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‘They were completely disheveled.’ Anonymous coaches share harsh criticisms of Auburn football

Auburn football has its critics, especially coaches within the SEC.

College football preseason publications are a great way for fans to read up on their favorite teams, and rivals, ahead of an exciting season.

It also provides an outlet for coaches to share their most heated opinions while remaining incognito.

Anonymous coaches were asked to share their hottest takes on SEC programs with Lindy’s Sports, and the best were included in the publication’s 2024 Southeastern preview. While Lindy’s Sports does not disclose if their sources are current coaches or multiple coaches, Auburn’s report was… harsh.

One criticism was at the expense of Auburn’s 2023 season finale, a 31-13 Music City Bowl loss to Maryland. The Tigers fell behind 21-0 in the 1st quarter, and were out-gained by just 10 yards. This source credits the team’s number of bowl game opt outs as the reason for Auburn’s poor showing in Nashville.

“I saw Auburn play in a bowl game and it was the least talented Auburn team I’ve seen in 50 years. They were awful. They lost a lot of kids before the game, a lot opted out. But they were completely disheveled.”

Just one week after losing 31-10 to New Mexico State, Auburn football had the opportunity to take down No. 8 Alabama and to erase their chances of earning a College Football Playoff bid. The game ended on a heartbreaking 4th-and-31 hail mary play from Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe to wide receiver Isaiah Bond. Auburn left plenty of momentum on the table in the game, and one coach says that the Tigers will move forward without former defensive coordinator [autotag]Ron Roberts[/autotag].

“You’re Auburn in a down year. Alabama is a College Football Playoff team. You’ve got them beat, it’s 4th-and-31 and you lose. That should never happen. It’s got to be the worst play in college football, except maybe Cal scoring against Stanford with the band on the field. The best thing Auburn did was get rid of Ron Roberts.”

The last take centers around [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag]. Thorne had a disappointing 2023 season after passing for just 1,755 yards and 16 touchdowns. Auburn has added a plethora of talented wide receivers to its roster, but one coach feels that the team can not reach success with Thorne as its starting quarterback.

“You need a dynamic guy like Cam Newton to run your offense or one of those guys Auburn had in the past. Payton Thorne ain’t going to lead you to the promised land. He’s an average player.”

Auburn football looks to improve upon its 6-7 campaign in 2024. This season will feature several enhancements such as transfers [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag], [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag], and [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag]. Not only will Auburn try to improve its record, but they will also try to change the opinions of opposing coaches across the SEC.

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How does Auburn’s skill players stack up with the SEC’s best?

Auburn’s skill players are talented, but young. Can they produce numbers to rival the SEC’s best offenses?

Auburn football’s skill players are incredibly talented despite their youth.

Auburn returns a veteran running back room led by [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] and [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag], and Michigan State transfer [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] enters his second season as the Tigers’ starting quarterback.

The headliners on offense are the wide receivers. Auburn signed a quartet of impressive wide receivers such as [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag]. [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] bring experience from the FBS level and tight end [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag] returns after hauling in a team-leading 394 yards on 38 catches with a career-high six touchdown receptions in 2023.

It is easy to see why the hype surrounding Auburn’s offense is growing, but how does it stack up with the rest of the SEC? Brad Crawford of 247Sports digs deep to find the answer.

In his early SEC football power rankings, Crawford examined each SEC programs’ skill lineup. He determined that Auburn ranks No. 9 out of 16 SEC teams. His biggest question surrounding Auburn football this season is the play of Thorne.

Can Thorne be a difference-making quarterback in the SEC? That’s the major question concerning this offensive arsenal for the Tigers, who landed a couple high-end wideouts this cycle in the portal and recruiting its 2024 freshman class. Coleman is a future superstar at the position and the post-spring addition of Lambert-Smith from Penn State was a major development.

Auburn looks to take a giant step forward in year two under [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]. In 2023, Auburn finished No. 10 in yards per game (351.2), No. 14 in passing yards per game (162.2), and No. 11 in points per game (26.2).

