​​Lyle's Corner

April 2018

Friday, April 27th, 2018

​Auburn football got another commitment today - this time for the Class of 2020. Kobe Hudson, a four-star receiver from Troup County, Ga., pledged to the Tigers in a ceremony at his school this morning. With several family members in attendance, he picked Auburn over Alabama, Florida, FSU and Georgia. Hudson, who stands 6-feet-2 and weighs 185 pounds, ranks as the No. 11 receiver and the No. 52 overall recruit nationally in the 247Sports Composite rankings. 

​Last season, Hudson hauled in 45 catches for 896 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a freshman, he caught 25 passes for 664 yards. He originally intended to commit two weeks ago. Then, he made a visit to Georgia last week. In the end, though, he decided that Auburn was the right fit. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a big factor in Hudson's pledge was his relationship with Auburn receivers coach Kodi Burns. "I've got a good relationship with Coach Burns," he stated. "We're very close. We match up very well. ...I like him; he really fits my personality. We connect really good."  

Hudson was equally endeared to some of the commits Auburn has for 2019. "There are other factors. They've got Bo Nix coming in. They've got George Pickens coming in," he pointed out. "Me and George talk a lot. George tells me they need me." Hudson is the Tigers' second commitment for 2020. The other - defensive lineman Andy Boykin - happens to be a teammate of his at Troup.

Hudson has visited Auburn several times in the recruiting process and has attended numerous games at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He estimated that he has been to the Plains at least 10 times. In addition to Hudson himself, the Tigers also won over his mother. "My mom, she loves Coach Gus Malzahn (at Auburn)," he emphasized. "They've got a good relationship." 

In his time at Troup, Hudson has been a major contributor since arriving on campus as a freshman. He has already been invited to the All-American Bowl. His high school coach, Tanner Glisson, is very impressed with him. "He's just real dynamic," Glisson said. "He's just really good with the ball in his hands. I've watched him since middle school through the ninth grade and into varsity football. He's just one of those players that at every level has been able to excel." 

Let's all hope that he continues to excel when his time comes to don the orange and blue uniform.

In other news....

- Auburn baseball lost to Florida last night in Game 1 of the series by a score of 3-1 in Gainesville. The Tigers hope to bounce back in Game 2 tonight at 5:30 p.m. CT. The game will be available online at SECN+. 

- The softball team plays at Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. CT tonight at College Station. That game will also be available online at SECN+. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Thursday, April 26th, 2018

Auburn football gained a new commitment yesterday - and this time, he's a graduate transfer who could possibly vie for a starting spot this fall. Jack Driscoll, a 6-feet-5, 300-pound offensive tackle who started 12 games at UMass last year and was named a Phil Steele All-Independent first-team selection, gave his pledge to the Tigers yesterday. He can play immediately and will have two years to play as many seasons.

Driscoll picked Auburn over Southern Cal and UCLA. He took official visits to all three schools over the past two weeks. With the Tigers, Driscoll could play multiple positions (tackle or guard), and the team views him as highly versatile. On April 13th, the Daily Hampshire Gazette reported that Driscoll was leaving the UMass program as a grad transfer. He officially visited the Plains that same weekend. "The Auburn visit was awesome," he said. "I really like the coaching staff and all of the players."

It didn't take long for Driscoll to bond with the Tigers, including players such as quarterback Jarrett Stidham. "I've been in contact with the coaching staff and some of the players almost every day," he pointed out. "I have a lot of interest in them. Auburn is an incredible school and football program with a great team this year." While in the process of choosing a university, Driscoll said he was "looking for a place where I can further my academic and athletic career by surrounding myself with people who will make me both a better person and of course a better player."

As a two-star recruit in the class of 2015 at Madison (Ct.) Hand High, Driscoll was largely obscure to most. In fact, he only ranked as the No. 223 tackle and the No. 2277 overall recruit nationally in the 247Sports Composite. The only other known FBS offer recorded by 247Sports at that time was from Army. He redshirted in 2015, mainly to bulk up. As a redshirt freshman in 2016, he played in nine contests for the Minutemen, starting eight. Although he saw action at left tackle, left guard was his primary spot that season.

Last season, Driscoll started all 12 games at right tackle and made his presence felt. He played on a line that helped produce an effective offense that averaged 30.6 points and 432.8 yards of offense per game. UMass faced two SEC opponents last season - Mississippi State and Tennessee.

In other news....

- Former Auburn basketball player Desean Murray announced via Twitter yesterday that he is transferring to Western Kentucky. Murray decided to leave the Auburn program last week and either transfer to another team or jump into the professional ranks. He decided on the former, tweeting "I am proud to announce that I will be attending western Kentucky next year to finish off my last year!"

Murray will graduate from Auburn this spring. The junior forward played a large role in the Tigers' success this season. Auburn made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before being eliminated - earning a No. 4 seed in the tourney. Murray averaged over 10 points and nearly seven rebounds a game this season. He previously played at Presbyterian College before transferring to Auburn. He will be immediately eligible to play as a grad transfer.

- Auburn baseball handily defeated Samford Tuesday in Plainsman Park by a score of 7-2. The Tigers improved to 30-12 overall, 9-9 in SEC play. They will return to action tonight in Game 1 of a series with top-ranked Florida in Gainesville. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT, with the game being televised by ESPNU.

