​​Lyle's Corner

June 2019

Friday, June 28th, 2019

​Auburn's men's basketball schedule for next season is slowly being pieced together. Today, Auburn announced a contest with Davidson set for Nov. 8th at the Veterans Classic at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Maryland. The game is slated for a 5 p.m. CT tipoff on the CBS Sports Network. The classic is hosted by Navy, which faces East Carolina at 7:30 p.m. CT that night. 

​Auburn players and coaches will tour the U.S. Naval Academy during their trip to Annapolis. "From an educational standpoint, when our country was going through the situation of standing for the flag or not, it became evident to me that our student-athletes have never lived through a war," head coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement. "They're too young to be involved in the draft age and really didn't have much exposure to the services, military and some of that history. To give our guys the opportunity to play in the Veterans Classic and a chance to see first-hand our great service academies was a great opportunity. People in the world of college basketball know that you don't schedule Bob McKillop and Davidson because he's too good of a coach and they're too good of a program. We built this program on the belief that we want our players to play against the best." 

​Davidson went 24-10 last season. Their campaign ended in the first round of the NIT. Auburn, meanwhile, advanced to the team's first ever Final Four after winning the SEC Tournament Championship. But as of now, the Tigers' top three scorers - Jared Harper, Bryce Brown and Chuma Okeke - are all gone. 

Auburn and Davidson have squared off only once in program history - and that was almost seven decades ago. The Tigers notched a 66-59 victory on Dec. 28th, 1951 in Charlotte, N.C. Tickets for the Veterans Classic are on sale through Navy at either 1-800-US4-NAVY or NavySports.com. 

​On another note, Auburn and Louisville have been working to secure a home-and-home series beginning in December, but sources tell Auburn Undercover that plans have not been finalized. 

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



Monday, June 24th, 2019

​Good news for Auburn baseball: Two players will stick around for the 2020 season. Third baseman Edouard Julien and pitcher Jack Owen announced today that they plan to return to the Plains next year. 

Both draft-eligible sophomores this year, Julien was chosen in the 18th round by the Minnesota Twins while Owen was taken in the 21st round. After Auburn made its first trip to the College World Series in 22 years (albeit a short-lived one), Julien said that there is still unfinished business to take care of.  

​"It was an honor to hear my name called by the Minnesota Twins, and I want to thank them for the opportunity," Julien stated. "However, my teammates and I still have some work to do at Auburn. Coach (Butch) Thompson talks about leaving a legacy, and our story isn't over yet." Julien, a native of Quebec City, has led the Tigers in home runs and RBIs in each of his first two seasons and is the first player in the program since 2009-10 to rack up 50 or more runs in consecutive seasons. 

​This past season, he faltered for most of the year, but improved during the postseason. In eight games he batted .429 with two home runs, nine RBIs and had an on-base percentage of .543. Julien was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and a Freshman All-American after hitting 17 homers and breaking Frank Thomas' freshman RBI record with 69 RBI in 2018. He followed that up by adding 10 more home runs and driving in 57 runs in his sophomore campaign. Julien drove in 101 runs in his first 94 career contests, becoming the fifth-fastest Auburn Tiger to reach 100 RBI behind Tim Hudson (78 games), Gabe Gross (86 games), Frank Thomas (89 games) and Todd Faulkner (90 games).

Entering a spot as a weekend starter, Owen had a superb year for Auburn on the mound. Going 4-2 with a 2.75 ERA, the lefty allowed just 21 earned runs in 68 innings this year. Owen echoed Julien's mindset that there is still plenty of work to do. "Playing pro baseball is a dream of mine, and I can't thank the St. Louis Cardinals enough for giving me that opportunity," Owen said. "However, I'm excited to return to Auburn for my junior season and can't wait to get back to work with Coach Thompson and the boys." 

​Despite starting the season in the bullpen, Owen cracked the starting rotation in the third week of the season and was named SEC Pitcher of the Week after recording a complete-game shutout against Texas-San Antonio. He didn't give up a run in a span of 20.2 innings from Feb. 23rd-Mar. 16th and set the school record by tossing 28.2 innings without allowing an earned run dating back to last season.  

