Football News: 8-10-2026
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Dudley Dent
Aug 10, 2026, 8:02:27 AM (7 days ago) Aug 10
to Tiger Tracks
Auburn Football News: 8-10-2026
Auburn Co-OC Kodi Burns Talks Tigers’ Biggest Question Ahead of 2026:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-co-oc-kodi-burns-talks-tigers-biggest-question-ahead-of-2026
Auburn football fall camp: Coach Kodi Burns raves about his WR room:
https://flywareagle.com/auburn-football-fall-camp-coach-kodi-burns-raves-wr-room
Top Auburn QB Target Commits, First of 2028 Class:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/recruiting/top-auburn-qb-target-commits-first-of-2028-class-sam-sollie
Where Auburn stands in 2028 recruiting after landing QB Sam Sollie:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/recruiting/2026/08/09/auburn-football-recruiting-ranking-2028-sam-sollie-commitment/91235738007/
Auburn scores huge recruiting win for Alabama QB, but what's next for the 2028 class?:
https://flywareagle.com/auburn-scores-huge-recruiting-win-alabama-qb-whats-next-2028-class
Benji Roland named Auburn's 2026 SEC Football Legend:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2026/08/8/benji-roland-named-auburns-2026-sec-football-legend
Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/thoughts-on-auburn-football-auburn-basketball-and-auburn-mens-golf-288811102/
Cam Coleman’s viral catch reminds Auburn fans what they lost...and never had:
https://flywareagle.com/cam-coleman-viral-catch-reminds-auburn-fans-what-they-lost-never-had
Auburn Co-OC Kodi Burns Talks Tigers’ Biggest Question Ahead of 2026
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
Alex Golesh, the latest head coach of the Auburn Tigers, has quite a few questions surrounding his program ahead of his inaugural season on the Plains, though perhaps none have received as much screen time as one: how will Auburn’s offense, which is largely composed of USF transfers, acclimate to a full SEC schedule?
After all, most of the Tigers’ receivers, their quarterback, one of their running backs and two of their offensive linemen all transferred in from USF this past season, which is in the AAC, a starkly different conference from the SEC, which is largely considered to be, at the lowest, a top-two most difficult conference in the country.
However, the Tigers’ co-offensive coordinator, Kodi Burns, who also happens to be a USF transplant, still has supreme confidence in his unit, despite the rigor of the conference they will be taking on this year.
“Yeah, I think a little bit of it is overblown,” Burns said. “If you look at the schedule from our team last year, we did play SEC teams and it worked out pretty good, and so those guys do have experience from that standpoint.”
The Bulls only played in one SEC matchup last year, against the Florida Gators, in a matchup Golesh’s program won, 18-16. Of course, that win is not the biggest vote of confidence, especially given the fact that the Gators fired their head coach and were in much of a similar boat to the Tigers, but any win over any SEC program is proof that this unit is able to win in the SEC.
Additionally, the Tigers look much stronger ahead of this season than last year’s Bulls did at the same time, as they have transplanted their offensive line with several experienced transfers, they have built a dominant running back room led by Jeremiah Cobb and Bryson Washington and the offense now has Auburn’s top-level defense to rely on.
So, of course, there will be growing pains as the Bulls’ 2025 unit adjusts to the grind that is a nine-game SEC schedule, though, for what it’s worth, no player in the league has ever played in a nine-game SEC schedule before, so there are bound to be growing pains for all teams. After all, the SEC isn’t considered one of the strongest conferences in football for nothing.
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Auburn football fall camp: Coach Kodi Burns raves about his WR room
By Alec Sanner
Fly War Eagle
Auburn’s first week of fall camp is in the books. Since there's been one day in pads so far, there wasn’t a lot of contact, but doing reps in your gear helps players get used to it. WR coach Kodi Burns got to speak to the media after practice, opening up about his players and what they’re trying to do at this camp.
Burns was asked about how feasible it was to have six to eight receivers get significant snaps due to the pace of the offense. He replied with confidence.
"Yeah, I think it’s feasible. I think that the goal is to build depth right? We have to develop these young guys. We have some guys with experience, but at the same time, it’s all about development in this camp. And as we continue to grow each and every day, get detailed more and more every single practice," Burns said.
“Man, that’s the goal to really be two deep at every position so when you’re in 11 personnel team and you’re two deep at every position, that gets you about six and you would like ideally anywhere from six to eight. So as we get two deep at every position, every single year at some point, you know, knock on wood, you want to be injury-free, but injuries do happen.”
That is sensible confidence right there. Playing in such a high-paced offense does have its strengths and weaknesses. They do play from the spread, so having the ability to have receivers of varying speed and size could continue to throw off teams as it has done for Golesh in the past. You can bash Billy Napier all you want, but it was a talented Florida team that still took the L on the field last September to his USF Bulls.
Kodi would be asked after about certain players like Jeremiah Koger.
‘I challenge him because he IS talented.'
That was the answer coach Burns gave when asked about how this offseason has challenged Jeremiah Koger.
"Listen, Jeremiah is a fantastic player and I challenge him because he is talented," Burns said.
“He’s done it already at a different school and proven himself of what the type of player he is and so my challenge to him is he’s got to grow from spring up until summer, up until now, he’s got to continue to grow and get better.
“He has responded really well this fall camp and I’m telling you, Byrum really likes where he’s at right now."
