​​Lyle's Corner

January 2019

Thursday, January 31st, 2019

Auburn broke its three-game losing slide in a big way last night, demolishing Missouri 92-58 in Auburn Arena. The 34-point margin of victory marked the Tigers' largest for an SEC game in Auburn Arena history. "Very pleased with the win, but we've got to play better," head coach Bruce Pearl said. 

The Tigers only led by three at halftime, 34-31. But the rout quickly took shape in the second half, as they sank nine 3-pointers in the first 12 minutes. Auburn went 11-of-20 with treys in the second half for a 55 percent clip. Overall, they went 16-of-41 on such shots. Not exactly impressive, but it didn't make a difference this time. 

Jared Harper led the homestanding Tigers with 16 points and five assists. Bryce Brown and Chuma Okeke each scored 14. Okeke also snagged a game-best 12 rebounds. He was pleased with the outcome. "We came out with a lot of energy," he said. "The last two games, we haven't been coming out in the second half with a lot of energy, so we just tried to change that. I knew I had to box my man out and be aggressive on the boards.

​Horace Spencer and Malik Dunbar helped out as well, draining their own treys during a 19-4 Auburn run to start the final 20 minutes. Another 3-pointer by Dunbar gave the Tigers a 20-point cushion at 59-39. All told, Auburn outscored the visiting Tigers 58-27 in the second half. Danjel Purifoy and Anfernee McLemore canned 3s themselves to extend the advantage to 25. Purifoy tallied a season-best eight points to go with two steals and two assists in 11 minutes of play. 

​"I felt like I'm almost back to myself," admitted Purifoy, who was out all of last season and for the first nine games of this season. "I'm getting there. "I'm just happy to be back, and just enjoying the wins with my team, just building these bonds that we're building." Coach Pearl also emphasized the vitality of Purifoy's presence. "It was great to have him out there," he said. "He did a nice job. It was great to have him back. We needed him." 

Nine Tigers nailed shots from beyond the arc, including walk-on Devontae Williams. Auburn hit its first three treys to begin the contest, but failed on its next dozen tries in that category. Okeke sank a 3 to break the string and put the home Tigers up 24-23. He later struck again on a baseline jumper with two seconds left to give Auburn its slim three-point advantage heading into the dressing room. 

Defense played a major role for Auburn in this one, as they forced 20 Missouri turnovers. The home Tigers committed just nine. Auburn improved to 14-6 overall, 3-4 in the conference, while Mizzou fell to 10-9 overall, 1-6 in the league. Auburn will host Alabama in Auburn Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT in the annual AUTLIVE cancer game, raising money to support local cancer patients and promote early detection. The game will be televised on ESPN2. 

​"We beat them last year in our house," Okeke said. "So I know they're going to try to come here and try to take this win from us. We've got to play like we did today, guard on defense, value possessions on offense, and hopefully we'll come out with a win." Let's all keep our fingers crossed that that will be the case. After a lopsided win like this one, you can only hope that your team doesn't get fat-headed.

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



Wednesday, January 30th, 2019

Auburn basketball got some semi-encouraging news on Austin Wiley yesterday. Though he won't play tonight when the Tigers host Missouri, there is a slim chance that he could return to the lineup this week. Wiley injured the lower portion of his right leg during a practice and has missed the last three games. Auburn lost all three of them while he was benched. 

​The Tigers (13-6, 2-4 SEC) will face Mizzou (10-8, 1-5) in Auburn Arena tonight at 7:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. This is the first of three straight home contests for Auburn, which opened its conference schedule with four of its first six matches on the road. Head coach Bruce Pearl said yesterday that the soonest Wiley could return is on Saturday against rival Alabama. 

"I think, for Alabama, he's getting closer," Pearl said. "We're not trying to rush him. We won't play him until he's ready. As we said, we're in the second week of what we thought would be a couple of weeks (of recovery). A couple is two or three and we're in the middle of that second week." 

​Wiley averages 10.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Anfernee McLemore is starting in Wiley's place. McLemore has averaged 6 points and 3 rebounds a game during the Tigers' three-game losing skid. He has also fouled out in two of those three matches. Auburn's defense has regressed without Wiley in action. The Tigers gave up at least 80 points in each of the three losses to Kentucky, South Carolina and Mississippi State - and subsequently disappeared from the polls after maintaining a No. 16 ranking last week. 

