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re: Roster as of 1/12 @ 10pm

Posted on 1/11/23 at 9:44 pm to
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/11/23 at 9:44 pm to
Corchjay’s rankings of the portal players by expected impact

1. Avery Jones
2. Dillon Wade
3. Brian Battie
4. Gunner Britton
5. Elijah McAllister
6. DeMario Tolan
7. Rivaldo Fairweather
8. Mosiah Nasili-Kite
9. Lawrence Johnson
10. Nick Mardner

I will not be posting my rankings of high school players as I continue through the new 2023 players. There are services that rank these players rivals, espn, 247, on3. I will break down what I see from the high school and Juco signees tho
Posted by ALrabbitKilla
Member since Jan 2021
208 posts
Posted on 1/11/23 at 10:25 pm to
Thanks for doing these Corch.
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/11/23 at 10:30 pm to
No problem Killa. I love this kind of stuff. Hope it brings some insight into our new roster.

The one thing I will say about the Transfer portal additions I’m not sure how much they increase our ceiling as a team but they definitely raise the floor.

Prior to these additions we might have been looking at a 4 win team. And yes I’m being serious
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/11/23 at 10:40 pm to
WDE01 I wouldn’t worry about where the numbers are exactly. We will add and lose players post spring. At the end of the day we will be at or short of the 85. It always happens with a new staff. I will feel great if we have 82 solid scholarship players in the fall.
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/11/23 at 11:58 pm to
High school players I’m going to group by position grouping to include all players.

First group is QB

This class needed a QB and Coach Freeze went out and got a flip from a kid he had committed to Liberty. Hank Brown is from the Nashville area and had great QB coaching at the high school level. So fundamentally he’s extremely skilled. From an athletic point of view he’s lower half of P5 talented QBs. Brown has an above average arm strength but has clean technique therefore as his body matures into a college player his talent level could increase. Brown will be a spot holder until his redshirt sophomore season unless an emergency happens. I expect more talented QBs to be signed in the future but sometime the slow and steady is the best for a team (a la Stetson Bennett). At Best a potential starter and at worst a depth piece. Players like this need to find ways to be important to the team. Like working as a holder for place kicking. Working with backup WRs on their weaknesses. Examples are they struggle with short routes with fast balls. Or work on contested receptions. Hank needs to make himself available to work on those with players.

No other QBs added at this time however there is a expectation to add a transfer QB in the future if possible
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/12/23 at 12:07 am to
Running back

Jeremiah Cobb is a top 10 high school running back. Cobb chose AU over UGA and yet to sign his LOI. However he is expected to sign with his teammates at a ceremony in Feb.

Cobb hit a homerun personally with the coaching change. freeze’s scheme fits Cobb’s game much better than he would have Harsin. Cobb is a do it all type running back. He’s good at a lot of things that makes a good back. He has decent vision, very good speed, tackle breaking ability will have to be seen at the college level but he did break many in high school. He also has some wiggle and cut back moves. For a team that needed a freshman running back that you aren’t expecting to give it to them 20 times a game as a freshman Cobb might be the best back available. Most of the backs ranked higher than Jeremiah have more mature bodies. 2 years in the system and Cobb should be ready for the RB1 spot. This was a big win on the recruiting trail.
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/12/23 at 12:59 am to
OL

High school and Juco OL are Clay Wedin, Bradyn Joiner, Izavion Miller, Conner Lew, and Tyler Johnson

Izavion Miller come from the Juco ranks and has 3 years to play 2 (not sure the covid rules for Juco it could be 3 to play 3). Miller comes in as the number 4 Juco OT and before we landed some portal players was going to be expected to start. He still has the opportunity to compete for a starting spot. Since bringing in portal players the expectation is that Miller will be a 2nd string RT to start practice. I haven’t seen much film of Miller to break down his play because Juco can be such a wide range of talent to judge. He is a much needed tackle for layered depth. He should and could be a multi year starter.

