Draft Scout Warning: Undefined variable $TeamName in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\notesteam.php on line 20 Player News, College Football: Warning: Undefined variable $TeamName in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\notesteam.php on line 20

Auburn hired South Florida's Alex Golesh as its next coach on Sunday, counting on him to revitalize an offense that has ranked in the bottom half of the Southeastern Conference each of the last six years. The 41-year-old Golesh, who was born in Russia and moved to the United State at age 7, is signing a six-year contract that averages more than $7 million annually to replace Hugh Freeze. Freeze was fired in early November after failing to fix Auburn's offensive issues in three seasons on the Plains. Freeze lost 12 of his last 15 SEC games. Golesh went 23-15 in three seasons with the Bulls, a tenure that culminated with USF ranking second in the country in total offense (501.7 yards a game) and fourth in scoring (43 points a game). "He has produced wins and record-setting results throughout his entire career, including over the last three seasons at USF," Auburn athletic director John Cohen said. "Alex is known nationally for his player development prowess, ability to shape creative and explosive offenses, and his relentless approach to building winning programs. "In our conversations, he showed the determination and edge that this program demands of its head coach." Golesh becomes Auburn's fourth football coach in seven seasons.

The Tigers fired Gus Malzahn in 2020, Brysan Harsin in 2022 and now Freeze in 2025. Together, the school will end up paying $52.5 million in buyout fees. The Tigers owe Freeze $15.8 million, with no mitigation, from a six-year, $39 million deal he signed to replace Harsin in 2022. Freeze got the boot at 15-19 overall and 6-16 in the conference. The last five losses included more offensive woes. Golesh could be the answer. His Bulls upset Boise State and Florida - both ranked - in September and lost road games at Memphis and Navy by three points each to miss out on the American Conference championship game and a potential berth in the College Football Playoff. He previously worked as Josh Heupel's offensive coordinator at UCF (2020) and Tennessee (2021-22) before taking over at USF, and he implements an up-tempo style that can be taxing on defenses. His offenses have consistently been among the nation's most productive and highest scoring, averaging more than 35 points and 450 yards during his time with the Bulls. USF ranks in the top 25 of 20 national statistical categories, including 11 offensive, seven defensive and two special teams statistics. - AP College Football

(DS#3 WR) So/2028

WR Cam Coleman, Auburn
News Source: AP College Football
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11/24/25 - Deuce Knight, Fr/2029, Auburn, 6-3, 217 (DS#8 QB) + More +

WEEK 13 SEC FRESHMAN: Deuce Knight, QB, Auburn,..On Auburn's first play of scrimmage, Knight scored a 75-yard rushing touchdown, the first score of his career....Knight's touchdown tied Carnell Cadillac Williams (vs. Alabama, 2003) for the fastest touchdown in Auburn history at 15 seconds...Was responsible for six touchdowns (4 rushing, 2 passing) in today's game, tying the program record (Cam Newton, 2010 SEC Championship vs. South Carolina; Carnell Williams vs. Mississippi State, 2003)...The 75-yard run tied for the 27th longest run in Auburn history and the longest since Jarquez Hunter went 94 yards against Alabama State on Sept. 11, 2021. It also tied Tristan Davis (Nov. 5, 2005 at Kentucky) for the fifth longest run by a freshman in Auburn history...Knight's 75-yard rush was the sixth longest run by an Auburn quarterback in program history and the longest since John Franklin III had an 80-yard rush vs. ULM in 2016.

Added a 51-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter to become the third Auburn quarterback with multiple rushing touchdowns in a game this season...Knight joined Phil Gargis (1974), Cam Newton (2010) and Jackson Arnold (2025) as Tiger quarterbacks to rush for 100+ yards in their starting debut...Became the first Auburn quarterback to rush for 150+ yards since Nick Marshall vs. Tennessee in 2013. He is the first Auburn freshman to rush for 100 yards since Robby Ashford (121 yards, 17 carries, two TD) at No. 8 Alabama on Nov. 26, 2022...Knight's 173 first-half rushing yards were the third-most in a half by an Auburn player since 1980; Tre Mason had 195 vs. Missouri in the first half of the 2013 SEC Championship game...His 162 rushing yards were tied for the ninth-most in a game by an Auburn freshman (Tristan Davis vs. Kentucky, 2005) and ninth-most by an Auburn quarterback in program history. His 162 rushing yards also the most by an Auburn quarterback since Nick Marshall had 214 vs. Tennessee on Nov. 9, 2013. - SEC Football

(DS#8 QB) Fr/2029

QB Deuce Knight, Auburn
News Source: SEC Football
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11/22/25 - Deuce Knight, Fr/2029, Auburn, 6-3, 217 (DS#8 QB) + More +

Deuce Knight amassed 401 total yards and tied a school record accounting for six touchdowns and Auburn beat lower-division Mercer 62-17 on Saturday. Knight, a freshman quarterback making his first career start, ran nine times for 162 yards and four scores. He also completed 15 of 20 passes for 239 yards and two more TDs. He became the first Auburn QB to run for four scores since Cam Newton in 2010. Jackson Arnold split drives with Knight in the second half and scored a 56-yard rushing touchdown.

Malcolm Simmons caught five passes for 149 yards, including a 91-yard touchdown pass from Knight. Cam Coleman added 65 yards and a score for Auburn (5-6). Tigers starter Ashton Daniels was held out of this game to preserve an extra year of eligibility, which gave Knight his first start. Daniels, however, is expected to return for next week's rivalry game against No. 10 Alabama in the Iron Bowl. Mercer (9-2) managed 338 yards. Braden Atkinson threw for 210 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. One was a pick-6 by linebacker Elijah Melendez. - Auburn/AP College Football

(DS#8 QB) Fr/2029

QB Deuce Knight, Auburn
News Source: Auburn/AP College Football
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11/19/25 - Alex McPherson, rJr/2027, Auburn, 5-09, 160 (DS#11 K) + More +

WEEK 9 SEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Alex McPherson, PK, Auburn,...Connected on all six field goal attempts and one extra point to account for 19 of Auburn's 33 points in the come-from-behind win at Arkansas...His six field goals made matched an Auburn and SEC single-game record, tying former Tigers Daniel Carlson (2016 vs. LSU) and Al Del Greco (1982 vs. Kentucky)...His six FGM were two more than any other SEC kicker this season and one more than any other FBS kicker...Five of his six field goals came in the second half, including three in the fourth quarter, as Auburn erased an 11-point halftime deficit, marking the program's largest come-from-behind win since 2021...He connected on a season-long 43-yard kick in the third quarter and surpassed that season long with a 47-yard kick in the fourth quarter...His 37-yard field goal with 1:06 in the game gave Auburn a two-possession lead and sealed the win. - SEC Football

(DS#11 K) rJr/2027

K Alex McPherson, Auburn
News Source: SEC Football
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11/19/25 - Xavier Atkins, So/2028, Auburn, 6-0, 210 (DS#6 OLB) + More +

WEEK 9 SEC CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Xavier Atkins, LB, Auburn,...Recorded a career-high 13 tackles, including a pair of sacks and 4.0 TFL, in the come-from-behind win at Arkansas...His 13 tackles were the most by an Auburn player since Owen Pappoe recorded 16 tackles vs. Ole Miss on Oct. 15, 2022...It marked the fifth straight SEC game Atkins has led the team or tied for the team lead in tackles and was his third game with 10 or more tackles in SEC play...The game also marked Atkins' second game with 4.0 TFL this season, becoming the first Auburn player since Stanley McClover in 2005 to have multiple games with 4.0+ TFL in a season...He has accounted for two of the four 4.0 TFL games in the SEC this season...Through eight games, Atkins leads the SEC with 13.0 TFL and ranks tied for second in the league with 61 tackles and 7.0 sacks...His 13.0 TFL are the most for an Auburn underclassman since Nick Coe had 13.5 in 2018 and are the most by an inside LB since DeShaun Davis had 15.0 in 2018...In five SEC games, Atkins leads the league with 9.0 TFL (2.5 more than any other player) and ranks second in tackles (49) and third in sacks (5.0). - SEC Football

(DS#6 OLB) So/2028

OLB Xavier Atkins, Auburn
News Source: SEC Football
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11/03/25 - Jeremiah Wright, rSr/2026, Auburn, 6-4, 348 (DS#7 OG) + More +

