Tag: Sylvester Smith

Former Auburn safety announces transfer to SEC foe

Ex-Auburn safety Caleb Wooden will reunite with two former Auburn assistant coaches at his next collegiate destination.

One of Auburn’s most experienced defensive backs over. the last three seasons has found a new home.

[autotag]Caleb Wooden[/autotag], who has played in 25 games and made eight starts at safety for the Tigers since 2022, is staying in the SEC. Wooden shared this week on social media that he has signed with the Arkansas Razorbacks via the transfer portal.

Wooden discussed his decision to sign with Arkansas with Richard Davenport of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, where he stated that reuniting with former Auburn assistant coaches [autotag]Travis Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Marcus Woodson[/autotag] provided an exciting opportunity.

“Familiarity with the staff,” Wooden said in an interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “They’re family to us. That is big for me. I want to have that relationship with my coaches, especially in this day and age of NIL and (the transfer) portal. A lot of stuff is not real and the relationship I have with Coach (Marcus) Woodson and (Travis Williams) is real.”

Wooden recorded 41 tackles during his three-year stay in Auburn from 2022-24, with two pass breakups and two interceptions. He logged a career-high 17 stops in 2024 with just two missed tackles according to Pro Football Focus. He also allowed six catches in eight opportunities.

Auburn returns several key players at safety for the 2025 season including [autotag]Terrance Love[/autotag], [autotag]Sylvester Smith[/autotag], and [autotag]Kensley Louidor-Faustin[/autotag]. Auburn also added ex-Georgia Tech safety [autotag]Taye Seymore[/autotag] from the transfer portal. The unit, which was considered to be the most inexperienced of the defense heading into 2024, will have plenty of wealth heading into next season.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Former Jax State DB Zechariah Poyser schedules visit to Auburn

Auburn will look to fill a need in the secondary by hosting a talented athlete in Poyser.

Auburn football will look to improve upon its 5-7 record by adding experienced players to their secondary. Could a defensive back from an in-state program help Hugh Freeze and his program achieve that goal?

Former Jax State defensive back [autotag]Zechariah Poyser[/autotag] shared on social media this week that he has scheduled visits to three SEC programs, including Auburn.

Poyser was a part of a three-headed monster at safety for the Gamecocks this season. He, in addition to fellow safeties [autotag]Fred Perry[/autotag] and [autotag]Antonio Carter[/autotag], recorded 269 tackles, 13 pass deflections, and four interceptions. Individually, Poyser made 75 stops with eight pass breakups and three interceptions.

Poyser would be a great addition to a safety unit without Jerrin Thompson (graduation) and Colby Wooden (transfer portal). Several players, including [autotag]Sylvester Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Kaleb Harris[/autotag], and [autotag]Kensley Louidor-Faustin[/autotag], return to the unit. Adding Poyser, a safety that produced a 47.8% catch percentage last season, will boost Auburn’s chances at slowing down opponents passing numbers next season.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Gallery: Arkansas topples Auburn, 24-14

Here are the best images from Auburn’s tough loss to Arkansas on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Auburn football welcomed Arkansas to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the 2024 SEC opener on Saturday and walked out disappointed.

The Tigers committed five turnovers, including four interceptions in its 24-14 loss to Arkansas.

After a successful first career start last Saturday vs. New Mexico, quarterback [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] was benched following his first-half performance, which saw him complete 7-of-12 passes for 72 yards and three interceptions. [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] provided a shot in the arm to the Auburn offense by passing for 213 yards and two touchdowns with one interception during the second half. Thorne completed touchdown passes of 10 yards and 67 yards to [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] in the game.

Defensively, [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag] and [autotag]Dorian Mausi[/autotag] led the team in tackles with eight while [autotag]Sylvester Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag] each picked off passes from Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green.

Overall, Saturday was disappointing for the Tigers. However, there were plenty of great photos taken of the action. Here are the best photos from Auburn’s 24-14 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday.

What does Jerrin Thompson have to offer to Auburn’s defense?

Heading into the 2024 season, Auburn defensive back Jerrin Thompson brings a lot to Auburn’s defense and is optimistic about the secondary

The Auburn football loaded up on new talent over the course of the offseason and hopes that those players will help lead the team to success in its 2024 campaign.

One of those new faces is defensive back [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag], who is bringing a lot to the program after spending the last four years at Texas.

Being a part of the secondary, Thompson has skills that everyone with the team is impressed by, including his ability to communicate and lead by example.

“I take pride in that,” Thompson said. “That’s one thing that I feel like is my strength, is my instincts and my ability to communicate and make guys less stressed around me. I take a lot of pride in it. So just knowing that, just communicating and knowing my teammates is one thing I’m big on and how I operate.”

With a young secondary including players like [autotag]Caleb Wooden[/autotag] and [autotag]Sylvester Smith[/autotag], Thompson is trying to help others out when they need it while also playing his best.

He admits that while wealth of experience is a concern, the talent level is there.

“Yeah, we got a lot of talent. I have not been around a secondary this young, but this talented,” Thompson said. “We got a lot of guys who are hungry. Hungry like, we got guys out here competing. We don’t know who’s gonna play. That’s how it is. It’s out there. Like I said, running day five, we’re still just stacking days.”