Auburn will host Missouri (tonight), Alabama (Saturday) and Florida (next Tuesday) before returning to road play in a trip to LSU on Feb. 9th. Tipoff against Alabama is set for 7 p.m. CT, although a television network has yet to be determined. Wiley is battling his third lower-leg injury in a little over a year. He sustained a similar injury in the summer of 2017 and another during preseason practices in November. He considered the NBA Draft and attended the league's annual combine in the offseason, but ultimately opted to return to Auburn in the spring. He missed last season after enrolling early as a freshman during the 2016-17 campaign. 

In other news.....

​- Bad news in the football department. Just two weeks after visiting Auburn and saying that he was firm with the Tigers, four-star 2020 defensive end Quandarrius Robinson of Birmingham (Ala.) Jackson-Olin has de-committed from the Tigers, his coach announced this morning. According to a live recruiting chat held at Auburn Undercover yesterday, Robinson was somewhat wavering with his choice. 

 This news comes after he visited Alabama last weekend. "It was a great visit overall," Robinson told  BamaOnLine. "Got to see some familiar faces coaching-wise, and my family overall enjoyed it as well, which was a huge plus for me." The 6-feet-4.5, 207-pound Robinson pledged to the Tigers last July 9th. He is ranked as the No. 21 outside linebacker nationally in the 247Sports Composite but will likely play end in college because he continues to grow. 

​In 2018, he registered 40 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, eight sacks, 30 quarterback pressures and a blocked punt. Jackson-Olin head coach Tim Vakakes said that Robinson "wants to visit more places, is unsure and he doesn't want to do that while being committed. Vakakes further noted that Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and defensive line coach Rodney Garner plan to visit Jackson-Olin on Friday. 

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



Sunday, January 27th, 2019

​The 16th-ranked Tigers fell to No. 22 Mississippi State 92-84 at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville last night. It was Auburn's third straight loss. The Tigers haven't lost that many in a row in two seasons. Bryce Brown tallied 18 points to lead four Tigers in double figures, but it wasn't enough. 

"Our offense was good," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl. "To score 84 points you should have a chance to win that basketball game, but they really dominated us on their offensive side." The Tigers fell to 13-6 overall, 2-4 in SEC play, while the Bulldogs improved to 15-4 overall, 3-3 in the league. Auburn started the second half with a 10-1 run to take a 55-48 advantage, but the Bulldogs answered with a 10-0 run to snag momentum back. 

Anfernee McLemore's basket deadlocked the count at 70-all before State nailed eight consecutive field goals on a 20-5 run to mount a 15-point lead, cashing in on 19 Tiger turnovers. "We really struggled to guard Mississippi State," Pearl admitted. "They just had their way with us. They've got a really good offensive team. Coach (Ben Howland) runs good stuff. It was a clinic offensively. We couldn't stop them. We couldn't get any stops. That was the key." 

Chuma Okeke registered 16 points, while Jared Harper had 15 and McLemore tallied 10. The Tigers have played their last three matches without center Austin Wiley, who continues to recover from a lower leg injury. "No excuses," Pearl said. "We've got good players at those positions." Auburn was in the thick of it at halftime, only trailing 47-45. Not only did it nail all 14 free throw tries, but it also outrebounded State by a 16-11 margin in that half. 

The Tigers were down by 11 in the opening 20 minutes before coming to life. A dazzling steal and slam by Malik Dunbar capped a 6-0 Auburn run that cut the Bulldog lead to 38-35. Jared Harper scored Auburn's final seven points in the half, including an impressive jumper with five seconds left to send his team into intermission down by just two. 

On State's side, Quinndary Weatherspoon racked up a game-best 27 points. Reggie Perry complemented that with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. As for the Tigers, they will now return to Auburn Arena this Wednesday to host Missouri at 7:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. That will mark the first of three straight home matches. 

"Look at the league and look at the grind and just get ready for the next one," Pearl explained. We've got six of our next eight games at home. Just get the next one. I'm more concerned with process. I'm more concerned about our defense than how many games we've lost. The locker room is fine." 

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



Thursday, January 24th, 2019

Former Auburn running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams is returning to his old stomping grounds. Head coach Gus Malzahn has hired Williams as the Tigers' new running backs coach. The news was first reported by Jason Caldwell of Inside the Auburn Tigers. ​The vacancy was made available when Tim Horton stepped down from the position, although he will remain with the program in an off-the-field capacity moving forward. 

​During his stellar career on The Plains from 2001-2004, Williams rolled up 3,831 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns. He and Ronnie Brown teamed up to form one of the greatest one-two backfields in SEC history. The pinnacle came in 2004 when they led Auburn to a perfect 13-0 season, an SEC title, and a final national ranking of No. 2. 

