Football News: 4-8-2026
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Dudley Dent
Apr 8, 2026, 7:54:52 AM (5 days ago) Apr 8
to Tiger Tracks
Auburn Football News: 4-8-2026
Observations from Auburn football spring practice No. 9:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/observations-from-auburn-football-spring-practice-no-9.html
Auburn football practice observations, injury updates from April 7:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/auburn-football-practice-observations-injury-updates-from-april-7/ar-AA20lBRm?ocid=winp2fptaskbarent&cvid=cc680151b9774661ee1222a2e6abf077&ei=40
How coming to Auburn is full-circle for Michigan State OL transfer Stanton Ramil:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/how-coming-to-auburn-is-full-circle-for-michigan-state-ol-transfer-stanton-ramil.html
Why a 'Do-It-All' Freshman WR Could Be an Early Impact Player for Auburn in 2026:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/freshman-wr-early-impact-player-auburn-2026-01knkc2nt759
This Auburn cornerback says he’s not competing with teammates, he’s making them better:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/this-auburn-cornerback-says-hes-not-competing-with-his-teammates-hes-making-them-better.html
Spring preview: Auburn football has many go-to RBs to choose from:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/04/07/auburn-football-spring-breakdown-running-backs-room/89503011007/
What Auburn AD John Cohen said about the future of the SEC championship game:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/what-auburn-ad-john-cohen-said-about-the-future-of-the-sec-championship-game.html
Defensive Recruit 'Very Impressed' After Auburn Visit:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/recruiting/defensive-recruit-very-impressed-after-auburn-visit-01knkb1kk89m
Observations from Auburn football spring practice No. 9
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
After completing its first spring scrimmage last Thursday, Auburn was back on the practice field Tuesday morning as A-Day inches closer.
Just under two weeks remain before Auburn completes spring practice with the annual A-Day Spring game next Saturday. It will be one of three scrimmages the Tigers have this spring.
Media members were allowed to watch close to 30 minutes of Tuesday’s practice, which consisted primarily of stretching and drill work.
Here’s what we saw:
Availability report
Erick Smith, Sam Turner, Arlis Boardingham and Champ Anthony were all non-participants in practice, instead working separately with the training staff.
Michigan State transfer offensive lineman Stanton Ramil was in pads and with the offensive line, but didn’t do much during the viewing window.
South Florida wide receiver transfer Christian Neptune was back in pads and with the receivers during the viewing window.
For the first time this spring, Chris Murray was back doing drills with the edge rushers.
Demarcus Riddick, Jacob Strand, Jonathan Echols and Jack Luttrell all practiced wearing orange non-contact jerseys.
Other observations
During a walkthrough near the end of the viewing window, Auburn’s first team offensive line was Jo Simmons (left tackle), Deryc Plazz (left guard), Cole Best (center), Cole Skinner (right guard), Wilson Zierer (right tackle)
Zierer is becoming another name to watch at tackle, along with, Tai Buster, while Ramil works back from injury.
In that group, Buster rotated with Skinner at right guard.
Behind them, the second team offensive line was Buster (left tackle), Jack Leyrer (left guard), Kail Ellis (center), Jacobe’ Ward (right guard) and TJ Hedrick (right tackle).
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Auburn football practice observations, injury updates from April 7
By Adam Cole and Jaeden Day
Montgomery Advertiser
The spring marched on for Auburn football on Tuesday, April 7, with the Tigers practicing for the ninth time during their spring period at the Woltosz Football Performance Center.
Here's a notebook from Auburn's latest practice viewing window, including notes on rotations, individuals and the latest injury updates.
Auburn football practice notes, observations from April 7
We saw more of a goal line scheme Auburn's run in past practices, with Bryson Washington taking direct snaps and Jeremiah Cobb alongside him in the backfield, though it was unclear if Washington was simulating a quarterback.
Defensive lineman Cody Sigler was the leading man for several defensive line sled drills, running as the starting example with coaches before heading into actual drills.
Linebackers Elijah Melendez, Bryce Deas and Coleman Granberry were part of the what DJ Durkin referred to as "first group" on the sleds for linebacker rotations.
Sylvester Smith and Gavin Jenkins ran point for individual defensive back drills, and Da'Shawn Womack, Nate Johnson and JJ Faulk were the same for the edge group.
Injury updates from Auburn football practice
Tight end Jonathan Echols, offensive lineman Jacob Strand, linebacker Demarcus Riddick and safety Jack Luttrell remained in non-contact uniforms for Tuesday's practice, but Auburn had a notable health update regarding one of its offensive lineman, as Michigan State Stanton Ramil was suited out and working through individual periods.
Champ Anthony was also dressed out for pre-practice stretches, though was sidelined for the majority of the periods during the viewing window.
