​​Lyle's Corner

January 2020

Thursday, January 30th, 2020

​Auburn football's latest commitment was initially set to be a Razorback. Brandon Frazier, a four-star tight end from McKinney North (Tex.), announced his pledge to the Tigers this evening in a video he posted via his Twitter account.

​The 6-feet-7, 247-pound Frazier is ranked as the No. 9 tight end, No. 51 Texas product and the No. 343 overall prospect in the Class of 2020 on the 247Sports Composite. Last May 28th, Frazier committed to Arkansas when Chad Morris was the head coach. But Frazier backed out that Nov. 12th after Morris was fired. Morris, of course, is now Auburn's offensive coordinator. 

​Since Frazier reopened his recruitment, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, USC, Maryland, Florida State, Ole Miss and Texas Tech all made scholarship offers. After December's Early Signing Period came and went, Frazier revealed his "final four" list to be Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn and Texas Tech. He visited AU on Jan. 17th and welcomed Morris, Gus Malzahn and Larry Porter at his home for a visit earlier this week. 

​Frazier is the Tigers' 25th pledge for 2020, and that class ranks at No. 5 in the SEC and No. 7 nationally in the 247Sports Composite. Frazier and Deandre Butler are the only verbal commitments in the class yet to sign (10 early enrollees, 13 signees).

In other news.....

- Auburn basketball hosts Kentucky at Auburn Arena on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN. Don't forget that ESPN's College Gameday will be there for the first time in program history. That hour-long show will begin at 10 a.m. CT.


That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Wednesday, January 29th, 2020

It took two overtimes, and two hours and 45 minutes of nearly unbearable suspension, controversy and tension, but Auburn finally broke its recent streak of road futility with a wild 83-82 win at Ole Miss in Oxford last night. With the outcome, it improved to 18-2 overall, 5-2 in the conference. 

The Tigers erased a 19-point second-half deficit to pull out the victory. That margin ties for the third-largest such scenario in program history, and the largest since they overcame the same hole to overtake Mississippi State in 2014. 

Anfernee McLemore led the Auburn offense with 19 points, and he especially delivered in clutch situations. As a team, the Tigers were a solid .722 in free throws, and outrebounded Ole Miss 45-33. On the flip side, however, Auburn committed 19 turnovers, while the Rebels had 15. That stat needs to improve drastically, especially since Auburn will host Kentucky on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT. That game will be televised on ESPN.

Speaking of which, Auburn Arena will also play host to ESPN's College Gameday on Saturday morning for the first time in program history. The hour-long show begins at 10 a.m. CT. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Sunday, January 26th, 2020

Auburn gained its 24th commitment for the Class of 2020 today. Deandre Butler, a superb defensive end at Independence Community College (Kan.) and the top-ranked junior college strong-side end according to the 247Sports Composite, pledged to Gus Malzahn's Tigers today during his official visit. 

Butler picked Auburn over Oregon and Oklahoma, the latter of which he visited the previous weekend. Numerous other programs vied for him, including Tennessee, which offered him a scholarship last week. The Tigers' other 23 commitments have already signed. Butler will join them on National Signing Day, which is Feb. 5th. 

He joins Jay Hardy, Daniel Foster-Allen and Zykeivous Walker, a trio of ends/tackles, and buck Romello Height to form one of the top defensive line classes in college football for this year. Walker and Height enrolled at Auburn earlier this month.  

Since last season was his first playing at ICC (he sat out the 2018 campaign), Butler will have three seasons of eligibility left on the Plains. He is set to graduate in May. The 6-feet-5, 285-pounder was such a high priority for Auburn down the stretch that he was defensive line coach Rodney Garner's first recruiting visit after the dead period ended two weeks ago. 

In 10 contests last season, Butler led ICC in total tackles (66), sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (22). The Tigers offered him a scholarship Dec. 3rd, but Garner actually started communicating with him in the early part of the 2019 season. Before coming to ICC, Butler played at Newton High just east of Atlanta. 

In other news.....

- Auburn men's basketball plays at Ole Miss on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Saturday, January 25th, 2020

Yet again, I'm going to be blunt about Auburn basketball's 80-76 win over Iowa State today in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. We were hot most of the day, but we let Iowa State creep up on us down the stretch. Thankfully, we staved off that rally and secured the victory. 

