Auburn hires Jeremy Garrett as defensive line coach
Hugh Freeze has hired Liberty’s Jeremy Garrett to be the next defensive line coach at Auburn, sources tell On3’s Matt Zenitz.
Garrett was hired Thursday.
He is not yet in Auburn but is expected to arrive in town in the coming days.
Garrett comes to the Tigers after spending one season with Freeze at Liberty. Before that, he was the assistant defensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns (2020-21).
In November, On3 named 30 college football assistants whose stock is on the rise and Garrett was on it.
Garrett played at Ole Miss from 2004-07 and was named Academic All-SEC. Additionally, he was honored as the Chucky Mullins Courage Award winner with the Rebels. Freeze was Ole Miss tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator in 2006-07.
Garrett began coaching at the high school level in 2010. In 2019 he landed his first college job at Vanderbilt. Then, he was off to the Browns
Per USA Today, “When (Browns) defensive line coach Chris Kiffin was sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols, Garrett stepped in to lead the group against the Green Bay Packers (during the 2021 season).”
From Garrett’s bio at Liberty regarding his time with the Browns “(Garrett) helped the run defense finish ninth in the league after finishing 30th the previous season. He helped DE Myles Garrett earn 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.
The Browns finished the 2021 season fifth in the NFL in total defense, marking just the third time since 1970 the team ranked in the top-five and the club’s highest finish since 1987. Myles Garrett earned first team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after setting the franchise single-season record with 16 sacks in 2021, including a team single-game record of 4.5 in Week 3. The 25 combined sacks between Garrett (16) and DE Jadeveon Clowney (9) were the second-most by a pair of Browns teammates in a season, trailing only the 26 by DE Reggie Camp (14) and LB Clay Matthews (12) in 1984.”
Garrett is a native of Senatobia, Miss.
Garrett’s coaching experience:
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)
