Tag: reaction

JUCO DB Champ Anthony commits to Auburn

The Texas JUCO product will provide extra depth for the Tigers in 2023.

As former Tiger and current Director of Player Relations [autotag]Trovon Reed[/autotag] would say… [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and Auburn football “aren’t done yet.”

[autotag]Champ Anthony[/autotag], a JUCO defensive back from Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, announced Sunday evening that he will be signing with Auburn. In his lone season at Tyler Junior College in 2022, Anthony recorded 14 tackles and an interception in four games.

Anthony received offers from programs such as BYU, ULM, Sam Houston State, and North Dakota State. But a recent visit to Auburn was enough for Anthony to announce his commitment.

The atmosphere of playing in the SEC, as well as the bond that he has built with Auburn’s coaching staff, is what set Auburn apart.

“You can’t beat playing in the SEC, every kid dreams of playing in the SEC. Going from JUCO to playing in the SEC, that’s not heard of, it’s not regular. I had to take this opportunity to play in the SEC and play along with some great coaches,” Anthony tells Christian Clemente of 247Sports. “Hugh Freeze, knowing he’s going to turn this program around. I’ve seen his lineage. It was a great opportunity for me to fit in, right opportunity for me to come in and play and I know I can make an impact.”

Anthony is a 6-1, 176-pound defensive back, and is expected to have immediate eligibility. According to Auburn Undercover, Anthony is supposedly the answer to Auburn’s need at defensive back after the deal with New Mexico State defensive back [autotag]Syrus Dumas[/autotag] fell apart.

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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Auburn among top three for OT John Wayne Oliver

Oliver is focusing on Auburn, Ole Miss, and TCU in the late stages of his recruitment.

Beefing up the offensive line has been a top priority for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] since taking over the Auburn football program late last year.

Auburn was included in the top three school choices of [autotag]John Wayne Oliver[/autotag], a three-star offensive tackle in the class of 2024.

Apart from Auburn, Oliver’s top three schools include Ole Miss and TCU. He has set up official visits to Ole Miss and TCU this month and plans to also visit Auburn and Florida State according to a recent interview with Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports. Ole Miss is the team to beat says Oliver.

“What stood out to me is how they see me in their offense,” Oliver said of Ole Miss. “I’d play tackle and I’d get to pull a lot, the two things I love doing. I loved the stadium and the town of Oxford.”

Oliver is the No. 540 ranked player nationally, the No. 39 ranked offensive tackle, the No. 13 ranked player in the state of Tennessee, and has a composite rating of 0.8833 according to 247Sports.

The Nashville, Tennessee native is 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds.

Oliver has not set a commitment date yet.

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 Daniel on Twitter @DanielJLocke

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Cowboys WR Antonio Callaway arrested in Florida

From @ToddBrock24f7: A fourth-round draft pick by Cleveland in 2018, Callaway has not been in an NFL game since 2019 and is part of a crowded WR room in Dallas.

Cowboys wide receiver Antonio Callaway was arrested in Florida over the weekend.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Dallas practice squad in November and signed a reserve/futures contract in January, had a previous warrant for driving with a suspended license and failing to pay, according to Andy Slater of FoxSports 640 South Florida.

On Saturday, Callaway was reportedly a passenger in a car that was pulled over for speeding in Miami. During the stop, Callaway provided his identification and was subsequently arrested on the outstanding warrant.

Callaway is from the Miami area and attended the University of Florida.

Callaway was a fourth-round draft pick of the Browns in 2018. He made 20 game appearances over the next two seasons in Cleveland, logging 51 receptions for 675 yards and five touchdowns. He started the 2019 season on suspension for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy and then was waived by the Browns while also facing another suspension at the time.

He played in five contests for the Dolphins in 2020 and went through part of the 2021 offseason with the Chiefs.

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Callaway is part of a crowded WR room in Dallas and is one of a number of project players jockeying for a spot on the 53-man roster behind CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup.

