New Auburn head coach Alex Golesh is stepping into one of the most demanding roles in college football - and he knows it. At a program where “average” doesn’t cut it and the expectations are sky-high, Golesh is tasked with more than just rebuilding.
He’s expected to return the Tigers to national relevance. Fast.
That means embracing every possible edge in today’s fast-evolving college football landscape. From the transfer portal to high school recruiting, Golesh is already hunting for ways to inject talent into the roster. But he’s also keeping his eyes peeled for less conventional opportunities - ones that might not have even been considered a few years ago.
Could that include players from the professional ranks making a return to college football? It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. With eligibility rules getting murkier by the year - especially in light of recent developments in college basketball - there’s a growing sense that the door might be cracked open for players from leagues like the UFL, CFL, or even NFL practice squads to find their way back to the college game.
Golesh certainly isn’t dismissing the idea.
“College football has evolved so fast, and every single time there’s a situation like that, my antennas go up,” Golesh told reporters. “I think with every change, every ruling, or lack of ruling, you’ve got an opportunity to either sit and complain about it, which I think we tend to do as coaches.”
Translation? He’s not here to complain. He’s here to compete - and if that means exploring the gray areas of eligibility, he’s open to it.
Now, let’s be clear: the odds of an NFL practice squad player - let alone someone who’s cracked a 53-man roster - returning to college are slim to none. That’s not the target.
But what about a player who dipped into the professional ranks without exhausting their eligibility? Someone who tried their hand in the CFL or spring football and now sees a path back to college?
That’s a different conversation.
It’s not about chasing stars. It’s about finding contributors - players who can help Auburn right now.
Players who understand the grind and bring a level of maturity and experience that can elevate a locker room. Think of it more like adding a savvy veteran presence to a young roster.
Golesh referenced the situation with Alabama basketball’s Charles Bediako, who signed a two-way NBA deal but still found a way back onto the court for the Crimson Tide. Bediako is averaging 13.5 points per game since returning - and while football is a very different animal, the precedent is intriguing.
“I’ve always looked at it as, where’s the loophole in here? Who’s available out there that we can go get that fits what we do?”
Golesh said. “(It’s) certainly fascinating.”
That mindset - part coach, part roster architect, part opportunist - is exactly what Auburn needs right now. In an era where roster construction is more fluid than ever, the programs that adapt quickly are the ones that thrive. Golesh seems ready to play that game.
And if he finds a few hidden gems along the way? All the better for the Tigers.