Edge rusher Chris Murray worked with the defensive line during the viewing window, though he was wearing a helmet and jersey.
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How coming to Auburn is full-circle for Michigan State OL transfer Stanton Ramil
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn football brought in several offensive linemen from the transfer portal with Michigan State left tackle Stanton Ramil being one of them.
Ramil was a two-year starter with the Spartans before being sidelined for most of the 2025 season with a knee injury. Now here at Auburn, Ramil is making progress but has still not been an active participant in practices this spring.
Tuesday, Ramil dressed out in pads in Auburn’s ninth practice of the spring period. Ramil met with reporters after practice to discuss his rehabilitation and adjustment to Auburn." This is more direct and active
“Honestly, just being around the guys, getting comfortable with them, picking up the install. Coach Alex Golesh is doing a great job emphasizing the culture -- especially on the offense,” Ramil said. “We’ve got to be pricks; we’ve got to run the ball; we’ve got to protect the quarterback. Just building that feeling in the offensive line room, getting closer with each other and holding each other to that standard.
“The doctors haven’t really put a timeline on it. We’re just progressing. However, they want to progress, that’s what I’ll be good with. I’m feeling really, really good.”
Ramil also has a connection to Alabama, having played high school football at in-state powerhouse Thompson High School.
He talked about the full-circle moment of returning to the state, and his connection to Auburn coach Alex Golesh, who recruited him out of high school while coaching at Tennessee and later signed his younger brother Peter Ramil at South Florida.
“It was a blessing having this opportunity,” Ramil said. “It’s just crazy how God puts you in these situations. I was really close to going to Tennessee out of high school. My brother was committed to Coach Golesh at USF, still having that connection is really cool and unique. It’s a God-given thing. Very happy I’m here.”
Auburn’s A-Day spring game is set for next Saturday at 2 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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Why a 'Do-It-All' Freshman WR Could Be an Early Impact Player for Auburn in 2026
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Daily
There is simply no way around it: the Auburn Tigers have lost a wealth of receiving talent to the transfer portal in 2026. However, Alex Golesh has worked tirelessly to rebuild the Tigers’ receiving corps, and his efforts are already beginning to bear fruit in the form of Brady Marchese.
Marchese, who is preparing for his first collegiate season, was a three-star 2026 prospect out of high school in Cartersville, Ga. Even though Marchese has never played a snap on a collegiate field, ESPN is projecting him to be one of the Tigers’ top playmakers in 2026.
“Marchese is a do-it-all weapon and a perfect slot player for new coach Alex Golesh,” ESPN’s Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill wrote. “Marchese has posted a blazing 22 mph max speed on film and is dangerous at all three levels, fitting neatly into a system that has produced big numbers for multipurpose slot weapons.”
Auburn is expected to use a tempo offense for the majority of the season, as it benefits their depth and talent significantly. An added bonus of this philosophy of offense is that it can often lead to coverage mixups on defense, allowing slot receivers like Marchese to find open grass to run in.
ESPN also expects Marchese to find touches in a variety of different ways this year, much like the Tigers have done with Eric Singleton, Jr. in the past. Marchese’s combination of strength, speed and technique projects to make him an elite target in RPO-style plays, but he could also be utilized as a run option through a jet sweep, a play the Tigers have tended to favor in recent years.
“At a minimum,” Haubert and Luginbill continued, “he should make an early impact as a return man, but his combination of speed, toughness and versatility gives him a clear path to being one of Auburn's most productive playmakers.”
As previously mentioned, Golesh has worked hard to rebuild his wide receiver group from the ground up, as nearly every top Tiger target took off for greener pastures upon the departure of Hugh Freeze. Golesh has put together a talented roster of receivers, including Jeremiah Koger and Chas Nimrod, while still retaining a member of the “Freeze Four” in Bryce Cain.
This, as the ESPN article suggests, may mean that Marchese’s production is limited in his true freshman campaign, but all that means is he will have more time to develop and hone his skills at the collegiate level before making a move (or a few moves) on the SEC.
Regardless of whether Marchese logs significant playing time in 2026, though, the writing is on the wall: Marchese could easily be one of the Tigers’ most productive receivers to date if he is managed and developed correctly, regardless of whether he shows it this year or in the years to come.
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This Auburn cornerback says he’s not competing with teammates, he’s making them better
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn football’s secondary group impressed head coach Alex Golesh last week in the Tigers’ scrimmage inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Senior UCLA transfer Andre Jordan Jr. has led the charge in the Tigers’ cornerback room, recording the most interceptions throughout spring practice, teammates said.
