Auburn just added another key piece to its defensive puzzle, landing a transfer commitment from former LSU defensive lineman Walter Mathis Jr. The move gives the Tigers a young, high-upside defender with SEC experience and plenty of eligibility left - four years to play three, to be exact.
Mathis, a product of Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia, just wrapped up his freshman season in Baton Rouge. While he didn’t see heavy snaps in his first year, he showed flashes that caught the attention of Auburn’s staff - and this time around, they weren’t letting him get away.
Auburn had recruited Mathis out of high school, even hosting him on an official visit. When the opportunity came again, the Tigers pounced.
Let’s talk about the tape. Mathis appeared in 12 games for LSU this past season, finishing with 9 tackles, a pass breakup, 2 quarterback pressures, and 5 stops - those are the kind of plays that PFF defines as defensive wins, where the offense is clearly on the losing end. Not eye-popping numbers, but for a freshman in a stacked LSU front, it’s a respectable foundation.
His most significant action came late in the year, logging 19 snaps against Vanderbilt and a season-high 20 in LSU’s bowl game against Houston. But perhaps the most encouraging sign came in limited reps against South Carolina, where he posted an 80.2 defensive grade - his best of the season. That’s the kind of performance that turns heads in film rooms.
Looking at his season-long grades, Mathis was solid if unspectacular: 77.7 in tackling, 69.0 in run defense, 58.3 in pass rush, and a 64.3 overall. The pass-rush number suggests there’s room to grow, but the tackling and run defense grades show he’s already got a strong base to work from. For a young lineman adjusting to the speed and strength of SEC play, that’s not a bad place to be.
Auburn’s transfer haul continues to grow - Mathis marks the 26th known addition from the portal this cycle. That’s not just quantity; it’s quality, too. The Tigers’ transfer class ranks among the top 20 nationally, as they look to reload quickly under a staff that’s clearly not afraid to be aggressive in the portal.
For Auburn, this is a long-term play. Mathis brings upside, SEC pedigree, and developmental runway.
He might not be an immediate star, but he’s the kind of player who could become a key contributor down the line - especially in a system that knows how to develop defensive linemen. Auburn missed out on him once.
They didn’t make the same mistake twice.