Transfer portal season is upon us. With the NCAA enacting a new rule in October, the portal will now open on January 2 and run through January 16.
Since arriving on the Plains, Auburn head coach Alex Golesh has been working to retain his roster – a priority since Day 1. As of this week, 15 Auburn players have announced their intentions to enter the portal, with more departures expected.
While Auburn can still attempt to retain some of those players – portal entries are not final until paperwork is sent in and finalized – the Tigers must prepare to address key roster needs once the window officially opens.
With that, here’s a look at a few positions where Auburn is likely to be active in the portal:
Offensive line
As is the case for nearly every team in the offseason, Auburn will need to go fishing for some offensive linemen this portal cycle.
The Tigers have seen a trio of offensive linemen announce their intentions to enter the portal, headlined by DeAndre Carter, a former four-star recruit who was expected to compete for a starting role at guard next season.
Favour Ebuka Edwin and Seth Wilfred both served as scout team offensive linemen, with neither one seeing any action in 2025. Izavion “Too Tall” Miller and Mason Murphy are both gone on the outside, Jeremiah Wright declared for the NFL Draft, and Dillon Wade has exhausted his eligibility.
It’s still a wait-and-see period for center Connor Lew, who sat out after tearing his ACL in October. Despite that setback, he is still viewed favorably on the NFL draft boards and could still elect to declare for the NFL draft.
Much like last season, Auburn is expected to pursue multiple offensive linemen through the portal, particularly experienced tackles and interior depth.
Tight end
Simply put, Auburn did not get the production it needed in its tight end room last season.
Brandon Frazier, who led all tight ends with 97 yards receiving, is out of eligibility alongside Tate Johnson, and Hollis Davidson III has announced his intention to enter the portal.
Look for Auburn to sign 2-3 tight ends through the portal to pair with DJ Broughton, a flip from USF during the early signing period.
Running back
As evidenced by walk-on Justin Jones logging some snaps in the Iron Bowl, the Tigers were rather thin in the backfield for much of last season.
Damari Alston was released from the team under Hugh Freeze and will enter the portal, and Durrell Robinson missed a majority of the season with injuries. Jeremiah Cobb finished 31 yards shy of a 1,000-yard campaign and, as of now, is expected to return in 2026.
After failing to sign a running back in the early signing period for the 2026 class, Auburn will likely pursue an experienced back through the portal to complement Cobb.
Edge/Buck
Auburn will face a major reset at the pass rusher position next season. Keldrick Faulk has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, and Keyron Crawford is out of eligibility after a productive 2025 campaign. Amaris Williams battled injury throughout the season, but is set to return. Beyond that, Auburn is young and unproven at the pass rusher position. Jamonta Waller and Joe Phillips have seen limited action through two seasons, while Jared Smith showed promise as a freshman last season.
Expect Auburn to pursue at least one – if not multiple – pass rushers through the portal this offseason to fill the void left by Faulk and Crawford.
Quarterback
Here is the one that will draw the most attention this offseason. Currently, Auburn has just two scholarship quarterbacks returning from last season in Ashton Daniels and Duece Knight, both of whom showed potential down the stretch last season.
Jackson Arnold has already announced his intentions to enter the portal. Auburn flipped Rhys Brush from USF during the early signing period, but Golesh will likely pursue another quarterback in this portal cycle. If he becomes available, USF quarterback Byrum Brown would be the top option for the Tigers. Brown led all of college football in total offense during the regular season under Golesh and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon.
The coming days will be critical in shaping Auburn’s direction at quarterback, but Golesh will likely prioritize a proven commodity when the portal opens in early January.
Cornerback
The losses of Jay Crawford and Raion Strader, who have both announced their intentions to transfer, have left Auburn thin on experience at cornerback heading into next season.
The Tigers have lots of young talent waiting in the wings, but adding a proven cornerback to pair with Kayin Lee will be paramount as Auburn looks to stabilize its cornerback room.
Overall, the portal has become an indispensable tool for programs looking to rebuild and refuel. We’ll find out how well Golesh uses it in just a few weeks. TG