The Tigers have now won 14 in a row at Auburn Arena, and 42 of their last 45 home contests, dating back to the home finale of the 2016-17 campaign. Isaac Okoro was the player of the day, scoring a team-high 19 points. Auburn was especially impressive in 3-point shooting. I certainly hope we can continue that trend when we return to SEC play. 

Speaking of which, the Tigers now have another road trip on the agenda, this time to Oxford to face Ole Miss on Tuesday night. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU. Needless to say, let's all hope that Auburn can reverse its recent fortunes on the road. 

​That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Thursday, January 23rd, 2020

I have three bits of news to cover today, and I'm going to be short and sweet on them. First off, Auburn basketball got back on the winning track last night with an 80-67 win over South Carolina in Auburn Arena. The highlight of the evening was freshman Devan Cambridge. Cambridge, who came in averaging 3.1 points per game, scored 26 points off the bench in the victory. 

The Tigers will look to keep the winning streak up on Saturday when they host Iowa State in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPNU.

In other news......

- Auburn football defensive coordinator Kevin Steele has signed a three-year contract extension that will take him through the 2022 season. As long as he's around, I fully anticipate that our defense will be nothing less than dominant. 

​- The football team clinched a new commitment for 2020 today as Evan McGuire, a standout kicker/punter from Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson, pledged to Gus Malzahn's Tigers. McGuire did not earn a scholarship offer from the program, meaning he would start his career as a preferred walk-on. But he may earn a scholarship relatively early if things turn out well. 

McGuire decided to attend Auburn after taking official visits to Georgia State and Chattanooga. 

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Wednesday, January 22nd, 2020

​An Auburn football assistant is moving on. News broke this morning that secondary coach Marcus Woodson has been hired for the same position at Florida State. Woodson personally confirmed that he will be joining Mike Norvell's staff, filling the vacancy left by T.J. Rushing, who left for Texas A&M.

​"I did accept it," Woodson told Noles247 this morning. "We got everything worked out yesterday. I will be coming to Tallahassee soon." He actually accepted the job yesterday but waited to confirm the hire today, as he was working to call recruits and their families and directly inform them of his departure. 

Woodson reunites with Mike Norvell after the two worked together at Memphis from 2016-17. During that time, the Tigers forced 60 turnovers - the second-most in the country - including 32 interceptions. His previous coaching experience includes stints at Fresno State (2014-15), Charleston Southern (2009-13) and Millsaps (2005-08).

​Under Woodson's guidance, Auburn had one of the top secondaries in the nation this past season, ranking 8th nationally in yards-per-pass allowed (6.1). Best of luck, Coach Woodson! We wish you well! Thanks for your contributions to Auburn!

On a similar note, I need to point out that Gus Malzahn confirmed that Chad Morris will take over offensive play-calling duties next season. Knowing what Morris did for Clemson, I think this will be a good move. 

In other news.....

- Don't forget that Auburn basketball will host South Carolina tonight in Auburn Arena at 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU. After a two-game skid, we've got to get back on track in the worst way!

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!



Saturday, January 18th, 2020

First off, I'm going to be blunt about Auburn basketball's performance in its last two games. The defense has kept the Tigers in the thick of them, but the offense simply couldn't come through when it had to. Such was certainly the case in Auburn's 69-47 loss at Florida today. The team seemed pretty lethargic for most of the afternoon. Whatever the case, they urgently need to get home, rest and look at film to clear out the cobwebs if they want to get back on the winning track. 

Auburn will be at home for its next two contests, the first of which will be played this coming Wednesday against South Carolina at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPNU. 

In other news.....

​- Four-star defensive end Jay Hardy has officially signed with Gus Malzahn's Tigers. His mother, Shelly, confirmed that her son signed a Letter of Intent and that the school is in possession of that document. 

​Hardy currently attends McCallie High School in Chattanooga, Tenn. "He did sign on Dec. 18th, but he wanted to wait to release it so he could preserve that moment and sign with his friends in February," his mother said. 

