Football News: 12-17-2025
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Dudley Dent
Dec 17, 2025, 8:07:30 AM (9 days ago) Dec 17
to Tiger Tracks
Auburn Football News: 12-17-2025
Golesh Hires Larry Scott as Tight Ends Coach:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2025/12/16/golesh-hires-larry-scott-as-tight-ends-coach
Grading Alex Golesh’s assistant coach hires at Auburn:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2025/12/grading-alex-goleshs-assistant-coach-hires-at-auburn.html
Xavier Atkins Rewarded with FWAA All-America Honors:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2025/12/16/xavier-atkins-rewarded-with-fwaa-all-america-honors
Auburn starting cornerback plans to enter the transfer portal:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2025/12/auburn-starting-cornerback-plans-to-enter-the-transfer-portal.html
Alabama set to hire former Auburn offensive coordinator to coach WRs:
https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2025/12/alabama-set-to-hire-former-auburn-offensive-coordinator-to-coach-wrs.html
Former Auburn quarterback to enter transfer portal for 2nd straight year:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2025/12/former-auburn-quarterback-to-enter-transfer-portal-for-2nd-straight-year.html
Auburn Made: Week 15 NFL Rundown:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2025/12/16/auburn-made-week-15-nfl-rundown-2025
Golesh Hires Larry Scott as Tight Ends Coach
By Taylor Bryan
Auburn head coach Alex Golesh has hired 25-year coaching veteran Larry Scott as the program’s tight ends coach, as announced on Tuesday.
“Larry’s the kind of coach you want in your building,” Golesh said. “He knows the position, he knows how to develop young men, and he’s done it at a high level for a long time. Our tight ends are going to benefit immediately from his experience and his approach. Adding an elite coach like Larry with his experience in the SEC and as a head coach and coordinator is huge for the program.”
Scott brings more than two decades of coaching experience to The Plains. Most recently, he served as head coach at Howard University for six seasons from 2020-25. Scott led the Bison to a share of the 2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Regular Season Title, the program's first championship since 1993, followed by back-to-back MEAC titles in 2023 and the program's first-ever appearance in the Cricket Celebration Bowl.
In December 2021, Scott signed the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history. In 2023, 42 student-athletes earned spots on the MEAC Football All-Academic Team. Scott was named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award and selected to coach at the AllState HBCU Legacy Bowl.
Before Howard, Scott spent most of his coaching career in Florida, building his reputation as a skilled developer of talent and recruiter. At the Florida (2018-2020), he coached Kyle Pitts, who became the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history when the Atlanta Falcons selected him fourth overall in 2021. During two seasons at Tennessee (2016-2017), he developed Ethan Wolf into one of the program's top tight ends and also served as the program’s offensive coordinator in 2017.
At Miami (2013-2015), he served as interim head coach, leading the Hurricanes to a 4-2 record and Sun Bowl appearance. He served the two previous seasons as tight ends coach including guiding tight end Clive Walford to an All-America season in 2014.
A 2000 graduate of the University of South Florida, Scott was a three-year letterman as an offensive tackle and member of the Bulls' inaugural recruiting class. During his eight years coaching at USF (2005-2012), he helped secure some of the program's best recruiting classes in history.
A Sebring, Florida native, Scott spent four years coaching in the Florida high school ranks before moving to the collegiate level.
Scott and his wife, Shakiera, have three children: Larry III, an Auburn staff member, Jalen, and Jurnee.
COACHING HISTORY
2006: USF, graduate assistant
2007-08: USF, tight ends
2009: USF, offensive line
2010-11: USF, tight ends
2012: USF, running backs
2013-15: Miami (Fla.), tight ends
2016: Tennessee, tight ends/special teams coordinator
2017: Tennessee, offensive coordinator/tight ends
2018-19: Florida, tight ends
2020-25: Howard, head coach
2026-: Auburn, tight ends
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Grading Alex Golesh’s assistant coach hires at Auburn
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
Alex Golesh’s on-field coaching staff is complete, as Auburn’s new head coach assembled his staff in exactly 17 days.
It’s a mixture of youth and experience, while combining SEC veterans with coaches Golesh worked with at USF. It’s not uncommon for coaches to bring assistants with them from their previous school, and Golesh brought four on-field assistants with him from Tampa.
Golesh finished assembling the staff quicker than Hugh Freeze did when he was hired in 2022. Part of the emphasis on getting it together quickly was to prepare for transfer portal recruiting, with the portal opening on Jan. 2.
With that said, here are our grades for each of Golesh’s assistant coach hires.
Joel Gordon: Offensive coordinator/QBs coach
Grade: A
Analysis: Hiring Gordon was a no-brainer for Golesh, as he was the architect of USF’s strong offenses during Golesh’s tenure in Tampa. It was capped off by the 2025 season, when USF finished the regular season second nationally in total yards per game.
The best way to keep that success going is to bring your offensive coordinator with you, which is exactly what Golesh did. On top of that, Gordon’s record with quarterbacks is impressive.
Prior to being the offensive coordinator at USF, he was the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Iowa State. There, he developed Brock Purdy, who broke almost every Iowa State passing record and became a solid NFL quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers.
Auburn’s offense needs a leader with recent success after the failures of the past three years. Gordon seems like a good choice to fix those problems.
DJ Durkin: Defensive coordinator/LBs coach
Grade: A
Analysis: Whether or not Durkin would be retained was the first question on the minds of many Auburn fans when Golesh was hired. He was the Tigers’ interim head coach after Freeze was fired and was a serious candidate for the full-time job.
