Zac Etheridge – Page 2 – Syndication Server

JUCO safety Laquan Robinson is nearing a decision

Auburn is a finalist for the No. 1 JUCO safety in the country.

Auburn has prioratized JUCO safety [autotag]Laquan Robinson[/autotag] and that work could pay off soon with a decision date nearing for the Greenville, Alabama, native.

Robinson officially visited Auburn for their game against Ole Miss and revealed to Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente that a decision will be coming within the next two weeks and that Nov. 2nd is the goal.

He will be deciding between Auburn, Ole Miss and Texas A&M with the Tigers looking like the favorites, a position only strengthened by his visit to the Plains.

“Man it went great,” Robinson said. “Really connected with all the coaches, especially Coach Freeze, we talked a lot. Connecting on some different basis. I really just love it here, the atmosphere and all that.”

Secondary coach [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] is leading Auburn’s pursuit of Robinson and the two gave grown close during his recruitment.

“Coach Zac is like a brother man,” Robinson said. “As soon as I met him I felt like I loved him already.”

Robinson is the No. 9 overall player and No. 1 safety in the 247Sports JUCO ranking. He has been productive in both season for Holmes C.C., recording 76 tackles, two interceptions and breaking up five passes in 14 total games.

If Robinson picks Auburn, he would have a clear path to starting with starting safety [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] likely headed to the NFL after this season.

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DB target Kaleb Harris to commit ‘very soon’

Harris was on the Plains to watch Auburn play Ole Miss and it sounds like he is nearly ready to announce his commitment.

Secondary coach [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] and Auburn have been pursuing in-state safety [autotag]Kaleb Harris[/autotag] for years and that hard work could be paying off soon.

The Alabaster, Alabama product visited the Plains this weekend to watch Auburn take on Ole Miss and spoke with Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente after the game and revealed he will be committing “very soon.”

Harris has seen his recruitment take off due to a strong senior season for Thompson High School. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder has made 59 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and picked off three passes in six games.

The visit allowed him to see what his role could be on the Plains.

“I think I could fit where Keionte Scott plays, that nickel,” Harris explained. “I can play in the box, I can blitz, I can cover. I think that’s my best fit.”

Harris is the No. 679 overall player and No. 74 safety in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 31 player from Alabama. Auburn has received two crystal ball predictions to land Harris from 237Sports writers.

Five-star CB Na’eem Offord to visit Auburn for Ole Miss game

Na’eem Offord is returning to the Plains for his second game this season.

[autotag]Na’eem Offord[/autotag] is one of the top players in the 2025 recruiting cycle and for the second time this season, he will be visiting the Plains. The Birmingham product announced he would be visiting Auburn for the Ole Miss game on social media.

He also attended Auburn’s game against Samford as Auburn continues to prioritize the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder. Secondary coach [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] extended him an offer back on Sept. 3, 2022, and his recruitment has taken off since then.

Offord is now the No. 8 overall player and No. 2 cornerback in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 2 player from Alabama.

Offord is one of several major Auburn targets who plays for Parker High School. They have already landed a commitment from 2025 defensive lineman [autotag]Jourdin Crawford[/autotag] and are working to flip 2024 defensive lineman [autotag]Jeremiah Beaman[/autotag] from Alabama.

I’ll be at Auburn University this weekend 🐅‼️ pic.twitter.com/SYbnJ7QwLW

— Na’eem Offord (@OffordNaeem) October 19, 2023

Jaylin Simpson named AP, ESPN midseason All-American

Jaylin Simpson has had the best stretch of his career and is getting recognized.

[autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] has arguably been Auburn’s top player this season and he is getting some worthy recognition.

Simpson was named a midseason All-American by both ESPN and the Associated Press on Wednesday. Simpson’s four interceptions are tied for the fourth most in the country.

The Brunswick, Georgia native spent his first three and a half seasons on the Plains as a cornerback before sliding to safety late last season due to injury. He fit seamlessly into his new position and entered the offseason with plenty of hype. Prior to the season secondary coach [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] said “he can be a Sunday player.”

Simpson has backed up that claim and in addition to his four interceptions, has made 20 tackles, defended two passes and recovered a fumble.

