Auburn Football

The Auburn Tigers won 10 games and advanced to the SEC Championship a season ago, but those results weren't good enough when compared to the success of fellow SEC teams Alabama and Georgia.

Saturday marks one of the biggest steps of the offseason for the Tigers, as their spring game takes place at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Much of the focus entering the regular season is going to be on quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who could enter the Heisman Trophy race, but his participation Saturday is going to be limited due to recovery from shoulder surgery.

Head coach Gus Malzahn should use Saturday as the next step in evaluating who is going to contribute in 2018 against a difficult slate of opponents, starting with Washington in Week 1.

        

Auburn Spring Game Information

Date: Saturday, April 7

Time: 4 p.m. ET

TV: SEC Network

Live Stream: Watch ESPN

       

Stidham Set to Make Brief Appearance

The big news coming out of Auburn Thursday was the organization of the spring game in order to suit Stidham's recovery.

The 21-year-old, who is working his way back from offseason surgery on his non-throwing shoulder, opens the festivities with 7-on-7 drills in order to showcase his abilities to the fans before the traditional scrimmage takes place.

Malzahn and his coaching staff are relying on Stidham to take a step up from his performance a year ago in which he threw for 3,158 yards and 18 touchdowns.

In addition to putting up high numbers, the head coach sees the Baylor transfer as more of a leader on the gridiron for the 2018 season, per Jeff Shearer of AuburnTigers.com.

"His command when he's out there just feels different, which it should. He's a veteran guy. He's like a coach on the field now. Last year, he was still learning the offense, and learning [offensive coordinator] Chip [Lindsey] and Chip was learning him. It just feels different. He's got a very good grip on our offense and what we need to accomplish this summer too."

Stidham's past production makes him one of the preseason favorites for the Heisman Trophy, per OddsShark on Twitter:

Odds to Win the 2018 Heisman Trophy (via @Bodog):

Johnathan Taylor (RB Wisconsin) +600
J.K. Dobbins (RB Ohio State) +650
Tua Tagovailoa (QB Alabama)/Bryce Love (RB Stanford) +700
Jake Fromm (QB Georgia) +1200
Khalil Tate (QB Arizona) +1400
Jarrett Stidham (QB Auburn) +1600

— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) April 4, 2018

Although we won't see much of Stidham until training camp, it appears he is on track for a full recovery, which means Malik Willis and Joey Gatewood should only earn significant time under center during Saturday's spring game.

          

Barrett Looking to Impress at New Position

Running back Devan Barrett is going to be one of Stidham's many weapons in the fall, but he might not be a threat out of the backfield.

Barrett is going to spend time at wide receiver Saturday after two players at that position suffered torn ACLs.

With heated competition at running back, Barrett could separate himself from the congestion and become an asset out wide.

Malzahn wasn't ready to fully commit to the position change Thursday, when he called the switch temporary, per Tom Green of AL.com:

"I'm not ready to say that (Barrett's future is at receiver) yet. This is just kind of a temporary thing for the last week and a half, and of course A-Day and all that, but he's a guy that we're looking to take that next step. He showed he could protect the football last year as a freshman and did a good job on the perimeter."

What Malzahn isn't afraid to talk about is the unique skill set Barrett brings to the field, as the head coach noted his ability on the perimeter, per SEC Country's Justin Ferguson:

Auburn HC Gus Malzahn on Devan Barrett: "He's got a unique skill set. He's dangerous on the perimeter, and he can catch the ball."

— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) April 5, 2018

Whether or not he makes the permanent switch to receiver, Barrett has an opportunity to show off his versatility Saturday. And even if he stays at running back, he might be able to earn more snaps in passing situations.

        

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from ESPN.com

Former Auburn Tigers running back Brad Lester reportedly agreed to a plea deal Friday to avoid jail time in a child pornography case.

According to TMZ Sports, Lester agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanors of "unlawful eavesdropping, theft by receiving stolen property, and two counts of peeping toms" in exchange for probation. 

The length of his probation remains unclear. 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Tyler Estep first reported in December that a warrant was issued for Lester's arrest after he "used his cellphone to surreptitiously film a juvenile male in a bathroom stall" in a restaurant near Dacula, Georgia. 

He was subsequently charged with one count of unlawful eavesdropping or surveillance and one count of creating or possessing child pornography with the intent to distribute. According to Estep, both of those charges are felonies. 

Lester, 32, played for the Tigers from 2004-2008. 

