Auburn's 2024 Senior Class: In Their Words

Auburn’s 2024 senior class, says two-time team captain Luke Deal, has continued to stay the course. “Obviously there have been disappointments this year, but this senior class is resilient and devoted to leaving a legacy for others. These guys are my brothers and that’s really our job -- to build for the future one day at a time and leave it better than we found it.” 

EUGENE ASANTE
“I'm going to miss the brotherhood within the locker room. I’ll miss Tiger Walks and seeing all the fans cheering for us. I'll miss the little kids that tell me that I’m their favorite player. From day one, I understood the rich tradition of playing football here at Auburn, understood that it means something to play here to a lot of people and I wanted him to be a part of that.” 

JACKSON BARKLEY
“There’s no one like the Auburn Family. They’re there for you on game day, they’re there for you throughout the week, they’re there for you outside of football, and, when we talk about us as a team, the fans are included in that, because they support us in every aspect of life.” 

PHILIP BLIDI
“The family aspect was a big reason I came here. The community is very family-oriented and that’s important to me because I’m a relationship guy and a family man. My experience in football has helped me overcome adversity in whatever I’ve faced in my life. In football, you go through adversity but going through it with people you love and people who are going through the same thing as you, having that support teaches you to overcome.” 

TRILL CARTER
“Before I started getting recruited in high school, this was my dream school because some people from my hometown played here, like Montravius Adams and Big Kat Bryant. It took years for me to get here, and I am just blessed to be here.” 

RONAN CHAMBERS
“Just being part of a football culture like Auburn is really something special and something I hoped to find. My first-ever college game was here at Jordan-Hare, back in 2021, and the atmosphere was incredible. When this level of football was presented to me, it was a no-brainer to pursue it.”

OSCAR CHAPMAN
“To me, it means family, to hear someone shout ‘War Eagle!’ No matter where you are in the world, whenever someone says it, I feel a sense of family. In an airport, in another country, or on the street in Auburn – stranger or teammate – that’s how it feels – like family.” 

JOSH COHEN
“My older brother Sammy walked on here. I came to his games, and I saw the atmosphere here – the fans, Tiger Walk, everything. This place is awesome, and I wanted to be part of it. The walk-on process took a while, but it paid off and was all worth it.” 

LUKE DEAL
“Every time we run out on the field, I think of all the people that went before us. It’s super special to me. There is just a different feeling here. Yes, it’s the loudest in my opinion. Yes, it’s the craziest. But the biggest thing is that it all feels genuine. Our fans truly love Auburn, and we can feel that love. The passion and the intensity every time you step on the field no matter who we are playing -- it’s pretty cool.”

RIVALDO FAIRWEATHER
“Coach Freeze has said that football teaches you a lot of life lessons; you are not going to succeed every time. Sometimes you are going to fail, but it’s not failure. It’s a learning opportunity and a steppingstone in your path. Just keep pushing and trust in God. The work you put in when you’re not in the stadium and it’s not game day and everyone else is just relaxing, that is the work that really shows on the field.” 

Fa’NAJAE GOTAY
“Coming in, I could feel it in my soul – I could feel the bonds. People welcomed me with open arms right away so I could tell this is a family. This is truly a team -- and those are the teams that create success for themselves and for the future.” 

GRANT HIDALGO
“I’ve found a culture and a family and a fan base that puts football first. The fans care not just about the sport, but they care about the players; everywhere you go on campus or around town, they are very supportive. That’s rare.”

JARQUEZ HUNTER
“I always wanted to play at Auburn -- always -- since I was a little kid. There was just something about the Tigers that caught my eye. I was always in love with Auburn and wanted to come here, and now I’ve got a great degree from Auburn that will take me a long way beyond just playing football. It feels like family every time I walk through campus.” 

JAYSON JONES
“I would tell young players to go to a place that is good for you. The Auburn Family really means a lot and I love this city. I wish I could stay here forever.” 