Football coach Hugh Freeze, whose 15-19 record in his two-plus seasons at Auburn was capped by a listless home loss to Kentucky on Saturday, was fired, athletic director John Cohen announced Sunday. Freeze, 56, will be owed $15.8 million in buyout money, with no mitigation, after he signed a six-year, $49 million deal to replace Bryan Harsin in 2022. Freeze is the eighth Power Four coach to be fired this season. "I have informed Coach Freeze of my decision to make a change in leadership with the Auburn football program," Cohen said in a statement. "Coach Freeze is a man of integrity, and we are appreciative of his investment in Auburn and his relentless work over the last three years in bolstering our roster. Our expectations for Auburn football are to annually compete for championships, and the search for the next leader of Auburn football begins immediately." Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin was named interim coach of the Tigers. "It's my fervent belief that great days are ahead for the Auburn football program," Freeze wrote in a statement posted on X. "Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this chapter. I love this place, and I'll carry the friendships with me always."

Much of the SEC offseason spotlight focused on Freeze, heightening the need for a strong start for the Tigers. In his time at Auburn, he had a 6-16 mark in the SEC, and his tenure was marked by excruciating home losses to New Mexico State, Cal, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Oklahoma. The program's offensive issues continued under Freeze, with the Tigers scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 SEC games. He also was on the wrong end of too many close matchups, including twice this season, thanks partly to questionable calls. Freeze, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year, improved the roster heading into this season, landing consecutive top-10 recruiting classes. He also added key transfers, such as quarterback Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma) and wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (Georgia Tech). Combined with a manageable 2025 schedule and a contract that ran through the 2028 season, it seemed the pieces were in place for Freeze to author a breakthrough. - AP College Football

(DS#7 OG) rSr/2026

OG Jeremiah Wright, Auburn
News Source: AP College Football
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10/25/25 - Rayshawn Pleasant, rJr/2027, Auburn, 5-11, 200 (DS#55 CB) + More +

Rayshawn Pleasant's 49-yard interception return for a touchdown with 9:15 left proved to be the game-winning score as Auburn picked up its first win in Southeastern Conference play, 33-24, over Arkansas on Saturday. The Tigers (4-4, 1-4) picked up new life after inserting Ashton Daniels at quarterback late in the second quarter. Auburn's starter, Jackson Arnold, was benched after throwing an interception late in the half that Arkansas' Kani Walker returned 89 yards for a touchdown, giving the Razorbacks a 21-10 lead at the break. Daniels led Auburn on three straight scoring drives to start the third quarter, all finishing with field goals, to trim Arkansas' lead to 24-19 at the time of Pleasant's interception. The Tigers' quarterback finished 6 of 8 for 77 yards through his two-plus quarters of work after coming on for Arnold. Arkansas (2-6, 0-4) didn't have the ball enough for a comeback. Auburn won the time-of-possession battle by more than 13 minutes and the Razorbacks committed turnovers on three straight possessions following Pleasant's touchdown.

O'Mega Blake lost a fumble at the Auburn 44 that the Tigers ultimately turned into another field goal, Alex McPherson's fourth of the game. Pleasant intercepted Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green a second time at the Auburn 45 on the next Razorbacks' series. Auburn converted a fourth-and-1 at the Arkansas 27 with 2:42 left and McPherson finished the drive with a 37-yard field goal to provide the final score with 1:06 to play. Jeremiah Cobb led Auburn with 153 yards rushing on 28 carries. Rohan Jones had Arkansas' best offensive day, catching three passes for 127 yards. Raylen Sharpe caught a touchdown pass from Green in Arkansas' 21-point second quarter. Green finished 14 of 22 for 268 yards with the touchdown and three interceptions, the last of which came on the first play of Arkansas' final drive. McPherson made field goals of 36, 23, 43, 26, 47 and 37 yards. - Auburn/AP College Football

(DS#55 CB) rJr/2027

CB Rayshawn Pleasant, Auburn
News Source: Auburn/AP College Football
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09/25/25 - Horatio Fields, rSr/2026, Auburn, 6-2, 201 (DS#96 WR) + More +

