< Previous20 STATS COMPARISONS AUBURNTIGERS.COM AUBURN STATS LEADERS RUSHING ATT NET AVG TD LONG AVG/G Jarquez Hunter 16 121 7.6 1 34 60.5 Payton Thorne 19 92 4.9 2 31 46.0 Jeremiah Cobb 4 26 6.5 0 13 13.0 PASSING CMP-ATT-INT PCT YDS TD AVG/G Payton Thorne 27-48-4 56.3 487 5 243.5 Hank Brown 3-5-0 60.0 96 2 96.0 Holden Geriner 2-2-0 1.000 33 0 33.0 RECEIVING NO. YDS AVG TD LONG AVG/G Cam Coleman 4 115 28.8 1 44 57.5 KeAndre Lambert-Smith 5 110 22.0 3 67 55.0 Malcolm Simmons 4 104 26.0 1 57 52.0 DEFENSE UA A TOT TFL-YDS SACKS-YDS Jalen McLeod 8 3 11 4.5-17 1.0-8 Keldric Faulk 8 2 10 4.0-19 3.0-16 Jerrin Thompson 4 4 8 0.0-0 0.0-0 NEW MEXICO STATS LEADERS RUSHING ATT NET AVG TD LONG AVG/G Devon Dampier 18 164 9.1 3 26 82.0 Eli Sanders 33 116 3.5 0 36 58.0 Javen Jacobs 6 45 7.5 0 32 22.5 PASSING CMP-ATT-INT PCT YDS TD AVG/G Devon Dampier 42-68-2 61.8 432 4 216.0 RECEIVING NO. YDS AVG TD LONG AVG/G Luke Wysong 14 224 16.0 1 53 112.0 Trace Bruckler 8 57 7.1 1 12 28.5 Ryan Davis 6 52 8.7 0 15 26.0 DEFENSE UA A TOT TFL-YDS SACKS-YDS Noah Avinger 10 10 20 0.0-0 0.0-0 Christian Ellis 8 11 19 0.0-0 0.0-0 Bobby Arnold III 4 9 13 0.0-0 0.0-0 Here is a quick look at the top team statistics for the Tigers and Lobos. Quick Look n Total Touchdowns 129 n Rushing Yards 298362 n Passing Yards 616432Tickets available now! featuring Herbie Hancock • Borromeo String Quartet • The Piano Guys The Magic School Bus • Dear Evan Hansen • Straight No Chaser • Black Violin Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of The Temptations • and many more 2024–25 season22 2024 HOMECOMING COURT AUBURNTIGERS.COM Name: Abigail Stephenson Hometown: Birmingham, AL Major/School: History (College of Liberal Arts) If you could play any position in football, what would you play and why? I would be a linebacker. I am not coordinated enough to play offense, and I resonate with Eugen Asante’s motto, “Let’s Work.” What is your major and what made you decide to pursue it? I am studying history because I love stories. I love studying the mundane stories of people in the past and acknowledging the small impact they may have had in their community. I obviously love Auburn history. My favorite Auburn history fact is that calling us “The Plainsmen” was coined from radio announcers trying to differentiate the Auburn Tigers from the LSU Tigers. What is your favorite Auburn tradition and why? I love it when the clock tower plays the fight song at noon every day. It may not be something everyone at Auburn notices, but I love it. No matter where you are on campus or even a few miles off campus, you can hear those familiar notes. When I used to give tours as a student recruiter and even now as a War Eagle Girl, I try to time the tour to be in front of Samford Hall at noon. If you could walk in someone else’s shoes for a day, who would it be and why? I would love to walk in the shoes of the First Lady of Auburn, Tracy Roberts. It has been an honor to be able to witness her hospitable personality while working events at the President’s Home and to see her engaging with guests. I think her role is extremely vital and instrumental to Auburn University’s mission, and I have the utmost respect for how she carries herself and her love for every group here. I think it would be cool to see more of what she does to support Auburn! What does it mean to be on the Homecoming Court? It is an honor and a privilege to represent the student body in this way. I am so grateful to have served Auburn through many different campus organizations and leadership positions. To be recognized on the Homecoming Court is an opportunity for me to use my platform to give back to Auburn during this time of tradition. This university has forever impressed upon me the values of the Auburn Creed, and I hope this week I was able to use my platform to inspire gratitude and appreciation among the Auburn Family! What has been your favorite class at Auburn and why? I took a book club through the Honors College with David Housel, and I loved it so much that I took it twice! Mr. Housel is an Auburn man to his core, and it was special to get to learn about his Auburn experiences in an academic setting. He started off the semester both times by asking the students, “What are you afraid of?” and “What makes you happy?” His questions prompted real discussions, and he would challenge us by saying that no topic was off limits. At the end of the