Auburn Football News: 4-6-2026Can Auburn produce a 1,000-yard receiver in 2026?:https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/can-auburn-produce-a-1000-yard-receiver-in-2026.htmlAlex Golesh Seeing New Attitude Paying Off for Critical Auburn Defensive Group:https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/alex-golesh-seeing-new-attitude-paying-off-critical-auburn-defensive-groupSpring preview: Byrum Brown headlines Auburn's restocked QB unit:https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/04/06/auburn-football-spring-preview-quarterbacks-byrum-brown-sec/89477082007/Who's Ahead for New-Look Auburn Tigers, Offense or Defense?:https://www.si.com/college/auburn/news/whos-ahead-for-new-look-auburn-tigers-offense-defenseStandouts from Auburn Tigers' 1st Spring Scrimmage Under Alex Golesh:https://www.si.com/college/auburn/news/standouts-from-auburn-tigers-1st-spring-scrimmage-under-alex-goleshAlex Golesh describes importance of welcoming back former players:https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/alex-golesh-describes-the-importance-of-welcoming-back-former-players.htmlTop DL Recruit Reflects on Auburn Visit:https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/top-dl-recruit-reflects-on-auburn-visitJason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column:https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-basketball-wins-the-nit-auburn-football-spring-thoughts-and-a-big-baseball-series-win-280468675/
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Can Auburn produce a 1,000-yard receiver in 2026?By Peter Rauterkus
al.comAlex Golesh couldn’t believe the stat when he first heard about it. Auburn, the program he took over in late November, hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 1999.
Ronney Daniels was that receiver in a season where Ben Leard and Jeff Klein split snaps at quarterback and 2026 Alabama gubernatorial candidate Tommy Tuberville was the head coach. In the 26 seasons this century, no other Auburn receiver has reached the 1,000-yard mark.
In the years since, Darvin Adams has come closest with 997 yards in 2009. Keandre Lambert-Smith got to 981 in 2024.
Auburn has had a handful of electric offenses during that time, but they were highlighted by players such as Cam Newton, Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown, Tre Mason, Nick Marshall and others who bullied teams on the ground.
Golesh has made it clear that running the ball will remain a priority in his offense, but with how Golesh and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon’s system works, there may not be a better time than now for Auburn to finally break its drought of 1,000-yard receivers.
“I saw that stat. I was baffled,” Golesh said. “I don’t know that we’re gonna chase it, but gosh darn it, hopefully we get there.”
For the man leading Auburn’s receiver room, breaking the drought is personal. Kodi Burns was once part of the Tigers’ receiver room, winning a national championship at Auburn in 2010 after switching positions from quarterback.
Golesh joked that Burns used to tell people that he once went for 1,000 yards. While that’s not true, he’s in a position now to take Auburn’s receivers to another level as their coach. If there’s anything that stands out about Burns’ receivers, it’s the physicality they play with.
“If you’re gonna play for that dude, you’re gonna be violent on the perimeter,” Golesh said. “And again, what we do offensively, you’ve got to be violent on the perimeter, because that ball’s out there a bunch.”
To make the transition easier, many of Auburn’s current wide receivers played for Burns and Golesh at USF. Four of USF’s top five receivers from 2025 transferred to Auburn this offseason.
While Christian Neptune is currently not practicing due to an injury, the other three all have the size to play with the physicality Golesh talked about and have made plays this spring.
Keshaun Singleton, Jeremiah Koger and Chas Nimrod were three of USF’s four most productive receivers last season and Nimrod may have led that charge if an injury didn’t cut his 2025 campaign short.
Nimrod caught 23 passes for 466 yards and three touchdowns in 2025 and led the team in yards per reception at 20.3. He’s also the only receiver in the room with significant production in the SEC, catching 29 passes for 315 yards during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Golesh coached Nimrod both during his true freshman season at Tennessee and last year at USF, but not that he’s recovered from a lower body injury, Golesh said this spring is the best he’s seen Nimrod look.
“I’ve had Chas as a freshman and then had I Chas as a fourth-year junior last year, and I’ve seen his growth,” Golesh said. “But right now, physically, mentally, his process, what he looks like is the best version I’ve seen of him and he’s playing really confidently. He’s leading. It’s been really impressive to watch.”
When Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown was asked about Nimrod earlier this spring, the first thing he said was, “I hate to say it, but: 1,000-yard receiver. I’m going to put that expectation on him.”
