Auburn football: 3 Tiger transfers who will and 3 who won’t shine in 2021

Former Auburn football QB Joey Gatewood

Now onto his third program, Joey Gatewood is still searching for the opportunity to start for a brand name school in college football. Did he find it with his first Group of Five school, UCF of the AAC?

It’s doubtful. Dillon Gabriel is firmly entrenched as the starter with Mackenzie Milton now at Florids State. Barring another unfortunate injury to a Knights QB, Gatewood is likely to ride the pine at the Bounce House in 2021.

Former Auburn football CB Kamal Hadden

Kamal Hadden was never fully a Tiger before he ditched his stripes for some Rocky Top Orange this past spring. The Independence Community College transfer participated in spring practices but opted to transfer to Tennessee before ever suiting up in a game.

The Volunteers are deep in the secondary, and Hadden may find that his opportunities are still scarce playing for first-year UT head coach Josh Heupel instead of first-year AU HC Bryan Harsin.

Former Auburn football S Chris Thompson Jr.

Chris Thompson Jr. had his finest showing of his Auburn career in the Citrus Bowl against Northwestern this past January, where he recorded his only two career solo tackles.

The 3-star S has a chance to do damage in the City of Angels with the USC Trojans, but the way The Orange County Register’s Adam Grosbard described the addition has me questioning it:

"…Thompson’s addition allows the Trojans some more depth at the position entering the summer. USC previously added Texas safety transfer Xavion Alford in December. Alford, a four-star recruit out of Shadow Creek High in Pearland, Texas, who also has four years of eligibility remaining, participated in the Trojans’ spring practices."

It sounds like Thompson was added as jnsurance moreso than what he can do as a starter in the Trojans secondary.