That is a major insight for Koger. If Byrum Brown is liking where he is going, that could develop into more playing time. Especially since he’s been challenged this summer with the sharp rise of the freshman star DeShawn Spencer.
‘The moment’s just NEVER TOO BIG for him’
When asked about Spencer, you could see Coach Burns crack a smile as he answered, because even he knows how talented he is. Former Saraland teammate, now rival Alabama star WR, Ryan Coleman-Williams, called “a workhorse” on SEC media day.
Spencer is easily the most sensible replacement for Cam Coleman, who looks to prove his worth at Texas this year.
“I tell you what, DeShawn Spencer is a guy that the moment’s just never too big for him. Coming from Saraland, obviously comes from an incredible program and what he’s been able to do so far none less than impressive," Burns said.
“Like, it’s incredible just the mindset that he has. He is uber detailed. He’s a guy that is like the best guys I’ve been around in the NFL also at this level. You can tell them one time they do it or you can show it to them and they do it, and he’s just got that it.”
What Coach Burns is saying is what I was saying when I warned not to be shocked if Spencer starts seeing the field early and often.
This kid is the real deal and is only going to continue to get better.
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Top Auburn QB Target Commits, First of 2028 Class
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers absolutely dominated in the class of 2027 recruiting rankings, but there has been some concern as to how Alex Golesh will follow up his inaugural class as the head coach of the Tigers.
Though one commitment does not guarantee a top-level class, Golesh and company are already off to a strong start, as on Saturday, 2028 quarterback Sam Sollie committed to the Tigers.
https://x.com/JLeeAUSports/status/2086117259076882687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2086117259076882687%7Ctwgr%5E6b8203c03eaf76579ca26357c3905f00d154900a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege%2Fauburn%2Frecruiting%2Ftop-auburn-qb-target-commits-first-of-2028-class-sam-sollie
Sollie, the first commitment of the Tigers’ 2028 class, is a three-star quarterback who currently ranks as the 40th-best quarterback in the 2028 class as well as the 20th-best in-class player from his home state of Alabama. Many fans may not be as impressed with these rankings, but keep in mind that Sollie earned the starting job at Gadsden City in week four of this past season, so he has already earned these accolades despite limited play.
What stood out to Sollie about Auburn, specifically? After all, he had offers from many SEC schools, including top dogs like Alabama and Tennessee, as well as other rising programs like Florida and Kentucky.
Auburn Tigers on SI caught up with Sollie last week ahead of his commitment, and even then, it was pretty clear that he was trending towards the Tigers.
“I’m super grateful to have the opportunity to go to any of these schools, but just having the Auburn offer is extra special, you know, growing up an Auburn fan, so Auburn is definitely up there for me,” he said at the time. “Everyone that’s gone to Auburn has loved Auburn so… that’s all I’m gonna say.”
However, Sollie’s interest in the Plains goes much deeper than just watching the team as a child; rather, he has dreamed of this exact moment since he was in the stands at Jordan-Hare many years ago.
“I love Auburn,” he said. “Just the coaching staff, I love what Golesh is going to do this year. I love the campus; I love the fanbase. I actually grew up an Auburn fan, so Auburn’s extra special to me too… I remember going to games when I was younger and thinking to myself, like, ‘dang, I want to be one of those guys one day. I want to be an Auburn Tiger.’”
Sollie will likely battle Auburn 2027 commit Gary Chatmon for a starting job down the road, and both could be highly impressive options for the Tigers as the team begins to settle into Alex Golesh’s tenure.
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Where Auburn stands in 2028 recruiting after landing QB Sam Sollie
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Auburn football landed its first 2028 commitment on Saturday when Gadsden, Alabama quarterback Sam Sollie chose the Auburn Tigers over SEC rivals Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi State during a ceremony at Gadsden City High School.
Even though Sollie was Auburn's first commitment for the 2028 class, his pledge carried plenty of weight as Auburn now ranks No. 21 in the 2028 recruiting rankings and ranks No. 8 among SEC teams according to 247Sports. Auburn is one of 10 SEC teams with at least one commitment from the 2028 cycle, joining Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Texas.
Sollie, a lifelong Auburn fan, moved one step closer to throwing the pigskin for the orange and blue on Saturday by committing to the Tigers. The three-star quarterback says he loves everything about Auburn and is excited for the opportunity to lead Auburn's offense, just like so many of his idols did before him.
"It's a big deal. I think the last instate guy who committed to Auburn was Bo Nix. It's a big deal," Sollie said (via Montgomery Advertiser). "I definitely look up to Bo Nix, looking at Cam Newton, Nick Marshall and Jared Stidham. Just all those guys, I look at them like celebrities."
Adding Sollie to its 2028 class is a step in the right direction in their quest to replicate their current success on the 2027 recruiting trail. The Tigers have already landed a quarterback for the class and are in prime position to land several other talented pieces over the next 15 months.
