Auburn Faces Roster Turnover as Transfer Portal Activity Picks Up
The transfer portal continues to reshape the college football landscape, and Auburn is feeling the early effects. With a wave of players declaring their intent to enter the portal, the Tigers’ roster is in flux heading into a critical offseason.
Here’s a look at the Auburn players who have already signaled their plans to transfer. The list is growing, and while the portal doesn’t officially open until January, the Tigers are already bracing for a significant roster shakeup.
Players Departing Auburn (most recent first):
- Jay Crawford, Sophomore, Cornerback
- Seth Wildred, Junior, Offensive Tackle
- Cam'Ron King, Redshirt Freshman, Wide Receiver
- DeAndre Carter, Redshirt Freshman, Interior Offensive Line
- Favour Edwin, Redshirt Freshman, Offensive Tackle
- Malcolm Simmons, Sophomore, Wide Receiver
- Hollis Davidson, Freshman, Tight End
- Horatio Fields, Redshirt Senior, Wide Receiver
- A'Mon Lane-Ganus, Redshirt Freshman, Safety
- Perry Thompson, Sophomore, Wide Receiver
- Caleb Wheatland, Senior, Linebacker
- Antonio Coleman, Freshman, Defensive Line
- Damari Alston, Senior, Running Back
That’s a wide range of experience and talent heading out the door - from upperclassmen like Alston and Wheatland, who brought leadership and veteran presence, to young players like Edwin and Carter, who were still developing but had potential upside for the future. The wide receiver room in particular is taking a hit, with multiple departures, including Perry Thompson and Malcolm Simmons.
Auburn hasn’t brought in any portal additions yet, but that’s expected to change quickly once the window officially opens. And it’ll need to. With graduation, NFL declarations, and now portal exits piling up, the Tigers will have to move aggressively to rebuild depth at several key positions.
A New Era Under Alex Golesh
For newly-hired head coach Alex Golesh, this is the first major test of his tenure. The former South Florida head coach is stepping into a program hungry for stability and success after a stretch of underwhelming seasons. Auburn is coming off a five-game losing streak to close the year, and reversing that trend will require more than just scheme adjustments - it’ll take a revamped roster and a fresh culture.
Golesh and his staff will be tasked with not only replacing talent but also reestablishing momentum in recruiting and player development. The portal offers an opportunity to do that quickly, but it’s a two-way street - as Auburn is seeing now, players can leave just as easily as they arrive.
What’s Next
The next few weeks will be crucial. Expect Auburn to be active once the portal officially opens in January, targeting reinforcements on both lines, in the secondary, and especially at wide receiver. The departures leave holes that can’t be filled by freshmen alone.
It’s a new chapter for Auburn football, and the rebuild begins now. The names on this list may be gone, but the opportunity to reshape the program is just beginning. For Golesh, it’s time to get to work.