With Owen and Julien's returns officially ensured, I'm already excited about next season. I hope that we can turn things around and get the kinks from this past season worked out. 

In other news....

​- The women's basketball team will make its second straight appearance in the Big 12/SEC Challenge in 2019 when the Tigers face TCU, the conference office announced today. Auburn will travel to Fort Worth, Tex., to play the Horned Frogs on Sat., Dec. 7th. Game time and TV info will be announced at a later date. 

​This will be Auburn's third appearance in the event. Last season, the Tigers hosted Oklahoma in Auburn Arena, beating the Sooners 95-79. Auburn traveled to Kansas State in the 2016-17 campaign, falling to the Wildcats in Manhattan, Kan. 

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



Sunday, June 23rd, 2019

A major change in the leadership of Auburn University's academic department is imminent. News broke Friday night that Steven Leath is out as university president. The announcement came after Leath and members of the Board of Trustees' presidential assessment working group had "extensive discussions about the university's leadership" and mutually agreed to part ways. 

"Dr. Leath arrived with vision and enthusiasm to take Auburn to the next level," Wayne T. Smith, president pro tempore of the university's board, stated in a university release. "We're grateful for his dedication and commitment as Auburn made strides as a world-class public university. We wish Steve and Janet all the best." 

​Leath came to Auburn in 2017 after serving as president of Iowa State University and vice president for research and sponsored programs for the University of North Carolina System. "As I've said many times, serving as Auburn's president has been the highlight of my career," Leath said in the release. "I'm confident that we leave Auburn stronger than when we arrived." 

Tiger fans are hoping that this change will make a positive impact on the athletic department. 

In other news....

​- Two former Auburn men's basketball players have signed free agent deals with the NBA. Bryce Brown, the leading three-point shooter in Auburn basketball history, and Jared Harper, set the deals in stone Friday afternoon. 

Harper, a 5-feet-11 point guard, signed with the Phoenix Suns. Brown, a 6-feet-3 guard, signed with the Sacramento Kings. Both players are scheduled to take part in the NBA Summer League, which runs July 5th-15th in Las Vegas. As a senior, Brown averaged a team-best 15.9 points per game for the Tigers, who won the SEC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Final Four. He finished with 141 3-pointers in 2018-19, surpassing the school record of 108 by Lance Weems from the 1995-96 campaign. Brown's career total of 382 treys is second in SEC history to Chris Lofton of Tennessee, who nailed 431 from 2005-08. He was the SEC Tournament's Most Valuable Player after averaging 16.5 points, 2.0 assists and 1.3 rebounds per contest at the event in Nashville. 

​Harper, who was the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional's Most Outstanding Player, averaged 15.3 points, 4.8 assists and 2.5 assists in his junior season. He and current Auburn assistant coach Wes Flanigan, along with Doc Robinson, are the only three players in Auburn basketball history to rack up 1,000 points while also dishing out 500 assists. 

Harper set the school single-season record for assists with 231 while earning second-team All-SEC honors. 

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

 

Friday, June 21, 2019
​Chuma Okeke is officially in the NBA. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward from Atlanta was chosen last night by the Orlando Magic in the first round with the 16th overall pick. Most draft projections predicted that Okeke would be chosen no earlier than late in the first round. 

He is the first Auburn Tiger to be chosen in the NBA Draft since guard Jamison Brewer was picked in the second round by the Indiana Pacers in 2001. Okeke, who suffered a torn ACL in Auburn's Sweet 16 round NCAA Tournament win over North Carolina in Kansas City, played in 38 of his squad's 40 games and started each one. He was the Tigers' third-leading scorer at 12.0 points per game this past season and the top rebounder at 6.8 per match. 

​Equally effective on the defensive side, he gave the offense life in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 15.0 points and seven rebounds a contest. Okeke was named to the Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team as well as the All-SEC Tournament Team as he helped Auburn clinch that title in Nashville in March. He closed out his sophomore year with 69 steals, the third-most in an Auburn season. 

​Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl has no doubt that Okeke is an NBA-caliber player. "I've been doing this a long time, and Chuma is one of the most versatile players on the court and impacts the game on both ends of the court," he said. "I'm so proud of how hard he's worked and how much fun he is to coach. When he recovers from this injury he will be better than ever." 

​This past season, Okeke nailed 49.6 percent of his field goals, 38.7 percent of his treys, and 72.2 percent of his free throws. "I feel like I got a lot better," he told Inside the Auburn Tigers ​when asked how he thought he performed as a sophomore. "I was able to see how the game comes. I was working hard throughout the offseason and I feel like it paid off." 

Okeke also pointed out that he was grateful for the support he got from Pearl, who regularly regarded him as one of the top players in the SEC. "It means a lot," he said. "He is always talking good about all of his players, including me." Two of Okeke's teammates were not chosen in the draft, which featured two rounds with 60 players selected. Jared Harper, a point guard who was a junior last year, and senior Bryce Brown are expected to play in pro summer leagues to continue to show scouts what they're made of. 

Okeke was the first Auburn player picked in the first round of the draft since Mamadou N'Diaye was taken No. 26 overall in 2000 by the Denver Nuggets. Okeke is the earliest selection for a Tiger since Chris Morris was the No. 4 overall pick by the New York Nets in 1988. 

One last note: Yes, I did see the baseball team's season-ending loss to Louisville on Tuesday. It was very disappointing. Nonetheless, I'm very proud of them for having made it so far despite an obviously up-and-down season. Now, the team and Coach Thompson can go back to the drawing board and get the kinks worked out for next season. I have a good feeling that we'll be even better next year. 

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



Saturday, June 15th, 2019

Auburn football's booming business in the recruiting front continued today, as the Tigers got another commitment for 2020, this time a linebacker. Four-star prospect Cameron Riley from Evergreen (Ala.) Hillcrest verbally pledged to Gus Malzahn's squad during an unofficial overnight visit to the campus. 

​"It just feels like home," Riley said. According to the 247Sports Composite, he ranks as the No. 23 outside linebacker in the nation. Riley is Auburn's 11th commit for 2020 - and its fifth in June. The Tigers began the month at No. 29 in the 247Sports recruiting team rankings but have now climbed to No. 15. 

For Auburn linebackers coach Travis Williams, this has been a very pleasing week. "Me and T-Will have a great relationship," Riley lamented. "We talk about four days out of the week, each week. We talk about recruiting. He checks on my family. I think he's an awesome person. A great person. He's very concerned not only about your football career but you as a person." 

​Riley is the Tigers' second linebacker for the Class of '20. Trenton Simpson, a four-star backer and top-50 national recruit, committed to Auburn yesterday. Riley, who is listed at 6-feet-3.5, 207 pounds, picked Auburn over programs such as Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Mississippi State. He officially visited the Aggies two weekends ago, but followed that with visits to the Plains on back-to-back weekends. 

With two linebacker pledges in the bag, Auburn could take one or two more. Since the Tigers are vying for numerous backers, this seems to put them in an auspicious place. Three four-star recruits from Georgia - Wesley Steiner, Desmond Tisdol and Phillip Webb (who could also be a buck) - are among those at or near the top of Auburn's radar. The Tigers are among the favorites for each. Previous reports indicated that they led for Tisdol.  

​Riley gave a silent pledge to Auburn on Friday and kept quiet about his decision until this afternoon. "I love Auburn," he said. "It's a family atmosphere. And it has a vibe here." That's a promising description. And according to sources, the Tigers might not be done for this month just yet. 

In other news.....

​- Unfortunately, one of the Tigers' pass rushers has entered the transfer portal. Two sources confirmed that Richard Jibunor has left the program, although the specific circumstances surrounding his departure have not been made clear. A request for comment from Auburn on his departure was not immediately returned today. 

