The Auburn Tigers wrapped up the January transfer portal window with the No. 13-ranked class in the country - a solid standing, especially considering the circumstances. While their haul might not have turned as many heads as Texas Tech, LSU, or Texas, what Auburn did was arguably more important: they hit the reset button and started laying the foundation for a new era under head coach Alex Golesh.
This wasn’t just about talent acquisition. It was about culture. Golesh, who arrived on the Plains with a clear vision, is reshaping the program in his own image - and that kind of transformation doesn’t come without growing pains.
Yes, Auburn lost some big-name players. Wide receiver Cam Coleman, quarterback Deuce Knight, wideout Eric Singleton Jr., defensive lineman Malik Blocton, and cornerback Jay Crawford all entered the portal.
On paper, that’s a tough list to swallow. But context matters.
The departures have been framed by some as a referendum on Golesh’s leadership - a claim that doesn’t hold up under closer inspection. These exits weren’t necessarily about buying into a new system or not.
In today’s college football landscape, the transfer portal is as much about opportunity and NIL dollars as it is about fit. And when schools with deep pockets come calling, players listen - especially when those schools are trying to recover from past misfires in the portal themselves.
Even with those losses, Golesh kept defensive coordinator DJ Durkin on staff - a move meant to preserve some continuity and defensive identity. But let’s be clear: this is a full-scale rebuild.
That’s not a bad thing. Auburn is coming off a 5-7 season.
The roster needed a shake-up. Hanging onto a group that underperformed just to maintain continuity would’ve been a step in the wrong direction.
In fact, this kind of teardown might be exactly what Auburn needed. Golesh brought in quarterback Byrum Brown, who followed him from South Florida, and added Baylor running back Bryson Washington - both of whom bring immediate upside and fit the new system. It’s not a flashy class, but it’s a functional one, built around players who want to be part of what Golesh is building.
This isn’t about clinging to the past or mourning the loss of a few stars. It’s about moving forward.
Auburn’s previous identity wasn’t yielding results, and trying to preserve that would’ve only prolonged the rebuild. Sometimes, the best thing a program can do is start fresh - and that’s exactly what’s happening on the Plains.
The narrative that Auburn “lost” the portal window misses the bigger picture. This isn’t a team trying to patch holes to chase short-term success.
It’s a program undergoing a necessary transformation - and that’s where it becomes dangerous. Because when expectations drop and the spotlight shifts elsewhere, that’s when programs like Auburn start to surprise people.
So while others are busy counting departures, Auburn is counting on something bigger: belief in a new direction. And if Golesh’s track record is any indication, the Tigers won’t be under the radar for long.