- The softball team returns to action tomorrow at Texas A&M in College Station. The first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be available online at SECN+.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Tuesday, April 24th, 2018

Today, I will cover updates on two injured football players, one of whom is a newcomer, and the other of whom is a veteran. I'll start with the latter.

Defensive back Jeremiah Dinson's injured shoulder is not expected to keep him out of preseason practices in August. Dinson, who can play every spot in Auburn's secondary, injured his right shoulder while attempting to recover a fumble in Auburn's A-Day scrimmage on April 7th. He had surgery the following week to repair the damage.

Even so, Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele believes the junior will be ready to go again when the Tigers report for preseason camp in August. "Nowadays, rehab starts and rehab is work. You don't want to rehab," Steele said outside a speaking engagement in Spanish Fort, Alabama, according to SECCountry.com. "We're expecting full recovery out of Dinson in time for fall camp. I don't think there will be - obviously, the doctors will monitor that." A source told Auburn Undercover on the day of the surgery (April 12th) that Dinson would "probably" be fully healed before August arrives.

Dinson played in all 14 games for the Tigers as a sophomore last season. He posted a career-best 47 tackles and one sack, including 2.5 stops for loss. He also had four pass deflections and a fumble recovery. He started 12 contests at Nickel for Auburn. Dinson already knows a thing or two about surgeries. He fought back from major knee and shoulder injuries he sustained on a jarring hit late in the 2015 campaign against Texas A&M. He sat out the 2016 season due to surgeries and returned in 2017. The shoulder injury he suffered in '15 was to his left shoulder.

Now, I'll move on to the newcomer. Linebacker Josh Marsh missed Auburn's spring practices due to surgery, but the freshman is still expected to see the field this fall. Linebackers coach Travis Williams said yesterday evening outside of a booster club event in Flowery Branch, Ga. that Marsh is expected to be full speed when the Tigers return for preseason camp in August. Marsh spent much of the spring on the sidelines riding a scooter to aid what appeared to be an injured foot, though Williams confirmed to AL.com yesterday that it was an injured knee. He did most of his hard work in the meeting rooms while trying to absorb as much information as possible from the sidelines during practice.

"If you're not physically out there, you can get mental reps," Williams said, according to AL.com. "He's learning a lot of different things. ....He's a defensive athlete for us. He's going to have a chance to help us out this next year, and I'm looking forward to getting him out there in pads." Most freshmen, especially linebackers, are given early playing time on special teams. It does seem almost impossible for Marsh to crack the rotation where starters Deshaun Davis and Darrell Williams return. Montavius Atkinson is the top third linebacker, and Chandler Wooten and K.J. Britt appear to be the next ones in line for playing time.

Travis Williams' expectations for Marsh may seem rather staid, but when a player is just getting his feet wet as a college athlete, the approach just makes sense. "Be the best Josh that he can be," Williams said. "Just like I'm asking all the linebackers: Be the best version of yourself that you can be and I'll coach you up from there. That's the expectation for all the guys." Marsh is one of three linebacker signees in the 2018 class, but the only early enrollee in the group.

The Tigers were dealt a string of injuries in spring practices, with at least 13 players sitting out at least a portion of the A-Day game. Receivers Eli Stove and Will Hastings tore ACLs in March and could miss the entire 2018 season. Healthy players are expected to begin captain practices (voluntary workouts) in mid-to-late May.

In other news....

- The baseball team hosts Samford tonight at 6 p.m. CT, with the game being available online at SECN+.

- The softball team returns to action on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. CT in a trip to College Station to face Texas A&M. That game will also be available online at SECN+.

One last irrelevant note: Happy Birthday, Mama!

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Friday, April 20th, 2018

With Auburn football having recently wrapped up spring practices, the Tigers have named a starting running back - at least for the time being. Junior Kam Martin enters the offseason with the nod at that spot. Position coach Tim Horton isn't sure that the status will last into the season opener in less than five months, but for now Martin has done enough through 15 spring practices to get the bulk of the carries - and replace 1,000-yard rusher Kerryon Johnson.

"Obviously, we don't play today and so, is he going to start against Washington?" Horton said outside a booster club event in Jackson County. "That kinda remains to be seen but Kam would be first-team if we played today." Martin primarily served as a situational running back during his first two seasons with Auburn, and was Johnson's primary reserve near the end of last season. He tallied 453 yards rushing while averaging 6.1 yards a carry.

"He's probably gained 20 to 25 pounds since he got on campus (in 2016)," Horton stated. "And he's got a little more experience and really I think sometimes people misrepresent a kid not playing into the sense that, 'Boy, he's not doing very good.'  Well, Kam Martin had two good players in front of him. Hopefully, both of them get drafted. I know one will and hopefully the second one will, too." Johnson, who gave the Tigers their ninth straight season with a 1,000-yard rusher, is expected to be picked in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft next week. Kamryn Pettway, who broke the aforementioned mark in 2016, sat out most of the 2017 campaign due to injuries and a one-game suspension.