Jibunor's leaving comes at a time when the Buck's stock was on the upswing after a breakout freshman campaign last season. He was expected to vie for playing time, and possibly start, at the hybrid linebacker/defensive end position in the fall. 

He played in the 2018 opener against Washington, registered his first sack against Alabama State in Week 2 and later sacked an Arkansas quarterback for a 13-yard loss and a fumble. He saw much more action in the Music City Bowl against Purdue as Nick Coe nursed a surgically-repaired thumb, and he cashed in on the chance as he split time with T.D. Moultry. He made a season-best five tackles, including one for loss, in the 63-14 stomping of the Boilermakers. 

Jibunor, 6-feet-3, 218 pounds, is a native of Nigeria and played high school sports at Athens Christian School in Athens, Ga. He played on offense and defense at that level and was also a two-time state champion in the 300-meter hurdles for the track team. According to his Auburn teammates, Jibunor had plenty of room for improvement during spring practice in March and April. 

"He showed us speed, but he has to get better with hands and he's got to be coachable," Moultry said at the time. "Because (defensive line coach) Rodney Garner can't keep saying the same thing, and once he keeps saying the same thing, he's going to give up on him. We don't need that. He needs to play. He's got too much talent." 

Jibunor came to Auburn as the nation's 13th-best athlete with a four-star rating, according to the 247Sports Composite. He committed to the Tigers in November 2017 as part of the 2018 signing class. On New Year's Eve 2017, he was arrested and charged with DUI, failure to maintain lane and improper driving. Almost a month and a half later, on Feb. 8th, 2018, head coach Gus Malzahn said that he "addressed" the arrest with Jibunor. "We don't expect anything like that to happen again," he said.

The Tigers' options at Buck include Coe, who started at the spot last season, and Moultry. Coe had 26 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and seven sacks, while playing in nine games last year. Moultry played in eight contests, making 11 tackles, including 1..5 sacks. Coe could move inside to aid depth issues at defensive tackle alongside returning starter Derrick Brown, though that decision has yet to be made by coaches. 

-  One last reminder: The baseball team will begin its trip to the College World Series (its first since 1997) tomorrow night when it faces No. 6 Mississippi State at 6:30 p.m. CT in Omaha, Nebraska. The game will be televised by ESPN2. 

That's all for today. I hope you all have a safe and Happy Father's Day. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Friday, June 14th, 2019

​I have two bits of recruiting news to cover. Let's start with the positive side. 

The football program got another pledge for the Class of 2020 today as Trenton Simpson, a 6-feet-2, 220-pound standout linebacker from Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek High School committed to the Tigers. Simpson announced his decision during a commitment ceremony at his high school today. He picked Auburn over finalists Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. 

​According to the 247Sports Composite, Simpson ranks as a four-star prospect, the No. 2 overall prospect from North Carolina and the No. 4 outside linebacker in the country. He is now the highest-rated member of Auburn's 2020 recruiting class. Simpson is the Tigers' 10th pledge for '20 and the fourth in this month. 

In other news....

- On the negative side of the coin, the basketball team has one less commitment. Today, point guard Daeshun Ruffin rescinded his pledge to Auburn. Ruffin, a member of the class of 2021, pledged to the Tigers on June 3rd, shortly after a visit to the Plains. That only lasted 11 days (at least at this point in time). 

"After careful consideration and conversations with my family I've decided to reopen my recruitment," Ruffin shared on Instagram. "I am still interested in Auburn University, I just feel its best for me to go through the recruitment process #respectmydecision." 

​A native of Jackson, Miss., Ruffin is a 5-feet-8 guard who figured to follow in the footsteps of similarly smaller point guards such as Jared Harper, who chose to leave Auburn for a professional career after his junior season in May. Ruffin is ranked as the No. 1 player in the state of Mississippi for the Class of 2021. 

​"I think he is a kid who fits how Auburn plays extremely well," 247Sports recruiting analyst Evan Daniels said of the two-time All-State player. "He is a little small in size, but he has a lot of heart and can really score. He is quick and can create space with his dribble. He is a very good long-range shooter and I think that he has proven that in his time in the Nike EBYL this spring." 

