Auburn football roster countdown: Nos. 35-30

AUBURN — Auburn football is in the midst of a busy summer recruiting, so make sure you are tuned into AuburnLive.com for constant recruiting updates and real-time intel as the Tigers try to land a Top-10 class. In the mean time, we are closer to the start of fall practice every day. Between now and then, we’re diving into a roster countdown, providing quick rundowns of the personnel Auburn is working with heading into a new-look SEC and a critical season in 2024.

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Today, we are looking at Nos. 35-30 on Auburn’s roster.

Nos. 99-95
Nos. 94-90
Nos. 89-80
Nos. 79-75
Nos. 74-70
Nos. 67-55
Nos. 54-45
Nos. 44-36

No. 35, Jalen McLeod, Edge

The 6-foot-1, 236-pound senior transfer from Appalachian State returns for what he hopes is a very, very productive season. According to Pro Football Focus, McLeod is the highest graded returner on Auburn’s defense, as DJ James and Marcus Harris have departed to the pros. He finished with 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks last season after being slowed the first part of the season with a lower leg injury. McLeod finished with 21 quarterback hurries and 37 total pressures. Hugh Freeze placed McLeod on the team’s leadership council, among other leaders, and teammate Eugene Asante said of McLeod last season, “he sets a standard” on defense in terms of competitiveness and intensity. McLeod enters fall camp as the starter at one edge position. McLeod has 124 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks for his career.

No. 35, Justin Jones, RB

The 6-foot-1, 209-pound transfer running back from UAB walked on before the 2022 season. Jones has played special teams for the last two seasons. He rushed for over 2,500 career yards at Bessemer Academy before later arriving at UAB, and then Auburn.

No. 33, Towns McGough, K

The 6-foot, 190-pound freshman from Auburn, Ala. arrived in January with quite the fanfare. McGough earned MaxPreps All-American and Under Armour All-American honors. He made seven field goals in Auburn’s spring A-Day game, earning MVP honors in the process. He made six 50+ yard field goals during his senior season at Auburn, including a 60-yard field goal. McGough is competing with returner Alex McPherson for place kicking duties and kickoff duties. McPherson said of McGough during spring camp, “he’s been great. We knew coming in he was going to be a good kicker. In high school, he was really good in games. He’s been really good, really impressed us and the other guys. I’m proud of him for how he’d adjusted to the college level.”

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No. 33, D’Angelo Barber, LB

The 5-foot-11, 226-pound true freshman linebacker from Clay-Chalkville, Ala. arrived to Auburn in January. Barber was a July commitment who tallied 152 tackles and eight tackles for loss during his senior season. He led his team to a 6A state title and earned ASWA lineman of the year. Barber had 12.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a junior, earning all-state honors three times. He also lettered in baseball and basketball. Returning linebacker and projected starter Austin Keys actually said this of Barber last summer, following Barber’s commitment: “Man I love the little dude. He calls me every time just to see what’s new. He wants me to fill him in on the defense. He’s ready man. I’m happy I got to shine my light on him as well. He’s a little short, so he’s speedy all over the field, but he has a lot of stock to him. When he gets to college, everybody has to fill into his frame. I can’t wait to see what he has in store.”

No. 32, Cade Carlson, CB

The 6-foot-, 180-pound walk-on cornerback from Eads, Tenn. totaled 2,100 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior at Briarcrest Christian. He was an all-star selection and an all-state lacrosse player.

No. 31, Joseph Phillips, Edge

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound true freshman from Tuskegee, Ala. arrived at Auburn in January after a stellar high school career. Phillips chose Auburn over Georgia during the recruiting process, actually flipping his commitment from the Bulldogs to the Tigers last summer. Phillips was rated a consensus four-star player and Top-15 player at his position nationally. He tallied a whopping 130 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and seven sacks his senior season. He also rushed for 420 yards and five touchdowns. Phillips said this spring, “I like it, especially because I got a chance to follow Coach Aldridge, he was recruiting me at first anyway. The whole time during my recruiting process it was, ‘do you want to play Buck or play inside?’ But, it is easier to learn, so I feel like I will have a chance to get on the field faster that way. In the future, who knows, you never know I might still end up being a stand up backer.” Phillips is competing at edge, but he’s behind McLeod, Keyron Crawford, Amaris Williams and Jamonta Waller entering fall camp.

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