Alex Golesh has brought some receivers to Auburn that he is familiar with.
On Sunday, former USF receivers Kory Pettigrew and Christian Neptune announced that they will follow their former head coach to the Plains and play for the Tigers in 2026.
As a freshman in 2025, Neptune caught 38 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 39 yards on six attempts. The Cantonment, Fla., native also spent time on special teams, returning kicks and punts.
Also a freshman, Pettigrew recorded three receptions for 28 total yards. The Perry, Ga., native was a 3-star signee out of Perry High School.
Neptune and Pettigrew can earn playing time early
The two will likely be counted on in Golesh’s offense after the mass exodus of wide receivers that included Cam Coleman, Eric Singleton Jr., Malcolm Simmons, Perry Thompson and Horatio Fields. They will join Bryce Cain, the only remaining member of the “Freeze Four” on the Plains, along with Sam Turner, who decided to return to Auburn after initially putting his name in the transfer portal, as receivers who could be productive in 2026.
Neptune and Pettigrew aren’t the only former Bulls who have joined Golesh’s roster, with quarterback Locklan Hewlett, tight end Jonathan Echols and running back Nykahi Davenport deciding to transfer to Auburn.
There could be more on the way, as Byrum Brown, who started at quarterback for Golesh at USF, was on a visit to the Plains this past weekend. In 12 games this season, Brown completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns to just seven interceptions, while rushing for 1,008 yards and 14 touchdowns on 175 attempts.
The Tigers have also added long snapper Hudson Powell from Miami (Ohio) since the transfer portal opened on Jan. 2, while losing safety Jay Crawford to Ole Miss and linebacker Caleb Wheatland to Michigan State.