The Portal giveth – and Auburn fans are seeing how it taketh
You’ve all heard the saying before: the transfer portal giveth and it taketh away. Right now, Auburn fans are seeing the latter play out.
Auburn has seen 24 players announce their intentions to enter the transfer portal, which opens on January 2. No, Cam Coleman is not one of those, and Auburn re-signed – yes, re-signed – Xavier Atkins last week. More departures are likely once the portal officially opens. It’s no reason to panic; it’s simply just modern college football.
No one is irreplaceable. And keep in mind, they can still return to Auburn.
That said, you’d better prepare yourselves relearn the majority of Auburn’s roster next year. The Tigers brought in 20 transfers in last year’s portal cycle. That number may double this cycle after signing just 19 high school prospects in the early signing period. Factor in that teams can now own 105 scholarship players, and roster churn is simply just a new standard.
What happens in the coming weeks remains to be seen, but buckle up, because it’s going to get hectic.
Speaking of college football madness
What we’re seeing in college football right now is not sustainable. It’s driving some fans away. For media members, it certainly complicates the job. And could you imagine a head coach who has no clue what his roster will look like, really at any given moment. It’s absurd.
Imagine coaching in the playoffs while simultaneously having to recruit the players you’re going into battle with. I saw a picture of Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin on social media making an in-home visit over the holiday break – not with recruits, but with his current players.
Gotta love the good ole in-home recruiting visit with your current roster. Ridiculous.
I could climb on a soapbox and list everything that is wrong with the sport and how I would fix it. But until someone whose opinion really matters steps up, the theatrics will continue – not just in football, but over college athletics as a whole.
Is Byrum Brown to Auburn inevitable?
It was like the worst-kept secret of all time. USF quarterback Byrum Brown officially announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal last week, and of course, Auburn is the heavy favorite to land him.
After a few conversations in recent weeks – and just the obvious ties between Brown, Golesh, and Joel Gordon – it would be shocking if Brown wasn’t in orange and blue next season.
He’s going to take up a lot of money – that is something Auburn is prepared for. The interesting dynamic is what happens with Duece Knight, who is currently the Tigers’ only scholarship quarterback.
Fans love him. His teamates love him. He has great talent, and could certainly blossom into a high-level quarterback in the SEC. But he didn’t lead all of college football in total offense last season – Brown did.
Golesh needs to win, and Auburn can’t afford another lackluster season from its quarterback. Brown may be a one-year solution, but if he provides Auburn the best chance to win now, it’s a no-brainer.
Roundball gets one final tune-up before SEC play
Auburn basketball will take on Queens next Monday at Neville Arena in one final game before SEC play begins.
It’s a game that Auburn should handle comfortably. A win would give the Tigers a 9-4 record through a gauntlet non-conference schedule – with every loss coming against a top-10 opponent, all marked as Quad I losses.
Again, I still believe Auburn will be fine once it gets to league play. Overall, the SEC is a bit down this year – at least that’s the feeling as of now. There will be teams that Auburn simply doesn’t match up well with, and there will be teams that Auburn handles with ease. What won’t change is effort. The players will take each game personally and play hard for their first-year head coach, Steven Pearl. That much feels certain.
Until next time… TG
