Auburn football: Will OIe Miss steal another Tiger transfer?

After a disappointing National Signing Day that saw only preferred walkons added to Auburn football’s roster, yet another player has elected to enter the transfer portal and leave the Plains.

With three years as an Auburn Tiger under his belt, wide receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson will begin the search for a new school for the 2022 season. Johnson, an in-state recruit from Trussville, was originally a 4-star wide receiver out of high school and signed with Auburn football as part of the class of 2019.

Johnson did not see the field in 2019 due to injury and played only one game during the 2020 season. 2021 was Johnson’s breakout season, and he totaled 19 catches for 274 yards and two touchdowns. He also played a role on special teams, returning five punts for 57 yards.

Johnson’s decision to enter the transfer means that Auburn football has seen 20 players leave the program since the end of Bryan Harsin’s first season, and 11 of the 21 signees from the class of 2019 are now gone. Johnson is the fourth wide receiver to enter the portal following Elijah Canion, Kobe Hudson, and Caylin Newton.

To make matters worse, Kieth Niebuhr of Auburn Undercover reports that Ole Miss is the one to watch for Johnson. Should the WR become a Rebel, he would be the Tigers’ second transfer to join ranks with Lane Kiffin in Oxford after former Auburn tight end/defensive lineman J.J. Pegues.

Auburn football will return receivers Shedrick Jackson, Ze’Vian Capers, J.J. Evans, Malcolm Johnson, and Tar’Varish Dawson and add signees Omari Kelly, Jay Fair, and Camden Brown.