Auburn’s defensive front is heading into full rebuild mode - and the latest departure only underscores how big the reset will be.
Defensive tackle Malik Blocton, a key piece of Auburn’s rotation the past two seasons, has officially entered the transfer portal. The Pike Road High School product made the announcement on Instagram, becoming the second starting defender from Auburn to hit the portal this offseason.
Blocton was a steady presence in the trenches throughout the 2025 campaign. He appeared in all 12 games, starting eight of them, and finished the year with 18 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and half a sack.
His contributions helped anchor a defensive unit that quietly put together one of the better run-stopping efforts in the country - Auburn finished 12th nationally in fewest rushing yards allowed per game. That kind of ranking doesn’t happen without solid, consistent play in the interior, and Blocton was a big part of that.
A former three-star recruit from in-state powerhouse Pike Road, Blocton didn’t waste time making his mark. He saw the field early as a true freshman in 2024, racking up 16 tackles and four tackles for loss in his first season on The Plains. His early production was a promising sign, and it translated into a bigger role in Year 2.
But now, with Blocton on his way out, Auburn’s defensive line is staring down a near-total overhaul. The Tigers are already losing Bobby Jamison-Travis, Dallas Walker IV, Jay Hardy, and Zykeivous Walker - all out of eligibility. With Blocton joining them on the departure list, none of the top contributors from the 2025 rotation are expected back.
That leaves Auburn with a young and largely untested group heading into 2026. Freshmen Malik Autry and Jourdin Crawford are currently the only interior linemen expected to return with game experience, though both played smaller roles this past season. There’s also help coming via the high school ranks - Auburn has signed incoming freshmen Tavian Branch and Corey Wells, who will be part of the next wave tasked with holding the line.
In the ever-shifting landscape of college football, roster turnover is nothing new. But for Auburn, the defensive line isn’t just turning over - it’s starting from scratch. The pieces for the future are there, but they’ll need to grow up fast if the Tigers want to maintain their reputation as one of the SEC’s more physical fronts.