Auburn football adds third defensive transfer in Eugene Asante

Since the end of the 2021 season, Auburn football’s coaching staff has been making moves in the NCAA transfer portal. After losing 10+ players from the 2021 roster to the portal, the Tigers have added five transfers so far this offseason.

Head coach Bryan Harsin and his staff have pulled in only two offensive transfers so far, both of which are quarterbacks. Former Texas A&M Aggie Zach Calzada and former Oregon Duck Robby Ashford make this spring’s competition for QB1 even more intense with five guys competing for the starting role.

The remaining three transfers will be members of the defense, including a pair of Alabama natives from Oregon. Defensive lineman Jayson Jones spent two seasons with the Ducks, and cornerback DJ James played there for three years.

The latest defensive transfer comes to the Plains from UNC in the form of linebacker Eugene Asante. The former 4-star prospect will bring much-needed reinforcement to Auburn football’s secondary with the losses of Chandler Wooten and Zakoby McClain.

As a true freshman in 2019, Asante played all 13 games for the Tar Heels and totaled 12 tackles. In 2020 he appeared in all 12 games and earned two starts, versus Virginia Tech and Texas A&M, and recorded 27 tackles and one forced fumble. In 2021 he totaled 23 tackles and one pass breakup.

Asante will join an experienced linebackers room that includes Owen Pappoe, Wesley Steiner, and Cam Riley, along with third-year linebackers Desmond Tisdol and Kameron Brown. Junior college LB transfer Joko Willis and early-signee Powell Gordon will also be on the Plains for spring practices.

The former Tar Heel entered the transfer portal at the end of the regular season on December 2, and will join Auburn football as a senior with two remaining years of eligibility. At 6-foot and 220 pounds, Eugene Asante will be a welcome addition to the Tigers’ defense.