Auburn got cornerbacks coach Wesley McGriff — often referred to by his players as “Crime Dawg” — back on staff in January after a whirlwind two weeks that saw him leave Auburn for Texas A&M and then return to Auburn.

McGriff was reported to be leaving Auburn on Dec. 31, then announced as a hire at Texas A&M on Jan. 3, and on Jan. 12, was reportedly coming back to Auburn.

AL.com confirmed McGriff signed a new two-year contract with Auburn that included a $50,000 raise in 2024.

At the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis, AL.com asked McGriff’s former players about what it means to have him back.

“Everybody was very excited, man,” former Auburn cornerback D.J. James said Thursday. “Everybody loves Crime Dawg, Coach Crime McGriff. Great coach, great guy. Great spirit to be around. Everybody is excited to have him back, very motivated as well.”

“Everybody was sad when Coach Crime Dawg left,” former Auburn cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett said Thursday. “But it’s great news for them, especially for the freshman that had just came in, just to get Crime Dawg back and having someone they worked with in the past.”

McGriff is one piece of continuity on an Auburn defensive staff that has seen significant change after the first year of head coach Hugh Freeze’s tenure.

Auburn brought in a new defensive coordinator in D.J. Durkin and a new partner in the secondary for McGriff in Charles Kelly as the co-defensive coordinator and in charge of the safeties. Auburn also promoted Vontrell King-Williams to an on-field assistant coach role after the departure of Jeremy Garrett to the NFL.

“I know they’re pushing them really hard, those guys ready to attack,” James said. “The new staff that came in, the Auburn players are very excited for it. Excited for a new start as well.”

In total, Auburn has five new assistant coaches after the 2023 season, adding Durkin, King-Williams, Kelly, offensive coordinator Derrick Nix and quarterbacks coach Kent Austin.

Freeze has stated several times that he feels he doesn’t always get his hires correct in year one of a coaching staff, so this new crop of assistants must work.

And Freeze’s former players still believe in the direction the program is headed.

“I feel like Coach Freeze is a really down-to-earth guy,” Pritchett said. “He is a man of Christ. He’s recruiting his tail off to get some of the best guys in there to help them win games. I think he’s got it going in the right direction.”

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]