Auburn football is listed among the winners and losers on B/R’s Transfer Portal.

The Transfer Portal has become one of the most critical aspects of college football in recent years. As the rules around player movement have evolved, the portal has provided athletes with unprecedented opportunities to seek new programs, while also giving teams the chance to retool their rosters. For coaches and programs, the portal is a vital tool for rebuilding, strengthening, or addressing areas of weakness on their squads. As a result, the transfer portal season has become a topic of intense scrutiny for fans, analysts, and the media, with Bleacher Report (B/R) frequently providing in-depth evaluations of teams’ successes and failures in this space.

In the context of Auburn Football, the Tigers have been placed among the winners and losers in B/R’s analysis of the Transfer Portal. The Auburn program’s performance in the portal has been one of mixed results, offering a blend of success, hope, and challenges as coach Hugh Freeze looks to reshape the team into a formidable SEC contender. With a rich football tradition and a passionate fan base, Auburn is under pressure to turn its fortunes around, and the portal offers a potential avenue to do just that.

However, with any player movement, there is a degree of uncertainty. While some players may prove to be key contributors and instant game-changers, others may not fit the system or meet expectations. Auburn’s involvement in the Transfer Portal has thus been a key story in the offseason, and B/R’s evaluation provides an opportunity to assess how well the program has navigated these waters.

Auburn’s Winner Status in the Transfer Portal

While some teams struggle in the portal, Auburn Football has managed to find success in several key areas, establishing themselves as one of the winners of the transfer cycle. In particular, the Tigers’ ability to address immediate needs, recruit talent that fits their system, and establish a solid foundation for future seasons has generated positive reviews.

1. Hugh Freeze’s Strategic Approach

One of the biggest factors behind Auburn’s success in the transfer portal has been the leadership of head coach Hugh Freeze. Known for his offensive acumen and ability to rebuild programs quickly, Freeze has taken an aggressive approach to retooling Auburn’s roster through the portal. Freeze’s hiring came at a pivotal moment for Auburn, as the program was coming off a season of underperformance and needed a spark to return to relevance in the competitive SEC.

Freeze’s experience in the portal comes from his tenure at Liberty, where he successfully built competitive teams by targeting key transfers. At Auburn, Freeze has applied this same formula, bringing in players who can immediately contribute and fit into his offensive and defensive schemes. With a clear focus on building depth at crucial positions—especially quarterback, wide receiver, and offensive line—Freeze has made significant moves to improve the team’s overall talent level.

2. Key Transfer Additions to Fill Immediate Gaps

In evaluating Auburn’s transfer portal success, it’s clear that the program has made key acquisitions that should significantly impact the upcoming season. The Tigers have not only targeted players with a high level of skill but also those who can contribute immediately and fill voids on the roster.

• Quarterback: Perhaps the most significant move Auburn made in the portal was the acquisition of Payton Thorne, a Michigan State transfer quarterback. Thorne brings starting experience and a high level of talent to the Tigers’ quarterback room, a position that has been a question mark for Auburn in recent years. With the departure of former starter Robbie Ashford, Auburn needed to bring in a quarterback who could immediately challenge for the starting role. Thorne has the experience and skill set to provide stability and leadership under center, which is crucial for Freeze’s offensive system to succeed.
• Wide Receiver: In Freeze’s high-tempo offense, the ability to stretch the field with dynamic receivers is paramount. Auburn addressed this need by landing Nick Mardner, a wide receiver who played at Hawaii. Mardner is a physical, fast, and explosive playmaker who can create mismatches on the outside. With the loss of some key receiving talent in recent years, Mardner provides an important weapon for Thorne and the Auburn offense. His ability to make big plays could be a game-changer, particularly in the high-powered SEC offenses that dominate the landscape.
• Offensive Line: Building a strong offensive line has always been a priority for Freeze, and he wasted no time in the transfer portal bolstering this critical position. One of Auburn’s most notable additions was Jared Wilson, a UCLA transfer who has experience at multiple spots along the line. Wilson’s versatility and strength in the trenches will provide immediate depth and competition, and his addition helps ensure that Auburn’s offensive line is much more formidable than it was in 2024.

