The Auburn football team just finished up their first spring training under the new coaching staff led by head coach Hugh Freeze. Though the terrible weather made it hard to truly get a feel for the team, it is clear that the Tigers will be looking to the transfer portal to add talent and depth to the roster.
While the Tigers will be bringing in new players, they are also expected to lose players during this portal window, and several have already announced transfer intentions. Linebackers Desmond Tisdol and Kameron Brown were early entrees and were primarily depth pieces, so their leaving does not hugely affect the roster. While Tisdol is still looking for his new home, Brown announced his transfer destination several days ago.
Jeffrey M’ba’s decision to enter the transfer portal came as somewhat of a surprise due to the expectation that he would contribute on the defensive line this fall. Defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett moved M’ba to defensive end and allowed him to focus on that one position, and M’ba was reportedly excited to “destroy people” this fall.
The most recent player to enter the portal is sophomore wide receiver Tar’Varish Dawson. He caught a great pass during the A-Day game and has shown potential during his time with Auburn football, but was never able to stand out as a go-to receiver. He’ll be looking to take his talents elsewhere this fall. It’s likely that more players will enter the transfer portal during the spring window, which will last from April 15-30.
The Tigers have also made their first offer to a player from the portal, recruiting a former player of offensive coordinator Phillip Montgomery. Offensive lineman Jaden Muskrat declared his intentions to leave Tulsa and has received an official offer from Auburn football.
During the 2022 season, Muskrat played left tackle, complimenting Dillon Wade—who transferred to Auburn from Tulsa prior to spring—at right tackle. The coaching staff has made it clear that they’re still looking for depth pieces on the offensive line, and bringing in a player who is already familiar with Montgomery’s style and will have chemistry with another lineman right away would be a great scenario.