Latest / The Auburn Undercover Podcast / Podcast: Taking stock of Auburn’s work in the portal so far

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Podcast: Taking stock of Auburn’s work in the portal so far · The Auburn Undercover Podcast

0:07
And welcome back everybody. Another
0:08
edition here of the Auburn Undercover
0:10
podcast on the 247 Sports Network. My
0:12
name is Nathan King joined here by
0:14
Christian Clemente and Jason Caldwell as
0:17
the transfer portal window is almost
0:20
closed. We're recording this here
0:22
Thursday night, January 15th. And by I
0:25
believe by the end of the night on the
0:26
16th, the portal will be closed. But
0:29
that does not mean the action will slow
0:31
down anytime soon. Uh just because guys
0:34
aren't going in the portal doesn't mean
0:35
Auburn won't continue to add guys from
0:38
the portal. And as we talked about
0:39
before we got rolling, that process
0:40
could continue to go well into the
0:43
spring semester. Um and so uh this thing
0:46
isn't slowing down anytime soon. But
0:48
it's been an active couple days, guys.
0:51
Um particularly here on Thursday as the
0:53
dead period ended. um visit dead period
0:55
not a not a portal dead period of course
0:58
but Christian uh you know the offensive
1:00
line and the defensive line have been
1:02
the positions not only getting the most
1:04
attention by Auburn's staff but Auburn
1:06
fans of course looking at the line of
1:08
scrimmage saying all right you know
1:09
let's let's get some additions up there
1:11
and uh man on on Thursday they did a
1:14
nice job shoring that up and even if you
1:16
go into if you go into a few days ago
1:18
with the two USF offensive linemen um
1:21
they've added some nice pieces up front
1:22
over the over the past few guys.
1:25
>> Yeah. No, they've uh they've pieced
1:27
things together about as well as you can
1:29
in terms of I'll start on the offensive
1:30
line. You you've got your tackles, your
1:33
kind of bookend spots, both pretty well
1:35
solidified. Um Stanton Raml coming over
1:37
a familiar name from Michigan State. Joe
1:39
Simmons from James Madison started at
1:42
left tackle. Little bit more of a stocky
1:44
build, not quite as lawn as Stanton, so
1:46
he probably slides over to right tackle.
1:48
That's more the natural position for
1:49
him. Um, you know, you mentioned the USF
1:52
guys, Cole Skinner, Cole Best, Cole
1:55
Best, a little bit more of the the
1:58
bigger name there. Um, started at center
2:01
this past year. Started at guard and
2:03
center the year before. Um, when you
2:05
talk about bringing over a quarterback,
2:08
a center, receivers, play callers, stuff
2:12
like that. Kale Ellis is your center of
2:14
the future. But for the 2026 season,
2:18
Cole Best getting that medical red shirt
2:20
season for 2022 and being able to come
2:22
over and transfer is a really big deal.
2:25
And Jason got a chance to talk with him.
2:27
Um, and he seems like a huge, huge
2:29
culture guy. Um, and I don't throw that
2:32
around there lightly to be honest. Um,
2:35
you saw on Thursday, Jacob Strand, I
2:37
think that's his name, from Oregon
2:38
State. He transferred in, obviously
2:40
never even visited. Um, no offense to
2:43
any of these players. A lot of the times
2:45
when I'm referring to guys right now,
2:46
I'm saying school and position because
2:48
it's really hard to keep track of names
2:50
for guys that we're not really familiar
2:52
with. Um, and then recording this at
2:54
8:00 on Thursday night and think there's
2:56
the chance that the offensive line could
2:58
receive some more news within the next
3:00
little bit as well. Um, so look, they're
3:03
they're rebuilding that unit because
3:05
they kind of had to. I mean, there's
3:07
three guys returning from 2025. Um, and
3:10
they're all going into their second year
3:11
in the program. you obviously saw some
3:13
transfer outs.
3:15
Transfer outs. Yeah, we'll go with that.
3:17
Um, but then
3:19
a lot of guys were just graduating and
3:21
going to the NFL as well. You know, a
3:23
guy like Connor Lou decides to go early.
3:24
So, that offensive line had to go almost
3:27
a full-scale rebuild and they're not
3:29
done,
3:30
but they're reaching two and three deep
3:33
territory. They're starting to fill that
3:35
out to a solid place.
3:38
>> Yeah. Yeah, on the O line, you just
3:39
needed you just needed guys. And I wrote
3:41
about it this morning and I was like,
3:43
don't be surprised for them to start
3:45
taking depth pieces from other power
3:48
programs. Don't be surprised. Jo guys,
3:50
like to your point, Christian, three
3:53
scholarship offensive linemen returning
3:55
is a dire number. Like that is a you are
3:59
as thin as you could possibly be.
4:00
>> And none of them were here before 2025,
4:03
>> right? You're not you're not bringing
4:04
back any experience. Um, even a guy like
4:07
Tyler after they got Joe Simmons, Tyler
4:08
Johnson, who maybe you were like, "Oh,
4:10
he could maybe develop into your swing
4:12
tackle. He he decides to hit the portal
4:14
as well." Um, I'm blanking on the Alio
4:16
Ba is the is the Maryland offensive
4:18
guard that is uh that's supposed to
4:20
visit this weekend. Um, that's another
4:22
like starting caliber offensive lineman
4:24
um that they could bring in. But Jason,
4:26
yeah, I mean Christian was just talking
4:28
about Cole Best and and and kind of the
4:30
dynamic there with Kale Ellis. I think
4:32
when you've got a young player like Kale
4:33
who's already shown you a little bit and
4:35
you want to continue to develop him, I
4:37
think he could be on the field for
4:38
Auburn in some capacity, but mainly in
4:40
those interior spots on center and the
4:42
two guard spots, you're trying to throw
4:44
four or five options at the board and
4:46
see who wins out. Whereas maybe at the
4:48
tackles, you're a little more solidified
4:49
right now.
4:51
>> Yeah. And even even then, I think you're
4:53
looking for, hey, who are our best eight
4:55
offensive linemen? That's that's
4:56
normally the number that coaches try to
4:57
get to. And I think Kale Ellis would be
4:59
one of those guys. Is he one of your
5:01
best five? That's the question you'll
5:02
have to find out if he is. I mean, he's
5:05
he's guys that easily could play a
5:06
guard. But I think the thing that people
5:08
just need to remember, and I have to
5:10
remind myself of that as well, is like
5:11
he's still just 18 years old. I know
5:12
we're we're in the Ryan Williams. Uh
5:14
he's just 17 years old category, but
5:17
when you're an offensive lineman, I
5:18
mean, he's he should just be a true
5:21
freshman.
5:21
>> I think he's still 17 technically. I
5:24
don't think he turns 18 until April.
