Hugh Freeze bringing Liberty defensive assistant to Auburn, per report

Hugh Freeze is in the process of creating his staff at Auburn shortly after taking over as the head coach of the Tigers with the program parting ways with Bryan Harsin earlier this season.

Among the moves Freeze is making as he heads back to the SEC is to bring Liberty defensive assistant coach Jeremy Garrett to serve as the new Auburn defensive line coach, according to a report from Keith Niebuhr on On3 Sports on Thursday.

Here’s a look into Garrett’s previous stops:

2022: Liberty (Defensive line)
2020-21: Cleveland Browns (Asst. Defensive Line)
2019: Vanderbilt (Defensive Quality Control)
2018: Nashville (Tn.) Ensworth High (Head coach)
2011-17: Nashville (Tn.) Ensworth High (defensive assistant)
2010: Southaven (Miss.) High (AC)

Garrett’s time with the Browns was particularly impressive as Cleveland finished the 2021 season fifth in total NFL defense.

BREAKING Hugh Freeze is hiring Liberty’s Jeremy Garrett to be the next defensive line coach at Auburn, sources tell On3’s Matt Zenitz and Keith Niebuhr. Done deal as of today. He is not yet in Auburn but should be there in the coming days. (FREE) https://t.co/VBnKWn6Ejq pic.twitter.com/yW6mUMUR0R

— Keith Niebuhr (@On3Keith) December 1, 2022

According to Liberty football’s website, Garrett helped the run defense finish ninth in the league after finishing 30th the previous season. Under him, defensive end Myles Garrett earned first team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as he ranked among the league leaders in strip-sacks (tied for second with four), forced fumbles (tied for third with four), fumble recoveries (tied for third with two) and sacks (sixth with 12). Along with DE Olivier Vernon (nine).

The Browns were one of just four teams to have a pair of teammates each record at least nine sacks in 2020.

Crissy Froyd

Crissy covers SEC football news for Saturday Down South.