Football News: 6-30-2026
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Dudley Dent
7:58 AM (6 hours ago) 7:58 AM
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Auburn Football News: 6-30-2026
Most Valuable Tigers: No. 18:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-bryson-washington-running-back-jeremiah-cobb-288045498/
Path to the Plains: Offensive lineman Deryc Plazz:
https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/news/path-to-the-plains-offensive-lineman-deryc-plazz/
One Aspect That Could Change Everything for Auburn Football Under Alex Golesh:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/one-score-games-change-everything-for-auburn-football-alex-golesh
2026 QB Impact Study: Auburn's Byrum Brown:
https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/news/2026-qb-impact-study-auburns-byrum-brown/
Auburn football has locked down three of Alabama's top 2027 prospects:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/recruiting/2026/06/29/auburn-football-recruiting-alabama-success-sec/90741209007/
Where Auburn stands with 2027 EDGE Marquis Evans before commitment day:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/recruiting/2026/06/29/auburn-football-recruiting-marquis-evans-commitment-day-preview/90739563007/
Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/talking-auburn-baseball-and-auburn-basketball-288040410/
Most Valuable Tigers: No. 18
By Nathan King
We're still in the heart of the college football offseason: two months removed from spring practice, more than a month from media days, and inside 100 days until the 2026 season, Auburn's first under head coach Alex Golesh.
So what better time to crank up the rankings? As we do annually this time of year, Auburn Undercover is counting down the top 25 most valuable players for the Tigers' 2026 season.
A few notes to set the table: These rankings are based on a player's previous contributions in college, as well as his assumed impact in 2026 — how important he is expected to be to Auburn's success in both production and the win-loss column. It is not simply Auburn's best players in descending order.
Next up is No. 18: running back Bryson Washington, who was a big-time transfer pickup for Auburn, considering the Tigers also brought back leading rusher Jeremiah Cobb, and now have one of the most productive backfields in the SEC entering 2026.
AS A RECRUIT
Hometown: Franklin, Texas
Class: 2023
247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 59
2026 transfer ranking: No. 8 RB
AS A PLAYER
A flip from SMU, Washington needed just one redshirt season to then become a productive player in the Big 12. He ran for 1,028 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2024 and 788 more in 2025.
Washington added 21 pounds in his three seasons at Baylor and developed into a bruiser of a tailback, having played a lot of linebacker in high school. He forced 30 missed tackles last season, per Pro Football Focus. Washington was also an effective safety valve for former Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson, catching 41 passes in his time with the Bears.
When Texas A&M got the first visit for Washington in the transfer portal, it felt like Auburn would be a longshot, especially if the Tigers were to bring back Cobb. But in the span of 24 hours, Cobb announced his return, then Auburn landed Washington after hosting him on a visit.
Auburn didn't see too much of Washington in spring practice, though, as he dealt with a minor injury. Golesh also called him "chubby butt" after he said Washington was not in proper shape when he arrived.
2026 OUTLOOK
Washington is one of three transfers added by Auburn in the backfield, joining USF's Nykahi Davenport and Troy's Tae Meadows. With Cobb back, Auburn's six scholarship running backs totaled more than 3,300 rushing yards at their respective schools last season. Not even including promising sophomore Omar Mabson II, that's a lot of potential contributors to distribute carries to.
However, Washington's status as a proven Power Four transfer should make him Auburn's No. 2 running back behind Cobb. Once healthier in the preseason, he should be a great complement to Cobb's shifty running style as a downhill, physical ball-carrier.
That doesn't mean Washington would have others at his heels for carries, though. Mabson had a good spring and is still just 18 years old, and Davenport obviously has experience in this offensive scheme, coming over from USF. Auburn's stable of available running backs is why Washington isn't too high on our list, but it's worth noting he is the highest-ranked "non-starter" we'll have.
Naturally, a lot depends on the cohesiveness of a brand-new offensive line. But if Cobb, Byrum Brown and Washington are all rolling in a game, that will be a scary sight for SEC defenses.
WHAT THEY SAID
"For all the guys in the room, leading rushers last year, I feel like it makes it easier on us individually. I'm not going to say we don't give it our all — because that's what we're taught to do every play: give it our all — but we know we can fall back on each other." — Washington on Auburn having so much experience in the backfield
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Path to the Plains: Offensive lineman Deryc Plazz
By Caleb Jones
Auburn’s roster will look almost brand new this fall.
It’s just how college football operates nowadays. The transfer portal makes it more rare than ever for fans to know the entire roster like they used to. And since there’s so much overturn on Auburn’s roster, there’s no better time than the summer to get to know the guys suiting up for the Tigers this fall.
Over the next several weeks, we’ll take a look at the projected two-deep and their journey to the Plains.
Next up on the list is projected starting left guard Deryc Plazz.
Plazz played high school football for Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he was a 3-star prospect. Several ACC programs made the push for his commitment, but following an official visit to Penn State, Plazz committed to the Nittany Lions.
However, less than two weeks later, Plazz backed off his pledge to Penn State.
Two ACC programs — NC State and Miami — jumped right back in his recruitment. In early July 2023, Plazz announced that Miami is where he’d play college football and shut down his recruitment.
As a true freshman, Plazz appeared in just one game and spent the season on the Hurricanes’ practice squad. Last season, Plazz played 20 snaps as a backup at tackle across four games.
He then transferred to Auburn, looking for more opportunity. And so far, he’s found it by sliding inside. Plazz went through the spring as the Tigers’ primary left guard and projects as the starter this fall.
QUOTES OF NOTE
Plazz on his role with Auburn:
“I think it’s a great opportunity. It’s something I’m extremely grateful for, especially sitting two years and waiting and learning. Finally having an opportunity is amazing. I’m coming in every day trying to make the most of it.”
Plazz on his experience with Miami:
“I think it was a big deal. My experience at my last school was a lot of sitting and watching behind a great offensive line. Just being able to get to the national championship, you’ve got to take advantage of that opportunity and make the most of it. Now I’m here, I can take things from those older guys and apply it to our o-line room as well as seeing those things from [Alex Golesh] that are in place that I feel like are important for a successful team.”
