The Challenges of Building a Roster

AUBURN — Alex Golesh’s first eight months as Auburn football’s head coach will be imperative to the success of his first season at the helm — but his first month hasn’t done him may favors. Before the former South Florida head coach even gets his first opportunity to coach a game on the Plains, he’s being tasked with wading through one of the more talented rosters in the sport and carving out his group of guys for the 2026 campaign.

The returns to this point have been, understandably, disheartening. The Tigers were slated to have nearly 30 players in the transfer portal when it opened Friday, Jan. 2, and two-thirds of them were former blue-chip signees, helping comprise the 13th-most-talented roster in the nation last season.

While the likes of Cam Coleman and Deuce Knight will be looking at their options elsewhere, it’ll be up to Golesh and his newly hired staff to do the hard part: build a roster that can compete in the SEC while pushing to retain some of that outgoing talent.

Key Transfers and Visits

Auburn football hosting James Madison offensive line transfer

Jan. 3 (8 p.m.):

James Madison offensive tackle Joseph Simmons is visiting Auburn, according to multiple reports. Simmons started every game at left tackle for the Dukes in 2025, and he was voted an All-Sun Belt honorable mention.

Auburn football’s Jared Smith, Ryan Ghea announce 2026 returns

Jan. 3 (7:08 p.m.):

A pair of underclassmen will be back in the fold for Auburn next season, as tight end Ryan Ghea and former five-star prospect Jared Smith announced they’ll return for 2026.

Ghea played in five games as a freshman, catching two passes for 20 yards. Smith played in 11 games and a notable contributor to Auburn’s pass rush ahead of SEC play. He finished the year with five tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.

Auburn football to host Michigan State running back transfer

Jan. 3 (4:21 p.m.):

Auburn’s set to host Makhi Frazier on Sunday, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. Rated as the 23rd-best running back in the portal, Frazier picked up a considerable role for the Spartans as a sophomore, rushing for 520 yards and two touchdowns on 116 carries.

Auburn football loses second running back to transfer portal

Jan. 3 (3:57 p.m.):

Running back Durell Robinson Jr. entered the portal after one season with Auburn, according to multiple reports.

Robinson played in just four games and registered three carries for 57 yards and one touchdown. He was sparsely used after suffering what Hugh Freeze described as a “freak” injury in Week 2 against Ball State, undergoing a procedure on his leg in September that sidelined him for much of the year.

South Florida safety Fred Gaskin plans to visit Auburn football

Jan. 3 (3:11 p.m.):

South Florida safety Fred Gaskin plans to visit Auburn, according to multiple reports, following a pair of productive seasons at Golesh’s previous program.

In 26 games, Gaskin recorded a combined 65 tackles, 3 interceptions 3 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 sack.

Notable Visitors and Commitments

Auburn football among 6 schools Kansas State WR Jayce Brown visiting

Jan. 3 (2:32 p.m.):

Jayce Brown, a consensus top-100 player in the transfer portal, will visit six schools, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, and Auburn’s among them, as well as Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, and Ole Miss.

In three seasons at Kansas State, Brown caught 115 passes for 2,133 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Auburn football’s first transfer commit is USF QB Locklan Hewlett

Jan. 3 (1:03 p.m.):

Auburn’s first transfer addition is a South Florida passer, just not the one known by many.

Locklan Hewlett, a rising sophomore, committed to the Tigers on Saturday, after playing in two games his true freshman season.

Auburn football expecting visit from LSU offensive lineman

Jan. 3 (10:09 a.m.):

LSU’s Ory Williams will visit Auburn, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, bringing the program up to 10 reported visitors, three of which are offensive linemen.

Williams played in four games in 2025, two of which he started. A rising redshirt sophomore, Williams will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

South Florida QB Byrum Brown visiting Auburn football this weekend | Reports



Jan. 3 (6:52 a.m.):

As of Saturday morning, Brown is officially in the transfer portal, according to multiple reports, which also link him to an Auburn visit this weekend.

Brown has one season of eligibility remaining, and he’s coming off the best season of his four-year career, in which he registered 3,158 passing yards and 1,008 yards rushing. It was the 13th season in the sport’s history in which a quarterback threw for 3,000 yards and rushed for 1,000, putting Brown on a list that includes Vince Young, Johnny Manziel, Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels.

Golesh inherited Brown when he arrived at South Florida in 2023, after Brown saw the field for just four games as a true freshman. Brown started every game of his sophomore season, in which he threw for a career-best 3,292 yards. Injuries plagued his junior year, and he saw the field for just six games, but he returned to full strength for his stellar senior season.

Iowa State CB Tre Bell reportedly visiting Auburn football



Jan. 2 (9:54 p.m.):

Bell, who has one season of eligibility remaining, spent the first three years of his college career at Lindenwood before transferring to Iowa State. In one season with the Cycles, Bell had 36 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions.