Despite not becoming the head coach, he agreed to stay with the program as defensive coordinator and Golesh wanted to retain him. Given his success at defensive coordinator the past two seasons, keeping him around seems like a good move for Auburn’s defense.
The Tigers ranked in the top 35 nationally in fewest yards allowed per game in each of the last two years. Durkin was also popular within the locker room, meaning his retainment could help with Auburn’s roster retention efforts.
Kodi Burns: Co-offensive coordinator/WRs coach/Associate head coach
Grade: A-
Analysis: Burns was one of the first calls Golesh made when he accepted the Auburn job, and was another easy hire to make for the new head coach. A national champion as an Auburn player, Burns has spent time on the Plains as a player and a coach, putting him in a great position to help Golesh with the transition.
On top of that, he has experience coaching wide receivers at the college and NFL level, spending three seasons as the New Orleans Saints’ wide receivers coach before joining Golesh at USF.
Former receivers coach Marcus Davis was respected for his recruiting ability and ties to Auburn, but Burns brings those same ties, along with experience working with Golesh.
All those factors made him an easy choice for Golesh, and one that’s hard to argue with.
Larry Porter: Running backs coach
Grade: A-
Analysis: Porter was one of the most experienced assistants that Golesh hired, coming to Auburn with over 25 years of FBS coaching experience. He also has experience at Auburn, coaching tight ends, halfbacks and serving as recruiting coordinator from 2017-2020.
Porter brings plenty of experience coaching running backs and as a high-level recruiter, which is important at Auburn. He hasn’t coached in the SEC since leaving Auburn in 2020, but spent time at West Virginia and North Carolina, where he worked with Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton.
Given his experience and track record as a recruiter and developer, it’s hard to find anything negative to say about Golesh hiring Porter.
Tyler Hudanick: Offensive line coach/Run game coordinator
Grade: B
Analysis: Hudanick wasn’t a splash hire the way some of Golesh’s other choices were, but it’s never a bad idea to try and keep a successful offensive staff together. That’s exactly what Hudanick was a part of at USF.
Still early in his coaching career, Hudanick’s first opportunity as an on-field assistant coach came with Golesh at USF. Before then, he held offensive line graduate assistant roles at Tennessee and UCF.
Given his lack of experience, Hudanick’s hire doesn’t grade as high as some of the other coaches on this list, but that doesn’t make him a bad choice.
Larry Scott: Tight ends coach
Grade: B+
Analysis: Hiring away a sitting head coach is always a big deal, even if he’s coming from the FCS level. That happened when Golesh hired Scott, as he had been Howard’s head coach since 2020.
Prior to that, he spent two seasons as Florida’s tight ends coach, where he helped develop Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, who became an All-American and winner of the Mackey Award at Florida. Scott also had stints as a tight ends coach at Tennessee, Miami and USF earlier in his career.
Scott’s credentials as a tight ends coach are hard to argue with, making him an impressive hire for a position group that has struggled in recent years at Auburn.
Vontrell King-Williams: Defensive line coach
Grade: A-
Analysis: Viewed as one of the best assistant coaches at Auburn under Freeze, retaining King-Williams felt like a win for Golesh. He’d been at Auburn for the past three seasons, spending the last two as defensive line coach.
In that role, Auburn’s defensive line became arguably the strongest position group on the team. In 2025, it helped the defense rank 12 nationally in fewest rushing yards allowed per game. King-Williams also helped develop Keldric Faulk, who’s a projected first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
King-Williams is starting to emerge as one of the most promising defensive line coaches in the country. Keeping him on staff seems like a major win for Golesh and Auburn.
Coleman Hutzler: Edge rushers coach
Grade: B
Analysis: Hutzler is another coach who brings plenty of experience to Auburn, coming to the Plains after spending two seasons as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator. Prior to that, he coached outside linebackers and special teams under Nick Saban at Alabama.
With over 10 years of experience coaching in the SEC, there won’t be much of a learning curve for Hutzler. He’s also familiar with Durkin, working with him at Florida in 2010, 2011 and 2014.
Hutzler’s defense at Mississippi State did not perform well, but he won’t be in charge of calling the defense at Auburn. Overall, it’s a solid hire for Golesh, who brings in a solid recruiter and proven SEC coach to coach edge rushers.
DeMarcus Van Dyke: Cornerbacks coach
Grade: B
Analysis: Van Dyke was one of the four assistant coaches Golesh brought with him from USF, but the only defensive assistant. He was the Bulls’ cornerbacks coach for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Prior to that, Van Dyke had stints coaching corners at Florida International and Miami, where he spent his college career as a player. He doesn’t have much experience as some of Auburn’s other coaches, but got a vote of confidence from departing cornerbacks coach Wesley McGriff, who coached him at Miami.
https://twitter.com/coachcrimedawg/status/1998843882755498164?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1998843882755498164%7Ctwgr%5E2b8a1e1c4d3849dedc7fd0ddad5bc20aa8fb6bb4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.al.com%2Fauburnfootball%2F2025%2F12%2Fgrading-alex-goleshs-assistant-coach-hires-at-auburn.html
Similar to Hudanick, Van Dyke isn’t a splash hire like some of the others on the staff, but he’s viewed as a promising young coach.
Tim Banks: Co-defensive coordinator/Safeties coach
Grade: A-
Analysis: Banks joined Hutzler as one of two SEC defensive coordinator to join Golesh’s staff. He led Tennessee’s defense for the past five seasons, but was recently fired after the unit regressed in 2025.