There’s confidence in Nimrod from many within the program, but he’s not the only receiver this staff believes is capable of going for 1,000 yards.
Singleton was USF’s leading receiver in 2025 and is someone Golesh said has been “really steady” this spring. Koger caught 38 passes for 597 yards as a freshman last season and may be the biggest, most physical player in the room.
True freshman DeShawn Spencer didn’t arrive at Auburn with as much hype as the transfers, but he’s already caught Golesh’s eye this spring. The speedy receiver out of in-state powerhouse Saraland High School was a prep standout and that already seems to be translating to the college game this spring.
“Comes from a great program, been coached extremely well, so it’s not surprising,” Golesh said. “But I guess I just didn’t really know how it would translate this quickly.”
Neptune’s injury has allowed Spencer to get more opportunities in practice and Golesh said he’ll receive more reps with the first team as spring ball continues. Spencer may not be one of the receivers expected to get close to 1,000 yards this season, but he’s another solid player in a deep room.
Spreading the ball around could make it less likely for one player to put up a monster stat line, but it shows that Auburn has enough talented receivers for one to break 1,000 yards.
With a quarterback like Brown throwing to them and an offense that puts an emphasis on explosive plays, this year may be Auburn’s best chance to break the drought in a long time.
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Alex Golesh Seeing New Attitude Paying Off for Critical Auburn Defensive GroupBy Scott Kennedy
Former Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze had his faults, but no one can complain about the recruiting he did, particularly on the defensive line. Even with some high-profile defections from the edge unit, there is still a bevy of talent for new head coach Alex Golesh and his coaching staff to work with.
Golesh brought in former Mississippi State defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler to mold the talented group. Hutzler has spent more than a decade working with SEC defenses, and Golesh likes what he sees from the edge rushers.
“The edge guys, man, that group has gotten better every single day,” Golesh said. “I think, again, what we do with those guys, they're asked to do a bunch of different things, from different presentations up front, to pass rush packages, to playing and drop coverage stuff. There's a lot mentally on those guys.
“It's been fun to watch.”
While there is still young talent to mold, it’s an experienced transfer taking the lead in the spring. Da’Shawn Womack was a key reserve for the Ole Miss Rebels last season, and he’s pushing for a starting role this spring.
“Womack has gotten better day in, day out,” said Golesh. “Womack is the one guy that's played a ton of football that has taken some leadership in that group. Offensively, you present some challenges because of the tempo, because of the variation of looks there too. Those guys got a lot mentally on them, and then they'll get tired, and it's been fun to watch like a Womack, get better.”
It’s not just the veteran getting praise from Golesh. The sheer raw talent of 6’6 and 260 pounds of sophomore Jared Smith would be an exciting piece to any defense.
“Jared Smith has gotten better and more confident every single day,” Golesh said. “They've gotten better as a group, but really, the young guys have gotten old really quickly.
“They've come along really, really well.”
Golesh credits the players for taking to the hard coaching they’re getting and responding in the right way.
“I think as a group, they continue to get better,” Golesh said. “What Coach Hutzler has done with those guys, like he is up their a** so far that like, man, it's been fun to watch.”
It sounds like much harder work and much harder coaching is being implemented on an individual basis by Golesh and the new position coaches.
The Auburn Family is hoping that it pays off. Winning is hard, and Auburn hasn’t done enough of that in recent years.
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Spring preview: Byrum Brown headlines Auburn's restocked QB unitBy Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Auburn football's annual A-Day is less than two weeks away, and Auburn Wire will break down a new position group a day leading up to the intrasquad scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, April 18.
The first group in this year's "Spring Breakdown" is quarterbacks. The 2026 season marks the second-straight season that Auburn has needed to rebuild its quarterback room completely, as Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels, and Deuce Knight all transferred out during the postseason transfer portal window. Those departures led several quarterbacks, including former Oregon State Beaver Tristan Ti'a and USF Bull Locklan Hewlett, to the Plains.
Unlike last season, Auburn will not have a starting quarterback battle this spring as USF transfer Byrum Brown is expected to take the reins after spending his last three seasons with new Auburn head coach Alex Golesh in Tampa.
