In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, the football program is predicted to flip a 4-star defensive lineman, basketball plays host to USC, and another wide receiver enters the transfer portal
It's that time of year! Merry Flipmas, to all who celebrate, and the Auburn Tigers have certainly been celebrating the holiday. From Perry Thompson to Cam Coleman to Demarcus Riddick to Jamonta Waller, it has been a year of recruiting flips for head coach Hugh Freeze and his staff.
Now, according to Jeffrey Lee of Auburn Live, the Auburn football program is trending towards the flip of 4-star defensive lineman Amaris Williams, who is currently committed to the Florida Gators. Auburn Daily reported that the prediction came on the heels of Williams' visit to the Plains earlier this week. Williams himself admitted the Tigers have "a big chance" to make the flip.
Williams is ranked as the #1 recruit out of the state of North Carolina, and is the #12 defensive lineman in the recruiting class of 2024. The Tigers recruitment of the DL had not yet begun when he committed to the Gators, and defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett has made a late push and put Auburn football in the position to flip Amaris Williams.
Is LeBron James coming to see Auburn basketball this weekend?
This Sunday, the Auburn basketball team will host the USC Trojans for the second game in their home-and-home series. The Tigers fell to the Trojans in Los Angeles last December 74-71, and will be looking to even the score this weekend.
According to AL.com, ticket prices for the game this week have been soaring, with standing room tickets going for $100+ on various ticketing markets. Of course, the Tigers have been on a hot streak lately, but the prices for tickets may be due to a different factor: Bronny James.
The son of LeBron James played his first collegiate game earlier this month after going into cardiac arrest during a workout. He is expected to play agains Auburn, and is it possible his dad could be there to witness?
There is no way to know until Sunday, but there is definitely a possibility. The Tigers will tip off against the Trojans from Neville Arena this Sunday at noon.
Another wide receiver hits the transfer portal
Also of note, Auburn football wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson announced he will be entering the NCAA transfer portal. Johnson was one of the Tigers' most productive receivers in 2023, totaling 19 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns. After four seasons in orange and blue, the WR logged 64 total receptions for 1,114 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Trussville native was a member of the Tigers' recruiting class of 2019, and was a 4-star recruit and the #11 player out of the state of Alabama. Johnson is the fourth Auburn football wide receiver to enter the portal following Malcolm Johnson Jr., Jyaire Shorter, and Omari Kelly.