Auburn’s defensive line just took a major hit - and it’s not about coaching changes this time.
Despite the Tigers holding onto defensive line coach Vontrell King-Williams, sophomore defensive tackle Malik Blocton has announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. That’s a significant loss for Auburn, both in terms of production and presence in the trenches.
Blocton, a Montgomery native and former 3-star recruit in the 2024 class, has quietly been one of the most consistent forces on Auburn’s interior defensive front over the past two seasons. In 2025, he racked up 18 total tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss - solid numbers for an interior lineman whose job often involves eating blocks and freeing up teammates to make plays.
But what really stands out is the workload: 413 snaps, the most among Auburn’s defensive tackles this season. That tells you all you need to know about how much the coaching staff trusted him to anchor the middle.
If the name sounds familiar, it should - Malik is the younger brother of former Auburn standout Marcus Harris, an All-SEC defensive tackle who made his own mark on the program. Now, the younger Blocton is set to carve his own path elsewhere, and he’ll likely draw plenty of interest from programs looking to bolster their defensive interior with a player who has SEC experience and proven production.
This move comes at a time when the NCAA’s transfer rules are shifting the landscape for players and programs alike. As of October, the Division I Administrative Council approved new guidelines that significantly alter the transfer calendar.
Instead of the portal opening in early December, the new window for FBS and FCS athletes begins January 2 and runs through January 16. That’s it - no more spring window, and even graduate transfers are now bound by that same two-week stretch.
There’s also a new wrinkle when it comes to coaching changes. Previously, if a program made a coaching move, players had a 30-day window to enter the portal immediately. Now, they have to wait five days after a new coach is hired, and only then does a 15-day window open - but only if the change happens after January 2.
So, for Blocton, the timing is clear. His decision isn’t tied to a coaching shake-up, and it’s not a case of waiting for a late spring opportunity. He’s making his move ahead of the official portal opening, setting the stage for what could be a high-profile recruitment once the window opens in early January.
For Auburn, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Blocton was more than just a rotational piece - he was a foundational presence on the interior, and his departure leaves a sizable gap to fill. The Tigers will need to lean on younger talent or look to the portal themselves to find someone who can replicate the kind of impact Blocton brought to the field.
This is the new reality of college football: even key contributors with plenty of playing time aren’t guaranteed to stick around. And for programs like Auburn, roster management has never been more complex - or more critical.