While with the Longhorns, Thompson reeled in 176 total tackles and five interceptions, including one at Alabama in 2023.

Thompson now looks to make a strong impact on the Plains in 2024, trying to help build the Auburn defense into a force to be reckoned with.

The Tigers open the season on Aug. 31 when they take on the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m. CST in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Auburn reveals jersey numbers for freshman summer enrollees

Here’s a look at what number each of Auburn’s freshman summer enrolles will wear.

Auburn put some finishing touches on its roster Tuesday with the announcement of the jersey numbers for the transfers and freshmen who enrolled during the summer.

Eleven freshmen enrolled over the summer and were officially added to the roster including running back [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag], the highest-ranked offensive player from [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]’s transitional class.

While Cobb has a chance to contribute immediately, quarterback [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] and offensive tackle [autotag]Tyler Johnson[/autotag] will likely need time to develop before they are ready to see the field.

They also got some much-needed reinforcements in the secondary with cornerbacks [autotag]Colton Hood[/autotag], [autotag]JC Hart[/autotag], [autotag]Champ Anthony[/autotag], and [autotag]Tyler Scott[/autotag], in addition to safeties [autotag]Sylvester Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Terrance Love[/autotag], and [autotag]C.J. Johnson[/autotag] all making it to the Plains.

They also welcome defensive lineman [autotag]Darron Reed Jr.[/autotag] who can play anywhere across the defensive line for the Tigers.

Two members of the 2023 recruiting class are still missing from the roster, freshman wide receiver [autotag]Daquayvious Sorey[/autotag] and JUCO defensive lineman [autotag]Quientrail Jamison-Travis[/autotag].

Here is a look at each number the freshmen summer enrollees will wear their first season at Auburn.

Number Name Position
15 Hank Brown QB
18 Colton Hood CB
19 Sylvester Smith S
20 JC Hart CB
23 Jeremiah Cobb RB
24 Terrance Love S
25 Champ Anthony CB
27 Tyler Scott CB
29 C.J. Johnson S
45 Darron Reed Jr. DL
79 Tyler Johnson OL

[lawrence-auto-related count=4 category=1364]

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

Auburn football assigns jersey numbers to early enrollees

Here’s a look at which 2023 signees are on campus, and what number they will wear this season.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] turned in one of the biggest recruiting turnarounds in just three short weeks.

Since taking over the role of Auburn football’s head coach on Nov. 28, 2022, Freeze signed 12 prospects which ultimately boosted the class from the low 60s to No. 18 by December 21.

Several of those famous “flips”, including [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] and [autotag]Connor Lew[/autotag], have arrived on campus and are currently going through spring practice. Auburn also has several players that will join the team in the summer including [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag], [autotag]Sylvester Smith[/autotag], and [autotag]Colton Hood[/autotag].

Ahead of A-Day on Saturday, April 8, here’s a look at which freshmen are on campus, and what number they will be wearing this upcoming season.

Auburn signee Keldric Faulk shares reasoning behind switch from Florida State

Faulk was one of many “flips” Hugh Freeze performed before December’s early signing period.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] performed many recruiting wonders in a short time.

In a three-week span, Freeze improved Auburn’s 2023 recruiting class from one of the lowest in the SEC to a top-20 haul. He did so by convincing several talented prospects to flip their decision to Auburn from other programs.

One of the most important “flips” of the period was that of [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag], the state’s No. 12 recruit who committed to Florida State over Auburn in July. Faulk elected to sign with Auburn on Dec. 21, the beginning of the early signing period, and instantly became the top recruit of Auburn’s 2023 class.

On January 12, Faulk was honored by the Alabama Sportswriters Association as the Class 2A Lineman of the Year after recording 89 tackles for Highland Home in 2022. In an interview with Ben Thomas of AL.com, Faulk shared his reasoning for committing to Florida State in July as opposed to the in-state program.

“Auburn was really my No. 1 school for two or three years in a row, but there were certain coaching changes that just didn’t fit me personnel-wise,” Faulk said.

When Freeze was hired on Nov. 28, 2022, one of his first priorities was winning over Faulk. He did so by calling Faulk in for a visit in an effort to get to know him better. Faulk says that the connection he built with Freeze and staff made it seem as if he’s known them “for a couple of years.”

“(Freeze) just told me if I was destined to be an Auburn man, I need to be an Auburn man, but if I’m not just to let him know,” Faulk said. “He’s a real straightforward dude, and he wanted me to be straightforward with him.”

What will Faulk’s role be for Auburn? He says that he could be used in several different ways depending on the situation.

“They are going to try me at end and at the jack position,” Faulk said. “They are going to play me at both. I think I can play either. On third or fourth-down situations, it could go either way. I think I can go in at D tackle or D end or the jack position. I can play anywhere they want me to play.”

Faulk is one of eight four-star signees that has joined Auburn’s roster from the 2023 recruiting cycle, which includes [autotag]Sylvester Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Darron Reed[/autotag], and [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag].

