Tag: Nick Mardner

Jackson State WR Shane Hooks announces commitment to Auburn

Jackson State’s leading receiver in 2022 is now an Auburn Tiger.

The numbers keep rolling in for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and the Auburn Tigers.

The Tigers have landed its’ second wide receiver transfer of the week as [autotag]Shane Hooks[/autotag], Jackson State’s leading receiver from the 2022 season, announced Sunday that he would be transferring to Auburn. He joins the Tigers after being previously committed to Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels.

After the departure of Deion Sanders to Colorado, there was a mass exodus of players from the Jackson State roster. Several Jackson State players such as quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter followed Sanders to Boulder. Hooks elected to go another direction, thus moving into the SEC.

Hooks previously played three seasons at Ohio before moving to Jackson State. As a Bobcat, Hooks reeled in 34 catches for 635 yards and six touchdowns. Hooks added 947 yards and 12 touchdowns in two seasons at Jackson State. As a senior in 2022, Hooks led the Tigers in receptions with 66 catches for 775 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Outside of his playmaking abilities, Hooks brings much-needed height to Auburn’s receiving room. He stands 6-4 and weighs 205, which will mesh well with [autotag]Nick Mardner[/autotag] (6-6), [autotag]Tyler Fromm[/autotag] (6-5), [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag] (6-4), and [autotag]Camden Brown[/autotag] (6-3).

Hooks is the second wide receiver to commit to Auburn over the last seven days. Auburn added former North Texas wide receiver Jyaire Shorter last Tuesday.

Here’s a full report card of what Shane Hooks brings to the Plains.

Former Jackson State WR Shane Hooks visited Auburn on Tuesday

Auburn may not be done adding wide receivers despite the addition of Jyaire Shorter.

Despite the addition of former North Texas wide receiver [autotag]Jyaire Shorter[/autotag] on Tuesday, the Auburn Tiger may not be done adding receivers.

According to Christian Clemente of Auburn Undercover, Jackson State transfer wide receiver [autotag]Shane Hooks[/autotag] unofficially visited Auburn on Tuesday.

Hooks entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer on Dec. 21, 2022. He then committed to Ole Miss on April 20 but backed off that pledge on April 28. That is when Auburn got involved, offering him a scholarship on May 13.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder also has offers from UCF, Utah, Mississippi State and Liberty. This is his second time in the portal, he started his career at Ohio before transferring to Jackson State prior to the 2019 season.

He did not play in 2019 or 2020 but started to emerge in 2021. He caught 16 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns in six games.

Hooks became Jackson State’s top wideout last season, snagging 66 passes for 775 yards and 10 touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories.

Auburn has already added three wide receivers between the two transfer windows, [autotag]Nick Mardner[/autotag] (Cincinnati) committed during the first window with [autotag]Caleb Burton[/autotag] (Ohio State) and Shorter (North Texas) committing during the spring.

They have also added former Michigan State quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] and FIU tight end [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag] as they look to overhaul a passing attack that struggled last season.

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Auburn becomes team to watch for Montana Lemonious-Craig’s next destination

Auburn is making a strong run to land the talented receiver formerly of Colorado.

Auburn has made a splash in the transfer portal this week.

The week started with former Appalachian State linebacker [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] signing with the Tigers and ended with the signing of two talented offensive skill players, Michigan State QB [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] and Ohio State WR [autotag]Caleb Burton[/autotag].

When the hand is good, sometimes it pays to keep playing. That is what Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] is looking to do with former Colorado wide receiver [autotag]Montana Lemonious-Craig[/autotag], who Auburn has recently received a prediction to land.

On3’s Jeffrey Lee submitted a prediction for Auburn to sign Lemonious-Craig ($) this week after he paid a visit to the Plains during the weekend of April 29.

Lemonious-Craig does not have the resume of a seasoned veteran, as he caught just 34 passes for 497 yards and five touchdowns in three seasons at Colorado, but the potential to be a big-time receiver is there. He caught the attention of the college football world during Colorado’s spring game last month by catching two touchdown passes from Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

The possible addition of Lemonious-Craig would add to an already revamped receiver room, as Auburn has already signed [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag], [autotag]Nick Mardner[/autotag], and Caleb Burton from the transfer portal. Lemonious-Craig provides a big frame at 6-2, 190 pounds, and would add speed to the mix at receiver.

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__

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BYU WR Kody Epps makes transfer decision

Auburn was one of the first offers Epps received once he entered the transfer portal.

Auburn has been searching to fill several needs within the transfer portal, one being a wide receiver.

The Tigers had added [autotag]Nick Mardner[/autotag] from Cincinnati but were hoping to snag a few more before summer workouts began. One of those options, BYU wide receiver [autotag]Kody Epps[/autotag], has elected to go in another direction.