AUSTIN KEYS
“Auburn’s been nothing but great to me since I’ve been here, and I’ve played each game and every snap like it’s my last. From the first football game I played in at Jordan-Hare, it’s been insane. Having eighty-eight thousand fans screaming for you is unreal. But that’s family.”  

JAKE KRUSE
“War Eagle means no matter what, even in the position our team has been through this year, people still say it and they mean it. The Auburn fans are so loyal and they’re going to show out every time. War Eagle for us means we’re all in it together – no matter what, we’re going to keep pushing – it’s a motto to live by.” 

KeANDRE LAMBERT-SMITH
“I feel like there are lessons to be learned in every situation and I don’t regret anything. God put me in front of Coach (Marcus) Davis, this staff and these teammates for a reason. I don’t regret anything, and I appreciate this experience.” 

PERCY LEWIS IV
“Football teaches you many things, especially when it’s difficult. You learn how to tackle challenges and obstacles. If it was an easy sport, everybody would do it. My experience here has been really good. Every day, I feel like I’m home.” 

ROBERT LEWIS
“My relationship here with the coaches and players has been excellent. I feel like each and every day is nothing but trending upward. I love being around these guys. And it’s SEC football, the best in the country.” 

DORIAN MAUSI
“When you come to Auburn, you can tell there is something different. Everything isn’t transactional here. It’s a family. I really wanted to be in this family-oriented culture because that’s what drives a team. I knew this place was going to bring the best out of me.” 

JALEN McLEOD
“Football here is a culture; it’s different. If you want to go to the next level, you’re going to come to Auburn or the SEC. What stood out to me the most was the culture and I’m glad to have experienced that.” 

IZAVION MILLER
“Coming in, I was just expecting football, but with Coach Freeze, I’ve gotten a lot more. He’s teaching us how to appreciate football and be grateful for life. I love being part of what we call the Auburn Family. People are so nice here -- it’s a cool place to be. I do love Auburn – way more than I would have expected.”

ISAIAH RAIKES
“This team is pretty tight-knit and has genuine relationships in caring for one another. To have that kind of chemistry where you actually care about one another – chemistry makes a difference, and I see it here. All the teams in the SEC are beautiful – there are no bad atmospheres – but a few stand above. Auburn is definitely one of those.” 

KEIONTE SCOTT
“Ever since I signed, the fans have supported me. They love Auburn. Seeing how excited people are for Auburn gets you excited for Auburn. I want to say thank you for taking me in and supporting me throughout this whole journey. I hope I've left Auburn better than I found it, as was one of my goals. Always continue to love Auburn like you will.” 

GRIFFIN SPEAKS
“Growing up here, there was something different in the air on gamedays. At a young age, I didn’t understand it, but I could feel it. My biggest goal coming back was I didn’t want to just sit on the sidelines. I wanted to actually get on the field and contribute. I wanted to make Auburn better.” 

COLBY STAFFORD
“I’ve always loved Auburn but it’s cool to know I was a part of it in this way, as part of the team. And for me, with other walk-ons, I know what they‘ve been through and I have so much respect for them. I never thought I would get the chance to play for Auburn, but I’m so glad I followed it through.” 

JERRIN THOMPSON
“When I leave here, I want my name to be brought up in a good way. Football has taught me about family and team. It shows me so many life lessons and how to fight adversity. It’s the greatest thing you can go through being an American young boy growing up.”

PAYTON THORNE
“This game means the world to me. It’s taught me so much about life, life lessons that you can’t get anywhere else, and it’s given me a platform to help and influence others. I love football and I will for the rest of my life.” 

ZYKEIVOUS WALKER
“I learned some lessons here. Being here taught me how to be a better man, and whenever times get hard, don’t quit because you’ve got people at home watching you and counting on you. It changed the trajectory of my life. Coming from a small town and coming to Auburn on a full-ride scholarship gave me a chance to chase my dreams and to do something nobody had ever done in my family.”