IMPORTANT: Auburn MUST call Jon Sumrall to replace Hugh Freeze

Locked On Auburn - Daily Podcast On Auburn Tigers Football & Basketball

Locked On Podcast Network

Auburn Tigers Football, War Damn Eagle, Sports, Auburn Basketball, College Football Recruiting, Basketball, Auburn Football, Sports Podcast, Podcast, Football, Tigers Football, Auburn Tigers, Auburn Tigers Basketball, Tigers Basketball, College Basketball Recruiting, College Recruiting, Daily Podcast, War Eagle

4.6 • 652 Ratings

🗓️ 4 November 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Auburn Tigers football faces a critical coaching decision. Should Jon Sumrall be the first call for Athletic Director John Cohen? Zac Blackerby and Kyle Rush break down why the Tulane head coach represents Auburn's best option in this coaching search. The discussion covers Sumrall's impressive 38-11 record, his defensive expertise with SEC experience at Kentucky and Ole Miss, and crucial timing advantages with early signing day looming just days after the Iron Bowl. Key topics include whether Sumrall can build his own success beyond Willie Fritz's foundation at Tulane, the modern recruiting infrastructure that reduces regional coaching concerns, and why DJ Durkin likely can't remain as defensive coordinator under a new regime. The hosts analyze potential challenges: Can a Group of 5 coach attract elite SEC coordinators? Will Auburn sacrifice optics by hiring before bowl season ends? How does the transfer portal timeline impact this decision? Discover why timing, fit, and organizational structure could make Sumrall the right choice to rebuild Auburn Tigers football.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Auburn John Cohen's first call needs to be to John Summerall.
0:11.2	You are Locked on Auburn, your daily podcast on the Auburn Tigers.
0:16.3	Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day.
0:38.8	Yes, welcome on in to Lockdown Auburn, your daily Auburn Tigers podcast. I'm your host, Zach Blackerbie, and thank you so much for making Locked-on Auburn, your first listen every single day. Happy Charlie Tuesday to all who celebrate. We're joined by Auburn Message Board Legend, Charlie 5, also known as the Kyle Rush. He's a man over the bar on Auburn.
0:39.8	com and he hosts the top button podcast.
0:43.6	The timeline thing involved in the whole when you hire your head coach,
0:49.5	it's throwing me off a little bit as far as like what reasonable expectations should be on this.
0:55.0	And we'll talk about some potential hurdles as well with John Summerall.
0:58.8	But I think John Summerall needs to be the first, first potential head coach that you call if you're John Cohen.
1:09.5	And I want to be very clear.
1:11.1	I want to be very clear that I think DJ Durkin is absolutely a candidate.
1:15.8	But I don't think you can interview him to be your head coach right now.
1:18.6	I think you have to call elsewhere right now.
1:21.6	And I think the first guy you need to call does need to be John Summerall,
1:25.5	who is currently the head coach of Tulane.
1:27.7	Yeah. I mean, you kind of touched on it, and you glanced over it really quickly.
1:32.5	Timing matters, okay?
1:35.0	And not so much for the portal now, but early signing day is going to be the Wednesday after the Iron Bowl.
1:42.0	So John Cohen mentioned in the press conference yesterday,
1:45.9	the ideal time frame to name a coach is as quickly after that last football game as possible.
1:54.0	With Tulane already having two losses, I believe,
1:58.0	you're more than likely not going to be in a, you're not going to be in that
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Locked On Podcast Network, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Locked On Podcast Network and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.