Once a torrential downpour in East Alabama subsided, the Auburn football team held a steamy Monday practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center.

It marked the 10th practice under first-year head coach Hugh Freeze. The Tigers were back in action after Friday’s scrimmage.

Freeze met with reporters to discuss the team’s progress. After the press conference, the assembled media got a viewing window of about 50 minutes on a sunny afternoon.

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Here’s a recap of what we got to see during Monday’s session:

— Freeze told reporters before practice that redshirt freshman quarterback Holden Geriner showed signs of improvement during last week’s practice and scrimmage.

“I thought he really stood out all week with his improvement and play,” Freeze said. “Not that the others didn’t improve, but I thought his grasp of what we were trying to do, he was impressive with it last week.”

Geriner proved Freeze’s point by performing well with the first unit during the second practice period. The offense ran high-tempo drills, and Geriner completed several passes with a zing on the ball. There’s still lots of time left before the Tigers open the 2023 season, but Geriner getting first-team reps is worth watching.

— Tate Johnson returned to practice and ran with the first-team offense at left guard. Freeze told reporters last week that Johnson wouldn’t participate in the rest of spring football. Johnson’s recovery seemingly went quicker than Freeze expected.

— 1st team offense: QB Geriner, WKU transfer Gunner Britton at right tackle, ECU transfer Avery Jones at center, Tulsa transfer Dillon Wade at left tackle, Jarquez Hunter at RB, FIU transfer Rivaldo Fairweather was at tight end. Several receivers, including Koy Moore, Nick Mardner, Tar’Varish Dawson Jr., and Ja’Varrius Johnson, got reps with the first-team offense.

— Freeze had praise for transfer offensive linemen Wade, Jones, and Britton.

“They have absolutely improved us. We won’t know until the fall of did we close the gap far enough to compete with the elite in this league? We won’t know that until the fall. But there’s no question in my mind that they improve us, and I’m pleased with how they’re doing their business.

— Freshman Connor Lew saw action with the first and second units. Typically freshmen don’t see much playing time at the offensive line, especially in the Southeastern Conference. However, the combination of Lew picking up the offense and lack of depth forces Freeze to go a different route.

“I think he’s going to be a good player, but I think it’s an indictment of where we are, truthfully,” Freeze said. I hope we don’t have to depend on freshmen too much longer to come in and provide significant help, but that’s where we are.”

— T.J. Finley ran the second-team offense, and Robby Ashford led the third-string. Freeze said Ashford had his best practice last Monday but missed out on throwing for Wednesday and Friday’s scrimmage with a shoulder injury.

“Robby was nursing a sore shoulder, so that may be part of the reason that you know, Holden, I’m saying him standing out,” Freeze said. “Robby couldn’t throw really Wednesday or Friday. We threw a little bit with him Friday, but not much. Monday, he had his best practice of our time here, but the shoulder was sore, we held him out. We held him out totally Wednesday of throwing, and he threw sparingly on Friday.”

Ashford didn’t seem hampered in his throwing motion or agility during Monday’s media viewing window.

— Elijah McAllister (edge), Justin Rodgers (Defensive Tackle), Jayson Jones (Nose Tackle), Marcus Harris (Defensive End) were the first-team defensive line unit.

— Second-string defensive line: Keldric Faulk (edge), Mosiah Nasili-Kite (DT), Lawrence Johnson (NT), Jeffrey M’ba (end)

— 3rd: Dylan Brooks (edge), Enyce Sledge (DT), Zykeivous Walker (NT), Tobechi Okoli (end)

— Freeze told reporters that he mostly spends his time at the practice facility, church, or the occasional round of golf. However, he recently went to grab some pizza at downtown Auburn’s Little Italy.

“I’ll tell you, that place right there on main … Little Italy,” Freeze said. That thing was fine, man. It was good.”

A reporter said he didn’t share Freeze’s opinion on the pizza parlor. Freeze elaborated on his appreciation for the pie at Little Italy.

“Really? Man, I thought it was incredible,” Freeze said. “Listen, I got us a stromboli, a calzone, and some pizza and — I don’t know. My three daughters, my wife, and myself, all enjoyed it. I thought it was good.”

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group