Auburn is sending a new-look group to SEC Media Days, and the headliner is obvious: Alex Golesh will make his debut as the Tigers’ head coach on July 21 in Tampa, Florida.
Golesh will be joined by transfer quarterback Byrum Brown, kicker Alex McPherson and safety Champ Anthony as Auburn gets its first national stage to introduce the new regime and start building momentum for the 2026 season. The annual event runs July 20 through July 23 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street and JW Marriott, with full coverage airing on SEC Network.
Brown is the most natural choice of the trio. He followed Golesh from South Florida, and his 2024 season gives Auburn a real talking point at quarterback: 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards, a rare single-season combination in college football history. For a program that has not gotten the quarterback position where it wanted it under the last two coaching regimes, Brown brings immediate intrigue.
Anthony’s selection also makes sense, even if it may not have been the most obvious one from the outside. He was a team captain last season, though injuries have cut short his last two seasons.
McPherson fits a similar theme. He missed time in 2024 because of ongoing health issues, but he returned last season and played in all 12 games.
The bigger surprise for some might be who Golesh did not bring. Running back Jeremiah Cobb is viewed as the top player on the roster, and linebacker Xavier Atkins is another name that could have been in the mix. Instead, Auburn went with a quarterback, a kicker and a safety - a group that suggests the staff wants to project leadership and depth as much as star power.
For Golesh, the trip to Tampa carries a familiar feel. He coached there over the past few seasons at the University of South Florida, and now he’ll return as Auburn’s new face, answering questions about the roster, the health of key players and the optimism surrounding the program under a fresh start.
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