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One Aspect That Could Change Everything for Auburn Football Under Alex Golesh
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
Fans of the Auburn Tigers have been through the wringer over the past few seasons, as the Tigers are consistently one of the most hyped teams in the country in the preseason, but neither Bryan Harsin nor Hugh Freeze was ever truly able to live up to those projections.
On paper, it can be confusing to understand how the Tigers fared so poorly, especially under Hugh Freeze. Freeze consistently put together some of the best recruiting classes in the country, meaning much of the nation’s top talent was on the Plains, and yet, when it mattered, that talent (especially on offense) was unable to step up to the task in big moments.
In fact, the Tigers have lost 12 of their last 13 one-score games, which is utterly unacceptable for any program. This includes 2025 losses against Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Missouri, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, among others across prior seasons.
Simply, if Alex Golesh, the Tigers’ newest head coach, wants to be remembered in any better light than the prior two coaches, he absolutely needs to be able to capitalize in these close games. After all, the Tigers’ defense consistently gave them close matchups in 2025, and yet, the offense could never seem to get over the hump, regardless of how ‘close’ their head coach described them to be.
Golesh will have ample opportunity to prove himself in these matchups this season, as the Tigers are projected to play in seven one-score games in 2026. This may cause Auburn fans to cringe, due to the horrific lack of success in prior similar settings, but Golesh has already proven his ability to win close games against SEC programs.
In fact, in 2025, Golesh’s USF Bulls took down the Florida Gators in an 18-16 finish, winning on a walk-off field goal to close the game. The Tigers, conversely, despite a significantly better defense, had several opportunities to end games like Golesh’s Bulls did, yet were unable to finish.
So, since Golesh’s new Auburn offense is largely made up of transfers from his prior program, with key pieces like Jeremiah Cobb, a running back who is the lone Auburn returner to start on offense, and Bryson Washington, a Baylor transfer running back, bolstering his offense beyond what Brown and his receivers would be able to provide on their own.
If the Tigers can even win three of their projected seven one-score games, Golesh will likely be perceived as moving the program in the right direction, as opposed to Freeze, who, by the end, had many convinced that he was the factor holding the Tigers back.
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2026 QB Impact Study: Auburn's Byrum Brown
By Clark Brooks
College Football Analyst, on3
Welcome to the middle of summer – also known as Talking Season – when we again look over rosters, and again predict the schedule, and again talk the year out before a single snap is taken.
Power Rankings and Way-too-Early Lists aside, QB Talk always seems to rise above the noise and drive a good deal of narratives. And, I wanted to join to discussion.
Fresh off the annual QB Impact Study, where I chart the nation’s top returning passers against their hardest opponents, I wanted to shine some light on the ones who I expect to be among the most impactful in 2026. Metrics that matter, traits that translate versus worthwhile adversaries, or “good on good”– that kinda thing.
This piece will focus on Auburn-transfer Byrum Brown, a weapon leveling up to the Power4 with traits that translate but not many metrics that matter.
Byrum Brown — Auburn, Impact QB No. 14
RS SR · 6’3 231 · 77.8 ESPN QBR
Trait Tags
Rocket launcher
Dink and chuck
Backyard baller
Mechanical Kinks
Prototypical size
Flimsy floor
Impact Study Grades
Style Overall Ceiling Floor Accuracy Mobilty Arm Processing Pressure Handle
Rhythm Passer B+ B+ C- C- A- A C B-
Skinny:
Big, burly, bounding QB with plus arm talent but stupendously erratic throwing motion and mechanics. Arguably the strongest arm in college football as well as the most wayward. Catchability has improved but a Veer and Shoot operation hides a lot of his inconsistencies.
Byrum Browns’s Impact Study Pass Chart
Opponents (6): Boise St. (9-4), Florida (4-8), Miami (10-2), N. Texas (11-2), Memphis (8-4), and Navy (9-2)
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/17121225/image-11.jpeg
Mechanics & Processing
Brown has a live arm with real potential to be a dynamic passer. But when discussing his mechanics, best bring a broom, because they’re a mess. Frankly, anyone that has seen him throw a few passes can instantly clock his jerky gunslinging style. He rears back, brings the ball down to his hip, and back up again to drive throws in a long, looping motion that often telegraphs where he’s targeting. Hard for me to call it aesthetically pleasing.
He tends to keep his weight on his back foot and predominantly fires from a wide base. This can cause passes to sail at all levels and make it a struggle to control downfield offerings. On the other side of the coin, Brown’s longer targets can feature an exaggerated front step, which causes a number of his attempts to die – a frustrating happenstance for someone with a certified chooch.
In rhythm, his transfer of weight is sturdy. But there are still a decent amount of examples of failing to keep his feet rooted to the turf in the act of throwing. Muddy pockets are a major culprit. They consistently truncate his operation and release more by his collarbone, yielding some of his funkiest reps.
Byrum Brown's overall pass profile from the Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/18161606/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-5.15.30%E2%80%AFPM.png
Hampered by Alex Golesh’s Veer and Shoot scheme, Brown’s processing skills aren’t the sharpest. Some of his long time to throw rests in the offense’s vertical choice patterns that inherently take longer to develop. And if only two dudes are running twin routes, he has nowhere else to look. The scheme rarely asks him to perform complex reads or peep at areas with a high concentration of defenders. Lacking great anticipation, he’s prone to buffers, unless executing the offense’s quick and RPO game.
Byrum Brown's dropback play action profile from his Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/18162244/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-5.20.49%E2%80%AFPM.png
These easy buttons riddled his spray and allowed him to play pitch and catch with his wideouts versus soft coverage frequently. A relatively small percentage of his throws attacked the midrange; even fewer over the middle. His placement stats ballooned as a result. A seemingly awesome turnaround, but it presents to be a mirage of metrics. And, his standing is hardly helped with the copious “check with me” audibles, where all calls and direction comes from the sideline.
