Auburn Tigers news: DBs pursue NFL dream, Power Five transfers offered

In today’s edition of Auburn Tigers news, three defensive backs have accepted Senior Bowl invites and additional transfer portal offers have gone out.

Three Auburn Tigers have decided it’s time to move on from the Plains and pursue their NFL dreams. It was a big deal last year when it was announced that both D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett would be returning for another year with Auburn football, so it’s no surprise they will be accepting their Senior Bowl invites this year ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Also choosing to forego another season in orange and blue is veteran cornerback and fan favorite Jaylin Simpson. The talented safety will participate in the Senior Bowl in Mobile this February, indicating that he will declare for the NFL Draft.

Best of luck to all three guys as they try to make it to the next level, but they will be missed on the Plains.

Auburn Tigers extend additional transfer portal offers

It’s portal season, and the Auburn football coaching staff recently sent out a slew of offers to Power Five transfers from around the country. The focus of the portal search seems to be linemen and wide receivers, though players in several other positions have been offered as well.

The Tigers offered two former Oregon State players yesterday, cornerback Jermod McCoy and safety Akili Arnold. McCoy was a 3-star WR in the class of 2023, and saw game action in five contests as a true freshman, logging 31 total tackles and 2 interceptions. Arnold played five seasons with Oregon State and put up monster numbers. At the end of 2023, Arnold racked up 62 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and two interceptions.

Former Indiana offensive lineman Matthew Bedford also received an offer. Since he was a freshman, Bedford has started in almost every game he played, and notably blocked for former Auburn running back Shaun Shivers, who transferred to Indiana ahead of the 2022 season.

Next to receive an Auburn offer is former Mississippi State wide receiver Zavion Thomas. In two seasons with the Bulldogs, Thomas recorded 42 receptions—40 of which were caught during the 2023 season—for 507 yards and one touchdown. He was also named the 2022 Freshman All-American punt returner.

Last up is former Florida defensive lineman Chris McClellan, who played in every game for the Gators in his two seasons and racked up 46 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.

Two Auburn Tigers enter the transfer portal

Auburn football lost two more players to the portal over the past few days. Tight end Tyler Fromm, perhaps best known for his catch in the LSU game in 2021, will use his final year of eligibility with another program. Safety Marquise Gilbert, a former JUCO transfer who spent two seasons on the Plains, will also depart.