Williams went on to be the fifth overall selection in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, three spots after Brown was chosen by the Dolphins. Since wrapping up his playing career, Williams has served as a coach at IMG Academy and was expected to be an assistant coach during the debut season of the Alliance of American spring football league. His hire by the Birmingham franchise was announced last October.  

I, for one, am very confident that Williams will be a great fit to teach Auburn's running backs how to, as the voice of the Tigers Rod Bramblett exclaimed when Carnell dashed 80 yards for a TD on the first snap of the 2003 Iron Bowl, "Go crazy!" 

In other news.....

- Another former Tiger has added his name to the NCAA transfer portal. Wide receiver Kyle Davis, who spent this past season at Florida Atlantic University under coach Lane Kiffin, sat out due to NCAA transfer rules. However, it was confirmed Wednesday that he will explore other options and won't suit up for the Owls at all. 

Davis was dismissed from the Auburn program in October of 2017 having amassed 19 receptions for 458 yards and two touchdowns in his time with the Tigers. 

- Auburn's women's basketball team will host Texas A&M tonight at 7:30 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena for the annual "We Back Pat" game. The contest will be televised by the SEC Network. 

- The men's basketball team, meanwhile, will return to action on Saturday in a road trip to Mississippi State in Starkville. That game is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and will be televised on the SEC Network. 

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

I'm short on words today. Auburn basketball suffered a second straight loss in an 80-77 upset at the hands of South Carolina last night. This was the Tigers' second straight match without the injured Austin Wiley. At this point, I'm sure Auburn would do anything to have him back. This was also the second straight game in which Anfernee McLemore and Horace Spencer fouled out. 

Auburn battled back from a sizable deficit, and had its chances to pull out the win, but in my mind, they forced themselves into too many 3-point tries. The Gamecocks, meanwhile, were very effective in the paint, and that proved too much for the Tigers to overcome. Bruce Pearl's troops are really going to have to buckle down in practice for the next couple of days if they want to survive another road trip to Mississippi State on Saturday night. That game is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and will be televised on the SEC Network. 

In other news....

- The women's basketball team will host Texas A&M tomorrow night in Auburn Arena at 7:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. That game will mark the annual "We Back Pat" contest. 

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



Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019

​Auburn football clinched its 18th commitment for the Class of 2019 today - and he's the younger brother of a current Tiger. Inside linebacker Kameron Brown announced today via Twitter that he has pledged to Auburn. 

According to the 247Sports rankings, Brown stands as a three-star prospect - the No. 108 inside linebacker in the Class of '19 and the No. 196 overall recruit from the state of Georgia. Prior to Brown's pledge, Auburn's class was ranked No. 12 nationally and No. 6 in the SEC, per 247Sports. 

Let's all hope that the Browns can be on the field together more often than not this coming fall for the Tigers, so that they can make their own unique contributions to the team. As a closing note, aside from football, don't forget that the men's basketball team plays at South Carolina tonight at 5:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by the SEC Network. 

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



Monday, January 21st, 2019

A graduate transfer is headed to Auburn's football program. Jay Jay Wilson, a former Arizona State linebacker, is on his way to The Plains. He will be eligible to play immediately next season for the Tigers after taking a redshirt for the Sun Devils in Tempe last year. 

Wilson was among several upperclassmen who used the NCAA's new redshirt rule to his advantage in 2018. He was projected as a starting linebacker heading into last season but was suspended for ASU's season opener and went on to play in only four games. Wilson opted to leave the program at the end of the season. He registered 11 tackles for the Sun Devils last season. 

Although he played linebacker for ASU last season, Wilson is expected to ​be an H-back for Auburn next season. He also has experience playing tight end for the Sun Devils. With Chandler Cox graduating, the Tigers will be on the search for a new H-back next fall, and Wilson may be just the guy to fill that crucial role in Gus Malzahn's offense. 

Coming out of Valencia High School, Wilson was a four-star prospect in the 2015 recruiting cycle. He signed with Arizona State over offers from Colorado, Utah, USC, and others. 

In other news.....

​- Former Auburn defensive back Zac Etheridge is moving up in the coaching ranks. News broke today that Etheridge is leaving Louisiana to join Dana Holgorsen's staff at Houston. Etheridge was a member of the Tigers' 2010 national championship squad. Many fans remember his miraculous comeback from a terrifying neck injury he sustained against Ole Miss in 2009. Despite that, he was able to rehabilitate and return as a starter the following season. 