Tyler Johnson is a high school player coming in as a low rated OT for a SEC program. The thing about Tyler is his upside is very high but his floor is very low. Tyler has a great frame to build on the next couple of years. By his redshirt sophomore or Junior season he has the potential to be a starting LT. He has to change his body, get bigger, stronger, and fundamentally sound. He has the time depends on what Johnson demands of himself the first couple years. Is he just gonna say well I’m probably it playing this year and take a back seat or is he gonna go in and challenge the best DL guys in practice every rep no matter if they kick his tail. Time will tell. There is no need to look to far into film he’s a project player that at this time has the measurables, has good athleticism, and frame to be a future NFL player. This player will be molded by this coaching staff and how much Tyler Johnson wants yo be the man.

Connor Lew is one of the if not the top Centers in the country coming out of high school. Before the portal addition of Avery Jones some speculation was floating if Lew could compete for the starting spot. I don’t expect that need but Lew needs to come in ready to go. He still needs some size on his frame and will benefit from a year in the weight room. Lew is and Joiner below are both really good Centers for high school prospects. I have Lew rated higher as a center personally but if the position were left guard I’d have Joiner rated higher. Fundamentally sounds and has an aggressive mindset. Joiner is very similar as well. These 2 will be tied at the hip much of their careers. I expect Lew to be the number 2 center coming out of fall practices but if an injury were to happen early in the season I don’t expect Lew to be the starter. They will swap some players around I would guess. I expect Lew to be a multi year starter at center.

Bradyn Joiner much like Lew comes in a highly rated center. A position of great need for the 2023 season and going forward. It’s very difficult to find 4 star centers. Joiner is one of very few and has a lot to do with his lower body strength and ability to move to guard as well even though on the shorter side for an OL he plays with good leverage and has great lower body strength. That’s a great foundation for any potential offensive lineman. Joiner is also aggressive as mentioned with Lew. Good traits for younger linemen. I expect Joiner to run 3rd string center this season coming out of fall practices but to cross train going into next spring at guard. Bradyn has the potential to be a starter in the future. At worst he’s a very good backup in the future.

Clay Wedin comes in as our highest rated OL recruit this year. He was flip from Michigan state. He had an impressive offer list as well. Wedin is the Swiss Army knife of this OL class. He can probably play every position on the OL except center. Wedin as with the other freshman linemen need a year in the weight room for their bodies to mature. I expect Wedin to start out practicing at RT but could be moved anywhere there is a need. Eventually I expect Wedin to be a guard but always better to start outside then work from tackle to guard then the other way around. Wedin has a very good frame and could be a mailer in the run game at RT or RG. My expectations for Clay is to be a 2-3 year starter at guard and early I. His career a rotation in practice drills at tackle and scout teams.

The OL class for this signing period was very exciting just to get some real numbers for the first time since 2017. I do expect more talented OL classes in the near future but for a 1st year class thrown together in just a short period of time this is a very good building block for the future.
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/12/23 at 1:14 am to
WR

We signed 1 WR this cycle in Daquayvious Sorey and sticking with Sorey from the staff should tell
You a few things about how Freeze and Co. think of his talents. Auburn had the opportunity to sign the #1 WR in Alabama in English and/or the #1 WR in Georgia in Hopkins but dropped both of those and kept Sorey. He meets the expectations of a Hugh Freeze type WR. 6’2” around 200. You can expect 7-10 guys around that size on the roster going forward. You’ll have a couple smaller WR and couple taller but the roster will be littered with 6’2”-3” guys if Brother Hugh has his way. As with all the high school guys it’s best if they are able to get good practice reps and maybe a few game reps against cupcakes and a lot of work on their craft and bodies the first year. Sorey is no different. He has good size, speed, and hands. My expectation is Sorey will be a multi year rotational player with potential to be a very good player. Get to work young man and if he can be a physical presence it can get you on the field early in a special teams role.
This post was edited on 1/12/23 at 1:16 am
Posted by allin2010
Auburn
Member since Aug 2011
18151 posts
Posted on 1/12/23 at 6:29 am to
quote:

Jeremiah Cobb is a top 10 high school running back. Cobb chose AU over UGA and yet to sign his LOI. However he is expected to sign with his teammates at a ceremony in Feb.


