After transferring to Auburn from LSU last offseason, many didn’t predict Xavier Atkins to have a breakout season for the Tigers. By the end of the season, many thought that he would enter the transfer portal after an All-SEC performance.
But with Alex Golesh keeping D.J. Durkin as defensive coordinator, the Tigers were able to keep Atkins on the Plains, and with him, Durkin’s defense could be one of the best in the nation yet again.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg is looking forward to seeing what the Houston native can do in his junior season, ranking him as one of the top playmakers other than quarterbacks to watch out for during the 2026 season.
Xavier Atkins returns after a breakout 2025 season
“Auburn endured a tough 2025 season that led to a coaching change, but Atkins had a breakthrough performance after transferring in from LSU, and will remain on the Plains as the Alex Golesh era begins,” Rittenberg writes. “He's a bit undersized at linebacker or edge but showed an explosiveness to reach the backfield and pressure quarterbacks. Atkins ranked third among linebackers in both sacks and tackles for loss per game (1.42).
“His 17 total TFLs led the SEC and marked the third highest in a season for an Auburn player, and the most by a Tigers inside linebacker. Atkins also led the Tigers in total tackles and topped the team chart in seven of eight SEC games.”
Atkins was everywhere last season. Along with those 17 tackles for a loss, he racked up nine sacks, seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one interception.
He’s already made an impression on his first-year head coach.
"Xavier was obviously an All-American that is still young, that is still trying to figure out who he is and what it is to lead, what that really looks like," Golesh said. "He's a perfect fit for our system. His physicality has really grown."
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