Bo Nix, one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2019 college football recruiting class, announced Wednesday he's planning to attend Auburn University.

Nix confirmed his selection of the Tigers on social media:

C O M M I T T E D 🐅 https://t.co/2XRBDVbxYA

— Bo Nix (@BoNix10) January 10, 2018

The Pinson Valley High School standout is a 4-star prospect who's rated as the No. 57 overall prospect in the 2019 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He's also listed as the second-best dual-threat QB and the third-best player from the state of Alabama among next year's incoming group.

His father, Patrick Nix, was a quarterback with the Tigers from 1992 through 1995. He also served as Bo's head coach at Pinson Valley as the Indians captured the 2017 state title.

The younger Nix told Benjamin Wolk of SEC Country last year he wouldn't make his dad's past be the main consideration in his own collegiate choice.

"I'm an Auburn fan. I like when they win because my whole family are Auburn people. That's how I was born and raised. But it's definitely not going to play a factor in my college decision," Bo said. "It might play a little bit because I grew up being an Auburn fan. But, at the end of the day, it's all going to come down to my decision of where I want to go. He has nothing really to do with it. He just wants me to go and be comfortable wherever I want to go."

The legacy recruit's decision to commit early comes with the potential of the Tigers needing a new quarterback in 2019 depending on the future of Jarrett Stidham.

Auburn's current starter under center will be a junior next season and may find himself in the Heisman Trophy discussion, and could also emerge as a top prospect in the 2019 NFL draft.

If Stidham does leave early, Nix would likely be given an opportunity as a true freshman to compete for the starting job.

Wide receiver Anthony Schwartz is perhaps the fastest player in the 2018 recruiting class, and Thursday, he committed to play college football at Auburn. 

247Sports' Keith Niebuhr confirmed the playmaker's selection of the Tigers.

Schwartz is a 4-star prospect who rates as the No. 153 overall player in the 2018 recruiting class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He's also listed as the No. 28 wideout and the No. 25 recruit from the state of Florida.

Those ratings don't paint a complete picture of his upside, though.

A lot of skill position prospects arriving at the collegiate level feature good speed. It's almost a prerequisite to earning a scholarship offer from a Division I program unless a player has other outstanding tools to make up for a lack of straight-line quickness.

That said, Schwartz is on another level, even compared to those other promising burners.

Cory Mull of MileSplit USA reported the American Heritage School standout posted a 10.15-second time in the 100-meter dash during the Pepsi Florida Relays. The result was the fastest March run in history by a high school athlete and the sixth overall.

Florida Runners passed along comments from Schwartz about his speed:

Anthony Schwartz runs 10.15, but that's not good enough. He wants SUB TEN. Yes, SUB TEN before he graduates.https://t.co/Rs6nfwKpOI pic.twitter.com/WHHJGxCqoG

— FLRunners (@flrunners) April 1, 2017

Those types of numbers give him Olympic track and field potential. He's also starting to blossom on the football field, though.

Zach Abolverdi of SEC Country noted Schwartz was one of the top performers at the Miami regional for the annual The Opening showcase in February. The wide receiver was happy to prove he brings more to the table than simply being able to outrun defensive backs.

"It feels great that they recognized me as one of the top football players down here," he said. "I just wanted to come out, run a fast 40 and do good in 1-on-1's. South Florida has the best football, so to know that I'm one of the best is just an amazing feeling."

He's still very much in the development stage when it comes to the finer points of the position, including route running and blocking, but the raw tools as a whole are off the charts.

Schwartz represents a highly intriguing addition for Gus Malzahn and the Tigers. His floor as a college player is a dangerous weapon on special teams. He also possesses the potential to become a valuable contributor on offense over time, though.

The mystery is how long it will take for him to crack the Auburn lineup. The team is slated to have a couple of openings at receiver over the next few years. Whether the speed demon can make enough progress to quickly take over one of those spots, likely in the slot, is uncertain.

In many ways, the UCF Knights had the most legitimate gripe for being left out of the College Football Playoff. If they do feel a little spurned by the committee, the Peach Bowl matchup against the Auburn Tigers is the prime spot to show the world they belong in college football's top tier this season. 

After all, the Knights were the only team to finish undefeated. They picked up three Top 25 wins and won their conference championship game, yet they couldn't break into the conversation for the No. 4 seed with a two-loss Ohio State team and an Alabama team that didn't play in the SEC Championship Game.

Oddsmakers aren't big into respecting what UCF has done, either. 

