Tag: Mark-Antony Richards

Reactions to Auburn’s Early Signing Day

Twitter wasn’t exactly happy with how Auburn’s 2021 signing class has turned out so far on the first day of the Early Signing Period.

Things today were certainly interesting. The good news is that Auburn managed to sign 12 commits today. The bad news is that the Tigers’ 2021 recruiting class is currently ranked 46th overall nationally. The Tigers have not fallen below the top 25 in recruiting since 2003. Luckily they have plenty of more time to improve before February 3rd.

Early Signing Day is always exciting, especially when it falls on day three of Auburn fans begging the question, “Who is Auburn even going to hire to coach these guys next year?”

Head coaching chaos aside, today was still an exciting day for Auburn fans and future players. I know I’m looking forward to watching each of these guys play in orange and blue. It takes a lot of courage for these young men to sign when the future of a program is uncertain, but hey, that’s when you know these guys love Auburn and are coming for the right reasons.

Let’s get into the reactions from today:

Sad news in addition to this, but redshirt freshman RB Mark Antony Richards has entered the transfer portal. It’s a depressing feeling to see depth leaving at a time like this. We wish him nothing but the best.

Today was not ideal by any means, but these young guys are the future. Take a deep breath, remain calm, and pray that Auburn’s decision makers find the right guy who can build upon this recruiting class, find some offensive linemen and linebackers, and coach these guys up to the standard of Auburn football that we all know and love.

Auburn RB Mark Antony-Richards enters NCAA transfer portal

A 4-star athlete in the 2020 recruiting class, Mark Antony-Richards was barely used during his freshman season by Auburn.

On a day when Auburn signed 12 new players, the Tigers also lost one.

It was reported and confirmed that running back Mark Antony-Richards has entered the NCAA transfer portal. It was first reported by Bryan Matthews among others.

The freshman back was hardly used during the 2020 season, rushing just 20 times for 76 yards and catching one pass for 18 yards.

A 4-star out of Wellington HS in West Palm Beach, Fla., Antony-Richards was the ranked the 90th overall top prospect in the 2020 signing class including the No. 4 athlete.

Auburn football: Shivers taking lead in crowded backfield race

The junior rushed for 286 yards and three touchdowns last season for the Tigers.

Xavier McKinney knows what Shaun Shivers is capable of and the rest of the SEC is about to get its chance to find out as well.

The Auburn back is leading the race for the starting running back position for the Tigers as the season is down to two weeks away.

“Shaun Shivers has had a great camp so far,” Gus Malzahn said on Saturday. “I know Coach (Carnell) Williams rotated the other guys in a lot more today. I didn’t look at the numbers, but it is pretty closely spread out as the other four are concerned with getting reps today. That was by design to see who steps up at that position.”

As a sophomore in 2019, Shivers rushed for 286 yards on 55 attempts and three touchdowns, including that hard-hitting one in the Iron Bowl to give Auburn the lead for good.

With Kentucky awaiting the Tigers on Sept. 26 in the season opener in Jordan-Hare Stadium, Malzahn and the coaching staff are trying to settle in on who will be the feature back behind Nix. Along with Shivers, main competitors are D.J. Williams, Harold Joiner, Tank Bigsby and Mark-Antony Richards.

Malzahn has been impressed with what he has seen out of Shivers the most of them all this fall.

“He is one of the bright spots, I think, on the whole team at this point, just with his positive energy and everything that goes with it,” Malzahn added. “He is making a really good bright spot on special teams, too.

“He finished the season on a high note. He is very confident and knows the offense inside and out. He is really good protector. He is just playing at a high level.”

Auburn will have a new lead back in 2020 and the options are promising

National Signing Day is supposed to be about acquiring players who are the future of your program, but last Signing Day Auburn lost a big piece when JaTarvious Whitlow decided to enter the transfer portal.

National Signing Day is supposed to be about acquiring players who are the future of your program, but last year on the day, Auburn lost a big piece when JaTarvious Whitlow decided to enter the transfer portal.

Whitlow rushed for 1,550 yards over the last two seasons and his departure means Auburn will have a new leading rusher for the first time in two seasons. The competition to be that player is a battle between some talented but inexperienced players who will be forced to quickly adjust to college football with the Tigers playing an all SEC schedule.

Projected depth chart:

D.J. Williams (So.)

Tank Bigsby (Fr.)

