The Auburn Tigers are in the thick of a major transition as they jump into the 2026 NCAA transfer portal cycle. With Alex Golesh stepping in as head coach, the team faces a roster shake-up that feels both daunting and promising.
This year’s transfer portal window is shorter—just January 2-16—which means the Tigers have to move fast and smart to rebuild. Let’s take a look at what’s happening with Auburn’s transfers right now, from departures to new arrivals and a few names to watch.
Key Departures and Additions
Auburn’s been busy in the portal, losing a handful of players while picking up some fresh faces. Here’s a rundown of the notable moves so far:
Players Leaving Auburn
- Quarterbacks: Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels, Deuce Knight
- Running Backs: Damari Alston, Durell Robinson
- Wide Receivers: Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, Horatio Fields, Malcolm Simmons, Cam’Ron King, Eric Singleton Jr.
- Tight Ends: Hollis Davidson III, Preston Howard
- Offensive Linemen: Xavier Chaplin, Favour Ebuka Edwin, Broderick Shull, Tyler Johnson, DeAndre Carter, Seth Wilfred, Dylan Senda
- Defensive Linemen: Malik Blocton, Antonio Coleman, James Ash
- Linebackers: Robert Woodyard Jr., Caleb Wheatland
- Defensive Backs: Jay Crawford, Kayin Lee, Raion Strader, Donovan Starr, A’Mon Lane-Ganus
New Additions to Auburn
- Quarterbacks: Locklan Hewlett (USF), Byrum Brown (USF), Tristan Ti’a (Oregon State)
- Running Backs: Nykahi Davenport (USF), Bryson Washington (Baylor)
- Wide Receivers: Christian Neptune (USF), Kory Pettigrew (USF), Jeremiah Koger (USF), Chas Nimrod (USF), Keshaun Singleton (USF)
- Tight Ends: Jonathan Echols (USF), Xavier Newsom (Howard), Jake Johnson (UNC)
- Offensive Linemen: Stanton Ramil (Michigan State), Joseph Simmons (James Madison), Jacob Strand (Oregon State), Cole Skinner (USF), Cole Best (USF), TJ Hedrick (Ole Miss)
- Defensive Linemen: Cody Sigler (Arkansas State), Saint Farrior (App State), Walter Mathis Jr. (LSU)
- Edge Rushers: Nate Johnson (Mizzou)
Position-by-Position Breakdown
Quarterbacks
The quarterback room is getting a full overhaul. Losing Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels, and Deuce Knight stings, but Auburn’s brought in Locklan Hewlett and Byrum Brown from USF, along with Tristan Ti’a out of Oregon State.
Byrum Brown stands out as a top portal quarterback and looks set to follow his coaches to Auburn. That’s a pretty big deal for the offense.
Running Backs
Damari Alston and Durell Robinson are out, which left a gap. Auburn snapped up Nykahi Davenport from USF and Bryson Washington from Baylor to help fill it.
They’ll probably try to grab another back to pair with Jeremiah Cobb and keep things fresh in the backfield.
Wide Receivers
The wide receiver group is almost unrecognizable right now. Big names like Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, Horatio Fields, and Malcolm Simmons have moved on.
To patch things up, Auburn added Christian Neptune, Kory Pettigrew, Jeremiah Koger, Chas Nimrod, and Keshaun Singleton—all from USF. LSU’s Kyle Parker might also be on their radar, though nothing’s set in stone.
Tight Ends
Hollis Davidson III and Preston Howard left some holes at tight end. Auburn responded by bringing in Jonathan Echols from USF, Xavier Newsom from Howard, and Jake Johnson from UNC.
The goal seems pretty clear: make tight end a real weapon, not a weak spot.
Offensive Line
The offensive line’s been hit hard, losing Xavier Chaplin, Favour Ebuka Edwin, Broderick Shull, Tyler Johnson, DeAndre Carter, Seth Wilfred, and Dylan Senda. That’s a lot of turnover for one group.
To rebuild, Auburn added Stanton Ramil (Michigan State), Joseph Simmons (James Madison), Jacob Strand (Oregon State), Cole Skinner and Cole Best (USF), and TJ Hedrick (Ole Miss). They’re still hunting for more depth and competition up front.
Defensive Line
Malik Blocton, Antonio Coleman, and James Ash are gone from the defensive line. Auburn’s brought in Cody Sigler (Arkansas State), Saint Farrior (App State), and Walter Mathis Jr. (LSU) to fill the gaps.
They’re clearly after experienced players who can hold their own in the SEC trenches.
Edge Rushers
Amaris Williams and Jamonta Waller have moved on, so Auburn added Nate Johnson from Mizzou. It’s obvious they want more punch in the pass rush and could keep looking for veteran help at defensive end and buck linebacker.
Linebackers
Robert Woodyard Jr. and Caleb Wheatland are out, but the linebacker room isn’t in bad shape. Auburn might still add a mike linebacker for depth, though it’s not urgent with the current roster and some promising high school recruits.
Defensive Backs
The secondary’s taken a hit, losing Jay Crawford, Kayin Lee, Raion Strader, Donovan Starr, and A’Mon Lane-Ganus. Auburn will need to work the portal hard to reload the defensive backfield and stay competitive.
Conclusion
The 2026 transfer portal cycle feels like a make-or-break moment for Auburn football. There’s a new coaching staff in town, and the transfer window is shorter than ever.
The Tigers are moving fast, making some bold choices to rebuild their roster. Quarterbacks, defensive backs—just about every position is seeing some shakeup.
It’s hard not to wonder how much these moves will shape Auburn’s future in the wild world of college football. If you’re curious about every twist and turn, check out the Auburn Tigers Transfer Portal 2026 Live Updates.
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