Fall camp is arriving on the Plains, but Auburn won’t be working through it at full strength.
First-year head coach Alex Golesh met with the media Tuesday and laid out where the Tigers stand after a summer and spring that left several players dealing with injuries. Some are expected back before camp wraps up. Others, not so much.
The toughest update came on sophomore offensive lineman Tai Buster, who had been making real progress this spring before going down with an injury during the summer. Golesh said Buster will miss the start of the season.
“So, he’ll be out, I would assume the first five or six games, and hopefully have him towards the backstretch,” Golesh said on Tuesday. “It’s unfortunate for him because he’s had an incredible summer, and he is working his tail off to get back.”
Auburn also got bad news on sophomore cornerback Devin Williams, who injured his knee during the spring. Golesh said Williams will be out for the year.
There was better news on the defensive back end with Shamar Arnoux, who is “day-to-day,” according to Golesh. The coach believes Arnoux could be back by the end of the week, and said the issue is a “new” injury that shouldn’t keep him out long.
Arnoux, a Florida State transfer, showed up late in 2025 for the Seminoles and has a chance to push for playing time if he gets through fall healthy.
AnQuon “Newboy” Fagans is in a similar spot. Golesh also called him “day-to-day” and said the Tigers expect a quick turnaround.
“We’ll have him back here really quickly,” the head coach said.
Fagans played in every game for Auburn last season as one of three freshmen to do so, finishing with 24 tackles and an interception in 2025.
Auburn’s injury list also includes edge rusher Chris Murray, linebacker Will McDuffie and freshman defensive lineman Corey Wells. Golesh said Murray had a “touch-up deal” and should be back in the middle of fall camp, while McDuffie is also expected to be available by the end of camp.
Wells, a four-star recruit from the 2026 class, is still recovering from an injury he first suffered in high school. Even so, Golesh said the Tigers still expect him to contribute as a freshman.
“He’s in the final stages of that,” he said. ‘We hope to have him before the end of camp rolling; we’ll see what kind of contribution he can make this year.”
For Auburn, the overall picture is encouraging enough. Golesh enters the season trying to move the program forward after the previous seasons under Hugh Freeze, and getting healthier as fall camp unfolds would be a good place to start.
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