Phil Steele released his projections for the most improved teams in 2023. Which begs the question, “will Auburn be one of the most improved teams in CFB?“
The first year for Hugh Freeze is under two months away and expectations continue to ramp up. Phil Steele released his 2023 list of most improved teams. He projects the Tigers will be the 10th most improved team in College Football this season.
I expect 8 wins this season based solely off of the talent we have.
-B-Will on the Midweek Rapport
Auburn’s offense is projected to be composed almost entirely of newcomers. Of the 11 starting spots available, it is easy to see 6 of them being new faces. For example, the offensive line may include new starters 4 new starters. The Wide Receiver spot may include almost entirely newcomers in the top 8. The running back room will be mostly returners, except for Brian Battie, who is likely to be a factor. Lastly, the quarterback could be a new face, as well.
Similarly, the defense has a balance of talented experience and flashy newcomers. Returning starters like DJ James, Keionte Scott, and Nehemiah Pritchett will lead the charge in the secondary. Marcus Harris and Jayson Jones will anchor a unit the front line as incumbents. However, the remaining spots are likely to include a lot of new faces. Even if they have been on Auburn’s roster, they have not seen a lot of snaps at Auburn. With he mix of returners and the quality of the new additions, a three win improvement seems well within the realm of possibility.
Hugh Freeze and company have done a masterful job of upgrading the roster. He excels the most in his on the field coaching, which will further improve the Tiger’s record. His offenses have been prolific at every stop along is head coaching tenure. Therefore, the path to 8 wins is a straight and narrow one. So, if Auburn stays on it, it will carry them a long way.
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