Tag: Kerryon Johnson

Brian’s Column: Auburn’s running game needs to show up against Texas A&M

The Auburn Tigers have gotten off to an undefeated start this season, but the running game has struggled. It needs to be better on Saturday.

For the past decade, the Auburn football offense has run through the running game.

The best player on the offensive side of the ball for the Tigers has always been their running back, whether it’s [autotag]Tank Bigbsy[/autotag], [autotag]Kerryon Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Cameron-Artis Payne[/autotag], or Tre Mason, the offense has literally run on running the ball.

This year that has not been the case. The team’s leading rusher through three weeks is quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag].

The team’s leader in rushing touchdowns is backup quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag]

In a year in which starting running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] was voted to the preseason All-SEC team, he has rushed for a grand total of 90 yards and 1 touchdown in non-conference play.

If Hugh Freeze’s team is going to be successful in SEC play, the running backs are going to have to start running the ball and running it well.

This week Auburn travels to play a familiar opponent, the Texas A&M Aggies, who are currently giving up just over 4 yards per carry on the ground.

Auburn’s running backs are averaging 4.3, and that number dips almost below 4 if you take away long touchdown runs by [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag] and [autotag]Sean Jackson[/autotag] against UMass.

That is simply not good enough for a team that has issues throwing the ball as well. This week the Tigers are going to have to score points against an A&M offense that averages 44 points per game.

If Thorne and the receivers falter in the passing game, the running game has to pick them up.

While Payton Thorne ran free last week, it was mostly due to him being a superior athlete against FCS competition. The run game needs to be more fundamentally sound against A&M and avoid sequences like the one below.

This sequence is downright brutal from first to fourth down.

Auburn tries to run an outside concept on first down, and it get’s completely blown up. The line of scrimmage immediately shifts to the Auburn backfield, and [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag] is left with little to do but string out the run as long as he can before hoping a hole develops.

It does not, and Auburn is left with a second and long.

Now for second down.

Everything about this play is executed perfectly besides the most important part.

#77 [autotag]Jeremiah Wright[/autotag] and #72 [autotag]Izavion Miller[/autotag] execute their pulls perfectly, and have the edge completely locked up for Payton Thorne to follow them to the endzone.

Wide receiver #0 [autotag]Koy Moore[/autotag] does his part as well, taking his defender completely out of the would-be-play.

This should have been 6 points for Auburn. Instead, [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] handed the ball off and the Tigers gained one yard.

Fourth down is just as bad as first and second. Just like they did on the outside run, the Auburn lines gets bullied on this inside run, leaving [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] with nowhere to go.

Auburn had many drives similar to this one during their 45-13 win last week. They were able to get away with it because of their talent,

That won’t be the case this week.

If Auburn is going to win as 8-point underdogs, the running game has to show up. The offensive line and running backs need to take some of the pressure off of Payton Thorne.

We’ll see if they can when the Tigers kick off SEC play Saturday at 11 CST.

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

Two Auburn commits are prime candidates to win Alabama’s Mr. Football in 2023

Auburn has locked in several of Alabama’s top recruits for the 2024 cycle, two of them are up for the state’s top award.

Auburn has found early success by locking in several of the state of Alabama’s top recruits for the 2024 cycle.

In the latest update from 247Sports, three of the state’s top 10 recruits, and nine of the top 25, are committed to Auburn. Two of those prized commits are considered to be candidates for the state of Alabama’s top award heading into the 2023 season.

Ben Thomas of AL.com recently revealed his top 20 candidates to win Mr. Football for the state of Alabama this season, and two of Auburn’s 2024 commits are in consideration for the postseason award.

The first Auburn commit mentioned is four-star running back [autotag]J’Marion Burnette[/autotag]. Burnette is the state’s No. 14 prospect and is poised to have another great season for Andalusia High School.

As a junior, he rushed for 1,473 yards and 17 TDs on 187 carries in just 11 games. He missed Andalusia’s state semifinal and state championship game after suffering a concussion in the quarterfinals. A healthy Burnette should pile up huge rushing statistics again.

Next up is the Tigers’ top commit for the cycle, five-star wide receiver [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag]. Thompson flipped his commitment from Alabama to Auburn during Big Cat Weekend in July and looks to finish his high school career in a big way as a two-way player for Clay-Chalkville.

A first-team Class 7A All-State receiver as a junior a year ago, Thompson caught 87 passes for 1,059 yards and 9 TDs for the Region 1 champions. He also had a pair of interceptions on defense and could play more on that side of the ball as a senior.

Although not committed, Auburn target [autotag]Alvin Henderson[/autotag] is also in the mix to win the award. Henderson is a four-star running back for the 2025 class and is the No. 10 player at his position. Last season at Elba, he rushed for over 200 yards per game.

