Of all the South Florida transfers Alex Golesh brought to Auburn, the spotlight has mostly landed on the skill guys. Byrum Brown, Chas Nimrod and Keshaun Singleton have drawn plenty of attention, and for good reason.
But the portal addition doing some of the quiet heavy lifting up front is sixth-year center Cole Best.
Best, one of two USF offensive linemen to follow Golesh to Auburn, has become the clear anchor for a rebuilt Tigers offensive line. He started at center for USF over the last two seasons, so the pace and structure of Golesh and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon’s up-tempo offense already fit what he knows. That familiarity matters for a center who is responsible for making the calls and checks that keep everything lined up.
Since arriving, Best has used that experience to steady a young group around him. He’s been part teacher, part guide, helping teammates learn the scheme on the field while also building the kind of chemistry that makes an offensive line function.
“Probably doesn’t get talked about enough how important it is that those five dudes are on the same page,” Golesh said of the offensive line during SEC Medi Days. “I give Cole Best a ton of credit because he’s worked extremely hard to bring that group together.”
The work hasn’t been limited to meetings and practice reps. Over the summer, the offensive line stayed connected through yoga, group dinners and community service, spending plenty of time together away from football.
That leadership has carried into preseason camp, where Best has taken on a mentoring role with young Auburn tackle Tai Buster. The two are rooming together at the Marriott Resort and Spa at Grand National, part of a deliberate staff plan to pair younger players with veterans.
Buster is expected to miss half the season because of an injury, which makes Best’s presence even more valuable. Best said he understands what that kind of setback feels like.
“Happy that I can be there for him because I’ve had very similar procedures,” Best said. “I’ve been told before that I won’t be able to play for a certain amount of time, so I feel like there might have been some strategy there in putting us together.
“But to offer him any wisdom or advice or even just be there for him, I’m happy to do it.”
His value goes beyond the offensive line room, too. For Auburn’s offense to function the way it wants to, the center and quarterback have to be in sync, especially in a system that moves this fast. Best’s comfort with Brown gives the Tigers a built-in edge.
“He takes care of everything. Left, right, he’s got the guys on one accord,” Brown says of Best.
“He’s the same guy every day; he’s not going to do anything he wouldn’t do himself or say anything he wouldn’t do himself. He’s been tremendous for that O-line group.”
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