Weathering the Storm.

[Soapy]

Yurcich hired at Auburn to replace Malzahn as head coach of football program
Auburn has hired Louisiana head coach Mike Yurcich to take over its program, replacing Gus Malzahn following a rapid search process. In his first season as a head coach at Louisiana, Yurcich went 10-3 with the Ragin Cajuns.

Malzahn signed a seven-year extension worth $49 million in Dec. 2017 -- a season in which Auburn won 10 games and appeared in the SEC championship game. But Malzahn's Tigers fell short in subsequent seasons, finishing fifth and third in the SEC West in 2018 and 2019, respectively before seven and six win seasons the last two years.

Malzahn's up-tempo attack, which he wrote a book about and became famous for popularizing as a coordinator and then as a head coach, slowed and regressed in some aspects, as quarterback Bo Nix has struggled to be consistent the past few seasons which ultimately contributed to his firing.

Yurcich was the offensive coordinator at University of Texas Austin in 2020 prior to Louisiana. He was the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the Ohio State University for the 2019 season. Yurcich was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State University from 2013 to 2018. Some of the prominent players Yurcich has helped develop include Trevor Harris, Zach Zulli, J. W. Walsh, Mason Rudolph, Taylor Cornelius, Justin Fields, and Sam Ehlinger. He'll now need to fix the offense and the quarterback situation, whether that be Nix or likely someone else.

Week 1: L 35 - 28 vs. Georgia State Panthers
QB Bo Nix: 21 of 31, 277 yards, 2 touchdowns, interception.
HB Tank Bigsby: 14 carries, 98 yards, touchdown.
WR Seth Williams: 6 receptions, 109 yards, touchdown.

Week 2: W 20-10 at Penn State Nittany Lions
QB Bo Nix: 12 of 37, 121 yards, interception.
HB Tank Bigsby: 11 carries, 62 yards, touchdown.
WR Seth Williams: 3 receptions, 44 yards.

Week 3: L 16-6 vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
QB Bo Nix: 10 of 36, 106 yards, 3 interceptions.
HB Tank Bigsby: 16 carries, 69 yards.
WR Seth Williams: 6 receptions, 54 yards.

Week 4: W 38-10 vs. Akron Zips
QB Bo Nix: 16 of 28, 237 yards, 2 touchdowns, interception.
HB Tank Bigsby: 17 carries, 96 yards, 2 touchdowns.
WR Seth Williams: 8 receptions, 106 yards.

Week 5: L 24-14 at South Carolina Gamecocks
QB Bo Nix: 13 of 34, 179 yards, touchdown, 2 interceptions.
HB Tank Bigsby: 15 carries, 77 yards, touchdown.
WR Seth Williams: 4 receptions, 92 yards.

Week 6: W 49-0 vs. Alcorn State
QB Bo Nix: 10 of 30, 213 yards, 2 touchdowns, interception.
HB Tank Bigsby: 18 carries, 123 yards, touchdown.
WR Seth Williams: 3 receptions, 144 yards, touchdown.

Week 7: W 24-12 at Ole Miss Rebels
QB Bo Nix: 17 of 31, 184 yards, touchdown.
HB Tank Bigsby: 19 carries, 107 yards, 2 touchdowns.
WR J.J. Evans: 3 receptions, 40 yards, touchdwon.

Week 8: W 25-9 at Texas A&M Aggies
QB Bo Nix: 9 of 35, 149 yards.
HB Tank Bigsby: 24 carries, 143 yards.
HB Tank Bigsby: 4 receptions, 44 yards.

Week 9: W 31-28 vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
QB Bo Nix: 15 of 40, 180 yards, touchdown, 2 interceptions.
HB Tank Bigsby: 21 carries, 100 yards, touchdown.
WR Seth Williams: 6 receptions, 94 yards.

Week 10: L 24-17 vs. #10 Georgia Bulldogs
QB Bo Nix: 9 of 27, 101 yards, touchdown, interception.
HB Tank Bigsby: 16 carries, 83 yards.
WR Seth Williams: 5 receptions, 56 yards.