2028 SEC recruiting rankings via 247Sports
Here is a look at the updated SEC recruiting rankings following Sam Sollie's commitment to Auburn
Alabama (No. 1 nationally- 7 commits)
Georgia (No. 5 nationally- 2 commits)
South Carolina (No. 8 nationally- 2 commits)
Florida (tied for No. 12 nationally- 1 commit)
Texas (tied for No. 12 nationally- 1 commit)
Oklahoma (tied for No. 16 nationally- 1 commit)
Texas A&M (tied for No. 16 nationally- 1 commit)
Auburn (tied for No. 21 nationally- 1 commit)
LSU (tied for No. 21 nationally- 1 commit)
Ole Miss (tied for No. 26 nationally- 1 commit)
Arkansas (N/A- 0 commits)
Kentucky (N/A- 0 commits)
Mississippi State (N/A- 0 commits)
Missouri (N/A- 0 commits)
Tennessee (N/A- 0 commits)
Vanderbilt (N/A- 0 commits)
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Auburn scores huge recruiting win for Alabama QB, but what's next for the 2028 class?
By Alec Sanner
Fly War Eagle
Gadsden City's Sam Sollie chose Auburn as his collegiate home on Saturday. Being the first of the class means every offensive skill player is looking at you when considering the Plains. Sollie's commitment changes the game for Auburn, so much so that now you have the 2028 No.1 TE, Kaleb Ballard, looking into Auburn as well.
The Tigers were already looking at Nehemiah McCary, but to potentially add Ballard too, 2028’s class could be bonkers.
Ballard, the six-foot-five, 220-pound 4-star from Wetumpka, Alabama, is now interested in Auburn. Showing his love for Alex Golesh, Ballard shared a bold statement backing practically everything Golesh has done this offseason.
“I love everything (Golesh) is doing with the team–taking them to the hotel, letting them be able to focus through fall camp so there are no distractions," Ballard said.
See, Joseph Goodman of AL.com, even after your comments, recruits like seeing Golesh taking his team to Opelika, even though you called them soft for doing it. Calling Auburn soft might be the reason why Ballard chooses the Plains when he does decide. Just to prove you wrong because he actually sees the change happening here.
Alex Golesh is aiming to win the state of Alabama one recruit at a time
Golesh just keeps chipping away with these victories that seem small, but are actually so much bigger in the grand scheme. Dominating the state in recruiting is a big deal when you really only have one competitor, and it's your blood rival.
Seeing things like this must terrify Alabama fans, knowing that this has to be the year Kalen DeBoer gets it done, or else he'll face a seat hotter than Lucifer's in Tuscaloosa. What would Alabama do if they lost the majority of their home-state recruiting to their rival? That would be embarrassing enough to make people forget their playoff loss to Indiana.
As previously mentioned, Golesh and company were already looking into McCary, the No. 2 linebacker in the 2028 class, per Rivals. If they could potentially add Ballard and McCary after already landing Sollie, Auburn's 2028 recruiting class could be a top-five class.
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Benji Roland named Auburn's 2026 SEC Football Legend
Nearly four decades after his Auburn football career concluded, All-American Benji Roland is still winning.
First, induction into the Tiger Trail of Auburn’s Class of 2026. Now, he’s Auburn’s 2026 SEC Football Legend.
“God has blessed me this year and he’s blessed me throughout my life, being a two-time cancer survivor,” said Roland, who anchored Auburn’s defensive line from 1985-88. “A goal of mine was to be on the Tiger Trail, then I come out here and I’m going to be Auburn’s SEC Legend, to represent this fine university and the former players I played with and who came before and after me. It’s an honor and I never expected this.”
Athletics director John Cohen informed Roland of his Legends selection during Auburn’s first week of preseason practice.
“My wife would tell you I’m never at a loss for words,” Roland said. “However, I’ve been lost for words when John asked me to represent Auburn University.”
Humbled to join Auburn’s previous SEC Football Legends, including 2025 recipient Cam Newton, Roland now shares the honor with his former teammate, 2022 SEC Legend Ben Tamburello.
“I have this question asked of me all the time: Who was the best center you ever played against?” Roland said. “I say I didn’t play against the best, I practiced against the best center in Ben Tamburello. To follow him into this Legend group is an honor.
“I know what kind of person he is, what kind of player and what he did representing this university. To be able to represent this league and be around people who you know what they stand for.”
Roland helped Pat Dye’s Auburn Tigers win back-to-back SEC championships as a junior and senior in 1987 and 1988.
“When you come to Auburn, in that Creed, it talks about not just work, it talks about hard work,” Roland said. “That’s what we did at Auburn. That’s what Coach Dye instilled in each and every one of us, not just being a football player but being an outstanding citizen.
"Coach Dye always told us to go beyond what you think you can do. He would push us to the brink, but he would always wrap his arms around us and tell us he loved us."
“Being able to pick yourself off the ground when things aren’t going your way. Coach Dye always told us to go beyond what you think you can do. He would push us to the brink, but he would always wrap his arms around us and tell us he loved us. He cared about us. That’s what I try to do every day. Life’s tough nowadays and you have to get up, push yourself and motivate yourself.”
Listed at 6-3, 270 pounds as a senior in Auburn’s 1988 media guide, Roland came to the Plains from Eastman, Georgia. After helping Auburn lead the nation in total defense, rushing defense and scoring defense as a senior, Roland played briefly in the NFL before returning to Auburn, where he’s enjoyed a career in sales.
“Live out your dreams, never give up,” Roland said. “Go where you want to go. I grew up a Georgia fan, and they recruited me since the eighth grade, but I fell in love with Auburn. Auburn’s been very helpful for me, and I can never repay what they’ve given me throughout my career.”
Roland will be honored with on-field recognition during an Auburn home game this season and will join his fellow 2026 SEC Football Legends Dec. 4-5 in Atlanta for a weekend of fanfare in connection with the SEC Football Championship.
