Auburn loses high-potential ‘depth player’ with SEC experience

Former LSU linebacker DeMario Tolan, who was supposed to serve as a high-potential depth piece with SEC experience during the 2023 season according to AL.com’s Matt Cohen, is no longer on the official Auburn football roster and has departed the program.

“DeMario Tolan — who transferred to Auburn from LSU in January — is no longer with the program, a source with direct knowledge confirmed to AL.com,” Cohen wrote. “Tolan is no longer listed on Auburn’s roster listed on the team’s website. Clicking links to his previous roster page now result in a ‘404 error’ message. (Tolan) was regarded a depth player who already had SEC experience as well as bringing both youth and high potential to a new-look Auburn defense.”

With Tolan’s departure, AU’s total number of transfer linebackers is now down to five — while the number of transfers overall on the defensive front is down to nine.

Auburn football LB coach projected DeMario Tolan to struggle to adjust to defense

Auburn football linebackers coach Josh Aldridge figured that Tolan would have a tough time adjusting to the new defensive schemes cooked up by first-year defensive coordinator Ron Roberts; saying as much to reporters back in April before the 2023 A-Day spring game.

“It’s just going to take some time, learning what to do, just being new,” Aldridge said (h/t Al.com). “You know what I mean? I think a lot of people forget — sometimes you take a transfer, and you think you’re getting this seasoned veteran or whatever. But you forget that the kid was only in one semester of college. Just because he played every game as a true freshman at LSU, he’s still a young guy.”

Either Tolan never did get up to speed or there is something more to this story that will come out eventually.

UPDATE: A personal matter has been cited for why Tolan is no longer with the team, per an Auburn University employee.