With January in the rearview mirror, Auburn football is gearing up for the highly anticipated spring season. The Tigers’ latest batch of transfers and early-enrolled freshmen have settled in and begun their offseason training.
Speaking at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, head coach Hugh Freeze revealed a significant shift in Auburn’s spring practice schedule. Unlike last year’s early start in late February, the Tigers will now kick off their spring workouts after Auburn University’s spring break, which runs from March 10 to March 14. According to Auburn Undercover’s Nathan King, official spring practices will commence on March 25, with sessions set for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while Fridays will focus on non-contact teaching drills. Notably, even after Auburn’s annual A-Day game on April 12, the team will still have three practices remaining.
Freeze explained that the revised schedule was intentional, aiming to maximize offseason conditioning. In fact, the head coach went a step further, voicing his desire for a complete overhaul of the NCAA’s spring practice format.
“I wish we didn’t have spring ball,” Freeze admitted via The Montgomery Advertiser. “I’d rather have OTAs in June, allowing us to use shoulder pads for 10 days when everyone is on campus. I’d rather let them train with (strength coach) Dom (Studzinski) to get in the best shape of their lives, while we focus on walk-throughs and skill development instead of full-contact drills.”
Freeze has long expressed concerns about keeping his players healthy through spring and fall camps, and as he heads into his third season at Auburn, those worries remain at the forefront of his approach.