Jalen Tolbert, Simi Fehoko, KaVontae Turpin, Dennis Houston, Dontario Drummond, and rookies Jalen Brooks, Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Jose Barbon, and John Stephens Jr. are the other wide receivers currently listed on the Cowboys roster with the team’s mandatory minicamp set to kick off this week.

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ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit says Michigan football has a real shot this year to win it all

Absolutely love his thinking here!

There is no doubt Michigan football is one of the hottest college football programs in the country. The Wolverines have won back-to-back Big Ten championships and have made two straight College Football Playoff appearances.

A few short years ago people were calling for Jim Harbaugh to lose his job after going 2-4 in 2020 and going winless against Ohio State in the five years he had been the head man. But the chips fell the right way in 2021 and 2022 and Harbaugh led the maize and blue to dominating wins against the Buckeyes.

While Michigan made it to the playoffs twice in a row, the Wolverines fell flat on their faces in the semifinals both years. The maize and blue absorbed a thumping by Georgia in 2021 and had too many miscues against TCU to recover last season.

So what does Michigan need to do in 2023 to get over the playoff hump? “College Football GameDay” host and college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit talked with On3’s J.D. PicKell about what Michigan needs to do this season. Herbstreit doesn’t think the Wolverines are too far off. In fact, Michigan was just a few plays away from getting to the national championship last season.

“You know when I hear ‘over the hump’ — I think they should’ve been in the national championship last year,” Herbstreit told On3’s J.D. PicKell at the On3 NIL Elite Series. “I mean, I respect TCU, but let’s face it. I think you and I and everybody that watched that game, we were impressed with what we saw from TCU that game and the way they made so many explosive plays. But I think going into it, I think if we thought about (it), Michigan was going to win the game. So to think, ‘What do they have to do to get over the hump?’ I would’ve said that after they lost to Georgia (in 2021) and the fashion in which they did. But against TCU, man, I just feel like just a couple plays here or there. So I don’t think they change a whole lot of anything.”

Michigan returns a dominating defense along with just about every offensive playmaker from the 2022 team. The Wolverines return offensive coordinator Sherrone Morre, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards at running back, and the majority of the reigning Joe Moore Award offensive line. Both Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson are back to lead the talented wide receiving room. With the Wolverines returning so much talent and having Ohio State at home in 2023, Herbstreit told PicKell he believes the maize and blue has a real shot this season.

“You mentioned the one-two punch in the backfield, the way they’ve recruited in recent years, they’ve got great skill on the outside, they’re always going to have linemen. And then, J.J. is, I think, proving himself to be a guy that you can win a lot of games with. So I think they’re in a great spot,” Herbstreit said. “They get Ohio State at home. Jim, I feel like, has taken his program to the highest level that it’s been at since he’s been in Ann Arbor. If they can stay healthy, they’re going to have a real shot this year.”

Michigan kicks off the season on Sept. 2 at noon ET streaming on Peacock.

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Auburn Softball Year in Review: Shelby Lowe

She improved in several key areas from last season.

Auburn’s season came to a close six days ago when the Clemson Tigers beat them 5-1 in the regional finals.

The Tigers made it to the NCAA Regionals for the third straight season and their 43 wins were the most they have managed since [autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag] took over and they finished third in the SEC.

Up next in our Year in Review series is pitcher [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag]. Lowe was Auburn’s No. 2 pitcher behind [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] and lowered her ERA, walks and batting average against in her third season on the Plains.

YEAR IN REVIEW: 

Here is a look at Shelby Lowe’s junior season.

Looking into Hugh Freeze’s incentive package at Auburn

Freeze could earn upwards of $3 million by completing several tasks.

It has taken nearly seven months for full details of [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]’s contract at Auburn to emerge, but it appears that the Tigers’ leading man will have plenty of opportunities to make extra cash.

Freeze will be making $6.5 million annually to coach the Auburn Tigers, but what type of bonus money will Freeze have the opportunity to rake in during his time on the Plains?