After spending just a few days in the transfer portal, Epps has decided to take his name out of the transfer portal consideration and stay with the Cougars.

Epps declared for the portal on April 30, the final day to enter during the spring window. Almost immediately after entering, Epps began fielding offers from many Power Five programs, including Auburn.

According to Jeff Hansen of Cougar Sports Insider, Epps’ return is a sigh of relief for BYU players, as he is seen as a universally loved figure. It also brings up the challenge to head coach Kilani Sitake, as the policy states that if a player returns to the roster after testing the transfer portal waters, they are usually not allowed to return as a scholarship player.

Epps will be an essential piece to BYU’s inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference this upcoming season.

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Former Colorado WR Montana Lemonious-Craig visiting Auburn this weekend

A star performer in Colorado’s spring game just a week ago is now on the Plains for a visit.

Just one week after putting on an amazing display at Colorado‘s spring game, it appears that wide receiver [autotag]Montana Lemonious-Craig[/autotag] is heavily considering a new home in Auburn.

Auburn Undercover reported Saturday that Lemonious-Craig, who reeled in six passes for 168 yards in Colorado’s spring game last Saturday, is in town visiting Auburn just six days after entering the transfer portal.

Lemonious-Craig was Colorado’s leading receiver in terms of receptions, as he hauled in 23 catches for 359 yards and three touchdowns for the Buffaloes last season. New head coach Deion Sanders has taken his share of criticism, as over 50 players from last season’s roster at Colorado have entered the transfer portal. However, the departure of Lemonious-Craig appears to have caught several people off guard, including Jackson State transfer and son of Deion, Shedeur Sanders.

“MLC is the TP right now,” Sanders said in a recent video. “That’s foul.”

Lemonious-Craig is a 6-2, 210-pound receiver who signed with Colorado as a three-star receiver from Inglewood, California in the 2020 recruiting cycle. His presence could enhance Auburn’s receiving room which includes [autotag]Koy Moore[/autotag] and Cincinnati transfer [autotag]Nick Mardner[/autotag].

Check out some of Lemonious-Craig’s Colorado highlights below:

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Former Colorado receiver obtains offer from Auburn

One of Colorado’s top playmakers from 2022 is looking for a new home, and Auburn is interested.

[autotag]Montana Lemonious-Craig[/autotag] had a stellar spring game last weekend for Colorado by reeling in six passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. His score was a 98-yard reception from quarterback Shedur Sanders.

So it was understandably shocking to Buffaloes fans when Lemonious-Craig announced his intent to enter the transfer portal one day after Colorado’s sold-out spring game.

Colorado’s loss could turn into Auburn’s gain.

Not even 24 hours after entering the portal, Lemonious-Craig announced that he had received a myriad of offers from Penn State, BYU, Mississippi State, and Arizona. Included in the bunch was an offer from Auburn.

Lemonious-Craig was used sparingly during his first two seasons in Boulder, as he caught just 11 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. His best season was in 2022 when he caught a team-leading 23 passes for 359 yards and three scores. He was Colorado’s second-leading receiver in terms of yards, trailing only Jordyn Tyson.

During spring practice, head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] shared that he was looking for an “alpha” to step up and lead the receiving room, similar to what he had with Laquon Treadwell during his days at Ole Miss. After reaching the top of Colorado’s receiving stats last season, and having a huge game for the Buffaloes in the spring game, Freeze may have seen signs of “alpha” in Lemonious-Craig, thus sending an offer.

Among those returning to Auburn’s roster at receiver include [autotag]Koy Moore[/autotag], [autotag]Camden Brown[/autotag], and [autotag]Landen King[/autotag]. [autotag]Nick Mardner[/autotag] of Cincinnati is also joining the group from the transfer portal.

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__

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Hugh Freeze is looking for the next ‘alpha’ in his receiving group to step up

Freeze coached many great receivers during his time at Ole Miss, and wants to do the same at Auburn.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has shared his desire to build an improved quarterback room over spring practice and summer workouts. One way to do that is by making sure that the winning quarterback has plenty of talent on the receiving end of his passes.

The receiving corps is another area that Freeze addressed early on in his first spring practice as the Tigers’ head coach. Freeze feels that he has the talent to make his quarterbacks successful, but he is looking for that one receiver to step up and take on the “leader of the pack” role.

In his years at Ole Miss, Freeze had the likes of D.K. Metcalf, Laquon Treadwell, and A.J. Brown grace his roster, thus making his passing game one of the best in the nation. Freeze says that he hopes to find that type of talent and leadership within his current group of receivers.