Just one year prior, though, Banks was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which is given to the nation’s top assistant coach. Tennessee’s defense finished the 2024 season sixth nationally in fewest yards allowed per game and seventh in fewest points allowed per game.
Banks also worked with Golesh at Tennessee in 2021 and 2022, while Golesh was the team’s offensive coordinator. His defense may have regressed in 2025, but Banks has a long history working with safeties at multiple high-level programs, including Tennessee and Penn State.
Hiring someone with that kind of experience and recent success feels like a win.
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Xavier Atkins Rewarded with FWAA All-America Honors
By Taylor Bryan
Auburn sophomore linebacker Xavier Atkins has been named to the Football Writers Association of America All-America Team, the organization announced this week, capping a historic season for the Houston native.
Atkins is Auburn's first All-American linebacker since Karlos Dansby in 2003. He is Auburn’s first All-American overall since Roger McCreary in 2021.
The 6-foot, 210-pound defender posted impressive numbers throughout his standout season, topping Auburn's roster with 84 total tackles while recording a conference-leading 17.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and adding 9.0 quarterback sacks.
His performance peaked with 13 tackles during Auburn's victory over Arkansas on the road, marking one of two contests where he registered 4.0 tackles for loss, a feat not accomplished by a Tiger since Stanley McClover nearly two decades earlier in 2005. He brought down quarterbacks twice in three separate games: against Ball State, Missouri, and Arkansas.
Atkins made several game-changing defensive plays, including a 73-yard interception return versus Texas A&M, forcing turnovers against both A&M and Arkansas, and recovering a fumble in the South Alabama matchup.
His 17.0 tackles for loss set a single season record for an Auburn interior linebacker and represented the highest total by a freshman or sophomore defender since Antonio Coleman's 18.5 in 2007. Both his tackle and sack numbers placed him third across the SEC, with 13.0 of his tackles for loss occurring during conference games, the most in the league.
In addition to his FWAA honor, Atkins was named a second team Walter Camp All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation on Friday night.
Atkins is also the first true linebacker to earn First Team All-SEC honors for the Tigers since Deshaun Davis achieved the distinction in 2018. He was named first team All-SEC by the coaches and the Associated Press.
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Auburn starting cornerback plans to enter the transfer portal
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
Despite retaining defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, Auburn is expected to lose one of its most consistent defensive players.
Sophomore cornerback Jay Crawford plans to enter the transfer portal, according to a post on his Instagram account. Crawford becomes the first starter on Auburn’s defense to announce his intentions to enter the portal.
https://www.instagram.com/transferportal/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=e62af7ba-de55-4672-aab5-8818661a018b
A return to Auburn is not off the table for Crawford, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AL.com, as negotiations between Crawford and Auburn are still ongoing.
Crawford started 10 of 12 games for the Tigers in 2025, and has been a staple for Auburn at corner over the past two seasons.
He finished this season with 15 tackles, four pass deflections and one interception. Crawford’s breakout season came in 2024, where as a freshman, he tallied 15 tackles, seven pass deflections, one interception and only allowed 13 catches in 32 targets, according to Pro Football Focus.
While Durkin will remain on Auburn’s staff under Golesh, the Tigers’ new head coach brought his cornerbacks coach, DeMarcus Van Dyke, with him from USF. Crawford is the third Auburn corner who’s expected to depart, joining Raion Strader and A’mon Lane-Ganus.
The transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2 and will remain open until Jan. 16.
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Alabama set to hire former Auburn offensive coordinator to coach WRs
By Nick Kelly
al.com
Alabama football has found its next receivers coach, and it didn’t have to look far.
The Crimson Tide is set to hire Derrick Nix to replace JaMarcus Shephard on the coaching staff, sources with knowledge of the hiring confirmed to AL.com. Nix most recently served as offensive coordinator/running backs coach for Auburn.
The Attalla native has been a staple in the south as an assistant coach for two decades. He has coached receivers, running backs and tight ends over his time with Southern Miss, Ole Miss and most recently Auburn.
Nix spent two seasons with the Tigers from 2024-2025. During his first year, he coached Jarquez Hunter, who earned a spot on the All-SEC first team after rushing for 1,201 yards. In 2025, once Hugh Freeze was fired, Nix became the offensive play caller for the month of November.
Over his three games as playcaller, Nix led the offense to scores of 38 points against Vanderbilt, 62 points against Mercer and 20 points against Alabama. Auburn passed for a season-high 353 yards in the loss to the Commodores.
Prior to his two years at Auburn, Nix worked as an assistant coach for Ole Miss for 16 seasons. He spent four seasons, from 2020 through 2023, coaching Rebels receivers.
In his final season, Nix coached three receivers to 700 yards or more in Tre Harris (a future second-round NFL Draft pick), Dayton Wade and Jordan Watkins. Over his time in Oxford, Nix also instructed the likes of Jonathan Mingo and Elijah Moore, both of whom went on to become second-round picks as well. Moore was a consensus All-America selection during the 2020 season, finishing as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top pass catcher.
Before he became receivers coach, Nix coached the running backs from 2008 to 2019. He oversaw the development of notable players such as Dexter McCluster, Brandon Bolden and many other backs.
Prior to his days in Oxford, Nix coached at his alma mater. He started as a defensive graduate assistant in 2003 before he became the tight ends coach and eventually, running backs coach for the Golden Eagles.