Not only is Brown familiar with Golesh's offensive scheme, but he is also very comfortable with his wide receiver corps, as four of his top five receivers at USF join him in Auburn. The quartet of Keshun Singleton, Jeremiah Koger, Chas Nimrod, and Christian Neptune combined to gain 2,275 yards on 149 catches with 20 touchdowns.
Brown says he is excited to continue building camaraderie with those receivers in Auburn, as well as working with key returners, including Bryce Cain and Sam Turner.
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“Man, it's great," Brown said of working with familiar wide receivers. "You just got that natural chemistry that you have built for a whole year. Just bring it to a new place, then building chemistry with the new guys. It has been extremely fun in the winter and now in the spring. I’m excited to keep it rolling.”
In all, Auburn added three quarterbacks from the transfer portal and signed a true freshman in December to round out its room for the 2026 season. Get to know each one below in today's edition of "Spring Breakdown."
Byrum Brown
Number: 17
Measurements: 6-3, 232 pounds
Class: Senior
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Previous school: USF
Career stats:
Passing: 616-of-949, 7,690 yards, 61 TD, 19 INT
Rushing: 477 carries, 2,265 yards, 31 TD
Tristan Ti'a
Number: 10
Measurements: 6-2, 205 pounds
Class: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: Livermore, California
Previous school: Oregon State
Career stats:
Passing: 37-of-53, 385 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: 13 carries, -38 yards, 0 TD
Locklan Hewlett
Number: 3
Measurements: 6-1, 195 pounds
Class: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: St. Augustine, Florida
Previous school: USF
Career stats:
Passing: 7-of-12 passing, 90 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: 2 carries, -5 yards, 0 TD
Rhys Brush
Number: 19
Measurements: 6-2, 187 pounds
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
High school: Armwood
Career stats:
Passing: N/A
Rushing: N/A
John Colvin
Number: 16
Measurements: 6-3, 194 pounds
Class: Junior
Hometown: Mountain Brook, Alabama
High school: Mountain Brook
Career stats:
Passing: N/A
Rushing: N/A
Will Myers
Number: 11
Measurements: 5-8, 183 pounds
Class: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: Homewood, Alabama
High school: Homewood
Career stats:
Passing: N/A
Rushing: N/A
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Who's Ahead for New-Look Auburn Tigers, Offense or Defense?By Scott Kennedy
Auburn Daily
The Auburn Tigers have a slew of new faces on The Plains, including new head coach Alex Golesh. Golesh brought some friends from USF with him to Auburn, so even though the faces are new, there’s still familiarity between coach and players.
Auburn also retained defensive coordinator DJ Durkin and returned several key players from last year’s team, including linebacker Xavier Atkins.
The defense is usually ahead of the offense in the spring, but with Golesh bringing quarterback Byrum Brown with him from USF, does that give the offense an advantage over what would normally be a getting to know you period in April?
“There's certainly a lot of familiarity defensively with the guys, but there's also a handful of guys that hadn't been in the system that are learning,” Golesh admitted at his press conference on Friday.
“Offensively, there's a bunch of guys that are familiar with the system, but certainly not everybody, and certainly not upfront.”
A New Look Offensive Line
Auburn’s offense is going to be made up of almost entirely new faces. Golesh referenced the offensive line where three potential starters weren’t at either Auburn or USF last year: Offensive tackles Stanton Ramil (Michigan State) and Jo Simmons (James Madison) as well as guard Jack Leyrer (Stanford).
While the defense has a natural edge over the offense early in the season, Golesh’s equalizer is quarterback Byrum Brown. It’s hard to get a true feel for how he’s doing in practices because no one is allowed to touch the quarterback.
“When the quarterback's not live, and naturally you're going to protect that guy, it's a little bit deceiving because, especially, a guy like Byrum, where part of his game and a big part of his game is, the fact that he can move in the pocket; he can create with his feet; he can extend plays. Naturally, a lot of that gets blown dead pretty quickly, and rightfully so.”
Quarterbacks are like kickers; until the lights come on and the stakes are high, it’s tough to get a feel for how good they are. While Brown is new to Auburn, he’s not new to Golesh or college football.
“You really don't know what a young guy is made of until it's live in the moment and whether things are going well or, or things are not, you see a guy take over a game, and great ones do.
“I think Byrum is in that mold.”
Defense Causing Problems
Golesh admitted the talent on the Auburn defense has made it hard on his offense.