Auburn had the SEC’s fourth-best rushing offense last season by averaging 189 yards per game on the ground, but premier back Jarquez Hunter failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark. If Hunter reaches the goal of 1,000 yards, and Auburn improves in the passing department, the Tigers could easily climb into top-five territory within the SEC in yards and improve drastically from last season’s six-win campaign.

Robert Lewis poised to make an immediate impact at Auburn

Lewis’ track record of consistency at Georgia State will be valuable to Auburn’s offense.

Auburn football made history last recruiting cycle by signing four top-tier wide receivers. The Tigers also added valuable experience by reeling in experienced wide receivers such as former Penn State star [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and former Cal quarterback [autotag]Sam Jackson V[/autotag], who has transitioned to wide receiver.

There is zero doubt that Auburn will be improved on the offensive side of the football, but which addition is poised to make the biggest impact? CBS Sports’ Will Backus has an idea.

Backus revealed his picks for each SEC program’s biggest impact transfers, and he has picked former Georgia State star wide receiver [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag] as Auburn’s candidate.

Lewis was stellar in a supporting role under former Georgia State wide receiver Jamari Thrash in 2022 by hauling in 22 catches for 379 yards and six scores. Once Thrash departed for Louisville, Lewis stepped into the premier wide receiver role with ease. Last season, he led all Georgia State receivers by recording 877 receiving yards on 70 catches with seven touchdowns.

His consistency could help Auburn reach new heights writes Backus.

Penn State wide receiver transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith also deserves a nod here as he likely has more upside, but there’s some concern about his lackluster close to the 2023 season. Lewis provides more consistency and will give the Tigers some much-needed playmaking out of the slot, where he had 877 yards and seven touchdowns at Georgia State in 2023.

Former Texas A&M DL Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), former Utah RB JaQuinden Jackson (Arkansas), and former Georgia QB Brock Vandagriff (Kentucky) join Lewis on Backus’ instant impact transfers list.

Will Hugh Freeze regret not adding a transfer quarterback this offseason?

247Sports’ Brad Crawford is skeptical of Freeze’s decision not to pursue a quarterback to complement Auburn’s talented receiver haul.

There is zero doubt that [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] wants to improve upon last season’s passing numbers that ranked last in the SEC.

He added confidence to the offense by landing four talented in-state receivers from the high school recruiting cycle, as well as two experienced wide receivers in [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag]. The question now is at quarterback… will Payton Thorne allow the receivers to reach their full potential?

Brad Crawford of 247Sports has doubts regarding Thorne’s ability to remain consistent throughout the season. In his piece titled 50 thoughts on college football’s 2024 season: Predictions, analysis, more. Crawford predicts that Freeze will regret not pursuing a quarterback within the transfer portal this offseason citing Thorne’s inconsistent tendencies.

Auburn’s quarterback situation is unsettled exiting spring, but chances are last season’s starter — Payton Thorne — will be the guy in charge of this offense. Freeze said ahead of his second season on the Plains he wasn’t willing to spend $1 million plus on a signal caller this cycle. Given Thorne’s up-and-down career, he should have done so now that there’s wide receiver talent on the outside.

Freeze shared recently that he “believed” in his quarterback room, and feels that building a solid receiver room will bring out the best in Thorne. Thorne is poised to return to the QB1 role in 2024, and will look to return to his 2021 form when he threw for 3,240 yards and 27 touchdowns as a sophomore at Michigan State.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith brings ‘consistency’ and ‘experience’ to Auburn football’s receiver room

The Penn State transfer is the final piece to correcting Auburn’s passing woes.

Hugh Freeze and his staff revamped Auburn’s wide receiver room this offseason by adding talented in-state freshmen receivers including [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag].

The transfer portal was kind to Auburn in this regard as they added Georgia State’s [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag], Maryland’s [autotag]Rico Walker[/autotag], and former Cal quarterback [autotag]Sam Jackson V[/autotag] in addition to “the Freeze four.” However, there was still a missing piece that Auburn needed to fill, and they were able to fill the void by adding former Penn State wide receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag].

