Auburn Tigers defensive lineman Darron Reed recently made an announcement on social media that he would be entering the transfer portal. This decision leaves the Auburn football team short-handed at the defensive line position, which will likely require attention and reinforcement during the offseason, especially for the interior line. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound redshirt freshman had a limited impact during his time with the Tigers, participating in a total of just three games over two seasons. Reed’s first appearance came during Auburn’s defeat to Maryland in the 2023 Music City Bowl, marking his college football debut. Over the course of his two years with the program, Reed appeared in only two games in 2024, but he did not register any statistics in any of his three appearances.
Reed’s recruitment out of high school was highly regarded, as he was a four-star prospect and ranked as the ninth-best defensive lineman in the country by On3. The Columbus, Georgia native had offers from several top-tier programs but ultimately chose to commit to Auburn over schools like LSU, Clemson, and Florida State.
With Reed’s decision to enter the transfer portal, Auburn’s total count of players choosing to leave the program has reached 14, five of whom are on the defensive side of the ball. This exodus is a concern for the Tigers, particularly as they continue to rebuild their roster. In response, Auburn has been active in the transfer portal, adding 10 players, including former LSU linebacker Xavier Atkins, to bolster their squad.
On a more positive note, Auburn has three highly-ranked high school recruits coming in to help strengthen their defense, particularly along the defensive line. These new additions include five-star edge rusher Jared Smith, and two four-star prospects: linebacker Jakaleb Faulk, who is the younger sibling of Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk, and linebacker Bryce Deas. These promising recruits provide optimism for the Tigers as they look to shore up their defense in the coming seasons.
In terms of overall transfer portal rankings, Auburn finds itself in a strong position. According to On3, the Tigers currently have the fourth-highest-rated transfer portal class in the country, trailing only Texas Tech, Ole Miss, and Kansas. This places Auburn in a competitive position as they look to reload and improve for the next season. Notably, Auburn has had more players enter the transfer portal than any other team in the top 10, except for Michigan and Houston, who have had 17 and 14 players, respectively, decide to transfer.
For fans and analysts looking to track the ongoing changes to Auburn’s roster, including players leaving the program or joining from the transfer portal, updates are being posted regularly. With a solid transfer class and promising high school recruits, the Tigers aim to continue building a competitive team in the face of significant roster turnover.