​During Auburn's national championship run, he was second on the team in tackles with 69. He also intercepted three passes and returned a fumble for a touchdown against Arkansas. In his first season in 2007, Etheridge was a freshman All-American, starting in 12 of 13 games. He was the leading tackler in 2008 with 75. 

The Troy, Alabama native signed as a free agent with the NFL Oakland Raiders in 2011. He was honored with the James Owens Courage Award at Auburn in 2013. The award goes to current or former players who display courage in the face of adversity. Etheridge began his coaching career at Penn State (2012) and Georgia Tech (2013-14) as a graduate assistant. He got his first full-time gig coaching cornerbacks at Western Carolina in 2016 and moved to coach outside linebackers in 2017. He was hired to coach defensive backs at Louisiana in 2018. 

- Auburn's men's basketball team returns to action tomorrow night with a road trip to South Carolina at 5:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on the SEC Network. 

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



Sunday, January 20th, 2019

I'm in "short and sweet" mode today. Auburn basketball's 82-80 loss to Kentucky yesterday afternoon was a bitter pill to swallow, especially since the Tigers overcame a 17-point second-half deficit. Jared Harper's near-miss that glanced off the rim with seven seconds remaining, and would have given Auburn a possible  victory, was the most heartbreaking moment in recent memory. 

Simply put, the Tigers fought gamely and almost pulled it off, but not quite. Austin Wiley's absence due to a lower leg injury didn't help matters. Head coach Bruce Pearl insisted that there is no clear timetable for Wiley's return. Auburn will have a chance to redeem itself on Tuesday in a road trip to South Carolina at 5:30 p.m. CT. That game will be televised by the SEC Network. 

In other news.....

​- Today, Auburn football gained an in-state commitment for the Class of 2019, and he is a running back who will join the class as a preferred walk-on. Birmingham native Jalen Henderson announced via Twitter that he'd be heading to Auburn next fall. According to the 247Sports rankings, Henderson is a two-star recruit who ranks as the No. 162 running back in the 2019 class and the No. 89 overall recruit from the state of Alabama. 

Word of advice: Please try your hardest not to confuse this Jalen with former Alabama (and current Oklahoma) QB Jalen Hurts. On a more serious note, my heart and prayers go out to everyone in Wetumpka, Alabama, as the city was affected by a possible tornado yesterday. The storm completely destroyed the First Presbyterian Church where one of my cousins worked for quite some time. May God lift up everyone involved and give them the peace, solace and comfort that everyone involved will need in the difficult road ahead. 

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

Friday, January 18th, 2019

Auburn football has scheduled its opener for the 2021 season - and it's against a non-conference squad. News broke yesterday that the Tigers would host Akron to kick off that campaign on Sept. 4th, 2021 in Jordan-Hare Stadium. 

"We are very excited to take on one of the iconic football programs in college athletics," Akron athletics director Larry Williams stated in a news release. The Zips were previously coached by former Auburn coach Terry Bowden, who was fired following a 4-8 season in December. 

​"What a great opportunity for our young men to travel to Auburn," first-year Akron coach Tom Arth said. "Auburn is one of the premier teams in the SEC. We look forward to the challenge." This will mark only the second game in history between the two schools. The Tigers shut out Akron 42-0 in 1988 during the Pat Dye era. 

In other news....

- Auburn's women's basketball team pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in school history last night, erasing a 20-point third-quarter deficit to stun Vanderbilt 72-70 at Memorial Gym in Nashville. Freshman Robyn Benton nailed a jumper in the paint and drew a foul with 8.6 seconds left to put the Tigers ahead for just the second time in the contest, 71-70. She sank the free throw to increase the margin to two, and Vandy's baseline jumper at the buzzer came up short. 

​Auburn (15-3, 3-2 SEC) made a nearly identical rally in its last trip to Nashville in 2017, surging back 17 down in the third quarter to clinch a 64-59 decision. The 20-point comeback this time around was the largest for Auburn under head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy and tied for the largest deficit ever overcome in an SEC match. In 1992, Florida trailed Alabama by 20 in a game before storming back to win by two. Janiah McKay led the Tigers in this one with 19 points and six assists. Auburn's defense forced 21 Vandy turnovers, converting them into 24 points. The Commodores fell to 5-13 overall, 0-5 in the SEC.  

The Tigers will now enjoy a rare Sunday off before returning to action next Thursday when Texas A&M visits Auburn Arena. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and will be televised by the SEC Network. This will mark the annual "We Back Pat" game. 

- The men's basketball team will host Kentucky tomorrow afternoon in Auburn Arena at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN. Bob Wischusen and Dick Vitale will call the action. 

