< Previous20 STATS COMPARISONS AUBURNTIGERS.COM AUBURN STATS LEADERS RUSHING ATT NET AVG TD LONG AVG/G Jeremiah Cobb 117 717 6.1 4 46 89.6 Jackson Arnold 106 270 2.5 7 27 33.8 Eric Singleton Jr. 12 59 4.9 0 16 7.4 PASSING CMP-ATT-INT PCT YDS TD AVG/G Jackson Arnold 131-207-2 63.3 1,263 6 157.9 Ashton Daniels 6-8-0 75.0 77 0 77.0 Deuce Knight 2-5-0 40.0 20 0 20.0 RECEIVING NO. YDS AVG TD LONG AVG/G Cam Coleman 32 440 13.8 3 46 55.0 Eric Singleton Jr. 38 367 9.7 2 48 45.9 Malcolm Simmons 15 119 7.9 0 26 14.9 DEFENSE UA A TOT TFL-YDS SACKS-YDS Xavier Atkins 45 16 61 13.0-52 7.0-35 Robert Woodyard Jr. 31 13 44 7.0-15 2.0-8 Kaleb Harris 25 6 31 1.0-2 0.0-0 KENTUCKY STATS LEADERS RUSHING ATT NET AVG TD LONG AVG/G Seth McGowan 93 476 5.1 7 20 79.3 Dante Dowdell 79 326 4.1 1 79 46.6 Jason Patterson 37 154 4.2 1 29 22.0 PASSING CMP-ATT-INT PCT YDS TD AVG/G Cutter Boley 105-158-5 66.5 1,215 9 202.5 Zach Calzada 25-53-1 47.2 234 0 117.0 RECEIVING NO. YDS AVG TD LONG AVG/G Kendrick Law 24 302 12.6 2 71 43.1 Willie Rodriguez 14 201 14.4 1 53 28.7 Josh Kattus 12 163 13.6 2 34 23.3 DEFENSE UA A TOT TFL-YDS SACKS-YDS Alex Afari Jr. 26 17 43 3.5-8 1.0-1 Ty Bryant 21 19 40 1.5-2 0.0-0 JQ Hardaway 27 11 38 0.5-1 0.0-0 Jordan Lovett 26 12 38 2.0-2 0.0-0 Here is a quick look at the top team statistics for the Tigers and the Wildcats: Quick Look n Total Touchdowns 2320 n Rushing Yards 1,3651,080 n Passing Yards 1,3601,449 STATS COMPARISONS22 COVER FEATURE AUBURNTIGERS.COM COVER FEATURE BY: JEFF SHEARER If you’re looking for Jeremiah Cobb the day after a game, chances are you’ll find him in the training room, maybe in the cold tub. “Physically, I feel fine. I’m sore like always after every game,” said Cobb, whose 117 carries are the fourth most in the SEC this season and nearly double the combined total of his freshman (33) and sophomore seasons (29). “Just have to go to treatment.” The 5-11, 200-pound junior from Montgomery thrives on the expanded workload, eclipsing the 100-yard mark in four of Auburn’s eight games. “It’s definitely been rewarding and very exciting,” Cobb said. “More confidence comes with every run. Feeling the defense you’re going against, it gets easier and easier. Knowing what they’re going to do on each play makes it really easy.” Cobb certainly makes it look easy. In last week’s win at Arkansas, he set career highs with 28 carries and 153 yards, the most rushing yards by an SEC player in a conference game this season and Cobb’s second straight 100-yard game. If Cobb can hit the century mark Saturday night against Kentucky at Jordan-Hare Stadium, he would be the first Auburn player to have five 100-yard games in a season since Tank Bigsby in 2021 and the first to have three in a row since Jarquez Hunter in 2023. An explosive play producer, Cobb has four carries of at least 40 yards this season. “I can’t thank the wide receivers enough,” he said. “Rushing down there and getting blocks, it’s awesome to make that happen so I’m proud of them.” Through eight games, Cobb ranks second in the SEC in rushing yards with 717 and per-game average, 89.6. Cobb’s per-carry average of 6.13 ranks fourth in the league. “Always had the dream to do this,” he said. “It was crazy how it actually happened. Once I got out here freshman year and started doing it, it was easy.” Like all elite running backs, Cobb knows his success would not be possible without Auburn’s offensive line. “They do a great job,” said Cobb, whose 28 carries against Arkansas are the most by an Auburn running back in a non-overtime game since Kerryon Johnson carried 30 times in the 2017 Iron Bowl. “I’ve had faith in every single one of them. They worked their tails off all summer, so I feel very confident.” To lessen Cobb’s wear and tear, Auburn has reduced his practice reps, trying to keep Jeremiah fresh for the season’s stretch run. Durell Robinson’s return from injury, and the continued development of true freshman Omar Mabson II, should also provide depth behind Cobb. “He’s handled it well to this point,” said Hugh Freeze, who correctly predicted a breakout year ahead for No. 23 during preseason camp. “There’s no question he’s got to get his touches.” Cobb endeared himself to Auburn fans before the season when reporters asked why he remained on the Plains after two seasons as a backup, when the transfer portal could have provided RB1: JEREMIAH COBB PRODUCES BREAKOUT SEASON24 COVER FEATURE AUBURNTIGERS.COM an easy exit to potentially more playing time. “I meant