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Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn 247
One week thoughts
We'll see how things go in week two for the Auburn football Tigers on the practice field, a week that will include the first scrimmage of the preseason on Friday morning. So far, it has been really positive for coach Alex Golesh's crew to this point. There have been a few minor injuries here and there, but the only real serious one has been to Tai Buster and that happened before practices even began.
I wrote about the differences in preseason practices recently and that's exactly why so many guys are missing practice time early in camp. Because the players are already in great shape and have spent so much time working on offensive and defensive schemes, missing time now isn't nearly as big of a detriment as it was 15-20 years ago. If it's a young guy that hasn't had many reps, it can still be a big deal, but for older guys the goal is to make sure those guys are healthy and ready to go a couple of weeks out from the season opener vs. Baylor.
I remember in 1993 when Terry Bowden and the Tigers used the phrase 'AttitUde' and went 11-0. That team had a will to win and won three of its first seven games by less than a touchdown to set the tone for the finish of the season against Georgia and Alabama.
That's what it's going to take for this year's team as well, and it's going to start with attitude. It's something that I feel when I talk to Byrum Brown or listen to his teammates talk about him. They say it's not cocky, but confident and you can feel that. It's going to take more than that to win games in the Southeastern Conference because you still have to be good enough, but the margins between 4 and 16 in this league are razor thin. We saw that last season.
Having someone that everyone believes in is a great place to start. It sure feels like that's the case with Brown.
Doubt Thomas at your own peril
We wrote about Thomas Dowd earlier in the summer after watching this Auburn basketball team practice and after two games in Greece it's only more apparent that he's going to be a guy that is impossible to keep off the court for this team because of everything he does to impact winning games. In two games he had 28 rebounds and 8 assists while scoring 21 points. He was a double-double machine at Troy during his career and he's going to be a legit stat sheet stuffer for this Auburn team. With dynamic guys around him like Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton at guard and some legit bigs, Dowd is going to frustrate the heck out of opponents with his energy and how hard he plays. Give me a guy like that on every basketball team and I'll take it. Whether it's Dennis Rodman or Draymond Green or Udonis Haslem or even a guy like Kurt Rambis before them, having someone willing to do the little things has led to big success at the highest level. There may not be a more overlooked player than Dowd for Auburn this season and that's just the way the Tigers like it.
Auburn golf keeps rolling
When you put yourself in the company of Tiger Woods (on the golf course), you're doing something special. That's what Jackson Koivun did with his Top 30 finish over the weekend to advance to the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The Top 70 made it in and Koivun finished right on the number. It will take something really special for him to move from 70 to inside the Top 50 and make it past this week in Memphis, but I'm not betting against JK to get it done.
In addition to Koivun advancing to the FedEx Cup, Auburn will have six players in this week's U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club and Philadelphia Country Club in Pennsylvania. Jake Albert, Hampton Beebee, Josiah Gilbert, Cayden Pope and Logan Reilly will all be in action this week. If anyone had questions about the future of Auburn's men's golf, that's a pretty good group for next season and beyond.
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Cam Coleman’s viral catch reminds Auburn fans what they lost...and never had
By Alec Sanner
Fly WarEagle
Auburn used to have Cam Coleman, and it felt like the start of something special. He arrived as a 5-star, the No. 5 overall recruit in the 2024 class, and immediately looked like a problem for SEC secondaries. Going on to catch 37 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns as a true freshman en route to SEC All-Freshman honors. Then Hugh Freeze started stinking up the place, and the offense fell apart around him. Then by the time his sophomore season ended, Coleman was gone. He left as the No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal, and he landed at Texas.
Today he reminded everyone exactly why that loss still stings, and is only about to get worse during the 2026 season.
A video of Coleman making a highlight-reel catch at Texas practice went viral on Saturday. Painfully, it's exactly the kind of play Auburn fans spent two years hoping he'd make for them. The 15-second clip shows Coleman sprinting across the field, leaping, and snagging a wobbly, off-target pass with his left hand. Longhorn fans hope that wasn't Arch Manning, but I digress. He then shook off a Texas defensive back and took it to the house for a touchdown. Within four hours, the video racked up millions of views and even drew viral reactions from former NFL quarterback Russell Wilson and ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid.
https://twitter.com/i/status/2086133908710518864
What makes this one hurt even more is how easily Coleman made the decision to leave town. Back in April, he told reporters it "wasn't really that hard" to walk away from Auburn.
"Just a lot of prayer, a lot of thought, a lot of talk with my family... Texas has been doing in the past, what they've got rolling, going on here. Really, it was just a good fit for me," Coleman said.
There were no shots fired and no bitterness in that answer. Coleman just looked at the situation on the Plains and decided it wasn't where his talent was going to get maximized.
Cam Coleman probably found what he was looking for
Now he's catching passes from Manning, inarguably the most talented quarterback he's ever played with, in an offense Coleman says lets him show his full skill set. He and Manning have been building that chemistry daily in practice, and Coleman has said Manning even tells him exactly where he wants him positioned on certain routes.
It's one thing to lose a 5-star talent to a bigger, better-resourced program. It's another thing entirely to watch that talent go make viral, Russell Wilson-approved catches within his first two weeks of fall camp, wearing a uniform that isn't yours anymore.
