Analyst’s top three positions of need for Auburn in transfer portal all worrisome

Rivals’ Bryan Matthews believes the top three needs for Auburn football in the transfer portal are the defensive line, the JACK linebacker/EDGE position, and the secondary, in that order; with the latter position needing to potentially replace all five starters from a season ago.

So, in conclusion, essentially the entire defense is a position of need in the transfer portal despite the offense being right behind UMass in total offense in 2023 and just ahead of Southern Miss. That sounds like a problem.

Granted, the running back room is filled to the gills with talent whether or not Jarquez Hunter chooses to return, which is extremely likely, the quarterback room is about to add Walker White, who may be starter-worthy on day one depending on how the spring and fall camp goes, and has one of the most talented incoming receiver groups with 5-star flips Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson, and is in the mix for Alabama’s 2025 5-star Ryan Williams, a possible reclassification candidate as well.

But Ron Roberts’ defense from 2023, outside of the LSU dud on the road and the New Mexico fever nightmare in Week 12, was essential to AU winning six games and almost upsetting Georgia and Alabama. A few critical mistakes here in the fourth quarter against the latter two one-loss teams be damned, that defense did everything it could to keep Auburn competitive.

Now, it’s all but gone, and Matthews clearly doesn’t feel the 11 incoming 2024 defensive recruits can hold down the fort better than the incoming offensive recruits can.

Hugh Freeze has proven even in losing that he can recruit talent to Auburn football

Come hither. The white pill is this way.

Freeze brought on the No. 5 transfer class with the remnants of the Bryan Harsin dumpster fire as the only recent results to show recruits and proceeded to flip blue-chip 2024 recruits from Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M during the season. Regardless of what recruits may see on the field, Freeze is able to sell faith in the future. And it’s flipped some of the highest caliber talent the Plains has ever seen.

It’ll be okay. The work will be done behind the scenes, and Freeze will do his best to at least field a competitive team in 2024 and beyond.