Auburn’s latest preseason practice brought a little of everything Tuesday at the Woltosz Football Performance Center: a new face in the mix, a notable change in how one receiver worked, and another round of injury and absence updates as the Tigers moved into Week 3.
Former Troy wide receiver Tray Taylor was on the field as a partial participant, fully dressed but mostly limited after the opening period. At 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds, he stood out for his size among Auburn’s receivers, and his late arrival naturally raised the question of whether he could end up seeing the field.
Bryce Cain also drew attention because he was not working with his usual position group. Instead, he rotated through individual periods with Auburn’s secondary, lining up with both cornerbacks and safeties.
There were also several familiar names missing from the viewing window. Linebackers Xavier Atkins and Bryce Deas, along with offensive lineman Stanton Ramil, were not present Tuesday. Ramil had been in a similar situation last week, when he was sidelined the day before Auburn’s first scrimmage, though Alex Golesh said he played the entire contest.
That timing matters again now, with the Tigers set to scrimmage Wednesday. The absences of Atkins and Deas, though, were not explained.
On the injury front, wide receiver Christian Neptune and safety Sylvester Smith-Reed were finally out of non-contact protocol. Safety An'Quon Fegans and edge rusher Nate Johnson were also dressed out, but Auburn still had a list of players who were not available.
Defensive lineman Corey Wells, running back Nykahi Davenport, tight ends Hunter Herring and Jonathan Echols, and cornerback Scrap Richardson were all not dressed out for Tuesday’s practice.
Defensive lineman Malik Autry, who had shed the club on his right hand last week, was again seen with the same hand heavily bandaged Tuesday after dealing with a thumb issue.
In Other News...
Auburn Just Added A Receiver Alex Golesh Clearly Wanted In Camp
Auburn continued to reshape its receiver room by bringing in Tray Taylor, a compact slot target with stops at Troy, Coastal Carolina and Tyler Junior College. Alex Golesh had been looking to add more depth inside after the Tigers lost Duke Smith, and Taylor gives the staff another option at a spot that can get thin quickly in camp. His experience and versatility also make him a candidate to help on special teams, which only adds to his value as Auburn keeps sorting out the back end of the depth chart.
Taylors arrival fits the kind of quiet roster move that can matter later in the season, especially for a player whose path has already included multiple stops and a recent eligibility boost for 2026 tied to a class action lawsuit ruling. Auburn does not need every addition to be a headline-grabber, but Golesh clearly wanted another receiver who could handle work in the slot and provide some stability while the staff continues to adjust to the departures it has absorbed. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn May Have Found A New Way To Use Former Freeze Receiver
Auburns fall camp offered a small but notable personnel wrinkle when Bryce Cain was spotted working with the cornerbacks, a sign the Tigers may be exploring a new role for the redshirt sophomore. Cain arrived as a wide receiver recruit in the 2024 class, but his offensive opportunities have been limited through his first two seasons, leaving plenty of room for the staff to look at different ways to get value from his athleticism.
The move is not locked in, and Auburns preseason prep will tell the story of whether this is a short-term experiment or a real position shift as the Tigers build toward the 2026 season. Still, any time a former receiver gets time with the defensive backs, it hints at a staff trying to find the best fit for a player who has yet to carve out a steady role. [Read more 🡒]