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Sports Illustrated There's a week off to break it up, but playing three straight road games against Georgia, Missouri, and Kentucky will dictate the season . . . While Auburn is working the portal, the focus for Freeze and his staff continues to be on high school recruiting. Bringing in a strong 2024 class and already off to a very good start in 2025, he said the goal is to continue to build from the ground up . . . Freshman phenom Cam Coleman is already establishing himself as a potential difference-maker from Day 1 of his collegiate career . . . The roster has undergone a huge overhaul with more than 50 players currently playing for the Tigers that weren't on campus when Freeze and his staff were hired . . . The Tigers may not be done as the top wide receiver in the Transfer Portal, Penn State's KeAndre Lambert-Smith has been in contact with the program . . . Auburn hopes most of its work was done in the first portal window. The Tigers added nine transfers thus far, and all were present for spring practice . . . The transfer portal is once again open for business . . . He is the first Auburn player to enter the portal with the spring transfer window opening up Tuesday . . . Maybe the biggest reason why we won't see as many spring games moving forward is that it's an audition for the spring transfer portal . . . Blidi was one of Indiana's top defensive players last season, playing on the defensive line. He enjoyed his best collegiate season by making 30 stops with four tackles for loss and a pass deflection . . . LISTEN: Transfer portal re-opening . . . Heading into year two, Studzinski has had a full year to work with the roster in the weight room . . . Freeze pointed out after the A-Day game that they needed more guys on the defensive line, hinting that Auburn may pursue some guys out of the transfer portal at the position . . . The portal opens for business on Monday. The spring portal window will remain open until April 30 for undergraduate student-athletes and until May 1 for grad transfers . . . Auburn's first-team secondary group exiting the spring appeared to be Thompson and redshirt freshman Sylvester Smith at safety, former JUCO product Champ Anthony at nickel, and Scott and Kayin Lee at the cornerback spots . . . "It's very family-oriented," Smith told Auburn Undercover I grew up an Auburn fan. My mom fell in love with Auburn. I fell in love with Auburn. My coach went to Auburn . . . Thompson, in flipping from Alabama, was one of the first splash commits of the 2024 class for Coach Freeze, so you could say this turned the tide . . . Cobb, Auburn's highest-rated running back signee since Tank Bigsby, didn't arrive last year until the fall, which he admitted was a hindrance for his progression within the offense. This time around, he made sure to soak in winter workouts and the 15 spring practices . . . The 5-foot-10, 198-pound rising senior will decide between Auburn, Penn State, Miami and Florida State . . . Carde Smith, a 4-star offensive lineman who measures 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, announced his commitment to Auburn . . . There has never been a question about his physical skills, but Brown said he's had to learn how to prepare every day to be the best he can be . . . "I love Auburn and I think this is where I'm meant to be . . . The program is in much better shape than it has been in for the last several years. That starts with the level of talent on the field. Much of that is still unproven from the 2023 and 2024 signing classes, but you don't have to be an NFL GM to see the difference . . . Coleman has been the talk of spring camp and he didn't disappoint . . . The Auburn roster welcomed a hometown kicker who recently graduated from Auburn High School . . . Towns McGough kicked seven field goals and drilled a 58-yarder on the final play to give Auburn's offense a 28-27 A-Day victory . . . "His confidence and experience will make him the guy . . . Freeze says returning starter Payton Thorne will enter fall camp in "the pole position" at quarterback . . . Players and coaches being able to watch the Eagle Flight is a rarity. Generally, the team is still in the locker room when Auburn's eagles take flight minutes before kickoff . . . All eyes will be on quarterback Payton Thorne and freshman five-star receiver Cam Coleman . . . This year's spring game — set to kick off Saturday at 1 p.m. CST (SEC Network+) — is hoped to be more productive than the first under Hugh Freeze, when the Tigers played just three quarters before cutting things short on a rain-soaked Pat Dye Field . . . "The energy has been off the charts at practice so far." Even the youngest guys on Auburn's roster-- the early enrollees-- have taken to the standard quickly . . . It's going to take time, as in years, to truly get the Auburn football roster where Hugh Freeze and his coaching staff want it to be. It's only the beginning of Year 2 for the Freeze era and there's still a long way to go . . . He's continued to extend his lead in the quarterback competition, with the A-Day spring game fast approaching Saturday afternoon . . . Freeze and Nix — who previously coached together at Ole Miss — have co-piloted changes within Auburn's offense. "Those two are taking charge and the way we practice is a lot different . . .
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