Georgia
Auburn Recruiting Class Closes Talent Gap on Alabama and Georgia
Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class helped the Tigers close the talent gap on Alabama and Georgia with three areas standing out. As head coach Hugh Freeze said, “Good day for us.”
Indeed it was. Auburn’s recruiting class showcased many superlatives. Here were the three that best helped the ultimate goal of closing the talent gap on the Tigers’ two biggest rivals, the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs.
1) Auburn’s defensive line haul was tremendous.
For far too long, Auburn’s pass rush has been so-so. The 2024 Tigers sacked opposing quarterbacks 28 times, good for 45th nationally. Anyone having watched the likes of Alabama’s Jalen Milroe out-maneuver defensive linemen at Auburn and the rest of the SEC, there’s no doubt the Tigers needed more skilled athletes to chase quarterbacks.
That’s why it’s vital that the Tigers signed Jared Smith, Rivals’ No. 30 overall recruit. At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Smith was a unique defensive end for Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson. He’s shown the talent to make an early contribution on the Plains.
The Tigers also landed four defensive tackle recruits. Bama and UGA often dominate in the trenches because they have the best starting defensive tackles and the depth to overwhelm opponents; Auburn’s overall defensive line haul resembled any of the prior defensive line classes signed by the Tide or Dawgs.
To that point, Malik Autry, Darrion Smith, Antonio Coleman, and Jourdin Crawford had several SEC offers and were rated among the nation’s best defensive linemen. For instance, 247 ranked Autry 31st nationally.
2) Auburn signed several versatile skill position recruits capable of impacting games.
First, Auburn’s versatile recruits already gained valuable experience by playing multiple roles. That will aid them wherever the Tigers play. Here’s an example of why.
A player like Derick Smith could have played several spots for the Tigers. Placed at No. 46 on ESPN’s national list, he plans to play receiver. Smith could have just as easily decided on safety, cornerback, or running back.
A big hitter, one could argue that he displayed even more traits as a safety. Bottom line, he learned how to play on both sides of the ball and that fact aided his overall football development. Several of Auburn’s skill players are quite versatile.
Safety recruits Eric Winters and Anquon Fegans both starred at multiple positions during their high school careers. In fact, Winters played quarterback, running back, receiver, cornerback, nickel, and safety. Fegans excelled at safety and cornerback.
Jakaleb Faulk was a menace as a tight end while also being his team’s best defender as a linebacker. Faulk’s long arms and quick feet allowed him to chase down running backs and receivers much smaller than himself. That speed was also a big reason for his success at tight end.
Another linebacker who’s been capable of impacting games in different ways would be Bryce Deas. Often used as a blitzer, Deas has seen action at safety, linebacker, and even at defensive end.
Overall, Auburn’s class was one of the most versatile in recent memory. That bodes well for future matchups with Bama and UGA.
3) Deuce Knight has shown the talent to be a game-changer.
Auburn signed a truly dynamic quarterback with the physical tools to take over a football game. As an example of Deuce Knight’s talent, he won Mississippi state championships in the high jump and long jump. His football acumen was obvious to anyone who watched him play.
He’s definitely been a big-time passer. In particular, Knight showed the propensity to be an excellent run-pass option signal-caller, something that fits with Auburn’s offense. If there’s nobody open, the lanky quarterback often used his legs to make critical plays. Eventually, all of Knights’ skills will help the Tigers battle their two biggest rivals.
Overall, Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class added several talented players to help close the talent gap with Alabama and Georgia. Auburn fans should be ecstatic with how the class finished.
Georgia
No. 3 Georgia to Host Top-Ranked Auburn for Regular Season Finale – University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia fell at Auburn 14-6 to wrap up the fall slate of their season. The overall record against the Tigers currently stands at 31-31, including a 13-7 record in Bishop.
During their National Championship run in the 2024-25 season, the Mane Dawgs faced off against Auburn on three separate occasions. Georgia was victorious at home, 11-9, before falling on the road, 11-8. In the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championships in Ocala, the Bulldogs stunned the second-ranked Tigers, 13-4, en route to their eighth National Championship title.
Georgia returns to action following a trip to Blythewood, South Carolina, to take on the third-ranked Gamecocks.
Top-ranked Auburn travels to Bishop after hosting No. 4 SMU at home the prior weekend. The Tigers defeated the Mustangs 13-7 and swept all four MOP honors.
Following the conclusion of the meet, Georgia will honor their seven seniors for their dedication and contributions to the program.
The meet will be streamed on SECN+ at https://gado.gs/e7v, and live scoring will be available at https://gado.gs/e7w.
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Georgia
Georgia OC Mike Bobo gets giant pay raise, salary matches DC Glenn Schumann
Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann will be paid equally in 2026 after receiving raises, according to an Athens Banner-Herald report.
Coach Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs are coming off a second consecutive SEC championship season and College Football Playoff Sugar Bowl quarterfinal appearance.
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Georgia
Georgia Lt. Gov. announces bill inspired by Charlie Kirk to protect student speech
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones on Monday unveiled legislation inspired by the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk that he says would expand students’ free speech rights in public schools, making Georgia the first state in the nation to pursue such a measure.
Jones announced the “True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act,” known as the TPUSA Act, on Monday as a priority for the 2026 legislative session. The proposal, sponsored by State Sen. Ben Watson (R–Savannah), would strengthen First Amendment protections for public school students by safeguarding their right to speak, organize, and express political and religious views on campus.
The bill is explicitly shaped around the work and legacy of Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA and its political arm, Turning Point Action. Jones and others have framed the legislation as a way to honor Kirk’s efforts to mobilize young conservatives and defend free speech in schools and on college campuses.
“In the spirit and memory of Charlie’s work, the TPUSA Act in Georgia would ensure that students’ First Amendment rights to organize, gather and speak are protected, regardless of their religious, political, or social viewpoints,” Jones said in a press release. “Georgia is leading the way as the first state in the nation to do it.”
Jones, who is running for governor and is endorsed by both former President Donald Trump and Turning Point Action, also emphasized his broader commitment to free speech rights as part of his campaign rhetoric.
“Georgia is building on the work of Charlie Kirk to ensure students can speak, organize and express their beliefs freely,” Jones posted on social media.
The TPUSA Act would require public schools in Georgia to permit political expression before, during and after the school day to the same extent that non-political expression is allowed. It also would let students form political clubs and groups during non-instructional time, bar discrimination against groups based on viewpoint, and guarantee that students could wear politically themed clothing and accessories under the same standards that apply to other permitted attire.
Supporters say the legislation would ensure that school administrators cannot block students from engaging in peaceful political activities and that all viewpoints, partisan and nonpartisan, would have equal access to meeting spaces and facilities.
Sen. Watson said the move reflects the belief that schools should not restrict students’ free speech or prohibit them from organizing around their beliefs.
“School officials should not have the power to enforce their own ideologies on students,” he said.
Josh Thifault, senior director at Turning Point Action, praised Georgia’s effort, asserting that Kirk “lived and died for the First Amendment.” He added that the legislation will benefit students “for decades to come” by removing barriers to student expression.
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