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Hugh Freeze discusses challenges around the spring transfer portal: 'It's been slower'

Justin Hokansonby:Justin Hokanson•04/25/23•

_JHokanson

Auburn HC Hugh Freeze
Photo by Matt Rudolph/Auburn Live

ATLANTA, Ga. — Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze admits the spring transfer portal has been “slower” than expected.

With the spring window closing on April 30 after being opened on April 15, there isn’t much time left to create dramatic change in the roster heading into next fall.

“We weren’t sure what to expect,” Freeze said on Tuesday evening before an Auburn alumni event in Buckhead. “It’s been slower than, and I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. We have the SEC agreement that we don’t go SEC to SEC in this portal. I haven’t kept up with the number of kids that would have been of interest to for us, but outside of that, it’s been slower than what we anticipated.

“It looked like it picked up the last couple of days and I’d be curious to see what the rest of the week brings. We’re always trying to improve our roster and we’re monitoring it.”

Freeze said during the spring that the football program had specific needs at quarterback, “rush end,” cornerback, offensive line and safety. However, Auburn hasn’t landed any spring transfers to date, but that could change soon. Cincinnati linebacker Jaheim Thomas visited and remains highly interested in Freeze’s program. There could be others.

“Figuring out the 85 in this new world is very, very challenging and very difficult,” Freeze said. “It results in difficult conversations at times. From the SEC perspective, you sit here and do what’s best for Auburn and that’s not always enjoyable by all. It’s tough to manage the 85.

“You go into this portal saying here’s the ideal plan. We sign this number at this position and this number at this position, and this is how we get to the 85 by doing that, but it’s all subjective to everything going exactly your way. When that doesn’t happen, you hope your plan B is able to be successful. It’s a challenge.”

Auburn has lost Desmond Tisdol, Kameron Brown, Jeffrey M’Ba, Tar’Varish Dawson and Powell Gordon to the transfer portal since the start of spring practice.

While most schools are finished with spring camp, there are a few more programs left to wrap up their spring games. The differing schedules throughout college football certainly creates challenges when deciding what transfer portal targets to pursue.

“Those discussions” between players and coaches “are being had as we speak,” Freeze said.

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