Auburn Football Adds Three New Players from the Transfer Portal

Auburn football has made a significant move in the transfer portal, adding three new players on Monday. Among them are two offensive linemen who previously played under Alex Golesh at the University of South Florida (USF). In addition to these additions, the Tigers also picked up a defensive back, freshman Shamar Arnoux from Florida State.

Cole Skinner and Cole Best Join the Offensive Line

Cole Skinner, one of the new additions, appeared in 12 games for the USF Bulls last season. He played multiple positions, with the majority of his time spent at right guard, where he logged 353 snaps. The remaining 52 snaps were split between left guard, right tackle, and tight end. In 2025, Skinner allowed only seven pressures and did not surrender a single sack.

Cole Best, another key addition, started the last 20 games at center for USF. However, he has experience playing both left and right guard as well. Best was the top pass blocker at USF last season, earning a PFF grade of 79.0. Like Skinner, Best did not give up a sack and allowed only 12 pressures in 871 snaps at center.

The coaching staff is still figuring out how to best utilize Best and Skinner, but both players are expected to play crucial roles on the offensive line next season. With several key offensive linemen no longer part of the roster, including Jeremiah Wright, Connor Lew, Xavier Chaplin, and Dillon Wade, the need for strong replacements is evident.

Kail Ellis remains the lone notable returning offensive lineman on next year’s roster. Last season, Ellis participated in eight games and made two starts at center in 2025.

Player Movements and Transfers

As the transfer portal continues to shape the roster, several players have decided to stay with Auburn. These include:

• LB Xavier Atkins
• LB Demarcus Riddick
• DL Jourdin Crawford
• DL Malik Autry
• LB Elijah Melendez
• LB Bryce Deas
• S Eric Winters
• S Anquon Fegans
• WR Sam Turner
• CB Blake Woodby
• TE Ryan Ghea
• DE Jared Smith
• C Kail Ellis
• WR Bryce Cain
• OL Jacobe Ward
• EDGE Joe Phillips
• DB Sylvester Smith
• RB Jeremiah Cobb

On the other hand, several players are expected to transfer away, including:

• QB Jackson Arnold (Committed to UNLV)
• QB Ashton Daniels (Committed to Florida State)
• QB Deuce Knight (Committed to Ole Miss)
• RB Damari Alston (Committed to Tulsa)
• RB Durell Robinson
• WR Eric Singleton (Committed to Florida)
• WR Malcolm Simmons (Committed to Texas Tech)
• WR Perry Thompson (Committed to Minnesota)
• WR Cam’Ron King (Committed to Georgia Southern)
• WR Cam Coleman (Committed to Texas)
• WR Horatio Fields (Committed to Missouri)
• WR Sam Turner
• TE Hollis Davidson
• TE Camden Etheredge (Committed to Samford)
• TE Preston Howard (Committed to Maryland)
• OL DeAndre Carter (Committed to Iowa State)
• OL Favour Edwin (Committed to Georgia Tech)
• OL Seth Wilfred
• OL Xavier Chaplin (Committed to Florida State)
• OL Dylan Senda (Committed to Toledo)
• OL Broderick Shull
• OL Tyler Johnson
• DL Antonio Coleman
• DL James Ash
• DL Malik Blocton (Committed to LSU)
• DL Amaris Williams (Committed to Georgia)
• EDGE Jamonta Waller (Committed to Arkansas)
• LB Caleb Wheatland (Committed to Michigan State)
• LB Robert Woodyard (Committed to Missouri)
• LB DJ Barber
• DB Raion Strader (Committed to Pittsburgh)
• DB Jay Crawford (Committed to Ole Miss)
• DB Donovan Starr (Committed to Clemson)
• DB Kayin Lee (Committed to Tennessee)
• DB Kensley Louidor-Faustin (Committed to Missouri)
• DB Taye Seymour (Committed to North Texas)
• DB Amon Lane-Ganus (Committed to USF)
• DB Jacoby Mathews
• K Towns McGough (Committed to Cal)

Players Declaring for the NFL Draft

Some players have chosen to declare for the NFL draft, including:

• EDGE Keldric Faulk
• EDGE Keyron Crawford
• Center Connor Lew
• WR Eric Singleton

Transfers Projected to Sign with Auburn

A number of transfers are projected to sign with Auburn, including:

• USF QB Byrum Brown (Committed to Auburn)
• USF WR Keshaun Singleton (Committed to Auburn)

Other transfers committed to play for Auburn include:

• USF QB Locklan Hewlett
• USF WR Christian Neptune
• USF WR Kory Pettigrew
• Miami Ohio LS Hudson Powell
• USF RB Nykahi Davenport
• USF TE Jonathan Echols
• USF DB Fred Gaskin
• USF DB Gavin Jenkins
• USF QB Byrum Brown
• Howard TE Xavier Newsom
• USF WR Chas Nimrod
• Michigan State OT Stanton Ramil
• Arkansas State DL Cody Sigler
• USF WR Keshaun Singleton
• James Madison OL Joseph Simmons
• USF WR Keshaun Singleton
• Baylor RB Bryson Washington
• Appalachian State DL Saint Farrior
• UCLA DB Andre Jordan Jr.
• Missouri EDGE Nate Johnson
• Oregon State QB Tristan Ti’a
• North Carolina TE Jake Johnson
• Florida State CB Shamar Arnoux
• USF C Cole Best
• USF OL Cole Skinner
• Oregon State OL Jacob Stroud
• LSU DL Walter Mathis
• Ole Miss OL Taren Hedrick
• Ole Miss EDGE Da’Shawn Womack
• Notre Dame WR Scrap Richardson

Follow along for the latest updates on the Auburn Tigers’ transfer portal activity.