Auburn Linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr. to Enter Transfer Portal in January
Auburn linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr. is headed for a new chapter. The senior announced he plans to enter the transfer portal once it officially opens in January, signaling the end of his time on the Plains and the start of a fresh opportunity elsewhere.
Woodyard’s journey at Auburn has been one of patience, perseverance, and steady growth. After arriving as part of the 2022 recruiting class-famously flipping his commitment from Alabama to Auburn on Signing Day-he spent his first two seasons largely on the sidelines. A lingering knee injury from his senior year of high school slowed his start, and he appeared in just seven games across those first two years.
But 2024 marked a turning point. Woodyard carved out a bigger role in the Tigers’ defense, appearing in 10 games and posting 17 tackles with three tackles for loss.
That laid the groundwork for a breakout 2025 campaign, where he emerged as a key contributor. He finished the season with 67 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks-numbers that reflect both his improved health and growing command of the linebacker position.
Woodyard’s departure comes as Auburn continues to reshape its linebacker room. The Tigers have already secured the return of All-SEC standout Xavier Atkins, a major win for the defense heading into next season. Atkins will anchor a group that also includes junior Demarcus Riddick, sophomores Elijah Melendez and Bryce Deas, and a promising crop of true freshmen from the newly signed class.
Woodyard’s exit is part of a broader wave of movement across college football, as players prepare for the NCAA’s new transfer portal calendar. Under updated rules approved in October, the portal window for FBS and FCS players now opens on January 2 and runs through January 16.
That’s a shift from previous years, when the window opened in early December. The NCAA also eliminated the spring portal window, meaning this January stretch is now the only opportunity for underclassmen and graduate transfers alike to make a move.
Another notable change: players from programs undergoing a coaching change must now wait five days after a new coach is hired before entering the portal. That triggers a 15-day window, but only if the change happens after January 2.
For Woodyard, the timing lines up with a chance to find a new home during that January window. After a season that showcased his potential, he’ll be one to watch as programs across the country look to bolster their linebacker corps.
Auburn, meanwhile, will move forward with a linebacker unit that’s young but loaded with upside-and a coaching staff that’s clearly focused on building around its core pieces.