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



Thursday, January 17th, 2019

Auburn pocketed its first SEC road win in dominating fashion last night, cruising to an 85-66 victory over Texas A&M in College Station. The Tigers improved to 13-3 overall, 2-1 in conference play, while the Aggies slipped to 7-8 overall, 1-3 in the league. Auburn's duo of Bryce Brown and Jared Harper combined to score 39 points on the night. 

"That (win) will work wonders for us," Brown said. "It's our first true road win, and I feel like it helps us at home, because we know if we can get the job done away from our place, we can definitely get it done at our place. We just want to keep getting as many road wins as we can because that will be the separator between us and other teams in the SEC. In the SEC, it's hard to win road games." 

True. But Auburn made it look easy. Brown gave the Tigers their first basket for a 2-0 lead and then really went to work with six minutes left in the first half, racking up 18 straight points in a five-minute span. The stretch included a 12-0 run in which Brown sank four straight 3-pointers. He ended the first half with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting as Auburn took a 48-32 lead into the half. 

"With 18 in a row, obviously we fed the hot hand," Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl said. "That had to be fun for Bryce. It was fun for us. His teammates were really good getting him the ball, and that's what he does. You see it in practice. If he can see it, he can make it." While Brown got just two points in the second half, Jared Harper, his backcourt mate picked up the steam with four treys and 15 points after intermission. The junior wrapped up the evening with 17 points and a team-best six assists. 

The Tiger defense was just as superb, as Brown and Harper teamed up to shut down Texas A&M's leading scorer, T.J. Starks. Starks went just 3-of-14 shooting with six points and five turnovers. "We wanted to come in and set the tone on defense," Brown explained. "We focused in on Starks. We knew he was going to try and do a lot of play-making for this team, and as long as we had all eyes on him at all times, we knew that would make it difficult." 

Pearl echoed that strategy. "We just did not let T.J. Starks beat us, and that was the key," he said. Indeed, it was that stellar showing that allowed Auburn to force 13 turnovers in the first half and convert them into 14 points. Plus, the Tigers out-rebounded the Aggies by a wide 50-33 margin. Austin Wiley yanked down a career-high 12 rebounds despite only 14 minutes of play due to foul trouble, and Chuma Okeke and Horace Spencer claimed seven rebounds each. 

​Anfernee McLemore helped out as well, scoring in double figures for the second straight contest with 13 points and six rebounds. He gave Auburn an early lift with three treys in the game's first eight minutes. The Tigers' bench players outscored A&M's bench by an overwhelming 27-5 count. 

Auburn can now turn the page to a home tilt with 12th-ranked Kentucky on Saturday afternoon at Auburn Arena. That game is set for 3 p.m. CT, and will be televised on ESPN. The Tigers will be seeking their second straight home victory in the series. Brown said he is already well aware of this game's magnitude. "It will be a very exciting game," he admitted. Like always, every time we play Kentucky at home, the crowd and the fans are just amazing. The atmosphere, the intensity of a game - it will feel much like a rivalry. It's time to step up." 

In other news....

- The women's basketball team will face Vanderbilt in Nashville tonight at 7 p.m. CT. That game will only be available online at SECN+.

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

 

Wednesday, January 16th, 2019

​So far this offseason, Auburn football has lost some reserves. Now, they are reportedly losing more depth, this time at the receiver spot. AL.com reporter Matt Zenitz reported that as of today, backup WR Griffin King has entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal. 

According to Zenitz, King is a former walk-on receiver who earned a scholarship for himself in 2017. He mainly contributed on special teams. In 2018, King caught two passes for 15 yards and returned one punt. He was a redshirt junior this past season, so he'll have one year of eligibility left regardless of where he ends up. 

​His next destination is not clear, but his time at Auburn appears to be over. Best of luck, Griffin!

In other news....

- Don't forget: Auburn's men's basketball team plays at Texas A&M in College Station tonight at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPNU.

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



Tuesday, January 15th, 2019

Auburn QB signee Bo Nix stands as the No. 1 dual-threat signal-caller in the Class of 2019, and he's certainly lived up to his billing this year. Aside from leading Pinson Valley to its second state title in a row, Nix set state records for offensive yards and total touchdowns. Today, he was fittingly recognized for those accomplishments by being named Alabama's Mr. Football Award winner for 2018. 

According to 247Sports, Nix did indeed post some Earth-shattering figures. To quote the source in question, "In addition to leading Pinson Valley High to back-to-back Class 6A state championships, Nix produced state records for career total offense with 12,505 yards and touchdowns (161). He was named Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior as he passed for 3,807 yards and 50 TDs while 417 yards and seven TDs on the ground."