Nix was a star running back for Southern Miss, making an immediate impact as a freshman in 1998. He earned Conference USA freshman of the year honors after he ran for 1,180 yards. He rushed for 1,000 yards or more in three seasons.
He is a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Southern Miss Athletics Hall of Fame, among other accolades. Nix was nicknamed ‘Baby Bull’ “for his power and determination,” reads the entry for his induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.
Nix has connections to the Alabama coaching staff, most notably with Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.
“I think the world of Derrick Nix and glad that he’s getting an opportunity to call (Auburn’s offense),” Wommack said ahead of the Iron Bowl. “I know he’s waited a long time to do that.”
Wommack also played at Southern Miss and his dad, Dave Wommack, also coached at Southern Miss when Nix was there. So Alabama’s defensive coordinator has known Nix since Wommack was about 7 or 8 years old.
“He’s doing a great job,” Wommack said before the Iron Bowl. “I mean, you can tell a noticeable difference. And some of the things they’re doing, from an execution standpoint, they’re playing within the framework of what their players can do. They’re getting the ball to their playmakers and creating some explosive plays both in the run and pass game.”
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Former Auburn quarterback to enter transfer portal for 2nd straight year
By Creg Stephenson
al.com
Former Auburn quarterback Holden Geriner plans to enter the transfer portal for a second straight year, according to a report Tuesday by On3’s Pete Nakos.
Geriner, a four-star recruit in the 2022 class out of Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Ga., played in three games and attempted just one pass at Texas State this season. A redshirt junior in 2025, he has one year of eligibility remaining.
Geriner has not announced his plans to transfer, but did repost an On3 post on the social media platform X.
https://twitter.com/TransferPortal/status/2000924009912000574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2000924009912000574%7Ctwgr%5Ea4e01759e34ea1375047ea42e55389a577d0c319%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.al.com%2Fauburnfootball%2F2025%2F12%2Fformer-auburn-quarterback-to-enter-transfer-portal-for-2nd-straight-year.html
The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Geriner spent three seasons at Auburn, getting into 11 games before leaving the program to enter the portal in December 2024. As a Tiger, he completed nine of 20 passes for 116 yards with an interception.
The NCAA transfer portal officially opens for 15 days on Jan. 2, though players can choose their destination school at any point after that.
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Auburn Made: Week 15 NFL Rundown
By Ty Haffner
Keandre Lambert-Smith recorded his second reception of the season, turning it into a 16-yard touchdown, while Jamien Sherwood continues to climb up the league rankings in tackles.
That and more on this week’s Auburn Made NFL Rundown.
Tank Bigsby, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Bigsby aided the Eagles’ rushing attack with 57 yards on 17 carries in a dominant 31–0 victory over the Raiders, marking his second-best rushing performance of the season and his most carries since Week 14 of the 2024 season. The former third-round pick recorded a longest run of 13 yards and earned a 68.9 PFF rushing grade on the day. Now in his third NFL season and first with Philadelphia, Bigsby has totaled 237 rushing yards while averaging 5.78 yards per carry. Despite playing just 74 offensive snaps this season, he has posted an 84.1 overall offensive PFF grade.
Jamien Sherwood, LB, New York Jets
Sherwood recorded eight tackles, including five solo stops, against the Jaguars and finished second on the team in both categories. The 2025 team captain now ranks seventh in the NFL in total tackles (129) and 22nd in solo tackles (55), following a strong 2024 campaign in which he ranked third in total tackles (158) and second in solo tackles (83). The former fifth-round pick earned a 70.8 PFF run-defense grade and an 80.4 tackling grade, while also improving to a 73.8 pass-rush grade and a 79.6 run-defense grade, ranking 14th and 17th, respectively, among 88 eligible linebackers. The fifth-year pro has also tallied a career-best eight passes defended on the season.
Keandre Lambert-Smith, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Lambert-Smith’s second career reception couldn't have come at a better time as the rookie wideout hauled in a 16-yard touchdown against the Chiefs in an AFC West showdown, marking his first career NFL touchdown and cutting Kansas City’s lead to three just before halftime. The score proved crucial in the Chargers’ 16–13 victory, which eliminated the Chiefs from postseason contention. Lambert-Smith logged a career-high 21 snaps and earned a season-best 74.1 offensive PFF grade, with the touchdown helping boost the Chargers’ playoff hopes and keep them in the AFC West race.