that commitment,” Cobb said in August, looking back to his 2022 verbal pledge to Auburn. “I’m going to stay here, keep working. Put my head down and keep working, God’s going to bless me.” A marketing student in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, Cobb connects with his fellow students and professors. “It’s been really fun to learn,” he said. “Group projects, online assignments, Excel sheets. I put my time into it because I know what I truly love is football so you’ve got to do it so I can play.” Competing and studying 50 miles from his hometown allows Cobb to stay close to his family while giving him an appreciation for being the latest in a long line of standout Auburn running backs. “It’s awesome being from Alabama and knowing the running backs who came before me and played here,” he said. After helping Auburn earn its first SEC victory on the road, Cobb hopes to deliver a repeat performance Saturday night on Pat Dye Field. “The whole team and coaches deserve it,” he said. “We just need to keep our head down and keep working. All of the support, even when things were going sideways, it’s amazing. It gives us more faith. “When you walk into that stadium, it’s just different. It’s awesome to see that every time you walk in there.” To get the result Auburn wants, Cobb focuses on the process. “Making sure I do what I need to do for the coaches and for this team,” he said. “All of those players deserve a little bit of success so if I do my part, I can help them in that way, so I set my mind on that so that every play I do that.” Out of loyalty to Auburn, Jeremiah Cobb persevered. Now, he’s prevailing. The Tigers’ next great running back displays an attitude that Auburn fans admire. “I keep it very simple,” he said. “I love people, I love being kind to people.” COVER FEATUREOFFICIAL INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORTS MEDICINE PROVIDER OF AUBURN TIGERS ATHLETICS WE ARE HERE FOR L TO R: Michael Goodlett, MD, FAAFP- Team Physician Benton A. Emblom, MD - Team Orthopaedic Surgeon Jos Edison, DO - Associate Team Physician At Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center, we’re here for the competitor in all of us — from rookies chasing their dreams to legends who never quit. We’re here for the believers, the driven, the passionate. We’re here for the ones who rise, again and again. We’re here for the Auburn Tigers. To schedule an appointment, call us at 205-939-3699 Locations: Birmingham | Cullman | Gardendale | Hoover | Pelham | Trussville ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS James R. Andrews, MD, Emeritus Christopher M. Beaumont, MD E. Lyle Cain, Jr., MD Andrew M. Cordover, MD Jeff rey C. Davis, MD Jeff rey R. Dugas, MD Benton A. Emblom, MD Christopher H. Garrett, MD Daniel C. Kim, MD Wayne McGough, Jr., MD Kathleen E. McKeon, MD K. David Moore, MD Charles C. Pitts, Jr., MD Marcus A. Rothermich, MD Norman E. Waldrop, III, MD NON-SURGICAL SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIANS Matthew B. Beidleman, MD Christopher S. Carter, MD Emily Bell Casey, MD Ricardo E. Colberg, MD Rachel G. Henderson, MD Monte M. Ketchum, DO JoséO.Ortega,MD T. Daniel Smith, MD Jay S. Umarvadia, MD PHYSICIAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION Charles T. Carnel, MDY O U R T E A M S . Y O U R S T A T I O N S . WINGSFM.COMESPNAU.COM FOOTBALL/MEN’SBASKETBALL/WOMEN’SBASKETBALL/BASEBALL/TIGERTALK ALLPLAYHERE. Auburn-Opelika’sOfficialFlagshipStationsoftheAuburnTigersCOMPETITIVE COMPETITIVE THE COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGE EDGE HARBERT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS HARBERT.AUBURN.EDU At the hArbert college of business excellence goes beyond the classroom. From boardrooms to stadiums, our students lead with grit, purpose, and the Auburn spirit. WE’RE NOT JUST PREPARING BUSINESS LEADERS —WE’RE INSPIRING EXCELLENCE ON AND OFF THE FIELD. X Sophie is a senior Business Analytics major with a minor in Business Engineering Technology. She’s active in Women in Technology and Sports Analytics student organizations.28 HEAD COACH HUGH FREEZE AUBURNTIGERS.COM Hugh Freeze became the 31st head football coach in Auburn history in No- vember 2022. Freeze has more than three decades of continued coaching success, including head coaching ex- perience that has led to conference ti- tles, nationally ranked recruiting classes and bowl appearances at multiple stops during his highly decorated career. In Freeze’s first