The 6-feet-4, 280-pound Hardy ranks as the No. 3 recruit in Tennessee and the No. 102 recruit nationally in the 247Sports Composite. He committed to the Tigers in November. Hardy did not wish to go public about his LOI until Feb. 5th, which is National Signing Day. But when word began to spread today that Auburn already had it, Jay and his mother felt that the time was proper to announce the news. 

​"He loves (the state of) Tennessee and loves Chattanooga," Shelly Hardy stated. "Whatever team he plays for, he's going to represent Tennessee and Chattanooga well." Auburn defensive line coach Rodney Garner, the lead recruiter in Hardy's recruitment for the Tigers, attended Hardy's basketball game Friday.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Tuesday, January 14th, 2020

Auburn football locked in its new offensive line coach yesterday evening. Jack Bicknell Jr., who has years of coaching experience in the college and pro ranks under his belt, has been hired to lead the line in a new direction starting next season. 

​Bicknell most recently served as the offensive line coach at Ole Miss for three seasons. Long before that, he was the head coach of Louisiana Tech from 1999-2006. Prior to his tenure at Ole Miss, he served as an offensive line coach for multiple NFL franchises. 

"Jack has a wealth of coaching experience and success in all levels of football, including the last three years in the SEC," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said last night when announcing the hire. "He has been part of a Super Bowl championship team and been a head coach collegiately. Jack's diverse and extensive resume will be valuable in developing our offensive line unit. We're very excited to have Jack join our staff here at Auburn." 

​The Tigers will almost have to start from scratch on the offensive front next fall, as center Nick Brahms will be the lone returning starter. "I'm fired up to be joining a tradition-rich program like Auburn," Bicknell said in a statement. "Auburn has always been known as a blue-collar, hard-working team that has achieved a tremendous amount of success. I am very appreciative of Coach Malzahn for this opportunity. He and (offensive coordinator Chad Morris) are very well-respected offensive minds in the game of football and I can't wait to work with them and the rest of the Auburn staff." 

The search for Auburn's new offensive line coach lasted less than a week. Last Tuesday, news broke that former offensive line coach J.B. Grimes was leaving the program to pursue other opportunities. Grimes had just completed his second season in his second stint with the Tigers and Coach Malzahn. Grimes had previously coached the line from 2013-15 before Herb Hand took over those duties from 2016-17. 

In other news.....

- The men's basketball team will play Alabama in Tuscaloosa tomorrow night at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPN2. 

​- Tim Hudson, a former All-American who won 223 games in 17 seasons in the major leagues, is joining Auburn's baseball staff as the pitching coach. He replaces Steve Smith, who left to take the head coaching position at Tennessee Tech. 

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Sunday, January 12th, 2020

As I write this, it's late in the evening, so I'm going to once again be short and to the point on Auburn basketball's 82-60 whipping of Georgia yesterday morning.

The Tigers once again got off to a lackluster start, but the complexion of the game completely changed after about the first five minutes. I have to agree with an article that the key in this one was bench points. Auburn scored 34 points off the bench to the Bulldogs' 13. The Tigers also out-rebounded Georgia by a 41-33 count. 

On an individual note, Samir Doughty led the Tiger offense with 17 points, six rebounds and a team-high four assists. Simply put, Auburn dominated the Bulldogs in almost every aspect. Because of that, they are now 15-0 and 3-0 in the SEC. Georgia, meanwhile, slipped to 10-5 overall, 0-2 in conference play. 

Auburn's next match will be a road trip to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2 - assuming we don't have to deal with any severe weather potential, of course.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Friday, January 10th, 2020

Auburn's men's basketball home game with Georgia scheduled for tomorrow was moved up to 11 a.m. CT instead of 5 p.m. CT due to the threat for severe weather in the area. Head coach Bruce Pearl announced the news today. Also, the TV network has been changed to ESPNews instead of ESPN. 

​Coach Pearl noted that the storms should begin to intensify by at least 3 p.m. CT, and Auburn Arena serves as a shelter for the community in these situations, especially tornado warnings. But back to the game. The Tigers enter at 14-0, 2-0 in SEC play. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are 10-4, 0-1 in the conference. 

Pearl openly praised Georgia as the "best opponent" on Auburn's schedule thus far. "They play fast, they play hard, they are very aggressive defensively, they turn you over a lot." He also noted one particular player that the Tigers will have to be prepared to slow down: Georgia freshman guard Anthony Edwards, whom Pearl described as a "consensus top five (NBA) pick. He was a consensus top three high school player in the country - probably the best high school player in the country - so it will be a great, great matchup for us." 