"He just had some guys who were in front of him that were pro football players and not necessarily a case of Kam not doing well, there were just some guys in front of him," Horton explained. "I think the year of experience and another year in the weight room is going to help him be a better player." With Martin weighing 195 pounds, though, that raises questions about his durability and whether he can be an every-down back in the SEC. Johnson faced similar questions last year, but Martin's scenario is different. For one thing, he's much smaller than the running backs who preceded him at Auburn.

"That's probably more of a question this year than it was with Kerryon or Pettway or Cameron Artis-Payne (in 2014) or Tre Mason (in 2013) or guys before because I don't know," Horton said. "The one thing that I do know about the running backs that we've had in the past is they've all been 210 pounds, 215 pounds. Well, Kam Martin is 195. And so I don't know that answer. I think, and we've wanted to do this the last couple of years but it just hasn't worked out, is we want to play more than one guy. But obviously as the coach you've got to play your best guy and so hopefully this will be a year we can keep people healthy and play two or three or four guys. I sure hope so."

The Tigers sputtered late last season after upsetting two top-ranked squads in Georgia and Alabama at the end of the regular season. Johnson injured a shoulder late in the 26-14 upset of the Tide, leaving Auburn without a healthy No. 1 running back. He was ineffective the next week as the offense collapsed in a 28-7 loss to the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game. Martin played but had limited success with four carries for 20 yards.

Auburn enters the offseason with five men in the race at running back: Martin, Malik Miller, JaTarvious Whitlow and walk-on C.J. Tolbert, the MVP of the A-Day spring game. Devan Barrett switched from running back to receiver late in spring practices.

In other news....

- The baseball team plays at Alabama tonight at 6 p.m. CT, with the game available online at SECN+.

- The softball team hosts Arkansas at 6 p.m. CT tonight in Jane B. Moore Field. That game will also be available online at SECN+.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Wednesday, April 18th, 2018

Auburn football landed its fourth commitment for 2019 yesterday - and quite out of the blue. Three-star cornerback/safety Cordale Flott of Saraland (Ala.) announced via Twitter that he has pledged to the Tigers. The 6-feet-1, 165-pound Flott is the No. 40 recruit in the state of Alabama for the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

"I'd like to thank my coaches all along the way," Flott Tweeted. "With that being said, I am committed to Auburn." Flott joins four-star quarterback Bo Nix of Pinson Valley (Ala.), four-star receiver George Pickens of Hoover (Ala.)  and three-star center Jakai Clark of Grayson (Ga.). The Tigers now have the No. 29 class in the nation. Flott spoke to head coach Gus Malzahn Tuesday morning. Flott visited Florida last week - and instantly put the Gators at the top of his list. In the end, however, Auburn overtook them.

Given his size and athleticism, he could play corner or safety. He has great length, which could benefit him tremendously in pass coverage. Auburn offered Flott on Feb. 28th and immediately became a factor. In March, Flott told John Garcia of 247Sports that Auburn, Alabama and Ole Miss stood out. "Auburn sort of felt like I was in my hometown," he said. "Alabama and Ole Miss was a little different feel. I actually can see myself at all of them, though. That's why it's such a hard decision to make." He also added, "I know whoever I choose I'm going to have to be with them three to four years and I'm trying to build a relationship based on when my parents leave me at college. I want to be able to lean on them and I felt that at Auburn."

Flott's commitment could spell a slew of pledges for Auburn. Two four-star recruits - cornerback Jaylin Simpson and safety/athlete Jashawn Sheffield - of St. Simons Island (Ga.) will visit April 27-29. At the present time, both are strongly siding with the Tigers. That same weekend, four-star offensive tackle Wanya Morris of Grayson (Ga.) is expected to make an official visit, as is four-star tight end Luke Deal of South Carolina. On May 1st, Morris and five-star linebacker target Owen Pappoe, also of Grayson, will announce their commitments. Auburn is a finalist for both. At defensive back, Auburn will likely add three or four more recruits to the Class of 2019.

Overall, the class is expected to include a total number of signees in the low 20s.

In other news....

- Auburn baseball jumped out to a three-run lead in the first inning and never eased up in dominating UAB 12-2 last night in the annual Bark in the Park game at Plainsman Park. Sophomore Elliott Anderson earned the win, tossing a career-high 4.0 innings and striking out a career-high seven batters. The 12-run total marked the Tigers' 10th game this season with double-digit runs, including its second in as many matches against UAB. Auburn improved to 11-0 when scoring in the first frame and 19-0 when scoring five or more runs.

The Tigers improved to 26-12 overall, 6-9 in conference play, while the Blazers fell to 16-19 overall, 8-7 in the Conference-USA. Auburn returns to SEC play this weekend with a trip to Tuscaloosa to face rival Alabama (21-17 overall, 5-10 SEC). Game 1 is set for 6 p.m. CT on Friday night, and will be available online at SECN+.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Monday, April 16th, 2018

After over a week of waiting, a former Auburn basketball player has officially joined Bruce Pearl's staff. Former point guard Wes Flanigan is on board as an assistant coach, according to a news release that came out today. Auburn Undercover reported last Tuesday that Flanigan was Auburn's top choice and was expected to be hired soon.