semester, he gave us all a signed copy of From the Backbooth of Chappy’s, and wrote on the first page, “Keep Reading!” To Mr. Housel, I will! Describe Auburn to someone who has never been here. To quote David Housel, “Auburn is a way of living. Unless you have experienced it, you will never know what it is; you will never understand it. Once you have experienced it, you will never be the same.” When you say yes to Auburn, you say yes to an experience that will change your life. You say yes to picnics on Samford Lawn, camping out in 25-degree weather to get a spot in The Jungle, buying toilet paper in anticipation of running to Toomer’s and saying hey to friends on Haley Concourse. You do not go to Auburn for four years. These four years change you for a lifetime. Name: Emery Waggoner Hometown: Auburn, AL Major/School: Human Development and Family Science (College of Human Sciences) If you could play any position in football, what would you play and why? Considering that I am probably one of the least coordinated women on Auburn’s campus, I would probably try my best to leave the playing time up to the rest of the team! However, if I had to choose, I would want to play backup quarterback. That way, I could focus on keeping the energy high on the sidelines and encouraging my teammates while still carrying my weight as a team player. I promise I’d be a much more valuable player on the sidelines! What is your major and what made you decide to pursue it? I am majoring in human development and family science with a minor in leadership studies. I have felt a tug on my heart towards infants and toddlers, specifically in the foster care system, for as long as I can remember and more so every day. Ever since I was a child, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career where I could assist children and families in need, COVER FEATURECommitted to playing with purpose. At Alabama Power, we share your passion for gameday and your pride in our community. We celebrate victories on and off the field that move the state forward. For over 100 years, we’ve shown that our collective achievements make us stronger. It’s Power for a Better Alabama. We proudly support the Auburn Tigers. alabamapower.com © 2024 Alabama Power Company24 2024 HOMECOMING COURT AUBURNTIGERS.COM and the HDFS program has presented me with an incredible education and substantial experiences to equip me to do so. What is your favorite Auburn tradition and why? My favorite Auburn tradition is most definitely rolling Toomer’s Corner! In fact, one of my earliest and best memories is of rolling the Toomer’s Oaks with my older brother. Whether my roommate got a good grade on a test, my friend got engaged or the Tigers brought home a win, rolling Toomer’s has been such a constant and exciting part of my life. I’ve been participating in this tradition for 20 years and I hope for 80 more! If you could walk in someone else’s shoes for a day, who would it be and why? I would want to walk in the shoes of Aubie. He gets to attend so many cool events, and he’s gotten the privilege of witnessing so many different eras of Auburn. Plus, ever since Aubie was “born,” he has been Auburn’s friendliest and most fun ambassador. I’d love to have the same reputation as Aubie in that everywhere I go, I get to see the faces of Auburn men, women and children lighting up as soon as I enter the room. What does it mean to be on the Homecoming Court? Auburn traditions have made us who we are almost entirely. One of my favorite Auburn sayings goes, “Owing much to its past, Auburn’s greatest debt is ever to its future.” Honoring these traditions like Homecoming and the Homecoming Court helps to connect the many generations of Auburn men and women. I’m so thankful for all who have gone before me and so thrilled for all who will follow. I am extremely honored to be one of the five candidates for this year’s incredible senior class! What has been your favorite class at Auburn and why? My favorite course at Auburn so far has been parent education with Dr. Heather Hardin. We spent our semester together learning how to better educate parents to help their children thrive, as well as how to help ourselves to better parent our own future children. Dr. Hardin is not only a hoot, but she was and still is there for me in every way when all she was required to do was teach me about parental education. She understands what it