Hugh Freeze speaks on Auburn's defensive performance in the win against Cal
Auburn has held their first two opponents to a combined 24 points, for an average of 12 points a game. They've also managed to do well against both passing and rushing attacks despite a wobbly start against UMass in week one.
Head Coach Hugh Freeze spoke about this during his Monday press conference recapping the Cal road trip and addressing this week's contest against Samford.
Freeze had high praise for the players who stepped up following some injuries both pre-game and mid-game. Freeze said, "It was scary, having Keionte (Scott) out, and (Jaylin) Simpson out at the start of the third quarter... Having DK (Donovan Kauffman) go out late, we were greatly challenged, and then (Larry) Nixon had his wrist dinged up, It was a challenge, so we are really proud of our kids" These challenges included Auburn starting backed up in their own territory on four drives throughout the game, and letting Cal get into the redzone on six of their 13 drives.
Freeze later reiterated the younger players he had to take over due to some of the star DBs being injured. "(Kayin) Lee played a lot of snaps and played a lot better than he did against UMass. You're seeing him step it up, and we think he is going to be really really talented..." Kayin Lee was one of the top five ranked players in the class of 2023 and his talent has shown he is young but ready for D1 football. Through two games he has five tackles and two pass break-ups.
The star of last week's game was without a doubt Eugene Asante, a former UNC transfer who requested to be put on the scout team last year, exploded in the Bay Area. Asante finished the game with 12 tackles, one sack, and a pass deflection. Freeze had this to say on his performance, "Eugene Asante, he played his tail off as did some others, I don't want to get to pointing all of them out but Jalen McLeod makes us different when he is playing, there is a lot to build on..."
Freeze, Lee, Asante, and the rest of this Auburn squad will play back home this weekend in the friendly confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Samford Bulldogs make the two-hour drive down to Auburn where the 7 PM CST kickoff will surely lead to a rowdy crowd for Freeze's first night game as the Tigers head coach.
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