5:25
>> Yeah. like they'll be an 18y old, you
5:27
know, when he's playing and you go,
5:29
>> man, there's still so much left. Um, but
5:32
he's, you know, been on campus for a
5:34
year now. You start to go
5:35
>> physically, um, you know, obviously he's
5:38
a guy that can go out and compete. And
5:39
so I think you look and go, Cole Best is
5:42
guy that knows the checks. He's made all
5:44
the calls for that offensive line at
5:45
USF. Um, smart character leader. That's
5:49
the thing when you hear you talk to the
5:51
coaches that know him, they go like,
5:52
"This guy's the real deal." When you can
5:55
have that guy at center, that's a big
5:56
deal. Him and Byron Brown have worked
5:57
together so long. He understands
5:59
everything you're doing. I think he's
6:02
one of the most important pickups of
6:04
this entire group for Auburn. When you
6:06
when the dust settles, I think Cole Best
6:08
will be one of those guys. But you're
6:10
right. You go, can you find, you know,
6:12
obviously is do you have your starting
6:14
tackles? Maybe you're still trying to
6:16
add guys to that group or trying to add
6:19
guys then that can go compete at at one
6:21
of those spots. If they don't win it,
6:22
maybe they slide inside the guard.
6:24
That's the that's the focus now. Um is
6:27
giving yourself more options on that
6:28
offensive line. And I think they're
6:30
doing a pretty good job of it here in in
6:32
this flurry to finish up uh at least
6:34
this week.
6:36
>> Yeah, to me that Oregon State transfer
6:38
was big in that
6:39
>> in that front because like Christian
6:41
mentioned, he's got a you I think he
6:43
played tackle, but could be a guy who
6:45
plays at guard as well. Like he could be
6:46
a solid backup right tackle or something
6:48
like that. a lot. He's not quite as
6:50
tall, but has a little Gunner Britain.
6:52
That's who I compare. A little Gunner
6:53
Britain in there. You go like, man, the
6:55
guy could play tackle, but he might be
6:56
better at guard. He may be just
7:00
experienced and kind of savvy enough
7:02
that he works himself in one of those
7:04
spots. And and that's a that's a guy
7:06
that's a good player to bring in in this
7:08
situation.
7:09
>> Yeah. Yeah. And then on the other side
7:10
of the of the line of scrimmage, um a
7:13
guy that y'all are very familiar with,
7:15
Jason, from from when Auburn was
7:18
recruiting Walter Matthysse out of high
7:20
school. Um the last LSU defender to
7:23
spend one year there and then transfer
7:24
to Auburn. Worked out pretty well with
7:26
with Xavier Atkins and Auburn hopes
7:28
that'll be the case again with with
7:29
Walter Matthysse. Um, if if Cody Sigler
7:33
coming over from from Arkansas State was
7:35
your like savvy, interesting, productive
7:38
veteran guy, Matthysse is just a ton of
7:41
talent and athletic potential. Um, but
7:44
Jason, the fact that he got on the field
7:46
as much as he did for a good LSU defense
7:48
on a true freshman, I think shows me
7:50
that he's ready to play right away. And
7:52
those guys do not grow on trees. guys
7:54
that are look like him and can play
7:57
right away in the SEC are not just you
7:59
you can't find them everywhere.
8:00
>> Yeah. And I think it's interesting
8:02
because the dynamic that you're starting
8:04
to get in that defensive line room
8:07
because of the different types of
8:08
players you got. You got big body guys.
8:11
You're still trying to add big body
8:12
guys. And then you look at at, you know,
8:15
Walter Matthysse and Cody Sigler are two
8:18
guys that are more maybe more
8:20
traditional, you know, not the 65 330
8:23
defensive tackles, but guys that use
8:25
power, explosive quickness. I like
8:28
having that mix. I really do. That's
8:30
that's what you got. Um, you know, the
8:34
last couple years with a couple of those
8:35
guys up front, Malik Blockton was kind
8:37
of that guy. Now you get a similar type
8:39
guy, really powerful. Um, and so I I do
8:42
like the the mixture that they're
8:44
building on the defensive line.
8:45
Obviously, you you try to, you know,
8:47
continue to add some guys there if you
8:48
want to, especially from an edge pass
8:50
rusher type guy, but man, uh, the it's a
8:54
room that's coming together some and you
8:57
I think you got some options now in
8:59
those two interior spots.
9:01
>> Yeah, just day by day, even before this,
9:03
day by day, the retention of Jordan
9:05
Crawford and Malik Autry just was so
9:07
important. Um, again, because the way
9:10
I've been kind of framing it to people
9:11
is like, think about if that guy were to
9:13
be in the portal and how valuable a
9:15
player like that would be. It's a lot
9:16
easier to keep them on your roster than
9:18
it is to go get them. It's a lot easier
9:20
to keep a top 100, you know, a couple
9:21
top 100 defensive tackles. Um, another
9:24
interesting note that we'll just kind of
9:25
talk about really briefly, um, that that
9:27
LC Brand on our on our message board
9:29
who's always got some good information.
9:31
Uh, Dallas Walker could be looking for
9:33
another year of eligibility. Um that's
9:35
that's something that we've talked about
9:36
the last few days. Uh he did not play
9:38
the 2022 season and if you don't count
9:41
that then he would have another year
9:42
because he's only played three college
9:44
seasons and he was a co freshman and
9:46
then he red shirted. So uh that's
9:47
something Auburn could be looking into
9:49
right now. Talk about a really big
9:50
piece. You could get that back at at no
9:52
stackle because he played well last
9:54
year. Um Christian, you know they'll
9:56
they still got some work to do along the
9:57
defensive line in terms of just numbers
9:59
filling out guys. You know, St. Frier
10:01
from from App State is going to be a
10:02
depth piece there at at nose tackle. But
10:04
they had a big visitor on campus
10:07
Thursday, one of the top rated defensive
10:09
linemen in the portal. Kind of fits the
10:12
bill of maybe the type of player they
10:15
still want to add, another guy like that
10:18
who who has some experience and some
10:19
production as a defensive tackle.
10:21
>> Yeah, DeAndre Robinson, um, who was at
10:23
North Carolina this past year, Florida
10:25
the year before that, really productive
10:27
both seasons at both spots. um
10:30
recruiting him kind of as a three-tech,
10:32
but he's big. He can play a variety of
10:34
different spots. He's explosive. He can
10:36
move outside a little bit as well. Um he
10:38
can do a lot of different things along
10:39
that defensive line. It's going to be a
10:41
heavyweight recruiting battle. That's
10:43
kind of just how it goes for big time
10:45
defensive linemen in the transfer
10:47
portal. Um I say heavyweight, there's
10:49
only two teams involved at this stage
10:51
from talking to DeAndre. You know,
10:53
obviously other teams are in the mix as
10:55
well, but he said he's only focused on
10:56
Auburn and Oregon. Um, so if you can
10:59
beat out Oregon, that'd be huge. He's
11:01
set to go and visit Oregon this weekend
11:02
and then come to a decision. Obviously,
11:04
when it comes to those two schools
11:06
battling and recruiting, kind of feels
11:08
like he might favor Oregon in that one.