Mark-Antony Richards (R-Fr.)

Shaun Shivers (Jr.)

Harold Joiner (So.)

Outlook:

While it is never ideal to lose a player of Whitlow’s caliber, running back was the position Auburn was best positioned to suffer the loss. Prior to his departure, Bigsby and Richards were expected to challenge for playing time in 2020 and Williams had already proven he was capable of handling the load when called upon, emerging as the teams No. 2 back as a freshman.

Despite not earning a carry in five of the Tigers’ first six games, Williams finished with 400 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 84 carries and should be seen as the slight favorite to be the starter. However, he will need to improve as back-to-back carries of 41 and 70 yards made up over 25% of his total yards and he struggled towards the end of the season, 3.3 yards per carry in the final four games.

Nov 2, 2019; Auburn, AL, USA; Mississippi Rebels linebackers Jon Haynes (5) and Jacquez Jones (10) tackle Auburn Tigers running back D.J. Williams (3) during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Williams was also not a threat as a receiver, registering a catch in just two games for 32 yards. Using the backs in the passing game was not a key part of Gus Malzahn’s offense and it is hard to know just how capable Williams is, but new offensive coordinator Chad Morris puts an emphasis on it and whoever becomes the lead back will need to be capable of contributing in both the passing and rushing game.

Shivers has served as a great complimentary piece since arriving on campus – 5.3 yards per carry – and while his size may limit his workload (5-foot-7, 170 pounds) he will provide valuable experience and have a chance at a larger role while the younger backs continue to adjust to college football.

Sep 28, 2019; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Shaun Shivers (8) runs against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Joiner may be listed as a running back on the roster, but Auburn has yet to use him as a traditional back with him primarily serving as a receiving option.

The two biggest challengers to Williams are also the ones with the least experience in Bigsby and Richards.

Bigsby was the prize of the 2020 recruiting class and has the size (6-feet, 209 pounds) to become an every down back in the SEC and earn immediate playing time. He rushed for 1,636 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior and was described by Malzahn as a “one-play drive type of guy” who “has great balance, great instincts and can break tackles.”

Tank Bigsby. Auburn football practice scrimmage at JHS on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

Richards is now a year removed from a leg surgery that cost him his freshman year and has earned glowing reviews from his teammates.

“I’m very impressed with him,” said senior wide receiver Eli Stove, who overcame his own leg injury. “He’s going to be very good. Real good.”

“Mark-Antony is a baaad man,” Shaun Shivers said. “He looks real good out there. We’re finally getting him back out there and he just looks like a real dude. He’s playing fast and playing physical. Mark-Antony is going to be good.”

Richards has been compared to former Auburn star and 2017 SEC Offensive Player of the Year Kerryon Johnson. The comparison is lofty but fair as they have similar builds and running styles, are both threats in the passing game and can serve as a Wildcard option.

Mark-Antony Richards. Auburn football practice in shells on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

If this wasn’t enough to draw the comparison, they both wear No. 21.

Who emerges as the Tigers lead back will be something to watch throughout the remainder of camp and with so many talented options the Tigers may just wind up riding the hot hand throughout the season.

Phil Steele has D.J. Williams in interesting spot on Auburn’s depth chart

The college football analyst has Williams lower than expected on the running back depth chart.

For a lot of reasons, it seems that D.J. Williams has the heads-up on the starting job in the Auburn backfield once the 2020 college football season begins, but that isn’t the case according to Phil Steele.

The legendary preview magazine is out on newsstands and Steele has Williams ranked in an interesting spot on Auburn’s running back depth chart: fourth.

Yes, Williams is ranked behind Shaun Shivers, Mark-Antony Richards and true freshman Tank Bigsby in his preview which, in my opinion, is shocking at the least. While Shivers is a talented back, him being the go-to and full-time back and 5-foot-7 and 180 pounds doesn’t seem that likely.

MORE: Auburn football: Ranking the running backs on 2020 depth chart

Williams, who had a breakout game against LSU last season by rushing for 130 yards and 13 carries, is more of a workhorse-type back who can definitely fill in the shoes of the departed Boobie Whitlow.

Bigsby, at 6-foot and 210 pounds, will likely have to work his way up the depth chart but is one of the highest-rated recruits to enroll at Auburn. Richards, who missed all last season following knee surgery, has been compared to Kerryon Johnson and will also play a big role in the Tigers’ backfield this season.