Auburn football kicks off preseason camp

by Jeff Shearer
20240801_FB_FallCampPractice_AP_630120240801_FB_FallCampPractice_AP_6301

AUBURN, Ala. – Thankful to be starting his second preseason camp at Auburn, head coach Hugh Freeze shared his team’s theme Thursday before the Tigers’ first workout, 30 days prior to the season opener.

“Gratitude,” said Freeze, recapping the message he delivered in Wednesday’s team meeting. “I should be grateful for every single day that I have. You combine that with all the many blessings that Auburn has blessed me, our staff and our players with, it should be received with gratitude.”

Team building, Freeze said, happens when players don’t criticize teammates who aren’t present, when team members maximize each day, and when they share resources with others.

“You want to be dependent upon each other to meet the standard that that we've all agreed upon,” he said. “The great teams do that.”

As college football has evolved into a year-round enterprise, the first day of practice requires less installation of concepts and plays than it once did.

“I expect to be sharp,” Freeze said. “We've hit this install many times. We don't have a ton going in today. I believe in that. I want to get really good at what we think we're going to do.”

Once Auburn begins practicing in full pads next week, Freeze seeks to balance the need to develop toughness and tackling with the desire to minimize injuries.

“That is a daily discussion,” he said. “An everyday dilemma, and I don't know that I have the formula that is the exact right one, but I do know that you better get your best players to Saturday.”

Assuming Auburn can avoid season-ending injuries, Freeze says the progression of the Tigers’ inexperienced receivers and defensive backs will help determine his team’s success.

“How well they do and those receivers do will be a big part of the story,” he said.

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While preparing for preseason camp, Freeze and his staff hosted a Big Cat recruiting event Saturday that yielded several high-profile commitments.

“We're fortunate to be doing very well right now,” he said. “It’s constantly changing. Our plan of what we wanted to accomplish in the 2025 recruiting class is on track. Hopefully we’ll get a little more good news in the coming weeks and try to finish out this class around that top five area.”

Auburn awarded scholarships to walk-on defensive back Griffin Speaks and running back Justin Jones, Freeze said.

Sophomore kicker Alex McPherson is recovering from an illness, said Freeze, who hopes McPherson will be able to rejoin practice soon. In McPherson’s absence, hometown freshman Towns McGough, the A-Day star, will play a larger role. a

Auburn begins the 2024 season at Jordan-Hare Stadium Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT vs. Alabama A&M in Kickoff on The Plains.

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer