For better or worse, the spring transfer portal window exists as crucial leverage for college football players in NIL renegotiations, and this spring, a few of those deals went belly up. The most notable case was with Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who departed for UCLA after leading the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff last season.
It’s not often that a former five-star quarterback is on the market with multiple seasons of eligibility remaining -- though Auburn added its own this offseason -- and a move of that magnitude sends off shrapnel in every direction. Yet, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze was able to sidestep the wreckage.
Auburn sees six spring transfer portal departures, but keeps depth chart intact
Since the portal re-opened in early April and closed on Friday, Freeze has seen seven now-former Tigers head out the door in search of greener pastures:
- Terrance Love, S
- CJ Johnson, S
- JC Hart, CB
- Bradyn Joiner, OL
- Tyler Scott, CB
- Rico Walker, TE
- Jaden Muskrat, OL
The most significant contributor of that group by far is Bradyn Joiner. Last season, the redshirt freshman played 486 offensive snaps across 10 games and started the final five games of the season at left guard. Across that stretch, Joiner allowed eight quarterback pressures and two sacks.
However, Freeze made the offensive line a major offseason priority, and the additions of Mason Murphy, a USC transfer, and Xavier Chaplin from Virginia Tech pushed Joiner down the depth chart. Joiner was not in line to start, which softens the blow of Joiner’s departure.
The transfer portal is a double-edged sword. While big-time additions like Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. and quarterback Jackson Arnold make a significant splash, retention is just as important. Freeze has a considerable amount of pressure heading into Year 3, and if the off-field results don’t begin to translate into wins, his tenure could come to an abrupt end. Still, for now, Freeze escaped the spring portal unscathed, and his roster looks largely settled heading into a crucial summer.