Hugh Freeze balancing competition and keeping key players healthy during fall camp

AUBURN — As Hugh Freeze attempts to build championship level depth at Auburn (which will take more than one class), keeping specific players healthy is paramount.

“That is a daily discussion. (Recent) meeting with the staff was just about that. How much do you tackle? How much do we let this guy go? Do we put him in the yellow jersey? Do we know what he can do?” said Freeze.

It’s a legitimate concern as Auburn attempts to build on a 6-6 regular season in Freeze’s first season. Auburn signed the No. 8 class in the country in 2024. That was a great start. The Tigers have the No. 6 class in the country for the 2025 class, and could climb higher.

That type of recruiting will alleviate many concerns about balancing competition and keeping critical players healthy during fall camp, but Auburn isn’t there yet. A handful of players could mean the absolute difference in multiple wins this season.

The first three games do present the opportunity to round into shape, to some degree. Alabama A&M comes to town on August 31, followed by Cal on September 7 and New Mexico on September 14.

“Maybe we’re a little rusty the first few Saturdays, maybe that picks up, but we’re going to try our best to protect. I mean, we need to find out what some can do, but some, we know what they can do and we’ve got to try to protect them if at all possible,” said Freeze.

Freeze specifically said during SEC Media Days that keeping Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb healthy is critical. He plans to split up carries liberally during fall camp. But other positions need the competition.

Freeze said at the start of fall camp that the wide receivers and defensive backs still have plenty to prove, especially the younger players. What are Perry Thompson, Bryce Cain and Malcolm Simmons all about? How are Sylvester Smith and Champ Anthony coming along? He mentioned being thin at linebacker. Can Demarcus Riddick help right away? Are Dorian Mausi and Fa’Najae Gotay ready to play in the SEC? The defensive line needs to find rotations and cohesion, too.

Along with the running backs, players like Payton Thorne, Cam Coleman, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Connor Lew, Eugene Asante, Austin Keys, Keionte Scott, Kayin Lee, Keldric Faulk and some others are certainly players that can’t afford to miss meaningful snaps this season.

“We’ve just got to get him to the bus,” Freeze said. “It’s just 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.”

The post Hugh Freeze balancing competition and keeping key players healthy during fall camp appeared first on On3.