Auburn’s offense may be getting a fresh start under Alex Golesh, but one major problem still hangs over the Tigers: the offensive line.
Christian Clemente of AuburnUndercover pointed to that group as the biggest concern in Auburn’s 2026 offense, and the numbers behind the rebuild explain why. Golesh has been busy putting together a new unit after the mass exodus that followed Hugh Freeze’s firing, but the front five remains unsettled.
“It’s a lot of USF transfers and then a bit of a hodgepodge of an offensive line,” he said. “Just three total players return from last year’s team, and they’re all second-year players who are likely in the two-deep but probably not starters.
Cole Best is the only “lock” of a starter… A combo of James Madison transfer Jo Simmons and Michigan State transfer Stanton Ramil are the likely tackles, but questions surround Ramil’s health with multiple injuries previously and very limited in spring. The guard spots are still completely up in the air, to be honest.”
That’s not exactly the kind of news Auburn fans wanted to hear, especially with the offense built around the run game. Byrum Brown, Jeremiah Cobb and Bryson Washington give the Tigers a dangerous three-man rushing punch, but even elite backs can only do so much if the line in front of them can’t create space or keep plays alive.
The turnover up front has been massive. All six Tigers who started on the offensive line last season are gone, whether to the NFL Draft or the transfer portal, leaving Golesh to patch together a new group through the portal.
Still, there are a couple of reasons Auburn can at least squint and see a path forward. For one, this is a veteran-heavy collection of linemen, even if they arrived from different places. That kind of experience can matter when a group is trying to gel quickly.
And long term, Golesh is already trying to build something more stable. Auburn’s 2027 recruiting class currently includes four offensive linemen, with two four-star prospects and two three-star prospects. Developing those players in-house would be the cleaner answer than constantly piecing together a line from outside additions.
For now, though, the offensive line remains the swing factor. If Auburn can hold up against SEC competition, the rushing attack has a chance to carry the offense into a much better year. If not, the Tigers could be staring at more of the same frustration that has defined recent seasons.
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Auburn Just Got An Unexpected Veteran Boost Up Front
Auburns defensive front picked up a notable bit of veteran stability with Dallas Walker IV set to return for the 2026 season. The 6-foot-3, 345-pound nose tackle brings a rare blend of size and experience after stops at Texas A&M and Western Kentucky before arriving in Auburn, and his presence should matter in a room that leans on physical play inside.
Walkers value has always been tied to the dirty work in the middle, where stopping the run and occupying space can shape everything around him. For a line that will keep leaning on younger pieces, getting a proven interior body back gives Auburn a sturdier foundation and a little more certainty up front as the next season takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Golesh Just Delivered An Iron Bowl Answer Auburn Fans Will Love
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There is also a familiar Auburn echo in the way Golesh framed it, one that longtime fans will recognize from the programs history. Auburn has been close in recent meetings, including last year when the Tigers held Alabama to 27 points, and Golesh is already leaning into the matchup specifics, from Auburns rushing options to quarterback Byrum Brown against a Tide defense that will test every weakness. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns New Coach Just Took A Strong Stand Fans Will Debate
Alex Golesh is already making clear that he plans to bring a firm voice to Auburns program, and his latest comments will likely spark plenty of conversation among fans. On a podcast with David Pollack, the Tigers new head coach laid out his view that college football needs more structure around transfers, saying players should have to wait two to three years before moving again so they can grow through development and adversity.
Golesh tied that stance to the bigger lessons he believes football should teach, arguing that players need to learn how to work through hard situations instead of always looking for a way out. It is the kind of philosophy that fits a former high school coach, but it also puts him squarely in the middle of one of the sports biggest debates at a time when roster movement has become part of the landscape. [Read more 🡒]