Auburn’s offense looks almost brand new this season, with running back Jeremiah Cobb the only real holdover. That kind of turnover puts the spotlight on the future as much as the present, and it makes a few younger players impossible to ignore. If the Tigers are going to get where they want to go, these are the names that could end up mattering more than people expect.
At quarterback, Tristan Ti’a is the one to watch. The sophomore transfer from Oregon State has already shown what he can do in game action, throwing for 240 yards on 28 of 41 passing with a touchdown in his lone career start for the Beavers.
He also stood out at A-Day, where he looked better than Byrum Brown, who is currently ahead of him. That one showing won’t decide the job, but it did turn Ti’a into a real factor in Auburn’s quarterback picture.
That’s why the situation around him is so interesting. Andrew Hughes put it this way: “Ti'a opened up quite the can of worms, though, in the case Brown struggles this fall.
At minimum, Ti'a just put himself into a similar position TJ Finley was in behind Bo Nix: firmly behind him, but surging. First-year head coach Bryan Harsin didn't hesitate to stick Finley in when things got tough in 2021.
You have to wonder if Alex Golesh would be as bold in a similar pinch.” Ti’a has more eligibility left, too, which only adds to his value as Auburn tries to build something sustainable at the sport’s most important position.
Tight end Jonathan Echols is another sophomore who could force his way into the conversation sooner rather than later. He’s 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, and he has the speed to get behind linebackers along with the size to win above the rim against safeties.
Even with three seniors in front of him, there’s a path for Echols to become a bigger part of the offense this season. Long term, he looks like the guy Auburn can lean on once those older players are gone.
Freshman guard Mason Mathis also deserves attention. At 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, he fits the kind of lineman Alex Golesh likes to use, especially at guard.
He’s described as a very good pulling guard, and while he may not crack the field right away unless things go sideways, his development matters a lot for what comes next. Auburn is going to lose all of its upperclassmen eventually, and Mathis is the kind of player who could help shape the line after that happens.
The bonus name is freshman receiver DeShawn Spencer, and he may be the most exciting of the bunch. He impressed at A-Day alongside Ti’a, and that performance only added to the buzz around him.
Alabama star Ryan Coleman-Williams also praised his former Saraland teammate at SEC Media days, saying “we breed workhorses.” That kind of endorsement carries weight, and Spencer’s versatility could get him on the field early in Golesh’s offense.
If the hype holds, he looks like a receiver Auburn fans will be talking about for a while.
In Other News...
Former Auburn Transfer Amaris Williams Faces A Career Defining Choice
Amaris Williams path has already taken a few turns, and the latest one has put his future in a delicate spot. The former Auburn EDGE transferred to Georgia looking for a bigger role after limited playing time in Auburn, but an ACL tear in April practice changed the conversation almost immediately and turned his next move into a recovery question as much as a football one.
Now the discussion around Williams is less about where he can fit on the field and more about when he should try to get back on it. He could push to return this fall, but there is also a case for taking the longer view and letting the injury fully heal before making a comeback, especially with eligibility and long-term value hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
A Rival Legend Just Weighed In On Auburns New Coach
Alex Goleshs first months at Auburn have already drawn an unexpected bit of outside validation, with his rsum earning praise from one of the most recognizable voices in the sport. Golesh arrives after building his reputation on the offensive side, first at Tennessee and then at South Florida, where his teams showed the kind of improvement and production that can change the mood around a program quickly.
For Auburn, the endorsement matters less for where it came from than for what it says about the job in front of Golesh. He inherits a program that needs a reset and a coaching staff that has to translate promise into results, with the roster pieces now in place and the pressure to make them fit. The question is no longer whether Golesh has a track record worth noticing. It is how fast he can turn that track record into something Auburn can feel on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]
Champ Anthony Just Sent A Strong Message About Auburns Newcomers
Champ Anthony heads into his final Auburn season with his profile rising and the expectations following right along with it. The safety landed on the preseason All-SEC ballot, a sign that his work has already earned respect around the league, and he is doing it in a new era under head coach Alex Golesh. Anthony has fit quickly with Goleshs approach, which has brought a different energy to the program and a sizable wave of reinforcements from South Florida.
Those newcomers have already become part of the conversation around Auburns roster, especially with Golesh importing 13 transfers from his old stop and leaning heavily on them to help reshape the team. Anthony has welcomed the group as teammates rather than outsiders, and his comfort with the transition says plenty about the buy-in inside the building. For Auburn, the bigger question is how fast that blend of returning leadership and new faces turns into something dependable once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]