11:10
Um, but look, Vontro King Williams has
11:13
has shown that he can do it big time in
11:15
the transfer portal. Um, Buddy
11:18
Matthysse, that's that's Walter
11:19
Matthysse's nickname, Buddy. Uh, look,
11:21
Tennessee was involved heavily in his
11:23
transfer recruitment from what we were
11:25
told. Um, but he really believed in Alex
11:27
Golish's plan. He really believed in
11:29
Vontrol King Williams. Believed in that
11:31
prior relationship that they had built
11:33
in recruiting. So when it comes to
11:35
defensive linemen, I really don't rule a
11:37
whole lot out because Vantrell has done
11:41
a really fantastic job to be honest
11:43
since taking over for Jeremy Garrett
11:44
both in high school recruiting and in
11:46
the transfer portal. So we'll see if
11:48
they can get DeAndre Robinson. Don't
11:49
have a great feel for where things sit
11:51
right now. Um, but especially after
11:54
adding Buddy Matthysse, you're in a good
11:56
spot. Now it's about adding one, maybe
11:59
two more guys on the inside and then
12:01
trying to focus on adding an edge rusher
12:04
or two as well of some sort. Um, with
12:06
the latest name name to watch being
12:08
Deshawn WAC, a former St. Francis
12:11
Academy standout who just entered the
12:12
portal on Thursday from Old Miss.
12:15
>> They love the St. Francis connection.
12:17
It's been working out pretty well. Yeah,
12:19
it's clear they're still after another
12:20
kind of like end edge guy because they
12:22
had Kelby Collins from Alabama in last
12:25
week. Uh Nate Johnson is on board. He is
12:27
a Missouri transfer but did most of his
12:30
work at App State. He was there the two
12:31
seasons prior to that was pretty
12:32
productive. And then last year um really
12:35
good Missouri defensive line. He was
12:36
just kind of a rotational piece there.
12:38
So maybe him, Jared Smith, and maybe one
12:40
other piece there. Uh Christian, the
12:41
names escape me of the of the Washington
12:44
defensive line transfers that were
12:46
reported.
12:46
>> The Park the Parker twins. I just
12:48
remember that the Parker twins
12:50
>> um you it was reported that they will
12:52
visit Saturday.
12:53
>> That's not confirmed quite yet in terms
12:55
of coming from Auburn's side. Um so
12:58
there they are names Yeah, there are
13:00
names to watch. Um
13:02
>> but not
13:03
quite anything solidified there yet um
13:06
with those guys.
13:08
>> Gotcha. Yeah, I mean I think it's just
13:09
been and look, you could get a guy like
13:12
uh like Ali Oba from from Maryland. to
13:15
me. He's kind of that same mold as, you
13:17
know, Tegra Tegra Toshloba, I believe,
13:19
was how you pronounce it from Ohio
13:20
State. Unless I just completely
13:22
butchered that.
13:23
>> No, you got it. Tegra Shabola. Yeah,
13:25
>> Shabola. Close enough. Um, yeah, it hurt
13:27
to lose him to Kentucky, but you know, a
13:29
guy a guy like that maybe with Alio or
13:31
somebody else like that in the portal.
13:33
Um, if you got somebody like that along
13:34
the offensive line, you really would
13:36
feel like the lines of scrimmage are
13:37
filling out pretty well. U, we figured
13:39
for the rest of the show we would just
13:40
kind of run down individual position
13:42
groups. might be the easiest way to
13:44
organize this thing to bring people back
13:46
up to speed because I believe you're
13:47
sitting at 25 transfers now and so it's
13:50
kind of difficult to keep track of. Um
13:52
all the way at the top Jason with
13:53
quarterback and 26 now
13:56
>> as of including including the deep
13:58
snapper right 26
13:59
>> 27 including the lawn snapper and that
14:02
is
14:02
>> always forget the long snapper
14:04
>> that is as of 8:15 on Thursday night
14:06
which is important worth noting. was
14:08
yeah could could you know hey as we
14:10
found out on Thursday um these things
14:12
can happen in the blink of an eye so it
14:14
can always change for sure
14:17
>> yeah we we got an assistant coach hired
14:19
on a podcast last month so we'll see if
14:21
we can get a transfer player in all the
14:23
way at the top with Byron Brown at
14:24
quarterback Jason of course he was the
14:26
centerpiece he was the guy that was in
14:29
the mix or was excuse me was in the fold
14:31
pretty early on but you just took a few
14:33
days to get things ironed out they
14:35
wanted to give him his big pump and
14:37
circumstance day, get him introduced at
14:40
the basketball game. Um, but that was he
14:42
was a guy who was helping he was helping
14:43
them recruit once he was in the
14:44
building. Um, and obviously the focal
14:46
point and they go out and get a uh an
14:48
interesting backup quarterback.
14:49
Obviously, they bring over Lachlan Hulet
14:52
>> from uh from USF and uh and they've got
14:55
uh Rise Rise Brush
14:57
>> Reese Brush Brush.
14:58
>> Yep.
14:59
>> Committed. And then Tristan Tia is a
15:01
really interesting guy from Oregon State
15:02
who's going to kind of be your number
15:03
two guy now. man, he's pretty dynamic.
15:07
And I The interesting thing was is that
15:10
he was bigger than I thought he was
15:12
going to be. When you watch him and you
15:13
watch the way he does things, you're
15:14
like, "Ah, he's he's not quite that
15:16
big." And then and then you see him in
15:18
person and got a chance to see him now
15:20
that he's on campus and you look go,
15:21
he's bigger than I thought. Like he's
15:23
he's legit 6'2, you know, and got but
15:26
his arm,
15:28
the way he throws the football and his
15:30
release, the things he does is really
15:32
dynamic. He can run it, too. uh he's not
15:34
a guy that's gonna run to the ton, but
15:36
he can sling it and um it's a really
15:39
interesting guy as a pickup for your
15:42
second quarterback potentially if if he
15:44
can can win that job. But you got two
15:46
guys coming in that'll have that'll
15:48
have, you know, three plus years to play
15:50
football, which is a big deal. Um, so I
15:54
think they've done a good job at every
15:55
position of not only just signing fifth
15:59
year seniors, but signing some guys that
16:02
bridge the gap a little bit um, to your
16:05
recruiting class and to your signing
16:06
class and give you some years on the
16:09
back end of it, too. And and I think
16:10
that's that's what Tia does. Um, really
16:14
looking forward to seeing him on the
16:15
field and getting eyes on him this
16:17
spring. Yeah, in terms of getting a
16:18
backup quarterback out of the transfer
16:20
portal, that's not an easy spot to
16:21
recruit. You kind of got lucky last year
16:23
getting Ashton Daniels, a guy that just
16:25
wanted to be at Auburn. Now, you I don't
16:27
want to say get lucky, but you get Tia,
16:29
who started, I think the last three
16:31
games at Oregon State, so he's got
16:32
experience, but he also has four years
16:34
of eligibility. Like, getting a backup
16:36
out of the transfer portal at
16:37
quarterback is not easy. And this is
16:40
about as good as you can do, I think,
16:42
all circumstances taken into account.