https://twitter.com/i/status/2000288809812947401
Other Tigers in the NFL
KJ Britt, LB, Miami Dolphins
Derrick Brown, DE, Carolina Panthers
Daniel Carlson, K, Las Vegas Raiders
Carlton Davis III, CB, New England Patriots
Jamel Dean, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Derick Hall, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Josh Harris, LS, Los Angeles Chargers
Jarquez Hunter, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Washington Commanders
Jonathan Jones, CB, Washington Commanders
Austin Keys, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Dorian Mausi, LB, Tennessee Titans
Bo Nix*, QB, Denver Broncos
Owen Pappoe, LB, Arizona Cardinals
JJ Pegues*, DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Denver Broncos
Daniel Thomas, S, Detroit Lions
Malik Willis*, QB, Green Bay Packers
Colby Wooden, DT, Green Bay Packers
DNP (Injured Reserve)
Roger McCreary, CB, Los Angeles Rams
Jalen McLeod, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Braden Smith, OL, Indianapolis Colts
Practice Squad
Sal Cannella, TE, Cleveland Browns
Rivaldo Fairweather, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Shedrick Jackson, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Jayson Jones, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Eku Leota, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Jaylin Simpson, S, Green Bay Packers
Killian Zierer, OL, Jacksonville Jaguars
Golesh Hires Larry Scott as Tight Ends Coach:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2025/12/16/golesh-hires-larry-scott-as-tight-ends-coach
Grading Alex Golesh’s assistant coach hires at Auburn:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2025/12/grading-alex-goleshs-assistant-coach-hires-at-auburn.html
Xavier Atkins Rewarded with FWAA All-America Honors:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2025/12/16/xavier-atkins-rewarded-with-fwaa-all-america-honors
Auburn starting cornerback plans to enter the transfer portal:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2025/12/auburn-starting-cornerback-plans-to-enter-the-transfer-portal.html
Alabama set to hire former Auburn offensive coordinator to coach WRs:
https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2025/12/alabama-set-to-hire-former-auburn-offensive-coordinator-to-coach-wrs.html
Former Auburn quarterback to enter transfer portal for 2nd straight year:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2025/12/former-auburn-quarterback-to-enter-transfer-portal-for-2nd-straight-year.html
Auburn Made: Week 15 NFL Rundown:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2025/12/16/auburn-made-week-15-nfl-rundown-2025
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By Taylor Bryan
Auburn head coach Alex Golesh has hired 25-year coaching veteran Larry Scott as the program’s tight ends coach, as announced on Tuesday.
“Larry’s the kind of coach you want in your building,” Golesh said. “He knows the position, he knows how to develop young men, and he’s done it at a high level for a long time. Our tight ends are going to benefit immediately from his experience and his approach. Adding an elite coach like Larry with his experience in the SEC and as a head coach and coordinator is huge for the program.”
Scott brings more than two decades of coaching experience to The Plains. Most recently, he served as head coach at Howard University for six seasons from 2020-25. Scott led the Bison to a share of the 2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Regular Season Title, the program's first championship since 1993, followed by back-to-back MEAC titles in 2023 and the program's first-ever appearance in the Cricket Celebration Bowl.
In December 2021, Scott signed the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history. In 2023, 42 student-athletes earned spots on the MEAC Football All-Academic Team. Scott was named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award and selected to coach at the AllState HBCU Legacy Bowl.
Before Howard, Scott spent most of his coaching career in Florida, building his reputation as a skilled developer of talent and recruiter. At the Florida (2018-2020), he coached Kyle Pitts, who became the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history when the Atlanta Falcons selected him fourth overall in 2021. During two seasons at Tennessee (2016-2017), he developed Ethan Wolf into one of the program's top tight ends and also served as the program’s offensive coordinator in 2017.
At Miami (2013-2015), he served as interim head coach, leading the Hurricanes to a 4-2 record and Sun Bowl appearance. He served the two previous seasons as tight ends coach including guiding tight end Clive Walford to an All-America season in 2014.
A 2000 graduate of the University of South Florida, Scott was a three-year letterman as an offensive tackle and member of the Bulls' inaugural recruiting class. During his eight years coaching at USF (2005-2012), he helped secure some of the program's best recruiting classes in history.
A Sebring, Florida native, Scott spent four years coaching in the Florida high school ranks before moving to the collegiate level.
Scott and his wife, Shakiera, have three children: Larry III, an Auburn staff member, Jalen, and Jurnee.
COACHING HISTORY
2006: USF, graduate assistant
2007-08: USF, tight ends
2009: USF, offensive line
2010-11: USF, tight ends
2012: USF, running backs
2013-15: Miami (Fla.), tight ends
2016: Tennessee, tight ends/special teams coordinator
2017: Tennessee, offensive coordinator/tight ends
2018-19: Florida, tight ends
2020-25: Howard, head coach
2026-: Auburn, tight ends
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Grading Alex Golesh’s assistant coach hires at Auburn
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
Alex Golesh’s on-field coaching staff is complete, as Auburn’s new head coach assembled his staff in exactly 17 days.
It’s a mixture of youth and experience, while combining SEC veterans with coaches Golesh worked with at USF. It’s not uncommon for coaches to bring assistants with them from their previous school, and Golesh brought four on-field assistants with him from Tampa.
Golesh finished assembling the staff quicker than Hugh Freeze did when he was hired in 2022. Part of the emphasis on getting it together quickly was to prepare for transfer portal recruiting, with the portal opening on Jan. 2.
With that said, here are our grades for each of Golesh’s assistant coach hires.
Joel Gordon: Offensive coordinator/QBs coach
Grade: A
Analysis: Hiring Gordon was a no-brainer for Golesh, as he was the architect of USF’s strong offenses during Golesh’s tenure in Tampa. It was capped off by the 2025 season, when USF finished the regular season second nationally in total yards per game.
The best way to keep that success going is to bring your offensive coordinator with you, which is exactly what Golesh did. On top of that, Gordon’s record with quarterbacks is impressive.
Prior to being the offensive coordinator at USF, he was the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Iowa State. There, he developed Brock Purdy, who broke almost every Iowa State passing record and became a solid NFL quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers.
Auburn’s offense needs a leader with recent success after the failures of the past three years. Gordon seems like a good choice to fix those problems.
DJ Durkin: Defensive coordinator/LBs coach
Grade: A
Analysis: Whether or not Durkin would be retained was the first question on the minds of many Auburn fans when Golesh was hired. He was the Tigers’ interim head coach after Freeze was fired and was a serious candidate for the full-time job.