​Ruffin is ranked 74th overall in the nation for the Class of 2021. Obviously, only time will tell if he decides to re-join Bruce Pearl's troops. 

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

Thursday, June 13th, 2019

​An Auburn softball player is leaving the program. Shortstop Taylon Snow, who had shoulder surgery days after the end of the season, is rehabilitating at home in Chino Hills, Calif., and has entered the transfer portal, Auburn head coach Mickey Dean told Auburn Undercover. 

​Dean emphasized that he was taken aback by Snow's decision. "I was shocked when I got the call," he said. "She's a great kid. I wish her the best." He added that Snow, who likely will not be full-speed before next spring, will continue rehabbing at home and gave no indication as to where she plans to play next. He anticipates it will be somewhere closer to home. 

​Tannon Snow, Taylon's sister who will be a senior next season, has given no indication that she plans to transfer, Dean stated. Once in the transfer portal, Taylon Snow can be recruited by other programs. She also could decide to return to Auburn, but that is unlikely. 

Snow hit .324 during the 2019 campaign with a home run with 27 RBIs. Her shoulder injury held her out of the SEC Tournament and Auburn's NCAA Regional appearance in Arizona. She hit .325 as a freshman in 2018. Since May 1st, more than 250 Division I softball players have entered the transfer portal. In most cases, if they have not transferred previously, they are eligible to play immediately after they transfer.

"It's like the wild, wild West," Dean said. "I'll bet 250 of the 300 schools have players on that list. It's crazy, and a lot of them are successful players." Snow was a highly-regarded prospect when she signed with Auburn and enrolled in the fall of 2017. Shortly after she started classes, former head coach Clint Myers announced his retirement. The rest of the former assistants soon stepped down as well. 

​Pitcher Chardonnay Harris and reserves Camryn Greenwood and Tate Moseley previously announced they would transfer. Moseley has committed to Troy. 

In other news.....

- The baseball team will face #6 Mississippi State in the College World Series in Omaha on Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPN2. 

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



Tuesday, June 11th, 2019

​Four SEC teams, counting Auburn, will have a chance to take home all the marbles at the College World Series this year. The event kicks off on Saturday at T.D. Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Auburn and Arkansas were the last two squads to lock up spots in the World Series with routs of North Carolina and Ole Miss, respectively, to advance out of the Super Regional round yesterday afternoon. Three conference teams will be on one side of the bracket, with Arkansas the only team on the other side. 

Auburn and Mississippi State will square off in the first round on its side of the bracket in Bracket 2. The full schedule of the College World Series follows, complete with TV networks and times. 

June 15th

​Bracket 1

​Game 1: Michigan vs. Texas Tech: 1 p.m. CT, ESPN

​Game 2: Florida State vs. Arkansas: 6 p.m. CT, ESPN


June 16th

Bracket 2

​Game 3: Louisville vs. Vanderbilt: 1 p.m. CT, ESPN

​Game 4: Auburn vs. Mississippi State: 6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2


June 17th

​​Bracket 1

​Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser: 1 p.m. CT, ESPN

​Game 6: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner: 6 p.m. CT, ESPN


​June 18th

​Bracket 2

Game 7: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser: 1 p.m. CT, ESPN or ESPN2

​Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner: 6 p.m. CT, ESPN or ESPN2


June 19th

Bracket 1

​Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser: 6 p.m. CT, ESPN


June 20th

​Bracket 2

Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser: 7 p.m. CT, ESPNU


June 21st

Bracket 1

​Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner: 1 p.m. CT, ESPN or ESPN2

Bracket 2

Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner: 6 p.m. CT, ESPN


June 22nd

​​Bracket 1: Game 11 winner vs. Game 11 loser *: TBD, ESPN

​Bracket 2: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser *: TBD, ESPN or ESPN2


Championship Series

​June 24th: Game 1: 6 p.m. CT, ESPN

​June 25th: Game 2: 6 p.m. CT, ESPN

June 26th:  Game 3 *: 6 p.m. CT, ESPN

*: If necessary

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




Monday, June 10th, 2019

​Auburn football's hot recruiting streak continued today as Tate Johnson, a 6-feet-4, 310-pound offensive guard from Hogansville (Ga.) Callaway publicly pledged to the Tigers. Johnson, a three-star prospect, is Auburn's ninth commitment overall for 2020, but the third in this month alone. Offensive tackle Javion Cohen committed on June 1st, while wide receiver Eliijah Canion from Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Fla., verbally pledged to Auburn last Friday. 