Historically, ten winners of Alabama’s Mr. Football award have signed with Auburn. [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag] was the last Auburn signee to with the award, doing so in 2019. [autotag]Kerryon Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Demarco McNeil[/autotag], and [autotag]Brandon Cox[/autotag] are other notable Auburn players to win the award.

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

Missing the cut: Which Auburn Tiger could have been on the cover of NCAA Football 19?

Which members of Auburn’s most recent SEC Western Division championship team were worthy of being on the hypothetical cover of NCAA Football 19?

Many sports video game fans across the country (including myself) were excited to learn that the NCAA Football franchise is on track to return to our lives in the summer of 2024, which will be re-named “EA Sports College Football.”

Plans for the game were threatened to be delayed due to a lawsuit from The Brandr Group, citing that the franchise’s $500 million pool, which would give each athlete represented in the game $500, was considered to be “far below market value.”

Despite the setback, EA Sports remains on schedule to release the game next summer.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring back an authentic college football experience for fans and athletes that have shown such passion for the franchise, and we’re looking forward to delivering it in Summer 2024,” an EA spokesperson tells On3’s Pete Nakos.

It has been ten years since the release of the last game, NCAA Football 14. It has us at Auburn Wire thinking… which Auburn athletes missed out on being a cover athlete for the famous video game franchise?

This edition of “Missing the Cut” highlights those players who played a major role in Auburn football’s success during the 2017 season. The 2017 season was special for Auburn, as it marked the last time that the program won ten games in a season. Auburn also represented the Western division in the SEC Championship Game.

Both aspects of the offense fired on all cylinders week in and week out, but it was running back [autotag]Kerryon Johnson[/autotag] that led the way for contenders in the race to appear on the hypothetical NCAA Football 19 cover.

Johnson reached the 1,000-yard mark for the first, and only, time in his college career in 2017 by rushing for 1,391 yards on 285 carries, he also scored 18 rushing touchdowns. Since then, only one Auburn running back has rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season, with [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] accomplishing the feat in 2021 by gaining 1,099 yards.

Three other worthy candidates from this season include Jarrett Stidham, who threw for 3,158 yards in his first season as the Tigers quarterback. Defensively, Deshaun Davis led the team in tackles with 82, with seven being for a loss. Tray Matthews made 59 stops with an interception.

Take a look back at our picks for hypothetical cover athletes for the NCAA Franchise:

Here are some of the best images from each cover candidate from Auburn for the hypothetical “NCAA Football 19” video game.

Where does Auburn land on ESPN’s ‘Running Back U’ rankings?

Do you agree with Auburn’s place on ESPN’s rankings?

When college football fans think of Auburn, what comes to mind? It has to be the Tigers’ history of stellar running back play, right?

There have been five running backs in Auburn’s history to rush for over 3,000 yards in their careers, and there are 19 who rushed for 2,000 yards or more. Some of the best-known athletes in Auburn’s history were running backs, with the most popular being 1985 Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson and Carnell “Cadillac” Williams.

[autotag]Kerryon Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] are the most recent players to join the running back fraternity at Auburn, while older Auburn fans are sure to include the likes of [autotag]Lionel James[/autotag], [autotag]Joe Cribbs[/autotag], and [autotag]James Bostic[/autotag] to their list of favorite Auburn players.

There’s zero doubt that Auburn knows how to construct elite running backs, but where do they rank among the nation’s best RB producers? ESPN weighs in.

ESPN updated their “Position U” rankings recently, which includes the top 10 running back-producing programs. Auburn found its way on the list at No. 8.

On3’s Kaiden Smith shared his opinion on the list and says that ESPN got it right by including Auburn due to their history of stellar running backs.

Tank Bigsby is the newest addition to the Auburn/NFL running back family, selected with the No. 88 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Bigsby is the only Auburn Tiger rusher currently in the league from Auburn, but historically he’s definitely not alone.

Between 2009-2017 the Tigers had an impressive nine year run where they always had a 1,000-yard rusher. From Tre Mason to Kerryon Johnson and everyone in between, there’s no doubt the Auburn running back lineage is strong, dating back well before the mentioned names above.

The Tigers beat out Oklahoma State and Oregon on ESPN’s list, and trails Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Miami, LSU, and Wisconsin, with archrival Alabama being dubbed “running back U.”

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

Kerryon Johnson named University of North Alabama’s director of player personnel

Kerryon Johnson is back in college football.

Former Auburn running back [autotag]Kerryon Johnson[/autotag] has been named the University of North Alabama’s director of player personnel, UNA’s head coach Brent Dearmon announced the move Thursday night.

Johnson is from Madison, Alabama and the move marks his return to football after his NFL career ended in 2021.

