While one ESPN writer might not be impressed with how Auburn finished its first recruiting class under Alex Golesh, the transfer portal is another story.
Golesh and his staff have seen a massive number of departures since coming to the Plains, with both the Tigers’ offense and defense taking hits from key losses. To counter that, the new Auburn head coach has restocked his roster with players he is familiar with – an eye-popping 14 come from USF, his former school – while adding key pieces along the offensive and defensive lines.
The prized signee is quarterback Byrum Brown, who follows Golesh from Tampa after playing for the head coach over the past three seasons. The bona fide starter for 2026, Brown threw for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns to seven interceptions while completing 66.3 percent of his passes last season, helping the Bulls to a 9-3 regular-season record. The Raleigh, N.C., native also rushed for 1,008 yards and 14 touchdowns, showcasing his versatility.
Perfect fit for Auburn and Byrum Brown
For ESPN’s Tom Luginbill, Brown is the best fit that came out of the transfer portal for a program.
“Brown reunites with new Auburn coach Alex Golesh after the duo was among the most prolific quarterback-coach pairings in the Group of 5 over the past two years. Brown knows Golesh's offense, giving the Tigers a critical head start as they install a new system with plenty of unfamiliar faces.”
Luginbill credits Brown for improving his pocket awareness during his three years at USF, while stating he has an SEC-level arm that should help the Tigers put up big numbers in Golesh’s first year on the Plains.
The fit also aligns with Brown’s familiarity with Golesh and his offensive system, so a new quarterback doesn’t have to learn on the fly over the next several months as the Tigers prepare for the 2026 season.