Week 11: L 35-10 vs. #4 LSU Tigers
QB Bo Nix: 7 of 23, 75 yards, interception.
HB Tank Bigsby: 19 carries, 91 yards, touchdown.
WR Seth Williams: 3 receptions, 45 yards.

Week 12: L 44-17 at #2 Alabama Crimson Tide
QB Bo Nix: 4 of 31, 80 yards, interception.
HB Tank Bigsby: 10 carries, 49 yards.
WR Seth Williams: 2 receptions, 20 yards.

Texas Bowl: L 41-7 vs. Baylor Bears
QB Bo Nix: 10 of 23, 101 yards, touchdown.
HB Tank Bigsby: 24 carries, 140 yards.
WR Shedrick Jackson: 4 receptions, 55 yards, touchdown.

Final Record: 6-7, 3-5 SEC
National Championship: Alabama defeated Michigan, 31-24.
Heisman Winner: HB Breece Hall, Iowa State :: 214 carries, 1446 yards, 21 touchdowns.

2022 Recruiting Class
ATH Donnie Harper [ATH #7]: 6'0", 218lbs | Saraland, AL | 5-star
ATH Brett James [ATH #27]: 6'3", 203lbs | Cape Girardeau, MO | 4-star
ATH Ryan Matthews [ATH #40]: 6'3", 193lbs | Ormond Beach, FL | 4-star
T Sam Lewis [T #4]: 6'3", 294lbs | Vallejo, CA | 4-star
T Jake Mason [T #13]: 6'0", 280lbs | Evergreen, AL | 4-star
WR Reggie Lane [WR #27]: 6'2", 190lbs | Riverdale, GA | 4-star
WR Russell Roth [WR #34]: 6'5", 203lbs | Brownsville, FL | 4-star
WR Andy Jones [WR #38]: 5'11", 174lbs | Forest Park, GA | 4-star
QB Josh Johnson [QB #25]: 6'4", 212lbs | Safety Harbor, FL | 3-star
S Howard Douglas [S #43]: 6'2", 180lbs | Ozark, AL | 3-star
K Jacques Christensen [K #6]: 6'2", 191lbs | Covington, GA | 3-star
TE Eric Nixon [T #24]: 6'7", 243lbs | Denham Springs, LA | 3-star
LB Richard Townsend [LB #65]: 6'0", 231lbs | East Bradenton, FL | 3-star

12th ranked recruiting class

[Soapy]

Nix transfers to Florida State following Malzahn exodus
Connor O'Malley -- SDS Staff Writer

Former five-star quarterback Bo Nix will be transferring to the Florida State University to play his last season of college eligibility.

Nix was a three-year starter at Auburn who bursted onto the scene with a win over Oregon as a true freshman in his college debut and beat Alabama in the same season. Nix failed to progress and in many instances regressed, completing just 41.9 percent of his passes in the last two seasons with 32 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. His effectiveness as a runner was his best asset and in Mike Yurcich more pass oriented offense that stems from the Mike Gundy Air Raid lineage.


Nix's departure leaves the Tigers with just three scholarship quarterbacks in redshirt sophomore Storm McWilliams Jr. and Chayil Garnett and incoming freshman Josh Johnson. McWilliams is a pitcher in the Detroit Tigers farm system and has traditionally missed spring practices in order to play baseball.

[Soapy]

McWilliams will not report for Tigers spring training; to compete for starting QB spot at Auburn
The Detroit Tigers gamble of drafting and signing two-sport athlete Storm McWilliams Jr. despite him signing a Letter of Intent to play college football at Auburn appeared to have paid off last season when he was one of their better pitchers at the AAA level.

No so fast. The chickens may have come home to roost.

McWilliams informed Detroit on Friday that he will not report for spring training and instead will remain at Auburn to compete for a starting job at quarterback as first reported by the Detroit Free Press.

McWilliams did attend spring training last season and pitched in ten games before returning to Auburn. With recent coaching staff changes and roster moves happening at Auburn, McWilliams decided to change his course of action and football does appear to come first, at least for now.

The Tigers haven't commented on the situation and neither has McWilliams publicly although his social media shows that he is still currently at Auburn.

[Captain Canada]

The takeover

[Soapy]

With renewed focus, McWilliams thinks Auburn's answer at QB is in the mirror
Mark Brooks -- College and Magnolia Staff Writer

Storm McWilliams had not pitched in a competitive game for twenty six months when he took the mound last April against the Columbus Clippers. He would pitch what he calls the greatest performance of his career.

"I don't really believe in rust," says McWilliams, "You either can do something or you can't. I think that's an excuse that we allow our minds to wander to because at the end of the day, you either get it done or you don't."

It's that kind of attitude and the rocket launched attached to his shoulder why the new coaching staff is 'extremely high' on the two-sport star. Since he arrived at Auburn, McWilliams has been dipping his toes in two different pools, spending the fall and winter with Auburn and then getting on a plane to Toledo to spent it with the Hens as a member of the Detroit Tigers farm system.

When the Tigers -- the baseball kind -- started considering him as a potential solution to their bullpen issue for the upcoming season, McWilliams was faced with an important crossroad.

"[Detroit] started getting in contact with me around November, sort of letting me know that they saw me as someone that could potentially play in the majors this upcoming spring and schedule wise how would that work."

McWilliams stalled his answer just long enough for Gus Malzahn to eventually be fired and with him left three-year starter Bo Nix. It was deja-vu for McWilliams who had to wait his turn in high school, not starting at quarterback until his senior season. The decision saw him slip to the 15th round of the MLB Draft. Would he do it again?

The answer would turn out to be yes as McWilliams not only did not commit to baseball full time, he didn't commit to it part-time either. McWilliams did not report to spring training and instead opted for spring practices, something that McWilliams decided after speaking with his father.

"We just spoke about the future," McWilliams says, "I proved last spring that baseball will always be there for me, I can always go back to that and have. This is a rare opportunity with a new coaching staff and the position being wide open and everyone talking about who is going to be the starter at quarterback. Why not me? That's sort of the attitude that I left those conversations with my dad with."

McWilliams is in a three-man battle for the position along with Chayil Garnett, a former three-star sophomore, and true freshman Josh Johnson. Garnett is the more athletic of the three and Johnson might be the more polished quarterback, even as a true freshman. But McWilliams has the great equalizer in his right arm, capable of converting a 3rd and 16 at any time with a deep shot and a professional approach to the game that is aided with his minor league experience.

"Storm [McWilliams] does a good job of setting the tone in the room," said offensive coordinator Herb Hand, "He has great leadership qualities and he's learning every day, he's a good, quick and willing learner."

Head coach Mike Yurcich hasn't announced a starter and likely won't until the summer at the earliest. McWilliams has gone all in on becoming the starting quarterback at Auburn University. Will he strike out?

[Captain Canada]

Oh, boy is swinging for the fences

Nice article.

[Soapy]

Oh, boy is swinging for the fences

Nice article.

thank you beloved

[Soapy]

Auburn ends fall camp with no QB1 heading into opener against #6 Florida
When the Auburn Tigers take the field against the number six ranked Florida Gators, they'll be looking to do something they didn't do all of last season. Beat a ranked opponent.

They'll need to do with a first-year quarterback who has spent spring practices and fall camp splitting first team reps.

Auburn head coach Mike Yurcich has yet to name a starter and likely won't until at most a few days before the game. Redshirt sophomores Storm McWilliams and Chayil Garnett are the early favorite but true freshman Josh Johnson has turned enough heads that his name has also been thrown into the circle.

Whoever it is, they'll be faced with a tall task as it'll be their first career start and for McWilliams and Johnson, their first career passes. Garnett went 5 of 6 last season for 82 yards in spot duty.

