We're previewing each team in the SEC as we get closer to the start of the 2024 college football season. We last looked at Arkansas, and now we dive-in to the Auburn Tigers. Auburn enters their second season under Hugh Freeze after a 6-7 2023.
Will the Tigers take the next step?
Examining the Auburn Tiger offense
Hugh Freeze is known for providing offense, but that didn't exactly happen in his first season. The Tigers finished 11th in the SEC in scoring (26 PPG) and had their worst yards per play season since 2015 (5.5 YPP). Freeze attempted a "CEO" type role, but his marriage with OC Philip Montgomery didn't work. Now he's taking back full control of running the offense.
Freeze, controversially, chose to stick with QB Payton Thorne rather than pursue transfer options. Thorne was a liability in the passing game last year, but the AU offense was much better when they featured him as a runner. With star RB Jarquez Hunter returning, they should at least have a ground game to build around.
Thorne's struggles through the air weren't all on him, as his receiving options weren't exactly dangerous. That should change with Penn State-transfer Keandre Lambert-Smith and 5-star freshman sensation Cam Coleman now in town along with a good TE back in Rivaldo Fairweather. The OL will need to be better in pass protection, however, for the offense to round into form.
Examining the Auburn Tiger defense
Auburn was respectable on defense in 2023, at least until they got shredded by New Mexico State and then allowed Alabama to convert a 4th and 31 for a game-winning TD in consecutive weeks to close the regular season. Veteran DC DJ Durkin comes in to try and eliminate those miscues.
The Tigers should be solid along the DL with returning starters Keldric Faulk at DE and Jayson Jones at NT, and several talented transfers including Texas A&M's Isaiah Raikes and Indiana's Philip Blidi come in to create a more well-rounded unit. The LB room could be one of the SEC's best between Jalen McLeod, Eugene Asante, and Duke-transfer Dorian Mausi.
The secondary creates cause for concern. CB Keionte Scott is the lone returning starter. Texas-transfer S Jerrin Thompson was a nice addition, but as a whole, there are plenty of questions on the backend of the defense.
Thoughts on the Auburn Tigers entering 2024
Hugh Freeze was hired at Auburn because he scores points, recruits elite talent, and has beaten Alabama. So far, the recruiting has lived up the billing, and he at least put a scare into both the Tide and Georgia in 2023. The offense wasn't there, however, and Freeze showed one of his less desirable tendencies as a HC with a disastrous loss to New Mexico State.
He's not on the hotseat by any means, but he does need to show positive momentum for Auburn's rabid boosters to stay on board. The offense should be better with improved skill talent, and their schedule sets up nicely to take a step forward.
Obviously road trips to Athens and Tuscaloosa are never fun, but the rest of the slate is extremely favorable, with swing games against Oklahoma and Texas A&M in Auburn. This should be an improved Auburn team in 2024.