SEC Media Days 1-3: Auburn in the Headlines
Auburn hasn’t even taken the podium yet here in Hoover and is already making headlines. The Tigers have been the topic of conversation in several teams’ pressers.
Here are several of the headlines circulating the web:
“UGA coach Kirby Smart talks how he flipped Auburn commit George Pickens”
What’s said: George Pickens saw his best opportunity at a chance in the NFL when he saw Georgia receivers Mecole Hardman and Riley Ridley leave early to declare for the draft. He wanted to play with Jake Fromm, a talented and consistent quarterback who has been proven capable of taking his team to college football’s biggest stage. Starting at Auburn wasn’t necessarily guaranteed and the Tigers will be starting a brand new quarterback which left Pickens feeling apprehensive.
What isn’t said: George Pickens was committed to Auburn for 565 days before committing to Georgia.
“Georgia QB Jake Fromm: ‘Tough’ to see brother Tyler Fromm go to Auburn”
Biggest takeaway: the brotherly love between Jake and Tyler Fromm is real. Georgia and Auburn are rivals and while Jake is one of Georgia’s most talented quarterbacks his little brother Tyler felt that Auburn was the best fit for him. Jake had nothing but love for his little brother who is currently honing his skills to play both tight end and halfback positions. The two brothers will face off in Jordan Hare on November 16th.
On November 16th, Georgia's Jake Fromm will play little brother Tyler Fromm at Auburn.
— Patrick Brickman (@PatrickBrickman) July 16, 2019
"It's going to be a special moment for us - one our family can cherish forever."#SECMD19 @abc3340 pic.twitter.com/dG3bS1ZjvV
“Florida RB Lamical Perine says Auburn called him slow: ‘I’m not an Auburn fan at all’
Florida RB Lamical Perine says that Auburn recruited him some in high school but never offered him because an Auburn coach said he was “too slow” and that he’s “not an Auburn fan at all.” Well let’s take a look at who Auburn has on deck for runningback. JaTarvious Whitlow and Kam Martin are at the top of the depth chart for Auburn at RB with talent of football and track and field star Shaun Shivers right behind them. D.J. Williams, Harold Joiner, and Malik Miller complete the depth chart and among Auburn’s six runningbacks four of them were rated as four star recruits upon entering college.
Recruiting is cutthroat with coaches seeking the best fits for their teams. While an Auburn coach very well could have told Perine that he was too slow, in his three years as runningback for Florida Perine has failed to put up a 1,000 yard rushing season which is a stat that has been a tradition at Auburn over the last decade. This year the stat ended due to Auburn’s runningback-by-committee approach as the Tigers searched for the answer to losing Kerryon Johnson who rushed for 2,494 yards in his three year Auburn career but will likely return with the addition of Cadillac Williams to the staff as Auburn’s runningbacks coach.
Would Auburn have been a fit for Perine? Absolutely not. Perine will have every opportunity to prove the Tigers wrong on October 5th when the Tigers travel to the swamp to take on the Gators for the first time in eight years.
"When we play Auburn that day, I will remember all that."
— Patrick Brickman (@PatrickBrickman) July 16, 2019
Despite being from the state, Auburn never offered Lamical Perine - telling him he was too slow. He doesn't harbor too much resentment against the Tigers, but will be out for vengeance come October 5th. #SECMD19 @abc3340 pic.twitter.com/f0ZER27JD4
“Clemson-turned-Missouri quarterback Kelly Bryant a big ‘what-if’ for Auburn”
This was without a doubt the headline that broke the internet here in Hoover on Monday. Bryant was asked how long it took for Auburn to reach out to him once he entered the transfer portal. For more breakdown on his explanation check out our coverage of Bryant’s response here:
Kelly Bryant Loved Auburn, Couldnt Commit
Former Clemson QB Kelly Bryant explained why he chose Mizzou over Auburn at #SECMD19 yesterday @WKRG pic.twitter.com/J63kKWSQSe
— Robby Baker (@RobbyBakerTV) July 16, 2019
The Tigers are scheduled to make more headlines as they address the media at 11 am tomorrow. Stay tuned for more coverage live from Hoover on Twitter and Facebook.