Hugh Freeze reveals what will mark a successful spring at Auburn

Spring practice started Monday for Auburn, marking the first time first-year Tiger’s head coach Hugh Freeze will get to see his players live and in action. In-season success is developed through making strides in the offseason, and on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, Freeze was asked what would make for a successful first spring for him and the Tigers.

“That the main thing is the little things,” Freeze said. “I think when you take over a program everybody wants, the main thing is well we win games, or we score touchdowns, or we do that, I just don’t think you can build any program until the little things become the main things.”

It seems like Freeze is trying to build his new program from the ground up, focusing on the details now in hopes of big-picture success following closely behind. Freeze is inheriting an Auburn team that tied for last place in the SEC West last season, finished 5-7 overall and 2-6 in conference play. But with his coaching staff rounded out and a fresh recruiting class, will be looking to turn things around starting this spring.

“And that is kind of a challenge for us right now that we don’t quite understand and I’ve got to get that message across and once we start having a locker room that manages the little things for itself, then I think we’re on to something,” Freeze explained. “We’ll get the talent here, but we’ve got to establish that culture.”

The Tigers had the No. 8 ranked signing class in the SEC according to On3 Consensus, headlined by one of the top 10 defensive linemen in the country Keldric Faulk. But Freeze did put in a lot of work in the transfer portal this offseason as well, ranking fifth in On3’s 2023 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings.

“And then, I know you said one thing, but then a competitive spirit man every single day competing. And if I could say a third thing, it would sure be nice to come out of spring feeling like we’re solid at the quarterback spot,” Freeze said.

Competitive spirit is something the Tigers lacked at times last season, losing five straight games at one point. But interim head coach Cadillac Williams, who Freeze has kept on his coaching staff, reignited the team by winning two of their last three games.

The Tigers also bring back quarterbacks TJ Finley and Robby Ashford, who both started games for the Tigers last season. Auburn has not signed any quarterbacks from the transfer portal, but did sign three-star quarterback Hank Brown as a part of their 2023 class. Ashford started the last nine games of the season for Auburn, but it will be interesting to see how the quarterback competition plays out this spring with Freeze now at the helm.