Auburn receiver Horatio Fields, who ranks third on the team with 12 receptions for 106 yards a touchdown this season, is sidelined indefinitely with a broken foot. Coach Hugh Freeze said the 6-foot-2 senior was injured in practice Tuesday. Fields transferred to Auburn this year after four years at Wake Forest. "Kind of the leader of that receiver room who knew every position and gave us flexibility to do a lot of things," Freeze said during the Southeastern Conference coaches conference call Wednesday. "And it's a difficult loss." Freeze said sophomore Perry Thompson is the next man up and will get a chance to fill Fields' role when the Tigers (3-1, 0-1 SEC) play at No. 9 Texas A&M (3-0, 0-0) on Saturday. "It's his time to show he's ready and to earn it, and obviously we're getting Sam (Turner) prepared, too, to help," Freeze said. "Perry has the potential and talent to do really good things. "He's got to learn to do them consistently, over and over again, and with technique. He shows flashes of that. Now we just need it to be more consistent, but he'll be the first one to get that opportunity." - AP College Football

(DS#96 WR) rSr/2026

WR Horatio Fields, Auburn
News Source: AP College Football
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09/13/25 - Jackson Arnold, Jr/2027, Auburn, 6-1, 219 (DS#15 QB) + More +

Jackson Arnold accounted for three touchdowns, including two rushing, and No. 24 Auburn beat South Alabama 31-15 on Saturday. The Tigers (3-0) enjoyed a balanced attack in their "White Out" game - all-white uniforms at home for the first time in 15 years - and finished with 195 yards rushing and 142 passing. Jeremiah Cobb continued to find success in Damari Alston's absence, rushing for 119 yards and a touchdown.

Cobb has a career-high four rushing touchdowns through three games. Cam Coleman reeled in the first touchdown of his 2025 season, opening up the scoring for Auburn. Eric Singleton Jr. had a team-leading six receptions for 65 yards. South Alabama's Bishop Davenport threw for 170 yards and two touchdowns but also had an interception. The Jaguars (1-2) had success moving the football and finished with 310 yards, but penalties, stalled drives and defensive miscues prevented the game from being tightly contested. - Auburn/AP College Football

(DS#15 QB) Jr/2027

QB Jackson Arnold, Auburn
News Source: Auburn/AP College Football
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09/01/25 - Jackson Arnold, Jr/2027, Auburn, 6-1, 219 (DS#15 QB) + More +

WEEK 1 SEC CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jackson Arnold, QB, Auburn,...Rushed for a career high 137 yards on 16 carries, good for 8.6 yards per carry, and matched a career high with two rushing TDs while going 11-for-17 with 108 yards passing in his Auburn debut...Became the first Auburn QB since Cam Newton (2010) to rush and pass for 100+ yards in their Auburn debut...Was one of four QBs in the country and the only from the SEC to rush and pass for 100+ yards in week one...His 137 rushing yards were the most by a SEC player in week one and the most by an Auburn QB since Nick Marshall rushed for 214 yards at Tennessee in 2013...Six of his 16 rush attempts were for 10+ yards, including his two TD runs of 24 and 27 yards...Led Auburn to its most points (38) in a road non-conference game since defeating Florida State, 42-41, in 1984. - SEC Football

(DS#15 QB) Jr/2027

QB Jackson Arnold, Auburn
News Source: SEC Football
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09/01/25 - Rayshawn Pleasant, rJr/2027, Auburn, 5-11, 200 (DS#55 CB) + More +

WEEK 1 SEC CO-SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Rayshawn Pleasant, DB/KR, Auburn,...Making his Auburn debut, he returned his only kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to increase Auburn's lead from one score to two with 00:43 left in the third quarter...The kickoff return TD was the third of Pleasant's career, all coming in the last two seasons, and was the fourth TD of his career (one INT return)...He is the only FBS player with three kickoff return TDs in the last two seasons and is one of three active FBS players with three or more kickoff return TDs in their career...It marked Auburn's first kick return TD since the 2019 season and was the longest kick return TD since Tre Mason's 100-yard return vs. Washington State in 2013. - SEC Football

(DS#55 CB) rJr/2027

CB Rayshawn Pleasant, Auburn
News Source: SEC Football
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08/29/25 - Jackson Arnold, Jr/2027, Auburn, 6-1, 219 (DS#15 QB) + More +

Transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold had 137 of Auburn's 307 rushing yards while scoring two touchdowns, Rayshawn Pleasant returned a kickoff 98 yards and the Tigers beat Baylor 38-24 on Friday night, opening the season in a true road game for the first time since 2002. Arnold, who played for Oklahoma the previous two seasons, had six runs of at least 10 yards. He put the Tigers ahead to stay with a 24-yard TD that capped a 96-yard drive in the first quarter, and added a 27-yarder on a fourth-and-1 play with 4:32 left.

