Georgia

Auburn Recruiting Class Closes Talent Gap on Alabama and Georgia

Published

1 year ago

December 5, 2024

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.

Source link

Georgia

Why Southern Living is spotlighting serene coastal escape in Georgia

Published

3 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Why Southern Living is spotlighting serene coastal escape in Georgia

A quiet stretch of the Georgia coast is back in the national spotlight.

In a recent feature, Southern Living highlighted the Golden Isles as one of the South’s most serene escapes, praising the region’s undeveloped marshes, barrier islands and slower pace compared to other East Coast beach destinations.

Located roughly halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville, the Golden Isles include Brunswick, Sea Island, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island and Little St. Simons Island.

Here’s what to know.

What makes Georgia’s Golden Isles different?

Unlike more densely developed beach towns in neighboring states, Georgia’s coastline is defined by tidal creeks, salt marshes and wide stretches of protected land.

“The coast of Georgia is quite different than the shores of North Carolina or South Carolina,” Southern Living wrote. “It’s wilder and quieter, and it’s much less populated with beach towns.”

While the islands offer modern resorts and vacation homes, much of the natural character remains intact.

One of the most photographed spots is Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, known for its haunting remains of a maritime forest scattered along the shoreline.

Where are visitors staying?

The publication pointed to several well-known properties across the islands:

The Cloister at Sea Island
Jekyll Island Club Resort
St. Simons Island: The Grey Owl Inn and the St. Simons Lighthouse.

Little St. Simons Island, accessible only by boat, was highlighted for its all-inclusive lodge and thousands of acres of protected marshland and upland habitat.

What can you do in the Golden Isles?

Southern Living emphasized simple, immersive experiences:

Biking under live oaks
Kayaking through marsh creeks
Horseback riding along the beach
Watching sunsets over the water.

Public beaches like East Beach on St. Simons Island remain open to visitors, while golf courses on Jekyll Island and St. Simons offer year-round play.

The region’s history also plays a major role. Visitors can climb the St. Simons Lighthouse, explore historic districts in Brunswick or learn about Gullah Geechee heritage through local organizations.

For more information, visit southernliving.com/georgias-golden-isles-11906085.

Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.

Source link

Georgia

Gov. Kemp signs amended FY 2026 budget, delivering $2B in Georgia tax relief

Published

15 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Gov. Kemp signs amended FY 2026 budget, delivering B in Georgia tax relief

ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp on Tuesday signed HB 973, the amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

The amended budget includes $2 billion in income and property tax relief, alongside investments in education, public safety, mental health, transportation and rural development.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones praised Gov. Kemp, saying the budget…

“Makes critical investments in middle-class families, mental health services, healthcare workforce development, transportation and Georgia’s veterans community.”

Key allocations in the amended budget include:

Education and Workforce Development: $325 million to endow the DREAMS Scholarship, a new needs-based scholarship program; $6 million for a Career Navigator tool; and funding for new and expanded programs at University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia institutions.
Public Safety: $150 million for Department of Corrections bed space, $9.7 million for additional corrections officers, $15 million for a new K-9 training facility, and $50 million to help communities address homelessness, including among veterans.
Mental Health: $409 million to design and construct a new Georgia Regional Hospital to expand mental health bed capacity.
Transportation: More than $1.6 billion to extend and expand I-75 express lanes in Henry County; $185 million for SR 316 interchange conversions; $100 million for rural bridge rehabilitation and replacement; and $250 million for local maintenance and improvement grants.
Rural Georgia: $15 million for rural site development grants; $35 million for a new natural gas infrastructure program; and $8.9 million for the Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative.

Governor Kemp says the state’s conservative budgeting approach has allowed Georgia to provide tax relief while making “generational investments.”

Source link

Georgia

Middle Georgia DSA condemns U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, calls escalation ‘illegal’

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Middle Georgia DSA condemns U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, calls escalation ‘illegal’

MACON, Ga. (WGXA) — Middle Georgia Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has issued a statement regarding the U.S. and Israel’s joint strikes on Iran over the weekend.

According to other WGXA articles, based on reports as of early March 2026, the United States and Israel have launched major, coordinated military operations against Iran, labeled in reports as “Operation Epic Fury” and “Operation Midnight Hammer”. This follows months of failed nuclear negotiations and escalating regional tensions.

RELATED | Hegseth insists US-Israel strikes on Iran are ‘not Iraq, not endless’

WGXA asked Middle Georgia DSA, the largest activist organization in Middle Georgia, for their opinions on the strikes, and they responded with this:

The strikes on Iran, carried out by the United States and Israel, mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal act of aggression. The Iranian people do not deserve to live in fear of American bombs and of the instability of regime change. Americans do not want our tax dollars and the lives of our people to be wasted on opening up a new war in the Middle East, or on bombing girls’ elementary schools. We want relief from the affordability crisis. We want peace. Middle Georgia DSA unequivocally condemns these attacks and any politicians who cannot do the same. We do not want this, we do not deserve this.

DSA added that they are not currently planning any protests at this time, and that they “remain focused on improving the conditions of people who live within our communities directly, and do not feel a protest is the best strategy to deliver on that.”

Middle Georgia DSA condemns U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, calls escalation ‘illegal’, March 2, 2026 (Image is meant to say 2026 instead of 2025, Courtesy of GCSU Mutual Aid)

However, GCSU Mutual Aid, a grassroots, community-led initiative focused on collective care and resource sharing within the Milledgeville and broader Middle Georgia area. While not an official department of Georgia College & State University (GCSU), it frequently operates in coordination with student-led groups and local residents to address gaps in traditional social safety nets.

RELATED | GCSU encourages peaceful expression ahead of national ICE walkout

GCSU Mutual Aid is planning a protest for Wednesday, where they will be “Marching for Democracy” in retaliation to recent events in the U.S.

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Stick with WGXA as we keep you ready for what’s next.

Source link