Lambert-Smith hauled in 1,721 yards on 126 catches and 11 touchdowns during his four-year career in Happy Valley, which is understandable that he was one of the most sought-after wide receivers in the spring transfer portal window. ESPN ranked Lambert-Smith as the No. 13 overall available player in the transfer portal before being scooped by Auburn due to his potential role of being a solid No. 2 or No. 3 receiver.

Auburn is getting that in Lambert-Smith says ESPN’s Billy Tucker. Lambert-Smith provides a presence that Auburn desperately needs on offense.

This is a much-needed shot in the arm as Auburn finished 121st in passing offense last year and the returning unit lacks experience and proven game-breakers. While the Tigers are bringing an impressive 2024 receiver class, they will be freshmen and adjusting to the speed of the SEC.

Lambert-Smith might not step in and be the go-to target, but he will bring consistency and experience to a complex offense as a No. 2 or 3 target. He will also bring a veteran presence to young receiver room, and that is important as well.

Auburn finished last in passing offense last season by passing for just 2,109 yards and 18 touchdowns. [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] is expected to return to Auburn’s starting quarterback role, and should be more comfortable heading into the 2024 season with a new-look wide receiver room.

College Sports Wire tabs Auburn football as a ‘transfer portal winner’

Hugh Freeze addressed several needs this spring, which puts the Tigers in great position to exceed last season’s win total.

Auburn football is looking to build off of its 6-7 campaign in 2023 and is off to a great start by filling several needs through the transfer portal.

Hugh Freeze and his staff are looking to enhance the production of its wide receivers and defensive linemen and landed several experienced pieces this spring to move forward. Auburn found success within the spring transfer portal haul, which has given them “winner” status from College Sports Wire.

College Sports Wire’s Matt Melton ranks Auburn’s transfer portal class as the third-best within the SEC, topping Ole Miss and Vanderbilt and falling short of Alabama and Florida. Melton says Auburn’s top acquisition is former Penn State wide receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag].

Auburn landed their potential WR1 this fall in Lambert-Smith during the spring window, a player that had 1,721 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns across four seasons at Penn State. The Tigers also addressed the defensive line by adding a trio of players that could all potentially make an impact in 2024.

Auburn’s 2024 transfer portal class ranks No. 27 in 247Sports transfer portal rankings. In addition to Lambert-Smith, the Tigers raked in several talented transfers including [autotag]Philip Blidi [/autotag](Indiana), [autotag]Jerrin Thomas[/autotag] (Texas), and [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag] (Georgia State).

Where does Auburn stand in USA TODAY Sports’ post-spring re-rank?

Auburn takes a giant leap forward in Paul Myerberg’s rankings after a successful spring period.

After a successful offseason recruiting campaign, the Auburn Tigers are beginning to trend in a favorable direction.

USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg released his latest re-rank, which lists all 134 FBS programs and has placed Auburn at No. 44 following the spring session. The placement is a giant leap forward from Auburn’s No. 59 ranking ahead of its Music City Bowl loss to Maryland.

Auburn is expected to take a positive step this season, especially on offense. The Tigers added a plethora of wide receivers from both high school and the transfer portal, which should allow quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] to boost his passing numbers. Freshman [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] had a successful spring that ended with a 4-catch, 92-yard performance at A-Day. He also scored the game’s lone touchdown. Auburn also landed a pair of talented receivers, [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag], from the transfer portal. Both were the leading receivers at Penn State and Georgia State respectively.

Four SEC teams make up Myerberg’s top 10. Georgia takes the top spot, followed by Texas at No. 3, LSU at No. 6, and Alabama at No. 7. The Tigers will face four top 25 teams in Myerberg’s rankings. Outside of Georgia and Alabama, Auburn will play Oklahoma (No. 12) and Missouri (No. 21) in 2024.

Where does Hugh Freeze rank among top head coaches by CBS Sports?

Freeze will look to boost his stock in 2024.

The first season under [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] did not boast well for the Auburn Tigers.