“The other piece of it is what we do defensively and how we do it and, the talent we have over there, it creates a lot of challenges,” Golesh said. “I would tell you for this offensive staff, they've had some long nights trying to, without overly game planning, because you're still in an install phase.
“Then you're playing a defense that's one, complex, but two, maybe schematically a little bit ahead, just because there's inevitably less to install, it's not always gonna match up.”
Golesh appreciates the challenges his defense presents to his offense. He knows they’ll make the other unit better, and he knows they’ll cause problems for the opposition in the fall.
“But that's what you want. You want it to be really, really hard.”
The Verdict?
So, who’s ahead, the offense or the defense this spring for Auburn? Like a lot of tough questions, there’s a gray area, and it can vary day to day.
“I'm not avoiding the question to tell you one side's ahead of the other,” Golesh said. “I think we've had days where it's been back and forth, and they've both sides have made each other better.
“And honestly, from a head coach perspective, that's what you want.”
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Standouts from Auburn Tigers' 1st Spring Scrimmage Under Alex GoleshBy Scott Kennedy
Auburn Daily
The Auburn Tigers were in action under the lights at Jordan-Hare Stadium for their first scrimmage under new head coach Alex Golesh. Golesh was pleased to put the Tigers in a competitive atmosphere while simulating game action for so many new faces.
"We finished up with the scrimmage last night, got about 120 plays in total," Golesh said at his presser this week. "It was great to be in the stadium. It was great to be under the lights. It was a good crowd of high school coaches, recruits, player families. I think it was incredible for our kids, especially the guys who have not been here.
"It’s one thing to be out on a practice field in a controlled environment, and it’s another when you’re in the stadium under the lights and the coaches are off on the sidelines, and you’re playing real football. There was a seven-day practice build-up to playing real ball and we tried to create situations and tried to create drill work that replicate situations, but there’s nothing like lining up and playing football.
"The more football you play, the better you’ll be, and it was really good."
Golesh was asked about some of the standouts, whether they be a position group or an individual, and he honed in on the defensive backs who are bringing back experience in Rayshawn Pleasant, Champ Anthony, Kaleb Harris, and Sylvester Smith, as well as key backups.
“I thought the secondary was really physical yesterday, which has been a huge point of emphasis,” Golesh said. “This offense challenges you on the perimeter, makes you be really, really good in your fits. Makes you be really good in terms of block destruction on the perimeter.
“I thought the secondary, both the corners and the safeties, played really, really physical. I thought some big-time plays in the run game coming downhill, some really good on the perimeter. And I thought from really sticky on 3rd down, I thought the secondary did a good job.”
Golesh’s transition to Auburn will be made easier if veterans step up as leaders, and that seems to be happening on offense.
“I thought Byrum (Brown) did some really, really good things. I thought the running backs, this is twice now in a week we got to tackle, but Jeremiah Cobb did some really nice things. He's settling in and playing confident football right now,” Golesh said.
Injuries in the spring open the door for depth chart players to show what they can do. Tight end is one of those places where we’ll see plenty of new faces.
“I think at, at tight end, we're beat up a little bit, but (UNC transfer) Jake Johnson, it was really his first extended minutes. It was really good to see him play physical. (Howard transfer) Xavier Newsom did some really good things for a young kid that I don't know.
“I don't know if we really expected just a ton coming in early, but he's been forced into playing a bunch of reps. He did some really good things.”
The offensive line is getting an overhaul, and standout Conner Lew is leaving big shoes to fill at center. USF transfer Cole Best is stepping right in.
“Up front, Cole Best, I thought played, and he's been really consistent, running the show. It's on him to get us right, and I thought he did a really, really solid job.”
The continuity of Brown and Best coming in from USF should help ease the transition for Auburn, as they have 10 new starters on offense. But in this new age of college football, the players may be new to Auburn, but they're familiar with the scheme and coaches right away.
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Alex Golesh describes importance of welcoming back former playersBy Peter Rauterkus
al.comMany of Auburn’s practices this spring have taken place in front of large crowds.
Not crowds of fans, but groups that include recruits, high school coaches, former players, donors and others. There’s importance in having each of those groups involved, but there’s been a major emphasis on welcoming back former Tigers players since Alex Golesh took over the program in late 2025.
The best example was last Saturday, when more than 200 former players were on hand for practice during Auburn’s Alumni Day. They were part of Thursday’s scrimmage too, highlighted by former Auburn greats such as Cam Newton and Takeo Spikes speaking with the current players.