“We always felt like we had a good matchup or two that in our system if they got the right look on their field that they had the capability of winning that one-on-one battle,” Freeze said of his receivers at Ole Miss. “We’ve got to get to that point (at Auburn). Are we there yet? I don’t know. But we certainly have to get there.”

There are certainly many athletes that could be that “alpha” on this year’s roster. [autotag]Koy Moore[/autotag], [autotag]Camden Brown[/autotag], [autotag]Landen King[/autotag], and [autotag]Ja’varrius Johnson[/autotag] return from last season’s roster, and Auburn has added Cincinnati transfer [autotag]Nick Mardner[/autotag] into the mix as well.

Auburn will continue spring practice on select dates throughout March and will conclude matters during the annual A-Day game on April 8.

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College Football analyst calls Auburn’s transfer haul “the best class in the SEC”

Hugh Freeze continues to impress the national media with the caliber of talent that he has reeled in from the transfer portal so far.

Under [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag], Auburn football has taken its’ recruiting efforts to a new level, especially in the transfer portal.

At the time of this post, Auburn has added 12 players from the transfer portal to its roster, and each player can make an immediate impact for the Tigers under their new head coach. Auburn has added top linemen on both sides of the ball such as [autotag]Avery Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag], and [autotag]Justin Rogers[/autotag], as well as impressive skill talent in running back [autotag]Brian Battie[/autotag] and [autotag]Nick Mardner[/autotag].

Just how impressive is Auburn’s transfer portal haul? College football analyst Mike Farrell believes that the Tigers have one of the best transfer classes in the entire country.

In a recent list titled Top Five Transfer Classes in the SEC, writer Logan Jones places Auburn at the top of the rankings.

Auburn and Hugh Freeze have been doing some great work so far in the portal. Easily the best class in the SEC, and quite honestly a top three class in the nation in my opinion. They landed several impact players at a multitude of positions. From top to bottom, this is likely the most balanced class in the SEC, and it’s one that fills a lot of holes left by draft entrants such as Tank Bigsby. Notable names include Justin Rogers, Dillon Wade, and Brian Battie.

Auburn has the nation’s No. 4 transfer portal class according to 247Sports, trailing Florida State, Colorado, and USC.

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Bret Bielema seems to be upset that Avery Jones flipped from Illinois to Auburn

The former Arkansas head coach is not happy that the former ECU center flipped his commitment from Illinois to Auburn.

Auburn Football snagged its’ 10th athlete from the transfer portal on Tuesday when former ECU center Avery Jones announced that he would be joining the Tigers roster.

Jones’ commitment was the third from the transfer portal since Monday joining former Cincinnati wide receiver [autotag]Nick Mardner[/autotag] and former USF running back [autotag]Brian Battie[/autotag]. He also becomes the third top-five-ranked lineman that Auburn has acquired through the transfer portal, joining [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag] and [autotag]Gunner Britton[/autotag].

Auburn fans are understandably excited about Jones’ commitment. However, there are fans of another program, and even its head coach, that is disappointed that they missed out.

Jones committed to Illinois on Dec. 12, but changed his mind nearly a month later. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema shared his displeasure with Jones’ change of heart on Twitter.

In his first tweet, the former Arkansas head coach says that Auburn’s success with NIL led to Jones flipping from the Fighting Illini to the Tigers.

He did not stop there. He later quote tweeted Illini Inquirer writer Jeremy Werner’s tweet with a “we did not want him anyway” style comment.

Jones, who has one season of eligibility remaining, spurned the Illini in favor of playing in the SEC to boost his draft stock. With Jones’ commitment, Auburn now ranks No. 3 in 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings, behind Florida State and Colorado.

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Auburn lands transfer wideout from Cincinnati

Wideout Nick Mardner will find a familiar face on Hugh Freeze’s staff when he gets to Auburn.

Auburn’s run in the transfer portal is continuing.

Wide receiver [autotag]Nick Mardner[/autotag] announced on Monday that he will transfer to the Plains. Marder played his 2022 season for the Cincinnati Bearcats, where he caught just 19 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns.

The biggest draw for Mardner was likely Auburn’s new wide receivers coach, [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag]. Davis coached Mardner when Mardner was a Hawaii Rainbow Warrior, so the familiarity the two would have on the Plains was a big selling point for Mardner’s decision. His most productive season in Hawaii came in 2021, where he caught 46 passes for 913 yards and five touchdowns.

The Tigers will be thankful to land Mardner, as their attempt to court Georgia State wideout [autotag]Jamari Thrash[/autotag] was a failure when Thrash committed to Louisville instead. Mardner will be a new weapon for whoever will be under center for the Tigers in 2023, and it stands to reason that [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and company may not be done looking to the portal to fill in offensive needs for the team.

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