Despite not becoming the head coach, he agreed to stay with the program as defensive coordinator and Golesh wanted to retain him. Given his success at defensive coordinator the past two seasons, keeping him around seems like a good move for Auburn’s defense.
The Tigers ranked in the top 35 nationally in fewest yards allowed per game in each of the last two years. Durkin was also popular within the locker room, meaning his retainment could help with Auburn’s roster retention efforts.
Kodi Burns: Co-offensive coordinator/WRs coach/Associate head coach
Grade: A-
Analysis: Burns was one of the first calls Golesh made when he accepted the Auburn job, and was another easy hire to make for the new head coach. A national champion as an Auburn player, Burns has spent time on the Plains as a player and a coach, putting him in a great position to help Golesh with the transition.
On top of that, he has experience coaching wide receivers at the college and NFL level, spending three seasons as the New Orleans Saints’ wide receivers coach before joining Golesh at USF.
Former receivers coach Marcus Davis was respected for his recruiting ability and ties to Auburn, but Burns brings those same ties, along with experience working with Golesh.
All those factors made him an easy choice for Golesh, and one that’s hard to argue with.
Larry Porter: Running backs coach
Grade: A-
Analysis: Porter was one of the most experienced assistants that Golesh hired, coming to Auburn with over 25 years of FBS coaching experience. He also has experience at Auburn, coaching tight ends, halfbacks and serving as recruiting coordinator from 2017-2020.
Porter brings plenty of experience coaching running backs and as a high-level recruiter, which is important at Auburn. He hasn’t coached in the SEC since leaving Auburn in 2020, but spent time at West Virginia and North Carolina, where he worked with Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton.
Given his experience and track record as a recruiter and developer, it’s hard to find anything negative to say about Golesh hiring Porter.
Tyler Hudanick: Offensive line coach/Run game coordinator
Grade: B
Analysis: Hudanick wasn’t a splash hire the way some of Golesh’s other choices were, but it’s never a bad idea to try and keep a successful offensive staff together. That’s exactly what Hudanick was a part of at USF.
Still early in his coaching career, Hudanick’s first opportunity as an on-field assistant coach came with Golesh at USF. Before then, he held offensive line graduate assistant roles at Tennessee and UCF.
Given his lack of experience, Hudanick’s hire doesn’t grade as high as some of the other coaches on this list, but that doesn’t make him a bad choice.
Larry Scott: Tight ends coach
Grade: B+
Analysis: Hiring away a sitting head coach is always a big deal, even if he’s coming from the FCS level. That happened when Golesh hired Scott, as he had been Howard’s head coach since 2020.
Prior to that, he spent two seasons as Florida’s tight ends coach, where he helped develop Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, who became an All-American and winner of the Mackey Award at Florida. Scott also had stints as a tight ends coach at Tennessee, Miami and USF earlier in his career.
Scott’s credentials as a tight ends coach are hard to argue with, making him an impressive hire for a position group that has struggled in recent years at Auburn.
Vontrell King-Williams: Defensive line coach
Grade: A-
Analysis: Viewed as one of the best assistant coaches at Auburn under Freeze, retaining King-Williams felt like a win for Golesh. He’d been at Auburn for the past three seasons, spending the last two as defensive line coach.
In that role, Auburn’s defensive line became arguably the strongest position group on the team. In 2025, it helped the defense rank 12 nationally in fewest rushing yards allowed per game. King-Williams also helped develop Keldric Faulk, who’s a projected first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
King-Williams is starting to emerge as one of the most promising defensive line coaches in the country. Keeping him on staff seems like a major win for Golesh and Auburn.
Coleman Hutzler: Edge rushers coach
Grade: B
Analysis: Hutzler is another coach who brings plenty of experience to Auburn, coming to the Plains after spending two seasons as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator. Prior to that, he coached outside linebackers and special teams under Nick Saban at Alabama.
With over 10 years of experience coaching in the SEC, there won’t be much of a learning curve for Hutzler. He’s also familiar with Durkin, working with him at Florida in 2010, 2011 and 2014.
Hutzler’s defense at Mississippi State did not perform well, but he won’t be in charge of calling the defense at Auburn. Overall, it’s a solid hire for Golesh, who brings in a solid recruiter and proven SEC coach to coach edge rushers.
DeMarcus Van Dyke: Cornerbacks coach
Grade: B
Analysis: Van Dyke was one of the four assistant coaches Golesh brought with him from USF, but the only defensive assistant. He was the Bulls’ cornerbacks coach for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Prior to that, Van Dyke had stints coaching corners at Florida International and Miami, where he spent his college career as a player. He doesn’t have much experience as some of Auburn’s other coaches, but got a vote of confidence from departing cornerbacks coach Wesley McGriff, who coached him at Miami.
https://twitter.com/coachcrimedawg/status/1998843882755498164?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1998843882755498164%7Ctwgr%5E2b8a1e1c4d3849dedc7fd0ddad5bc20aa8fb6bb4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.al.com%2Fauburnfootball%2F2025%2F12%2Fgrading-alex-goleshs-assistant-coach-hires-at-auburn.html
Similar to Hudanick, Van Dyke isn’t a splash hire like some of the others on the staff, but he’s viewed as a promising young coach.
Tim Banks: Co-defensive coordinator/Safeties coach
Grade: A-
Analysis: Banks joined Hutzler as one of two SEC defensive coordinator to join Golesh’s staff. He led Tennessee’s defense for the past five seasons, but was recently fired after the unit regressed in 2025.