Nix will be vying for the starting QB job next fall, competing alongside Malik Willis, Cord Sandberg, Joey Gatewood and possibly even a graduate transfer. To quote one of the most popular catchphrases in Auburn football history, "Go, Bo, Go!"

In other news.....

- Auburn's women's basketball team lost to Mississippi State last night in Auburn Arena by a score of 85-59. The Tigers fell to 14-3 overall, 2-2 in the SEC. Next up is a trip to Nashville to face Vanderbilt on Thursday night. The game is set for 7 p.m. CT, and will be available online at SECN+. 

- The men's basketball team will return to action tomorrow night at Texas A&M in College Station. That game is set for 6 p.m. CT, and will be televised by ESPNU. 

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



Friday, January 11th, 2019

​With several key defensive players returning for their senior seasons next fall, Auburn's got a good chance of having another elite unit on that side of the ball. However, they will reportedly lose some depth, as word came out this morning that one junior defensive lineman has entered the NCAA transfer portal. 

Auburn reporter Jay Tate indicated via Twitter that defensive tackle Jauntavius Johnson is now free to be contacted by other schools regarding a possible transfer. Johnson played 13 snaps in 2018. With standouts like Derrick Brown, Marlon Davidson and others returning along the defensive front, it was unlikely that Johnson would see an increase in playing time. 

According to the 247Sports rankings, Johnson was a four-star recruit in the 2015 recruiting class. Where he will end up next is uncertain. 

In other news....

- The men's basketball team will host Georgia tomorrow afternoon at Auburn Arena. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by ESPN2. The Tigers are hoping to rebound from an 82-67 upset loss at Ole Miss on Wednesday night. 

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



Thursday, January 10th, 2019

In its SEC opener at Ole Miss last night, Auburn did everything it could to prove it hadn't played a game in 11 days. The Tigers fell behind early, and battled back in the second half, but it wasn't enough as they lost to the Rebels 82-67. Auburn trailed by 13 at the break, but trimmed that margin to three with just under seven minutes left. 

"That speaks to our character and some of our resilience and the locker room that we have and the kids that we've got," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "If I got outcoached and we got outplayed at three or four positions, it's amazing we were even in the game with six or seven minutes left to go." On a personal note, however, Pearl also blamed himself for not preparing his team well. 

Bryce Brown played a large role in Auburn's second-half rally, as he led the Tigers with 23 points, including seven 3-point shots. Brown, who is already the school's all-time 3-point leader, earned a spot in the top 10 for the SEC's all-time mark with 289 makes - eclipsing Vanderbilt's Scott Draud and Florida's Lee Humphrey. Team-wise, however, Auburn struggled with treys against Ole Miss, finishing only 14-of-39. 

Malik Dunbar also pitched in during the Tigers' comeback, scoring 11 points, all coming in the second half, and going a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor and grabbing four rebounds as well. Jared Harper tallied nine points to go along with a team-best five assists, and Samir Doughty scored nine of his own on 3-of-6 shooting. Austin Wiley and Horace Spencer each snagged seven rebounds for Auburn. 

On the Rebels' side, junior guard Terence Davis led all scorers with 27 points. Ole Miss improved to 12-2 (2-0 SEC). For Auburn, the Tigers will have a chance to bounce back on Saturday with a home match against Georgia in Auburn Arena. The game is set for 3 p.m. CT, and will be televised on ESPN2. 

"We got hit in the mouth," Pearl lamented. "Now we have an opportunity to respond to it." Let's hope the Tigers can do just that. 

In other news....

- Former Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who left the Plains at the conclusion of this past season after two seasons with the Tigers, has been hired as the head coach at my alma mater, Troy University. Lindsey replaces Neal Brown, who left the Trojans after four seasons to take the head coaching spot at West Virginia. Lindsey had been at Kansas in the same position on Les Miles' staff for just over a month. 

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



Tuesday, January 8th, 2019

Add two more players to the "I'm Sticking Around for My Senior Year" club. Defensive end Marlon Davidson and defensive back Javaris Davis both announced today that they will return to Auburn for the 2019 campaign before entering the NFL Draft. Davidson joins Derrick Brown as the second defensive lineman to return to The Plains next fall, to the surprise of many. 

​"The past three years at Auburn have been more than (sic) I could've imagined!" Davidson posted on Twitter today. "From the fans, the coaches, my teammates and the lives I have been able to impact through the sport I love; I wouldn't trade a moment of my experience as an Auburn Tiger for one second. As I reflected on my time at AU, figuring out what to do next, I realized that I just wasn't ready to say goodbye to Auburn football and all that it means to put on #3 and battle in the SEC. After a lot of thinking, and praying, I will be returning to Auburn University to earn my degree and have one last dance! War Eagle!" 

