn yet another experienced and productive defensive back that Auburn can lean on as their new-look front seven comes together.

Keionte Scott’s Photo Gallery

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 5 Donovan Kaufman

Kaufman is entering his third season on the Plains.

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 safety [autotag]Donovan Kaufman[/autotag]. He entered the spring in a battle with [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] for the starting Star spot but has the option to play multiple roles in Auburn’s loaded secondary.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisianna

Height: 5-10

Weight: 204

Previous School: Vanderbilt

Class in 2023: Junior

247Sports Composite Ranking

Three-Star / No. 18 in LA / No. 37 S

Career Stats

Year G Tackles TFLs INT’s PDs FFs
2020 (Vanderbilt) 2 15 0 0 1 0
2021 13 33 2 1 3 3
2022 7 39 1.5 0 2 1

PFF Grades

Year Defense Run Defense Tackling Pass Rush Coverage
2020 56.1 59.2 74.2 59.7 54.7
2021 67.9 71.1 81.7 72.3 65.7
2022 72.1 61.6 57.5 76.1 74.7

Depth Chart Overview

Kaufman is entering his third season at Auburn after starting his career at Vanderbilt and is one of several proven veterans in Auburn’s secondary. He and Scott were in a battle during spring practice for the starting Star spot but Scott appeared to be getting more reps towards the end.

Scott looks to be better in coverage than Kaufman which is a key part of being the third corner and this could free Kaufman up to spend some time at safety, a position he’s played in the past.

Even if he losses out on the battle to Scott, Kaufman will be a key reserve in the secondary who is capable of playing multiple positions and can fill in wherever he is needed.

Donovan Kaufman’s Photo Gallery