Tag: Rob Roberts

In-state safety Kaleb Harris signs with Auburn

Kaleb Harris has the ability to play all over for Auburn’s defense.

Coming off an extremely successful high school career at Thompson, three-star safety [autotag]Kaleb Harris[/autotag] has signed his letter of intent with the Auburn Tigers.

Listed as a safety, Harris can play several spots for [autotag]Rob Roberts[/autotag]’ defense, he has the physicality to play a linebacker role near the line of scrimmage as well as helping out in coverage as a safety or at star.

That versatility will be critical in a secondary that is losing all four of its starters at safety and cornerback to the NFL. The only returning starter is star [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag], who will be transitioning to outside corner. Harris is not as highly rated as some of Auburn’s signees in the secondary but he has the ability to push for early playing time and will be a name to watch next season.

Harris is the No. 646 overall player and No. 69 safety in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 32 player from Alabama.

Stay up-to-date with the latest signing day news by checking out Auburn Wire’s early signing period tracker.

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Auburn named a spring transfer portal winner

The Tigers have added eight transfers during the spring window, including quarterback Payton Thorne.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] inherited a roster that needed a massive injection of talent if the Auburn Tigers were going to compete in the SEC in his first year on the Plains.

Well, he went out and got the talent and on Thursday the Tigers were named a winner of the spring transfer portal by Ralph D. Russo of the Associated Press.

Auburn has brought in quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] (Michigan State) and wide receivers [autotag]Shane Hooks[/autotag] (Jackson State), [autotag]Caleb Burton[/autotag] (Ohio State) and [autotag]Jyaire Shorter[/autotag] (North Texas) to fix a passing attack that was one of the worst in the SEC last season.

While Thorne struggled last season, Russo points out that his 19 touchdown passes were over double the nine that Auburn managed.

The Tigers also added offensive lineman [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag], who started for offensive coordinator [autotag]Philip Montgomery[/autotag] at Tulsa last season.

It wasn’t just the offense that got reinforcements though, they added linebackers [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] (App State) and [autotag]Larry Nixon III[/autotag] (North Texas) and defensive end [autotag]Stephen Sings V[/autotag] (Liberty) to shore up the front seven on defense.

McLeod and Sings are both expected to help rush the passer at the Jack linebacker spot as defensive coordinator [autotag]Rob Roberts[/autotag] looks to create more “havoc” plays.

Nixon, who made 105 tackles last season, will help shore up the middle of the defense.

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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.

Report: Auburn Football nearing deals with respected coordinators

Reports surfaced Sunday that Hugh Freeze is nearing deals with two experienced, successful coordinators.

Auburn fans have been intrigued by [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]’s recruiting efforts since taking over the head coaching job on Nov. 28.

While recruiting has picked up steam, fans have gotten antsy by the lack of news surrounding coordinator hires. Those worries may have been put to rest Sunday evening.

Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports has reported that Auburn is nearing a deal with Baylor defensive coordinator Ron Roberts for the same role.

Roberts’ defense this season allowed 137 yards per game, which is third-best in the Big 12, and was fourth in the Big 12 in overall yards allowed with 370 yards per contest. Roberts’ top defender at Baylor this season was Al Walcott, who recorded 81 stops, ten of which being for loss.

The move comes as a bit of a surprise, as he was also linked to the open defensive coordinator position at Arkansas as late as Saturday. Roberts has been a coach at the college level since 1997, with stops at Texas State, Louisiana, and Baylor. He also served as head coach for Southeastern Louisiana and Delta State.

Soon after the news of Roberts’ hire was reported, Brandon Marcello of 247Sports broke the news that Auburn is targeting former Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery for the offensive coordinator position.

He was recently fired as head coach of the Golden Hurricane but is known for his stellar offenses under Art Briles at both Houston and Baylor. During his first and only season as Houston’s offensive coordinator, Montgomery led quarterbacks Case Keenum and Blake Joseph to 1,000-yard passing seasons.

At Baylor, Montgomery coached Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III. Griffin passed for 4,293 yards and 37 touchdowns during his Heisman-winning season in 2011. Baylor quarterbacks Bryce Petty and Nick Florence also had 4,000-yard passing seasons under Montgomery’s leadership.

The hires of Montgomery and Roberts become the sixth and seventh outside hires of the new Hugh Freeze staff. [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Christian Robinson[/autotag], and [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] have been retained from Bryan Harsin’s staff for on-the-field roles.

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