Auburn’s tight end room is getting a serious facelift, and it’s not just about filling holes - it’s about creating a whole new identity.
Head coach Alex Golesh, who cut his teeth coaching tight ends earlier in his career, knows exactly how valuable the position can be in college football. At his last stop with USF, the top two tight ends combined for 27 catches - not eye-popping numbers, but part of a balanced offense that spread the ball around through the air and on the ground. Now at Auburn, Golesh is rebuilding from the ground up after losing key contributors Brandon Frazier and Preston Howard.
So, what does that rebuild look like? It starts with keeping Ryan Ghea, a returning piece with potential, and then diving headfirst into the transfer portal to bring in immediate-impact talent. The Tigers didn’t just dip their toes in - they made a splash.
Auburn added Xavier Newsom from Howard, Jonathan Echols from USF, Arlis Boardingham from Bowling Green, and Jake Johnson from North Carolina. They also signed DJ Broughton out of Mobile, giving them a mix of experienced transfers and young talent. That’s a lot of new faces, but more importantly, it’s a variety of skill sets that give this offense some serious flexibility.
Veteran assistant Larry Scott has come on board to coach the tight ends, and he’s got a deep room to work with. According to Golesh, that’s exactly the point - not just depth for the sake of numbers, but a group that can do a little bit of everything.
“As you look at that group that we took in production, again, very similar to the running back group,” Golesh said. “It’s production, it’s the ability to be really multiple with what those guys can do, meaning they can play in the box, they can play out of the box, they can play the backfield.”
Translation: Auburn didn’t just go shopping for tight ends - they went looking for chess pieces. Guys who can block, catch, move around the formation, and keep defenses guessing.
And just as important, they didn’t go after carbon copies. Each player brings something unique to the table.
“You don’t want a bunch of guys that were the same,” Golesh continued. “They’re all a little bit different.
They have a little bit of a different skill set. As a play-caller, [that] allows you to be really multiple based on who’s in there.”
That multiplicity is going to be a key part of Auburn’s offensive identity in 2026. With quarterback Byrum Brown leading the charge, a loaded running back room, and veteran receivers on the outside, the tight ends might not be the headliners - but they could be the secret weapon.
Golesh made it clear: this position group is going to play a major role in shaping what Auburn’s offense looks like this fall.
“That tight end spot is so critical for us offensively, simply in the ability to create matchup issues, formation variation, and being able to be multiple,” he said. “We talked about changing year to year, finding the best 11 and then the next best 11.”
And in the SEC, where defensive lines are stacked and coaching staffs are just as sharp as the players, having tight ends who can shift the math at the line of scrimmage is a big deal.
“We’ve been at our best when we’ve been able to play in some heavier sets,” Golesh added. “Man, you’ve got to be able to equalize edges, and you’ve got to be able to create some formation variation. Make people think.”
That last part might be the most important. In a league where defenses are fast, physical, and well-coached, any edge you can create matters. Auburn’s tight end group may not be flashy on paper, but they’re the kind of versatile, matchup-savvy players that can quietly tilt the field in your favor.
And if Golesh and his staff get what they’re hoping for from this revamped room? Auburn’s offense could have a few more tricks up its sleeve than people expect.