16:46
>> Yeah, absolutely. You've got to you've
16:47
got to find somebody who is okay with
16:49
coming in and sitting behind Byron Brown
16:52
and and Alex Golish isn't guaranteeing
16:54
anything to anybody, but come on now.
16:56
Like, it's Byron Brown. He's going to
16:57
run this offense. Um, moving down to
17:00
running back, uh, getting Jeremiah Cobb
17:02
resigned was was massive. Bringing him
17:05
back for his senior season. Um, but they
17:07
still had some work to do. And Kristen,
17:09
you and I were talking last week when it
17:12
was first reported that Bryson
17:14
Washington would would visit Auburn. And
17:15
it's I I'll be honest, I didn't know if
17:18
he'd make it to campus. He's he's from
17:19
30 minutes outside College Station.
17:21
Texas A&M was his first visit. Um a
17:23
Texas kid. I'm not not saying
17:25
necessarily that I even thought he would
17:26
go to&M, but it was like the fact that
17:28
you brought back Jeremiah Cobb. Could
17:31
you also go sign not only like a 1A 1B
17:34
running back, but like a big name, a guy
17:36
who's one of the best running backs in
17:37
the portal. And then they land him. They
17:39
land Bryson Washington. I believe has
17:41
over 1,600 rushing yards over the last
17:43
two seasons. just a powerful straight
17:46
line running back, a guy that Auburn saw
17:48
in last year's season opener. And man,
17:50
they could have one of the better
17:52
one-two tandemss in the SEC at running
17:55
back. And then you throw in Nikai
17:56
Davenport from USF who who who can
17:58
really change a pace um there at that
18:00
number three spot.
18:01
>> Yeah, we were on the same page. I was
18:03
like, I just don't know. I mean, look,
18:05
money is a part of the equation now. We
18:07
have to talk about it. When you resign
18:08
Jeremiah Cobb, it's like, okay, well,
18:09
how much is going to be available to get
18:11
a guy like Bryson Washington? How much
18:13
money is he going to command? Clearly,
18:15
they made things work one way or the
18:17
other in in some form or fashion to get
18:19
him in to pair him with Cobb. And then
18:21
you add Davenport, you add Omar Mson.
18:23
Alvin Henderson is still here as well.
18:25
You've built out that running back room
18:27
to a really solid spot. And Bryson
18:29
Washington is a really fun duo with
18:31
Jeremiah Cobb. I think he has over 40ome
18:35
career catches um at Baylor there. So,
18:38
he provides that to the offense. He
18:40
provides a little bit more of that
18:41
power. And look, Jeremiah Cobb was
18:43
fantastic last year, but by the end of
18:45
the season, he was pretty worn down. He
18:47
was kind of out of gas, especially after
18:49
Dear Alustin left um and you were kind
18:51
of thin in the running back room. So,
18:53
you needed to get him a 1B or get a 1A
18:57
or, you know, whatever you want to say.
18:59
And you did it in a really, really
19:02
strong spot with Bryson Washington.
19:03
That's one of Auburn's best pickups,
19:05
this transfer portal process, and it's
19:06
it's really not close. I I agree. When
19:09
you look at especially when you're when
19:12
you're where you're changing to a tempo
19:14
offense, you're going to run more plays.
19:17
You're going to have more opportunities
19:19
for the running backs. Even if it's
19:21
just, you know, catching balls out of
19:23
the out backfield, running routes, pass
19:26
pro, all those things, you're going to
19:28
be you're going to need more um you
19:31
know, not carries necessarily, and
19:33
you'll there'll be some of those, too.
19:35
You're just going to need more plays
19:36
from other running backs. and and I
19:37
think he's a guy that that obviously
19:39
brings something. He's a bigger physical
19:41
guy, but gives you a little bit of a
19:43
kind of a sledgehammer guy to go along
19:44
with Jeremiah Cobb. So, it was I thought
19:46
it was a great addition.
19:48
>> Yeah. And as Christian said, you know,
19:49
Henderson and Omar Babson still here. Uh
19:52
the portal is not closed. We just saw
19:54
kind of a late entry today and Jacobe
19:55
Matthews who was a reserve safety who
19:58
didn't play last year, but you know,
19:59
there's they've been around. They've
20:01
been in workouts and and haven't hit the
20:03
portal yet. So, it's kind of getting to
20:05
that point. Matthews maybe not a huge
20:07
surprise. It's kind of getting that
20:08
point now where if guys haven't left
20:10
yet, we're we're left to assume they're
20:12
going to be back. Um
20:13
>> yeah, and you also bring in the Kai
20:15
Davenport, too. Um you know, bigger back
20:17
from USF that gives you a little bit of
20:19
that size, too, that you haven't had.
20:21
So, that that's a room that has more
20:23
numbers now um than than than we've seen
20:26
in quite a while.
20:28
>> Yeah. 6.2 yards per carry as a true
20:30
freshman. I don't really care what
20:31
conference you're playing in. That's a
20:32
that's a decent number. Um, wide
20:34
receiver Jason is the is the giant
20:37
overhaul. Uh, let's make sure you got
20:39
all your ducks in a row. I'll quiz you
20:41
on all the USF transfer receivers. Now,
20:43
there's five of them coming over. And
20:45
what's really interesting about all
20:47
these pass catchers from USF, Jason, is
20:49
>> they're all they've all got very
20:51
different archetypes, like different
20:53
different experience levels, different
20:55
skill sets.
20:57
>> Um, we can just kind of get into it. You
20:59
know, Keshan Singleton is the guy who
21:01
probably the most proven. He was their
21:02
number one receiver. We've seen Jeremiah
21:05
Koger on campus a couple times. He looks
21:07
like he could be like an NFL receiver in
21:08
the future. Chaz Nimrod does a lot of
21:11
different things with the ball in his
21:12
hands. I mean, there's just a lot of
21:14
places you can go. Um, and and it was
21:16
massive for them to overhaul and get all
21:18
those USF transfers on campus.
