Auburn’s move to Nike is barely a year old, and the Tigers are already putting some of their biggest names in the brand’s NIL spotlight.
On Thursday, Auburn announced that quarterback Byrum Brown, linebacker Xavier Atkins and wide receivers Keshaun Singleton and Chas Nimrod have been added to Nike football’s NIL roster. The four players will represent the brand this season as Auburn continues its partnership with Nike after switching from Under Armour last year.
“The standard just got stronger. ✔️”
“Meet the newest faces of @usnikefootball. @NimrodChas @byrumbrown17 @KeshaunX21 @XavierAtkins8 #WarEagle 🦅 pic.twitter.com/jvZoHLo6AE”
Brown, Singleton and Nimrod all came to Auburn with coach Alex Golesh after following him from South Florida, and they’re expected to be central pieces of the Tigers’ offense. That group arrives with some momentum, too: in 2025, USF finished 9-3 under Golesh and ranked third nationally in total yards per game.
Atkins gives Auburn a different kind of headliner on the other side of the ball. He was the Tigers’ first All-American linebacker since 2003 and is heading into his second full season as a starter, where he’ll be the anchor of the defense.
Last season, Atkins piled up 84 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He also graded out at 91.7, making him Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded linebacker in the country, while his tackle and sack totals both ranked third in the SEC.
Auburn opens its 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Baylor in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta, Georgia. The game is set for 2:30 CT and will air nationally on ABC.
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For Auburn, the appeal goes beyond one standout recruit. Johnson-Cook is part of a backfield class that is shaping up to be loaded, giving the Tigers a chance to stockpile talent at a position that can change the direction of an offense fast. If the early rankings are any indication, Auburn may not just be adding depth in 2027, but building a group that could make the backfield one of the programs most intriguing strengths. [Read more 🡒]