The Tigers swept the home-and-home against Georgia last season, and are seeking a fifth straight win in the rivalry. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!  



Thursday, January 9th, 2020

As is sometimes the case, I'm going to be blunt in Auburn basketball's 83-79 win over Vanderbilt last night. The first half was one of the most toe-to-toe halves I've seen in recent memory. Vandy has had a plethora of sharp free-throw shooters through the years, and it showed again last night. 

Even when the Tigers had built a 14-point lead with eight minutes to go, they still had to hang on for dear life in the waning seconds. Nonetheless, they improved to 14-0 overall, 2-0 in the SEC, and have now won 11 straight league contests. Auburn outrebounded Vandy by a 39-28 margin. Isaac Okoro led the Tiger offense with a career-best 23 points, including a blistering slam dunk. 

There is still plenty of work to do, but Auburn will play another home game in Auburn Arena on Saturday, this time against Georgia at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN. (However, considering the severe weather potential that will dominate our state that day, I'm personally not sure if they'll be able to play the game without interruption - or, if it's in God's will, even play it at all. We'll see what happens.)

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Wednesday, January 8th, 2020

For the third time in four seasons, Gus Malzahn will be searching for a new offensive line coach. Multiple sources confirmed last night that J.B. Grimes is stepping down from his position to pursue other opportunities. 

​Grimes, who has decades of coaching experience, was in his second tour of duty on the Plains. He was previously on Malzahn's staff from 2013-15. He then moved on to Cincinnati for the 2016 season and UConn in 2017 before returning to Auburn for the 2018 campaign. 

Malzahn credited Grimes for being a major factor in the Tigers' 2013 season (SEC Championship, BCS National Championship game appearance) when they led the NCAA in rushing offense. Grimes and Malzahn had previously worked together at Arkansas State in 2012. 

It goes without saying that finding Grimes' replacement will be crucial for Malzahn, as Auburn will lose four senior starters (Prince Tega Wanogho Jr., Marquel Harrell, Mike Horton and Jack Driscoll), leaving Nick Brahms as the only returning lineman with starting experience. 

Let me editorialize a bit. Naturally, I don't wish one bit of ill will on Coach Grimes. I wish him nothing but the best in the future. That said, I think this change is a welcome one for the program, as there were clearly some issues on the line this past season. Even with four seniors, there were struggles at times, particularly in the running game. That's one thing that will have to change if Auburn wants to have any chance at a championship of any kind.

In other news.....

- The men's basketball team will host Vanderbilt in Auburn Arena tonight at 8 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!    



Tuesday, January 7th, 2020

Considering the recent departures on Auburn's football team, the newest member on that list was perhaps the most surprising. Rising senior punter Arryn Siposs announced today that he would bypass his final season with the Tigers and enter the NFL Draft. A former Aussie Rules football player, Siposs served as Auburn's starting punter over the past two seasons. 

Siposs ranked sixth in the SEC and 28th nationally in punting average (43.8 yards) during the 2019 campaign. Eleven of his 61 punts traveled 50 yards or farther, while 16 landed inside the 20-yard line. He had 27 fair catches. Auburn tied for 62nd nationally in net punting. 

Walk-on Patrick Markwalter served as Siposs' backup near the end of the season, but did not attempt a punt. Surprisingly, quarterback Bo Nix is the most experienced punter on the roster with three punts on the season, two of which landed inside the opponents' 20. Siposs announced his decision on Twitter with the following post:

"Auburn has provided me with opportunities and experiences I could not have dreamed of. I have been so proud to put on my Auburn jersey and walk onto the field with an amazing group of men. I've made lifelong friends and memories. 

"Thank you to the coaches for pushing me to be the best I can be. To the fans: thanks for your ongoing support, you make games truly special. That being said, it's my time to move forward and declare for the NFL Draft. I'll be forever grateful for my Auburn Family. War Eagle from the punter from the land down under!" 

Surprise or not, this obviously gives the Tigers plenty of time to find their next guy to handle the punting duties. Don't sweat it, folks.

