Another day, another transfer portal commitment for Hugh Freeze and Auburn football.

Offensive lineman Avery Jones became the sixth signee in the last five days with his announcement on Tuesday afternoon. The East Carolina center had been committed to Illinois and head coach Bret Bielema since Dec. 13, but Jones decided to spend his last year of eligibility along the Plains.

Jones is a 6-foot-4, 305-pounder from Havelock, North Carolina. He was a four-star out of high school before redshirting at UNC in 2018 and appearing in one game in 2019. With the Pirates, Jones quickly worked into the starting rotation. He started all 12 games he appeared in this past fall, helping the offense produce 5.3 yards per carry.

Western Kentucky tackle Gunner Britton kickstarted a wave of transfers to Freeze and co. last Thursday. Jones, Britton and Tulsa’s Dillion Wade will likely hold starting roles on a new-look offensive line, led by position coach Jake Thornton. Including the high school signees, Auburn will have eight new scholarship offensive linemen in 2023.

“We tried to focus on big men. I think this is a big man league,” Freeze said during his signing day press conference. “If you don’t have guys on both sides up front, it’s very difficult for these athletic receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks.”

The Tigers are up to No. 4 on the 247Sports rankings for incoming transfers, behind Deion Sanders-led Colorado, Florida State and LSU. Jones is the 10th transfer in the class, topping last year’s total. Auburn landed a pair of skill position players on Monday in Cincinnati wide reciever Nick Mardner and USF running back Brian Battle.

Read more Tigers football: Auburn football 2023 projected scholarship chart

Where things stand with Auburn’s roster, positions of need in transfer portal after busy weekend

Auburn swiftly making strides with long-overdue overhaul along offensive line

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].