Auburn’s roster overhaul under first-year head coach Alex Golesh continues to pick up steam - and this time, it comes with a little extra sting for a conference rival. The Tigers are landing a major addition from within the SEC: Ole Miss edge rusher Da'Shawn Womack is headed to the Plains.
Womack isn’t just another transfer. He’s a former five-star recruit with a high ceiling and SEC experience to match.
After spending the 2025 season with the Rebels - a campaign that saw Ole Miss reach the College Football Playoff semifinals - Womack brings both production and pedigree to an Auburn defense in need of reinforcements. He finished last season with 27 tackles and two sacks, showing flashes of the disruptive talent that made him one of the most coveted recruits in the country coming out of high school.
This will be Womack’s third stop in the SEC, having started his college career at LSU. In two seasons with the Tigers in Baton Rouge, he tallied 21 tackles and 2.5 sacks before transferring to Oxford. That kind of experience across multiple high-level programs gives Auburn a player who not only knows the grind of SEC football but has proven he can contribute in it.
And make no mistake - Auburn needs him. The Tigers lost their top two defensive ends and top two “buck” linebackers from the 2025 season, leaving a significant void in the pass rush and edge-setting roles. Womack fits the bill for either position, giving Golesh and his defensive staff a versatile chess piece who can shift depending on scheme and matchup.
At 6-foot-5 with length and athleticism, Womack has the physical tools to be a difference-maker. But what makes him particularly valuable for Auburn right now is his ability to step in and compete immediately. This isn’t a developmental project - it’s a plug-and-play defender with a high upside and a deep understanding of the league’s demands.
Golesh is clearly intent on building a roster that can compete quickly, and snagging a player like Womack from a fellow SEC contender sends a message. Auburn isn’t just rebuilding - they’re reloading with battle-tested talent.
Originally from Baltimore, Womack might not be a native of SEC country, but he’s made the conference his football home. Now, he’ll bring that experience and edge to Auburn, where the Tigers are hoping he can be a cornerstone of a new-look defense in 2026.