“Andre Jordan came in and has had to learn his way in terms of, just coming in, not a super vocal kid, so you don’t really ever know where he is emotionally, but he’s steady eddy every single day, and he’s gotten better every single day,” Golesh said after last Friday’s scrimmage. “It’s been impressive to watch,”
Jordan played in all 12 games and started eight for UCLA in 2025. He totaled 19 tackles and 10 pass breakups, helping him earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
While matched up with Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith last season, Jordan held him to just four catches for 40 yards. That tied for the second-lowest receiving output for the Buckeyes receiver in 2025.
After two seasons at Ohio State, Smith is widely regarded as one of the top wide receivers in all of college football. He has 161 receptions, 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns in his career with the Buckeyes, and has twice been named a first-team All-American.
Jordan said proper fundamentals have been the key to holding his own with the best in the game.
“I think my technique’s pretty good,” Jordan said Tuesday after practice. “I could get a little more physical at the line. It’s been a lot of learning. The people around me helping me out learning the playbook, taking me in as a family, so I can feel comfortable with the learning and all that. I feel like spring ball’s been pretty good so far.”
Auburn lost five cornerbacks to the transfer portal and signed five transfers to replace them. The Tigers return just three corners, with Rayshawn Pleasant being the only one to play significant snaps in 2025.
Jordan described the atmosphere in the cornerback room right now as a “brotherhood.” He said he’s utilizing his collegiate experience to help develop his teammates during camp.
“Everyone’s got each other’s backs, everyone’s trying to help each other,” Jordan said. “Everyone can come to each other, and if you mess up, they’ll tell you how you messed up and how you can get better the next time. I just feel like we’ve all got each other’s back.
“I don’t think it’s a competition. We’re just getting each other better right now, going into the season. I’m just trying to get people better.”
Cornerbacks coach Demarcus Van Dyke followed Golesh from South Florida, where Van Dyke served served in the same position during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
After Van Dyke’s college career at Miami, he played for various NFL teams from 2011-2016. Jordan said working with him this spring has helped him prepare for his goal of making it to the next level.
“Good guy. He’s just like us; he can connect with us pretty good,” Jordan said. “He played in the league, so it’s like, that’s where we want to go.”
Jordan will get to put his skills on display during Auburn’s spring game next Saturday at 2 p.m. CT inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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Spring preview: Auburn football has many go-to RBs to choose from
By Jac Myrick
Auburn Wire
Auburn football has plenty of pieces to choose from in the running backs in 2026, with the led back being the returning senior Jeremiah Cobb.
There is a lot of new faces in the building for the Tigers, one of those faces is running backs coach Larry Porter. After serving the same role at West Virginia, Porter takes over a position room that is hungry to compete. Porter previously was with the Tigers apart of Gus Malzahn's staff during 2017-2020.
Other new faces to the buildings are the transfer running backs junior Bryson Washington (Baylor), senior Tae Meadows (Troy), and sophomore Nykahi Davenport (USF). Each one will have the chance to compete for what most likely will be the second-string role as the room is led by Cobb.
It's expected that the returning senior will be the starter for the 2026 season on the Plains. Cobb is not the only returning piece from the previous year; he's joined by returning backs sophomore Omar Mabson II, redshirt freshman Alvin Henderson, sophomore Cole Gamble and junior Chris Burnette.
New head coach Alex Golesh made it a point that the Tigers will be heavy in the run game in his press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 4. "We’re going to run the heck out of the ball,” Golesh said. “We’ve done it for as long as I’ve been a head coach and coordinator. That’s where it all starts offensively for us. You gotta be able to run the football. And I don’t care what league you’re in; you need backs that they run the ball.”
The total number of players in the room for the Tigers is eight backs to choose from, with the bulk of them being sophomores who could be key pieces in future offensives for Auburn.
Jeremiah Cobb
Number: 23
Measurements: 5-11, 200 pounds
Class: Senior
Previous school: Auburn
Career stats:
Rushing: 237 CAR, 1,283 YDS, 7 TDS
Receiving: 24 REC, 175 YDS, 2 TDS
Tae Meadows
Number: 21
Measurements: 5-10, 200 pounds
Class: Senior
Previous school: Troy
Career stats:
Rushing: 163 CAR, 741 YDS, 7 TDS
Receiving: 11 REC, 64 YDS
Bryson Washington
Number: 30
Measurements: 6-0, 216 pounds
Class: Junior
Previous school: Baylor
Career stats:
Rushing: 339 CAR, 1,861 YDS, 18 TDS
Receiving: 41 REC, 311 YDS, 2 TDS
Christian Burnette
Number: 26
Measurements: 5-11, 194 pounds
Class: Junior
Previous school: Auburn
Career stats:
Rushing: N/A
Receiving: N/A
Nykahi Davenport
Number: 24
Measurements: 6-0, 216 pounds
Class: Sophomore
Previous school: South Florida
Career stats:
Rushing: 98 CAR, 612 YDS, 7 TDS
Receiving: 5 REC, 50 YDS
Omar Mabson II
Number: 29
Measurements: 5-9, 213 pounds
Class: Sophomore
Previous school: Auburn
Career stats:
Rushing: 15 CAR, 71 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving: 4 REC, 42 YDS
Cole Gamble
Number: 25
Measurements: 6-1, 203 pounds
Class: Sophomore
Previous school: Auburn
Career stats:
Rushing: N/A
Receiving: N/A
Alvin Henderson
Number: 22
Measurements: 5-9, 202 pounds
Class: Redshirt freshman
Previous school: Auburn
Career stats:
Rushing: N/A
Receiving: N/A
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What Auburn AD John Cohen said about the future of the SEC championship game
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
College football is changing every year. Whether its roster sizes, player compensation or postseason format, there always seems to be new debate around what can change going forward in college football.
