Auburn didn’t overhaul its entire offense through the transfer portal last offseason, but the Tigers certainly leaned on it to patch some key holes. Hugh Freeze and his staff brought in eight offensive transfers, and seven of them saw meaningful snaps throughout the 2025 season. Some delivered, others didn’t, and the results reflected a unit that never quite found its rhythm.
The offense as a whole had a rocky year, which makes it tough to hand out glowing grades. Still, several players flashed potential or offered key contributions at various points. Let’s break down how each of Auburn’s offensive transfers fared this season.
Eric Singleton Jr., WR
Grade: B
Singleton came in as the crown jewel of Auburn’s transfer class-and for good reason. He was the No. 1 wide receiver in the portal according to both On3 and 247Sports, and his commitment felt like a major win for Freeze and company.
From day one, Singleton was a go-to target. He led the team in receptions and finished the year with 58 catches for 534 yards and three touchdowns. While those numbers didn’t quite match his production at Georgia Tech, he remained a steady presence in an offense that often struggled to find consistency.
He didn’t turn into an All-American overnight, but Singleton was a reliable weapon and a key part of Auburn’s passing game. In a season where little came easy offensively, that counts for something.
Jackson Arnold, QB
Grade: C-
Arnold’s arrival came with a lot of hope-and a bit of baggage. After a frustrating stint at Oklahoma, the former five-star was viewed as a possible solution to Auburn’s quarterback carousel. But things didn’t click.
He started the first eight games of the season before being benched during the win over Arkansas. From there, he never reclaimed the job. Arnold’s stat line-1,309 passing yards, six touchdowns, 311 rushing yards, and eight rushing scores-suggests flashes of ability, but the overall picture was muddled by inconsistent play and a struggling offensive system.
Protection issues and a lack of cohesion certainly didn’t help, but Arnold didn’t elevate the offense the way many hoped he would. The tools are there, but the fit just never materialized.
Ashton Daniels, QB
Grade: B
Daniels arrived late in the summer and began the season buried on the depth chart. But by season’s end, he was the guy under center-and he made the most of his opportunity.
Daniels started three of Auburn’s final four games and looked increasingly comfortable as the year went on. His breakout performance came against Vanderbilt, where he threw for 353 yards and added 89 more on the ground. That game alone showcased the dual-threat potential that Auburn fans had been waiting to see all year.
Outside of that performance, the numbers were modest, but Daniels brought a sense of stability to an offense that desperately needed it. He didn’t light the world on fire, but he gave Auburn something to build on.
Xavier Chaplin, OL
Grade: C+
Chaplin arrived with high expectations after earning All-ACC Honorable Mention honors at Virginia Tech. But early on, it was clear the transition to Auburn came with growing pains.
False starts and pass protection issues were a theme in the first half of the season. However, Chaplin began to settle in later in the year, especially after a switch to a more mobile quarterback helped take pressure off the offensive line.
He didn’t quite meet the lofty expectations set for him, but his improvement down the stretch showed he’s capable of being a solid contributor. Not a home run transfer, but not a bust either.
Mason Murphy, OL
Grade: C-
Murphy brought Power Four experience from USC and was expected to be a stabilizing force at tackle. Instead, he struggled with pass protection all season long.
He allowed 32 pressures and 10 sacks-numbers that highlight how tough it was for him to hold up in one-on-one matchups. Later in the year, Murphy was asked to slide inside to center after Connor Lew tore his ACL. To his credit, he handled the position switch admirably, showing versatility and toughness.
That adaptability helped his grade, but the pass protection woes were too glaring to ignore.
Horatio Fields, WR
Grade: B
Fields was off to a promising start before a broken foot ended his season just four games in. In those early contests, he showed chemistry with Jackson Arnold and looked like a reliable possession receiver.
He finished with 12 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, with his best showing coming against Ball State (six catches for 51 yards). It’s fair to wonder what kind of impact he could’ve made if he stayed healthy, especially given Auburn’s lack of depth at receiver late in the year.
Fields has since announced plans to enter the transfer portal again, but his brief stint showed he could play at this level.
Preston Howard, TE
Grade: D+
Howard had a real chance to carve out a big role, especially with Brandon Frazier battling injuries. Instead, drops and inconsistency defined his time on the field.
He became a regular part of the offense, but never quite capitalized on the opportunities. He finished with just 10 catches for 84 yards and couldn’t shake the mistakes that kept him from becoming a more reliable target.
Howard’s athleticism is evident, and the potential is still there. But this season, he just didn’t put it all together.
Durell Robinson, RB
Grade: N/A
Robinson’s season was derailed before it ever really got going. He played in just four games due to injury and was third on the depth chart when healthy. Missing two months in the middle of the season made it nearly impossible for him to climb the ladder or make a real impact.
With such limited action, it’s tough to give a fair grade.
Final Thoughts
Auburn’s 2025 offensive transfer class was a mixed bag. There were bright spots-Singleton’s steady production, Daniels’ late-season spark-but also plenty of growing pains. Injuries, system instability, and underperformance all played a role in keeping this group from reaching its full potential.
In the ever-evolving world of college football, the transfer portal remains a crucial tool. Auburn hit on a few pieces, missed on others, and now faces another offseason of questions as it looks to rebuild and retool again.