Auburn trending for in-state safety Kaleb Harris

Auburn could be adding another talented player to an impressive haul in the secondary.

Auburn’s 2024 recruiting class took a blow on Tuesday when four-star athlete [autotag]Jalewis Solomon[/autotag] decommitted but help could be on the way as Auburn has ramped up its recruitment of three-star safety [autotag]Kaleb Harris[/autotag].

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is having a breakout season for the Thompson Warriors. In five games he has made 54 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, picked off four passes, broken up three more, forced a fumble and recovered another one.

Secondary coach [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] is leading the charge for Auburn and while several programs are in pursuit of Harris, two recruiting experts believe Auburn will land him.

Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente logged a crystal ball for Auburn to land Harris on Tuesday and Hale McGranahan of The BigSpur followed suit on Wednesday.

Harris is the No. 671 overall player and No. 68 safety in the 247Sports composite ranking. The Alabaster native is also the No. 31 player from Alabama.

If Auburn is able to land him, he would be their 18th commitment and fifth in the secondary, joining four-star safety [autotag]Kensley Faustin[/autotag] and four-star cornerbacks [autotag]A’Mon Lane[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag].

Elite Auburn safety target Zaquan Patterson sets commitment date

Patterson is the top-ranked uncommitted safety in the country and Zac Etheridge is trying to bring him to Auburn.

[autotag]Zaquan Patterson[/autotag] is the top-ranked uncommitted safety in the country but that won’t be the case for much longer. The four-star product has set a commitment date of Saturday, Aug. 26 and will choose between Auburn, Miami, Florida State, Ohio State and Michigan.

The Hollywood, Florida product visited each of his finalists over the summer and was in Auburn for Big Cat Weekend, where he revealed that his recruitment would not be ending with his commitment. His high school, Chaminade-Madonna, requires players to commit before their senior season.

“But even when I commit, my recruitment will still be open to my top five because I want to make sure I make the right decision because I’m being pushed to go fast,” Patterson Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente after Big Cat Weekend.

Patterson is the No. 77 overall player and No. 3 safety in the 247Sports Composite ranking. He is also the No. 10 player from Florida.

He is coming off a great junior season for Chaminade-Madonna where made 69 tackles, defended seven passes, recorded two interceptions and blocked four punts.

Secondary coaches [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] and Wes McGriff have assembled a loaded defensive back class already, landing five four-star prospects and Patterson would be the cherry on top.

BREAKING: 4-star DB Zaquan Patterson has set his commitment date for August 26.

He'll choose between five schools: #Miami, #Auburn, #FloridaState, #OhioState and #Michigan.

Where do you think Patterson will end up?https://t.co/Wmm40qAzTj pic.twitter.com/253u0YQ86Z

— Zach Blostein (@ZBlostein247) August 20, 2023

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It’s down to two SEC programs for Auburn edge target Jakaleb Faulk

One of the top defenders in the 2025 class is ready to make his commitment.

It’s down to Auburn and Alabama for [autotag]Jakaleb Faulk[/autotag], one of the top defenders in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

Faulk spoke with Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente to preview his commitment on Monday and broke the news that his recruitment was down to the two in-state programs for the Highland Home product. He revealed the quick work that [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has done at Auburn is one of the things that made the Tigers a finalist.

“What stands out about Auburn is the way they’re building stuff so fast. The way that the energy is with Coach Freeze about everything he’s bringing to the school. It’s just amazing to watch.”

He would know about the turnaround than most, his older brother is defensive end [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] who has been a star of spring and fall practice for the Tigers.

The younger Faulk is the No. 123 overall player and No. 12 edge in the 247Sports Composite ranking. He is also the No. 11 player from Alabama.

Two of Auburn top recruiters are leading the charge for the Tigers with secondary coach [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] and linebackers coach [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag] working to land the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder.

Auburn has already landed one defensive lineman in the 2025 cycle, in four-star Opelika product [autotag]Malik Blocton[/autotag], adding Faulk would give them a great foundation to the class.

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Auburn’s secondary is back, and stronger than ever

Auburn’s secondary has a chip on its shoulder heading into the 2023 season.