The latest topic to come up in recent weeks is necessity of the SEC championship game, which has started to carry less meaning in recent years. Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said in an interview with USA Today that “the ship has sailed,” in regard to the SEC championship game, advocating for the game to be eliminated.
Byrne’s reasoning was the expansion of the College Football Playoff, which currently includes 12 teams but is likely to expand again in the coming years. Auburn athletic director John Cohen wasn’t as direct as Byrne when asked about the game’s future, but said the question could “answer itself based on movement with the CFP.”
“There’s so much tradition there and so many great memories and so many great players who have played in that event,” Cohen said in an interview with AL.com. “But with the CFP, does it become a little more antiquated when you start thinking about expanded fields?”
Cohen didn’t specifically state how many teams he wants to see in the College Football Playoff, but wants to see expansion. Especially as the conference moves to a 9-game conference schedule, Cohen wants to see a CFP format of “16 or higher.”
“The expectation of every athletic director in the SEC was that at some level, the 9-game schedule was going to be combined with at least a 16-team CFP field,” Cohen said. “I think that those two should be intertwined for a variety of reasons, more SEC games, there’s going to be more losses for our league.”
Cohen also talked about wanting to see more SEC representation in CFP, citing the strength of the conference and using examples of how the SEC is been represented in the postseason in other sports.
“When you consider just a year ago, there’s 14 teams in the SEC in the NCAA tournament... A ton of our women’s programs got in the NCAA tournament, but a very low percentage for our football, and football is obviously one of our best, if not our leading sport in the Southeastern Conference,” Cohen said. “Why is football so underrepresented in terms of tournament play?
“Comparatively speaking, there’s a lot of reasons for that, but I do think it’s time to modernize, and I think it’s time to expand, and in doing so, I think your question about the future of the SEC championship game will probably answer itself based on movement with the CFP.”
Auburn has not made the SEC championship game since losing to Georgia in 2017, but has won the SEC championship game three times in 2004, 2010 and 2013.
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Defensive Recruit 'Very Impressed' After Auburn Visit
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Daily
When Auburn Tigers on SI caught up with CJ Craig-James back in March, when he received his Auburn offer, he said that the Tigers were an obvious school to explore on his list. Now, he has taken a visit to Auburn, and he said that the experience has certainly aided the Tigers’ chances.
“How welcoming everyone was [stood out to me],” he said. “Everyone made me feel at home as soon as I got there… It was a night scrimmage so it was a real different vibe. It was electric and felt like a night game! This visit increased Auburn’s chances a lot, [and] I’m excited to get back to Auburn in the future!”
Craig-James is a class of 2028 safety from Birmingham, Ala. who stands at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds. His Auburn offer now stands along with his other offers from programs like Alabama, Oregon, Miami and a host of other top names.
https://twitter.com/CJ2Sports2028/status/2039382289340129318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2039382289340129318%7Ctwgr%5Ea8cfb94580ce4967079f3ceb7182cc565c68c0f3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege%2Fauburn%2Frecruiting%2Fdefensive-recruit-very-impressed-after-auburn-visit-01knkb1kk89m
Back when he got his offer, Craig-James told Auburn Tigers on SI that he could go pretty much anywhere he wanted for college, but that he would be “crazy” not to be taking a good look at Auburn. Now, Auburn has had the chance to make an impression on the young safety, and it seems like they have done it in spades.
“I spent a lot of time with Coach (Tim) Banks, the safeties coach, and the whole safety room,” he said. “They told me not to get complacent and to keep working on my craft… I was very impressed by the coaches and how detailed they were in every drill and after every play during the scrimmage.”
Craig-James has been offered by a litany of top programs, but he is looking for a perfect match, as he told us that he is looking for a very specific set of criteria in his future home.
“[I’m looking for] one who makes me feel like I’m more than a number,” he said. “Like I’m a priority and one who doesn’t mind playing players early!”
