Auburn’s decision to bring in Troy transfer Tray Taylor on Monday looks even sharper after the latest update from camp.
On Tuesday, The Auburn Observer’s Justin Ferguson reported that Bryce Cain has moved over to the secondary, creating a new opening at slot receiver. Ferguson wrote, “Just got about 20 minutes of a viewing window for the 12th practice of Auburn football camp,” before adding, “Observations will come this afternoon following interviews, but I will go ahead and say that we saw Bryce Cain is now working with the cornerbacks instead of the receivers.”
That lines up with what Kodi Burns had already said about Cain’s path to the field: it would come down to getting more reps. But at this point, Cain does not appear to be headed for the slot, or even the offensive side of the ball at all.
The move also says plenty about how Auburn’s staff sees him. If DJ Durkin and DeMarcus Van Dyke are shifting Cain to corner, it suggests the issue is not athletic ability.
It points more toward the finer points of receiver play, whether that’s route-running, hands, or both. Corner is a spot where raw athleticism can carry a player a long way, and Cain has that in spades.
It also shows why Alex Golesh’s portal approach matters so much for this offense. By bringing in Chas Nimrod, Keshaun Singleton, Jeremiah Koger, Christian Neptune, Kory Pettigrew, and tight end Jonathan Echols, Auburn added players who already know the system and understand the pace Byrum Brown brings to the offense.
Cain had already been playing catch-up. He lost two years after Hugh Freeze recruited him and his other “Freeze Four” teammates, Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, and Malcolm Simmons, only to have two run-heavy starting quarterbacks who struggled to push the ball downfield. That left him behind before this camp battle even started.
So Auburn’s staff finding a new lane for Cain makes sense, and it also explains why Taylor’s arrival matters. Taylor still has plenty to learn in a fast-moving Auburn offense, and he joined only a few weeks before a major non-conference Week 1 matchup with Baylor. But his path tells you why the Tigers were willing to take the chance.
He went from limited chances in Shreveport, Louisiana, to JUCO, then to Coastal Carolina, then Troy, and now Auburn. That kind of climb says he’s done the work to overcome a lot of obstacles.
There’s still plenty for the coaching staff to sort out, and Taylor will have to do his part quickly. It’s a late addition, no doubt. But with Cain now apparently being worked into the defense, Auburn’s slot picture opened up at exactly the right time.
In Other News...
Auburn Practice Just Raised A New Depth Chart Concern
Auburns Week 3 preseason practice on Aug. 18 at the Woltosz Football Performance Center offered a small but notable glimpse at how the roster is being shaped as camp moves along. With several players out or limited because of injury or protocol, the Tigers had to shuffle things around, and those absences gave the staff a better look at some of the pieces fighting for roles as the season approaches.
Among the more interesting developments was former Troy wide receiver Tray Taylor taking part in practice on a partial basis, while Bryce Cain spent time rotating through work with the secondary instead of lining up with his usual group. For a team already managing a handful of sidelined players, those kinds of adjustments can matter quickly, especially when Auburn is still trying to settle answers across the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Just Added A Receiver Alex Golesh Clearly Wanted In Camp
Auburn continued to reshape its receiver room by bringing in Tray Taylor, a compact slot target with stops at Troy, Coastal Carolina and Tyler Junior College. Alex Golesh had been looking to add more depth inside after the Tigers lost Duke Smith, and Taylor gives the staff another option at a spot that can get thin quickly in camp. His experience and versatility also make him a candidate to help on special teams, which only adds to his value as Auburn keeps sorting out the back end of the depth chart.
Taylors arrival fits the kind of quiet roster move that can matter later in the season, especially for a player whose path has already included multiple stops and a recent eligibility boost for 2026 tied to a class action lawsuit ruling. Auburn does not need every addition to be a headline-grabber, but Golesh clearly wanted another receiver who could handle work in the slot and provide some stability while the staff continues to adjust to the departures it has absorbed. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn May Have Found A New Way To Use Former Freeze Receiver
Auburns fall camp offered a small but notable personnel wrinkle when Bryce Cain was spotted working with the cornerbacks, a sign the Tigers may be exploring a new role for the redshirt sophomore. Cain arrived as a wide receiver recruit in the 2024 class, but his offensive opportunities have been limited through his first two seasons, leaving plenty of room for the staff to look at different ways to get value from his athleticism.
The move is not locked in, and Auburns preseason prep will tell the story of whether this is a short-term experiment or a real position shift as the Tigers build toward the 2026 season. Still, any time a former receiver gets time with the defensive backs, it hints at a staff trying to find the best fit for a player who has yet to carve out a steady role. [Read more 🡒]