Auburn Tigers football coach Hugh Freeze didn't like the way drills were going during the team's fifth practice of fall camp. Particularly during 1-on-1 drills, where DJ Durkin, Wesley McGriff, and TJ Rushing's secondary group dominated the receivers.
While the Montgomery Advertiser's Adam Cole gave props to Wake Forest Demon Deacons transfer Horatio Fields, he noted that the receiving corps struggled mightily against the corners and safeties.
"Horatio Fields, who transferred in from Wake Forest this offseason, looked stellar in individual periods, not missing a catch and making difficult throws look like easy receptions. But he was one of the many who struggled during Auburn's 1-on-1 pass-catching drills," Cole wrote.
"Auburn's quarterbacks completed one pass in 14 tries during the final period of the viewing session, with Cam Coleman beating Kayin Lee on the opening rep. Otherwise, it all cornerbacks and safeties finding success, though it was clear Freeze thought his receiving corps was being penalized — so much so he broke out a yellow penalty flag late in the drill and threw it accordingly."
Some of the blame could be assessed to quarterbacks Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels, and Deuce Knight. Obviously, much of it goes to the receivers themselves for not creating separation.
In truth, Freeze needs to have his receivers ready. Full stop.
He can throw all the penalty flags he wants when practice isn't going his way. At the end of the day, when you bring on as much talent via the Transfer Portal (Eric Singleton Jr., Fields) and high school recruiting (Cam Coleman, Malcolm Simmons, Sam Turner) you can't rely on cheap excuses like that.
It's just practice and this may not mean much. However, there's something to be said about a head coach who constantly promises future improvement, year after year, but can't make elite players look elite.
Durkin doesn't do much talking but has turned Keldric Faulk into an elite 2026 NFL draft prospect.
Interim head coach DJ Durkin has a nice ring to it.