According to the Opelika-Auburn News, which filed an open records request with Auburn University, here’s a look at Freeze’s incentives:

  • Five SEC wins would bring in $150,000 for Freeze plus an additional $150,00 for each SEC win after. An SEC Championship game appearance would mean $200,000 for Freeze while winning the game would mean $400,000.
  • A National Championship game appearance would be worth $1 million for Freeze while winning it all would be worth $2 million.
  • An appearance in a non-SEC group of six Bowl game would earn Freeze $50,000 while going to the Citrus Bowl or an SEC group of six Bowl game would allow Freeze to pocket $150,000.
  • Winning SEC Coach of the Year and one of the National Coach of the Year awards would be worth $75,000 apiece.
  • Personal appearances and endorsements earn Freeze $3,125,000 annually.

Freeze officially became Auburn’s head coach on Nov. 28, 2022, following the dismissal of [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] just under a month prior. Freeze holds a record of 83-43 as a head coach at the FBS level and is 6-2 in bowl games.

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 Daniel on Twitter @DanielJLocke

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The best images from Auburn’s time at the Auburn Regional

The season came to an unfortunate end for the regional hosts on Saturday after dropping two consecutive games.

Auburn Baseball’s season came to an unfortunate end on Saturday as the Tigers fell to the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, 7-2 in an elimination game in the Auburn Regional at Plainsman Park.

The tough ending cannot erase a historic season for the Tigers, who ended the season with a 34-23-1 record. Auburn earned its second-straight regional host bid for the first time in program history after finishing 12-3 in the second half of the SEC schedule, and the program also reached new heights as [autotag]Bryson Ware[/autotag] set the program’s single-season home run record by smacking 24 long balls.

Auburn falling short of its third trip to the College World Series in four seasons is disappointing, but the team has nothing to be ashamed of.

Here’s a look back at the best images from Auburn’s losses to Penn and Southern Miss in the Auburn Regional.

Three-star WR Bryce Cain schedules official visit to Auburn

Auburn and Ole Miss are the top two programs in the running for the wide receiver from Mobile.

Auburn football is high on the list of three-star wide receiver [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag] and will have the chance to seal the deal later this month.

Cain, the No. 40 prospect from the state of Alabama for the 2024 cycle, has locked in an official visit to Auburn for the weekend of June 9. Auburn is on the top of Cain’s list, but they will have to fight off Ole Miss in order to obtain his signature. Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and wide receivers coach [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag] have the chance to lock in his commitment during the visit.

In a recent interview with Christian Clemente of Auburn Undercover ($), Cain says that he is intrigued by what Auburn has to offer.

“Auburn — everything sticks out to me,” Cain said. “I love the facility, love the coaches, love the players. I feel like they can take me to the next level.”

Davis, a former Auburn wide receiver himself, has been Cain’s primary contact. Cain says that Davis hopes to get the chance to coach and develop him at Auburn.

Cain is a 5-11, 170-pound wide receiver from Baker High School in Mobile and is rated as a three-star by 247Sports. Steve Wiltfong and David Johnson, both of 247Sports, have given Ole Miss a crystal ball to land Cain. Both predictions were made prior to April 6, however. According to On3, Cain has a 97.8% chance to sign with Ole Miss.

It will be vital for Freeze to blow Cain away during his visit if he hopes to record another one of his trademark “flips” on the recruiting trail.

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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Auburn’s offense will ‘go as Payton Thorne goes’ in 2023 according to one analyst

Pressure is a privilege, and Payton Thorne will have no shortage of that this season on the Plains.

Out of all the transfers that Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers have landed since December, the one that has the ability to make the most impact is quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag].

Thorne played three seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Auburn, with two full seasons of starting experience. That resume will be important to Auburn’s offense, as they prepare to go into full rebuild mode under Freeze and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery.

High qualifications, however, lead to high expectations. In a recent episode of The Hard Count podcast from On3, host J.D. PicKell shared his list of quarterbacks that will begin the season “in a pressure cooker”, and Thorne, of course, made the cut.

PicKell says that he understands the newfound optimism that has graced Auburn with Thorne’s signing, and says that the Tigers’ offense will only be as good as Thorne is on any given Saturday.