"Auburn basketball is very fortunate to have been able to attract and welcome home a former great in three-time captain Wes Flanigan," Pearl said in a statement today. "I've known Wes and admired his work for many years as a competitor. Known as a hard-working, tough-minded, passionate basketball coach and teacher, Wes will make our student-athletes better on and off the court."

Flanigan was an All-SEC guard in the first few years of the Cliff Ellis era from 1993-1997. He closed his career second on Auburn's career assists list with 573. He also had 1,228 points to his name. He co-led the team in scoring (11 points per game) during his senior year as the Tigers advanced to the NIT. Flanigan has quite a resume in the coaching business. He has 18 years of experience under his belt, most recently as the head coach at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he was fired in March after compiling a 22-42 record in two seasons.

"Returning to Auburn is a dream come true for me," Flangian said in a statement. "I've always wanted to come back to Auburn to coach basketball at some point. I want to thank Coach Pearl and the staff for giving me this opportunity. I've followed the program from afar over the years. I know our program is at an all-time high and I am looking forward to helping this staff, these players and Coach Pearl continue the success that they have already established. I'm happy to be a part of it."

Flanigan entered the coaching profession three years after concluding his Auburn career. He served as an assistant at Northwest Mississippi Community College, Little Rock (twice), UAB, Nebraska and Mississippi State before clinching his first head coaching stint at Little Rock in 2016. Two weeks ago, Pearl told Auburn Undercover that he was looking to add an assistant coach to his staff while moving one of his current bench coaches to an off-the-court role. Chad Prewett was temporarily elevated to a full-time assistant coach when Chuck Person was fired in October, but Pearl would not say whether Prewett would be the one to make the move back to the position as a support staffer.

"If I make any adjustments in the staff, and whichever one of my assistant coaches moves out of the coaching position and into another position, it won't have anything to do with the fact that they can't do something or didn't do something," Pearl told Auburn Undercover. "It would all be about the fact that we could make the staff better. I'm not sure who moves but somebody in those positions will move. My plan is to bring in a new staffer, for sure."

Pearl noted that he may add up to three staffers during the offseason. Auburn previously placed support staffers Jordan Verhulst and Frankie Sullivan on administrative leave in the wake of the FBI's investiagtion into the program. An explanation for their status has not been disclosed to reporters or the employees on leave.

"I would think that we would add at least two pieces to the staff, maybe three and I'll continue to have the same formula," Pearl explained. "Bring in great men who are going to be role models to the kids, guys that our players can believe are going to help them get better, and guys that will work hard and challenge my thinking - guys that want to be at Auburn. Guys that recognize there are challenges but the great part of the challenge is when you achieve it, and it's not easy, it's satisfying. It's really, really satisfying. I just think, trust this, I'm here and I plan on staying here. We've managed to find a way every year. We're going to keep finding ways."

Let's all hope so. Perhaps more importantly, let's all hope that Bruce will still have his job by the time next season comes around.

In other news....

- The baseball team will host UAB tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CT in Plainsman Park. The game will be available online at SECN+.

- The softball team returns to action on Friday when it hosts Arkansas in Jane B. Moore Field at 6 p.m. CT. That game will also be available online at SECN+.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Sunday, April 15th, 2018

Auburn baseball gave up five runs in the third yesterday against Mississippi State, and the deficit proved too big of a hill to climb as the Tigers fell to the Bulldogs 7-2 in Plainsman Park. Auburn went to 24-12 on the season, 5-9 in SEC play. State, meanwhile, improved to 19-17 overall, and matched Auburn's conference record.

"We have to keep working," Tigers head coach Butch Thompson said. "We need to come back and understand that tomorrow is the defining game in the series that we need. We need to look each other in the eye, execute the ballgame and find a way tomorrow." Starting pitcher Davis Daniel (2-3, 5.35) retired eight of the first ten batters he squared off with before State pieced together a two-out rally and scored five runs in the top of the third. Hunter Stovall singled to center to put the Bulldogs up 2-0, and Marshall Gilbert smacked a bases-clearing double to right-center field to increase the lead.

Opposite Daniel, MSU lefty Ethan Small (3-3, 2.94) earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings of play. The Tigers responded to State's scoring barrage with two runs in the home portion of the third frame. Jay Estes began with a bunt single before coming home on an RBI single by Steven Williams. The freshman right fielder advanced to second on a fielder's choice and later scored on an RBI single from freshman Edouard Julien to chop State's lead to three. But the Bulldogs quickly countered with two RBI singles in their next at-bat in the fourth to restore the five-point cushion.

Redshirt senior Andrew Mitchell stepped in for Daniel in the fourth and tossed 5.0 innings of efficient relief, giving up just one run on four hits with six strikeouts and one walk. That marked Mitchell's longest appearance since also pitching 5.0 innings against Arkansas last season.  The Tigers tried to make a game of it when Williams nailed a single into left field and Brendan Venter reached on a strikeout and a wild pitch to give Auburn two runners on with two outs. But Bulldog reliever J.P. France got a fly out to center field to bail State out of the conflict, and retired the Tigers in order in the ninth to secure the win.

Julien and Williams matched the team lead with 30 RBI and each scored a run in Auburn's two-run third inning. Williams recorded two or more hits in a game for the 11th time this year. Holland's lead-off double in the first was his team-leading ninth of the season. Meanwhile, Jay Estes reached base three times for the Tigers. Auburn and State will face off in the series finale at 1 p.m. CT at Plainsman Park today, with the game available online at SECN+.