Auburn football reportedly hosting Florida State tight end transfer



Jan. 2 (9:39 p.m.):

Florida State tight end Randy Pittman Jr. will be among Auburn’s first crop of transfer visitors, Christian Clemente of 247Sports reported Friday. He’s among eight visitors reportedly coming to the Plains, but the first tight end to do so.

In three seasons, two at Central Florida and one with the Seminoles, Pittman’s caught 74 passes for 839 yards and five touchdowns.

Auburn football CB Blake Woodby announces 2026 return

Jan. 2 (8:53 p.m.):

Woodby continued Auburn’s run of defenders set to return, becoming the ninth retention late Friday evening. Woodby played in 11 games as a true freshman, though he recorded just two tackles.

Auburn football getting safeties An’Quon Fegans, Eric Winters back for 2026



Jan. 2 (7:21 p.m.):

Fegans and Winters jointly announced their returns to the Plains for their sophomore seasons, becoming the seventh and eighth players to announced their returns.

Fegans and Winters were both members of Auburn’s 2025 signing class, products of in-state Thompson and Enterprise high schools, respectively. Each were ranked as top-200 players nationally and wasted little time contributing on DJ Durkin’s defense.

Both played in all 12 games last season, and they combined for 57 tackles. Winters had two tackles for loss, a sack and a pass deflection, and Fegans recorded an interception and a pass breakup.

Other Notable Updates

The team to watch for Jackson Arnold is UNLV | Report



Jan. 2 (7:07 p.m.):

Dan Mullen and UNLV are the early team to watch for the now-former Auburn quarterback, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS.

Wherever he ends up, Arnold will be at his third school in as many seasons, having transferred to Auburn from Oklahoma.

Trio of transfer prospects set to visit Auburn football

Jan. 2 (6:37 p.m.):

Kansas State offensive tackle Devin Vass, Arkansas State defensive lineman Cody Sigler and Howard linebacker Ja’Quavion Smith have scheduled visits with Auburn, according to multiple reports.

Vass will visit from Jan. 3 to 4, Sigler will visit Jan. 3 and Smith’s visit date has yet to be reported. That brings Auburn’s visit total up to seven.

Sigler announced an Auburn offer earlier in the day, following an All-Sun Belt selection in his lone season with the Red Wolves, totaling seven tackles for loss and five sacks.

While listed as a linebacker, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Smith generated 60 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in two seasons with the Bison.

Vass, a former three-star prospect, made seven starts in nine games this season. He didn’t surrender a sack in 190 opportunities, according to Pro Football Focus.

Cam Coleman planning at least 5 visits, including Alabama

Jan. 2 (6:03 p.m.):

The former Auburn receiver reportedly visited Texas on Friday, but he’ll follow that up with four more visits, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, including Texas A&M, Texas Tech, USC and Alabama.

Auburn football offers North Texas offensive lineman

Jan. 2 (5:29 p.m.):

North Texas offensive tackle Braydon Nelson announced an Auburn offer. He joins a mix of linemen involved with the Tigers, including Oklahoma State offensive tackle Grant Seagren.

Nelson’s rated as the 23rd-best player at his position by 247Sports, but On3 lists him as the seventh-best tackle.

USC defensive line transfer targeting Auburn football | Report

Jan. 2 (2:53 p.m.):

Former USC defensive lineman Devan Thompkins has Auburn among five schools that “are standing out” as potential suitors, alongside Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Fawcett reported that Thompkins in the process of setting up a visit with the Crimson Tide. A former three-star recruit, Thompkins is a consensus top-100 player in the transfer portal. Both 247Sports and On3 ranked him as the No. 2 defensive lineman in the portal.

Thompkins’ most productive season came this fall, recording 31 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 2 pass deflections.

Two more Auburn football reserves reportedly entering the transfer portal

Jan. 2 (1 p.m.):

Defensive lineman James Ash and safety Taye Seymore, both of whom transferred to Auburn last season, are returning to the portal, according to 247Sports’ Christian Clemente.

The pair saw minimal playing time on the Plains. Ash recorded just 11 snaps and Seymore didn’t see the field.

Texas A&M DB Bryce Anderson schedules visit to Auburn football | Report



Jan. 2 (12:37 p.m.):

Anderson, a former consensus blue-chip prospect, will visit Auburn on Saturday, Jan. 3, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. Anderson’s considered the 11th-best safety in the portal by 247Sports, and he’s considered the 15th-best player at his position by On3.

A signee during Texas A&M’s recruiting frenzy under Jimbo Fisher, Anderson was heavily utilized by the Aggies from the onset, playing in 11 games as a true freshman. His best season came as a sophomore, in 2023, with career-high totals in tackles (54), tackles for loss (7), sacks (1.5) and pass deflections (4).

Auburn football offers Charlotte defensive back transfer



Jan. 2 (11:50 a.m.):

Dwight Bootle II, a defensive back at Charlotte in 2025, announced he’s received an offer from Auburn.

Bootle transferred to Charlotte after two seasons at Nebraska, where the former three-star prospect played just six combined games. He played in 12 games for the 49ers and made six starts, recording 38 total tackles, a pass deflection and a fumble recovery.

