Aug 9, 20232 min read

Auburn Football 2023 Expectations and Predictions

The 2022 season was severely underwhelming, to say the least. Bryan Harsin was on a very short leash to start the season and led the Tigers to a very disappointing 3-5 start. After the Razorbacks came to town, and handed the Tigers a loss, that would prove to be the end of the Bryan Harsin era.

When Coach Cadillac Williams got named interim head coach it gave the team a new spark, they looked like they really wanted to play again. Unfortunately, it was not enough. Under Coach Caddy, they finished 2-2 to fall just under the minimum wins for a bowl game.

THE FREEZE BEGINS: Offense

On November 28th, 2022, the Tigers named Hugh Freeze the 39th head football coach in Auburn history. He brought in former Tulsa head coach, Philip Montgomery, to be the team's offensive coordinator. Freeze got to work in the transfer portal and has brought in the fifth ranked portal class in the country.

Auburn Football New additions via transfer portal:

QB: Payton Thorne (MSU)

RB : Brian Battie (USF)

WR: Jyaire Shorter (UNT), Caleb Burton (OSU), Shane Hooks (JSU), Nick Mardner (Cincinnati)

TE: Rivaldo Fairweather (FIU)

OT: Dillon Wade (Tulsa), Gunner Britton (WKU)

IOL: Jaden Muskrat (Tulsa), Avery Jones (ECU), Dylan Senda (NW)

THE FREEZE CONTINUES: Defense

Hiring Ron Roberts from Baylor, the Tigers have stacked up on the defensive side of the ball.

Bringing in:

LB: Larry Nixon lll (UNT), Jalen McLeod (APP), Austin Keys (Ole Miss), and DeMario Tolan (LSU)

DL: Justin Rogers (Kentucky), Mosiah Nasil-kite (Maryland), and Lawrence Johnson (Purdue)

EDGE: Elijah McAllister (Vanderbilt)

WHAT TO EXPECT:

IMPROVEMENT
UPSET/UPSETS
HIGH UPS / LOW LOWS

After a poor 2022 season, it shouldn’t be hard to improve. Considering an impressive haul of incoming players, an experienced coach, improved offensive line, and talented WR core. Not to mention the return of Jarquez Hunter and beefing up both the defensive line and linebacker positions. It would be nearly impossible for the Tigers not have an improved season in 2023.

With Georgia, Alabama, and Ole Miss coming to Jordan Hare this year, it gives Auburn two great chances at upsets. (Ole Miss and Alabama, not so much Georgia).

With so many new names and faces around the team, the chemistry will need to mold quickly. With multiple new players on the roster, expecting them to play like they have been together for four years wouldn't be a fair assessment. Expect the Tigers to be much more competitive heading into the 2023 season, giving the Auburn faithful something to look forward to after a disappointing 2022 campaign.