Amid all the key departures from Auburn via the transfer portal, Alex Golesh and his staff received some good news on Sunday as wide receiver Sam Turner and offensive lineman Kail Ellis announced they will return to play for the Tigers in 2026.
Turner, a freshman wide receiver from Decatur, Ga., originally announced last week his intent to enter the transfer portal after one season on the Plains, but has decided to return for another year. The 6-foot-1, 207-pound receiver didn’t catch a pass as a freshman in 2025, but coaches were high on him following spring practice.
“What a great job by Marcus flipping him because he’s going to be dynamic,” then-head coach Hugh Freeze said. “He’s added great depth to us on the outside ... For a freshman, he’s sharp.”
With Cam Coleman, Eric Singleton Jr., Malcolm Simmons and Perry Thompson all departing, Turner will have a great opportunity to become a productive player for Golesh’s offense in 2026.
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Ellis, a freshman from Canton, Ga., saw action in eight games, starting at center in two after Connor Lew went down with a season-ending injury. And, with Lew entering the NFL draft, he will likely be the bona fide favorite to be the starter at center for the Tigers in 2026 after earning Freshman All-SEC Team honors this past season.
With the portal officially opening this past Friday, only one player who left Auburn, Jay Crawford, has signed with a new team: the cornerback has joined SEC rival Ole Miss. Meanwhile, the Tigers have added quarterback Locklan Hewlett from USF, Golesh’s last team, from the portal, while Golesh and his staff are looking to lock down Byrum Brown, their starting quarterback with the Bulls the past three seasons. Brown was in Auburn this weekend for a visit.