Change could be a good thing. After three seasons of never getting out of neutral and even backsliding down the hill under Hugh Freeze, change is the best thing for the Auburn Tigers. Change is hard, though.
Alex Golesh has to answer to a massive fanbase while putting out fires from the USF Bulls' fanbase over how things went down last November amid his departure. While he's embracing the program's history, he knows he has to work even harder because of the historic brand he's representing and the horrendous job both of his predecessors did in the seat. He doesn't have it toughest, though. That'd be the players he didn't recruit who stayed and now have to take a back seat.
Many of the players Golesh is inheriting need to adjust to a new reality where transfers could take their snaps. While guys like Jared Smith, Kaleb Harris, Eric Winters, and AnQuon Fegans will run it back on defense in the same role, the same can't be said for everyone. On both sides of the ball.
These three Auburn players could have their roles supplanted by some of the players who made their way to the Plains back during the January portal window.
RB Jeremiah Cobb
Jeremiah Cobb emerged as the workhorse back in 2025 after Jarquez Hunter moved on to the NFL. He could find himself as the 1A, or even RB2, with explosive Baylor Bears transfer Bryson Washington now in the Loveliest Village, though. In theory, it could get even worse than that in a new offense he wasn't personally chosen by the coach for.
Besides Washington, Nykahi Davenport is coming from USF, carrying a built-in rapport with quarterback Byrum Brown and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon. We know what Cobb could do, but there's probably not 175 carries in his future like there was last year.
CB Champ Anthony
Champ Anthony had a notoriously nasty left leg injury during a 24-14 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks in September 2024, and he re-injured the leg during Freeze's last game with the program, a 10-3 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats last November.
Anthony didn't partake in spring practice, but he was a vocal leader. While there are still big plans for him in DJ Durkin's defense, there are legitimate questions on if his lower extremities will hold up throughout the entire campaign. Anthony may have to accept ceding some snaps, if not many, to Bulls transfer Fred Gaskin III. Gavin Jenkins could also emerge in the room.
EDGE Chris Murray
While former San Houston State Bearkats EDGE Chris Murray received an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA on a waiver for the 2026 season, he may find that there isn't the same window of opportunity there was last fall in his first year suiting up for the orange and blue. Murray was noticeably not the same difference-maker in the SEC as he was in Conference USA. Now, he is competing with actual SEC transfers in his final collegiate go-round.
Ole Miss Rebels transfer Da'Shawn Womack and Missouri Tigers transfer Nate Johnson could push Murray to the pine more. Increased depth on the edge is always a good thing for a program and its fans, given how physical the position is. Not so much for Murray in this scenario.
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