After 2 new transfers, this LB is leaving Auburn football

The Auburn football program added quite a few transfers during the first portal window following the 2022 season. As the new head coach of the program, Hugh Freeze knew that the Tigers had a long way to go, and adding talent would be a big help in their attempts to get there.

Two of the most prominent incoming transfers are linebackers Austin Keys and DeMario Tolan, both of whom previously played for SEC teams. Austin Keys is a junior linebacker who joined the Auburn football team after leaving Ole Miss in his rear view mirror. Keys racked up 51 career tackles in three seasons as a Rebel, in addition to 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

DeMario Tolan became a new kind of Tiger after transferring to the Plains from LSU in early January. As a freshman, he appeared in 10 games for the Bayou Bengals, recording 10 total tackles. The sophomore LB will have three years of eligibility at Auburn.

Both of the SEC transfer linebackers are expected to have a good shot at cracking the starting rotation in orange and blue this fall, which may have led to the decision for another of the Tigers’ linebackers to part ways with the program.

Beginning his career on the Plains in 2019, Kameron Brown did not see much playing time in any season. The younger brother of noted DL Derrick Brown, the LB will enter the transfer portal and play as a graduate transfer at another school.

Brown mentioned former head coach Gus Malzahn by name in his statement, but noted that he was thankful for all of his coaches during his time with Auburn football. He will leave the Plains with an Auburn degree this spring and will always be a member of the Auburn family.