At the start of Auburn’s fall camp, Alex Golesh has put a clear emphasis on keeping things simple: work, film, hotel, repeat. The Tigers are staying at the RTJ Hotel, about 15 minutes from campus, for the full camp as part of a plan to cut down on outside noise before next month’s opener.
The setup has already drawn plenty of attention, and Golesh has been open about the fact that this isn’t a one-off experiment. He told the press he has used the same approach in each of his years at USF. For Auburn linebacker Xavier Atkins, the routine is already landing the way the staff wants.
“It’s going great,” he said. “You know, it’s a different thing for sure because, like [Golesh] said, it’s no distractions.
It’s like, facility, film, and back to the hotel. He’s just making sure we’re locked in and know what we want, because we all know what distractions can cause, so that’s the biggest thing.
He’s trying to ease up [on] all distractions so we can stay focused on what’s ahead and what’s important.”
That message fits a team trying to clean up what went wrong last season. Auburn had plenty of talent, but the Tigers couldn’t finish when it mattered. The offense took the bigger share of the blame, but the defense wasn’t off the hook either, and both sides are looking for a much sharper season this time around.
Golesh’s answer has been a strict camp environment, with his staff pushing discipline while still keeping the players encouraged. The standard is posted everywhere the team turns: ‘Be who you say you are.’
In Other News...
Auburns Running Back Battle Behind Jeremiah Cobb Is Getting Real
Auburns second fall camp practice offered a first real look at how the running back room is taking shape behind Jeremiah Cobb, and the answer so far is simple enough: it is still very much a competition. Offensive coordinator Joel Gordon said the group keeps improving, but the staff is still sorting through the depth chart while camp moves forward and the reps start to mean a little more.
The drills showed why this one may take a while to settle. Different backs flashed different traits, with some handling contact well and others showing areas they still need to clean up, which is exactly what makes August so important. For Auburn, the challenge now is turning those daily flashes into something more clearly defined before the season starts to force the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Quarterback Fate Now Rides On A Transfer Question
The transfer portal has become impossible to ignore in college football, especially at quarterback, where recent national championship games have featured multiple passers who arrived from somewhere else. Auburn is part of that conversation now, with the SEC once again leaning on portal additions to shape rosters, fill holes and, in some cases, change the entire trajectory of a season. It is not just about finding depth anymore. For teams trying to push into championship range, the portal has become a fast track to relevance.
Auburns quarterback picture is now tied to one of those portal decisions, and that adds real weight to the coming season. The Tigers have watched the broader SEC load up on incoming talent at quarterback, running back, receiver and on defense, but the most important question on the Plains is whether the answer under center comes from outside the program. If the portal piece clicks, Auburn can start talking about upside. If it does not, the rest of the roster has to do a lot more heavy lifting. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Camp Already Has A Roster Battle Fans Will Notice
Auburn hit the field for a preseason practice session Thursday morning as the Tigers continued their early work toward the 2026 season, and the roster picture already had a few wrinkles. Several players were either absent or working on the side because of injuries, including Tai Buster and Chris Murray, while others were limited in non-contact work or spent portions of the session with the training staff. Head coach Alex Golesh stayed active throughout drills, moving between groups and staying involved as the staff pushed through another camp workout.
The bigger takeaway for Auburn watchers, though, was how much attention the coaches were paying to certain spots on the field, where the first signs of a competition were already easy to spot. Position coaches were hands-on during the session, and the way reps were divided suggested there are jobs on the line even this early in camp. For a team still sorting itself out, those practice-day details can matter as much as anything on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]