DJ Durkin’s defense has been incredibly strong and consistent over the past few years, and his secondary could see a significant boost in the future with the signing of Craig-James. They will have to wrestle the young safety from the jaws of other top programs, though.
Observations from Auburn football spring practice No. 9:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/observations-from-auburn-football-spring-practice-no-9.html
Auburn football practice observations, injury updates from April 7:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/auburn-football-practice-observations-injury-updates-from-april-7/ar-AA20lBRm?ocid=winp2fptaskbarent&cvid=cc680151b9774661ee1222a2e6abf077&ei=40
How coming to Auburn is full-circle for Michigan State OL transfer Stanton Ramil:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/how-coming-to-auburn-is-full-circle-for-michigan-state-ol-transfer-stanton-ramil.html
Why a 'Do-It-All' Freshman WR Could Be an Early Impact Player for Auburn in 2026:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/freshman-wr-early-impact-player-auburn-2026-01knkc2nt759
This Auburn cornerback says he’s not competing with teammates, he’s making them better:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/this-auburn-cornerback-says-hes-not-competing-with-his-teammates-hes-making-them-better.html
Spring preview: Auburn football has many go-to RBs to choose from:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/04/07/auburn-football-spring-breakdown-running-backs-room/89503011007/
What Auburn AD John Cohen said about the future of the SEC championship game:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/what-auburn-ad-john-cohen-said-about-the-future-of-the-sec-championship-game.html
Defensive Recruit 'Very Impressed' After Auburn Visit:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/recruiting/defensive-recruit-very-impressed-after-auburn-visit-01knkb1kk89m
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By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
After completing its first spring scrimmage last Thursday, Auburn was back on the practice field Tuesday morning as A-Day inches closer.
Just under two weeks remain before Auburn completes spring practice with the annual A-Day Spring game next Saturday. It will be one of three scrimmages the Tigers have this spring.
Media members were allowed to watch close to 30 minutes of Tuesday’s practice, which consisted primarily of stretching and drill work.
Here’s what we saw:
Availability report
Erick Smith, Sam Turner, Arlis Boardingham and Champ Anthony were all non-participants in practice, instead working separately with the training staff.
Michigan State transfer offensive lineman Stanton Ramil was in pads and with the offensive line, but didn’t do much during the viewing window.
South Florida wide receiver transfer Christian Neptune was back in pads and with the receivers during the viewing window.
For the first time this spring, Chris Murray was back doing drills with the edge rushers.
Demarcus Riddick, Jacob Strand, Jonathan Echols and Jack Luttrell all practiced wearing orange non-contact jerseys.
Other observations
During a walkthrough near the end of the viewing window, Auburn’s first team offensive line was Jo Simmons (left tackle), Deryc Plazz (left guard), Cole Best (center), Cole Skinner (right guard), Wilson Zierer (right tackle)
Zierer is becoming another name to watch at tackle, along with, Tai Buster, while Ramil works back from injury.
In that group, Buster rotated with Skinner at right guard.
Behind them, the second team offensive line was Buster (left tackle), Jack Leyrer (left guard), Kail Ellis (center), Jacobe’ Ward (right guard) and TJ Hedrick (right tackle).
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Auburn football practice observations, injury updates from April 7
By Adam Cole and Jaeden Day
Montgomery Advertiser
The spring marched on for Auburn football on Tuesday, April 7, with the Tigers practicing for the ninth time during their spring period at the Woltosz Football Performance Center.
Here's a notebook from Auburn's latest practice viewing window, including notes on rotations, individuals and the latest injury updates.
Auburn football practice notes, observations from April 7
We saw more of a goal line scheme Auburn's run in past practices, with Bryson Washington taking direct snaps and Jeremiah Cobb alongside him in the backfield, though it was unclear if Washington was simulating a quarterback.
Defensive lineman Cody Sigler was the leading man for several defensive line sled drills, running as the starting example with coaches before heading into actual drills.
Linebackers Elijah Melendez, Bryce Deas and Coleman Granberry were part of the what DJ Durkin referred to as "first group" on the sleds for linebacker rotations.
Sylvester Smith and Gavin Jenkins ran point for individual defensive back drills, and Da'Shawn Womack, Nate Johnson and JJ Faulk were the same for the edge group.
Injury updates from Auburn football practice
Tight end Jonathan Echols, offensive lineman Jacob Strand, linebacker Demarcus Riddick and safety Jack Luttrell remained in non-contact uniforms for Tuesday's practice, but Auburn had a notable health update regarding one of its offensive lineman, as Michigan State Stanton Ramil was suited out and working through individual periods.
Champ Anthony was also dressed out for pre-practice stretches, though was sidelined for the majority of the periods during the viewing window.
Edge rusher Chris Murray worked with the defensive line during the viewing window, though he was wearing a helmet and jersey.
