Ranking Auburn football’s best winter and spring transfer additions to date
AUBURN — Auburn football isn’t finished with the spring transfer portal quite yet, but they’re close. While the spring portal window has closed for entires into the portal, there are still nearly 1,000 (according to some reports) players in the portal looking for a new home.
And Hugh Freeze and Co. are still looking at their options.
Recapping the departed: 21 players have transferred from Auburn since Freeze’s arrival. The entire list of transfers out and in can be found here, just toggle “out” and “in” on the right side to see the list.
Tar’Varish Dawson, Jeffrey M’Ba and Keiondre Jones are the three most impactful departures. Dawson committed to Cincinnati before switching his commitment to Colorado. M’Ba committed to Purdue, and Jones committed to Florida State back in the winter portal period. All three could have add value this fall, if they had stayed.
Quickly rebuilding: Freeze and his staff have added 16 transfers since arriving, with 12 coming during the winter period and four of coming during this spring period, so far.
Nine transfers are on the offensive side, while seven are on the defensive side of the football.
Kentucky defensive tackle Justin Rogers is the highest-rated transfer in, followed by Ohio State receiver Caleb Burton, LSU linebacker DeMario Tolan and East Carolina center Avery Jones.
Among the 16 incoming transfers, here’s a quick ranking based on talent and need, among other things.
Payton Thorne: This is an easy one. Thorne might not be the highest-rated transfer into the program, but he’s without a doubt the most important because quarterback is the most important position. Thorne brings two years of starting experience from Michigan State and decent athletic ability with him to Auburn. He’s easily the odds-on-favorite to start at quarterback this fall.
Justin Rogers: The former top-100 prospect out of high school in Michigan, Rogers fills a massive need at defensive tackle. Paired with returner Marcus Harris, Auburn should be fairly strong at the point of attack this fall. Rogers is coming off his most productive college season with 35 tackles in 2022.
Jalen McLeod: The Appalachian State star recently committed to the Tigers after a campus visit. McLeod ranks as the sixth-best returning edge rusher in college football according to Pro Football Focus, coming off a season with 7.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. That’s a massive addition in talent alone. Factor in Auburn’s complete lack of elite pass rushers and desire to create negative plays on defense under defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, and McLeod’s addition can’t be overstated.
Gunner Britton, Dillon Wade and Avery Jones: It seems only fair to combine Auburn’s three main offensive line transfer additions during the winter portal period, as all three are expected to start in the fall and appear to be equally important. Britton and Wade book-ending things at tackle, with Jones manning the center position. Auburn’s situation along the offensive line was remarkably bad exiting last season thanks to a complete lack of offensive line signees during the last three years. There was a desperate need for not just depth, but starters.
Jaden Muskrat: The veteran offensive lineman from Tulsa, Muskrat played in all 12 games for Tulsa last year and started the last nine at right tackle. He played in four games in 2021 and four games while redshirting in 2020. He will have two years of eligibility remaining at Auburn. Muskrat joins former teammate Wade from Tulsa, and reunites with former offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery. Muskrat will compete with Kam Stutts, Jeremiah Wright, Tate Johnson and others at the guard position. If Muskrat earns a starting role, it would mean Auburn likely starts four transfers along the offensive line.
Nick Mardner: The Hawaii/Cincinnati transfer has the best resume of all Auburn’s receivers. Included in that is a 900-plus-yard season at Hawaii in 2021 with five touchdowns. Auburn desperately needs playmakers at wideout, Mardner’s 6-foot-6 frame is unique, and his relationship with receivers coach Marcus Davis is valuable. Mardner is expected to start on the outside in the Tigers’ new offense. Mardner recently spoke with Auburn Live about his goals this summer and fall, recapping spring ball and more.
Caleb Burton: While Burton lacks experience after redshirting at Ohio State last season, the potential is real. If Ohio State is signing a high school receiver from Texas, with the Buckeyes’ recent track record, it’s safe to assume Burton possesses elite talent. Burton’s addition also fills a need for receivers who can create separation and space within Auburn’s RPO offense. Combine all that with an Auburn receiving corps that hasn’t seen anyone really separate themselves, plus the fact that Burton has four years of eligibility remaining, and Burton’s addition is even more valuable.
Austin Keys: Following three seasons at Ole Miss and two years remaining, Keys brings limited experience to Auburn, although he played in 13 games last season tallying 39 tackles. Keys’ value is in his 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame, and overall physicality and knowledge of what it’s like to play in the SEC. Auburn’s searching for an alpha at the linebacker position after the departure of Owen Pappoe, and Keys could be that guy.
Elijah McAlister: The former two-time captain at Vanderbilt, McAlister played in 36 games during his time there before transferring to Auburn as a graduate transfer. McAlister brings 65 career tackles, but more importantly, brings his 6-foot-5, 270-pound frame to the edge position where Auburn sorely lacked depth after the departures of Derick Hall and Eku Leota to the NFL. To add to the depth issues and making McAlister’s addition more important, Dylan Brooks entered the portal after spring camp. McAlister might not be the most talented transfer addition, but arriving at a position of need makes his addition very valuable.
Rivaldo Fairweather: The 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end arrives at Auburn with nearly 900 career receiving yards and five touchdowns. He’s Auburn’s most athletically gifted tight end in years and could be a tremendous asset, specifically in the redzone. Much will depend on how Auburn’s offense develops under the likely leadership of Thorne, but Fairweather is a legitimate NFL talent.
Brian Battie: Adding a 1,800-yard-plus career rusher with 10 touchdowns is never a bad thing, especially when Battie seems to be finding his groove after a nearly 1,200-yard, eight touchdown junior campaign. Battie’s real value might be found in how different he is versus Jarquez Hunter and Damari Alston. Standing maybe 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds at the most, Battie brings open-field elusiveness to an offense that can use all the playmaking ability it can get.
DeMario Tolan: Tolan, like Burton, is a highly-ranked recruit out of high school and remained a highly-ranked player in the transfer portal ranks. He’s also got four years of eligibility after just one season at LSU. Tolan is still finding his way in Roberts’ defense, but his potential is as high as anyone Auburn’s landed in the transfer portal. The impact Tolan might make this fall is uncertain right now, but his potential and abilities make him an extremely valuable addition.
Mosiah Nasili-Kite: The Maryland defensive tackle transfer earned the praise of Freeze towards the end of spring, with Freeze saying Nasili-Kite improved as much as anyone on the team during camp. Nasili-Kite isn’t expected to start, but is poised to add quality depth in the trenches, which is an absolute must in the SEC.
Lawrence Johnson: Johnson, a Purdue defensive tackle transfer, wasn’t talked about much during spring camp, but that doesn’t mean all that much. Johnson was brought in to compete and provide depth at defensive tackle. Following four seasons at Purdue, racking up 88 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss, Johnson brings legitimate experience and production to Auburn’s roster.
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