Why Auburn football could land WVU safety transfer Tykee Smith

Another one bites the dust for the West Virginia football program with safety Tykee Smith entering the transfer portal. Smith has heard from quite a few schools since his portal entry, and here’s why the safety could end up playing for Auburn football.

With Jamien Sherwood declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft, one of the two starting safety positions is open. The other is filled by Smoke Monday, thestandout returner who will lead the group according to defensive coordinator Derek Mason.

Currently, the top contender for Sherwood’s starting position is most likely Ladarius Tennison, who lined up as the Tigers’ second safety with Monday at open practice last Saturday. Formerly playing mostly at Nickelback, Tennison has been training as a safety this offseason.

That being said, Tykee Smith had a breakout season in 2020 at West Virginia and could be a great addition to the Auburn defense. He finished the season fourth on the team with 61 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and two interceptions, per WVSportsNow.

Smith becomes the second starting defensive back from WVU to enter the transfer portal in the wake of the Mountaineers’ DB coach leaving to take the same position at Georgia. The first would be cornerback Dreshun Miller, who confirmed last month he would be transferring to the Plains.

That’s right. There’s the potential for a WVU transfer team-up on Auburn’s defense, and one that was critical to West Virginia’s schemes according to the Dominion Post, who reports that Smith contributed to the Mountaineers’ finish as the top-ranked pass defense in the nation.

Auburn football’s top competition in landing the former three-star prospect is most likely UGA, as that’s where Smith’s former position coach landed for the upcoming season. Still, it’s possible that Dreshun Miller and Auburn’s potential need for safeties brings Tykee Smith onto the Plains.