In other news....

- The softball team dropped a doubleheader at Missouri yesterday by respective score of 5-4 and 5-1. Auburn slipped to 36-10 overall and 9-8 in SEC play, while Mizzou improved to 24-21 overall, 6-11 in the league. Today's series finale scheduled for noon CT has been cancelled, presumably due to inclement weather. Auburn will return to action on Friday night when they host Arkansas at 6 p.m. CT. That game will be available online at SECN+.

- Former Auburn basketball player Davion Mitchell has found his new home. Mitchell, a point guard who played one season with the Tigers, has committed to Baylor. He will have to sit out a year, and then have three seasons of eligibility left. Mitchell announced that he was leaving Auburn's program on March 29th. He played in all 34 games for the Tigers this past season, as his team won the regular-season SEC title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Mitchell averaged 17.1 minutes, 3.7 points, 1.9 assists and 1.1 rebounds a game. He recorded 63 assists to 38 turnovers.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Saturday, April 14th, 2018

Auburn baseball edged Mississippi State 2-1 last night in Plainsman Park thanks to junior right-hander Casey Mize's second complete game of the season. Mize (7-1, 2.00) surrendered just one run on five hits with no walks and nine strikeouts. It was the Springville, Ala. native's fourth complete game as a Tiger, and his sixth straight quality start, all of 7.0 innings or longer. 

The win marked Auburn's third straight against Mississippi State, and the team's longest winning streak against the Bulldogs since 2010. The Tigers improved to 24-11 overall, 5-8 in SEC action, while State slipped to 18-17 overall, 4-9 in the conference. The two teams will square off again at 2 p.m. CT this afternoon, with the game available online at SECN+.

In other news....

- Auburn softball's game at Missouri last night was suspended in the fourth inning due to rain, with Auburn holding a 3-0 lead. Play resumed at 1 p.m. CT this afternoon. As I write this, the game resumed an hour and three minutes ago. Last night, Tannon Snow smacked a three-run homer over the left-field wall with one out in the fourth to give the visiting Tigers the advantage. Auburn pitcher Kaylee Carlson has two strikeouts, two walks and has allowed two hits through four innings in the circle. She has also forced seven groundouts, including a double play.

- Defensive back Jeremiah Dinson walked off the field with an apparent shoulder injury during Auburn's A-Day game last Saturday. Now, according to AL.com, he's already undergone surgery to repair the damage, but it's uncertain how long he'll be out. Dinson, a redshirt junior, recorded 47 tackles last season, as well as four pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Given that Carlton Davis left early for the NFL (not to mention the string of injuries that the Tigers have been dealt throughout the spring), Dinson would certainly be a pivotal part of the secondary this coming season. We can only hope that he'll be fully healthy again when summer practices come around.

-This isn't directly related to Auburn, but it IS something to make note of. Yesterday, the NCAA announced that the Playing Rules Oversight Panel had approved a major change to kickoffs effective this coming season, mainly for safety reasons. Kickoffs can now be fair caught anywhere between the goal line and 25-yard line and be treated as a touchback, putting the ball at the 25 for the offense.

A report on NCAA.com, which announced this rule change, indicated that fewer injuries occur on kickoffs that end in touchbacks. It remains to be seen how this will affect in-game strategy this fall, but it will certainly change how teams approach kickoffs in the future. Taking the ball at the 25 may become an almost automatic choice for teams down the road, though, as the cons of returning kickoffs are starting to largely outweigh the pros.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Friday, April 13th, 2018

The trend continues. Auburn basketball guard Bryce Brown announced plans to enter the NBA Draft on Wednesday. However, Brown has no intentions of signing with an agent, leaving the door open for a possible return to The Plains for his senior season. He became the fourth player to enter the NBA Draft (or at least attempt to) this offseason and second in as many days.

"I want to thank God for everything He has done for me and the way He has led me," Brown said in a statement. "I had a dream to play in the NBA one day and I want to pursue that dream. Testing the waters will be a great opportunity for me and my family to see where I'm at in the process. I want to thank my teammates and my coaches for putting me in great situations to succeed and show what I can do on the court. I want to thank the fans and the Auburn family as well. Together, we created something special this past season with the best home-court advantage in the country."

Austin Wiley declared for the draft on Tuesday, following in the footsteps of Jared Harper and Mustapha Heron. Heron is the lone player in the group who intends to sign with an agent. Brown averaged 15.9 points per game and led the team in minutes (31.2) per game. He finished the season with 107 three-pointers, the second-most all-time in a single season while shooting 38.2 percent from 3-point range. Brown was a first-team All-SEC selection by the AP and the league's coaches named him to the All-SEC second-team.

"I'm not sure there is a player in college basketball who has improved more over the last three years than Bryce Brown," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement. "He is an elite shooter, an improved playmaker and a great defender. We're really excited for this opportunity for Bryce." Recent NCAA rule changes allow players to declare for the draft, participate in the combine and have one NBA tryout, but pull their names out up to 10 days after the combine in May. The early entry deadline is April 22nd (11:59 p.m. ET).  The withdrawal deadline is June 11th (5 p.m. ET).

