We are now only a little more than three weeks away from Auburn taking on Alabama A&M in Jordan Hare Stadium to begin the college football season. The Tigers will don the pads this week during practice and begin to get a little more physical. Hugh Freeze inherited an Auburn roster ranked ninth in the SEC in overall talent (including Texas & Oklahoma) according to 247 Sports.
He has made it his top mission to replenish the depth chart and has revitalized Auburn’s recruiting over the last year and half. The SEC talent composite has not been released yet this year, but it’s obvious to anyone with eyes that the Tigers’ roster appears far more comparable with the elite teams in the conference.
While there still exists a significant gap between the top teams and the Loveliest Village, it’s no longer a chasm and it continues to shrink on a yearly basis. The transfer portal has plenty of negative aspects, but it can definitely be used to replenish a roster with experienced talent at warp speed.
The best programs focus on high school recruiting and use transfers to fill in gaps as needed. Auburn will have several familiar names back in starting roles in 2024, but will have a host of new names and hopefully breakout stars as well. Here are some new
players that could be household names by the end of the season.
DL Philip Blidi – The 6-3 284 lb lineman started his career at Texas Tech and played at Indiana in 2023. Blidi accounted for 30 tackles last year and started 11 games. The senior is more than a space eater. He has the physical ability and relentless motor to be a force for the Tigers in 2024. Replacing Marcus Harris won’t be easy, but Blidi will try to do just that.
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith – All the talk revolves around fabulous freshman like Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson and Alex City’s own Malcolm Simmons. Every one of them has superstar potential, but don’t overlook Lambert-Smith. The senior transfer from Penn State brings big-time talent and, more importantly, a wealth of experience. He will be called upon to provide leadership and help mature an extraordinarily talented position group.
DL Amaris Williams – A freshman from Fayetteville, NC standing 6-2 and weighing 269 pounds, he was a 5-star recruit with unlimited potential. Williams had 20 tackles for loss and 11 sacks his senior year of high school and rushed for 700 yards as a tailback. The talk coming from practice so far is that he is the real deal. Expect him to contribute this year.
DB JC Hart – Hart was an overlooked defensive back prospect out of tiny Loachapoka in Auburn’s backyard. He is now in his second year on the Plains and is an imposing 6-2 and 199 lb. SR Keionte Scott and SO Kayin Lee will be the starting cornerbacks, but Hart will be one of the first off the bench and must provide depth. It has been reported that he may be the fastest person on the entire team.
WR Sam Jackson V – Jackson is a transfer from California where he played QB last season for the Bears. His athleticism is off the charts and should provide a significant threat from the slot position. He actually went to high school with Peyton Thorne at Naperville Central in Illinois and has maintained a close friendship ever since.
EDGE Keyron Crawford – SR Jalen McLeod may get all the publicity heading into 2024, but Crawford, a transfer from Arkansas State, could be one of the most important acquisitions of the off-season. He was extremely active last year for the Red Wolves totaling 45 tackles (11.5 TFL and 6.5 sacks). Crawford and McLeod should make for a dynamic duo rushing the passer and significantly improve the Tigers defense.
Andy Graham is a co-host of Auburn Blitz and his columns appear here weekly.