As the transfer portal window marches on, stay tuned here for all the latest updates on Auburn football's roster.
AUBURN — Alex Golesh's first eight months as Auburn football's head coach will be imperative to the success of his first season at the helm — but his first month hasn't done him may favors.
Before the former South Florida head coach even gets his first opportunity to coach a game on the Plains, he's being tasked with wading through one of the more talented rosters in the sport and carving out his group of guys for the 2026 campaign.
The returns to this point have been, understandably, disheartening. The Tigers were slated to have nearly 30 players in the transfer portal when it opened Friday, Jan. 2, and two-thirds of them were former blue-chip signees, helping comprise the 13th-most-talented roster in the nation last season.
While the likes of Cam Coleman and Deuce Knight will be looking at their options elsewhere, it'll be up to Golesh and his newly hired staff to do the hard part: build a roster that can compete in the SEC while pushing to retain some of that outgoing talent.
As the offseason ensues, stay tuned here for a full rundown of the latest changes on Auburn's roster.
Live updates on Auburn football's roster: Who's in, out on the Plains?
Auburn football reportedly hosting Florida State tight end transfer
Jan. 2 (9:39 p.m.): Florida State tight end Randy Pittman Jr. will be among Auburn's first crop of transfer visitors, Christian Clemente of 247Sports reported Friday. He's among eight visitors reportedly coming to the Plains, but the first tight end to do so.
In three seasons, two at Central Florida and one with the Seminoles, Pittman's caught 74 passes for 839 yards and five touchdowns.
Auburn football CB Blake Woodby announces 2026 return
Jan. 2 (8:53 p.m.): Woodby continued Auburn's run of defenders set to return, becoming the ninth retention late Friday evening. Woodby played in 11 games as a true freshman, though he recorded just two tackles.
Let’s get to it. 🦅 #SBGpic.twitter.com/stsfRxVPsK
— Blake “Bobble” Woodby (@blake_woodby) January 3, 2026
Auburn football getting safeties An'Quon Fegans, Eric Winters back for 2026
Jan. 2 (7:21 p.m.): Fegans and Winters jointly announced their returns to the Plains for their sophomore seasons, becoming the seventh and eighth players to announced their returns.
Fegans and Winters were both members of Auburn's 2025 signing class, products of in-state Thompson and Enterprise high schools, respectively. Each were ranked as top-200 players nationally and wasted little time contributing on DJ Durkin's defense.
Both played in all 12 games last season, and they combined for 57 tackles. Winters had two tackles for loss, a sack and a pass deflection, and Fegans recorded an interception and a pass breakup.
War damn baby!! Back for year ✌🏽 #WDEpic.twitter.com/I8tnygxb25
— Anquon “Newboy” Fegans ✪ (@FegansAnquon) January 3, 2026
The team to watch for Jackson Arnold is UNLV | Report
Jan. 2 (7:07 p.m.): Dan Mullen and UNLV are the early team to watch for the now-former Auburn quarterback, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS.
Wherever he ends up, Arnold will be at his third school in as many seasons, having transferred to Auburn from Oklahoma.
UNLV has emerged as an early team to watch as a possibility for Auburn QB transfer Jackson Arnold, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 3, 2026
The former top-10 overall recruit has made 18 career starts at Auburn and Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/gAehxIilUA
Trio of transfer prospects set to visit Auburn football
Jan. 2 (6:37 p.m.): Kansas State offensive tackle Devin Vass, Arkansas State defensive lineman Cody Sigler and Howard linebacker Ja'Quavion Smith have scheduled visits with Auburn, according to multiple reports.
Vass will visit from Jan. 3 to 4, Sigler will visit Jan. 3 and Smith's visit date has yet to be reported. That brings Auburn's visit total up to seven.
Sigler announced an Auburn offer earlier in the day, following an All-Sun Belt selection in his lone season with the Red Wolves, totaling seven tackles for loss and five sacks.
While listed as a linebacker, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Smith generated 60 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in two seasons with the Bison.
Vass, a former three-star prospect, made seven starts in nine games this season. He didn't surrender a sack in 190 opportunities, according to Pro Football Focus.