That nearly length-of-the field Auburn drive was set up by a fourth-down incompletion by Sawyer Robertson, who finished 27-of-48 passing for 419 yards and three touchdowns. Two of his TDs came on fourth-down plays, to wide-open Alabama transfer Kobe Prentice (33 yards) and true freshman running back Caiden Knighten (10 yards). Pleasant, another transfer, scored twice on kickoff returns for Tulane last season. His first for the Tigers made it 31-17 in the final minute of the third quarter. - Auburn/AP College Football

(DS#15 QB) Jr/2027

QB Jackson Arnold, Auburn
News Source: Auburn/AP College Football
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09/03/24 - Rayshawn Pleasant, rJr/2027, Auburn, 5-11, 200 (DS#55 CB) + More +

WEEK 1 AAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Rayshawn Pleasant, So., CB, Tulane,...Pleasant had the defensive highlight of Week 1 in The American as part of Tulane's 52-0 shutout against Southeastern Louisiana, in which the Green Wave defense limited the Lions to 201 yards of offense and only 99 passing yards. Pleasant led the way a spectacular 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, becoming only the second American Athletic Conference player to go end-to-end on a pick six and the first since East Carolina's Josh Hawkins against Tulsa Oct. 17, 2015. - AAC Football

(DS#55 CB) rJr/2027

CB Rayshawn Pleasant, Auburn
News Source: AAC Football
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08/31/24 - Payton Thorne, rSr/2025, Auburn, 6-2, 207 (DS#27 QB) + More +

Payton Thorne threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns in the first half, and Auburn opened its season with a 73-3 victory over in-state FCS opponent Alabama A&M on Saturday night. Thorne wasted no time in taking advantage of his new wide receivers, tossing two touchdowns to Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith and another one to highly touted freshman Cam Coleman in the first quarter. Fellow freshman receiver Perry Thompson added a 70-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.

Auburn's big offensive night started with a 34-yard touchdown run from Jarquez Hunter on the fourth play of the game. Thorne scored his rushing touchdown from 4 yards out in the second quarter, and Damari Alston added a 2-yard score just before halftime. Malcolm Simmons, another Auburn freshman receiver, scored two touchdowns in the third quarter on a blocked punt and a 55-yard reception. California transfer Sam Jackson V added a 42-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. Alabama A&M quarterback Cornelious Brown IV threw for 182 yards in the loss. The Bulldogs only converted two of their 16 third-down tries and missed two short field goals. - AP College Football

(DS#27 QB) rSr/2025

QB Payton Thorne, Auburn
News Source: AP College Football
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08/30/24 - Jackson Arnold, Jr/2027, Auburn, 6-1, 219 (DS#15 QB) + More +

Jackson Arnold threw four touchdown passes - three to newcomer Deion Burks - and No. 16 Oklahoma routed Temple 51-3 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams. Oklahoma forced six turnovers and held Temple to 197 yards in its first game as a member of the Southeastern Conference. The Sooners joined the league this summer after a long run in the Big 12. Arnold, a sophomore, completed 17 of 25 passes for 141 yards in his first career victory as a starting quarterback for the Sooners. Burks, a transfer from Purdue, never caught more than two touchdown passes in a game for the Boilermakers. He had three scores at halftime Friday and finished with six catches for 36 yards.

Freshman Taylor Tatum ran for 66 yards and a touchdown on just four carries, the best run a 35-yard burst that showed off some of his immense potential. The Sooners led 34-0 at the half. They forced four turnovers and held the Owls to 80 yards before the break. Oklahoma's Jaren Kanak returned a fumbled punt return 21 yards for a touchdown to put the Sooners up 44-3 early in the fourth quarter. Forrest Brock passed for 128 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions for Temple. The Owls fumbled four times and lost them all. - AP College Football

(DS#15 QB) Jr/2027

QB Jackson Arnold, Auburn
News Source: AP College Football
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