Arm & Accuracy
Brown might have the tools, but he’s far from crafty. A chucker, he can lack the delicacy and touch needed to manufacture downfield completions. Truthfully, he’s improved putting more air under his deep ball. But still, a large portion are deliberate liners. This leaves very little room for error and makes life a little harder on his targets tracking throws.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMu1Mb9CfRo
But despite the Veer and Shoot’s affinity for homeruns, he wasn’t out to crank things up to 11 in terms of distance. His downfield offerings failed to excite from a tape standpoint. Too many suffered from sour accuracy. Too few wowed or reminded me of his bazooka right arm. But, the lack of pizzazz and concerted approach in this area of the field saw Brown keep more balls in play compared to his younger self. With a tad more loft, he traded in a potentially perfect throw for more consistently serviceable ones.
Ultimately, his Deep placement figures turned out to be one of the brightest spots on his profile.
Byrum Brown's downfield (+10 DOT) pass profile from the Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
But beyond that, his Muppet-like mechanics took a hatchet to his pass profile. Without consistent, smooth dropbacks, his location was all over the place. Brown’s midrange Accuracy% fell into the group’s bottom5. When excluding screens and RPOs, his 53.2 percent clip sat on the wrong side of the Impact average. Less than half were deemed accurate after the first three games of his sample.
And yet, the place where his big arm struggled to capture victories the most was against tight windows. Both his eyes and elongated throwing motion invited plenty of contests against his hardest opponents. The practice just never made perfect. Brown was just as likely to throw an on-target attempt as an interceptable throw in this context. Captain Obvious wanted me to remind you, that’s well below standard. With telegraphs so blatant, it should surprise no one that some were returned to sender. Until he can learn to maximize his throwing motion and eliminate some kinks, defense will seemingly always have an edge breaking on these throws.
Byrum Brown's contested pass profile from the Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/18161801/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-5.17.12%E2%80%AFPM.png
Glass half-full, Brown’s improvement in overall catchability shouldn’t be dismissed. Sure, scouts can want finer accuracy and consistency all over. But if he can routinely give his pass catchers tries at his targets, while raising his floor with his legs, he and Auburn’s offense will be all the more difficult to defend. Other than his poor intermediate clip, every single breakout saw Brown’s Uncatchable% trump the Impact average.
Mobility & Pressure
Brown moves very well, even with a prototypical build at 6-foot-3, 231-pounds. He can glide and is purported to run a 4.7 40-yard dash. And that giddy-up often helped him win the edge, scoot by a flat-footed defender, or keep a broken play alive.
But, his formidable frame often is his elevator pitch. Constructed to withstand contact, his post-engagement balance is among the best in the QB class. He’s a difficult bull to corral solo; especially if he’s built up steam. Roughly 56% of his tries with initial defense contact behind the line of scrimmage resulted in a positive gain – the 4th-best clip in the Impact Study.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssFLvMpUias
Though the physicality was there in spades, his touches aren’t always consistent. Both Brown’s designed run and scramble Success Rates are average at best.
The use of his legs are all over his tape. No duh, he did rush for over 1,000 yards across 2025. And while his efficiency was blah and he could be considered a compiler, Brown’s athleticism in the open field is a cut above. He logged the Study’s 2nd-most designed runs and 4th-most yards. A sixth of his tries gained at least ten yards versus only 9 percent going for a loss. A handful of highlight plays were negated due to penalties, but he still logged more erased sacks than taken ones against his hardest opponents.
Byrum Brown's pass profile when throwing outside the pocket in his Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/18161912/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-5.18.54%E2%80%AFPM.png
As a passer on the move, Brown is pretty adequate. He certainly prefers to rev his wheels and run when outside the pocket, but his placement stats largely exceeded expectations beating Impact averages. Behind one of the lowest Uncatchable% in this context, over half of these tries beat situational goals.
But as a playmaker trying to conjure up a chunk completion, Brown’s aggressiveness had a downside ala a good amount of interceptable passes. Drops warped the numbers, sure. But he was twice as likely to toss a turnover-worthy throw than log an explosive beyond the bookends.
Byrum Brown's passing profile when pressured in the Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/18161939/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-5.19.03%E2%80%AFPM.png
This imbalance of splash plays and interceptables also materialized in Brown’s general snaps versus pressure. Again, he held his own delivering a serviceable amount of accurate throws and negated heat. Over a third of his dropbacks experienced pressure. Still, too many were placed near defenders. And knowing how many schedule breaks Auburn tends to get, he said facetiously, War Eagle cannot afford those giveaways if they’re to win 8 or more games this fall.
Passing Floor / In Structure
Not to sound like a broken record, but Brown’s mechanics distorted his spray and produced pretty stinky precision. Behind a subpar Accuracy% and Adjusted Completion% on pure dropbacks, he was 1-of-12 of his peers to don a negative Explosive:Interceptable ratio. That much loco location is a stout red flag.
Byrum Brown's dropback pass profile (no screens or RPOs) in the Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/18162057/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-5.20.33%E2%80%AFPM.png
Still, optimists will ride the recent rise in keeping attempts in play. Plus, they’ll preach the importance of reps to keep working out the kinks. But at what point is enough enough? Well statistically, assuming he keeps a similar volume, Brown would only need to be accurate on one additional pass per game. More than an accomplishable goal. And what if he made it two, three, or even six? Pie in the sky math, of course, but the Veer and Shoot is very good at gaming the numbers.
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/18162135/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-5.20.39%E2%80%AFPM.png
Pessimists will continue to point to his untrustworthiness and shortcomings executing conventional concepts. His pass floor is far from firm. No question, butterfingers butchered his bottomline. But, Brown is miles behind his contemporaries in terms of being asked to conduct a full-fledged passing game. Without guises to move defenders, his goading gaze routinely sabotaged his stats and ruined his resume. Here he was at his most inaccurate and conservative. Dropped picks helped his ANY/A stay respectable, but clear cracks have formed in his profile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJq8mtQp2Ws
Continuity is squarely in Brown’s corner. In addition to running it back with Golesh’s spread scheme for the 4th-straight season, dozens of former teammates will be at his side on the Plains. Without having to learn a new language, playbook, or routine, he could be ready to take the college football world by storm right away. His golden gifts give him a fair margin of error. He’s experienced. And, he’s ripe to live up to his potential – or be the latest in a long line of toosly QBs who couldn’t put it all together.