Quarterbacks
Storm McWilliams, Rs So. | 6'4", 207lbs | 80 ovr, 63 spd, 96 thp, 80 tha OR
Chayil Garnett, Rs So. | 6'1", 218lbs | 80 ovr, 79 spd, 86 thp, 79 tha OR
Josh Johnson, Fr. | 6'4", 212lbs | 72 ovr, 68 spd, 80 thp, 83 tha

Running Backs
Tank Bigsby, Jr. | 6'0", 209lbs | 97 ovr, 85 spd, 90 acc, 97 btk, 93 car, 88 trk
Mark-Anthony Richards, Rs Jr. | 6'1", 213lbs | 89 ovr, 89 spd, 99 acc, 89 car, 89 elu
Alvin Melton, Rs Fr. | 5'11", 218lbs | 73 ovr, 86 spd, 81 acc, 78 btk, 67 car, 80 elu
Matthew Carter, Fr. | 5'8", 186lbs | 59 ovr, 84 spd, 84 acc, 68 car, 71 trk
Clint Marshall, Fr. | 6'2", 182lbs | 58 ovr, 82 spd, 72 acc, 60 car, 72 elu

Wide Receivers
Ze'vian Capers, Jr. | 6'4", 198lbs | 86 ovr, 85 spd, 95 acc, 86 cth OR
J.J. Evans, Rs So. | 6'3", 214lbs | 85 ovr, 81 spd, 96 acc, 84 cth OR
Caylin Newton, Rs Sr. | 5'11", 201lbs | 84 ovr, 90 spd, 95 acc, 79 cth OR
Reggie Lane, Fr. | 6'2", 190lbs | 77 ovr, 84 spd, 88 acc, 78 cth OR
Donnie Harper, Fr. | 6'0", 218lbs | 76 ovr, 88 spd, 87 acc, 77 cth OR
Ryan Matthews, Fr. | 6'3", 193lbs | 74 ovr, 89 spd, 91 acc, 71 cth OR
Eddie Swain, Rs Fr. | 6'7", 240lbs | 73 ovr, 94 spd, 73 acc, 67 cth OR
Ronnie White, Rs Fr. | 6'2", 202lbs | 73 ovr, 84 spd, 78 acc, 76 cth
Andy Jones, Fr. | 5'11", 174lbs | 68 ovr, 87 spd, 74 acc, 71 cth
Russell Roth, Fr. | 6'5", 203lbs | 67 ovr, 86 spd, 82 acc, 61 cth

Tight Ends
J.J. Pegues, Jr. | 6'2", 308lbs | 86 ovr, 70 spd, 89 acc, 84 cth, 82 rbk
Brandon Frazier, Rs So. | 6'7", 280lbs | 83 ovr, 75 spd, 94 acc, 80 cth, 72 rbk
Eric Nixon, Fr. | 6'7", 243lbs | 67 ovr, 77 spd, 83 acc, 71 cth, 68 rbk

Offensive Line
LT John Parker, Rs Fr. | 6'4", 304lbs | 83 ovr, 86 pbk, 85 rbk, 86 str
LG Kameron Stutts, Rs Sr. | 6'4", 329lbs | 90 ovr, 91 pbk, 91 rbk, 90 str
C Jalil Irvin, Rs Sr. | 6'2", 315lbs | 93 ovr, 91 pbk, 89 rbk, 92 str
RG Keiondre Jones, Rs Jr. | 6'3", 345lbs | 90 ovr, 93 pbk, 92 rbk, 86 str
RT Kilian Zierer, Rs Sr. | 6'7", 297lbs | 88 ovr, 89 pbk, 88 rbk, 90 str

Schedule
vs. #6 Florida
at Mississippi State
vs. Georgia Southern
vs. #8 Penn State
vs. Ole Miss
vs. Texas A&M
vs. Western Kentucky
at Arkansas
vs. Coastal Carolina
at #5 Georgia
at #3 LSU
vs. #1 Alabama

[six7]

feels like theres a storm coming..


#5, #3, #1 is death at the end of that schedule

[Captain Canada]

That end of schedule is fuckin insane. make history, my boy