Auburn fans will need a roster for the first few games of the 2026 football season, as massive turnover has come with a brand-new coaching staff on the Plains.
Alex Golesh has brought in a new crop of players who are looking to restore pride to the Auburn football program after a disappointing five losing seasons under Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze. While the Tigers have lost some major talent, Golesh and his staff have helped restock that with some critical signees, including many from his former team, USF.
With Auburn likely done in the transfer portal, here’s a quick look at how both sides of the ball stand with a depth chart for each position. Today, we look at Auburn’s quarterbacks.
Byrum Brown brings experience to Auburn's quarterback position
Quarterback
Starter: Byrum Brown (Sr.)
Backups: Tristan Ti’a (Redshirt Fr.), Locklan Hewlett (Redshirt Fr.), Rhys Brush (Fr.)
With all three of the Tigers’ quarterbacks leaving, Golesh made certain that Brown, his quarterback at USF, followed him to Auburn. It was critical, and one of the top signings out of the portal, as he threw for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns while rushing for 1,008 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Bulls last season. After several seasons of mediocre quarterback play, it’s possible that Brown is a massive upgrade at the position.
It helps that Brown, Golesh and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon have a history together, making it not a transition for any of the three. There is familiarity there, and after the endless rotation of offensive coordinator/quarterback duos on the Plains, it is a great sight to see.
Ti’a, a transfer from Oregon State, will battle for the backup job alongside Hewlett. In three games for the Beavers last season, Ti’a threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns with two picks. Hewlett appeared in just two games for the Bulls in 2025, completing 7 of 12 passes for 90 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.