Auburn football's rebuilt roster has Hugh Freeze feeling 'uncomfortable' starting fall camp
AUBURN — Hugh Freeze has never felt more anxious entering a fall camp than he does right now.
“This is the most uncomfortable fall camp I’m going into. It’s because of the new world,” Freeze said on Thursday.
The new Auburn football coach was hired at the very end of November of 2022. He immediately hit the ground running recruiting and trying to hire a staff. Three months later, the Tigers were beginning spring camp. Instilling fundamentals and learning names was about all Freeze could manage while he and his staff continued to recruit the transfer portal.
The summer likely felt shorter than normal as Freeze and Co. worked to break down spring camp, recruit some more, and prepare for the start of fall camp.
“We have players we added after spring ball and one of them is a quarterback. I haven’t coached him a single practice. Everybody is asking what I think and I have no idea,” Freeze said. “It makes me feel al little bit anxious that I feel like I may be behind in our evaluation of who we are and what we can do. That’s a feeling I have to battle.”
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Auburn signed 22 players in the 2023 signing class and welcomed in 20 new transfers (a number that could grow before the season starts, we’ll see.) Meanwhile, the Tigers saw 19 players depart the program through the transfer portal. All of that results in essentially half the roster being brand new from just last fall.
The crammed timelines and pressure to return Auburn back towards the top of the SEC currently has Freeze feeling as uneasy as ever with the season opener against UMass only five weeks away.
“I’m ready to get on the field and try to see what’s accurate,” said Freeze. “It’s an uncomfortable feeling, but with the new rules as they are to rebuild a roster, we did the right thing. Now, we have to go hurry up and catch up, if we’re behind in our evaluation of everything.”
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Jarquez Hunter’s status remains unclear
Auburn football started fall camp on Thursday, and once again head coach Hugh Freeze was asked about the status of running back Jarquez Hunter. And once again, Freeze declined to shed any light on the subject.
“I’ll say this again. I understand the question, but matters related to team rules and procedures are handled internally and will not be discussed publicly,” Freeze said.
Hunter is on Auburn’s official football roster, but Hunter was not seen at Thursday’s practice.
This echoed what Freeze said at SEC Media Days, when he answered, “I can’t comment on university policies and procedures.”
Damari Alston and South Florida transfer Brian Battie are Hunter’s immediate backups.
“Damari (Alston) has been one of the best leaders on our team this summer and spring,” Freeze said. Battie will be “limited” during fall camp after an offseason procedure on his foot.
The university hasn’t released any additional statements regarding the subject. This is the first Freeze has spoken about the situation.
