|
|
Huntsville Times Auburn signed just one linebacker out of the transfer portal: Michael Mathews-Canty, from FCS Hampton. Last season he totaled 78 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He arrives to Auburn with two years eligibility and a redshirt season . . . "Just watching the guys run and move around, I think we really helped ourselves. It's impressive . . . "It all starts with Jeremiah Cobb . . . McGough, who became the starting placekicker after Alex McPherson's health issues, will play for Cal . . . : "This is one of the most historic, blueblood programs in college football history. You come be the one to help us get back . . . His first Auburn class is led by Jaquez Wilkes and Shadarius Toodle, two four-star linebackers who opted to stay home in Alabama and honor their commitment to the Tigers . . . When Golesh, Gordon and the rest of USF's staff arrived, Brown wasn't even expected to be the Bulls' starting quarterback . . . "So, there were certain points where you're like, 'Dude, are you going to be here or not? I'm good, just tell me, so I know if I've got to go get another guy.' . . . "Joel Gordon calls the plays on gameday . . . You gotta be able to run the football . . . Auburn brought in 40 players from the portal after losing 37 . . . Durkin is one of just two on-field assistants retained from the previous staff, along with defensive line coach Vontrell King-Williams . . . Auburn's special teams unit was pieced together by new special teams coordinator Jacob Bronowski, who spent the past two season at Pitt. There, he coached two Lou Groza Award semifinalists . . . When you look at Auburn's linebacker group, everything starts with the return of Atkins. One of the best players in the league last season regardless of position, the LSU transfer finished his first season on the Plains with 84 tackles, 9 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss. He also added 7 quarterback hurries along with an interception return that led to a touchdown . . . Byrum Brown made USF go 1000 miles per hour, and now he's about to do the same at Auburn . . . The Tigers signed Australian punter Max Bourke, bringing its freshman signing class up to 21 . . . While Auburn needed experienced players who can contribute right away, Golesh is still excited about the young offensive linemen the Tigers have. Auburn signed five incoming freshmen up front and is returning three players who were freshmen last season . . . Shortly after being hired, Golesh talked about the importance of recruiting the 250-mile radius around Auburn. When speaking last week to reporters in Mobile, he echoed that point and spoke specifically about the state of Alabama . . . Everything starts with the group of veterans that Auburn added from USF, headlined by Keshaun Singleton and Chaz Nimrod . . . Auburn is suddenly in a better position than Alabama . . . It would be a surprise if Best isn't the guy calling the shots for Auburn's offensive line this fall. Starting 23 games the last two seasons for the Bulls, Best was one of the leaders of the offense at USF and brings that veteran presence to the Plains . . . "Is it right to call a kid that's on somebody else's roster to go get them? It's not. I think in a lot of way, what goes around comes around. I'm a strong believer in the football gods finding you at some point. Generally, they'll find you at the end of a game or on fourth-and-1. You've got to do things the right way . . . Walker has been cleared for a seventh year of college football . . . Transfers Bryson Washington (Baylor), Nykahi Davenport (USF) and Tae Meadows (Troy) bring multiple years of college experience and each have had more carries than Auburn's young running backs behind Cobb (16) . . . "There's some late May-out junior college guys, some late qualifier high school guys, we've left ourselves a little bit of room," Golesh said. "But for the most part, you feel like it's close to done . . . While the stats don't show it, getting Walker back is a big deal for the Auburn defensive line for the 2026 season . . . Golesh and offensive coordinator Tyler Hudanick brought in five incoming freshmen and eight transfers, replacing the 12 offensive linemen Auburn lost. Kail Ellis, Tai Buster and Jacobe' Ward, all true freshmen in 2025, are the only offensive linemen set to return . . . With Walker back in 2026, Auburn's interior defensive line is up to eight scholarship players . . . He's already garnered comparisons to legendary Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, so expectations are high for him on the Plains . . . The Tigers signed 13 players on defense out of the portal . . . Auburn will begin practicing on March 17 and spring practice will conclude with the A-Day Spring Game on April 18. This year's A-Day game will follow a "traditional spring game format," unlike last year's open practice . . . With the quartet of transfer additions on Thursday and Friday, Alex Golesh is now up to 39 incoming transfers . . . Cobb has one year of eligibility remaining and will possibly be a team captain with the amount of turnaround on this year's roster. Auburn signed three more running backs out of the transfer portal . . . The transfer portal closed for players to enter last Friday, but players already in the portal can still sign with schools . . . The 2026-27 and 2027-28 football alignment places the 32 largest high schools in Class 6A . . .
Buy a Link Now
-->
|