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Auburn football has locked down three of Alabama's top 2027 prospects
By Jac Myrick
Auburn Wire
No team has been on fire this month in recruiting like the Auburn Tigers. As of writing, 24 players are committed to Auburn football's 2027 recruiting class.
Five of those commits are coming from in-state, and three are rated in the top-10, according to Rivals. Auburn's commits from Alabama are LB Isaac McNeil (Mobile), DL Donivan Moore (Bessemer), WR Deshawn Hall (Prattville), WR Cedrick Simmons (Selma), and S Preston Williams (Skipperville).
The highest-rated of the bunch is McNeil, who is a four-star and has a 92.96 Rivals score. He is the second-best player in the state and No. 7 at his position in the nation, according to Rivals. The Tigers landed his commitment back on June 2, after a successful May 29 weekend visit.
For the defensive lineman, Moore was the first commit of the class for Auburn. Coming out of Bessemer City High School as a four-star, Moore verbally committed to Auburn on Feb. 12. Rivals places him at No. 7 in the state and No. 16 at his position.
The most recent commit to date is Hall, where he announced his commitment on June 23. Seen as one of the top wide receivers in the class, he ranks No. 9 in the state. Rivals has his score at 91.20.
Auburn sits at No. 12 in the national class ranking and No. 6 in the conference, according to Rivals. The Tigers have 12 blue-chip commits and an overall class score of 90.62.
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Where Auburn stands with 2027 EDGE Marquis Evans before commitment day
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Decision day is near for 2027 EDGE Marquis Evans, who will announce his commitment on Wednesday, July 1. Will the Auburn Tigers be the suitor?
Evans, a four-star EDGE rusher from Spain Park High School in Hoover, will officially announce his commitment on Wednesday. Several SEC programs are vying for his pledge, but one team appears to be the heavy favorite ahead of the announcement, the Auburn Tigers.
Auburn holds a 93% forecast from Rivals to land Evans, the 6-6, 235-pound EDGE rusher from metro Birmingham. Rivals' recruiting experts Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons logged predictions that favor Auburn in May after Auburn recruiting insider Cole Pinkston submitted one in March. However, the picture is less clear on 247Sports, as no team has a crystal ball prediction. That could change in the days leading up to Wednesday's decision.
Florida and South Carolina appear to be Auburn's loudest challengers for Evans. Evans told 247Sports that he received great hospitality from Florida and that South Carolina has made him a priority.
Evans is a frequent visitor to Auburn, however, which may play a role in Auburn gaining the edge over its SEC rivals.
"It just feels like home," Evans said via Auburn Undercover. "I've been here four or five times now, so it's like home for me."
Auburn is stocking up on EDGE rushers this recruiting cycle after losing two last season to the NFL draft in Keldric Faulk and Keyron Crawford. The Tigers have locked in two EDGE commits this cycle in Rion Jackson and James Pace.
The addition of Evans would boost its pass rush for next season and would lock in another top 10 in-state pledge. Evans is the No. 10 player from Alabama from the 2027 cycle, and Auburn already holds the pledges of No. 2 Isaac McNeil and No. 7 Deshawn Hall.
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Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn baseball roster notes
The MLB Draft is scheduled for July 11-12 in Philadelphia and it's going to be two very interesting days for Butch Thompson and the Auburn baseball program.That starts with players on the current roster that will have a chance to hear their names called with Chris Rembert expected to be the first of those.
The sophomore second baseman is draft eligible this year and will likely be picked in the first 50 selections. That will be easily enough to sign and begin his professional career. If he were to drop some then it could get interesting, but that's not expected to be the case.
Auburn's only other position player that could be gone from last season is third baseman Eric Guevara. The junior had a big year with the Tigers after finally being healthy. With his glove at third base and a bat that continues to improve, Guevara will likely be selected high enough to sign a pro contract.
On the mound there are several names that could be in the mix for Auburn with the biggest two being starter Alex Petrovic and reliever Ryan Hetzler. Much like Guevara, Petrovic was finally healthy and put together a huge redshirt sophomore year with the Tigers. Because of his past arm concerns, Petrovic is expected to take his shot at the next level in this year's draft.
Maybe nobody helped themselves as much as Hetzler did with his last season pitching. Showing velocity into the mid-90's and with his offspeed command, the junior showed the ability to get through a lineup more than once. That makes him a valuable commodity for some team and he'll likely get his shot to play on the next level.
Two more current pitchers could also hear their names called and would likely sign are RHP Jett Johnston and LHP Garrett Brewer.
That brings us to the high school ranks where Auburn is hoping to get fortunate with a few big names in the draft, starting with massive RHP/position player Coleman Borthwick. The Perfect Game National Two-Way Player of the Year, he went 11-0 on the mound with an ERA of 0.21 and struck out 121. He also batted .460 with 9 home runs. At one time he was thought to be potentially a Top 10 pick. Now it looks like he'll be closer to the bottom of the first round. How far down would be enough to get him to Auburn? We'll find out.
A guy that could be rising on draft boards is shortstop Jace Mataczynski from Wisconsin. At 6-3, 190, he's got the size and athleticism that teams are looking for. He's definitely a guy that Auburn will be watching closely as the draft gets closer.
Another player to keep an eye on is RHP A.J. Rice from Jasper, Georgia. He's not the biggest guy at 6-0, 175, but he's got an electric arm and could be on the radar for some teams. The same is true of RHP Ty Tillery from Madison, Georgia. All are guys to pay attention to when the draft takes place in two weeks.
Not doubting Thomas
If there's a player I could pick right now as a fan favorite for Auburn basketball this coming season, I would go with Troy transfer Thomas Dowd. First of all, he's just a basketball player in every sense of the word. You can see that by his stats while with the Trojans. Last year he averaged 14.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game and he had 17 double-doubles for the season.
That would be enough to put him high on the list, but after watching him in practice recently I saw a guy that was engaging with his teammates and I also noticed something else. He's more than just a glue guy. He can really shoot the basketball. Last season he made 33 percent of his shots from behind the arc, but he shot 80 percent from the free throw line. He has worked on his shot a great deal since coming out of Dothan High and it has continued to help him expand his game. If that continues this season for the Tigers, look out.
