Auburn’s offensive line is getting a full reset - and head coach Alex Golesh knows just how critical this rebuild is for the Tigers’ future. After losing all five starters from the 2025 unit, plus several key depth pieces, Auburn didn’t just dip into the transfer portal - they dove in headfirst.
The result? Nine new faces, each with a shot to carve out a role in what’s shaping up to be one of the program’s most wide-open position battles in years.
“If there’s one position I’m praying about, it’s the O-line,” Golesh said this week. “So if anybody wants to join me, have at it.”
That quote says a lot. Not just about the uncertainty, but also about the urgency.
Auburn’s offensive line has been a sore spot in recent seasons, and Golesh, along with new offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick, isn’t taking any chances. The Tigers brought in a mix of plug-and-play starters, familiar faces from South Florida, and high-upside depth pieces from Power Four programs.
It’s a calculated blend of experience, scheme familiarity, and raw potential.
At tackle, things look relatively solid. Michigan State transfer Stanton Ramil and James Madison’s Jo Simmons are expected to anchor the edges.
Both bring starting experience and the kind of physicality Auburn needs to stabilize the line. On the interior, two former USF linemen - center Cole Best and guard Cole Skinner - bring more than just game reps.
They bring continuity. Best, in particular, is a major piece of the puzzle.
Not only is he a two-year starter, but he also has a strong on-field rapport with new quarterback Byrum Brown and a deep understanding of the offensive system.
“Cole Best, really, what he did for us in the last year-and-a-half at South Florida - you can’t even tell anyone how important that guy was to the culture,” said offensive coordinator Joel Gordon. “Not just on offense, but the culture of that football team.”
That kind of praise doesn’t come lightly. Best isn’t just a technician at center - he’s a tone-setter. And when you’re trying to rebuild a unit from scratch, having someone who knows the system and leads by example is invaluable.
But there’s still a lot to sort out. Oregon State transfer Jacob Strand and Stanford’s Jack Leyrer both bring Power Four starting experience, with the versatility to play guard or tackle.
That flexibility could prove vital as Auburn tries to find its best five. Then there are the wild cards - players like Deryc Plazz from Miami, TJ Hedrick from Ole Miss, and Terrance McMannus IV from Akron.
They’re not as proven, but the staff sees potential. And in a room this open, potential matters.
Golesh isn’t pretending he has all the answers just yet.
“In your mind, you feel like you know who’s going to start - but I’m 100 percent convinced it ain’t gonna look like that,” he said.
Translation: spring ball is going to be a war. With 20 linemen in the room, all of them believing they have a shot to start, the competition is going to be fierce - and that’s exactly what Golesh wants.
“They’re working that way in the weight room,” he said. “There’s a bunch of guys that think, ‘Man, I’m the guy.’ And when it’s that way, you’ve got a chance to be really good.”
For Auburn, the offensive line has been more of a liability than a strength in recent years. But now, with a fresh coaching staff, a new scheme, and a complete overhaul of personnel, there's cautious optimism that the Tigers might finally be turning the corner up front.
Spring practice will be the proving ground. And while the group is far from settled, the sheer volume of competition - paired with strategic additions like Best, Ramil, and Simmons - gives Auburn a fighting chance to build a line that can hold its own in the SEC.
The pieces are there. Now it’s about putting them together.