Just one year prior, though, Banks was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which is given to the nation’s top assistant coach. Tennessee’s defense finished the 2024 season sixth nationally in fewest yards allowed per game and seventh in fewest points allowed per game.
Banks also worked with Golesh at Tennessee in 2021 and 2022, while Golesh was the team’s offensive coordinator. His defense may have regressed in 2025, but Banks has a long history working with safeties at multiple high-level programs, including Tennessee and Penn State.
Hiring someone with that kind of experience and recent success feels like a win.
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Xavier Atkins Rewarded with FWAA All-America Honors
By Taylor Bryan
Auburn sophomore linebacker Xavier Atkins has been named to the Football Writers Association of America All-America Team, the organization announced this week, capping a historic season for the Houston native.
Atkins is Auburn's first All-American linebacker since Karlos Dansby in 2003. He is Auburn’s first All-American overall since Roger McCreary in 2021.
The 6-foot, 210-pound defender posted impressive numbers throughout his standout season, topping Auburn's roster with 84 total tackles while recording a conference-leading 17.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and adding 9.0 quarterback sacks.
His performance peaked with 13 tackles during Auburn's victory over Arkansas on the road, marking one of two contests where he registered 4.0 tackles for loss, a feat not accomplished by a Tiger since Stanley McClover nearly two decades earlier in 2005. He brought down quarterbacks twice in three separate games: against Ball State, Missouri, and Arkansas.
Atkins made several game-changing defensive plays, including a 73-yard interception return versus Texas A&M, forcing turnovers against both A&M and Arkansas, and recovering a fumble in the South Alabama matchup.
His 17.0 tackles for loss set a single season record for an Auburn interior linebacker and represented the highest total by a freshman or sophomore defender since Antonio Coleman's 18.5 in 2007. Both his tackle and sack numbers placed him third across the SEC, with 13.0 of his tackles for loss occurring during conference games, the most in the league.
In addition to his FWAA honor, Atkins was named a second team Walter Camp All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation on Friday night.
Atkins is also the first true linebacker to earn First Team All-SEC honors for the Tigers since Deshaun Davis achieved the distinction in 2018. He was named first team All-SEC by the coaches and the Associated Press.
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Auburn starting cornerback plans to enter the transfer portal
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
Despite retaining defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, Auburn is expected to lose one of its most consistent defensive players.
Sophomore cornerback Jay Crawford plans to enter the transfer portal, according to a post on his Instagram account. Crawford becomes the first starter on Auburn’s defense to announce his intentions to enter the portal.
https://www.instagram.com/transferportal/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=e62af7ba-de55-4672-aab5-8818661a018b
A return to Auburn is not off the table for Crawford, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AL.com, as negotiations between Crawford and Auburn are still ongoing.
Crawford started 10 of 12 games for the Tigers in 2025, and has been a staple for Auburn at corner over the past two seasons.
He finished this season with 15 tackles, four pass deflections and one interception. Crawford’s breakout season came in 2024, where as a freshman, he tallied 15 tackles, seven pass deflections, one interception and only allowed 13 catches in 32 targets, according to Pro Football Focus.
While Durkin will remain on Auburn’s staff under Golesh, the Tigers’ new head coach brought his cornerbacks coach, DeMarcus Van Dyke, with him from USF. Crawford is the third Auburn corner who’s expected to depart, joining Raion Strader and A’mon Lane-Ganus.
The transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2 and will remain open until Jan. 16.
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Alabama set to hire former Auburn offensive coordinator to coach WRs
By Nick Kelly
al.com
Alabama football has found its next receivers coach, and it didn’t have to look far.
The Crimson Tide is set to hire Derrick Nix to replace JaMarcus Shephard on the coaching staff, sources with knowledge of the hiring confirmed to AL.com. Nix most recently served as offensive coordinator/running backs coach for Auburn.
The Attalla native has been a staple in the south as an assistant coach for two decades. He has coached receivers, running backs and tight ends over his time with Southern Miss, Ole Miss and most recently Auburn.
Nix spent two seasons with the Tigers from 2024-2025. During his first year, he coached Jarquez Hunter, who earned a spot on the All-SEC first team after rushing for 1,201 yards. In 2025, once Hugh Freeze was fired, Nix became the offensive play caller for the month of November.
Over his three games as playcaller, Nix led the offense to scores of 38 points against Vanderbilt, 62 points against Mercer and 20 points against Alabama. Auburn passed for a season-high 353 yards in the loss to the Commodores.
Prior to his two years at Auburn, Nix worked as an assistant coach for Ole Miss for 16 seasons. He spent four seasons, from 2020 through 2023, coaching Rebels receivers.
In his final season, Nix coached three receivers to 700 yards or more in Tre Harris (a future second-round NFL Draft pick), Dayton Wade and Jordan Watkins. Over his time in Oxford, Nix also instructed the likes of Jonathan Mingo and Elijah Moore, both of whom went on to become second-round picks as well. Moore was a consensus All-America selection during the 2020 season, finishing as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top pass catcher.
Before he became receivers coach, Nix coached the running backs from 2008 to 2019. He oversaw the development of notable players such as Dexter McCluster, Brandon Bolden and many other backs.
Prior to his days in Oxford, Nix coached at his alma mater. He started as a defensive graduate assistant in 2003 before he became the tight ends coach and eventually, running backs coach for the Golden Eagles.
Nix was a star running back for Southern Miss, making an immediate impact as a freshman in 1998. He earned Conference USA freshman of the year honors after he ran for 1,180 yards. He rushed for 1,000 yards or more in three seasons.
