Auburn defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff stepping away from on-the-field duties
AUBURN — Auburn defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff is stepping away from his on-the-field duties temporarily, Auburn Live can confirm.
Special teams coach Tanner Burns will now move on the field. He was coaching special teams off the field and McGriff’s departure from on the field opens up an on-the-field spot.
Veteran assistant coach Zac Etheridge already coaches the safeties and will now take over coaching the cornerbacks as well. Defensive analyst Jeremiah Wilson will help coach the cornerbacks alongside Etheridge. Wilson was seen working with the cornerbacks during Tuesday’s media viewing window.
Auburn Live heard rumblings of the move last week prior to the LSU game. McGriff was on the field during warmups before the LSU game working with the cornerbacks. He wasn’t seen participating as much as usual during the game.
More on McGriff’s recent coaching history
Wesley McGriff, who served as an assistant coach at Auburn in 2016 and again in 2019-20, was the secondary coach at Louisville this past season.
“Wesley is no stranger to Auburn and the SEC and will bring a veteran presence to our staff,” Freeze said when he hired McGriff. “He has established himself over the last two decades as one of the top recruiters in our conference and brings great energy and enthusiasm to the table.”
“The opportunity to work for Coach Freeze again and return to Auburn is humbling and an honor,” McGriff said when he was hired. “I love Auburn and am so excited to be working for Coach Freeze. He has a proven track record of winning and there’s no doubt that he will do that again here on the Plains. It’s great to be home. War Eagle!”
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At Louisville in 2022, Wesley McGriff mentored one of the stingiest secondaries in America as the Cardinals forced 15 interceptions, good for the 10th best total in the country and second best in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The team allowed the fourth fewest passing yards per game (206.5) in the league, and junior defensive back Kei’Trel Clark went on to earn all-ACC honors for the third straight season.
A native of Tifton, Georgia, McGriff came to Louisville after one season at Florida where he served as the secondary coach. The Gators were one of the top teams against the pass, finishing 25th nationally with an average of 203.9 yards through the air.
While at Auburn, the Tigers’ defense ranked eighth nationally in both red-zone and third-down defense in 2019, allowing only 19.5 points per game against a schedule that featured six 11-win opponents. Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene was a first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins and Daniel Thomas (Jacksonville) was a fifth-round selection that season.
During his first stint with Auburn, McGriff helped the Tigers to a Sugar Bowl berth as the Tigers went from the bottom third of the SEC in 2015 to top three in the league in 2016 in scoring defense (11th/26.0 to 2nd/15.6), rushing defense (11th/182.7 to 3rd/124.8) and third-down conversion defense (13th/44.9 to 2nd/34.0).
McGriff served as defensive coordinator at Mississippi during the 2017-18 seasons, adding the title of associate head coach during his second season. During the 2017 campaign, McGriff guided a defense that included NFL draft picks in Breeland Speaks (second round) and Marquis Haynes (fourth round); the pair combined for 14.5 sacks, and both earned second team all-SEC honors.