Auburn fans, I get it. I hope Coleman balls out in Austin. I just wish we'd gotten to see this version of him in orange and blue instead.
Auburn Co-OC Kodi Burns Talks Tigers’ Biggest Question Ahead of 2026:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/auburn-co-oc-kodi-burns-talks-tigers-biggest-question-ahead-of-2026
Auburn football fall camp: Coach Kodi Burns raves about his WR room:
https://flywareagle.com/auburn-football-fall-camp-coach-kodi-burns-raves-wr-room
Top Auburn QB Target Commits, First of 2028 Class:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/recruiting/top-auburn-qb-target-commits-first-of-2028-class-sam-sollie
Where Auburn stands in 2028 recruiting after landing QB Sam Sollie:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/recruiting/2026/08/09/auburn-football-recruiting-ranking-2028-sam-sollie-commitment/91235738007/
Auburn scores huge recruiting win for Alabama QB, but what's next for the 2028 class?:
https://flywareagle.com/auburn-scores-huge-recruiting-win-alabama-qb-whats-next-2028-class
Benji Roland named Auburn's 2026 SEC Football Legend:
https://auburntigers.com/news/2026/08/8/benji-roland-named-auburns-2026-sec-football-legend
Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/thoughts-on-auburn-football-auburn-basketball-and-auburn-mens-golf-288811102/
Cam Coleman’s viral catch reminds Auburn fans what they lost...and never had:
https://flywareagle.com/cam-coleman-viral-catch-reminds-auburn-fans-what-they-lost-never-had
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By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
Alex Golesh, the latest head coach of the Auburn Tigers, has quite a few questions surrounding his program ahead of his inaugural season on the Plains, though perhaps none have received as much screen time as one: how will Auburn’s offense, which is largely composed of USF transfers, acclimate to a full SEC schedule?
After all, most of the Tigers’ receivers, their quarterback, one of their running backs and two of their offensive linemen all transferred in from USF this past season, which is in the AAC, a starkly different conference from the SEC, which is largely considered to be, at the lowest, a top-two most difficult conference in the country.
However, the Tigers’ co-offensive coordinator, Kodi Burns, who also happens to be a USF transplant, still has supreme confidence in his unit, despite the rigor of the conference they will be taking on this year.
“Yeah, I think a little bit of it is overblown,” Burns said. “If you look at the schedule from our team last year, we did play SEC teams and it worked out pretty good, and so those guys do have experience from that standpoint.”
The Bulls only played in one SEC matchup last year, against the Florida Gators, in a matchup Golesh’s program won, 18-16. Of course, that win is not the biggest vote of confidence, especially given the fact that the Gators fired their head coach and were in much of a similar boat to the Tigers, but any win over any SEC program is proof that this unit is able to win in the SEC.
Additionally, the Tigers look much stronger ahead of this season than last year’s Bulls did at the same time, as they have transplanted their offensive line with several experienced transfers, they have built a dominant running back room led by Jeremiah Cobb and Bryson Washington and the offense now has Auburn’s top-level defense to rely on.
So, of course, there will be growing pains as the Bulls’ 2025 unit adjusts to the grind that is a nine-game SEC schedule, though, for what it’s worth, no player in the league has ever played in a nine-game SEC schedule before, so there are bound to be growing pains for all teams. After all, the SEC isn’t considered one of the strongest conferences in football for nothing.
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Auburn football fall camp: Coach Kodi Burns raves about his WR room
By Alec Sanner
Fly War Eagle
Auburn’s first week of fall camp is in the books. Since there's been one day in pads so far, there wasn’t a lot of contact, but doing reps in your gear helps players get used to it. WR coach Kodi Burns got to speak to the media after practice, opening up about his players and what they’re trying to do at this camp.
Burns was asked about how feasible it was to have six to eight receivers get significant snaps due to the pace of the offense. He replied with confidence.
"Yeah, I think it’s feasible. I think that the goal is to build depth right? We have to develop these young guys. We have some guys with experience, but at the same time, it’s all about development in this camp. And as we continue to grow each and every day, get detailed more and more every single practice," Burns said.
“Man, that’s the goal to really be two deep at every position so when you’re in 11 personnel team and you’re two deep at every position, that gets you about six and you would like ideally anywhere from six to eight. So as we get two deep at every position, every single year at some point, you know, knock on wood, you want to be injury-free, but injuries do happen.”
That is sensible confidence right there. Playing in such a high-paced offense does have its strengths and weaknesses. They do play from the spread, so having the ability to have receivers of varying speed and size could continue to throw off teams as it has done for Golesh in the past. You can bash Billy Napier all you want, but it was a talented Florida team that still took the L on the field last September to his USF Bulls.
Kodi would be asked after about certain players like Jeremiah Koger.
‘I challenge him because he IS talented.'
That was the answer coach Burns gave when asked about how this offseason has challenged Jeremiah Koger.
"Listen, Jeremiah is a fantastic player and I challenge him because he is talented," Burns said.
“He’s done it already at a different school and proven himself of what the type of player he is and so my challenge to him is he’s got to grow from spring up until summer, up until now, he’s got to continue to grow and get better.
“He has responded really well this fall camp and I’m telling you, Byrum really likes where he’s at right now."
That is a major insight for Koger. If Byrum Brown is liking where he is going, that could develop into more playing time. Especially since he’s been challenged this summer with the sharp rise of the freshman star DeShawn Spencer.