Davidson was projected as a fourth- to sixth-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft by WalterFootball.com. He reportedly received feedback after filing paperwork with the NFL suggesting he would be a third-round selection. "I heard third round. I heard go back to school. I heard a lot," he said after Auburn's 63-14 victory over Purdue in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 28th. "It's just stuff you got to go by, you know? Just have fun. I'm just living my best life right now." 

Davidson played through this past season with an injured ankle, yet still registered 46 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three pass deflections. He also became the first Auburn Tiger to block a field goal in three straight games. "My ankle is killing me," he said after routing Purdue. "I ran down a bum ankle today. But it's stuff you fight through. It's football, you'll never be 100 percent. I mean, nine times out of 10 you're going to be 75-80 (percent healthy). It's just when that dog comes out of you, you're going to fight. That's what I do." Davidson's return ensures that the Tigers will have four of five starters along the defensive line for '19, losing only outgoing senior Dontavius Russell at one defensive tackle spot. 

Now, on to Javaris Davis. He announced his decision in a letter to the "WarEagle Family" on Instagram. "I would like to express my gratitude for giving me the opportunity to grow as a student-athlete here at Auburn University. I feel that I am prepared to take the next step and fulfill my NFL dreams, however, there is still some unfinished business I would like to take care of on the football field and in the classroom. After discussing this tough decision with my family and coaches, I have decided to return to Auburn for my senior season. I feel that this team and our coaches are headed in a direction that my brothers and I can win us a championship and I want to be a part of the priceless victories on the field next year, while pursuing towards (sic) a masters degree. While preparing me for the next level. Thank you for all your support Auburn, now let's put in this work!" 

During his junior campaign, Davis had two interceptions to go with a career-high eight pass deflections and 41 tackles. He previously played cornerback in 2017, but mostly started at Nickel for the Tigers in '18. He picked off a pass in the Music City Bowl and returned another interception 57 yards in a win over Arkansas. Davis joins Davidson, defensive tackle Derrick Brown and left tackle Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. as possible draft picks deciding to return to the Plains for their senior seasons. Brown was projected as a first- or second-round pick for the upcoming draft. 

On the flip side, three other Tigers - quarterback Jarrett Stidham, receiver Darius Slayton and cornerback Jamel Dean - opted to skip their senior seasons and enter the NFL Draft. Dean appears to be the best NFL prospect, according to draft analysts. 

In other news....

- I'll reiterate this one final time for those who may be unaware: Auburn's men's basketball team returns to action tomorrow night at Ole Miss in Oxford. The game is set for 6 p.m. CT, and will be televised by ESPN2. 

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



Monday, January 7th, 2019

​Another Auburn football player will be sticking around for one more year. Left tackle Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. announced today that he will return for his senior season with the Tigers. 

"When I moved to the United States in 2014, my end goal was the NBA," the Nigerian native posted on Instagram this afternoon. That goal has now switched over to the NFL and I am ready to do what it takes to be the best candidate I can be. After a long and thought out process, I've decided to return to Auburn for my final season to handle some unfinished business. I can't say that I didn't consider leaving early, but after talking with my coaches and family, we have decided that gaining another year of experience can only benefit me in the long run. I am grateful and thankful to my parents, my family, my teammates, my coaching staff and everyone else for helping me get to this point. I look forward to working with the coaching staff and wonderful Auburn family to bring the national championship where it belongs in Auburn, Alabama. War Eagle!"  

Wanogho Jr. is the second major Auburn junior to opt against an early leap to the NFL Draft. Defensive tackle Derrick Brown, a possible first- or second-round pick in the draft, announced yesterday that he would return for his senior campaign. Wanogho Jr. was projected as a fifth- to seventh-round selection by WalterFootball.com. His return ensures that Auburn will have all five of its starters along the offensive line for the 2019 season. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Wanogho Jr. recorded the best grade among all players in the Tigers' 63-14 win over Purdue in the Music City Bowl. He said on Dec. 28th that he could not share feedback he received from the NFL. "I'm not really sure right now," Wanogho Jr. stated at the time. "I'm going to sit with my family and we're going to discuss and try to see where I'm at and we're going to decide." 

Three Auburn players have declared early for the NFL Draft up to this point: quarterback Jarrett Stidham, cornerback Jamel Dean and receiver Darius Slayton. 