Everywhere you look, it seems that each position group has been upgraded thanks to the transfer portal. However, there is one group that will return most of its experienced players.

The defensive backfield at Auburn will have the most “homegrown” players heading into the 2023 season as players such as [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Puckett[/autotag], [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag], [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag], and [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] return. In fact, four of those five previously named players are among the Auburn defense’s top returning players.

Although this unit is the most experienced, they are still learning new things ahead of the season. Auburn’s secondary welcomes the new strategies and ideas set forth by defensive coordinator [autotag]Ron Roberts[/autotag] and secondary coach [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag] to go along with the familiar style of safeties coach [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag].

When it comes to McGriff and Etheridge, defensive back Keionte Scott compares their relationship to one of the NBA’s best duos of all time, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

“Chemistry, They’ve got chemistry already,” Scott said. “You’ve got an old-school coach with more old-school tradition and you’ve got a new-school coach. Being able to merge those together — it’s crazy to see it sometimes.”

The unit appears to be meshing well with the new style, but what does that mean for expectations? Scott says that the transition has been easy, as the expectations for Auburn are considered to be low.

“Everyone knows we have one of the top groups in the country. Just being able to go to practice knowing that we’re not nowhere, we’re not anybody, we’re not ranked in the country, we’re not anything… Offensive coordinators around the country are going to know,” Scott said. “We just want to live in that. We want to let everyone know that there’s not going to be a person you can pick on in our DB group.”

Auburn’s projected rotation in the defensive backfield combined to make 248 stops last season and accounted for four interceptions.

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Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 36 Jaylin Simpson

The veteran is making the move to safety.

Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] in his first season on the Plains.

Up next is veteran defensive back [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag]. After starting his career at corner, the coaching staff moved him to safety last season and he showed the potential to be a difference-maker for the Tigers.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Brunswick, Georgia

Height: 6-1

Weight: 178

Class in 2023: Senior

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four-Star / No. 34 in Georgia / No. 33 CB

Career Stats

Year	G	Tackles	TFLs	PDs	INTs
2019	4	2	.5	0	0
2020	7	14	1	3	0
2021	9	27	1	4	1
2022	12	37	0	7	2

PFF Grades

Year	Defense	Tackling	Run Defense	Pass Rush	Coverage
2019	65.1	27.5	68.7	–	60.0
2020	58.6	32.2	51.4	47.7	60.9
2021	65.6	68.2	48.3	57.5	69.1
2022	71.0	73.9	76.6	59.8	68.8

Depth Chart Overview

Simpson spent the first four years of his Auburn career playing cornerback but his future is at safety after a late positional change last season. He flashed his ability last season but with a full year of preparation under safeties coach [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] the sky is the limit for him.

He and [autotag]Zion Puckett[/autotag] have the two starting jobs locked down ahead of several talented but unproven players.

Jaylin Simpson’s Photo Gallery

Auburn cornerback target trending towards SEC rival ahead of his commitment

Jalewis Solomon will be making his commitment on Saturday and it’s down to Auburn, South Carolina, Florida State, Texas A&M and Kentucky.

Secondary coaches [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] and [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag] have assembled an impressive cornerback class, landing four-star targets [autotag]A’Mon Lane[/autotag], [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Lewis[/autotag] but they are not done yet.

The top remaining target is four-star [autotag]Jalewis Solomon[/autotag] and he is set to make his commitment at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 5. While he has a top five of Auburn, South Carolina, Florida State, Kentucky and Texas A&M, he admitted after Big Cat Weekend that Auburn and South Caroline were the two schools he was “focused on.”

The Ellaville, Georgia product was able to check out both programs last weekend and while he said his trip to Auburn “went great,” it’s the Gamecocks that are trending for him.

They have received three crystal ball predictions to land him, including one from Steve Wiltfong, the director of football recruiting for 247Sports.

Solomon is the No. 230 overall player and No. 19 athlete in the 247Sports Composite ranking. He is also the No. 30 player from Georgia.

While losing out on Solomon would hurt, the Tigers and Ohio State are the only two programs to have commitments from three four-star cornerbacks in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

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