Auburn’s 2026 season is officially rolling, and the first day of fall camp brought a clear message from the new staff: this month is about focus, competition and getting the roster pointed in the same direction.
Head coach Alex Golesh, defensive coordinator DJ Durkin and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon all spoke Tuesday as players reported to camp. Golesh set the tone quickly, calling fall camp the best stretch of the year and saying he’s “beyond fired up” to work with this 2026 group.
The Tigers will spend the next 13 days at the Marriot hotel downtown, a move Golesh said is designed to cut down on campus distractions. He said the staff will be strategic about roommate pairings, players’ car keys will be taken, and there will be three designated off days during the stay. The camp ends with a family/alumni picnic, and Golesh said the setup is meant to help the team build habits while staying locked in.
Health was another major theme. Golesh said freshman defensive tackle Cory Wells is still working through a high school injury and is in the final stages of recovery.
Chris Murray, AnQuon Fegans and Shamar Arnoux are day-to-day. Offensive lineman Tai Buster is expected to miss the first five games after a leg injury late in the summer, while OL Stanton Ramil has been “really solid” since returning to practice after his knee injury.
Golesh also made it clear what he wants most out of camp: a team that comes out healthy. Beyond that, he said Auburn is still trying to sort out its leadership voice, describing the roster as “young” in that area. At linebacker, he singled out Elijah Melendez as a player pushing to become a star on defense, noting the work he’s done with his body and his growth as a leader.
The running back room got plenty of attention too. Golesh said he wants 3 1/2 running backs ready for a game and called the competition there “fascinating.”
Sophomore Omar Mabson is pushing to win the job, while Jeremiah Cobb has had a phenomenal summer and has done his part to prepare his body for his senior season. Golesh also said the team’s connectivity is one of the biggest priorities in camp, especially with the schemes already in place and now needing the group to execute them together.
Golesh added that Auburn may still have some flexibility to add to the roster after the ruling that gave 2022 recruits another year of eligibility. “We’re open to it and leaving the door open if its warranted.”
On offense, Gordon said the team will learn plenty more this summer by lining up against the defense in practice, adding that the offense was pushed more this summer than in previous years. Wide receiver Chas Nimrod stood out the most to him during that stretch.
Gordon echoed the uncertainty at running back, saying Auburn wants four backs ready on game day and that, after Jeremiah Cobb as the starter, there are a lot of question marks. He pointed to Omar Mabson as the most consistent back this summer. Gordon also called Stanton Ramil “hungry to play” after his spring injuries and described him as a strong addition.
The 13-day hotel setup, Gordon said, should create adversity, good habits and a microcosm of the football season. He also said the tight end room has multiple players who can help the team win, but camp will be about figuring out exactly what each one brings after a spring in which they weren’t fully healthy.
Jake Johnson, Gordon said, is a leader on offense and the player others in the room look to most days. He also said Jeremiah Cobb has been comfortable improving his body for his senior year and went above and beyond to hit the fitness goals the coaches set for him.
Durkin’s side of the ball is leaning on communication and competition. He said defensive linemen Jourdin Crawfourd and Malik Autry have grown and accepted the challenges that come with learning the defense. The group takes pride every day in practice, he said, and the secondary is driving a lot of the communication on that side of the ball.
Safety Champ Anthony stood out to Durkin for raising the competitiveness in the secondary, and Durkin said Anthony will play more than one spot. He also said Demarcus Riddick’s confidence is back after last season’s season-ending injury, and that Riddick brings versatility at linebacker.
Durkin praised the linebacker room for coaching each other up and said the competition there is making everybody better faster. He also said it’s been tremendous to see what Golesh has done since arriving at Auburn, crediting him for elite communication and for spearheading the group’s connectivity.
In the secondary, Durkin said the staff is looking at different packages to get a good cornerback rotation going. He also described Jared Smith as a dynamic pass rusher, adding that last year’s experience should help him become a more consistent every-down player.
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