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=]

[listicle id=60547]

CB Tyler Scott committs to Auburn during All-American Bowl

Zac Etheridge and Wesley McGriff have landed yet another impressive player for Auburn.

Auburn has landed one of its top remaining targets in cornerback [autotag]Tyler Scott[/autotag].

Scott, who signed with Auburn during the early signing period, announced his commitment Saturday during the All-American Bowl.

He may be a three-star prospect but has an offer list that shows just how coveted he was. Auburn beat out Alabama, Tennesee, USC, Texas, Michigan, and other top programs for the Mableton, Georgia product.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Scott originally committed to Arkansas State back on June 15 but blew up during his senior season and backed off his pledge. He is the No. 446 overall player and No. 43 cornerback in the 247Sports Composite ranking.

He is also the No. 46 player from Georgia but after a strong showing at the All-American Bowl, he could be soon getting a bump.

He joins an impressive defensive back class for Auburn that is headlined by four-star cornerback [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag]. Three-star prospects [autotag]Colton Hood[/autotag] and [autotag]JC Hart[/autotag] round out the haul at cornerback.

Secondary coaches [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] and [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag] also landed four-star safeties [autotag]Sylvester Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Terrance Love[/autotag] to round out the defensive back room.

With the addition of Scott, Auburn now has the No. 19 recruiting class in the 247Sports team recruiting ranking.

[mm-video type=video id=01gm9vwn7srdxstxdyyd playlist_id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gm9vwn7srdxstxdyyd/01gm9vwn7srdxstxdyyd-c208a4c851a15f32afc146d1d6089459.jpg]

[listicle id=59234]

UAB head coach Trent Dilfer aims to out recruit Auburn

Dilfer stated his goal of making UAB “the next best option” for in-state recruits outside of Alabama.

Newly named UAB head football coach Trent Dilfer has an accomplished career in the sport.

He played 13 NFL seasons where he threw for 113 touchdowns, and led the Baltimore Ravens to a championship in Super Bowl XXXV. He now takes on a new role, leading a college football program.

He, like Hugh Freeze, had three weeks to maintain UAB’s 2023 class following the departure of Bryant Vincent, who served as interim head coach for the Blazers following the sudden retirement of Bill Clark in June.

The Blazers reeled in the No. 98 recruiting class of the 2023 cycle after the early signing period ended, signing five players from the state of Alabama. The Blazers’ class was the third-best from Alabama, trailing Alabama and Auburn, and beating Troy, South Alabama and Jacksonville State.

Following the end of the early signing period, Dilfer stated he wants UAB to be a strong candidate for in-state talent. He even stated his goal of out-recruiting in-state programs, such as Auburn.

“We’re looking for the best players in Alabama,” Dilfer said following the early signing period. “If they go to the University of Alabama, that’s awesome. But we’re going to be the next best option.”

If [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] were still the head coach at Auburn, I could definitely see this goal being realistic. After all, Harsin missed on the opportunity to land Quinshon Judkins, the Pike Road running back who rushed for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman at Ole Miss in 2022.

Harsin also did not give four-star safety [autotag]Sylvester Smith[/autotag] the time of day. He failed to close the deal on four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag]. Luckily, [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and staff worked hard over a three-week span to keep those top prospects from Alabama within the borders.

Dilfer will work hard to make that dream a reality. But if Freeze and company continue to recruit in-state talent at a high level, it will be quite a climb. It will be a battle to keep an eye on.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=]

[listicle id=59329]

Zac Etheridge among top recruiters for 2023 cycle

Auburn signed 18 high school prospects during its’ early signing period window on Wednesday. Etheridge had a hand in at least half of those.

Outside of his amazing recruiting efforts in a short amount of time, Hugh Freeze has made two great decisions since being named Auburn’s head football coach on Nov. 28… retaining both [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] from the previous staff.

Both Williams and Etheridge have developed key relationships with high school recruits, which was instrumental in keeping the 2023 class together for the most part, and even helped in flipping talent who had previously committed elsewhere. Because of this, the latter is deemed one of the best recruiters in the country.

Auburn managed to sway several players away from other programs such as four-star EDGE [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] (Florida State), four-star safety [autotag]Sylvester Smith[/autotag] (Tennessee), and four-star cornerback [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag] (Ohio State) thanks to the efforts of Etheridge. Once the dust settled from the opening day of the early signing period on Wednesday, Etheridge found himself ranked No. 12 among the top recruiters for the 2023 cycle according to 247Sports.

Out of Auburn’s 18 high school signees, Etheridge had a hand in eight of them. He also was the primary recruiter of four-star running back [autotag]Jeremiah Cobb[/autotag], who will sign with Auburn in February. His efforts played a part in Auburn signing the No. 20 recruiting class according to 247Sports.

Etheridge joins the likes of Alabama assistants Freddie Roach and Robert Gillespie, Ohio State’s Brian Hartline, and Clemson‘s Nick Eason as assistant coaches who rank in the top 15 of college football’s best recruiters.

Here’s a look at the 2023 signees that were recruited by Zac Etheridge.