Most Valuable Tigers: No. 18:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-bryson-washington-running-back-jeremiah-cobb-288045498/
Path to the Plains: Offensive lineman Deryc Plazz:
https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/news/path-to-the-plains-offensive-lineman-deryc-plazz/
One Aspect That Could Change Everything for Auburn Football Under Alex Golesh:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/one-score-games-change-everything-for-auburn-football-alex-golesh
2026 QB Impact Study: Auburn's Byrum Brown:
https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/news/2026-qb-impact-study-auburns-byrum-brown/
Auburn football has locked down three of Alabama's top 2027 prospects:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/recruiting/2026/06/29/auburn-football-recruiting-alabama-success-sec/90741209007/
Where Auburn stands with 2027 EDGE Marquis Evans before commitment day:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/recruiting/2026/06/29/auburn-football-recruiting-marquis-evans-commitment-day-preview/90739563007/
Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/talking-auburn-baseball-and-auburn-basketball-288040410/
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By Nathan King
We're still in the heart of the college football offseason: two months removed from spring practice, more than a month from media days, and inside 100 days until the 2026 season, Auburn's first under head coach Alex Golesh.
So what better time to crank up the rankings? As we do annually this time of year, Auburn Undercover is counting down the top 25 most valuable players for the Tigers' 2026 season.
A few notes to set the table: These rankings are based on a player's previous contributions in college, as well as his assumed impact in 2026 — how important he is expected to be to Auburn's success in both production and the win-loss column. It is not simply Auburn's best players in descending order.
Next up is No. 18: running back Bryson Washington, who was a big-time transfer pickup for Auburn, considering the Tigers also brought back leading rusher Jeremiah Cobb, and now have one of the most productive backfields in the SEC entering 2026.
AS A RECRUIT
Hometown: Franklin, Texas
Class: 2023
247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 59
2026 transfer ranking: No. 8 RB
AS A PLAYER
A flip from SMU, Washington needed just one redshirt season to then become a productive player in the Big 12. He ran for 1,028 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2024 and 788 more in 2025.
Washington added 21 pounds in his three seasons at Baylor and developed into a bruiser of a tailback, having played a lot of linebacker in high school. He forced 30 missed tackles last season, per Pro Football Focus. Washington was also an effective safety valve for former Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson, catching 41 passes in his time with the Bears.
When Texas A&M got the first visit for Washington in the transfer portal, it felt like Auburn would be a longshot, especially if the Tigers were to bring back Cobb. But in the span of 24 hours, Cobb announced his return, then Auburn landed Washington after hosting him on a visit.
Auburn didn't see too much of Washington in spring practice, though, as he dealt with a minor injury. Golesh also called him "chubby butt" after he said Washington was not in proper shape when he arrived.
2026 OUTLOOK
Washington is one of three transfers added by Auburn in the backfield, joining USF's Nykahi Davenport and Troy's Tae Meadows. With Cobb back, Auburn's six scholarship running backs totaled more than 3,300 rushing yards at their respective schools last season. Not even including promising sophomore Omar Mabson II, that's a lot of potential contributors to distribute carries to.
However, Washington's status as a proven Power Four transfer should make him Auburn's No. 2 running back behind Cobb. Once healthier in the preseason, he should be a great complement to Cobb's shifty running style as a downhill, physical ball-carrier.
That doesn't mean Washington would have others at his heels for carries, though. Mabson had a good spring and is still just 18 years old, and Davenport obviously has experience in this offensive scheme, coming over from USF. Auburn's stable of available running backs is why Washington isn't too high on our list, but it's worth noting he is the highest-ranked "non-starter" we'll have.
Naturally, a lot depends on the cohesiveness of a brand-new offensive line. But if Cobb, Byrum Brown and Washington are all rolling in a game, that will be a scary sight for SEC defenses.
WHAT THEY SAID
"For all the guys in the room, leading rushers last year, I feel like it makes it easier on us individually. I'm not going to say we don't give it our all — because that's what we're taught to do every play: give it our all — but we know we can fall back on each other." — Washington on Auburn having so much experience in the backfield
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Path to the Plains: Offensive lineman Deryc Plazz
By Caleb Jones
Auburn’s roster will look almost brand new this fall.
It’s just how college football operates nowadays. The transfer portal makes it more rare than ever for fans to know the entire roster like they used to. And since there’s so much overturn on Auburn’s roster, there’s no better time than the summer to get to know the guys suiting up for the Tigers this fall.
Over the next several weeks, we’ll take a look at the projected two-deep and their journey to the Plains.
Next up on the list is projected starting left guard Deryc Plazz.
Plazz played high school football for Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he was a 3-star prospect. Several ACC programs made the push for his commitment, but following an official visit to Penn State, Plazz committed to the Nittany Lions.
However, less than two weeks later, Plazz backed off his pledge to Penn State.
Two ACC programs — NC State and Miami — jumped right back in his recruitment. In early July 2023, Plazz announced that Miami is where he’d play college football and shut down his recruitment.
As a true freshman, Plazz appeared in just one game and spent the season on the Hurricanes’ practice squad. Last season, Plazz played 20 snaps as a backup at tackle across four games.
He then transferred to Auburn, looking for more opportunity. And so far, he’s found it by sliding inside. Plazz went through the spring as the Tigers’ primary left guard and projects as the starter this fall.
QUOTES OF NOTE
Plazz on his role with Auburn:
“I think it’s a great opportunity. It’s something I’m extremely grateful for, especially sitting two years and waiting and learning. Finally having an opportunity is amazing. I’m coming in every day trying to make the most of it.”
Plazz on his experience with Miami:
“I think it was a big deal. My experience at my last school was a lot of sitting and watching behind a great offensive line. Just being able to get to the national championship, you’ve got to take advantage of that opportunity and make the most of it. Now I’m here, I can take things from those older guys and apply it to our o-line room as well as seeing those things from [Alex Golesh] that are in place that I feel like are important for a successful team.”
