Six Auburn Players Earn All-SEC Honors While Media Picks Tigers to Finish Near Bottom of Conference in Preseason Polls Again
The 2025 college football season is fast approaching, and as always, SEC Media Days served as a major measuring stick for expectations across the league. For Auburn, the event brought a mix of good news and familiar skepticism. On one hand, six Tigers were honored with selections to the Southeastern Conference Preseason Media Days All-SEC Team—a sign of individual talent and recognition. On the other, SEC media voters once again picked Auburn to finish near the bottom of the standings, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding Hugh Freeze’s program as it enters Year Two of a crucial rebuild.
Auburn’s contingent of All-SEC honorees includes some of the most important players on the 2025 roster—veterans who have carried the program through turbulent seasons and now hope to help return it to SEC relevance. Headlining the group is senior cornerback D.J. James, who earned a First-Team All-SEC nod. James is widely regarded as one of the top defensive backs in the nation, a potential NFL Draft pick with elite coverage skills, instincts, and leadership. He was a bright spot during a shaky 2024 campaign and will once again be tasked with anchoring Auburn’s secondary against some of the best quarterbacks in the country.
Joining James on the defensive side is lineman Marcus Harris, who was selected to the Second-Team All-SEC defense. Harris has developed into one of the conference’s most reliable interior linemen, combining strength, quickness, and experience to consistently disrupt opposing backfields. His presence in the trenches gives Auburn a sturdy anchor up front, something the defense will desperately need as it faces high-powered offenses across the SEC.
Linebacker Eugene Asante, another key defensive returner, earned Third-Team All-SEC honors. Asante led the Tigers in tackles last season and brings a relentless motor, lateral speed, and veteran savvy to the middle of the defense. After bouncing around early in his college career, Asante found his footing under Freeze’s staff and became one of Auburn’s most consistent defenders. His leadership and energy will be invaluable for a unit looking to take the next step in 2025.
Offensively, Auburn also saw three players make the All-SEC teams, led by running back Jarquez Hunter, who was named to the Second-Team. Hunter eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards last season despite running behind an inconsistent offensive line and facing loaded defensive boxes. His return gives Auburn a proven weapon and a physical tone-setter for Freeze’s offense. With a deeper and more experienced offensive line expected this season, Hunter could be in for a breakout year.
Wide receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson was recognized on the Third-Team, following a productive season where he led Auburn in receiving yards and touchdown catches. Known for his speed and route-running ability, Johnson is expected to be a primary target once again in 2025. His chemistry with returning quarterback Payton Thorne—who Freeze has praised for his leadership during the offseason—will be critical if Auburn wants to improve a passing attack that ranked among the league’s worst last year.
Rounding out Auburn’s All-SEC honorees is kicker Alex McPherson, who was selected to the Second-Team for special teams. McPherson has been one of the SEC’s most accurate and dependable kickers, converting over 86% of his field goal attempts in 2024. His ability to deliver in clutch moments and from long range adds a valuable asset to a team that could find itself in multiple close contests this season.
Despite the individual recognition, however, the media remains largely unconvinced about Auburn’s chances to contend in 2025. In the preseason media poll, the Tigers were picked to finish fifth in the SEC West—a clear indication that while talent is acknowledged, belief in overall team success is lacking. This skepticism is nothing new. Auburn has faced low external expectations in recent seasons, and while some of that is due to tough schedules and coaching turnover, it’s also a reflection of performance.
Hugh Freeze, who enters his second full season as head coach, spent much of SEC Media Days talking about culture, accountability, and growth. He emphasized that this Auburn team is different from the one that went 6–6 in 2024. In his words, the players now know what’s expected of them. The practices are more physical. The locker room is more unified. The coaching staff is more aligned. And the roster is deeper, thanks to a combination of recruiting success and aggressive work in the transfer portal.
Freeze also acknowledged that talk is cheap in the SEC. He knows better than most that expectations are just that—expectations. What matters is how a team performs when it faces Georgia at home, or Alabama on the road, or Texas in front of a national television audience. Auburn’s 2025 schedule is among the most difficult in the country, and any climb up the standings will require winning games in which they are not favored.
Still, the six preseason All-SEC selections are no small feat. They reflect a core group of players who have either produced at a high level or are expected to do so. More importantly, they offer Auburn fans a reason to hope that the pieces may finally be coming together. James, Harris, and Asante give the Tigers a defensive trio with the potential to elevate the unit to top-half status in the SEC. Hunter, Johnson, and McPherson provide balance and explosiveness on offense and special teams.
One of the biggest questions facing Auburn this fall is the quarterback position. Thorne is the presumed starter, but Freeze brought in multiple players this offseason to create competition. Freshman Walker White, one of the top-rated quarterback recruits in the country, could be the long-term answer. In the short term, however, Auburn needs stability and accuracy under center. If the Tigers can get competent quarterback play—limit turnovers, manage the game, make the occasional deep throw—then their chances of exceeding expectations increase dramatically.
Another area under scrutiny is the offensive line. Freeze and offensive line coach Jake Thornton worked hard this offseason to bolster the unit with transfers from other Power Five programs. There’s optimism that the additions will bring more consistency, but chemistry remains a major question. The line will be tested early and often, particularly in September when Auburn faces Clemson in a high-profile non-conference showdown.
Defensively, Auburn must find ways to pressure quarterbacks more consistently. The Tigers ranked near the bottom of the SEC in sacks last season, something Freeze called “completely unacceptable.” The additions of new edge rushers through the portal and a renewed emphasis on aggressiveness in defensive coordinator Ron Roberts’ scheme could lead to improvements. Still, with so many teams in the SEC featuring elite quarterbacks, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Special teams, fortunately, remain a strength. McPherson’s accuracy gives Freeze flexibility in late-game situations, and the return game has shown flashes of explosiveness. That third phase of the game could be critical in tight battles, particularly against similarly ranked teams like Mississippi State, Kentucky, or Arkansas.
Ultimately, Auburn’s 2025 season will come down to execution and health. The Tigers aren’t lacking in talent—they’ve just struggled to put it all together. The hope within the program is that continuity on the coaching staff and a full offseason of development under Freeze’s system will finally bear fruit. If the six All-SEC players perform to their potential, and the supporting cast elevates their play, Auburn could be a dark horse in the conference.
But make no mistake: the media has spoken. Auburn is still seen as a middle-of-the-pack SEC program with more questions than answers. That may serve as motivation. Several players mentioned during Media Days that they feel disrespected, underestimated, and overlooked. Freeze didn’t disagree. He knows the program still has to earn back its reputation.
In a conference that never takes a week off, Auburn’s margin for error is small. But with six players already considered among the best in the league, the Tigers have a chance—perhaps a better one than most are giving them credit for. The preseason polls may say otherwise, but Hugh Freeze believes this team has the foundation to surprise people. Now, they just have to prove it.