The Knights are sizable underdogs, according to OddsShark. Taking on an SEC power in Auburn should be the perfect stage to test just how good this UCF team is.

Here's a look at all the info you need to take in the game along with the latest odds from OddsShark. 

        

Date: January 1, 2018

Time: 12:30 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Odds: Auburn -9.5

        

How Auburn Can Win

The biggest mismatch in this meeting—and likely the reason why the Tigers are a fairly big favorite—is in the run game. The Tigers are one of the most run-heavy teams in the country that doesn't run the triple option. They average 4.96 yards per carry in an offense that is 16th in rush attempts per game in the nation. 

That running attack all centers on a healthy Kerryon Johnson. The star running back has been the straw that stirs the drink for Gus Malzahn's run-heavy offense, setting up the vertical play action game that Jarrett Stidham has become good at working once safeties are forced to come up against the run. 

Johnson was injured after the Iron Bowl, but he toughed out an undisclosed injury to play in the SEC Championship Game. The result was a lackluster performance in which he was limited to 44 yards on just 13 carries. 

"He's definitely still banged up," Malzahn said of his running back, per Michael Niziolek of 247 Sports. "You talk about he's just really the heart and soul of our team. The courage he showed, and he wasn't 100 percent. He tried his best."

With nearly a month to get healthy, Johnson should be more than ready to go against a UCF defense that gives up 4.3 yards per carry—good for 67th in the nation. 

Defensively, Auburn has one of the most complete units in the country. The Tigers rank in the top 25 against both the run and the pass while ranking 21st in sacks per game. 

If Auburn plays defense the way that they have for the vast majority of the season, UCF's explosive offense might finally meet its match. 

       

How UCF Can Win

Simply put, the Knights have to make this a shootout. The defense isn't good enough to stop an Auburn attack that can be dynamic when it gets rolling. Scott Frost's team is 81st in the country in yards allowed per play. 

The good news for the Knights is that the offense has the tools to make things interesting against the Auburn defense. 

While the Tigers pass rush is for real, UCF has been one of the most elite pass protection teams in the nation. The offensive line has only given up 12 sacks this season, which is the seventh-fewest in the country. 

Giving quarterback McKenzie Milton time will be crucial. As College PFF noted, he's one of the best deep threats in college football at the quarterback position:

With his ridiculous performance against Memphis - UCF QB McKenzie Milton breaks the record for most deep passing yards in the PFF College era - by a large margin. pic.twitter.com/6Xt9PJSD1p

— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 2, 2017

The Knights can't be afraid to take shots down field. After all, they are the underdogs in this one anyway. They have to be aggressive and live with the results. 

UCF has the balance to make sure that Auburn doesn't just fly up field on the defensive line. The Knights have a diverse run game that features three rushers over 450 yards in Adrian Killins Jr., Milton and Otis Anderson. 

If the Knights can turn this into a shootout, they have plenty of firepower. 

       

Prediction

UCF is a great story with a better resume than they were given credit for, but this is not a good matchup for them. Auburn is simply the more complete game. 

That's before you even consider the coaching situation. Auburn just inked Gus Malzahn to a lucrative extension, according to James Crepea of AL.com. With the Arkansas speculation now behind them, the coach can now focus on game-planning and preparing his team to beat the Knights. 

Meanwhile UCF is in an odd transition period when it comes to coaching. Scott Frost has obviously accepted the job at his alma mater Nebraska, but he could still be coaching UCF in this game, according to Clark Grell of the Lincoln Star Journal. 

This was a tall task to begin with, but to ask the Knights to pull off the upset with a coach who has one foot out the door is a degree of difficulty too far. 

Motivation could always play a factor in these games. The Knights will be eager to prove they belong. Auburn could be disappointed they came so close to the playoff only to lay an egg against Georgia, but barring a major letdown, this is Auburn's game to lose. 

Prediction: Auburn 42, UCF 23

Auburn Tigers head football coach Gus Malzahn is reportedly staying put.

Brandon Marcello of 247Sports' Auburn Undercover reported the news Sunday, citing "a source familiar with the situation."

While the final terms of the contract are not yet known, Marcello noted "the deal will stretch at least five years and could include a raise to as much as $7 million."

This news comes after fellow SEC school Arkansas reportedly expressed interest in hiring Malzahn. Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports cited a source who said, "Arkansas is dead serious…They want him in the worst way."