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One Aspect That Could Change Everything for Auburn Football Under Alex Golesh
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
Fans of the Auburn Tigers have been through the wringer over the past few seasons, as the Tigers are consistently one of the most hyped teams in the country in the preseason, but neither Bryan Harsin nor Hugh Freeze was ever truly able to live up to those projections.
On paper, it can be confusing to understand how the Tigers fared so poorly, especially under Hugh Freeze. Freeze consistently put together some of the best recruiting classes in the country, meaning much of the nation’s top talent was on the Plains, and yet, when it mattered, that talent (especially on offense) was unable to step up to the task in big moments.
In fact, the Tigers have lost 12 of their last 13 one-score games, which is utterly unacceptable for any program. This includes 2025 losses against Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Missouri, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, among others across prior seasons.
Simply, if Alex Golesh, the Tigers’ newest head coach, wants to be remembered in any better light than the prior two coaches, he absolutely needs to be able to capitalize in these close games. After all, the Tigers’ defense consistently gave them close matchups in 2025, and yet, the offense could never seem to get over the hump, regardless of how ‘close’ their head coach described them to be.
Golesh will have ample opportunity to prove himself in these matchups this season, as the Tigers are projected to play in seven one-score games in 2026. This may cause Auburn fans to cringe, due to the horrific lack of success in prior similar settings, but Golesh has already proven his ability to win close games against SEC programs.
In fact, in 2025, Golesh’s USF Bulls took down the Florida Gators in an 18-16 finish, winning on a walk-off field goal to close the game. The Tigers, conversely, despite a significantly better defense, had several opportunities to end games like Golesh’s Bulls did, yet were unable to finish.
So, since Golesh’s new Auburn offense is largely made up of transfers from his prior program, with key pieces like Jeremiah Cobb, a running back who is the lone Auburn returner to start on offense, and Bryson Washington, a Baylor transfer running back, bolstering his offense beyond what Brown and his receivers would be able to provide on their own.
If the Tigers can even win three of their projected seven one-score games, Golesh will likely be perceived as moving the program in the right direction, as opposed to Freeze, who, by the end, had many convinced that he was the factor holding the Tigers back.
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2026 QB Impact Study: Auburn's Byrum Brown
By Clark Brooks
College Football Analyst, on3
Welcome to the middle of summer – also known as Talking Season – when we again look over rosters, and again predict the schedule, and again talk the year out before a single snap is taken.
Power Rankings and Way-too-Early Lists aside, QB Talk always seems to rise above the noise and drive a good deal of narratives. And, I wanted to join to discussion.
Fresh off the annual QB Impact Study, where I chart the nation’s top returning passers against their hardest opponents, I wanted to shine some light on the ones who I expect to be among the most impactful in 2026. Metrics that matter, traits that translate versus worthwhile adversaries, or “good on good”– that kinda thing.
This piece will focus on Auburn-transfer Byrum Brown, a weapon leveling up to the Power4 with traits that translate but not many metrics that matter.
Byrum Brown — Auburn, Impact QB No. 14
RS SR · 6’3 231 · 77.8 ESPN QBR
Trait Tags
Rocket launcher
Dink and chuck
Backyard baller
Mechanical Kinks
Prototypical size
Flimsy floor
Impact Study Grades
Style Overall Ceiling Floor Accuracy Mobilty Arm Processing Pressure Handle
Rhythm Passer B+ B+ C- C- A- A C B-
Skinny:
Big, burly, bounding QB with plus arm talent but stupendously erratic throwing motion and mechanics. Arguably the strongest arm in college football as well as the most wayward. Catchability has improved but a Veer and Shoot operation hides a lot of his inconsistencies.
Byrum Browns’s Impact Study Pass Chart
Opponents (6): Boise St. (9-4), Florida (4-8), Miami (10-2), N. Texas (11-2), Memphis (8-4), and Navy (9-2)
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/17121225/image-11.jpeg
Mechanics & Processing
Brown has a live arm with real potential to be a dynamic passer. But when discussing his mechanics, best bring a broom, because they’re a mess. Frankly, anyone that has seen him throw a few passes can instantly clock his jerky gunslinging style. He rears back, brings the ball down to his hip, and back up again to drive throws in a long, looping motion that often telegraphs where he’s targeting. Hard for me to call it aesthetically pleasing.
He tends to keep his weight on his back foot and predominantly fires from a wide base. This can cause passes to sail at all levels and make it a struggle to control downfield offerings. On the other side of the coin, Brown’s longer targets can feature an exaggerated front step, which causes a number of his attempts to die – a frustrating happenstance for someone with a certified chooch.
In rhythm, his transfer of weight is sturdy. But there are still a decent amount of examples of failing to keep his feet rooted to the turf in the act of throwing. Muddy pockets are a major culprit. They consistently truncate his operation and release more by his collarbone, yielding some of his funkiest reps.
Byrum Brown's overall pass profile from the Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/18161606/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-5.15.30%E2%80%AFPM.png
Hampered by Alex Golesh’s Veer and Shoot scheme, Brown’s processing skills aren’t the sharpest. Some of his long time to throw rests in the offense’s vertical choice patterns that inherently take longer to develop. And if only two dudes are running twin routes, he has nowhere else to look. The scheme rarely asks him to perform complex reads or peep at areas with a high concentration of defenders. Lacking great anticipation, he’s prone to buffers, unless executing the offense’s quick and RPO game.
Byrum Brown's dropback play action profile from his Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
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These easy buttons riddled his spray and allowed him to play pitch and catch with his wideouts versus soft coverage frequently. A relatively small percentage of his throws attacked the midrange; even fewer over the middle. His placement stats ballooned as a result. A seemingly awesome turnaround, but it presents to be a mirage of metrics. And, his standing is hardly helped with the copious “check with me” audibles, where all calls and direction comes from the sideline.
