Auburn finally has Stanton Ramil back in the mix, and that alone changes the look of the Tigers’ offensive line.
The Michigan State transfer spent most of the spring working his way back from injury, which kept Auburn from seeing one of the linemen it expected to matter most when the 2026 season rolls around. The Tigers never forced the issue. Even in fall camp, offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick and Auburn’s medical staff kept a close eye on his workload, making sure he was in position to contribute when it counts.
Ramil said that approach meant a lot to him.
"I really appreciate that from the coaches, just like making sure that I'm there and I'm as healthy as possible," Ramil said.
He says he feels "really, really good" now, and Auburn has begun loosening the reins. That showed up in both of the Tigers’ scrimmages, where Ramil handled significant work and finally got the kind of extended reps he had been missing.
"Every rep counts, especially when you know you're a bit limited at the start," Ramil said. "So, every rep you get, you can't really take for granted."
Auburn has also been sorting out where exactly Ramil fits. He has mostly been working at right tackle after spending nearly all of his time on the left side at Michigan State.
For now, it looks like Jo Simmons will open the season at left tackle. Ramil, though, isn’t locked into any one spot.
"Whatever they need me to play is where I'll play," Ramil said.
There’s more taking shape around him, too. Alex Golesh has pointed to the growing chemistry inside the group during camp, and Ramil singled out Cole Best and Cole Skinner as especially important to the way Auburn’s transfers have been picking up the offense. Both came with Golesh and Hudanick from USF, and Ramil called their presence "essential."
"They knew the system really, really well," Ramil said. "They're elite with their communication."
That kind of help has been valuable because Auburn’s offensive line hasn’t exactly been getting easy work in camp. DJ Durkin’s defense has thrown plenty at it - pressures, movement, multiple fronts - and Ramil described the challenge as far from straightforward.
"A lot of pressures, you know, a lot of shifting, a lot of three down mixed into it," Ramil said. "Like you're not going against one picture."
Golesh has made a similar point, stressing that the offensive line has been tested against one of the deepest defensive fronts on the roster while also trying to digest everything Durkin is showing it. If there’s a payoff, Auburn should find out soon enough. The unit probably won’t face a front as talented as this one until the Georgia Bulldogs come into view in the middle of the season.
For now, Auburn is watching the pieces settle. Simmons looks set at left tackle.
Best and Skinner have emerged as voices in the room. Jacob Strand has moved himself into the battle inside and, in the view here, has beaten Deryc Plaz for the left guard job, one of the more intriguing developments of camp.
And with Ramil healthy, the Tigers are finally getting the experienced right tackle they thought they were bringing in from the start.
In Other News...
SEC Just Drew A New Line In Future Alabama Roster Fights
The SEC drew a hard new line this week in the roster battles that can shape college football recruiting, eligibility, and second-chance pathways. By unanimous vote of its presidents, chancellors and athletics directors, the league approved a policy that bars member schools from carrying former NFL, NBA or WNBA players on their rosters, a move that now puts the conference in step with the Big Ten on former NFL players returning to college ranks.
For Auburn and the rest of the league, the policy gives commissioner Greg Sankey broad power to enforce it, including suspensions, and it reaches beyond players who actually suited up professionally to those who signed with pro teams or were listed on pro rosters. The timing matters because roster rules have become another front in SEC competition, and the new standard leaves little ambiguity about where the conference wants the line to be drawn, even as the broader ripple effects around eligibility and roster construction are still being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Added A Transfer Back With Everything To Prove In A Crowded Race
Auburns backfield just got a little more crowded, and that was the point. Alex Golesh added Troy transfer Tae Meadows to the 2026 roster through the portal, bringing in a back who arrives with a fresh rsum and plenty of reason to believe he can push for a role right away. Meadows was Troys leading rusher in 2025, and his track record of strong performances goes back to high school.
For Auburn, the move adds another layer to a running back room that already figures to be a real competition heading into the upcoming season. For Meadows, it creates the sort of proving ground he seems ready to embrace. He is arriving with production behind him, but not with anything guaranteed, which is exactly what makes this addition worth watching as spring and summer work begins to sort out who actually climbs the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn's Leading Scorer Picked His Next Team Amid Eligibility Fight
Keyshawn Halls path beyond Auburn has already taken a significant turn, even if the legal ground beneath it keeps shifting. One of the Tigers leading scorers in 2025 has committed to St. Johns for the 2026 season, setting up his next move while he continues to fight for another year of college eligibility.
Hall had initially been granted the extra season through a preliminary injunction before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals later sided with the NCAA by granting a stay, leaving him ineligible for now. Hall and his attorney are still pursuing additional legal options, and his future with St. Johns hinges on whether that battle opens the door for him to play there this season. [Read more 🡒]