Johnson ranks as the No. 23 guard nationally in the 247Sports Composite. With him in the mix, the Tigers now have the No. 21 class in the country. Auburn sat at No. 29 when June began. Johnson picked the Tigers over Georgia Tech and Florida State. "Auburn is just different, man," Johnson told AuburnUndercover. "You go there and you just feel the family atmosphere. The biggest thing for me is the relationships. I'm a relationship guy. I feel like if I can bond with you, I can run through a brick wall for you. Coach (J.B.) Grimes, Coach (Gus) Malzahn and all the coaching staff, they just really let you know they care about you and that's someone I want to play for."

​Defensive line coach Rodney Garner, Johnson's area recruiter, and Grimes, were Johnson's recruiters of record. Johnson actually silently pledged to Auburn during Big Cat Weekend on June 1st. 

In other news.....

- The baseball team has punched its ticket to Omaha, Nebraska, for the College World Series for the first time in 22 years. The Tigers whipped North Carolina 14-7 this afternoon. Honestly, it wasn't that close. The short version of the story is that the Tigers poured on 13 runs in the first inning alone and never looked back. The Tar Heels, to their credit, battled back to make the final score respectable. But it wasn't enough. Now, Auburn (38-26) will face SEC rival Mississippi State this weekend. I'll write about the dates and times of these games when I know what they will be. 

Boy, I'll just bet that Rod Bramblett is smiling down from Heaven with pride and joy at every bit of this (same with his wife, Paula).

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



Friday, June 7th, 2019

Bruce Pearl's troops got a commitment today. Justin Powell, the top-rated prospect in the state of Kentucky for the Class of 2020, has pledged to play for Auburn.

"I went down to Auburn for the official visit (last weekend) and I felt really at home," Powell said. "The coaching staff did a really good job of making me feel a part of their community and their family. I just feel like it is the right decision. It is a comfortable decision."

​Powell, a 6-5 1/2 guard, said he also considered Xavier, Georgia Tech and Ohio State. Currently a student at North Oldham High School in Goshen, Ky., he has gained notoriety for his knack to score inside and outside. When asked how he thinks he will fit in for Auburn's system, he replied, "The coaches told me that they plan to use me as a one (point guard), two (shooting guard) or three (small forward). They know I can handle it (the ball) a little bit and I actually played point guard for my high school when I was younger. I have kind of moved more to the two guard, but as they said in their system at times they are going to put four guards out on the floor at times so one, two, three or four, it doesn't really matter in their system." 

​A superb three-point shooter, Powell is also an effective scorer near the bucket. "People think I am a shooter because I can shoot it a little bit," he explained. "I like getting to the rack and I like scoring down low. I like driving because everybody is going to close out hard on me. I think I use that to my advantage and I think that is what Coach Pearl likes about me is that I can rip it by people. Not many people know that, but he does and he has a lot of faith in me in that." 

Powell also pointed out that his parents, who made the trip to Auburn last weekend as well, are equally content with their son's decision. "They think it is the right decision," he said. "They think it is the most comfortable place for me and them. I know they are going to make a lot of trips down there and be at the games."

