Auburn football earns first transfer commitment from spring window

The Auburn football coaching staff expected to be pretty active during the spring transfer portal window, which was open from April 15-30, but players were slow to enter the portal due to early dates. Although players don’t have to be committed in those 15 days, they do have to enter the portal by the deadline on the 30th.

The Tigers are on the hunt for depth at several positions, including wide receiver, linebacker, and, of course, quarterback, but as Hugh Freeze said last month, the portal has been slower than anticipated.

Today, the Auburn football program earned its first transfer commitment from the spring window in former Appalachian State linebacker Jalen McLeod.

McLeod visited the Plains over the weekend and committed to the Tigers shortly after, citing the family atmosphere as a big contributor to his decision. According to Auburn Rivals, the staff were heavily involved with McLeod during his visit and were also a key factor in his decision to commit to the Tigers. He spoke to head coach Hugh Freeze, and was especially impressed with defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett:

"“He’s got a lot of energy,” McLeod said. “He’s the one who made it feel like home. He talked to me, we watched film, all that stuff and it made me feel like home.”"

In 2022, McLeod was named All-Sun Belt third team and racked up 41 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery, and he was a key player in App State’s win over Texas A&M in College Station.

McLeod brings key depth and talent to the Auburn football team at a major position of need and will join a linebacker room consisting of Elijah McAlister, Keldric Faulk, Hayden Brice, and Brenton Williams.