Auburn WR Sam Turner to Enter Transfer Portal After Redshirt Season
After just one season on the Plains, Auburn wide receiver Sam Turner is heading for the transfer portal. The freshman announced his decision on social media Wednesday, signaling a new chapter in his college football journey.
Turner came to Auburn with some buzz. A product of Southwest DeKalb High School in Georgia, he flipped his commitment from Georgia Tech to Auburn late in his senior year.
He was a 4-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, ranked No. 439 overall and the No. 63 wide receiver nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. For a player with that kind of pedigree, expectations were understandably high.
And early on, Turner showed flashes that backed up the hype. He turned heads during spring practice and again in fall camp, drawing praise for his athleticism and route-running.
But Auburn’s wide receiver room was crowded - and talented - making it tough for a young player to break through. Turner saw limited action this season, appearing in just three games (Ball State, Arkansas, and Kentucky), which allows him to preserve a redshirt year.
He still has four full seasons of eligibility ahead.
His year was cut short due to a foot injury suffered in practice, sidelining him for the final stretch of the season. But with the redshirt in hand and a fresh start on the horizon, Turner becomes a name to watch in the upcoming portal cycle.
He’s not alone in leaving Auburn’s receiver corps. Turner joins a wave of Tigers wideouts entering the portal, including Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, Malcolm Simmons, and Horatio Fields. That’s a significant reset for a position group that was once considered a strength in terms of depth and future potential.
The timing of Turner’s announcement lines up with the NCAA’s updated transfer rules, which went into effect earlier this year. The new transfer window for FBS and FCS athletes opens January 2 and runs through January 16 - a tighter, more structured period than in years past.
The NCAA also did away with the spring transfer window, meaning this January stretch is the primary opportunity for movement. Graduate transfers are now bound by the same window, and players affected by coaching changes must wait five days after a new hire before a 15-day portal window is triggered - but only if the change occurs after January 2.
For Turner, the portal offers a reset - a chance to find a better fit and more opportunity. For Auburn, his departure is part of a broader shake-up at the position. The Tigers will need to reload and retool quickly as they look to reshape their receiver room heading into next season.