Alex Golesh did plenty of work to remake Auburn’s roster after taking over as the Tigers’ 33rd head coach in program history, but he couldn’t land every player he wanted from his old USF group. Byrum Brown was always going to be the quarterback plan, and Golesh managed to bring in four receivers, a running back and a tight end from his 2025 Bulls team. Wyatt Sullivan, though, stayed put.
Sullivan recently explained to Green, Gold, and Bold’s Joe Henderson why he chose to remain with USF, and the answer centered on Brian Hartline and what he believes the program can become.
"I was familiar with how he used (tight ends) at Ohio State, so (staying) was a no-brainer. It's my last year and I want to have the best senior year possible," Sullivan said.
He also laid out the standard he expects around the program moving forward.
"My expectation is for us to continue to develop an elite culture, standards, and a way of excellence in everything that we do. I think we are looking to teach these guys how to be pros. These guys all want to play the NFL, and what that looks like from an operation standpoint, work ethic standpoint, how you work together, how you watch film, all of those things."
That’s a pretty understandable pull. Hartline has built a reputation as one of the best offensive minds around, first as a receiver at Ohio State and then as a coach who kept producing elite pass catchers.
In Columbus, he helped develop Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. He also helped turn Purdue transfer tight end Max Klare into a second-round talent last fall when he was the lead play-caller.
Sullivan’s path also makes the choice easier to read. He transferred from Buford High School to Robert F.
Munroe Day School in Quincy, Florida, and after initially committing to FAU, he has stayed in the Sunshine State. That’s a lifestyle decision as much as anything else.
Even without Sullivan, Auburn still has options at tight end. Golesh now has ex-USF tight end Jonathan Echols, returning Ryan Ghea and former Texas A&M and North Carolina tight end Jake Johnson in the room.
Golesh has made it clear he wants to avoid the mistakes Hugh Freeze made, including the way tight ends were handled after Rivaldo Fairweather’s surprise breakout in 2023. He covered his bases in the portal, and while Sullivan would have been a nice addition, Auburn is no longer thin at the position the way it was a year ago.
In Other News...
Auburns New Backfield Has One Early Concern Fans Cant Ignore
Alex Golesh has made it clear from the start that Auburns offense is going to lean on tempo and the run game, and the new backfield mix is built to match that vision. The Tigers added Nykahi Davenport, Tae Meadows and Baylor transfer Bryson Washington to give the offense more depth and more options behind the returning pieces, a move that fits the kind of physical, up-tempo identity Golesh wants to establish.
Washington, though, is still the name to watch as camp unfolds. Golesh said the transfer has made progress, but the staff is still working to get him fully ready for the demands of the offense, which leaves Auburn with an early evaluation point in a backfield that otherwise looks deep enough to keep the competition moving. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Most Fragile Position Suddenly Feels Far More Important
Auburns special teams setup is getting a fresh look for 2026 under new coordinator Jacob Bronowski, and the unit has a different feel than it did a year ago. The Tigers still have some stability in place with kicker Alex McPherson, punter Hudson Kaak and kick returner Pleasant, but the operation also has a new starting long snapper in Powell, a transfer from Miami (Ohio), which makes the whole kicking game feel a little more interconnected than usual.
The biggest open question sits at punt returner, where the job is up for grabs after Malcolm Simmons transferred out. For a team that knows how quickly one shaky snap, hold or return can change field position, that competition matters more than it might on the surface, especially with Bronowski trying to settle the group before the 2026 season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Faces A Recruiting Showdown For An In-State Quarterback Target
Auburns quarterback recruiting board has another in-state name worth tracking, as Gadsden City High Schools Sam Sollie has set a verbal commitment date for Aug. 8. The Class of 2028 prospect has spent the offseason looking at a handful of SEC programs, with Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State and Tennessee all in the mix, and Rivals already projects him as a future SEC passer.
For Auburn, the interest is especially notable because the Tigers have hosted Sollie more than any other finalist, giving them a strong foothold in a race that still has several heavyweight programs involved. The 3-star quarterback has the kind of profile that tends to draw late attention once the calendar turns toward a decision, and his choice will say plenty about how the early battles for elite Alabama talent are shaping up. [Read more 🡒]