Hugh Freeze reveals Auburn OT Xavier Chaplin is struggling with hearing issues

Auburn OT Xavier Chaplin has been the most penalized player on the team this season. That, as they’ve now learned, may have a lot to do with his ability to hear.

To end his press conference on Monday, Hugh Freeze discussed some of Chaplin’s issues so far this fall. He would note that, during the bye week, the Tigers tested his ears and, with that, learned of some hearing problems that they should have already accounted for as they’re hurt his play over their five games.

“Yeah, we’ve done some testing on his hearing, and there’s an issue there,” said Freeze. “And, that goes back to us. Should have handled the cadence stuff differently for him. But he really struggles to hear in those environments and we’ll make adjustments for that.”

“And nobody hurts more than him. He was really distraught,” Freeze added. “And I just, again, wish that we would have put him in a better position.”

Chaplin, arriving this offseason as one of the top overall players, let alone tackles, in the NCAA Transfer Portal, has been the starter at left tackle for Auburn. However, the Tigers’ offensive line has struggled throughout much of this season with 21 sacks allowed and as they’ve accounted for 15 of the 44 total penalties for the team.

Of those 15 penalties by the offensive line, Chaplin accounts for nearly half of them with seven, with six of those being false starts and one being for holding. Six of those seven penalties are then in their past two games, bot being on the road against top-dozen opponents in conference play which were both losses for the Tigers, with three false starts against No. 11 Oklahoma and then two false starts and the holding against No. 6 Texas A&M.

It’s been a sloppier start to the season for Chaplin than they’d hoped for down on The Plains from their new left tackle. They at least know a better reason for it now, though, and hope to see more of the player who he’s been so far without the penalties, especially with three of their next four and five of their final seven being at Jordan-Hare.

“When he’s on time off the ball and stuff, he’s pretty dang good,” said Freeze.

Georgia at Auburn odds: Opening point spread revealed, How to Watch

Week 7 of the college football season features the return of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry between Auburn and Georgia. The Bulldogs will come down to The Plains this weekend and try to avoid an upset from the Tigers.

Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC) opened as a 3.5-point road favorite over the unranked Tigers (3-2, 0-2 SEC) with an over-under point spread of 46.5 points. That’s according to BetMGM’s Sportsbook.

How to watch Alabama at Georgia

Time: October 11th (7:30 pm ET)
Channel: ABC
Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn, Alabama)

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