Arm & Accuracy
Brown might have the tools, but he’s far from crafty. A chucker, he can lack the delicacy and touch needed to manufacture downfield completions. Truthfully, he’s improved putting more air under his deep ball. But still, a large portion are deliberate liners. This leaves very little room for error and makes life a little harder on his targets tracking throws.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMu1Mb9CfRo
But despite the Veer and Shoot’s affinity for homeruns, he wasn’t out to crank things up to 11 in terms of distance. His downfield offerings failed to excite from a tape standpoint. Too many suffered from sour accuracy. Too few wowed or reminded me of his bazooka right arm. But, the lack of pizzazz and concerted approach in this area of the field saw Brown keep more balls in play compared to his younger self. With a tad more loft, he traded in a potentially perfect throw for more consistently serviceable ones.
Ultimately, his Deep placement figures turned out to be one of the brightest spots on his profile.
Byrum Brown's downfield (+10 DOT) pass profile from the Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
But beyond that, his Muppet-like mechanics took a hatchet to his pass profile. Without consistent, smooth dropbacks, his location was all over the place. Brown’s midrange Accuracy% fell into the group’s bottom5. When excluding screens and RPOs, his 53.2 percent clip sat on the wrong side of the Impact average. Less than half were deemed accurate after the first three games of his sample.
And yet, the place where his big arm struggled to capture victories the most was against tight windows. Both his eyes and elongated throwing motion invited plenty of contests against his hardest opponents. The practice just never made perfect. Brown was just as likely to throw an on-target attempt as an interceptable throw in this context. Captain Obvious wanted me to remind you, that’s well below standard. With telegraphs so blatant, it should surprise no one that some were returned to sender. Until he can learn to maximize his throwing motion and eliminate some kinks, defense will seemingly always have an edge breaking on these throws.
Byrum Brown's contested pass profile from the Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/18161801/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-5.17.12%E2%80%AFPM.png
Glass half-full, Brown’s improvement in overall catchability shouldn’t be dismissed. Sure, scouts can want finer accuracy and consistency all over. But if he can routinely give his pass catchers tries at his targets, while raising his floor with his legs, he and Auburn’s offense will be all the more difficult to defend. Other than his poor intermediate clip, every single breakout saw Brown’s Uncatchable% trump the Impact average.
Mobility & Pressure
Brown moves very well, even with a prototypical build at 6-foot-3, 231-pounds. He can glide and is purported to run a 4.7 40-yard dash. And that giddy-up often helped him win the edge, scoot by a flat-footed defender, or keep a broken play alive.
But, his formidable frame often is his elevator pitch. Constructed to withstand contact, his post-engagement balance is among the best in the QB class. He’s a difficult bull to corral solo; especially if he’s built up steam. Roughly 56% of his tries with initial defense contact behind the line of scrimmage resulted in a positive gain – the 4th-best clip in the Impact Study.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssFLvMpUias
Though the physicality was there in spades, his touches aren’t always consistent. Both Brown’s designed run and scramble Success Rates are average at best.
The use of his legs are all over his tape. No duh, he did rush for over 1,000 yards across 2025. And while his efficiency was blah and he could be considered a compiler, Brown’s athleticism in the open field is a cut above. He logged the Study’s 2nd-most designed runs and 4th-most yards. A sixth of his tries gained at least ten yards versus only 9 percent going for a loss. A handful of highlight plays were negated due to penalties, but he still logged more erased sacks than taken ones against his hardest opponents.
Byrum Brown's pass profile when throwing outside the pocket in his Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/18161912/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-5.18.54%E2%80%AFPM.png
As a passer on the move, Brown is pretty adequate. He certainly prefers to rev his wheels and run when outside the pocket, but his placement stats largely exceeded expectations beating Impact averages. Behind one of the lowest Uncatchable% in this context, over half of these tries beat situational goals.
But as a playmaker trying to conjure up a chunk completion, Brown’s aggressiveness had a downside ala a good amount of interceptable passes. Drops warped the numbers, sure. But he was twice as likely to toss a turnover-worthy throw than log an explosive beyond the bookends.
Byrum Brown's passing profile when pressured in the Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
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This imbalance of splash plays and interceptables also materialized in Brown’s general snaps versus pressure. Again, he held his own delivering a serviceable amount of accurate throws and negated heat. Over a third of his dropbacks experienced pressure. Still, too many were placed near defenders. And knowing how many schedule breaks Auburn tends to get, he said facetiously, War Eagle cannot afford those giveaways if they’re to win 8 or more games this fall.
Passing Floor / In Structure
Not to sound like a broken record, but Brown’s mechanics distorted his spray and produced pretty stinky precision. Behind a subpar Accuracy% and Adjusted Completion% on pure dropbacks, he was 1-of-12 of his peers to don a negative Explosive:Interceptable ratio. That much loco location is a stout red flag.
Byrum Brown's dropback pass profile (no screens or RPOs) in the Impact Study. Stats are color coded against the results of the 44-QB pool.
https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2026/06/18162057/Screenshot-2026-06-18-at-5.20.33%E2%80%AFPM.png
Still, optimists will ride the recent rise in keeping attempts in play. Plus, they’ll preach the importance of reps to keep working out the kinks. But at what point is enough enough? Well statistically, assuming he keeps a similar volume, Brown would only need to be accurate on one additional pass per game. More than an accomplishable goal. And what if he made it two, three, or even six? Pie in the sky math, of course, but the Veer and Shoot is very good at gaming the numbers.
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Pessimists will continue to point to his untrustworthiness and shortcomings executing conventional concepts. His pass floor is far from firm. No question, butterfingers butchered his bottomline. But, Brown is miles behind his contemporaries in terms of being asked to conduct a full-fledged passing game. Without guises to move defenders, his goading gaze routinely sabotaged his stats and ruined his resume. Here he was at his most inaccurate and conservative. Dropped picks helped his ANY/A stay respectable, but clear cracks have formed in his profile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJq8mtQp2Ws
Continuity is squarely in Brown’s corner. In addition to running it back with Golesh’s spread scheme for the 4th-straight season, dozens of former teammates will be at his side on the Plains. Without having to learn a new language, playbook, or routine, he could be ready to take the college football world by storm right away. His golden gifts give him a fair margin of error. He’s experienced. And, he’s ripe to live up to his potential – or be the latest in a long line of toosly QBs who couldn’t put it all together.
