Hugh Freeze discusses getting to know his players, explains 'distraction lists'

College football players can find themselves on any number of awards watchlists, but new Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze keeps his own sets of lists. He calls them ‘distraction lists’ and you don’t want to be on them.

Especially not this time of year.

“If you’re showing up on a lot of lists it’s not a good sign,” Freeze said. “That distracts me and I don’t care for it very much at all. I call them my distraction lists. Parking, academics, you name it. It’s usually not good if they come across my desk on a list. So I’m just listening and watching but looking forward to getting to know our team, truthfully.”

The new Auburn coach has had to spend most of his time since taking the job working on recruiting — both out of the transfer portal and in the high school ranks.

So one of his few ways of keeping up with what’s happening in the team’s offseason conditioning program, how his players are doing in the classroom, and so on, is those lists.

Freeze hasn’t yet gotten to the stage where he’s started penciling in his depth chart or drawing up a whole lot of Xs and Os.

“I’m more concerned with them approaching the workouts with coach Dom (Studzinksi) correctly right now,” Freeze said. “I don’t know that it’s the right approach, but I’m listening and watching. And looking at the lists that come across my desk. Starting next Wednesday I’ll start having some meetings but I’m kind of just looking and watching and listening right now and trying to get to know them by their actions more than just someone that can sit and talk to me.”

Hugh Freeze still getting to know his players

Because Freeze hasn’t yet spent a lot of time with his players, a good chunk of his knowledge about his guys comes from the distraction lists.

He hasn’t had too much hands-on time with players.

“Not yet. We were obviously on the road and then had big junior days this past weekend,” Freeze explained. “his week I was on the road again, Tuesday, had some high school clinics and then the Senior Bowl. So yesterday was really the first full day that I’ve had in the office.”

As he continues to get more time player roles will become a bit more clear.

“It’s one of the most uncomfortable things about transition right now and the way you have to recruit is you don’t get to know your guys,” Freeze said. “So I’m excited to get to know them and next week will be a big week for that.”