​Powell is the Tigers' first verbal pledge for the Class of 2020 and comes in the same week that Auburn picked up a commit from the No. 1-ranked prospect for the Class of 2021 from the state of Mississippi, Daeshun Ruffin from Callaway High in Jackson. Auburn's coaches are expected to have two more highly-regarded guards on campus this weekend for official visits. Jaden Springer, a 6-4 shooting guard from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., is a five-star prospect ranked as the No. 9 shooting guard nationally in his class. Jayden Stone, a four-star guard from Sunrise Christian in Wichita, Kan., will also be on the Plains. The 6-feet-3 Stone is ranked as the No. 48 shooting guard in the 2020 class. 

Stone made the move to Sunrise Christian after leading Sacred Heart to the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 2A state championship this year and was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association's Class 2A Player of the Year.  

In other news....

- The baseball team is currently slated to face the No. 14-seed North Carolina Tar Heels in the Super Regional in Chapel Hill this weekend, but with the area's rain chances at 90 percent for Saturday and Monday and 80 percent for Sunday, that could be in jeopardy. The first game is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT tomorrow on ESPN2, with Game 2 slated for 10:30 p.m. CT Sunday on ESPN. If necessary, a Monday game is scheduled for noon CT on ESPN2. All of us can only keep an eye on the weather, and be prepared to make changes if need be. 

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



Tuesday, June 4th, 2019

Today's news isn't directly Auburn-related, but it does involve the SEC, so all Auburn fans may want to bear this in mind. 

​Bowl season is every college football fan's dream come true, but there appear to be small changes ahead for the 2020-25 schedules. Some of those concern the SEC, which will add a tie to two separate bowl games, while cutting ties with another long-standing game. 

​According to a report from Stadium's Brett McMurphy, the SEC will play in the Las Vegas and Gasparilla bowls during the 2020-25 time frame, and will be dropping the Independence Bowl from its lineup. Also, the Big Ten and the SEC will alternate with the Las Vegas Bowl and the Belk Bowl. 

It's not clear whether or not these games will remain a part of the SEC's slate, but starting after next season, there will be a couple of new bowl locations. The Las Vegas Bowl is obviously played in Las Vegas (no duh, right?), while the Gasparilla Bowl takes place in Tampa. 

One last comment about the Independence Bowl: Do you remember when Auburn played in that game in 1996 against Army? I sure as heck do, and it started out sweet, but then it got scary. As the 4th quarter began, we had a seemingly insurmountable 32-7 lead, and seemed guaranteed to alleviate the pain of heartbreaking defeats to rivals Georgia and Alabama earlier that season. Not so. Army made a furious surge, scoring 22 unanswered points to pull to within three, 32-29. 

They then went for the onside kick, and claimed it. They moved it down to Auburn's 10-yard line, at which point Army head coach Bob Sutton sent in kicker Joseph Parker to try to force overtime. Auburn fans everywhere had that dreaded "Here we go again" feeling in the pits of their stomachs. And Parker had been deadly accurate all year long. But, lo and behold, Parker pushed his 27-yard attempt two feet to the right. Exhale. The Tigers prevailed. 

As a closing note, I dedicate this post to my grandmother, whom we always called "Memie", who passed away four years ago today. She was 86. Memie was a loving and Godly woman who loved her family and the Lord dearly. God rest her soul.

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



Monday, June 3rd, 2019

Auburn men's basketball got a Top 100 commitment for the Class of 2021 today. Daeshun Ruffin, a 5-9, 160-pound point guard from Jackson, Mississippi, has yet to enter his junior year at Callaway High School, but has already earned All-State honors twice and established himself as one of the most exciting basketball prospects in the '21 class. 

​"I feel like Auburn is a great fit for me, and I committed to Auburn today," Ruffin said. "I talked it over with my mom and my coach. I feel confident in my decision. I like the way they play and how Coach (Bruce) Pearl coaches." The 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Mississippi for the 2021 class. He stands as the No. 7 point guard prospect in the class and the No. 74 prospect overall. 

​Ruffin, who averaged 26 points, 4.6 rebounds and three assists as a sophomore, was on the Auburn campus over the weekend to spend time with Coach Pearl and his staff. "It was a great visit," he said of a return trip to the Plains where he was a standout at a 2018 summer basketball camp. "They showed me different aspects of the campus. I loved it." 