21:20
>> Yeah, it's interesting because you look
21:21
at Singleton and he's the most
21:23
>> maybe the most proven of the guys
21:25
because he's been kind of the consistent
21:26
guy for them. Chaz Nimrod is a guy that
21:28
that listen, we've been told, look, this
21:30
guy may be the fastest pro on the team
21:31
when he steps on campus and he's played
21:33
at Tennessee. He's got speed and he was
21:35
really good until he got hurt last year.
21:37
Um Koger's a guy that when you talk to
21:40
folks that that know him and and know
21:43
like Seth Williams is a name that comes
21:46
up a little bit as a comparison for that
21:48
guy. so ultra talented, a guy that can
21:51
develop, do those things. And then, you
21:53
know, there's still some young guys in
21:55
there that have a chance to come out and
21:56
do some things, too. So, like, uh, yeah,
21:58
they've, uh, you had to completely
22:00
overhaul the room, and they've been able
22:02
to do that. And it's it's kind of the
22:04
interesting dynamic of going, man, you
22:07
know, people like, can those guys play?
22:08
And I'm like, I think these guys know
22:10
what SEC football is. Um, and they've
22:13
seen what it takes to win in this
22:15
league. And so I I think you got some
22:17
guys that come in, especially in this
22:19
system, that give you a chance to go out
22:20
and compete right away.
22:22
>> Yeah, I kind of I think the the wide
22:24
receiver conversation when it comes to
22:26
like guys transferring to a new level
22:27
and can they play on the SEC level, I
22:29
think that sort of immune when you
22:32
because like if you have a good
22:33
quarterback and you have a good system,
22:34
it's kind of doesn't really matter what
22:36
level you're playing on. So yeah, I
22:37
agree with you like there's no reason
22:39
those guys can't come in and succeed um
22:41
in in this conference. and Christian. I
22:43
think maybe one more they'd like to
22:46
bring in, maybe a couple more for depth,
22:47
but um we saw Noah Rogers who was who
22:52
played with Byron Brown High School. We
22:53
saw him go to Alabama. I think he'll be
22:54
a really good player there next year. Um
22:57
we we wondered last week when they had
22:59
him, Milan Graham from Ohio State, and
23:00
Kyle Parker from LSU all on campus
23:03
within like a couple days. We kind of
23:05
wondered like, man, that's a lot of
23:06
receivers. Well, it it played out. I
23:09
think you know that that's why you do
23:11
that because maybe one of them goes one
23:13
way, one of them goes the other way. You
23:14
want to give yourself options and as we
23:16
stand right now, maybe Kyle Parker from
23:18
LSU would be the one of that bunch that
23:20
you would expect if they are going to go
23:22
get one of those guys.
23:23
>> Yeah, he's the last guy standing and it
23:24
looked good for Auburn over the past
23:26
couple of days to the point where it
23:28
felt like, you know, he was he was
23:30
almost a done deal, but there's until
23:32
the till everything is done in
23:35
recruiting and especially in transfer
23:36
recruiting, it's never done. Um, and
23:38
especially when things drag on, you
23:39
start to question things. Um, and Ohio
23:42
State has gotten pretty involved. Um,
23:44
his former receiver coach is now up
23:46
there at Ohio State. Again, as of
23:48
Thursday night, as things stand right
23:51
now, I would favor Ohio State. I would
23:53
favor the Buckeyes.
23:55
This is not a shot at Kyle Parker
23:57
whatsoever, but there are other
23:59
receivers that are out there. There are
24:01
other players that are out there. You've
24:02
already addressed receiver at a pretty
24:03
good spot. It's just not a If Auburn
24:06
does not get him, it's not I'm not
24:09
ringing the alarm bells. I'm not overly
24:10
concerned. They've been focused on some
24:12
of these other spots that they needed to
24:14
offensive line, defensive line. Done a
24:16
good job there. You've already built
24:18
that receiver room up to a pretty good
24:20
spot. There were more receivers out
24:21
there. Again, I'm not I'm not trying to
24:24
throw shade to Kyle Parker and I'm not
24:26
trying to make excuses either. I just
24:28
don't view it as a huge It was kind of a
24:31
bonus. get one more receiver and try
24:33
and, you know, fully solidify that room.
24:35
You can still go out and get one more
24:37
receiver if Kyle Parker ends up slipping
24:39
away to Ohio State. Like, it feels like
24:40
it's trending.
24:42
>> Yeah. I mean, you'd still like another
24:43
starting caliber guy. It started with
24:45
Jace Brown from uh from K State. They
24:48
thought they would get him on campus.
24:49
They had some initial conversations with
24:50
Iverson Hooks from uh from UAB. He ends
24:54
up at Oregon. And now if Kyle Parker
24:56
ends, you know, if Rogers ends up at
24:57
Alabama, Kyle Parker ends up at Ohio
24:59
State. It's like, okay, you've had some
25:01
pretty and uh and Jace Brown went to
25:03
LSU, so pretty pretty high caliber
25:05
players you were after. They they'd
25:06
still like one more compliment there at
25:08
receiver.
25:09
>> And it shows you though, um, everybody's
25:12
looking for players. It doesn't matter
25:14
who it is. We saw, I mean, as we're
25:16
recording this Thursday night, just
25:17
before we came on, Georgia took an
25:20
offensive tackle from Alabama&M. Um, you
25:23
know, and I've heard people like, oh,
25:24
these guys from USF. Well, Georgia just
25:26
took a guy from Alabama&M. So, look,
25:28
there's a lot of players out there that
25:29
you can win with. Um, how you fit them
25:32
in, what you're doing with them, uh, is
25:34
is the most important thing, but, um,
25:37
yeah, no, there's everybody that's
25:39
that's that's why this portal is what it
25:41
is. Um, there's going to be a lot of
25:43
guys that that that wind up finding a
25:45
home and and you're just trying to find
25:47
the one that fits perfectly for you and
25:49
and hope you get it right.
25:51
And to your point, Christian, about how
25:53
fast things change, uh, somebody pointed
25:55
this out to me, uh, LSU announced on
25:57
January 4th that Buddy Matthysse would
26:00
be coming back for his sophomore season,
26:01
and then 5 days later, he was in the
26:03
transfer portal. So, um, yeah, you
26:05
really can't until it's all said and
26:06
done, you really can't can't uh can't
26:09
act like you know everything. Uh,
26:10
rolling right along here to the next
26:12
position group, Jason, tight end is one
26:14
that new position coach Larry Scott had
26:16
to address in a big way. um because Ryan
26:19
G is the only returning player there and
26:22
uh think he did a pretty nice job as we
26:24
as we've spoken about with a lot of
26:26
these groups. You've got an eclectic
26:28
blend of players. I think Jake Johnson
26:30
from North Carolina can be like your
26:33
Brandon Frasier type like veteran guy
26:35
who can pretty much do it all. Um
26:37
Jonathan Eckles comes over from USF, big
26:39
athletic pass catcher. And then you and
26:42
I talked about him a lot early on in the
26:43
portal, but Xavier Newsome from Howard,
26:45
who who played under Larry Scott, who
26:47
was Howard's head coach. Um, one of the
26:49
most interesting athletes on the on the
26:51
roster because he's a former high
26:53
threear edge rusher who's 6'6 and 250
26:56
pounds and can c go out and catch
26:58
passes. Um, so this this group needed a
27:00
lot of overhauling and uh I think
27:02
they've done a really good job with it.
