Auburn Daily Roundtable: Freeze, breakout players, and hot takes
Week 0 of college football is almost upon us.
The Auburn Tigers have exited fall camp and are now shifting their focus towards their season opening opponent, the UMass Minutemen.
As we get closer and closer to kickoff, it feels right to discuss some final thoughts surrounding some of Auburn's most intriguing storylines.
Here is the Auburn Daily staff's thoughts on Hugh Freeze, the Tigers' rushing attack, breakout players, and final record predictions for the upcoming season.
Considering what he has done since landing the job, how confident are you in Hugh Freeze heading into the season opener vs UMass?
Eric Starling/Auburn Daily
Zac: I’m confident in Freeze. I’m excited to see what the gameplan is regarding personnel vs UMass. Will he key in on the guys he thinks are the starters or will he rotate more guys in to see what they look like in real action?
Lance: The future for Auburn is looking bright given how well Auburn has recruited, but as for the season opener, I'm confident in Freeze's ability to put together a solid gameplan. The plays are not what interest me with Freeze and Montgomery, but rather how much they choose to play everyone.
Lindsay: I'd score this an 9 out of 10 (because who'd score things on a 1-5 scale? That's dumb). Outside of in-game, he's done everything you want a modern, competitive SEC coach to do - he's recruited his butt off, brought in talented, smart coaches with good schemes, and said all the right stuff as far as philosophy, culture, and approach to the season.
Joshua: Even given the injuries we have sustained throughout Spring and Fall Camps, I am about 85% confident in a solid winning performance for the season opener against UMass.
Jack: I’ll give Freeze a 7/10, recruiting has been phenomenal and camp looked good. Only way to find out is every Saturday until December.
Jeremy: Very confident in Freeze. Has he fixed the roster enough to be competitive this year? This is a mulligan season if not. Hugh’s a great coach and a better recruiter. We will get this turned around.
Who is Auburn's second-leading rusher this season?
Photo by Austin Perryman/Auburn Athletics
Zac: Damari Alston. I wouldn’t be shocked if it ended up Ashford.
Lance: Damari Alston is my guess here. I'm really intrigued with Brian Battie in this offense but I doubt he finishes with more yards than Alston, who gets his first legitimate opportunity to prove himself this year.
Lindsay: Damari Alston. I think he'll get the lion's share of carries behind Hunter, and as high as I am on Battie, I think Alston's just too good of a player to not get the ball in his hands 10-15 times a game. He's gonna find a way to force the issue.
Joshua: I believe Damari Alston will be given enough reps on the field to easily be the second leading rusher this season.
Jack: Damari Alston. Battie coming off of a foot surgery won’t be as used as expected. After an explosive camp Alston easily gets the 2nd place trophy.
Jeremy: Damari Alston is getting a lot of buzz in camp. Brian Battie got a lot of hype this Spring, and Jeremiah Cobb is a standout freshman. Alston looks like the best guess here.
Give me a breakout offensive and defensive player for the Tigers.
Eric Starling/Auburn Daily
Zac: I’ll say Izavion Miller on offense. Kayin Lee on defense.
Lance: Jay Fair has been getting a lot of love this preseason, so I'll go with him on offense. I'm torn between Keldric Faulk and Keionte Scott on defense. I think both players will have great seasons.
Lindsay: On offense, Conner Lew. A lineman WILL get hurt - always happens when you (in essence) go through 75 car crashes every Saturday. He'll be one of the first men up in that situation and I think he just runs away with whatever job he steps into. On defense, Lawrence Johnson. Auburn's got some injury concerns on the defensive front and he's an experienced defender that is going to play more snaps that we were expecting him to, and has the motor and versatility to thrive in those.
Joshua: I would say Rivaldo Fairweather and Austin Keys if they both can remain healthy.
Jack: Jay Fair and Keldric Faulk.
Jeremy: Offense: Payton Thorne Defense: Keldric Faulk.
What's the most intriguing game on Auburn's schedule?
Zac: Ole Miss at home. So many storylines.
Lance: Ole Miss has to be in contention here. I'm not sure if the national college football scene realizes how serious that game is going to be taken by both fanbases given the hatred that has spawned following the Lane Kiffin debacle. With Freeze now at the helm, things should get spicy.
Lindsay: September 30th against Georgia. I'm not calling the upset - they are the two-time National Champions - but I personally think a big test for a program is playing an uber-deep team like a Georgia or an Alabama. Do you have the talent in your 2nd team to not let them pull away in the 2nd half? Keeping this game close throughout is great proof of concept that the programs' building is working.
Joshua: The Texas A&M game will be the most intriguing as we will likely see the best roster on the field to date in the 2023 season and will answer a lot of questions as to where we stand as a unit.
Jack: Cal, it’s been a long time since Auburn played out west. And it’s the first P5 team for the Tigers.
Jeremy: The Iron Bowl. Auburn fans are excited about Hugh’s momentum, but if he beats Saban year one…
Give me a record prediction and a hot take for the season.
Lance: 8-4 for Hugh Freeze and the Tigers. Auburn beats LSU on the road to make it two in a row in Death Valley.
Lindsay: 8-4, and my hot take is Peyton Thorne breaks 3000 yards on the season, which would be a Top 3 performance all time for Auburn.
Joshua: I believe we will go 8-4 this rebuild season but if we catch enough teams slipping we could be a lock at 10-2. DJ James wins the Bednarik award, first in Auburn's history.
Jack: 8-4. Hot take: Payton Thorne outperforms both the Bama starter and Carson Beck.
Jeremy: Ups and downs. This is Auburn after all. This roster has holes and it will be a roller coaster ride but lead to the highest rated recruiting class in Auburn history in 2025.
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