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How coming to Auburn is full-circle for Michigan State OL transfer Stanton Ramil
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn football brought in several offensive linemen from the transfer portal with Michigan State left tackle Stanton Ramil being one of them.
Ramil was a two-year starter with the Spartans before being sidelined for most of the 2025 season with a knee injury. Now here at Auburn, Ramil is making progress but has still not been an active participant in practices this spring.
Tuesday, Ramil dressed out in pads in Auburn’s ninth practice of the spring period. Ramil met with reporters after practice to discuss his rehabilitation and adjustment to Auburn." This is more direct and active
“Honestly, just being around the guys, getting comfortable with them, picking up the install. Coach Alex Golesh is doing a great job emphasizing the culture -- especially on the offense,” Ramil said. “We’ve got to be pricks; we’ve got to run the ball; we’ve got to protect the quarterback. Just building that feeling in the offensive line room, getting closer with each other and holding each other to that standard.
“The doctors haven’t really put a timeline on it. We’re just progressing. However, they want to progress, that’s what I’ll be good with. I’m feeling really, really good.”
Ramil also has a connection to Alabama, having played high school football at in-state powerhouse Thompson High School.
He talked about the full-circle moment of returning to the state, and his connection to Auburn coach Alex Golesh, who recruited him out of high school while coaching at Tennessee and later signed his younger brother Peter Ramil at South Florida.
“It was a blessing having this opportunity,” Ramil said. “It’s just crazy how God puts you in these situations. I was really close to going to Tennessee out of high school. My brother was committed to Coach Golesh at USF, still having that connection is really cool and unique. It’s a God-given thing. Very happy I’m here.”
Auburn’s A-Day spring game is set for next Saturday at 2 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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Why a 'Do-It-All' Freshman WR Could Be an Early Impact Player for Auburn in 2026
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Daily
There is simply no way around it: the Auburn Tigers have lost a wealth of receiving talent to the transfer portal in 2026. However, Alex Golesh has worked tirelessly to rebuild the Tigers’ receiving corps, and his efforts are already beginning to bear fruit in the form of Brady Marchese.
Marchese, who is preparing for his first collegiate season, was a three-star 2026 prospect out of high school in Cartersville, Ga. Even though Marchese has never played a snap on a collegiate field, ESPN is projecting him to be one of the Tigers’ top playmakers in 2026.
“Marchese is a do-it-all weapon and a perfect slot player for new coach Alex Golesh,” ESPN’s Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill wrote. “Marchese has posted a blazing 22 mph max speed on film and is dangerous at all three levels, fitting neatly into a system that has produced big numbers for multipurpose slot weapons.”
Auburn is expected to use a tempo offense for the majority of the season, as it benefits their depth and talent significantly. An added bonus of this philosophy of offense is that it can often lead to coverage mixups on defense, allowing slot receivers like Marchese to find open grass to run in.
ESPN also expects Marchese to find touches in a variety of different ways this year, much like the Tigers have done with Eric Singleton, Jr. in the past. Marchese’s combination of strength, speed and technique projects to make him an elite target in RPO-style plays, but he could also be utilized as a run option through a jet sweep, a play the Tigers have tended to favor in recent years.
“At a minimum,” Haubert and Luginbill continued, “he should make an early impact as a return man, but his combination of speed, toughness and versatility gives him a clear path to being one of Auburn's most productive playmakers.”
As previously mentioned, Golesh has worked hard to rebuild his wide receiver group from the ground up, as nearly every top Tiger target took off for greener pastures upon the departure of Hugh Freeze. Golesh has put together a talented roster of receivers, including Jeremiah Koger and Chas Nimrod, while still retaining a member of the “Freeze Four” in Bryce Cain.
This, as the ESPN article suggests, may mean that Marchese’s production is limited in his true freshman campaign, but all that means is he will have more time to develop and hone his skills at the collegiate level before making a move (or a few moves) on the SEC.
Regardless of whether Marchese logs significant playing time in 2026, though, the writing is on the wall: Marchese could easily be one of the Tigers’ most productive receivers to date if he is managed and developed correctly, regardless of whether he shows it this year or in the years to come.
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This Auburn cornerback says he’s not competing with teammates, he’s making them better
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn football’s secondary group impressed head coach Alex Golesh last week in the Tigers’ scrimmage inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Senior UCLA transfer Andre Jordan Jr. has led the charge in the Tigers’ cornerback room, recording the most interceptions throughout spring practice, teammates said.
“Andre Jordan came in and has had to learn his way in terms of, just coming in, not a super vocal kid, so you don’t really ever know where he is emotionally, but he’s steady eddy every single day, and he’s gotten better every single day,” Golesh said after last Friday’s scrimmage. “It’s been impressive to watch,”
Jordan played in all 12 games and started eight for UCLA in 2025. He totaled 19 tackles and 10 pass breakups, helping him earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
While matched up with Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith last season, Jordan held him to just four catches for 40 yards. That tied for the second-lowest receiving output for the Buckeyes receiver in 2025.