​Ruffin was also able to spend time with other high-profile prospects being sought by the Tigers. It was an informal environment, much like the football team's Big Cat Weekend, which took place at the same time. "We played a little scavenger hunt game and my team won," he added. "We got to tour the campus a little bit and talked with the coaches and learned about the history of Auburn."

​Ruffin has early scholarship offers from Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama and others. His plans for this summer include a trip to St. Louis for the Elite 100 prospect camp and a trip to North Augusta, S.C., for one of the top AAU events of the summer, the Peach Jam. The Peach Jam is a tournament in which former Tiger Jared Harper was a star despite being under six feet, like Ruffin. 

​Ruffin saw the success Harper enjoyed at Auburn and discussed it with Coach Pearl last Saturday. "He talked about the freedom his guards have and how that will fit me very well," Ruffin explained. "He really compared me to Harper." He picked Auburn over Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Alabama, Houston and others. 

When asked what he thought was his greatest strength that would carry over to the college game, he replied, "I think it's my ability to penetrate and drive the ball." If that's the case, those qualities would certainly serve Auburn well. Now, the big question: Will Ruffin stay committed? Only time will tell. 

In other news....

- The baseball team beat Georgia Tech (again) 4-1 yesterday, and will now advance to take on North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Super Regional next weekend, starting on Friday, June 7th. 

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



Saturday, June 1st, 2019

My first post of this month will cover two new players: One for the football team, the other for men's basketball. I'll start with the latter. 

​Javon Franklin, a 6-feet-7, 218-pound forward from Holmes (Mississippi) Community College and Parkview High in Little Rock, Ark., pledged to Bruce Pearl's Tigers yesterday for the 2019-20 basketball season. Franklin told Inside the Auburn Tigers ​that he plans to move to Auburn later this month to begin classes. 

"Auburn is the place I will be attending and I feel like it is a good fit for me," he said. "I like the style of play and I like how Coach (Bruce) Pearl cares about his players. I also like how Coach Pearl uses his forwards." As a JUCO freshman, Franklin averaged 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest, but was able to play in only one game this season due to breaking a bone in his leg. But he was recently cleared medically and will move to Auburn with three years of eligibility remaining. 

"I'm not rushing into full contact yet," said Franklin, who developed a reputation as a strong defender in high school and junior college. "I am working to get my quads and stuff back to normal. In a few more months, I'll be ready for full contact." Franklin was the MVP of Parkview High's 2016-17 team, averaging 16 points and 8.7 rebounds a game, playing for Al Flanigan, the father of Auburn assistant coach Wes Flanigan, who recruited Franklin for the Tigers. 

​Commenting on his official visit to Auburn this week, Franklin noted, "I enjoyed everything and spent a lot of time with the coaches and they showed me a good time." Franklin graduated from junior college on May 10th, and pointed out that the coahces told him that they would use him in a similar role to that of the since-departed Chuma Okeke from this past season. 

​"I am excited and ready to go to work," he said. "I think we're going to have another good team this year." Franklin also noted that other colleges he considered included West Virginia, Memphis, East Carolina (ECU) and Oklahoma State. 

- Now, let's move on to the football front. Javion Cohen, a 6-feet-5, 275-pound offensive tackle from Central High School in Phenix City, Ala., pledged to Gus Malzahn's troops today on Big Cat Weekend. Cohen is ranked as a 3-star recruit in the 247Sports Composite. He stands as the No. 19 Alabama product, No. 33 offensive tackle and the No. 394 overall prospect for the Class of 2020. 

​Cohen garnered 34 total scholarship offers and previously took visits to South Carolina and Georgia Tech. His recruiting profile also lists a previously planned visit to Florida for June 15th. Head coach Gus Malzahn quickly confirmed Cohen's pledge. Cohen is Auburn's seventh commitment for the 2020 class. 

In other news....

- The baseball team beat Costal Carolina 16-7 yesterday in the Atlanta Regional. They will move on to face Georgia Tech tonight at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by the SEC Network. 

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