Auburn football skyrockets in returning production rankings following massive spring portal haul
Auburn football has revamped its roster and on paper looks ready to compete in the SEC.
Hugh Freeze went out and landed the No. 2 transfer portal class in the country, which includes projected starting quarterback Payton Thorne (Michigan State), several offensive linemen, four high-profile receivers, defensive linemen at just about every position, linebackers, and an All-American kick returner to boot.
ESPN's Bill Connelly recently updated not just his SP+ rankings but also the returning production for each team in all of college football. As of February 7th, 2023, Auburn was No. 28 in returning production in Connelly's rankings. Now, after a massive portal haul, Hugh Freeze and Auburn are No. 11 nationally in returning production.
74% is the overall number for the Tigers. Their offense will bring back 72% (34th nationally) of their production, the defense 76% (14th nationally).
Auburn brought in 21 total transfer portal players. No team in the country signed more four-star players in their portal class than the Tigers (11).
USC, Uconn, South Alabama, Michigan, Texas A&M, FAU, Florida State, North Carolina, Missouri and Kansas are the ten teams about the Tigers in the current rankings.
Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne has entered the fray as the Tigers' projected starter heading into the offseason. Russo pointed out that despite having a down year in 2022, Thorne still threw more than double the amount of passing touchdowns (19) that Auburn's quarterbacks did combined (nine).
Thorne finished an accomplished quarterback at Michigan State, setting single-season records for total yards, total touchdowns and passing touchdowns. He ranks fifth in career total touchdowns, fifth in career total yards, fourth in career passing touchdowns and third in single-season passing yards.
The Tigers also picked up several high-profile pass catchers to add to the arsenal. Nick Mardner (Cincinnati) and Rivaldo Fairweather (FIU) were two of the bigger names Auburn had landed through the portal early on in the cycle. Then Freeze went out and got former Ohio State receiver Caleb Burton, who was heralded for his blazing speed coming out of high school, North Texas' Jyaire Shorter, who led the nation in yards per catch last year, and Jackson State's Shane Hooks, who led Deion Sanders' JSU team in catches, yards and touchdowns in 2022.
Auburn now has five legitimate pass catchers that are 6-foot-2 or taller:
Nick Mardner: 6-foot-6
Rivaldo Fairweather: 6-foot-4
Shane Hooks: 6-foot-5
Jyaire Shorter: 6-foot-2
Camden Brown: 6-foot-3
Offensive line was also a huge position of need that Jake Thornton and the Tigers filled. Four-star tackles Dillon Wade (Tulsa) and Gunner Britton (Western Kentucky) were the first additions, then center Avery Jones (East Carolina) and guard Jaden Muskrat (Tulsa). South Florida running back and All-American kick returner Brian Battie was the lone backfield piece the Tigers got.
Defensive line and linebacker were the final concerns for Auburn. D-linemen Mosiah Nasili-Kite (Maryland), Lawrence Johnson (Purdue), and former five-star Justin Rogers (Kentucky) were added with defensive ends/EDGE players Elijah McAllister (Vanderbilt), Jalen McLeod (Appalachian State), and Stephen Sings (Liberty).
Linebackers DeMario Tolan (LSU), Austin Keys (Ole Miss), and Larry Nixon III (North Texas) were the final touches on what was the nation's No. 2 transfer portal class.
You can check out the entirety of the list here.
Related Stories
Michigan State QB transfer Payton Thorne commits to Auburn
New Mexico State transfer CB Syrus Dumas commits to Auburn
Auburn basketball lands transfer wing Chad Baker-Mazara
Auburn football lands former Jackson State WR Shane Hooks
2023 SEC quarterback rankings: KJ Jefferson takes top spot
Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials!
