Honestly, if you’ve been following Auburn football lately, you know the vibes have been a chaotic mix of "we’re back" and "why is this happening to us?"
Hugh Freeze is entering a massive Year 3. The 2025 season isn't just another schedule; it’s a referendum on whether his recruiting-heavy approach can actually win games in the SEC. But as we look at the auburn depth chart 2025, things took a wild, unexpected turn right as the calendar flipped to 2026.
Just when fans thought they had the roster figured out, the transfer portal exploded.
The Great Quarterback Reset: From Arnold to Brown
Most people spent the entire 2025 season arguing about Jackson Arnold. Was the Oklahoma transfer the answer? Or was true freshman Deuce Knight the "future" everyone wanted to see?
Well, throw those notes in the trash.
In a stunning move following a shaky 2025 campaign, Alex Golesh—who took over the reigns—completely cleared out the room. Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels, and even the hyped Deuce Knight all hit the portal.
Enter Byrum Brown.
The USF transfer is basically the centerpiece of the new-look Tigers. We aren't talking about a project here; we’re talking about a guy with nearly 10,000 career yards and a dual-threat capability that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep. Brown’s 2025 stats were video-game territory: 3,158 passing yards and over 1,000 rushing yards. He led the FBS with 42 total touchdowns.
Behind him, the depth has a heavy USF flavor. Locklan Hewlett followed Brown from Tampa, while Tristan Ti'a (the Oregon State transfer) provides some freshman upside. It’s a total "win now" gamble.
A Rushing Attack That’s Actually Terrifying
If you like "old school" football mixed with modern speed, the 2025-2026 backfield is sorta ridiculous. With Jarquez Hunter gone, the keys were supposed to belong solely to Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb.
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But the portal had other plans.
Auburn added Bryson Washington from Baylor and Nykahi Davenport from USF. Think about this: Auburn now has four different ball-carriers who each put up at least 500 yards and five touchdowns last season.
It’s going to be a rotation. A brutal, tiring rotation for opposing linebackers. Alston is likely the "starter" on paper, but Cobb is the home-run threat you've gotta watch. If the offensive line holds up—which is a big "if"—this ground game is the team's real identity.
The "Freeze Four" and the New Receivers
We have to talk about the wideouts. The auburn depth chart 2025 was supposed to be the year of Cam Coleman.
Coleman remains the alpha. He’s 6'3", he catches everything, and he's a projected first-round talent. But he’s not alone anymore. Perry Thompson is finally finding his rhythm, and the addition of Eric Singleton Jr. (the Georgia Tech transfer) gives the Tigers a slot speedster they’ve lacked for a decade.
Projected Wide Receiver Rotation
- X-Receiver: Cam Coleman (So.) / Sam Turner (Fr.)
- Z-Receiver: Perry Thompson (So.) / Horatio Fields (Sr.)
- Slot: Eric Singleton Jr. (Jr.) / Malcolm Simmons (So.)
The depth here is actually deeper than the stats suggest. Keshaun Singleton and Chas Nimrod (more USF imports) bring veteran SEC-level bodies to the room. It’s the most talented receiving corps on the Plains since the 2013-2014 era. Easily.
Rebuilding the Trenches: The O-Line Puzzle
The offensive line is where things get shaky. Honestly, it’s a bit of a construction site.
Auburn lost four starters from the 2025 season. That’s a lot of "lost" experience. Connor Lew is the anchor at Center—he’s a preseason All-SEC type of player and the guy who makes all the calls.
At the tackle spots, Xavier Chaplin (Virginia Tech transfer) and Stanton Ramil (Michigan State transfer) are the projected bookends. Ramil is a massive human at 6'7" who started at LT for the Spartans before getting dinged up. If he stays healthy, Byrum Brown might actually have time to breathe.
Defense: The Keldric Faulk Farewell Tour
On the other side of the ball, the auburn depth chart 2025 is headlined by one name: Keldric Faulk.
He’s the leader. He’s the guy NFL scouts are drooling over. In what is almost certainly his final year before the draft, Faulk is expected to be an All-American.
The Front Seven Breakdown
- Defensive End: Keldric Faulk / Amaris Williams
- Defensive Tackle: Malik Blocton / Malik Autry
- Nose: Jourdin Crawford / Bobby Jamison-Travis
- Buck/Edge: Jared Smith / Jamonta Waller
The interior is surprisingly young. Malik Blocton and Malik Autry are the future, but they’re being asked to be the "now." In the middle, the linebacker corps relies heavily on Demarcus Riddick and Elijah Melendez. These are high-pedigree recruits, but in the SEC, pedigree doesn't stop a 230-pound Georgia running back. They’ll need to play older than they are.
The Secondary: A Blend of Old and New
The back end of the defense is where the continuity lives. Kayin Lee is a seasoned vet at corner now (weird to say, right?). He’s joined by Raion Strader, the former MAC Defensive Back of the Year, who proved he belongs in the big leagues last fall.
At safety, Kaleb Harris is the breakout candidate. He was all over the field as a freshman, and now he’s the quarterback of the secondary. With Champ Anthony back from that horrific 2024 injury, the "no-fly zone" might actually return to Jordan-Hare.
Special Teams: The Leg of McPherson
You can’t talk Auburn football without the kickers. Alex McPherson is the guy. When he’s healthy, he’s automatic. Hudson Kaak handles the punting duties, providing that weirdly effective Australian style that SEC returners hate.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to track how this auburn depth chart 2025 actually performs, keep your eyes on these three specific indicators:
- The USF Synergy: Watch how quickly Byrum Brown connects with the other USF transfers (Singleton, Koger, Nimrod). If that chemistry translates immediately, the offense will be top-20 in the country.
- Third-Down Pressure: If anyone other than Keldric Faulk can find the quarterback, this defense is elite. If it’s just Faulk, teams will double-team him out of the game.
- The Left Side of the Line: Watch Stanton Ramil. If he holds down the blind side, Auburn’s explosive play rate will skyrocket.
The talent is there. The portal was pillaged. Now, it’s just about whether these pieces actually fit together when the lights come on. Expect some growing pains in September, but by November, this could be the team nobody wants to play.