means to go above and beyond as a true Auburn woman! Describe Auburn to someone who has never been here. Auburn is something that you just can’t understand until you experience it, but I’ll give it my best shot. If you ask me, Auburn is the chimes of Samford Hall, the familiar red brick and the fourth quarter light show in Jordan-Hare. It’s knowing that you’re being cared for and prayed for by your peers and doing the same for them. It’s accidentally living in the same dorm room that your grandmother lived in 60 years prior. Auburn is an education, a community, an “everything school”, a family. If you’re lucky enough to understand Auburn, then you are lucky enough. Name: Helen Talmadge Hometown: Dothan, AL Major/School: Nutrition/Dietetics If you could play any position in football, what would you play and why? I’d choose to be a running back because they truly get to do it all on the field. The position is a blend of agility, strength and strategy offering the chance to impact the game in multiple ways. I love the idea of being amid the action and playing a pivotal role in the game. What is your major and what made you decide to pursue it? From a young age, I noticed a significant disconnect between cultural perceptions of food and the actual science of nutrition. I observed how this misinformation led to unhealthy relationships with food. Recognizing how central food is to our lives, I became deeply motivated to uncover the truth about nutritional science. My goal is to challenge false beliefs and reshape attitudes and behaviors around food, ultimately helping people develop a healthier and more informed relationship with what they eat. I want others to see the value of community around a table and the impact food has on our lives. Because of this, I am pursuing a degree in dietetics with the goal of becoming a registered dietitian. What is your favorite Auburn tradition and why? My favorite Auburn tradition is the eagle flight that takes place before every game. There’s something truly special about the history and uniqueness of this ritual. It began when a professor brought his eagleto an away game, and as we were falling behind, the eagle suddenly took flight from his shoulder and began circling the field. Since that moment, the shout of “War Eagle!” has become a powerful symbol that unites Auburn people around the world. If you could walk in someone else’s shoes for a day, who would it be and why? If I could step into anyone’s shoes for a day, it would be Suni Lee. I would be thrilled to ask her about her time at Auburn and her experience as an Olympic gymnast. Experiencing her skills firsthand and understanding her journey would be incredible. What does it mean to be on the Homecoming Court? Being on the Homecoming Court and representing Auburn women is an incredible honor. This experience has been unforgettable and will always be a cherished part of my Auburn journey. This experience has deepened my love for Auburn and reinforced the communal spirit that we all cherish. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to stand COVER FEATURE Continued on Page 52PARTOFTHEFAMILY Y O U R T E A M S . Y O U R T E A M S .Y O U R S T A T I O N S . Y O U R S T A T I O N S . WINGSFM.COM CATCHAUBURNFOOTBALL,MEN’SBASKETBALLANDTIGERTALKONWINGS94.3 ANDAUBURNWOMEN’SBASKETBALLANDBASEBALLONAU100. Auburn-Opelika’sOfficialFlagshipStationsoftheAuburnTigers AU100FM.COM28 HEAD COACH HUGH FREEZE AUBURNTIGERS.COM Hugh Freeze became the 31st head football coach in Auburn history in No- vember, 2022. Freeze has nearly three decades of continued coaching success, including head coaching experience that has led to conference titles, nation- ally 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. Every home game was sold out as fans embraced Freeze’s brand of football and Auburn garnered a top 10 recruiting class for the 2024 campaign. 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 13 seasons is 109-54. 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 sea- son in 2020 (2,776) and ranked No. 9 in the country in rushing offense. Liberty also ranked No. 15 nationally in total of- fense (482.7 yards per game) and No. 11 in total 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, joining 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. Treadwell was Ole Miss’ first ever SEC Freshman of the Year in 2013 and became HUGH FREEZE HEAD COACHNext >