“You know what you’re getting in him. He’s a starter. He’s had solid production throughout the course of his career. But he’s the batteries for this offense at Auburn,” PicKell said. “Make no mistake about it, the offense under Hugh Freeze at Auburn will go as Payton Thorne goes.”

PicKell also referenced Auburn’s impressive transfer portal haul when discussing the improvements to the program, but doubles down on his claim that the energy and attitude of Auburn’s offense will run through Thorne, so it will be important for him to play at a high level every single snap.

“(Auburn) did a lot through the portal. Have one of the top portal classes this cycle. Payton Thorne being a part of that portal class. But if Payton Thorne doesn’t bring his a-game, if he doesn’t allow the offense to operate because he’s not up to speed, or he’s making mistakes, he’s not consistent, whatever it ends up being, they will go as Payton Thorne goes,” PicKell said.

Thorne passed for 6,493 yards and 49 touchdowns in three seasons at Michigan State. He led the Spartans to 10 wins and a Peach Bowl victory in 2021 before a lower-body injury in the Spartans’ opener against Western Michigan slowed down his production during the 2022 season.

Check out the entire segment of PicKell’s breakdown on The Hard Count below:

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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NJPW Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall results: Sanada retains, but Yota Tsuji looks like a fan favorite

Yota Tsuji looked like a star even in defeat while challenging Sanada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Dominion 6.4 in Osaka.

Is Yota Tsuji the kind of supernova that can shoot right to a world title? He’ll need to be to defeat Sanada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship so soon after returning from his overseas excursion. Now a member of LIJ, Tsuji has Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi, Bushi and Titan out ringside to support him, and Shingo Takagi even leaves the Japanese commentary desk to join in. The Just 5 Guys crew is out to back the champ as well, watching as all six members of LIJ do the raised fist circle.

The “Yota” chants are evident and draw a smile from the challenger as the bell rings. Tsuji grabs a side headlock, then runs over the champ with a shoulder tackle. He spears Sanada when he tries a leapfrog, and the crowd loves it. They love it even more when he hits a somersault plancha to the floor.

Tsuji coms charging in from a football crouch but catches a kick to the face. Sanada decides to grab and lean back into the Skull End, and Tsuji is in the hold for quite some time. Sanada finally lets it go and attempts a moonsault, but he catches nothing but knees.

The two men stand and trade strikes, with forearms and chops going both ways. A backbreaker by Tsuji leads to a Boston Crab, with Yota smiling again as he leans back. Some fans are chanting for Sanada, but Yota chants drown them out.

A reverse Gory special is on target for Yota, but his moonsault not so much. Sanada isn’t quick to rise, however, as he is still shaking off earlier offense. The champ picks up the pace and hits a dropkick, knocking Tsuji out to the floor where he’s nailed by a plancha.

A huge missile dropkick by Sanada is immediately answered by a superkick. Both men are down, with the fans mostly urging on Tsuji. Back to chops they go, and once again Tsuji seems to be giving better than he gets. A driver of some sort gets him a two count, and he takes the champ up to the top rope. He delivers a Spanish Fly with a half twist and nearly gets a three from it.

Some back and forth leads to a Deadfall attempt, but Tsuji breaks free for a headbutt and a Stomp. He hooks the leg but Sanada just barely kicks out in time.

They run the ropes and Tsuji looks for a spear, but Sanada hits a dropkick, a moonsault, a Shining Wizard and Deadfall, and that burst of offense is enough to end it. LIJ doesn’t enter the ring to help out Tsuji, which the announcers note.

Sanada gets on the mic and says Tsuji should get on the grind and get some results for LIJ, then he can challenge for the title again. He says next time they are in Okada it will be for the G1, and that he will win it as champion and choose his challenger for Wrestle Kingdom. Taichi gives him a fist bump for that.

Sanada says today he can say that he really, really likes this town before a burst of gold streamers goes up and he’s held on the shoulders of his teammates.

Click here for full NJPW Dominion 6.4 results from Osaka.