‘The moment’s just NEVER TOO BIG for him’
When asked about Spencer, you could see Coach Burns crack a smile as he answered, because even he knows how talented he is. Former Saraland teammate, now rival Alabama star WR, Ryan Coleman-Williams, called “a workhorse” on SEC media day.
Spencer is easily the most sensible replacement for Cam Coleman, who looks to prove his worth at Texas this year.
“I tell you what, DeShawn Spencer is a guy that the moment’s just never too big for him. Coming from Saraland, obviously comes from an incredible program and what he’s been able to do so far none less than impressive," Burns said.
“Like, it’s incredible just the mindset that he has. He is uber detailed. He’s a guy that is like the best guys I’ve been around in the NFL also at this level. You can tell them one time they do it or you can show it to them and they do it, and he’s just got that it.”
What Coach Burns is saying is what I was saying when I warned not to be shocked if Spencer starts seeing the field early and often.
This kid is the real deal and is only going to continue to get better.
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Top Auburn QB Target Commits, First of 2028 Class
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers absolutely dominated in the class of 2027 recruiting rankings, but there has been some concern as to how Alex Golesh will follow up his inaugural class as the head coach of the Tigers.
Though one commitment does not guarantee a top-level class, Golesh and company are already off to a strong start, as on Saturday, 2028 quarterback Sam Sollie committed to the Tigers.
https://x.com/JLeeAUSports/status/2086117259076882687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2086117259076882687%7Ctwgr%5E6b8203c03eaf76579ca26357c3905f00d154900a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege%2Fauburn%2Frecruiting%2Ftop-auburn-qb-target-commits-first-of-2028-class-sam-sollie
Sollie, the first commitment of the Tigers’ 2028 class, is a three-star quarterback who currently ranks as the 40th-best quarterback in the 2028 class as well as the 20th-best in-class player from his home state of Alabama. Many fans may not be as impressed with these rankings, but keep in mind that Sollie earned the starting job at Gadsden City in week four of this past season, so he has already earned these accolades despite limited play.
What stood out to Sollie about Auburn, specifically? After all, he had offers from many SEC schools, including top dogs like Alabama and Tennessee, as well as other rising programs like Florida and Kentucky.
Auburn Tigers on SI caught up with Sollie last week ahead of his commitment, and even then, it was pretty clear that he was trending towards the Tigers.
“I’m super grateful to have the opportunity to go to any of these schools, but just having the Auburn offer is extra special, you know, growing up an Auburn fan, so Auburn is definitely up there for me,” he said at the time. “Everyone that’s gone to Auburn has loved Auburn so… that’s all I’m gonna say.”
However, Sollie’s interest in the Plains goes much deeper than just watching the team as a child; rather, he has dreamed of this exact moment since he was in the stands at Jordan-Hare many years ago.
“I love Auburn,” he said. “Just the coaching staff, I love what Golesh is going to do this year. I love the campus; I love the fanbase. I actually grew up an Auburn fan, so Auburn’s extra special to me too… I remember going to games when I was younger and thinking to myself, like, ‘dang, I want to be one of those guys one day. I want to be an Auburn Tiger.’”
Sollie will likely battle Auburn 2027 commit Gary Chatmon for a starting job down the road, and both could be highly impressive options for the Tigers as the team begins to settle into Alex Golesh’s tenure.
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Where Auburn stands in 2028 recruiting after landing QB Sam Sollie
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Auburn football landed its first 2028 commitment on Saturday when Gadsden, Alabama quarterback Sam Sollie chose the Auburn Tigers over SEC rivals Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi State during a ceremony at Gadsden City High School.
Even though Sollie was Auburn's first commitment for the 2028 class, his pledge carried plenty of weight as Auburn now ranks No. 21 in the 2028 recruiting rankings and ranks No. 8 among SEC teams according to 247Sports. Auburn is one of 10 SEC teams with at least one commitment from the 2028 cycle, joining Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Texas.
Sollie, a lifelong Auburn fan, moved one step closer to throwing the pigskin for the orange and blue on Saturday by committing to the Tigers. The three-star quarterback says he loves everything about Auburn and is excited for the opportunity to lead Auburn's offense, just like so many of his idols did before him.
"It's a big deal. I think the last instate guy who committed to Auburn was Bo Nix. It's a big deal," Sollie said (via Montgomery Advertiser). "I definitely look up to Bo Nix, looking at Cam Newton, Nick Marshall and Jared Stidham. Just all those guys, I look at them like celebrities."
Adding Sollie to its 2028 class is a step in the right direction in their quest to replicate their current success on the 2027 recruiting trail. The Tigers have already landed a quarterback for the class and are in prime position to land several other talented pieces over the next 15 months.
2028 SEC recruiting rankings via 247Sports
Here is a look at the updated SEC recruiting rankings following Sam Sollie's commitment to Auburn
Alabama (No. 1 nationally- 7 commits)
Georgia (No. 5 nationally- 2 commits)
South Carolina (No. 8 nationally- 2 commits)
Florida (tied for No. 12 nationally- 1 commit)
Texas (tied for No. 12 nationally- 1 commit)
Oklahoma (tied for No. 16 nationally- 1 commit)
Texas A&M (tied for No. 16 nationally- 1 commit)
Auburn (tied for No. 21 nationally- 1 commit)
LSU (tied for No. 21 nationally- 1 commit)
Ole Miss (tied for No. 26 nationally- 1 commit)
Arkansas (N/A- 0 commits)
Kentucky (N/A- 0 commits)
Mississippi State (N/A- 0 commits)
Missouri (N/A- 0 commits)
Tennessee (N/A- 0 commits)
Vanderbilt (N/A- 0 commits)
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Auburn scores huge recruiting win for Alabama QB, but what's next for the 2028 class?