27:04
>> Yeah. And Newsome, we just go ahead and
27:06
call him Tree. I think that's what
27:07
that's what he's going to answer by. I
27:09
think that's who he is is Tree. Um,
27:12
yeah. You look at that room and you go,
27:14
you got Ryan G back. I think Ryan G is
27:16
is your loop deal type of guy that gives
27:19
you because we we've seen Ryan. He's
27:21
gotten huge. I mean, he's he's big. He's
27:23
gotten taller, I think. And he was
27:24
already long. I think he's a guy that
27:26
helps you on the edge. Got good hands.
27:29
He can catch the ball, too. Um, I I
27:32
still think Jake Johnson is a better
27:33
athlete than maybe people give him
27:35
credit for. And you watch him walk
27:37
around, he does not look like he weighs
27:38
255 pounds. He looks like he's got
27:41
weighs like 230, but he um athletic
27:44
family. Uh obviously dad won a Super
27:46
Bowl as quarterback. His brother's been
27:48
kind of all over the PL, all over the
27:49
map as a as a quarterback. Um but Muhamm
27:53
and Eckles are two interesting guys and
27:56
and you know, you compare those with DJ
27:58
Broton, who you brought in from high
27:59
school, who looks really good and uh
28:02
that's a room that's that's going to be
28:04
more talented. Now, does that equal
28:06
productivity? Um we'll find out. Um
28:09
there's no question that that from last
28:11
season to this season, it's miles ahead
28:14
in terms of athletic talent and the
28:17
things you brought in. U but again, can
28:20
can Tree can he pick it up uh at this
28:23
level and do those things? Um and then
28:26
can can you know can Johnson can he stay
28:28
healthy and and be that guy that kind of
28:30
leads the room? I think that's what they
28:32
brought him in for and see if he can do
28:33
that.
28:35
I was say contri I was gonna say contri
28:37
put down roots but I was like that's
28:39
that's I can't do that. So
28:40
>> well it's out there now.
28:41
>> It's out there now.
28:43
>> Yeah. I think Jake Johnson was one of
28:45
the kind of sneaky important pickups
28:47
because you needed like a veteran tight
28:50
end on this team. Um you know like the
28:52
athletic pieces that they have and like
28:54
you said he is more athletic than people
28:55
give him credit for but a guy who's been
28:57
around the block knows what he's doing.
28:58
Um veteran veteran guy after you lose a
29:01
six-year senior like Brandon Frasier.
29:03
Um, we already talked on about the lines
29:05
of scrimmage. Uh, Christian, it's been
29:07
it's been real quiet at linebacker and
29:09
for good reason. Uh, they've it's could
29:12
be the best position group on the team
29:14
next season and at least at least
29:15
heading into the offseason with Xavier
29:17
Atkins back and Elijah Melendez and
29:18
Bryce Diaz and Demarcus Riddick. You
29:20
only lose Robert Woodard there and so,
29:23
uh, it's it's setting up to be a a
29:25
really nice group. That's not to say
29:26
though they won't go and add, you know,
29:28
numbers or depth pieces. And also, they
29:30
got a bunch of really good freshmen in
29:32
the 2026 class. So, not a lot of DJ
29:34
Durkin has been able to focus on other
29:36
things. He hasn't necessarily had a lot
29:37
to do with his room.
29:39
>> Yeah. No, that was uh I mean, we've
29:40
talked about it for months and months
29:43
now when Hugh Fes was still here, dating
29:46
back to the summer, talking about the
29:48
future of that linebacker room and how
29:49
it's set up to be in a really good spot.
29:52
Uh, and it's it's a room that you were
29:54
able to retain pretty much everyone that
29:56
you wanted. I mean, I think you would
29:58
want to have Robert Woodyard around, but
30:00
in the revenue sharing NIL landscape,
30:03
you have to make some sacrifices in
30:06
certain spots. Um, and it's different
30:08
philosophies at different positions. You
30:10
know, at linebacker, they chose to
30:11
prioritize the younger guys, keeping
30:13
guys like Elijah Melendez to be that
30:15
Mike linebacker um this year. And, you
30:20
know, with Robert Woodard only having a
30:21
year left, letting him walk and he ends
30:23
up going to Missouri. Obviously, if it's
30:25
a different philosophy at quarterback,
30:28
letting a guy like Deuce Knight leave
30:29
and bringing in Byron Brown to be your
30:31
top guy. It's different positions,
30:33
different philosophies, how you want to
30:35
attack the transfer portal, how you want
30:36
to prioritize money, eligibility,
30:40
all that kind of stuff. It's it's an
30:42
interesting interesting balance. Um, but
30:46
look, that linebacker room is really
30:48
really solidly set. um guys that
30:52
talking about the Buck linebacker spot,
30:54
you've got some intriguing guys there
30:56
that will be getting their chance now.
30:58
Um JJ Faulk, Joe Phillips, those are
31:01
guys that have gotten some buzz that
31:02
this staff is excited about. Joe
31:05
Phillips felt like a guy, you know, this
31:07
past season it felt like uh he he might
31:10
not be here next year, you know,
31:12
thinking just look, he hasn't gotten a
31:14
chance. And when guys don't get a
31:16
chance, you kind of expect them to head
31:18
out and leave because that's just the
31:20
way things are at now. But he sticks
31:21
around. And so it'll be really exciting
31:23
to see if he can step into a bigger role
31:26
this year at at the Buck spot.
31:30
>> Yeah. And then I'm I'm going to skip
31:31
over to uh to safety and and nickel
31:33
spots because I think it's a kind of a
31:35
similar conversation. Then we'll we'll
31:37
finish up with corner. Um a lot a lot to
31:41
like about safety, Jason. If we are led
31:44
to believe that, look, Sylvester Smith
31:46
already said he's coming back. If we are
31:48
led to believe that Caleb Harris and
31:50
Champ Anthony are back, which here we
31:52
are on January 15th, you are in a
31:55
tremendous spot, a tremendous tremendous
31:58
spot at safety and nickel. And you bring
31:59
in Fred Gaskin, and you brought you
32:02
brought back your your two, you know,
32:03
star-studded sophomores and Eric Wyers
32:05
and Anquin Fagens.
32:07
setting up to be another one of the
32:09
probably the best position groups on the
32:10
team or at least the most, you know,
32:12
consistent and wellknown.
