In a continued show of recruiting effort and success, Hugh Freeze’s Auburn staff lands a huge transfer target in former Kentucky DL Justin Rogers, building excitement and expectations for the 2023 season.
Not all transfers make sense on paper. Especially when an established starter on a team with a good track record on his side of the ball decides to bolt for a comparable program. Justin Rogers left Kentucky for the transfer portal on January 3rd as a starter and majority contributor on their defensive front. With a defensive-minded head coach in Mark Stoops, there seemed to be very little to worry about in the way of retention for the massive nose tackle.
Reality, though, doesn’t take place on paper. Rogers hit the portal and promptly started taking visits, with LSU and Georgia reportedly on his radar. Auburn has very rarely fared well against top tier recruiting programs in its recent history, with many failed bids for talent that found its way to Georgia, Alabama, or LSU. So landing the former 5-star recruit in Rogers – who improved every year while at Kentucky – is a noticeable get for Hugh Freeze in year 1 of his tenure as Auburn’s HC.
This guy wants to be here. I don’t know what his reasons for leaving Kentucky are, but he said it’s time for a new chapter.
– Mike G on The Morning Drop
Justin Rogers’ commitment is a huge win for Auburn. Is this a sign of just how serious Hugh Freeze is about the trenches? With Auburn quickly approaching the scholarship limit, are they just about done in the portal? Will this staff be able to challenge Georgia and Alabama for top tier defensive talent going forward?
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