By Alec Sanner
Fly War Eagle
Gadsden City's Sam Sollie chose Auburn as his collegiate home on Saturday. Being the first of the class means every offensive skill player is looking at you when considering the Plains. Sollie's commitment changes the game for Auburn, so much so that now you have the 2028 No.1 TE, Kaleb Ballard, looking into Auburn as well.
The Tigers were already looking at Nehemiah McCary, but to potentially add Ballard too, 2028’s class could be bonkers.
Ballard, the six-foot-five, 220-pound 4-star from Wetumpka, Alabama, is now interested in Auburn. Showing his love for Alex Golesh, Ballard shared a bold statement backing practically everything Golesh has done this offseason.
“I love everything (Golesh) is doing with the team–taking them to the hotel, letting them be able to focus through fall camp so there are no distractions," Ballard said.
See, Joseph Goodman of AL.com, even after your comments, recruits like seeing Golesh taking his team to Opelika, even though you called them soft for doing it. Calling Auburn soft might be the reason why Ballard chooses the Plains when he does decide. Just to prove you wrong because he actually sees the change happening here.
Alex Golesh is aiming to win the state of Alabama one recruit at a time
Golesh just keeps chipping away with these victories that seem small, but are actually so much bigger in the grand scheme. Dominating the state in recruiting is a big deal when you really only have one competitor, and it's your blood rival.
Seeing things like this must terrify Alabama fans, knowing that this has to be the year Kalen DeBoer gets it done, or else he'll face a seat hotter than Lucifer's in Tuscaloosa. What would Alabama do if they lost the majority of their home-state recruiting to their rival? That would be embarrassing enough to make people forget their playoff loss to Indiana.
As previously mentioned, Golesh and company were already looking into McCary, the No. 2 linebacker in the 2028 class, per Rivals. If they could potentially add Ballard and McCary after already landing Sollie, Auburn's 2028 recruiting class could be a top-five class.
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Benji Roland named Auburn's 2026 SEC Football Legend
Nearly four decades after his Auburn football career concluded, All-American Benji Roland is still winning.
First, induction into the Tiger Trail of Auburn’s Class of 2026. Now, he’s Auburn’s 2026 SEC Football Legend.
“God has blessed me this year and he’s blessed me throughout my life, being a two-time cancer survivor,” said Roland, who anchored Auburn’s defensive line from 1985-88. “A goal of mine was to be on the Tiger Trail, then I come out here and I’m going to be Auburn’s SEC Legend, to represent this fine university and the former players I played with and who came before and after me. It’s an honor and I never expected this.”
Athletics director John Cohen informed Roland of his Legends selection during Auburn’s first week of preseason practice.
“My wife would tell you I’m never at a loss for words,” Roland said. “However, I’ve been lost for words when John asked me to represent Auburn University.”
Humbled to join Auburn’s previous SEC Football Legends, including 2025 recipient Cam Newton, Roland now shares the honor with his former teammate, 2022 SEC Legend Ben Tamburello.
“I have this question asked of me all the time: Who was the best center you ever played against?” Roland said. “I say I didn’t play against the best, I practiced against the best center in Ben Tamburello. To follow him into this Legend group is an honor.
“I know what kind of person he is, what kind of player and what he did representing this university. To be able to represent this league and be around people who you know what they stand for.”
Roland helped Pat Dye’s Auburn Tigers win back-to-back SEC championships as a junior and senior in 1987 and 1988.
“When you come to Auburn, in that Creed, it talks about not just work, it talks about hard work,” Roland said. “That’s what we did at Auburn. That’s what Coach Dye instilled in each and every one of us, not just being a football player but being an outstanding citizen.
"Coach Dye always told us to go beyond what you think you can do. He would push us to the brink, but he would always wrap his arms around us and tell us he loved us."
“Being able to pick yourself off the ground when things aren’t going your way. Coach Dye always told us to go beyond what you think you can do. He would push us to the brink, but he would always wrap his arms around us and tell us he loved us. He cared about us. That’s what I try to do every day. Life’s tough nowadays and you have to get up, push yourself and motivate yourself.”
Listed at 6-3, 270 pounds as a senior in Auburn’s 1988 media guide, Roland came to the Plains from Eastman, Georgia. After helping Auburn lead the nation in total defense, rushing defense and scoring defense as a senior, Roland played briefly in the NFL before returning to Auburn, where he’s enjoyed a career in sales.
“Live out your dreams, never give up,” Roland said. “Go where you want to go. I grew up a Georgia fan, and they recruited me since the eighth grade, but I fell in love with Auburn. Auburn’s been very helpful for me, and I can never repay what they’ve given me throughout my career.”
Roland will be honored with on-field recognition during an Auburn home game this season and will join his fellow 2026 SEC Football Legends Dec. 4-5 in Atlanta for a weekend of fanfare in connection with the SEC Football Championship.