Auburn football offers All-Sun Belt defensive lineman

Jan. 2 (10:33 a.m.):

Cody Sigler, a second team All-Sun Belt Conference selection this season at Arkansas State, said he’s received an offer from Auburn, as well as Florida State and Oklahoma.

A New Hope, Alabama, native, Sigler spent three seasons at West Alabama before transferring to Jonesboro. His final season at UWA saw him generate 12 tackles for loss and six sacks. He maintained those totals as a Red Wolf, with seven tackles for loss, six pass deflections and five sacks.

Texas trying to court Auburn football WR Cam Coleman | Report



Jan. 2 (9:09 a.m.):

Texas is working to bring Coleman in for a visit as soon as this weekend, according to a report from On3’s Pete Nakos, coming just four days after the star wide receiver announced his plans to enter the transfer portal.

Auburn football to host top-rated Arkansas defensive line transfer

Jan. 2 (8:03 a.m.):

Ian Geffrard, a consensus top-100 player in the transfer portal, is scheduled to visit Auburn, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett. The former Arkansas defensive lineman will visit the Tigers, as well as Kentucky, SMU and Texas.

Geffrard’s third season with the Razorbacks was his most productive yet, totaling a career-high 25 tackles, four tackles for loss and a pass deflection.

Auburn football TE Preston Howard to enter transfer portal



Jan. 1 (11:42 p.m.):

After one season with the program, the Maryland transfer Howard is expected to enter the portal. He caught 10 passes for 84 yards in 12 games.

Auburn football among early schools to watch for Colorado edge rusher

Jan. 2 (7:52 a.m.):

Colorado edge rusher Alexander McPherson is a name to watch for the Tigers, as is Ole Miss, Penn State and Vanderbilt, Matt Zenitz of CBS reported.

As a true freshman for the Buffaloes, McPherson had 16 tackles and half a sack and tackle for loss each this fall.

Targeting Potential Transfers

Which transfers are Auburn football, Alex Golesh targeting?

Auburn football’s confirmed transfer visits

USF QB Byrum Brown (Jan. 3)

Michigan State RB Makhi Frazier (Jan. 4)

Kansas State WR Jayce Brown (TBA)

UAB WR Iverson Hooks (Jan. 8-9)

Florida State TE Randy Pittman Jr. (Jan. 3-4)

James Madison OL Joseph Simmons (Jan. 3-4)

Kansas State OL Devin Vass (Jan. 3-4)

LSU OL Ory Williams (TBA)

Oklahoma State OL Grant Seagren (Jan. 2-3)

Arkansas DL Ian Geffrard (TBA)

Arkansas State DL Cody Sigler (Jan. 3)

Howard LB Ja’Quavion Smith (TBA)

Iowa State CB Tre Bell (TBA)

South Florida S Fred Gaskin (TBA)

Texas A&M S Bryce Anderson (Jan. 3)

Transfers Who Have Committed

Which transfers have committed to Auburn football? Full list

QB Locklan Hewlett (South Florida)

247: N/A

On3: N/A

Players Entering the Transfer Portal

What Auburn football players are going into the transfer portal? Full list

Quarterback:

Ashton Daniels; Deuce Knight; Jackson Arnold

Running back:

Damari Alston; Durell Robinson Jr.

Wide receiver:

Cam Coleman; Cam’Ron King; Horatio Fields; Malcolm Simmons; Perry Thompson; Sam Turner

Tight end:

Hollis Davidson; Preston Howard

Offensive line:

DeAndre Carter; Dylan Senda; Favour Ebuka Edwin; Seth Wilfred; Xavier Chaplin

Defensive line:

Amaris Williams; Antonio Coleman; James Ash; Malik Blocton

Edge rusher:

Jamonta Waller

Linebacker:

Caleb Wheatland; Robert Woodyard Jr.

Cornerback:

A’Mon Lane-Ganus; Donovan Starr; Jay Crawford (Ole Miss); Kayin Lee; Raion Strader

Safety:

Kensley Louidor-Faustin; Taye Seymore

Specialists:

K Towns McGough

Players Returning to Auburn

What Auburn football players are returning? Full list

Tight end:

Ryan Ghea

Defensive line:

Jourdin Crawford; Malik Autry

Edge rusher:

Jared Smith

Linebacker:

Bryce Deas; Demarcus Riddick; Elijah Melendez; Xavier Atkins

Cornerback:

Blake Woodby

Safety:

An’Quon Fegans; Eric Winters

Transfer Portal Calendar

What’s the latest with transfer portal calendar? Here’s what to know

After having two portal windows last offseason, including a 30-day span for the majority of December, the NCAA consolidated chances for football players to transfer this year, eliminating a spring transfer window and moving the lone period to a two-week span — from Jan. 2 to Jan. 16 — following the College Football Playoff.

Players who wish to enter the portal must do so in that window, but they’re not required to enroll at a new school before the entry deadline.