In other news....

- The baseball team will host Mississippi State tonight at 7:30 p.m. CT in Plainsman Park. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.

- The softball team plays at Missouri this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. CT, with the game available online at SECN+. This is the first of a three-game series scheduled for this weekend.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Wednesday, April 11th, 2018

A third player is moving on from Auburn basketball (either possibly or for certain). Word came out yesterday evening that forward Desean Murray intends to either transfer from the Tigers or turn pro after graduating in May. Murray announced the news via Twitter. Guard Mustapha Heron declared for the NBA Draft earlier this month and plans to hire an agent. Point guard Davion Mitchell is also transferring from the program.

"Auburn has lead (sic) me to many great memories, experiences and relationships that I will forever cherish," Murray tweeted. "I appreciate this amazing opportunity to play at one of the best schools in the country and to be coached by coach Bruce Pearl and staff." In his only season with the Tigers, Murray averaged 10.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He transferred from Presbyterian College in 2016, sat out a year and played in all 34 games for Auburn this season. This past season, the Tigers advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after winning the third SEC title in program history.

Auburn is losing at least two of its top five scorers from the team. Heron led the team with an average of 16.4 points a contest. Point guard Jared Harper (13.2 points, 5.4 assists per game) is testing the NBA Draft waters without an agent, as is center Austin Wiley, who sat out the entire season due to an FBI investigation linking his family to monetary payments furnished by former associate head coach Chuck Person. Murray's departure is a big blow to the Tigers in the frontcourt, especially if Wiley elects to stay in the NBA Draft past the May 30th deadline to withdraw.

Auburn sputtered in the frontcourt in the final few weeks of the season after Anfernee McLemore injured an ankle. The Tigers hope Wiley returns to the team to give the Tigers a one-two punch with McLemore in the frontcourt. Head coach Bruce Pearl told AuburnUndercover last week that the team may sign a player or two in the 2018 signing class, which begins today, despite little to no movement on that front through the season. The reason why that's the case is because Pearl expected two or more players to leave the team. Obviously, his prediction has come true.

In other news....

- Auburn baseball dug itself into a deep hole and couldn't get out in losing to Samford 12-3 last night at Joe Lee Griffin Field in Birmingham. The Tigers fall to 23-11 on the season, while Samford goes to 20-14. The Tigers will hope to rebound on Friday when they return to Plainsman Park to begin a three-game series with Mississippi State (17-16, 4-8 SEC). Game 1 is set for 7:30 p.m. CT on Friday, and will be televised on the SEC Network. Game 2 will follow on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT, with Game 3 closing it out on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Tuesday, April 10th, 2018

I have two primary stories to cover today. One of them concerns another basketball player deciding to test the NBA waters, while the other centers around a new commitment to the football program.

First off, sophomore basketball center Austin Wiley has declared for the NBA Draft. However, he will not hire an agent for the time being, keeping his eligibility intact should he opt to return to school for another season at a later date. Wiley did not play for the Tigers last season after being suspended by the NCAA in the wake of the FBI's investigation into the program. Danjel Purifoy was also suspended for the season. He averaged just under nine points and 4.7 rebounds a game as a freshman for Auburn two seasons ago.

Jared Harper and Mustapha Heron have already announced that they would enter the professional ranks while Davion Mitchell decided to transfer from the program. Wiley tweeted his decision as follows:

"First off I would like to thank God, my family, teammates,my coaches and everybody that has helped me get to this moment. Being in the NBA has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I would like to announce that I will enter my name into the 2018 NBA Draft. I will not sign with an agent to keep my NCAA eligibility. Lastly I would like to thank the Auburn family for all of the support. War Eagle! ~ Austin"

- The football team has gained its third commitment for the Class of 2019. Georgia native Jakai Clark has decided to join Gus Malzahn's troops. The 6-foot-2, 305-pound offensive lineman is the latest prospect of elite Georgia high school program Grayson to announce his plans to play in the SEC. Clark is rated as a three-star prospect but the No. 12 center in the nation by the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Clark visited Auburn for last weekend's A-Day game, and the trip was apparently enough to endear him to The Plains. His Grayson coach announced the decision on Twitter as soon as his announcement was made. Clark joins quarterback Bo Nix and receiver George Pickens as the Tigers' other commits for the 2019 recruiting cycle.

In other news....

- The baseball team lost a heartbreaker at Arkansas on Sunday by a score of 5-4. They will try to get back on track tonight against Samford in Birmingham, Ala. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by SoCon Digital Network.

- The softball team shut out Tennessee on Sunday by a score of 6-0. Next on the docket is a trip to Missouri on Friday. The first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be available online at SECN+.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Sunday, April 8th, 2018

I'm in a "short and sweet mood" today, so I'll start by getting right to the point on my insight from yesterday's A-Day game. The defense was excellent, forcing two turnovers and making several tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Special teams was equally effective, especially when you put Anders Carlson into the picture. He hit four field goals of 45, 38, 41 and 54 yards to clinch special teams MVP honors.