After two seasons at Ohio State, Smith is widely regarded as one of the top wide receivers in all of college football. He has 161 receptions, 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns in his career with the Buckeyes, and has twice been named a first-team All-American.
Jordan said proper fundamentals have been the key to holding his own with the best in the game.
“I think my technique’s pretty good,” Jordan said Tuesday after practice. “I could get a little more physical at the line. It’s been a lot of learning. The people around me helping me out learning the playbook, taking me in as a family, so I can feel comfortable with the learning and all that. I feel like spring ball’s been pretty good so far.”
Auburn lost five cornerbacks to the transfer portal and signed five transfers to replace them. The Tigers return just three corners, with Rayshawn Pleasant being the only one to play significant snaps in 2025.
Jordan described the atmosphere in the cornerback room right now as a “brotherhood.” He said he’s utilizing his collegiate experience to help develop his teammates during camp.
“Everyone’s got each other’s backs, everyone’s trying to help each other,” Jordan said. “Everyone can come to each other, and if you mess up, they’ll tell you how you messed up and how you can get better the next time. I just feel like we’ve all got each other’s back.
“I don’t think it’s a competition. We’re just getting each other better right now, going into the season. I’m just trying to get people better.”
Cornerbacks coach Demarcus Van Dyke followed Golesh from South Florida, where Van Dyke served served in the same position during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
After Van Dyke’s college career at Miami, he played for various NFL teams from 2011-2016. Jordan said working with him this spring has helped him prepare for his goal of making it to the next level.
“Good guy. He’s just like us; he can connect with us pretty good,” Jordan said. “He played in the league, so it’s like, that’s where we want to go.”
Jordan will get to put his skills on display during Auburn’s spring game next Saturday at 2 p.m. CT inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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Spring preview: Auburn football has many go-to RBs to choose from
By Jac Myrick
Auburn Wire
Auburn football has plenty of pieces to choose from in the running backs in 2026, with the led back being the returning senior Jeremiah Cobb.
There is a lot of new faces in the building for the Tigers, one of those faces is running backs coach Larry Porter. After serving the same role at West Virginia, Porter takes over a position room that is hungry to compete. Porter previously was with the Tigers apart of Gus Malzahn's staff during 2017-2020.
Other new faces to the buildings are the transfer running backs junior Bryson Washington (Baylor), senior Tae Meadows (Troy), and sophomore Nykahi Davenport (USF). Each one will have the chance to compete for what most likely will be the second-string role as the room is led by Cobb.
It's expected that the returning senior will be the starter for the 2026 season on the Plains. Cobb is not the only returning piece from the previous year; he's joined by returning backs sophomore Omar Mabson II, redshirt freshman Alvin Henderson, sophomore Cole Gamble and junior Chris Burnette.
New head coach Alex Golesh made it a point that the Tigers will be heavy in the run game in his press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 4. "We’re going to run the heck out of the ball,” Golesh said. “We’ve done it for as long as I’ve been a head coach and coordinator. That’s where it all starts offensively for us. You gotta be able to run the football. And I don’t care what league you’re in; you need backs that they run the ball.”
The total number of players in the room for the Tigers is eight backs to choose from, with the bulk of them being sophomores who could be key pieces in future offensives for Auburn.
Jeremiah Cobb
Number: 23
Measurements: 5-11, 200 pounds
Class: Senior
Previous school: Auburn
Career stats:
Rushing: 237 CAR, 1,283 YDS, 7 TDS
Receiving: 24 REC, 175 YDS, 2 TDS
Tae Meadows
Number: 21
Measurements: 5-10, 200 pounds
Class: Senior
Previous school: Troy
Career stats:
Rushing: 163 CAR, 741 YDS, 7 TDS
Receiving: 11 REC, 64 YDS
Bryson Washington
Number: 30
Measurements: 6-0, 216 pounds
Class: Junior
Previous school: Baylor
Career stats:
Rushing: 339 CAR, 1,861 YDS, 18 TDS
Receiving: 41 REC, 311 YDS, 2 TDS
Christian Burnette
Number: 26
Measurements: 5-11, 194 pounds
Class: Junior
Previous school: Auburn
Career stats:
Rushing: N/A
Receiving: N/A
Nykahi Davenport
Number: 24
Measurements: 6-0, 216 pounds
Class: Sophomore
Previous school: South Florida
Career stats:
Rushing: 98 CAR, 612 YDS, 7 TDS
Receiving: 5 REC, 50 YDS
Omar Mabson II
Number: 29
Measurements: 5-9, 213 pounds
Class: Sophomore
Previous school: Auburn
Career stats:
Rushing: 15 CAR, 71 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving: 4 REC, 42 YDS
Cole Gamble
Number: 25
Measurements: 6-1, 203 pounds
Class: Sophomore
Previous school: Auburn
Career stats:
Rushing: N/A
Receiving: N/A
Alvin Henderson
Number: 22
Measurements: 5-9, 202 pounds
Class: Redshirt freshman
Previous school: Auburn
Career stats:
Rushing: N/A
Receiving: N/A
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What Auburn AD John Cohen said about the future of the SEC championship game
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
College football is changing every year. Whether its roster sizes, player compensation or postseason format, there always seems to be new debate around what can change going forward in college football.