It may seem strange for Malzahn to consider leaving Auburn—which reached the SEC Championship Game and beat Alabama this season—for an Arkansas program that fired Bret Bielema and went 4-8, but Dodd noted the coach had grown "frustrated at the always-shifting perceptions of him" with the Tigers.

Dodd also pointed out "a three-touchdown loss to Georgia won't change the direction of those fickle winds at Auburn" following the Tigers' defeat in the SEC title contest.

"Yeah, I'm happy at Auburn," Malzahn told reporters after the game Saturday, via Dodd. "We have great players. I love my players. As I said before this game, we worked extremely hard to get here to this point, and we've got a very good foundation built, and I think the best is yet to come."

If the best is yet to come following this deal, that is welcome news for the Auburn faithful.

Malzahn led the Tigers to the BCS title game in his first season, but they lost 34-31 to Florida State. He has beaten Nick Saban and Alabama twice, and he spearheaded a 10-3 campaign in 2017 that will conclude with a Peach Bowl showdown against undefeated Central Florida.

He also has the No. 9-ranked recruiting class in the country coming in for the 2018 cycle, per 247Sports, so there is reason for optimism moving forward.

Malzahn is 45-21 in five seasons at Auburn and has apparently done enough for the school to thwart him from leaving for Arkansas.

Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn emphasized on Saturday that he wants to continue coaching the SEC West champions amid rumors that he could leave for the Arkansas Razorbacks. 

"We have worked very hard to create something here. We have a great foundation for the future," Malzahn told ESPN.com's Ryan McGee following the Tigers' 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. "I'm the head coach at Auburn and I'm looking forward to seeing where this can go, what we've built, in the future. I want to see that through, personally.

"I'm happy at Auburn. I think the best is yet to come."

Citing a source, SEC Country's Trent Shadid reported the Razorbacks are "expected" to make Malzahn an offer to take over for Bret Bielema in the aftermath of the SEC title game. 

Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com reported Sunday morning that "sources close to Malzahn here over the weekend indicated that a possible departure to Arkansas is realistic though not necessarily a done deal."

Dodd continued:

"'Arkansas is dead serious,' said a different source close to the situation. 'They want him in the worst way."

One figure tossed around, according to the source, $50 million for seven years. (For context, Jimbo Fisher just received $75 million over 10 from Texas A&M.)

Malzahn, those sources say, is frustrated at the always-shifting perceptions of him at Auburn." 

Shadid added that if the Razorbacks strike out in their pursuit of Malzahn, they "will immediately shift focus to Memphis coach Mike Norvell."

Malzahn, 52, previously served as the Razorbacks' offensive coordinator in 2006. He also has deep ties to the area after he coached the Arkansas State Red Wolves to a 9-3 record and Sun Belt Conference title in 2012. 

Since then, Malzahn has captained Auburn to a 65-46 mark and a BCS Championship Game appearance to cap off a fruitful 2013 campaign. 

The 2017 SEC Championship Game will feature a matchup that the game hasn't seen in its 26 year history when Auburn and Georgia rematch with the conference title on the line. 

The Auburn Tigers crashed the party via its stunning upset win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl last week. Gus Malzahn's two-loss team ostensibly has a shot at a College Football Playoff berth with a second win over Georgia. 

The one-loss Bulldogs have the opportunity to avenge their only blemish on the season. Kirby Smart's team was on a clear path to the College Football Playoff before the Tigers handed them a thorough 40-17 loss. A win here would make them hard to deny after making up for their only loss on the season. 

The Tigers will be looking for their first conference championship since 2013, while the Bulldogs are looking to win their first SEC title since 2005. 

Here's a look at the information you'll need to catch the game along with a breakdown of the matchup. 

Date: Saturday, Dec. 2

TV: CBS

Time: 4 p.m. ET

        

Game Preview

These are two teams that are obviously familiar with one another. They just played three weeks ago when the Tigers came away with a lopsided win. 

Auburn put together a near perfect performance in which the offense outgained Georgia 488-230, didn't turn the ball over and didn't trail after the first quarter. While that's still a possibility in the rematch, the oddsmakers don't believe so. Auburn is just a three-point favorite, per OddsShark. 

Some of that is due to Auburn being more banged up than they were in the first game. 

Specifically, the Tigers had a healthy Kerryon Johnson. The running back was the engine that made the Auburn offense go, putting up 167 rushing yards on 32 carries and adding 66 receiving yards on two catches.