season at Auburn, despite a shorthanded roster, the 2023 Tigers posted a 6-7 record and earned a Music City Bowl berth. In 2024, the Tigers continued to build on and off the field. Every home game was sold out for the second consecutive season as fans embraced Freeze’s brand of football and Auburn garnered top 10 recruiting class- es for the 2024 and 2025 campaigns. Freeze came to Auburn from Liber- ty University, where he was head coach from 2019-22. Freeze led the Flames to four bowl games and a 34-15 record. Freeze experienced similar success at each of his head coaching stops prior to Liberty that include Lambuth Univer- sity (2008-09), Arkansas State (2011) and Ole Miss (2012-16). Freeze led each school to double-digit win seasons, while helping Ole Miss to a top 10 national fin- ish in 2015. His on-field coaching record in 14 seasons is 114-61. Liberty was just one of five FBS teams in the country to win a bowl game each season from 2019-21, joining Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana. It was the second team in NCAA history to win a bowl game during its first three full sea- sons at the FBS level, all coming under Freeze’s leadership. Freeze guided Liberty to a 10-1 overall record in 2020 and the team’s first-ever national ranking as it finished No. 17 in the country. That season, Liberty had the best start in program history (8-0), tied the program record for wins (10) and de- feated two Power 5 programs in Syracuse and Virginia Tech. For his efforts, Freeze was a finalist for the George Munger Col- legiate Coach of the Year Award. Known for his fast-paced offensive style, Freeze’s 2020 Liberty team set a school record for rushing yards in a season (2,776) and ranked No. 9 in the country in rushing offense. Liberty also ranked No. 15 nationally in total offense (482.7 yards per game) and No. 11 in to- tal defense (317.7 yards per game). The Flames were one of three teams in the country to rank in the top 20 in both total offense and total defense in 2020, join- ing Clemson and BYU. Spearheading Liberty’s outstand- ing offense in 2020 was former Auburn quarterback Malik Willis, who burst into the spotlight leading the nation in rushing yards (944) and touchdowns (14) by a FBS quarterback. Willis earned All-America honors, was named to the Davey O’Brien Award Quarterback Class of 2020 and was on the 2020 Maxwell Award watch list. The Flames posted an eight-win sea- son in 2021 after facing eight bowl-eli- gible teams during that campaign. Lib- erty’s defense finished the 2021 season ranked No. 7 nationally in passing yards allowed, No. 11 in total defense and No. 24 in scoring defense. Offensively, Lib- erty finished 2021 ranked No. 25 in the country in scoring offense and No. 8 in passing yards per completion. Leading the charge for the Flames in 2021 once again was Willis, who was a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Na- tional Quarterback Award and the Max- well Award and a top 10 candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Willis was a third-round draft pick of the Ten- nessee Titans in the 2022 NFL Draft. In 2022, Liberty finished the regu- lar season 8-4 with wins over Arkansas and BYU; three of the four losses came by a combined five points. The Flames earned a berth in the Boca Raton Bowl. While head coach at Ole Miss, Freeze took the Rebels to bowl games in three of his five seasons, including wins in the 2013 Music City and the 2016 Sugar bowls. Freeze’s time in Oxford was highlight- ed by a 10-3 campaign in 2015, the pro- gram’s first 10-win season since 2003. The Rebels won their first four games of the 2015 season, including a 43-37 road victory over No. 2 Alabama, Ole Miss’ first win in Tuscaloosa since 1988. The Rebels were ranked as high as No. 3 in the national polls in both 2014 and 2015 and finished in the national Top 10 for the first time since 1969 after the Sugar Bowl win. Ole Miss was ranked in the top 25 for 45 weeks over Freeze’s five-year tenure, including a string of 27 straight weeks in the polls for the first time since 1957-62. Freeze collected four nationally ranked recruiting classes at Ole Miss. In 2013 and 2016, his recruiting classes ranked in the top five nationally, the best in program history. Freeze and his staff developed 20 players who earned all-SEC honors, in- cluding All-Americans Cody Prewitt, Senquez Golson, Robert Nkemdiche, Laremy Tunsil, Evan Engram, Laquon Treadwell and Trae Elston. HUGH FREEZE HEAD COACHNext >