Cam Coleman planning at least 5 visits, including Alabama
Jan. 2 (6:03 p.m.): The former Auburn receiver reportedly visited Texas on Friday, but he'll follow that up with four more visits, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, including Texas A&M, Texas Tech, USC and Alabama.
Sources: Top transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman is set to visit Texas and Texas A&M this week. He then plans to take trips to Texas Tech, USC and Alabama the following week. pic.twitter.com/RqP5edG9na
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 3, 2026
Auburn football offers North Texas offensive lineman
Jan. 2 (5:29 p.m.): North Texas offensive tackle Braydon Nelson announced an Auburn offer. He joins a mix of linemen involved with the Tigers, including Oklahoma State offensive tackle Grant Seagren.
Nelson's rated as the 23rd-best player at his position by 247Sports, but On3 lists him as the seventh-best tackle.
Auburn Offered pic.twitter.com/hATQO2q29H
— Braydon Nelson (@BraydonNelson1) January 2, 2026
USC defensive line transfer targeting Auburn football | Report
Jan. 2 (2:53 p.m.): Former USC defensive lineman Devan Thompkins has Auburn among five schools that "are standing out" as potential suitors, alongside Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State, according to On3's Hayes Fawcett.
Fawcett reported that Thompkins in the process of setting up a visit with the Crimson Tide. A former three-star recruit, Thompkins is a consensus top-100 player in the transfer portal. Both 247Sports and On3 ranked him as the No. 2 defensive lineman in the portal.
Thompkins' most productive season came this fall, recording 31 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 2 pass deflections.
NEWS: USC transfer DL Devan Thompkins tells @On3Sports these 5 Schools are standing out to him as transfer destinations⁰⁰He’s ranked as the No. 2 DL in the On3 Portal Rankings
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 2, 2026
Thompkins is currently in the process of locking in a visit to Alabamahttps://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7qpic.twitter.com/xGJTZfSVob
Two more Auburn football reserves reportedly entering the transfer portal
Jan. 2 (1 p.m.): Defensive lineman James Ash and safety Taye Seymore, both of whom transferred to Auburn last season, are returning to the portal, according to 247Sports' Christian Clemente.
The pair saw minimal playing time on the Plains. Ash recorded just 11 snaps and Seymore didn't see the field.
Texas A&M DB Bryce Anderson schedules visit to Auburn football | Report
Jan. 2 (12:37 p.m.): Anderson, a former consensus blue-chip prospect, will visit Auburn on Saturday, Jan. 3, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Anderson's considered the 11th-best safety in the portal by 247Sports, and he's considered the 15th-best player at his position by On3.
A signee during Texas A&M's recruiting frenzy under Jimbo Fisher, Anderson was heavily utilized by the Aggies from the onset, playing in 11 games as a true freshman. His best season came as a sophomore, in 2023, with career-high totals in tackles (54), tackles for loss (7), sacks (1.5) and pass deflections (4).
Auburn football offers Charlotte defensive back transfer
Jan. 2 (11:50 a.m.): Dwight Bootle II, a defensive back at Charlotte in 2025, announced he's received an offer from Auburn.
Bootle transferred to Charlotte after two seasons at Nebraska, where the former three-star prospect played just six combined games. He played in 12 games for the 49ers and made six starts, recording 38 total tackles, a pass deflection and a fumble recovery.
Blessed and Thankful that Auburn Offered! pic.twitter.com/T8nrqxTIjG
— Dwight Bootle II (@BootleII) January 2, 2026
Auburn football offers All-Sun Belt defensive lineman
Jan. 2 (10:33 a.m.):Cody Sigler, a second team All-Sun Belt Conference selection this season at Arkansas State, said he's received an offer from Auburn, as well as Florida State and Oklahoma.
A New Hope, Alabama, native, Sigler spent three seasons at West Alabama before transferring to Jonesboro. His final season at UWA saw him generate 12 tackles for loss and six sacks. He maintained those totals as a Red Wolf, with seven tackles for loss, six pass deflections and five sacks.
Texas trying to court Auburn football WR Cam Coleman | Report
Jan. 2 (9:09 a.m.): Texas is working to bring Coleman in for a visit as soon as this weekend, according to a report from On3's Pete Nakos, coming just four days after the star wide receiver announced his plans to enter the transfer portal.
