Auburn football awards scholarships to pair of walk-ons before fall camp

Two Auburn football walk-ons have been awarded scholarships ahead of the first practice of fall camp

Things are starting to feel real for Auburn football as we change our calendars to August. In just 30 days, the Tigers will be running out onto the field in Jordan-Hare Stadium to face Alabama A&M in the season opener.

Over the next few weeks, the Tigers will squeeze in 15 practices to prepare for the season, and it truly marks the beginning of the fall grind for the Auburn football team. Before the real work starts, the Auburn coaching staff hit the team with some good news.

A pair of walk-ons — safety Griffin Speaks and running back Justin Jones — have been awarded scholarships.

An Auburn native, Speaks previously played quarterback at Auburn High. He signed with Baylor out of high school, and spent four seasons with the Bears after redshirting as a freshman. He was a key contributor on Baylor special teams in 2022, and then came to Auburn as a graduate transfer ahead of the 2023 season as a walk-on.

"It was really special," Speaks said last fall, after his first game in an Auburn uniform, per Auburn Undercover. "I felt overwhelmed just with the opportunity. Extremely blessed. Just a lot of emotions from my childhood and growing up and going to games here, watching this incredible team, this incredible program. I just felt blessed."

From Bessemer, Alabama, Jones began his collegiate career at UAB but saw no playing time during his two seasons with the Blazers. He transferred to Auburn ahead of the 2022 season, after which he was named offensive scout player of the year. In 2023 he played every game on special teams.

The Tigers officially kicked off fall camp this morning at 10 a.m. at the Woltosz Football Performance Center.