“We’ve made a huge, huge emphasis on getting our former players,” Golesh said. “Jeris McIntyre’s only job here, besides cultivating relationships with high-school coaches in our state and states surrounding us, is to bring back every former player.”
McIntyre, a former player himself, is Auburn football’s new Director of High School and Alumni Relations. He was previously the Director of High School Relations at UCF from 2024-2025, but was hired by Golesh this offseason.
As Golesh mentioned, he’s leading the charge of getting former players involved, something the program has already done this spring. Cam Newton and Takeo Spikes were among those former Auburn stars who were present for Thursday night’s spring scrimmage.
“That’s from Cam and Takeo to a walk-on in the ’80s,” Golesh said. “When those guys walk back in this building, with their families and their buddies, they should feel like they built this place, because they did.”
Newton may be the most recognizable former Auburn player to have come by this spring. Golesh said the former Heisman and national championship-winning quarterback has visited with the team twice this spring and worked out in the facility on Friday morning.
For a program that has prided itself on energy and intensity since Golesh took over, there are few former players who exemplify that more than Newton and Spikes.
“It was awesome to have Cam and Takeo back (Thursday) night,” Golesh said. “It’s awesome that Cam feels comfortable to come in in the morning and work out, and a bunch of our guys run into him.
“Recruits are around (Thursday), and Takeo spent all day here yesterday just literally wandering the halls and talking to anybody who will listen to him.”
With all the former players visiting this spring, Golesh said many have asked current staffers how they can help. As the Tigers’ new head coach looks to return the program to previous highs, his request has been simple.
“My answer is the same every time: ‘Be around,’” Golesh said. “‘Let our players feel your energy.’”
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Top DL Recruit Reflects on Auburn VisitBy Brooks Crew
Auburn Daily
The defensive line has seemingly always been a point of dominance for the Auburn Tigers, who have produced some of the best defensive linemen in the history of the NFL. Names like Derrick Brown jump to mind for most, while Keldric Faulk has the chance to add his name to the ever-growing list after this year’s NFL Draft.
However, Alex Golesh seems determined to make sure the trend of top-level defensive linemen does not die in his tenure, as he and the Tigers are making a push for one of the best 2028 defensive linemen in the class: Kingston Brown.
Brown is a 6-foot-3, 277-pound sophomore at Carver High School in Columbus, Ga., who is a four-star currently rated as the 19th-best defensive lineman in the class as well as the 13th-best player in his home state of Georgia.
Brown visited Auburn on Friday, and Auburn Tigers on SI caught up with him after to discuss all things Auburn, including his opinions of the coaches, facilities and the program as a whole.
“It was great to be back on campus,” Brown said. “The coaches and the environment stood out the most. It’s very supportive, high energy, and you can tell it’s family-oriented. Seeing alumni come back shows how committed they are to the program… I plan on getting down there again.”
Alex Golesh has emphasized alumni returns throughout the first few weeks of practice, with notable names like Cam Newton and Takeo Spikes stopping by to see how the new-look Tigers were performing. However, Golesh seems to prioritize development and relationships above even alumni, which also stuck out to Brown.
“I got to see more practice and scrimmage, just watching how they develop and get better. You can tell they focus on improving every day,” Brown said. “I chopped it up for a second with the D-line coach, Coach Vontrel King - Williams. I love his energy, great guy. I also got to see one of my former teammates out there in action. Everybody was cool. It was good being around it and seeing how they work.”
As for Brown, his recruitment is focused a lot less on bright lights and big names, and much more on environment and relationships.
“[I’m looking for] a place that checks all the boxes,” he said. “Development, academics, and a family environment. Somewhere that feels like home and where I can build real relationships with the coaches and players.”
Brown is one of the most highly sought-after recruits in the 2028 class, as he already holds offers from top programs like Alabama, Florida, Georgia and now Auburn.
“I’m coming to work,” he said. “I don’t take plays off, and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got every snap… [I’m] just staying focused, working, and getting better every day.”
If the Tigers can land Brown, he will likely join top 2027 commit Donivan Moore on the defensive line in the future. That combo, along with the rest of the Tigers’ top-rated linemen, could prove to be incredibly deadly to SEC offenses of the future.