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Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn 247
One week thoughts
We'll see how things go in week two for the Auburn football Tigers on the practice field, a week that will include the first scrimmage of the preseason on Friday morning. So far, it has been really positive for coach Alex Golesh's crew to this point. There have been a few minor injuries here and there, but the only real serious one has been to Tai Buster and that happened before practices even began.
I wrote about the differences in preseason practices recently and that's exactly why so many guys are missing practice time early in camp. Because the players are already in great shape and have spent so much time working on offensive and defensive schemes, missing time now isn't nearly as big of a detriment as it was 15-20 years ago. If it's a young guy that hasn't had many reps, it can still be a big deal, but for older guys the goal is to make sure those guys are healthy and ready to go a couple of weeks out from the season opener vs. Baylor.
I remember in 1993 when Terry Bowden and the Tigers used the phrase 'AttitUde' and went 11-0. That team had a will to win and won three of its first seven games by less than a touchdown to set the tone for the finish of the season against Georgia and Alabama.
That's what it's going to take for this year's team as well, and it's going to start with attitude. It's something that I feel when I talk to Byrum Brown or listen to his teammates talk about him. They say it's not cocky, but confident and you can feel that. It's going to take more than that to win games in the Southeastern Conference because you still have to be good enough, but the margins between 4 and 16 in this league are razor thin. We saw that last season.
Having someone that everyone believes in is a great place to start. It sure feels like that's the case with Brown.
Doubt Thomas at your own peril
We wrote about Thomas Dowd earlier in the summer after watching this Auburn basketball team practice and after two games in Greece it's only more apparent that he's going to be a guy that is impossible to keep off the court for this team because of everything he does to impact winning games. In two games he had 28 rebounds and 8 assists while scoring 21 points. He was a double-double machine at Troy during his career and he's going to be a legit stat sheet stuffer for this Auburn team. With dynamic guys around him like Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton at guard and some legit bigs, Dowd is going to frustrate the heck out of opponents with his energy and how hard he plays. Give me a guy like that on every basketball team and I'll take it. Whether it's Dennis Rodman or Draymond Green or Udonis Haslem or even a guy like Kurt Rambis before them, having someone willing to do the little things has led to big success at the highest level. There may not be a more overlooked player than Dowd for Auburn this season and that's just the way the Tigers like it.
Auburn golf keeps rolling
When you put yourself in the company of Tiger Woods (on the golf course), you're doing something special. That's what Jackson Koivun did with his Top 30 finish over the weekend to advance to the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The Top 70 made it in and Koivun finished right on the number. It will take something really special for him to move from 70 to inside the Top 50 and make it past this week in Memphis, but I'm not betting against JK to get it done.
In addition to Koivun advancing to the FedEx Cup, Auburn will have six players in this week's U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club and Philadelphia Country Club in Pennsylvania. Jake Albert, Hampton Beebee, Josiah Gilbert, Cayden Pope and Logan Reilly will all be in action this week. If anyone had questions about the future of Auburn's men's golf, that's a pretty good group for next season and beyond.
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Cam Coleman’s viral catch reminds Auburn fans what they lost...and never had
By Alec Sanner
Fly WarEagle
Auburn used to have Cam Coleman, and it felt like the start of something special. He arrived as a 5-star, the No. 5 overall recruit in the 2024 class, and immediately looked like a problem for SEC secondaries. Going on to catch 37 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns as a true freshman en route to SEC All-Freshman honors. Then Hugh Freeze started stinking up the place, and the offense fell apart around him. Then by the time his sophomore season ended, Coleman was gone. He left as the No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal, and he landed at Texas.
Today he reminded everyone exactly why that loss still stings, and is only about to get worse during the 2026 season.
A video of Coleman making a highlight-reel catch at Texas practice went viral on Saturday. Painfully, it's exactly the kind of play Auburn fans spent two years hoping he'd make for them. The 15-second clip shows Coleman sprinting across the field, leaping, and snagging a wobbly, off-target pass with his left hand. Longhorn fans hope that wasn't Arch Manning, but I digress. He then shook off a Texas defensive back and took it to the house for a touchdown. Within four hours, the video racked up millions of views and even drew viral reactions from former NFL quarterback Russell Wilson and ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid.
https://twitter.com/i/status/2086133908710518864
What makes this one hurt even more is how easily Coleman made the decision to leave town. Back in April, he told reporters it "wasn't really that hard" to walk away from Auburn.
"Just a lot of prayer, a lot of thought, a lot of talk with my family... Texas has been doing in the past, what they've got rolling, going on here. Really, it was just a good fit for me," Coleman said.
There were no shots fired and no bitterness in that answer. Coleman just looked at the situation on the Plains and decided it wasn't where his talent was going to get maximized.
Cam Coleman probably found what he was looking for
Now he's catching passes from Manning, inarguably the most talented quarterback he's ever played with, in an offense Coleman says lets him show his full skill set. He and Manning have been building that chemistry daily in practice, and Coleman has said Manning even tells him exactly where he wants him positioned on certain routes.
It's one thing to lose a 5-star talent to a bigger, better-resourced program. It's another thing entirely to watch that talent go make viral, Russell Wilson-approved catches within his first two weeks of fall camp, wearing a uniform that isn't yours anymore.
Auburn fans, I get it. I hope Coleman balls out in Austin. I just wish we'd gotten to see this version of him in orange and blue instead.
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