As Jay Jacobs, Auburn athletic director, noted, it's something that Johnson has done for the Tigers all season:

This Auburn Man does it all!
8: 100-yard games this season.
4: straight 100-yard games.
17: rushing TDs in 2017.
19: TDs (rush/rec). @AyeyoKEJO even added a TD pass to help @AuburnFootball beat No. 1 for the second time in three weeks. #Kerryon4Heisman #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/bnuL9HsdSE

— Jay Jacobs (@JayJacobs89) November 26, 2017

A physical game against Alabama comes at a cost, though. Johnson left the game against Alabama with a shoulder injury. His status is still up in the air, and the coaching staff hasn't committed to whether he will be available on Saturday. 

"This late in the season everybody's pretty banged up," offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said, per Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports. "I think Kerryon will do everything he can to get ready."

Losing Johnson for the game would be a big detriment to the offense, as his success on the ground opens up the play-action passing game. Jarrett Stidham has been playing at a high level, but his ability to make big plays down field has been one of his biggest strengths. 

As PFF College Football noted, Stidham's touchdown passes have been on big plays more often than not:

Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham cracks the list all the way at No. 2, averaging 35.7 yards per touchdown pass this season. pic.twitter.com/qSWnAlx5uB

— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 22, 2017

Without Johnson, Stidham might be asked to do more than he has this season. 

What will be key in this game, however, is how well the Auburn defense will be able to stop the run. The Bulldogs vaunted one-two punch of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel were limited to just 48 yards on 20 carries against the Auburn front. 

The result was a season low 32 carries for the Bulldogs and a reliance on freshman quarterback Jake Fromm to make plays. 

Against Alabama, the Auburn defense struggled to stop the run. Alabama had 209 rushing yards on 37 attempts against the Tigers, but Auburn was able to slow down Jalen Hurts in the passing game en route to only giving up 14 points. 

The front four will once again be vital for Auburn. According to Kevin Steele, Auburn defensive coordinator, he didn't have to bring pressure against Alabama because the defensive line is able to make plays on its own:

Auburn DC Kevin Steele says he only called two blitzes on passing downs in the Iron Bowl. That’s how nasty Auburn’s d-line is.

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) November 27, 2017

That's a lot of confidence in a front that is playing well. The offense might not be as explosive either without Johnson or a hampered version of the star running back, but the Bulldogs will still need to block the same defenders they couldn't a few weeks ago. 

The result should be a much closer battle than the first time around and a game that comes down to the wire, as the team that can establish the ground game will likely come out on top. 

Prediction: Auburn 20, Georgia 16

Auburn University was fined $250,000 for allowing fans to rush the field following Saturday's 26-14 victory over Alabama at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

"The Conference has unanimously approved a policy requiring fines be applied when spectators enter the playing field after a game," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. "Fans are expected to remain in the stands and avoid the safety concerns associated with rushing onto the playing field. We want exciting experiences around SEC games, but also seek to maintain a safe environment for student-athletes, coaches, spectators and officials."

The SEC's policy says "access to competition areas shall be limited to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly-credentialed individuals at all times. For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during or after a contest shall spectators be permitted to enter the competition area. It is the responsibility of each member institution to implement procedures to ensure compliance with this policy."

        

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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One of the nation's premier outside linebackers is headed to Auburn.

On Thursday, 4-star prospect Richard Jibunor announced he plans to suit up for the Tigers starting in the fall of 2018:

COMMITMENT‼️. It's THANKSGIVING. LORD GOOD ALMIGHTY, I'm thankful for all you've done for me. @CoachGusMalzahn @coachg76 @T_WILL4REAL #WDE 🦅🦅🦅🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/1H4PZECVBA

— Richard Jibunor (@JibunorRichard) November 23, 2017

According to 247Sports, the 4-star linebacker is the No. 291 overall player and No. 14 athlete in his class. He's also the No. 31 player in the state of Georgia.

An athletic dynamo at 6'3" and 206 pounds, Jibunor emerged as a threat in all three phases at Athens Christian School in Athens, Georgia.

And despite success at receiver, his future appears to be at outside linebacker thanks to his evolving frame and ability to attack downhill when he gets a head of steam. 

Jibunor's speed stands out, especially in pursuit of ball-carriers and at the second level.

At Auburn, Jibunor should be a natural fit. 

The Tigers generally field one of the most fierce defenses in the nation, and the speed Jibunor plays with is tailor-made for the SEC. 

Jibunor still has to add some muscle to avoid breaking down in college, but assuming he hits the weight room and bulks up, a bright future should lie ahead for the rising defensive talent.