a freshman who made the second team of the NCAA, has formally registered on the NCAA transfer site. According to his school bio, Downs became the first known freshman to lead the team in tackles in 2023 after earning a starting safety berth as a true freshman. He was named to the first team of the SEC and won the SEC Newcomer of the Year award.
In addition to receiving multiple first-team All-America accolades, Downs was named to The Associated Press’s second-team All-America roster for all players.
Downs had 107 tackles, good for fourth place in the SEC, and was involved in four turnovers (forced fumble, recovered fumble, and two interceptions). In addition, he scored an 85-yard return of a punt. He had 10 tackles and caused a fumble against Texas. In the Tide’s Rose Bowl loss to Michigan, he led the team in tackles. Downs (six feet, 203 pounds) is expected to be among the top picks in the NFL draft in 2026. Either way, he will have two seasons left until he can be selected in the draft. He’ll be among the most sought-after and gifted players to arrive through the transfer portal this year. When discussing Downs’ talent and potential as a rookie, former Alabama coach Nick Saban had been remarkably enthusiastic.
AUBURN, AL Derrick Nix’s present company has announced that he will be joining Auburn as offensive coordinator. Along with a statement from coach Lane Kiffin, Mississippi on Wednesday posted a message on X honoring Nix, the assistant head coach and receivers coach, for 16 years of service. The post, which Kiffin signed, stated, “Acknowledging the opportunity to become a first-time playcaller with full-time playcalling duties as Offensive Coordinator at Auburn University.”
Nix’s hire has not been verified by Auburn. After their inaugural season, coordinator Philip Montgomery—a former head coach at Tulsa—was fired by Tigers coach Hugh Freeze.
As per the terms of his Ole Miss contract, Nix would have to pay a buyout if he decided to leave for a position that did not involve head coaching or coordinator duties primarily related to playcalling. The phrase may be significant because Freeze recently stated in an ESPN interview that he would assume playcalling responsibilities following Montgomery’s departure. At his prior jobs, which included Ole Miss, Arkansas State, and Liberty, Freeze called his own plays. After coaching running backs at Ole Miss, Nix assumed the position of receivers coach in 2020. Tre Harris, Dontario Drummond, and Elijah Moore were among the receivers that the former Southern Miss running back mentored.
Tim Murphy, the program’s coach for the previous 30 years, is leaving the institution. After taking over at Harvard prior to the 1994 season, Murphy finished 200–89 overall and won 10 Ivy League titles, including the most recent one. After previous stays at Maine and Cincinnati, the 67-year-old has a 232-134-1 overall record as a collegiate coach and leads the Ivy League and Harvard in coaching wins all-time. “It has been an incredible honor to be the football coach at Harvard, and I am forever grateful to have been blessed to work with so many amazing people starting with the 1,000 student-athletes and 80-plus assistant coaches during our tenure here,” Murphy stated in a statement. “As your career comes to a conclusion, occasionally
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