The offense? It showed some spark, but there's certainly plenty of room for improvement as well. The offensive line sputtered at times, and the receivers were highly prone to dropping passes. Plus, the quarterbacks (especially Mailk Willis) overshot their receivers quite frequently. The running game was pretty solid, especially with C.J. Tolbert in there. He showed tremendous second and third effort on most of his carries, and scored two touchdowns. He finished the day with 137 yards on 16 carries. His longest carry was a 79-yard jaunt. JaTarvious Whitlow was very solid as well, with 14 carries for 98 yards.

It was an up and down day from my point of view. We've obviously still got a few more months to work out the kinks, and fix the issues that are present on offense. I personally won't expect anything lofty this year, but I'm hopeful that we can make this fall a decent one and qualify for a bowl, if nothing else. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.

In other news....

- Auburn baseball was pounded by Arkansas yesterday, 13-2. The Tigers will have a chance for redemption this afternoon at 4 p.m. CT. That game will be televised by the SEC Network.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Friday, April 6th, 2018

News broke Wednesday night that Auburn basketball sophomore wing Mustapha Heron has decided to enter the NBA Draft and intends to sign with an agent, though he hasn't decided which one it will be. "The plan is to just go in with the intent to hire an agent and hopefully get invited to Chicago and hopefully play my way in that way," Heron told 247Sports.

The 20-year-old Heron is coming off an auspicious season in which he averaged 16.4 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. He played a major role in leading the Tigers to an SEC title and a four-seed in the NCAA Tournament. "It's always been a dream to play at the highest level," Heron said. "Now is a better time than any other time. I'm coming off a pretty good season and the buzz is there and I feel like I'm ready mentally and physically."

Heron graduated from Waterbury (Conn.) Sacred Heart in high school, and plans to return home to Connecticut to prepare for the draft. "Most of the stuff I'll be doing at home with my dad and my trainers," he said. With Heron's decision to test the professional waters, he is foregoing his remaining two years of college eligibility. Exiting high school, Heron was a consensus five-star prospect. He lived up to that hype, scoring 1,011 points and pulling down 365 rebounds in two seasons with Auburn.

"Over the last two years, the first season didn't go as planned, but we came back and were better this past season," Heron stated. "It didn't end the way I wanted it to, but I grew as a player and defensively I made a lot of changes this year. Just being more locked in defensively and taking more pride in my defense. I think I have a skill set and an all-around skill set you can put anywhere on the floor and I don't disrupt anything. I have an attacking mentality. I'm a two-way player and a guard that rebounds."

The 6-foot-5 Heron was named to the AP All-SEC Second Team and was named the SEC's Men's Basketball Player of the Week during weeks nine and 12 of his sophomore campaign. As a freshman, Heron averaged 15.2 points and 6.1 rebounds a game, converting 44.2 percent of his field-goal attempts. Heron is known for his knack for scoring, but also for his tough, physical style of play.

On a similar note, point guard Jared Harper will reportedly also test the NBA waters himself, but has not hired an agent and, according to Auburn, does not intend to do so. According to sources, he is expected to return to school for his junior season unless he flourishes over the next month. Only time will tell how this plays out.

In other news....

- With Auburn football's A-Day game 23 hours and 46 minutes away (as I write this), head coach Gus Malzahn reported yesterday that Jarrett Stidham will not actually play in the game, but he will participate in the ten-minute 7-on-7 drill portion prior to the game as he continues recovering from January surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. "It's been very good, and just his command when he's out there feels different, which it should," Malzahn said Thursday. "He's a veteran guy. He's like a coach on the field. Last year, he was still learning the offense and learning Chip (Lindsey), and Chip was learning him. It just feels different, and he's got a very good grip on our offense and what we need to accomplish in the summer, too."

Rising sophomore Malik Willis and early enrollee freshman Joey Gatewood will be the game's primary quarterbacks, and both will gain crucial experience with Stidham sidelined. The game is set for 3 p.m. CT tomorrow afternoon, and will be televised by the SEC Network.

- The baseball team plays at Arkansas tonight in Fayetteville at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be available online at SECN+.

- The softball team will host Tennessee tonight in Jane B. Moore Field at 5:30 p.m. CT. That game will be televised by ESPNU.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Wednesday, April 4th, 2018

The 13th-ranked Auburn baseball team had little trouble in whipping Alabama A&M 19-5 last night at Plainsman Park. The Tigers improved to 23-7 on the season, while the Bulldogs fell to 7-22. Auburn's point total marked its most runs in a month. The Tigers recorded eight extra-base hits, including five doubles and three home runs, and scored in seven of its eight innings at the plate. Eight Tigers had at least one hit in the game, including five with two or more. Sixteen position players got playing time and 12 reached base at least once.

Edouard Julien led the Auburn offense going 3-for-3 with two doubles, one home run, three RBI, five runs scored and reached base in all six appearances at the plate. Julien is the first Tiger to score at least five runs in a contest since 2009. The Tigers will return to SEC play on Friday in a three-game weekend series with Arkansas (19-9 overall, 5-4 SEC). Game 1 is set for 6:30 p.m. CT Friday night in Fayetteville, with the game available online at SECN+.

In other news.....