He is a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Southern Miss Athletics Hall of Fame, among other accolades. Nix was nicknamed ‘Baby Bull’ “for his power and determination,” reads the entry for his induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.
Nix has connections to the Alabama coaching staff, most notably with Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.
“I think the world of Derrick Nix and glad that he’s getting an opportunity to call (Auburn’s offense),” Wommack said ahead of the Iron Bowl. “I know he’s waited a long time to do that.”
Wommack also played at Southern Miss and his dad, Dave Wommack, also coached at Southern Miss when Nix was there. So Alabama’s defensive coordinator has known Nix since Wommack was about 7 or 8 years old.
“He’s doing a great job,” Wommack said before the Iron Bowl. “I mean, you can tell a noticeable difference. And some of the things they’re doing, from an execution standpoint, they’re playing within the framework of what their players can do. They’re getting the ball to their playmakers and creating some explosive plays both in the run and pass game.”
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Former Auburn quarterback to enter transfer portal for 2nd straight year
By Creg Stephenson
al.com
Former Auburn quarterback Holden Geriner plans to enter the transfer portal for a second straight year, according to a report Tuesday by On3’s Pete Nakos.
Geriner, a four-star recruit in the 2022 class out of Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Ga., played in three games and attempted just one pass at Texas State this season. A redshirt junior in 2025, he has one year of eligibility remaining.
Geriner has not announced his plans to transfer, but did repost an On3 post on the social media platform X.
https://twitter.com/TransferPortal/status/2000924009912000574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2000924009912000574%7Ctwgr%5Ea4e01759e34ea1375047ea42e55389a577d0c319%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.al.com%2Fauburnfootball%2F2025%2F12%2Fformer-auburn-quarterback-to-enter-transfer-portal-for-2nd-straight-year.html
The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Geriner spent three seasons at Auburn, getting into 11 games before leaving the program to enter the portal in December 2024. As a Tiger, he completed nine of 20 passes for 116 yards with an interception.
The NCAA transfer portal officially opens for 15 days on Jan. 2, though players can choose their destination school at any point after that.
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Auburn Made: Week 15 NFL Rundown
By Ty Haffner
Keandre Lambert-Smith recorded his second reception of the season, turning it into a 16-yard touchdown, while Jamien Sherwood continues to climb up the league rankings in tackles.
That and more on this week’s Auburn Made NFL Rundown.
Tank Bigsby, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Bigsby aided the Eagles’ rushing attack with 57 yards on 17 carries in a dominant 31–0 victory over the Raiders, marking his second-best rushing performance of the season and his most carries since Week 14 of the 2024 season. The former third-round pick recorded a longest run of 13 yards and earned a 68.9 PFF rushing grade on the day. Now in his third NFL season and first with Philadelphia, Bigsby has totaled 237 rushing yards while averaging 5.78 yards per carry. Despite playing just 74 offensive snaps this season, he has posted an 84.1 overall offensive PFF grade.
Jamien Sherwood, LB, New York Jets
Sherwood recorded eight tackles, including five solo stops, against the Jaguars and finished second on the team in both categories. The 2025 team captain now ranks seventh in the NFL in total tackles (129) and 22nd in solo tackles (55), following a strong 2024 campaign in which he ranked third in total tackles (158) and second in solo tackles (83). The former fifth-round pick earned a 70.8 PFF run-defense grade and an 80.4 tackling grade, while also improving to a 73.8 pass-rush grade and a 79.6 run-defense grade, ranking 14th and 17th, respectively, among 88 eligible linebackers. The fifth-year pro has also tallied a career-best eight passes defended on the season.
Keandre Lambert-Smith, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Lambert-Smith’s second career reception couldn't have come at a better time as the rookie wideout hauled in a 16-yard touchdown against the Chiefs in an AFC West showdown, marking his first career NFL touchdown and cutting Kansas City’s lead to three just before halftime. The score proved crucial in the Chargers’ 16–13 victory, which eliminated the Chiefs from postseason contention. Lambert-Smith logged a career-high 21 snaps and earned a season-best 74.1 offensive PFF grade, with the touchdown helping boost the Chargers’ playoff hopes and keep them in the AFC West race.
https://twitter.com/i/status/2000288809812947401
Other Tigers in the NFL
KJ Britt, LB, Miami Dolphins
Derrick Brown, DE, Carolina Panthers
Daniel Carlson, K, Las Vegas Raiders
Carlton Davis III, CB, New England Patriots
Jamel Dean, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Derick Hall, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Josh Harris, LS, Los Angeles Chargers
Jarquez Hunter, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Washington Commanders
Jonathan Jones, CB, Washington Commanders
Austin Keys, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Dorian Mausi, LB, Tennessee Titans
Bo Nix*, QB, Denver Broncos
Owen Pappoe, LB, Arizona Cardinals
JJ Pegues*, DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Denver Broncos
Daniel Thomas, S, Detroit Lions
Malik Willis*, QB, Green Bay Packers
Colby Wooden, DT, Green Bay Packers
DNP (Injured Reserve)
Roger McCreary, CB, Los Angeles Rams
Jalen McLeod, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Braden Smith, OL, Indianapolis Colts
Practice Squad
Sal Cannella, TE, Cleveland Browns
Rivaldo Fairweather, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Shedrick Jackson, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Jayson Jones, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Eku Leota, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Jaylin Simpson, S, Green Bay Packers
Killian Zierer, OL, Jacksonville Jaguars
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