32:14
>> I think from a depth perspective, talent
32:16
perspective, it'd be hard to top that
32:18
one. We we have seen Caleb Harris and
32:20
Champ Anthony both around. Champs
32:22
walking in a boot as he continues to
32:23
recover, but he's going to do workouts
32:25
doing those things. So, seeing those
32:27
guys around and obviously we've seen New
32:29
Boy and and Eric Winyers around and
32:31
Sylvester Smith and so, uh, Gaskins is a
32:33
guy that kind of reminds me of an old
32:36
school Auburn player, Rashard Gillard.
32:38
When you look at him, he's, you know,
32:40
59, but he's looks like a a small
32:42
running back, but he plays with a lot of
32:44
force and makes plays and, uh, he's just
32:46
around the football. I think is a, you
32:48
know, a good addition, good mix, and
32:50
kind of gives you another Kinsley F type
32:52
player that can probably play a little
32:54
nickel if he needs to, could play true
32:56
safety, and so you do, you got some
32:58
options there. Um, but yeah, I think
33:00
that position, yeah, from from where you
33:02
are, um, is about as good as as you
33:05
could hope for. Like I said, you got to
33:06
get to the end of this into this window
33:09
on Friday to make sure you keep
33:11
everyone. Um but if you do, then that's
33:13
uh that would definitely have to be
33:14
considered a strength for Auburn going
33:16
into the spring.
33:18
>> Yeah. And then we'll finish up here with
33:19
with cornerback. Um three additions
33:22
through the portal so far at corner. The
33:25
most recent one is Shamar Arno, which
33:28
people will remember that name from uh
33:31
from Carolton, Georgia. He was committed
33:33
to Auburn's 2025 class. They flipped him
33:37
from USC and then he flipped to Florida
33:39
State on signing day. Well, he spends
33:42
his true freshman season at Florida
33:43
State and then Auburn is able to bring
33:45
him right back uh through the transfer
33:47
portal and so he'll be in the mix there.
33:49
Uh Andre Jordan Jr. is the other big
33:52
pickup there at cornerback. Um played at
33:54
UCLA. Um started his career at Oregon
33:57
State. Another guy who played at Oregon
33:59
State. That's three former Oregon State
34:00
transfers on this team. Andre Jordan to
34:03
me is I mean Arno has like good young
34:06
talent and showed some flashes. another
34:08
example of a guy who got on the field
34:09
right away as a true freshman. Um I
34:11
would probably slot Andre Jordan as your
34:15
other starter if we're to believe again
34:17
that Raawn Pleasant is back, which we
34:20
are led to believe. There's been no
34:21
official whatever and he's not in the
34:23
portal, but it's like we're led to
34:24
believe he could be back. Um but
34:26
Christian still seems like you want
34:27
another corner maybe too just because
34:31
you don't have a bunch of numbers there.
34:32
Gavin Jenkins comes over from USF, but
34:34
he's he's a younger guy who who red
34:36
shirted last year. you'd maybe like
34:37
another corner to to throw into that
34:39
competitive group with with a guy like
34:42
Blake Woodby as well.
34:43
>> Yeah. And there's some names floating
34:45
out around there a little bit. Um, as
34:47
we've talked about on the message board,
34:49
some irons in the fire, as we've kind of
34:51
said, that sometimes just can't quite
34:53
give everything away quite yet. Um, but
34:55
look, DVD, Demarcus Van Djk, he's got
34:57
some things rolling um on that back end.
35:00
So, cornerback room still needs a piece
35:03
here or there. Um, we saw Jayvon Thomas
35:06
from Texas A&M visit last week. He's
35:08
still kind of in the mix as well. He's
35:10
at least worth tracking. He's still on
35:12
the portal live tracker. Um, and then
35:14
some other names popping up as well. So,
35:16
expect one maybe two more corners at
35:18
that spot, but you've kind of you've
35:21
rebuilt that room about as well as you
35:23
can so far at this point. Um,
35:26
losing Jay Crawford definitely hurt.
35:28
Andre Jordan Jr. can be solid. I don't
35:30
know if he will be Jay Crawford, but
35:32
you've got some pieces in there that you
35:34
can you can play around with.
35:36
>> I tell you what, I I really like Gavin
35:37
Jenkins, too. USF kid that red shirted
35:41
for them last year. You watch him from a
35:43
high school perspective. He played in
35:44
Florida. He's really long. He can run.
35:47
Um he's I mean, he's legit 6'2 guy that
35:51
has great speed. I think he's a guy that
35:54
could be sneaky for this team as you
35:56
come in and and playing for, you know,
35:59
Demarcus Van Djk. He knows the system.
36:01
He's going to know in terms of what that
36:04
guy expects from him. I think that's a
36:05
big deal. So, I like the Gavin Jenkins
36:07
ones, even though he's a guy that's
36:08
probably been overlooked. I think he's a
36:10
guy that brings something to the table.
36:13
>> Yeah. Yeah, and like we've talked about
36:14
before and as we'll kind of close this
36:16
out. Um, and you'll look, you'll see Jay
36:18
Crawford next year. When Auburn plays
36:20
Miss, you'll see Kay and Lee next year
36:22
when Auburn plays Tennessee. Um, I was
36:24
thinking about this. We'll see who won
36:25
the Malik Blockton Buddy Matthysse trade
36:28
between Auburn and LSU. We'll see which
36:29
one of those players ends up being
36:30
better next season. But, uh, you know,
36:33
Jason, we talked about this from the
36:34
beginning. Is this Auburn defense in
36:37
particular? I I go on defense, offense
36:38
as well because Cam, you lose a guy like
36:40
Cam Coleman. But talent on paper, is
36:44
this team going to be as talented next
36:46
season? I don't even think it's a
36:47
question they're not going to be. But to
36:49
your point that you just made about
36:51
trying to find the right fits in the
36:52
portal and feeling like hoping like you
36:55
have hoping that you have better
36:56
coaching now moving forward. I just
36:58
think people don't ne need to
37:00
necessarily I haven't seen a ton of
37:02
those. people don't need to get too
37:03
attached on star power and things like
37:06
that right now because you are just
37:08
trying to rebuild a roster. And we knew
37:10
this would be Alex Golish's plan. They
37:11
had to hit the portal really, really
37:12
hard because of numbers and because he
37:14
wanted good proof of concept on offense.
37:17
And then down the line, if you return to
37:18
a top 10, top 15ish recruiting class in
37:21
the high school ranks, that's going to
37:22
be good enough. It's been good enough
37:24
for Auburn for a long, long time with
37:26
competent head coaches. And uh I don't
37:28
know, I was just thinking about it more
37:29
and more with with guys that you're kind
37:30
of replacing one to one. You're
37:31
replacing Jake Crawford with another
37:33
corner. You're replacing Malik Blockton.