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Auburn football has locked down three of Alabama's top 2027 prospects
By Jac Myrick
Auburn Wire
No team has been on fire this month in recruiting like the Auburn Tigers. As of writing, 24 players are committed to Auburn football's 2027 recruiting class.
Five of those commits are coming from in-state, and three are rated in the top-10, according to Rivals. Auburn's commits from Alabama are LB Isaac McNeil (Mobile), DL Donivan Moore (Bessemer), WR Deshawn Hall (Prattville), WR Cedrick Simmons (Selma), and S Preston Williams (Skipperville).
The highest-rated of the bunch is McNeil, who is a four-star and has a 92.96 Rivals score. He is the second-best player in the state and No. 7 at his position in the nation, according to Rivals. The Tigers landed his commitment back on June 2, after a successful May 29 weekend visit.
For the defensive lineman, Moore was the first commit of the class for Auburn. Coming out of Bessemer City High School as a four-star, Moore verbally committed to Auburn on Feb. 12. Rivals places him at No. 7 in the state and No. 16 at his position.
The most recent commit to date is Hall, where he announced his commitment on June 23. Seen as one of the top wide receivers in the class, he ranks No. 9 in the state. Rivals has his score at 91.20.
Auburn sits at No. 12 in the national class ranking and No. 6 in the conference, according to Rivals. The Tigers have 12 blue-chip commits and an overall class score of 90.62.
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Where Auburn stands with 2027 EDGE Marquis Evans before commitment day
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Decision day is near for 2027 EDGE Marquis Evans, who will announce his commitment on Wednesday, July 1. Will the Auburn Tigers be the suitor?
Evans, a four-star EDGE rusher from Spain Park High School in Hoover, will officially announce his commitment on Wednesday. Several SEC programs are vying for his pledge, but one team appears to be the heavy favorite ahead of the announcement, the Auburn Tigers.
Auburn holds a 93% forecast from Rivals to land Evans, the 6-6, 235-pound EDGE rusher from metro Birmingham. Rivals' recruiting experts Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons logged predictions that favor Auburn in May after Auburn recruiting insider Cole Pinkston submitted one in March. However, the picture is less clear on 247Sports, as no team has a crystal ball prediction. That could change in the days leading up to Wednesday's decision.
Florida and South Carolina appear to be Auburn's loudest challengers for Evans. Evans told 247Sports that he received great hospitality from Florida and that South Carolina has made him a priority.
Evans is a frequent visitor to Auburn, however, which may play a role in Auburn gaining the edge over its SEC rivals.
"It just feels like home," Evans said via Auburn Undercover. "I've been here four or five times now, so it's like home for me."
Auburn is stocking up on EDGE rushers this recruiting cycle after losing two last season to the NFL draft in Keldric Faulk and Keyron Crawford. The Tigers have locked in two EDGE commits this cycle in Rion Jackson and James Pace.
The addition of Evans would boost its pass rush for next season and would lock in another top 10 in-state pledge. Evans is the No. 10 player from Alabama from the 2027 cycle, and Auburn already holds the pledges of No. 2 Isaac McNeil and No. 7 Deshawn Hall.
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Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn baseball roster notes
The MLB Draft is scheduled for July 11-12 in Philadelphia and it's going to be two very interesting days for Butch Thompson and the Auburn baseball program.That starts with players on the current roster that will have a chance to hear their names called with Chris Rembert expected to be the first of those.
The sophomore second baseman is draft eligible this year and will likely be picked in the first 50 selections. That will be easily enough to sign and begin his professional career. If he were to drop some then it could get interesting, but that's not expected to be the case.
Auburn's only other position player that could be gone from last season is third baseman Eric Guevara. The junior had a big year with the Tigers after finally being healthy. With his glove at third base and a bat that continues to improve, Guevara will likely be selected high enough to sign a pro contract.
On the mound there are several names that could be in the mix for Auburn with the biggest two being starter Alex Petrovic and reliever Ryan Hetzler. Much like Guevara, Petrovic was finally healthy and put together a huge redshirt sophomore year with the Tigers. Because of his past arm concerns, Petrovic is expected to take his shot at the next level in this year's draft.
Maybe nobody helped themselves as much as Hetzler did with his last season pitching. Showing velocity into the mid-90's and with his offspeed command, the junior showed the ability to get through a lineup more than once. That makes him a valuable commodity for some team and he'll likely get his shot to play on the next level.
Two more current pitchers could also hear their names called and would likely sign are RHP Jett Johnston and LHP Garrett Brewer.
That brings us to the high school ranks where Auburn is hoping to get fortunate with a few big names in the draft, starting with massive RHP/position player Coleman Borthwick. The Perfect Game National Two-Way Player of the Year, he went 11-0 on the mound with an ERA of 0.21 and struck out 121. He also batted .460 with 9 home runs. At one time he was thought to be potentially a Top 10 pick. Now it looks like he'll be closer to the bottom of the first round. How far down would be enough to get him to Auburn? We'll find out.
A guy that could be rising on draft boards is shortstop Jace Mataczynski from Wisconsin. At 6-3, 190, he's got the size and athleticism that teams are looking for. He's definitely a guy that Auburn will be watching closely as the draft gets closer.
Another player to keep an eye on is RHP A.J. Rice from Jasper, Georgia. He's not the biggest guy at 6-0, 175, but he's got an electric arm and could be on the radar for some teams. The same is true of RHP Ty Tillery from Madison, Georgia. All are guys to pay attention to when the draft takes place in two weeks.
Not doubting Thomas
If there's a player I could pick right now as a fan favorite for Auburn basketball this coming season, I would go with Troy transfer Thomas Dowd. First of all, he's just a basketball player in every sense of the word. You can see that by his stats while with the Trojans. Last year he averaged 14.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game and he had 17 double-doubles for the season.
That would be enough to put him high on the list, but after watching him in practice recently I saw a guy that was engaging with his teammates and I also noticed something else. He's more than just a glue guy. He can really shoot the basketball. Last season he made 33 percent of his shots from behind the arc, but he shot 80 percent from the free throw line. He has worked on his shot a great deal since coming out of Dothan High and it has continued to help him expand his game. If that continues this season for the Tigers, look out.
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