He has signed. Paperwork done. His HS coach asked him to wait to announce and do the February ceremony. Catholic is a private school and has recently made athletics a priority.
Posted by TheJones
Member since Nov 2009
33336 posts
Posted on 1/12/23 at 7:10 am to
quote:

Not sure where some of you are coming up with your totals, but unless I'm reading this wrong, according to this article, after transfers in and out and all the new comers have been accounted for, Auburn is sitting at 73 total. That would mean we still have 12 spots available to bring in MUCH needed talent and depth.


If you’re going by the link you provided then you’ve forgotten to add the transfers in. So even by BMatt’s count, that’s 83.

As we’ve mentioned though, not all 83 are currently on scholarship. So as long as we’re at 85 by fall we’ll be OK to take some more now with the assumption that some guys will transfer after spring. But I’m not expecting too many more at this point, honestly.
This post was edited on 1/12/23 at 10:47 am
Posted by SlimCharles140
Member since Dec 2011
1908 posts
Posted on 1/12/23 at 11:38 am to
quote:

always better to start outside then work from tackle to guard then the other way around
Why is this? Thanks for writing all these up, very informative.
Posted by Beachbum87
Las Vegas
Member since Oct 2022
1972 posts
Posted on 1/12/23 at 11:47 am to
We are currently at 85 scholarship players on the roster.

LINK
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/12/23 at 12:30 pm to
quote:

Why is this? Thanks for writing all these up, very informative.


Game and college practice speed at tackle is much different than high school. Learning the drop or kick step on pass coverage is one of the more difficult techniques to learn especially for kids 300 plus pounds. It also requires finer technique with your hands because you are outside and more likely to get flagged for being outside the shoulder. It’s a more difficult position to learn and play. Therefore when a younger player gets moved inside to guard they have good technique with their hands then it just becomes the ability to play low and being physical with bigger bodies on the DL.
Posted by makersmark1
earth
Member since Oct 2011
15802 posts
Posted on 1/12/23 at 6:09 pm to
Will you describe Rogers?

Thanks.
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/12/23 at 6:54 pm to
I will. A little busy right now but will
Continue the thread later this evening.
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/12/23 at 11:24 pm to
Moving over to the defensive side I have to circle back and give my take on the latest portal addition.

Justin Rogers!! What a massive pickup a true NT that is nothing but a nose. He is a huge difference maker in the middle. He should come in an immediately be the starter at the 0 tech. He won’t put up big stats but if he performs like he has then he will make our defensive front very good. His lower body strength is incredible. He wins most of his matchups in 1 on 1 situations and stalemates a lot double teams. He’s very technical with his hands and has the punch to stop most centers or guards, that frees up a clean area for your linebackers to make plays. He’s a 35-40 snap a game player so depth behind him is still important. He is the type of player that can make a 3 man front work and also the type of player you can win championships with. With his abilities on the line you probably win 1-2 more games a year. He is that impressive in what he does. He’s a massive dude at 6’3” about 330 lbs

For me on overall team impact he moves immediately to the top of my portal additions and I am very high on Avery Jones but this is a special talent. He would be the starter at any school he transferred to.
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/13/23 at 12:06 am to
High school DL signees

Keldric Faulk, Darron Reed, Wilky Denaud, Brenton Williams, Quientrail Jamison-Travis, Stephen Johnson

Edge Keldric Faulk was a big time flip for the new staff. Always consider Auburn the leader but with a coaching shite show you can’t blame
The kid for looking elsewhere eventually we got a new coach and staff and Keldric came into the fold. He is a super sized edge player even coming out of high school. He has athleticism that can’t be trained our taught. Just go given abilities. He should be in the mix to get 25-30 snaps a Game possibly as a true freshman for pass rush situations. He’s also very good for a young rush end at setting the edge. Over time he will out grow the edge spot and will probably move to the strong side end. Nothing wrong with that at all probably a more natural position for him but we need edge players now. And we have a couple more true freshman that need to learn the position but none have the abilities of Faulk. My expectation is Faulk to be an immediate contributor and multiple year starter.

