Following Auburn football’s collapse to Missouri last weekend, Hugh Freeze addressed the media looking ahead to the Tigers matchup against Kentucky.
Freeze started by giving Kentucky coach Mark Stoops his credit for the success he’s seen throughout his career.
“First to coach Stoops I think he’s one of the best in the business,” Freeze said. “I think he gets more out of his teams year in and year out. I like him as an individual and he does a great job coaching.”
He added the challenges the Wildcats defense presents to the Tigers. Junior defensive tackle Deone Walker and Octavious Oxendine were players Freeze touted heavily while assessing Kentucky.
“But this defensive front, it starts there, they’re the real deal. [Walker] is probably a top-15 pick. [Oxendine] is pretty dang salty, too,” Freeze said. “The linebackers are really talented, they can run in the secondary, it’s one of the better defenses that we’ve seen.”
Kentucky is coming off a 48-20 loss to Florida where the defense saw five touchdowns scored by Florida running back Jadan Baugh.
Even though the Wildcats have dropped their last two conference games, Freeze knows that this weekend features another high-level matchup.
“Well, you know, I know Coach Stoops, he will not be happy with their performance, and they will be working on fitting the run this week like they have every other game,” Freeze said. “I mean, that is a total outlier, which, it happens in college football. You’re coaching kids still, and it’s just, that hasn’t been the case. If you go look at the rushing stats against them on all the other teams, Georgia included all of them, they’re not that. So, I don’t make too much of that game. I hope they play like that, but it’s probably doubtful. I think Lexington at night and the home game for them will probably get their best.”
This season Kentucky held Georgia to only 102 rushing yards averaging 3.4 yards per rush. In the victory over Ole Miss, they held the Rebels to 92 yards averaging 3.2 yards per rush.
Jarquez Hunter leads the ground game for Auburn with 585 rushing yards averaging 6.0 yards per rush. Against Missouri he was held to only 57 yards and Freeze credited that to the Missouri defense.
“They are pretty dang good. That’s a very mature defensive front. I think they’re really, really solid. Outside of the one game, the Texas A&M game, their stats are top three or four in everything,” Freeze said. “It’s a really good defense that not many people have shredded. Could we have blocked things a little differently and better? Sure, but they’re teaching their guys to get off blocks also. I thought he ran it effectively enough for us to be balanced and have a chance to win the game.”
Auburn’s matchup with Kentucky will be televised Saturday on the SEC Network at 6:45 p.m.
