Auburn football rumors: Marcus Freeman on Tigers’ radar

After a successful season with the Cincinnati Bearcats, Marcus Freeman could be considered for a role on Bryan Harsin’s Auburn football staff.

Now that the 2020 Auburn football season has wrapped up–unceremoniously at the Citrus Bowl in a 35-19 loss to the Northwestern Wildcats–the search for the support staff of brand new head coach Bryan Harsin has officially begun:

As has been all but confirmed, Kevin Steele will not be returning to the Auburn football program in 2021 under Harsin. That should perk the ears of all Tigers.

But who can replace Steele as the defensive coordinator?

According to podcast host and Auburn personality (and friend of Fly War Eagle) Jake “Jboy” Crain, Marcus Freeman could be an option:

Freeman’s Cincinnati Bearcats of the American Athletic Conference had one of the toughest defenses in the entire FBS, as Keenan Singleton of ABC Cincinnati pointed out:

"The Bearcats are fifth in the most important metric of scoring: defense. That includes a five-game stretch where Luke Fickell and defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman’s squad held opponents to fewer than 14 points. They’re ninth in yards allowed and top 25 in both rushing (17th) and passing (23rd)."

While defeating the likes of East Carolina and Austin Peay are the kind of wins that can inflate team stats of smaller conference schools, the Bearcats proved to be legitimately fearful when they held the Bulldogs to just 36 rushing yards in their 24-21 loss to Georgia in the Peach Bowl.

With Steve Sarkisian being named the new head coach of Texas and the Longhorns program looking to spend big money to bring him success with his support staff, Freeman could well be bought by the Lone Star State’s premier university.

Then again, never count out Auburn, especially when there appears to be a plan in the Plains.