The latest topic to come up in recent weeks is necessity of the SEC championship game, which has started to carry less meaning in recent years. Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said in an interview with USA Today that “the ship has sailed,” in regard to the SEC championship game, advocating for the game to be eliminated.
Byrne’s reasoning was the expansion of the College Football Playoff, which currently includes 12 teams but is likely to expand again in the coming years. Auburn athletic director John Cohen wasn’t as direct as Byrne when asked about the game’s future, but said the question could “answer itself based on movement with the CFP.”
“There’s so much tradition there and so many great memories and so many great players who have played in that event,” Cohen said in an interview with AL.com. “But with the CFP, does it become a little more antiquated when you start thinking about expanded fields?”
Cohen didn’t specifically state how many teams he wants to see in the College Football Playoff, but wants to see expansion. Especially as the conference moves to a 9-game conference schedule, Cohen wants to see a CFP format of “16 or higher.”
“The expectation of every athletic director in the SEC was that at some level, the 9-game schedule was going to be combined with at least a 16-team CFP field,” Cohen said. “I think that those two should be intertwined for a variety of reasons, more SEC games, there’s going to be more losses for our league.”
Cohen also talked about wanting to see more SEC representation in CFP, citing the strength of the conference and using examples of how the SEC is been represented in the postseason in other sports.
“When you consider just a year ago, there’s 14 teams in the SEC in the NCAA tournament... A ton of our women’s programs got in the NCAA tournament, but a very low percentage for our football, and football is obviously one of our best, if not our leading sport in the Southeastern Conference,” Cohen said. “Why is football so underrepresented in terms of tournament play?
“Comparatively speaking, there’s a lot of reasons for that, but I do think it’s time to modernize, and I think it’s time to expand, and in doing so, I think your question about the future of the SEC championship game will probably answer itself based on movement with the CFP.”
Auburn has not made the SEC championship game since losing to Georgia in 2017, but has won the SEC championship game three times in 2004, 2010 and 2013.
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Defensive Recruit 'Very Impressed' After Auburn Visit
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Daily
When Auburn Tigers on SI caught up with CJ Craig-James back in March, when he received his Auburn offer, he said that the Tigers were an obvious school to explore on his list. Now, he has taken a visit to Auburn, and he said that the experience has certainly aided the Tigers’ chances.
“How welcoming everyone was [stood out to me],” he said. “Everyone made me feel at home as soon as I got there… It was a night scrimmage so it was a real different vibe. It was electric and felt like a night game! This visit increased Auburn’s chances a lot, [and] I’m excited to get back to Auburn in the future!”
Craig-James is a class of 2028 safety from Birmingham, Ala. who stands at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds. His Auburn offer now stands along with his other offers from programs like Alabama, Oregon, Miami and a host of other top names.
https://twitter.com/CJ2Sports2028/status/2039382289340129318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2039382289340129318%7Ctwgr%5Ea8cfb94580ce4967079f3ceb7182cc565c68c0f3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege%2Fauburn%2Frecruiting%2Fdefensive-recruit-very-impressed-after-auburn-visit-01knkb1kk89m
Back when he got his offer, Craig-James told Auburn Tigers on SI that he could go pretty much anywhere he wanted for college, but that he would be “crazy” not to be taking a good look at Auburn. Now, Auburn has had the chance to make an impression on the young safety, and it seems like they have done it in spades.
“I spent a lot of time with Coach (Tim) Banks, the safeties coach, and the whole safety room,” he said. “They told me not to get complacent and to keep working on my craft… I was very impressed by the coaches and how detailed they were in every drill and after every play during the scrimmage.”
Craig-James has been offered by a litany of top programs, but he is looking for a perfect match, as he told us that he is looking for a very specific set of criteria in his future home.
“[I’m looking for] one who makes me feel like I’m more than a number,” he said. “Like I’m a priority and one who doesn’t mind playing players early!”
DJ Durkin’s defense has been incredibly strong and consistent over the past few years, and his secondary could see a significant boost in the future with the signing of Craig-James. They will have to wrestle the young safety from the jaws of other top programs, though.
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