Johnson starred at Auburn from 2015-17 and rushed for 2,494 yards and 32 touchdowns Auburn. He was named the 2017 SEC Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,391 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior, leading the Tigers to a 10-4 record and an SEC West title.

Johnson was then drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He made 14 starts across his first two seasons and rushed for 1,044 yards and six touchdowns but was plagued by injuries. His final appearance came in the 2021 season with the San Francisco 49ers.

The move will reunite him with college teammate [autotag]Deshaun Davis[/autotag], who coaches linebackers for UNA.

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Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15

Is this former NFL RB blaming Matt Patricia for career-ending injuries?

Was this a shot at Matt Patricia?

Former New England Patriots assistant coach Matt Patricia was the head coach for the Detroit Lions from 2018-2020. He made quite an impression while he was in the Motor City, and it wasn’t exactly the best one.

Former Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson played under Patricia from 2018-2020 and performed well during that time. He carried the ball 283 times for 1,225 yards and eight touchdowns in that span.

Johnson is currently a free agent, after spending the 2021 season between the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad. He took to Twitter on Thursday to take a subtle shot at what seemed like Matt Patricia, when asked a question from a fan.

Although he didn’t mention Patricia by name, it’s certainly an interesting theory, as he wasn’t the only former Lion to speak out about his treatment when playing in Detroit.

Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay also called out Patricia during Super Bowl media week. It’s safe to say that Patricia didn’t make many friends during his time in Detroit.

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Former RB Kerryon Johnson proves he’s still a Lions fan

Former RB Kerryon Johnson is still a Lions fan and proved it after Sunday’s win over the Jets

It’s been a couple of years since Kerryon Johnson played for the Detroit Lions. Johnson is still feeling the One Pride in his roots, however.

The former Lions RB tweeted out his inner fandom after the team pulled off a great road win over the New York Jets in Week 15.

Johnson played for the Lions from 2018-2020, a dark time in Detroit’s football history. He’s not played since the start of the 2021 season with the 49ers. He’s still a fan of the team that drafted him and gave him his NFL career.

We all feel you, Kerryon!

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Look: The last 26 Auburn 1,000-yard seasons

Here’s a look back at the athletes that built Auburn’s “RBU” persona.

Auburn Football earned the nickname “RBU” in the mid-2000s due to its history of producing strong, speedy, and talented running backs, especially in the 1970s, 80s, and 2000s.

After spending a few seasons away from the moniker, Auburn rediscovered its historic past by producing a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time in four seasons.

Sophomore running back [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] led the Tigers in rushing with 1,099 yards on 233 attempts in 2021, becoming the first Auburn player to rush for over 1,000 yards since [autotag]Kerryon Johnson[/autotag] did during the 2017 season, which was also the last time that Auburn won the SEC West.

The lack of a 1,000-yard rusher in 2018 snapped a streak of nine straight seasons where at least one Tiger hit the mark. During that stretch, there were two seasons that Auburn had two players to cross that milestone.

Auburn fans have been fortunate enough to see amazing athletes over the years, especially in the offensive backfield. As we prepare for the 2022 season, Auburn Wire takes a look back at the last 26 Tigers 1,000-yard seasons in Auburn history. Who has the most 1,000 yard rushing seasons? How do some of your favorite players compare to others? Take a look below:

A look at the highest-rated recruits in Auburn football history

Here are some of the highest-rated recruits in Auburn football history.

In the past 21 years, Auburn has had 80 players drafted, almost four players a year. Some were ranked as four-stars out of high school like Kerryon Johnson, Carlton Davis, and Braden Smith. Those three are currently playing in the NFL. Others, like [autotag]Montravius Adams[/autotag], [autotag]Carl Lawson[/autotag], and [autotag]Derrick Brown[/autotag] were all regarded as five-stars. Interestingly enough, all six of them have had successful careers in both college and the pros.

On the other hand, several of Auburn’s best players over the past few years were not ranked high at all. Both C.J. Uzomah and Dee Ford were both ranked as three-stars by 247Sports Player Rankings. Those two have had successful careers at both levels as well. However, not all of the top-rated recruits in Auburn history have seen their own share of success. Today, we will look at 247Sports’s list of the highest-rated recruits in Auburn football history based on their composite rankings. Ahead, we take a peek at the top ten highest-ranked recruits in Auburn history.

Eagles announce 6 roster moves as team begins preparation for wild card matchup vs. Bucs

After activating 11 players from the COVID-19 list, the #Eagles announce 6 more roster moves as preparation for Sunday #SuperWildCardWeekend matchup vs. #Bucs gets underway

After activating 11 players from off of the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the Eagles announced 5 more roster moves, including one personnel decision that head coach Nick Sirianni actually backpedaled on.

Philadelphia placed three players on injured reserve, while also adding a player to the active roster, and waiving two players from the practice squad.