37:35
You're replacing Cam Coleman with Kon
37:36
Singleton. Are these guys as talented?
37:39
Probably not. Can they be as or more
37:42
productive? I think there's a good
37:43
chance they could be.
37:44
>> I thought about it cuz two maybe two or
37:47
three days ago was working and I look up
37:50
and they're showing the Cal Miami game
37:52
from 2024
37:54
because Fernando Mendoza has played
37:56
against Miami at Cal. And I thought
37:59
about going, look, we watched him come
38:02
to Jordan Harris Stadium and win a
38:04
football game. Did I think he was a
38:06
first round quarterback? Absolutely not.
38:08
Did I think he was a solid quarterback?
38:10
Yeah.
38:12
System, coaching, all those things do
38:15
matter. You know, you had you got to be
38:17
talented enough to go do it. Um, but I
38:20
think you look and go, look, they were
38:22
talented last two years. They won five
38:24
games each year. Um, it's not the beall
38:28
endall. And and we said that from the
38:29
beginning. Look, Auburn had to go get
38:31
more talented and they did. Now, you
38:34
lost some of those guys. You still got a
38:35
bunch of them, too, especially
38:36
defensively. You still got a bunch of
38:38
those guys on the roster,
38:40
but it's only a part of the equation. We
38:42
saw it with Texas A&M going, look, they
38:45
they had all these guys, all these
38:46
talented players. They lost some of
38:48
those guys, but a coaching change helped
38:52
them tremendously in doing what they
38:53
were doing. That's a guy that came from
38:55
Duke. And so I start to think about
38:57
going look like there's a and I hate to
39:01
use the word because there's a process
39:02
now and and there's a way to do this and
39:06
I think we have to accept it. I think
39:08
fans need to accept it too. Look, it's
39:11
not just straight up how many five stars
39:13
you got. It it doesn't work that way
39:15
anymore because I keep coming back to
39:16
this. I talked to Carl Nana Maker a
39:18
couple years ago and he said, "How do
39:19
you get old on the mound in baseball?"
39:21
That's same thing in football.
39:24
You get old by recruiting old guys
39:27
because when you play young guys, you
39:29
suffer. I mean, look at at I mean, you
39:32
know, you look at Auburn basketball,
39:33
like this team's got some experience
39:36
that you brought in, but you still
39:37
depending on some young guys, too. Last
39:40
year, Auburn basketball was old and they
39:43
won. And a lot of the reason why is
39:45
because they were old. Look, Dylan
39:46
Carwell's playing in the NBA and Jan
39:48
Broom's there, but that wasn't a team
39:50
full of NBA players. Um, I think Almer's
39:54
getting older and I think that's a big
39:57
part of the process now. And can you go
39:58
out and and fit the pieces together?
40:01
We'll see.
40:03
>> Yeah. And everyone's obviously going to
40:04
use Indiana as the shining example of
40:09
get guys from the portal and put them
40:11
into a good system and and and coach
40:14
them up really well and you don't need a
40:15
ton of star power. But it really is it's
40:18
it's sort of it's emblematic of it's
40:21
kind of like the heightened example.
40:23
>> I mean you can look at Vanderbilt. You
40:25
can look at Vanderbilt too
40:26
>> for sure.
40:27
>> Um you can even look at Old Miss a
40:29
little bit. Look Trinidad Chambas people
40:31
like oh man like Trinidad Chambas was a
40:33
guy they got Fair State to be a backup.
40:36
He wasn't their starter. Austin Simmons
40:38
was a starter. Um you know they
40:41
developed and it worked but it was
40:42
because they fit the system. Kiwan Lacy
40:44
was a guy that wasn't starting at at
40:46
Missouri and they got and I don't think
40:47
they ever envisioned him being what he
40:49
was. Um, look, sometimes it's hey, we
40:53
see something and that's why development
40:55
is important. Right now, evaluation may
40:58
be the most important thing you got
40:59
because you're evaluating guys that have
41:01
played a lot of football already and how
41:05
well you can evaluate and fit them into
41:06
what you're doing is is a big key.
41:09
>> Yeah. And right now, just numbers are
41:11
important, too. That's what we're going
41:12
to see a lot of down here toward the the
41:14
final stretch. You and I spoke on a show
41:17
a couple weeks ago, Jason, kind of like
41:18
guessing how many guys they would have
41:20
in the portal, and both of us were
41:21
around 40 just just with the amount of
41:24
guys that they were losing. And so
41:25
that's a lot of bodies left that you
41:26
need um just to fill out fill out depth
41:29
at each position. And so you try to get
41:32
your top end guys, try to fill those in.
41:34
Um and then everybody else, you try to
41:35
get them on campus and develop them. And
41:36
so shouldn't be this crazy every year
41:38
for Auburn.
41:39
>> Yeah. Think something to point out too,
41:40
and Christian, we're were talking about
41:42
this before.
41:43
Look, it doesn't end on Friday.
41:47
It may not end on Monday. It may not end
41:50
in May. Like you you may add guys in in,
41:54
you know, early June. Uh if you have a
41:56
hole and there's still a guy out there,
41:58
this can continue. So like Auburn fans
42:01
like, man, how do you replace these many
42:03
guys? Well, they're pretty close to the
42:05
number already, but like this this
42:07
thing's may not be over with for quite a
42:09
while.
42:11
>> Yeah. I mean, you've there's no reason
42:13
you can't add guys after the spring.
42:15
Like, that's that's still going to be a
42:16
thing just because the portal now is is
42:18
earlier. Um you'd rather not because
42:21
having those guys for for spring
42:22
practice is a big deal. Um but it's just
42:25
you're going to have guys who are left
42:27
over in the portal and you're going to
42:28
shore up two or three spots on the
42:30
roster. It's just it's going to happen.
42:31
And so, um, we will see what, uh, what
42:34
the next few days bring. Uh, keep it
42:36
locked at auburn undercover.com.
42:38
It's it's been transfer news every
42:41
single day. And like Jason said, it it
42:42
won't be slowing down anytime soon. And
42:44
and Christian and Jason have been doing
42:46
a phenomenal job keeping you guys
42:48
informed on the uh on the top players to
42:51
know. And so, we'll do it all again here
42:52
on uh on Friday. So, for for Christian
42:55
Clemente and Jason Caldwell, thank you
42:56
guys so much for joining us today.
42:57
Hopefully, it was a bit of an
42:59
informative rundown. um in in a couple
43:02
weeks it it could be a lot more players
43:04
in there that that you got to run down.
43:05
Lots of new names for everybody to uh to
43:08
remember. But uh to to stay informed,
43:09
head over to auburnover.com and we will
43:12
talk to you guys soon. Thank you so much
43:13
for tuning in.