Auburn football to host top-rated Arkansas defensive line transfer
Jan. 2 (8:03 a.m.): Ian Geffrard, a consensus top-100 player in the transfer portal, is scheduled to visit Auburn, according to On3's Hayes Fawcett. The former Arkansas defensive lineman will visit the Tigers, as well as Kentucky, SMU and Texas.
Geffrard's third season with the Razorbacks was his most productive yet, totaling a career-high 25 tackles, four tackles for loss and a pass deflection.
NEWS: Arkansas transfer DL Ian Geffrard is set to visit the following schools, he tells @On3Sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 2, 2026
- Kentucky
- SMU
- Auburn
- Texas
He’s ranked as the No. 4 DL in the On3 Portal Rankingshttps://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7qpic.twitter.com/Tm9QvX1K3B
Auburn football TE Preston Howard to enter transfer portal
Jan. 1 (11:42 p.m.): After one season with the program, the Maryland transfer Howard is expected to enter the portal. He caught 10 passes for 84 yards in 12 games.
Auburn football among early schools to watch for Colorado edge rusher
Jan. 2 (7:52 a.m.): Colorado edge rusher Alexander McPherson is a name to watch for the Tigers, as is Ole Miss, Penn State and Vanderbilt, Matt Zenitz of CBS reported.
As a true freshman for the Buffaloes, McPherson had 16 tackles and half a sack and tackle for loss each this fall.
Early schools of interest for Colorado EDGE transfer Alexander McPherson, per a source: Penn State, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Auburn.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 2, 2026
The 6-6, 240-pound McPherson, who’s repped by @AgentJoeD, posted 15 tackles as a freshman at Colorado this season. pic.twitter.com/rzt2XitMuf
Which transfers are Auburn football, Alex Golesh targeting?
- Auburn football's confirmed transfer visits
- UAB WR Iverson Hooks (Jan. 8-9)
- Florida State TE Randy Pittman Jr. (Jan. 3-4)
- Kansas State OT Devin Vass (Jan. 3-4)
- Oklahoma State OT Grant Seagren (Jan. 2-3)
- Arkansas DL Ian Geffrard (TBA)
- Arkansas State DL Cody Sigler (Jan. 3)
- Howard LB Ja'Quavion Smith (TBA)
- Texas A&M S Bryce Anderson (Jan. 3)
What Auburn football players are going into the transfer portal? Full list
- Quarterback: Ashton Daniels; Deuce Knight; Jackson Arnold
- Running back: Damari Alston
- Wide receiver: Cam Coleman; Cam'Ron King; Horatio Fields; Malcolm Simmons; Perry Thompson; Sam Turner
- Tight end: Hollis Davidson; Preston Howard
- Offensive line: DeAndre Carter; Dylan Senda; Favour Ebuka Edwin; Seth Wilfred; Xavier Chaplin
- Defensive line: Amaris Williams; Antonio Coleman; James Ash; Malik Blocton
- Edge rusher: Jamonta Waller
- Linebacker: Caleb Wheatland; Robert Woodyard Jr.
- Cornerback: A'Mon Lane-Ganus; Donovan Starr; Jay Crawford; Kayin Lee; Raion Strader
- Safety: Kensley Louidor-Faustin; Taye Seymore
- Specialists: K Towns McGough
Which Auburn football players are returning? Full list
- Defensive line: Jourdin Crawford; Malik Autry
- Linebacker: Bryce Deas; Demarcus Riddick; Elijah Melendez; Xavier Atkins
- Cornerback: Blake Woodby
- Safety: An'Quon Fegans; Eric Winters
What's the latest with transfer portal calendar? Here's what to know
After having two portal windows last offseason, including a 30-day span for the majority of December, the NCAA consolidated chances for football players to transfer this year, eliminating a spring transfer window and moving the lone period to a two-week span — from Jan. 2 to Jan. 16 — following the College Football Playoff.
Players who wish to enter the portal must do so in that window, but they're not required to enroll at a new school before the entry deadline.
Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at [email protected] or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.To support Adam's work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football transfer portal tracker | Latest news, developments
Category: General Sports