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Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback columnBy Jason Caldwell
Fitting end to Auburn's basketball season
Sunday night's OT win over Tulsa was a fitting ending to a season that had a whole lot of ups and downs for the Auburn basketball Tigers. Too much inconsistency cost this team a shot at the NCAA Tournament, and it almost cost this team a championship, but thanks to Kevin Overton's big shot after big shot they got a chance to finish it off and they did it in overtime down two starters.
When this first started, I was all for Auburn playing in this tournament because I thought there was plenty to gain for the Tigers, but there was also plenty to lose. Playing South Alabama at home in the first round was a lot of pressure on Steven Pearl and the Auburn program. Lose that game and it's a really big deal.
Playing without its only big man in KeShawn Murphy, the Tigers responded time and time again. After pretty much cruising through the first four games, Auburn had to answer the bell on Sunday night after blowing a 21-point lead.
You have to give Pearl, the staff and this team a ton of credit for continuing to fight and having the guts to take on the challenge in the first place. This wasn't the championship they wanted to be playing for, but they battled to the very end, and it took everything they had.
Who knows what next year will bring for this team? There will be a bunch of new faces on the roster. There may be some changes on the staff. One thing I believe is that the Tigers have something they can build on as a program. The fight they showed late on Sunday night will carry over and is something the Auburn program can hang its hat on. That's a good place to start 2026-27.
Two more weeks of spring
Auburn is basically at the halfway mark of spring practices under Alex Golesh and so far, we have learned a little bit on both sides of the ball as the Tigers work towards the A-Day Game on April 18 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The first thing we have learned is that this defense has a chance to be pretty good once again.
It all starts with Xavier Atkins and this group of linebackers. Even with Demarcus Riddick held out of contact drills this spring while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Auburn's linebacker group has some serious firepower led by Atkins.
That showed up in the first scrimmage on Thursday night when he was all over the field. With Bryce Deas and Elijah Melendez both taking strides heading into year two, Auburn has to feel really good about that group so far.
The same is true of the safeties. I thought coming into the spring that it would be the deepest position on this entire team and so far, that has been the case. It was good to hear Golesh talk about the cornerbacks when we spoke to him recently because it's hard to tell about that position from the few minutes of practice we get to view this spring.
We have heard enough about Arkansas State transfer Cody Sigler to know he's a player to watch and he showed that in the scrimmage. The word I got to describe him was 'dog' and that's exactly what you need on the interior defensive line.
Offensively, I think people were wowed about Byrum Brown's athleticism and his speed for his size. That's not a huge surprise but seeing it in person was something that made people take notice. Maybe the other thing on offense that has shown up for me is the tight end position. Jonathan Echols looks great but is still non-contact at the moment. Jake Johnson and Xavier Newsome both did some good things in the scrimmage. It looks like a position that could be a strength for this team.
On the offensive line, Tai Buster is a guy I have liked since first seeing him last spring as a true freshman. He has gotten bigger and stronger since last season, but he's just a competitor. That's what you need on the offensive line and the young guy brings plenty of that to the table.
Important series win for baseball Tigers
In the Southeastern Conference you never apologize for winning a series, any series. Auburn could have easily swept Arkansas this past week but winning two out of three got the Tigers back on track at 6-6 in league play with Kentucky up next at home. All you have to do is look around the rest of the results from this past weekend to see just how crazy things can get. Georgia went on the road and swept Mississippi State, who was 18-0 at home going into the series. Missouri went to Kentucky and won the series from the Wildcats. A week after Florida swept Arkansas on the road, Ole Miss went to Gainesville and won the series. LSU was trailing 5-0 on Sunday in Knoxville and beat the Vols 16-6 in 12 innings thanks to a 4-home run day from Cade Arrimbide. He came into the game with 4 home runs on the year. The point is, it's a long season in the toughest league in college baseball. It's not a sprint and the season is not over with a few losses.
The next step for this Auburn team is to continue to build on the swings they had against Arkansas. They ran into what could be a pair of top two or three round MLB Draft choices on Friday, but outside of that the swings were much better. There is no question the pitching is in really good shape on the weekends now with the likelihood that Andreas Alvarez stays in the rotation the way he's pitching. Having him, Jake Marciano and either Alex Petrovic or Jackson Sanders for three games on the weekend is a pretty comforting thought for this Auburn team as they approach the halfway mark of SEC play.