Auburn Tigers quarterback Byrum Brown's presence should immediately give the Plains a fighting chance in nearly every game this season. It goes without saying that five wins is the baseline floor for this squad, even with an expanded nine-game SEC schedule. Alex Golesh may have too much pride to let the program take a step back amid the worst stretch the Tigers have had since 1950.
What's around Brown, though, that will empower Auburn to win even more football games than that during the 2026 season? We know the defense is bringing back key pieces from last year, complete with defensive coordinator DJ Durkin's return to run the show.
On both sides of the ball, though, these transfers should be trusted to keep the team's floor high this fall:
RB Bryson Washington
We know Jeremiah Cobb will have a big role in the RB room, but it's possible he finds himself playing second fiddle to Baylor Bears transfer Bryson Washington. The Dallas native tore it up deep in the Heart of Texas over the last three years in Waco, amassing 1,861 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Now, Washington will be a major yards-after-contact force against SEC competition, which will test Golesh and OL coach Tyler Hudanick's group. On days opposing defenses are plugging gaps, Washington will be pivotal in moving the chains and disrupting opponents' defensive momentum.
WR Keshaun Singleton
The USF Bulls' leading receiver a season ago, Keshaun Singleton, was Brown's go-to option in the passing game, with 50 receptions for 877 yards and eight touchdowns during the program's nine-win campaign. Singleton will likely need to be that again in East Central Alabama.
While fellow ex-Bull Chas Nimrod may have more explosive moments throughout the year with his game-breaking speed and athleticism, Singleton could be a more consistent rock on the outside every game.
LT Stanton Ramil
Golesh seems very intentional about stepping up where his predecessors let down, and it's been since the pre-COVID-19 era that the Tigers have had a strong presence at the tackle positions. Stanton Ramil is Golesh's one-year fix to bridge the gap to 4-star Layton von Brandt in 2027.
Ramil could be more than a stopgap, though. The Michigan State Spartans transfer gave up three sacks over 344 pass-blocking snaps in East Lansing. That's impressive against the speed of Big Ten edge-rushers. We'll see if that holds against the murderer's row of EDGE talent that Auburn's SEC schedule presents.
RT Jo Simmons
Almost equally important to the former Thompson Warriors star Ramil is James Madison Dukes transfer Jo Simmons. Initially ticketed for the blindside, Simmons will shift over to the right side for the Tigers.
Simmons is versatile enough to move inside or to the blindside if injuries strike. He was durable in Harrisonburg and could be a major utility piece during his final collegiate go-around. Simmons gave up three sacks against Sun Belt competition last year, and if he could hold up against better competition, it'd be a boon for the offense.
LB Da'Shawn Womack
The No. 3 EDGE in the 2023 recruiting class, Da'Shawn Womack is coming off a 2025 season with the Ole Miss Rebels in which he had 27 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble en route to a CFP semifinal berth.
Womack will be opposite rising sophomore Jared Smith along the edge, and while most eyes will be on the Thompson product, Womack could find that the third time is the charm in his third SEC home in four years under Durkin.
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