An Auburn former player used social media Friday morning as a way to explain why he had decided to leave the program amid speculation over Bryan Harsin’s job status.
Lee Hunter, a former four star defensive tackle from Mobile, is one 18 players who have entered the Auburn transfer portal since the end the regular season. Since then, he transferred to UCF and reunited with Gus Malzahn, the former Auburn coach who recruited him to the Plains.
Hunter wrote, “Auburn has always been a special place.” “… The reason I left Auburn was because we were treated like dogs and as if we weren’t worthy. Auburn nation, war Eagle, I will always love you. Coach Harsin is a true winner, but he’s a horrible person.
After being posted just before 9:00 a.m. CT Hunter’s post was liked a number of Auburn teammates, including Donovan Kaufman, defensive back, and edge defender Romello Heights (now at USC), as well as defensive lineman Ian Mathews.
Hunter was also joined by former safety Smoke Monday, who completed his last season this fall. Hunter posted the comments later Friday morning.
Monday shared his Instagram story, “Love Auburn to the death, but this truth is real and true. I was at Auburn for 4 years and it never felt as good this season.” “Auburn will always be my second home. But for men to succeed, this must change. Harsin is a great coach who wants to win, but as a person, he doesn’t really understand children that come out of nowhere, kids from the hood. As a child, we try to outgrow our roots, but we also need people who didn’t grow up in the same way as us to support us. Harsin did not do that.
Hunter was the second-highest-rated player in Auburn’s 2021 signing group and a top 100 overall prospect coming from Blount. Hunter signed with the program in the 2020 early signing period, before Harsin was hired. Hunter didn’t see the field last year.
Harsin was appointed Auburn’s 28th coach on Dec. 22, 2020. He took over after eight down-and-up seasons under Malzahn. Harsin finished sixth in SEC West with a record of 6-7 games. Although the Tigers began the season at 6-2, after the calendar was flipped to November, they lost five consecutive games to end the year. This marked the first loss for the team since 2012.
Auburn has had 18 players leave the program since the end of the regular-season. The coaching staff has also seen significant turnover, with changes at both the coordinator and assistant positions. In addition, there was no signee for the 2022 signing period, which ended on National Signing Day.
Hunter and Monday spoke out about Harsin’s treatment of players. However, Chandler Wooten, a former linebacker, and team captain, and Derick Hall, an edge defender, defended Harsin on Twitter.
Wooten stated, “We didn’t need a best buddy, we needed a head coach.” “That’s all we had.”
Hall added: “Don’t believe what you see.” Coach Harsin does more than any other man to get this program to the point of success. No matter what, we are 100% behind Harsin. A great man of character and a true lover of this team! Stop with the BS! !