In other news.....

- The men's basketball team hosts Vanderbilt tomorrow night in Auburn Arena at 8 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Saturday, January 4th, 2020

Auburn football's scholarship quarterback supply got even thinner today. Matt Zenitz of AL.com reported that Wil Appleton, a walk-on who rose to No. 3 on the depth chart in 2019, is entering the transfer portal and intends to explore his options this offseason.

​Appleton was unlikely to remain at No. 3 on the depth chart behind Bo Nix and Cord Sandberg, so it's hardly surprising that he wants to showcase his talents elsewhere. Appleton hasn't seen any action in two seasons with the Tigers. His next destination remains in dire straits. 

In other news.....

​- The men's basketball team remains unbeaten at 13-0 after winning its SEC opener at Mississippi State today by a score of 80-68. J'Von McCormick was the star of the Tiger offense, scoring a career-high 28 points. Counting him, all five Auburn starters scored in double figures. Isaac Okoro scored 16, Samir Doughty scored 13, Danjel Purifoy tallied 11 and Austin Wiley added 10. 

Victories in Starkville have been tough for the Tigers to come by. This was only their third win at Humphrey Coliseum since 2001. The Bulldogs outrebounded Auburn 46-44, but also had more turnovers (14-12). The Tigers led 29-24 at halftime after outscoring State 20-4 to close out the first 20 minutes. 

Auburn returns home to face Vanderbilt on Wednesday. Tipoff for that game is set for 8 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Friday, January 3rd, 2020

Auburn football is losing a key member of its secondary. Today, two days after returning a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in the Tigers' 31-24 Outback Bowl loss to Minnesota, cornerback Noah Igbinoghene announced that he will bypass his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. 

​Igbinoghene announced his decision via Instagram. "I am ready for the next step of my journey," he said. Igbinoghene has served as Auburn's leading kickoff returner and a starting cornerback during the 2019 campaign. He is the second-leading tackler among the cornerbacks and 10th-leading tackler on the team with 42 tackles, including 28 solo stops. He closed out the season with seven pass breakups. 

​As the primary kickoff returner, he averaged 35.22 yards per return on nine returns this season. Unsurprisingly, the aforementioned TD kickoff return in the Outback Bowl was his longest of the season. After that, the Gophers never kicked to him again. That was his lone return for a score this season. Igbinoghene also returned kickoffs in 2018, when he returned one 96 yards to the house against Arkansas, and in 2017 as a true freshman. 

​Aside from football, Igbinoghene also ran track for Auburn. In 2018, he competed on both the indoor and outdoor teams. He also competed in the triple jump and long jump. 

(Incidentally, as I write this, receiver Anthony Schwartz is debating whether to return to football next year or focus on track and chase his dream of running in the Olympics. Time will tell how that plays out.)

In other news.....

- The men's basketball team plays at Mississippi State tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. 

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 



Wednesday, January 1st, 2020

Happy New Year, everyone.

Unfortunately, Auburn's outcome in the Outback Bowl was not so happy. The Tigers fell to Minnesota, 31-24. Simply put, Auburn was out-coached and out-played in every aspect. Anything that could go wrong did. Hence, the Tigers' hopes of a third 10-win season in Gus Malzahn's stint on The Plains went by the wayside. We showed some spark, but not enough. We clearly weren't the same squad that clicked on all cylinders in an upset of Alabama almost two months ago. 

Our senior class didn't get the win they wanted in their final games in an Auburn uniform. But I, like Gus, am so proud of the legacy that they will leave imprinted on the program. They represented their team and school with humility, grace, class, and respect. 

The Tigers ended this season with a respectable 9-4 slate. Personally, I thought that this year wasn't half bad, considering the brutal schedule that we endured. However, we'll lose four seniors on the offensive line next year, as well as key players on defense. Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson come to mind immediately on that side. Gus and offensive coordinator Chad Morris will have to get together and figure out the primary issues on offense which, if you ask me, lie in the offensive line and running game, which both failed miserably today. I can only hope we can at least have a decent season next fall. Otherwise, Gus just might be sent packing. 

In other news......

- The men's basketball team will return to action on Saturday at Mississippi State in Starkville. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. Can the Tigers remain unbeaten?

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!