In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, two former AU football players were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and Bruce Pearl talks about the defense of Denver Jones
Earlier this week, the official 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class was announced, and two former Auburn football players made the cut.
Linebacker Gregg Carr was a consensus First-Team All-American in 1984 and led the Tigers in tackles as a sophomore and junior. He was the second-leading tackler as a senior, was a two-time First Team All-SEC selection, and was named 1984 SEC Lineman of the Year.
Carr was drafted in the sixth round of the 1985 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh and played four seasons with the Steelers before returning to complete medical school at UAB and graduating in 1994. He is now an orthopedic surgeon in Birmingham.
Larry Blakeney was selected for the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach after a successful career at Troy. He spent 24 seasons as the Trojans' head coach and is the all-time winningest coach in both Troy and Sun Belt Conference history. He led the Trojans to eight conference titles and five bowl games, and guided the program from a Division II school to one in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Blakeney played quarterback during his time on the Plains and made history as the first sophomore to start at the position under legendary coach Shug Jordan.
Bruce Pearl on Denver Jones' defense
The Auburn basketball team has had to step up in a big way without star big man Johni Broome. With the SEC playing at a higher level than ever before, the Tigers will have to fight for every win.
In Broome's absence, all of the Tigers have stepped up in a big way, from Chad Baker-Mazara's shooting to Miles Kelly's rebounds to Chaney Johnson's rotation into the starting lineup. But for Kelly, one of the biggest assets on the Tigers' roster is Denver Jones thanks to his lockdown defense.
"Just the way he stays solid," Kelly said Tuesday night of what makes Jones a great defender, per Auburn Undercover. "… I mean, the whole summer gearing up toward the season, he was guarding me. So, if anybody knows how he guards, it's me. His instincts are just crazy. They're second to none. He really just stays solid. A lot of not-good defenders, they jump at everything and get real antsy. But he just stays solid on every move."
The Tigers will tipoff against Georgia from Athens this Saturday at noon.