Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze talks about the new haul of spring transfers and their impact on the team
In the eyes of many, Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze has something to prove this season. His first year on the Plains, which ended in a 6-7 record including the bowl game, can always be chalked up to just that — a first year, not getting the whole offseason as head coach, inheriting a team that was down bad, etc.
But in 2024, things look different. There were many staffing change ups, including new coordinators on both sides of the ball, and Freeze's first full recruiting class on the Plains is ranked in the top 10 in the country, headlined by a group of massively talented wide receivers.
Still, with the losses of several impact players to the NFL Draft, there were gaps to fill. With the goal of beefing up with wide receiver and defensive line position groups, the coaches turned the transfer portal and brought in five players during the spring window.
Three defensive linemen committed to the Tigers in the span of 24 hours: Philip Blidi (Indiana), Isaiah Raikes (Texas A&M, USC), and Keyron Crawford (Arkansas State). Next came the commitment of former Penn State WR, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, whose four years as a Nittany Lion will bring valuable leadership and experience to a room full of younger players. The group was rounded off by former Akron offensive tackle Ronan Chambers, who flipped from Tulane to the Tigers earlier this week.
“I think the ones we got in the spring, combined with the high school additions definitely improved us. The late additions that we just added, you know, we haven’t had them yet, but we feel good about them,” Freeze said Tuesday morning, per AL.com. “They added some depth to us, particularly along the D-line, where we added some quality players, we think — and at receiver. So we’re cautiously optimistic about our additions.”
With the portal closed, the Tigers have likely finished adding players to this year's squad, but will continue recruiting the class of 2025.