Defense Tackle Darron Reed is another flipped player on the DL. He is our highest rated interior defensive lineman signed out of high school. He’s talented and explosive on the inside. He has decent size coming in but will
Have to put work in the weight room. He plays with good pad level but gets himself out of position on plays which is not unusual for high school players trying to make plays. He’s also a good pass rusher from the inside. He is talented enough to get some snaps his freshman season but I expect a redshirt a year backing up and then a couple years as a stater. He’s 6’4” 270 coming out of high school I would expect him to work himself up over the next couple years to an ideal playing weight of 305. I expect him to play at the defensive tackle sport or the 3 tech. Very good player and if you can load a defense with players of this quality you can have a top 10ish defense.

Edge Wilky Denaud and Brenton Williams
I’m not trying to short these players at all but they are pretty much the same player around the same size with the same ability. Denaud has a little better get off at the line of scrimmage on the rush. I hope both of these players develop into starter but I expect Williams like Faulk to put grow the edge spot and move to the SDE or 5 tech. Wilky is the slightly higher rated player but both will determine their future by the work they put in at the college level. My expectation is redshirt for both unless one is need at edge in an emergency situation this season. In the future I hope we fill the roster with more elite players but would not be surprised if one of these guys works their way to a starting spot but just speculating career role players at their positions. 20 snap a game type production and special teams.

Travis comes to AU from the Jucos and was a Juco all American and Juco National championship MVP. He’s a 3 tech defensive tackle. He is a very good interior pass rusher and above average run stopper. How quickly that translates to SEC play is yet to be seen. I expect him to work in the rotation early to see if he can hold up in the SEC for this season. We should know after fall practices. Travis can do a lot of things well for an interior lineman so whether he plays this year he has a bright future. It’s extremely hard to k ow the true talent level at the jucos for me. Just never have watched much of Juco football. May expectations for Jamison-Travis is multi year rotational player if not a starter at DT.

Stephen Johnson is a very big boy for high school. One film he doesn’t show sec explosiveness or athleticism but we needed some young DL for layered depth. Johnson I would expect to play the nose tackle spot and if I were him this year I would be Justin Rogers shadow, whatever he does I would do however he attacks a rep I would do the same. Johnson should be a redshirt player this season and is a big bodied athlete that you need on your team. You need 12-15 defensive linemen and not all can be first day starter. I look to forward to Stephen proving me wrong and becoming an all american. Put that work in young man.
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/13/23 at 3:23 am to
New portal player list and OP updated to add Rogers

1. Justin Rogers
2.. Avery Jones
3. Dillon Wade
4. Brian Battie
5. Gunner Britton
6. Elijah McAllister
7. DeMario Tolan
8. Rivaldo Fairweather
9. Mosiah Nasili-Kite
10. Lawrence Johnson
11. Nick Mardner

Will continue evals of the DB room soon

*** sorry for the typos and typing mistakes had a long day with throwing program then away basketball game
This post was edited on 1/13/23 at 3:26 am
Posted by makersmark1
earth
Member since Oct 2011
15802 posts
Posted on 1/13/23 at 4:41 am to
Corch

As far as transfers, did Brother Hugh improve the defensive line more than the offensive line or vice versa?

I see massive improvement in both. I guess the offensive line room was so empty that getting 3 likely starters is crucial, but to get a Rogers in the middle is key also.

So we are better in the middle, but still a big ? At QB.

Will that be addressed in the portal or will someone in the room improve greatly in the spring?
Posted by CorchJay
Member since Nov 2018
16580 posts
Posted on 1/13/23 at 11:27 am to
Maker I have to say for portal guys it’s OL. At a minimum 3 of the 5 starters will more than likely be the portal guys. It was a much higher need as well. Having depth on the DL is never a bad thing. If you don’t have to the bodies to finish game or you don’t have the talent to stop people at the line of scrimmage on the DL games look like UGA vs TCU
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