Auburn closed the 2023 season by losing seven of its final 10 games and finishing dead last in the SEC in passing yards per game. The disappointing first season under Freeze has caused his stock to drop heading into the 2024 season.

CBS Sports recently dropped its head coach rankings ahead of the 2024 season and placed Freeze at the No. 33 slot, a seven-spot decrease from last season. CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli says that despite Freeze’s slide, Auburn fans should expect a better season from him in year two.

The Auburn coach was ranked 26th last season upon his return to the SEC, but it looks like our voters weren’t overly impressed with the Tigers’ 6-7 season as he drops seven spots this year. I wouldn’t worry about it too much if I’m an Auburn fan, though, because Freeze’s track record suggests there will be improvement. His team’s win total has improved in his second season at every stop.

Freeze has worked this offseason to improve Auburn’s offensive output, especially in the passing game. The Tigers added four talented high school wide receivers including [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag], and have secured two experienced wide receivers from the transfer portal such as [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag]. Time will tell, but the ingredients are there for Auburn to find more success this season.

Auburn football ‘seperates themselves’ with spring transfer portal additions

Auburn’s 2024 transfer portal haul continues to impress the national media, including The Athletic.

Auburn football filled needs by adding several key players during the spring transfer portal window. Most media outlets feel that Auburn took a giant step forward this spring by landing players such as former Indiana defensive lineman [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag] and former Penn State wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith to its roster, including Kennington Smith of The Athletic.

Smith released his SEC spring recap over the weekend, which features several interesting aspects such as projected wins, coaching changes, and notable returners. Near the end of his review, he added the SEC’s top five transfer portal winners, including Auburn.

Smith was impressed with two of Auburn’s defensive additions, but adding another talented wide receiver to the mix blew him away.

The Tigers added a few defensive players this spring to bolster the defensive front: Keyron Crawford (Arkansas State) and Isaiah Raikes (USC), but the biggest win was nabbing (KeAndre) Lambert-Smith, one of the most sought-after players in the spring window.

The Athletic joins CBS Sports by tabbing Auburn a ‘transfer portal winner.’ CBS Sports placed Auburn at No. 2 of its national rankings and issued them a “B-” grade.

Auburn ranks No. 28 in 247Sports’ 2024 transfer portal rankings. The Tigers have landed 14 transfers from the portal since the final whistle of the 2023 season. Lambert-Smith is the top transfer, followed by former Maryland tight end [autotag]Rico Walker[/autotag], former Mississippi State tackle [autotag]Percy Lewis[/autotag], and ex-Georgia State wide receiver [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag] following.

Where does Auburn land in CBS Sports’ post-spring SEC power rankings?

Will Backus of CBS Sports says that there is one giant question facing Auburn heading into the summer session.

A-Day provided a disappointing ending to Auburn’s spring practice session as the offense failed to score more than one touchdown in the game.

The touchdown, however, was exciting. Quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] connected with freshman wide receiver [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] for a 34-yard score in the 4th quarter, which could be seen as foreshadowing for what could be the 1-2 punch on Auburn’s offense this season.

Still, Auburn’s offense has work to do in order to find success in 2024. Following the spring session, CBS Sports’ Will Backus revealed his post-spring SEC rankings, where he placed Auburn at No. 12. Backus says that Auburn has the potential to rise, but Thorne holds the key to overall success.

Hugh Freeze has spent a lot of time and effort upgrading his team around the quarterback. Now it’s up to Payton Thorne to take that next step. The former Michigan State transfer failed to impress in his first season on The Plains. Whether that was due to a lack of talent to spread the ball to — no longer an issue now that former five stars like WR Cam Coleman are on the team — or Thorne’s own limitations, he has to be a whole lot better if the Tigers want to avoid embarrassments like losing to New Mexico State.

In addition to Coleman, Auburn has added three other highly touted freshman wide receivers [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag], and [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag] to its roster. [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag] also provide the room with experience from the transfer portal. Expect Thorne to take a step forward this season and to play a major role in Auburn moving up CBS Sports’ rankings once the season gets underway.