Blake Baumgartner, ESPN Group of workers Essayist
A occasion next starting his Auburn tenure with a 59-14 victory over UMass, Hugh Freeze isn’t resting.
Freeze and his body of workers scored a plenty loyalty on Sunday as Mater Dei Top College (California) offensive lineman DeAndre Carter (Incorrect. 42 general within the 2024 ESPN 300) pledged to minimize at the Plains.
“I went in there with expectations, and they pretty much just exceeded them like super high,” Carter advised ESPN of his legitimate discuss with in past due June. “You know, I loved all the coaches I met. It was my first time down there. I loved everything, from football to the education and just the program and school as a whole.
“Once I were given there, I talked to the gamers. All of them offered themselves to me. It used to be actually great.”
Carter, the top-ranked offensive guard in the class and the ninth ESPN 300 prospect the Tigers have secured, also considered Michigan State and Texas.
Since July 17, five ESPN 300 prospects have come into the fold for the Tigers, including a pair of high-profile flips: linebacker Demarcus Riddick (No. 41 overall; Georgia) on July 26 and wide receiver Perry Thompson (No. 40 overall; Alabama) on July 29. Auburn’s class is ranked 19th in ESPN’s team rankings.
Offensive line coach Jake Thornton was hired at Auburn in December after spending the past two years at Mississippi. Under his tutelage, the Rebels led the SEC in total offense (492.5 YPG) in 2021 and ranked third nationally in rushing offense (261.6 YPG) last season. Conversely, the Tigers’ offense averaged 378.5 total yards (10th in the SEC) but finished third in the conference in rushing with 205.8 YPG in 2022.
In the victory over the Minutemen on Saturday, the Tigers ran for 289 yards, and four different players — quarterback Robby Ashford and operating backs Sean Jackson, Jeremiah Cobb and Damari Alston — all discovered the tip zone.
“Mentor Freeze and Mentor Thornton, I’ve talked to them earlier than,” Carter said. “However I believe the primary factor that were given me used to be their situation. It’s identical to a nation situation over there.”
While suiting up for California powerhouse Mater Dei, he has gone up against some of the best competition in the country inside the Trinity League. He’s not about to be fazed about what will await him with Auburn.
“I cruel, I really like taking part in in opposition to the most productive festival,” Carter said, “so I do know that’s a actually, actually excellent league to get into [the SEC]. Nevertheless it’s now not like a ‘I’ve to travel there’ roughly do business in.”