These additions, along with several other key recruits, give Auburn the talent to address immediate needs while building a more balanced and competitive team.

3. Strong Defensive Reinforcements

While Auburn’s offense has been the focus of much of Freeze’s work in the portal, the Tigers have also made solid moves on the defensive side of the ball. Auburn’s defense has always been a hallmark of the program, and Freeze recognized that the team’s defense needed reinforcements to compete with the elite offenses in the SEC.

• Defensive Line: Freeze secured Javon Banks, a transfer from Georgia, to add depth and talent to Auburn’s defensive line. Banks has the size and skill to be a disruptive force at the line of scrimmage and will play a pivotal role in Auburn’s pass rush. He’s expected to make an immediate impact and give the Tigers the kind of defensive presence they need to challenge SEC opponents.
• Linebacker and Secondary: In addition to strengthening the line, Auburn also added depth in the linebacker and secondary positions. Aidan Hutchinson and T.J. Jackson are transfers that will help improve Auburn’s coverage units and run defense. With the growing competition within the SEC, having a strong defense is essential, and Freeze’s efforts in the portal show that he’s not neglecting this critical aspect of the game.

The Loser Status: Missed Opportunities and Remaining Needs

Despite the success that Auburn has experienced in the transfer portal, there are still areas where the Tigers fell short. While they have added talented players in key positions, the process of completely rebuilding the program is still ongoing. Auburn’s involvement in the transfer portal, while largely positive, still faces challenges that reflect broader issues within the program.

1. Inconsistency in Addressing Depth at Certain Positions

One area where Auburn struggled in the transfer portal was in securing depth at several positions that remain critical to their success. While they addressed key needs on offense and defense, there are still concerns about the overall depth of the team, particularly along the defensive line and in the secondary. Despite solid additions in the portal, Auburn still faces a challenge in creating a complete and well-rounded roster capable of competing at the highest level.

• Defensive Line Depth: Auburn has added some key players to the defensive line, but they have not been able to fully fill the gaps left by departures. The defensive line has been a point of vulnerability for the Tigers in recent years, and while Freeze has made strides, the team still lacks the kind of depth and dominance seen in the SEC’s top defenses. With powerhouse programs like Georgia and Alabama continuing to excel on both sides of the line of scrimmage, Auburn must continue to build up its defensive front to remain competitive.
• Linebacker Position: While the linebacking corps has been somewhat bolstered through the portal, Auburn still needs to find a true leader at the position. They’ve added some solid contributors, but they lack the standout playmaker who can take over games. This position is critical, especially when the defense faces high-caliber offenses in the SEC. Until Auburn is able to bring in that difference-maker, the Tigers’ defense could remain an area of concern.

2. Overreliance on Transfers

Auburn’s reliance on transfers is another potential issue. While the transfer portal is a powerful tool, building a program through a steady pipeline of recruits is essential for sustained success. If Auburn continues to lean too heavily on transfers, it risks creating a roster that lacks long-term cohesion and continuity. Transfer players may be capable of making an immediate impact, but they do not always have the same long-term commitment to the program as homegrown talent.

Freeze has done a commendable job addressing immediate needs, but a balance must be struck between recruiting high school talent and adding transfers. Building a roster with a blend of both will ensure that Auburn remains competitive in the long run.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Auburn Football

As Auburn continues its evolution under Hugh Freeze, the transfer portal will remain an essential component of the team-building process. While the program has certainly made significant strides in the portal—addressing key needs and adding talented players—it still faces challenges in terms of roster depth and long-term success. The future of Auburn football depends not only on continued success in the portal but also on Freeze’s ability to recruit high school talent and develop a sustainable, winning program.

In conclusion, Auburn Football’s performance in the Transfer Portal can be seen as a mixed bag of wins and losses. On one hand, the Tigers have addressed immediate needs and added key contributors who should improve the team in 2025. On the other hand, there are still concerns about roster depth and the team’s reliance on transfers to fill significant gaps. As the Tigers move forward, their success in both the transfer portal and traditional recruiting will play a crucial role in determining whether Freeze can lead Auburn back to the top of the SEC. For now, the Tigers remain a team to watch closely in the coming years, as their efforts in the portal could shape the future of Auburn football.