- As spring practice nears its conclusion for Auburn football, two different players have moved to receiver in at least part-time roles. However, one other player has reportedly switched to receiver permanently. Sources tell Auburn Undercover that running back Devan Barrett has moved to receiver full-time. The move was further confirmed by a picture posted on Twitter by head coach Gus Malzahn, who had dinner last night with the quarterbacks and receivers. Barrett was not with the running backs on Monday night during their dinner with Malzahn.

Barrett is working mostly as a jet-sweep receiver in place of the injured Eli Stove, a source tells Auburn Undercover. Barrett is expected to continue playing in that role at the A-Day game on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. CT in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised on the SEC Network. Barrett's move comes in the wake of severe injuries to Stove and receiver Will Hastings. Both could miss the entire 2018 season after surgeries in March to mend torn ACLs.

Barrett began practicing at receiver Tuesday, a source told Auburn Undercover on Saturday. A separate source also said that quarterback Joey Gatewood has taken limited snaps at receiver. Barrett played as a freshman last season, but mostly as a receiving option out of the backfield. Nearly every play in which he was used resulted in him running out of the backfield for a pass. He caught 10 passes for 33 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 79 yards on 14 carries last season. He played in 11 of 14 contests.

Barrett was initially part of a five-man battle for the starting job at tailback, but that appears to be on hiatus.

Auburn's top four options for the starting job at tailback are Kam Martin, receiver-turned-tailback JaTarvious Whitlow, Malik Miller and newcomer Asa Martin. Kam Martin is the most experienced running back on the roster, which lost 1,000-yard rushers Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway to the NFL Draft in January. Auburn was slated to return its top five receivers from last season before Stove and Hastings sustained their severe injuries. Hastings caught 26 passes for 525 yards and four TDs, while averaging 20.2 yards per catch last season. Stove, meanwhile, had 30 carries for 315 yards and two scores while catching 29 passes for 265 yards.

The Tigers have eight injured players heading into A-Day: receivers Stove and Hastings (torn ACLs); defensive lineman Daquan Newkirk (Achilles); centers Nick Brahms, Kaleb Kim and Tucker Brown (ankles). Plus, receiver Shedrick Jackson (undisclosed) and quarterback Jarrett Stidham (shoulder surgery) have been limited for most of the spring.

- The softball team hosts Kennesaw State tonight at 6 p.m. CT at Jane B. Moore Field. The game will be available online at SECN+.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018

Will the injury bug ever leave the Auburn football team alone? Add yet another Tiger to the list of victims, as offensive lineman Kaleb Kim reportedly sprained his ankle during Auburn's scrimmage last weekend. According to Matt Zenitz of AL.com, Kim could miss the rest of spring practice as a result. Kim is vying to replace last year's senior center, Casey Dunn, who had started 10 of the Tigers' final 11 contests in 2017.

Kim had competing at center with redshirt freshman Nick Brahms before Brahms was lost for the spring due to an ankle injury of his own. Starting quarterback Jarrett Stidham is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery while receivers Eli Stove and Will Hastings suffered torn ACLs this spring and Daquan Newkirk tore his Achilles tendon.

Auburn will hold its annual A-Day spring game this Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by the SEC Network. For those planning to attend the game, tickets are $5.

In other news.....

- The baseball team hosts Alabama A&M tonight at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be available online at SECN+.

- The softball team will host Kennesaw State tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CT. That game will also be available online at SECN+.
 
That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Monday, April 2nd, 2018

Auburn baseball was shut out by Missouri 5-0 yesterday afternoon at Plainsman Park. With the loss, Auburn falls to 22-7 overall, 4-5 in the SEC, while Mizzou improves to 21-7 overall, 5-4 in the conference. For the home Tigers, the offense has struggled mightily over the past two games counting this one. Head coach Butch Thompson acknowledged that.

"I thought our pitching held up pretty well and gave us a chance," he said. "Offensively, scoring one run in the last two days is tough. We must get better. There needs to be a reset and a refocus because it doesn't get any easier moving forward." Freshman pitcher Tanner Burns (2-4, 2.43) took the loss after tossing 5.0 innings and giving up four runs (none earned) on one hit with three walks and six strikeouts. On Missouri's side, right-hander Bryce Montes De Oca (4-1, 2.40) clinched the victory as he tossed 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with four walks and five strikeouts. 

Burns had retired 13 batters in a row until an error enabled a Missouri batter to reach with one out in the fifth frame. Following a strikeout, a pair of two-out walks loaded the bases before Trey Harris smacked a grand slam to left field. It was the lone hit that Burns gave up on the afternoon. Auburn posted six walks for the day and got a single to right field from Steven Williams, but it made no difference as Mizzou added another run via a sac fly from Harris in the top of the seventh.

Freshman lefty Jack Owen pitched a scoreless inning in relief, while Calvin Coker made his team-high 15th appearance for the season and threw the final three innings. Auburn begins a string of four games tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CT when they host Alabama A&M (7-21, 4-8 SWAC) at Plainsman Park. The game will be available online at SECN+.

In other news....

- The softball team lost at Ole Miss yesterday by a score of 3-2 in eight innings in Oxford. The Tigers will return to action on Wednesday night when they host Kennesaw State at 6 p.m. CT at Jane B. Moore Field. The game will be available online at SECN+.

That's all for now. I hope you all had a happy and blessed Easter weekend. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!