In other news....

- Don't forget: Auburn men's basketball returns to action Wednesday night at Ole Miss at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by ESPN2. 

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



Sunday, January 6th, 2019

​Good news broke for Auburn football today. Defensive tackle Derrick Brown announced that, somewhat to the surprise of everyone, he will return for his senior season this fall. Brown was projected as a first- or second-round NFL Draft prospect by most experts. 

​"The last three years have been amazing," he posted on Instagram. "Auburn has become as second home for me. Nothing compares to Saturdays in Jordan-Hare. Seeing the fans down Tiger Walk, running out of the tunnel with my teammates and singing the fight song after a big win. The place is truly special. After talking with my family and coaches I have decided to return to Auburn for my final season. I want to leave Auburn with my degree and a championship. I can feel the momentum." 

​According to several major media outlets, Brown was projected as a first-round pick and was ranked as high as No. 4 overall on a mock draft released by WalterFootball.com. Brown had a very understandable reason for not looking into feedback received from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee: his son, Kai Asher Brown, was born Dec. 20th, eight days before the Tigers' Music City Bowl showdown with Purdue. 

"I'm not even sure what I'm going to do yet," he said after Auburn's 63-14 blowout of the Boilermakers. "I know the first thing I'm going to do is go home and see my son, so I'm excited about that." Brown recorded 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble this season. "I love Auburn, so it's going to be a hard decision to make either way it goes, so I mean, it's just one of those things you got to be a man about and decide about it when it comes time to," he said Dec. 28th. 

Meanwhile, defensive tackle Marlon Davidson, left tackle Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. and nickelback Javaris Davis are still weighing their options. Davidson reportedly stated that he received feedback after filing paperwork for the NFL suggesting that he would be a third-round selection. "I heard third round. I heard go back to school. I heard a lot," he said. "It's just stuff you got to go by, you know? Just have fun. I'm just living my best life right now." 

Two Auburn players have already departed early for the NFL Draft: quarterback Jarrett Stidham and cornerback Jamel Dean. 

In other news.....

- Auburn women's basketball topped Florida in Gainesville this afternoon by a score of 64-56. Daisa Alexander led the Tigers with 22 points. She went 8-of-15 in field goal tries, 3-of-7 on three-point attempts, and 3-of-5 on free throws. Janiah McKay was close behind with 16 points. The team will be on the road again on Thursday when they face Alabama in Tuscaloosa. That game will tip off at 7 p.m. CT, but will only be available online at SECN+.

- The men's basketball team will return to action on Wednesday against Ole Miss in Oxford. That game is set for 6 p.m. CT, and will be televised by ESPN2. 

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



Thursday, January 3rd, 2019

​Auburn football's top receiver, Darius Slayton, is moving on to an attempt at the professional ranks. Slayton, a redshirt junior, announced today via Instagram that he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. He joins quarterback Jarrett Stidham and cornerback Jamel Dean as the Tigers' latest entrants into the 2019 draft list. 

"These past four years at Auburn have been the best of my life," Slayton wrote on the aforementioned website. ​"I am proud to be an Auburn Tiger and forever thankful for my time at Auburn. With that being said, after speaking with my family and giving this decision a lot of thought and consideration, I have decided to forego my senior year of (college) football to declare for the NFL Draft. I feel like this is the best decision for me. 

​"I would like to take a moment to thank the Auburn Family for supporting me and my teammates over the last four years. It has been a great experience, and I will forever be grateful to Auburn, Coach Malzhan and all of the coaches here for giving me the chance to play football at this outstanding University. I will carry the relationships and bonds that I have built with my teammates on with me for the rest of my life. THANK YOU AUBURN! WAR EAGLE!!!" 

Slayton closed out his college career on an auspicious note, rolling up 160 yards on three receptions, all of which were touchdowns, in Auburn's 63-14 shellacking of Purdue in the Music City Bowl. That performance allowed him to wrap up this season as the Tigers' leading receiver, with 670 yards and five touchdowns on 35 receptions. His catch total was the second-most on the team. 

​In four years on the Plains, the 6-feet-2, 190-pound Slayton hauled in 79 grabs for 1,605 yards and 11 TDs. We wish you well as you try to make it to the NFL, Darius! WAR EAGLE! (And just for the record, yes, I know that I misspelled Coach Malzahn's last name in Slayton's post above, but that was not a typo by me. That was how Slayton himself wrote it.)

In other news.....

- Auburn basketball will return to action next Wednesday, January 9th in its SEC opener at Ole Miss. The opening tip is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised by ESPN2. 

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