Football News: 7-22-2026
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Dudley Dent
Jul 22, 2026, 7:53:26 AM (4 days ago) Jul 22
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Auburn Football News: 7-22-2026
Golesh on Champ Anthony: 'Everything you want Auburn football to be':
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburns-champ-anthony-is-ready-to-go-this-fall-for-the-tigers-288438871/
Ramil on track to be ready to go when Tigers open fall camp:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tackle-stanton-ramil-is-expected-to-be-ready-to-go-in-camp-288430929/
Da'Shawn Womack's status still to be determined after offseason arrest:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-dashawn-womack-arrest--288419071/
Golesh provides Auburn injury updates with fall camp looming:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-fall-camp-injury-sec-media-days-288423020/
As Golesh's first Auburn season approaches, 'kumbaya time' is almost over:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-alex-golesh-sec-media-days-2026-288431848/
Alex Golesh Reaffirms One of His Earliest Commitments to the Auburn Family:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/alex-golesh-reaffirms-earliest-commitments-auburn-family-run-game
Alex Golesh Says 'Some of Those Prayers Have Been Answered' on Auburn Football’s Offensive Line:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/alex-golesh-prayers-have-been-answered-auburn-football-offensive-line-
Alex McPherson is healthy and confident ahead of the 2026 season:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/07/21/auburn-football-sec-media-days-alex-mcpherson-confidence-health/90994299007/
ESPN analyst praises Auburn football's hire of Alex Golesh:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/07/21/auburn-football-espn-analyst-praises-alex-golesh-hire/90990978007/
Alex Golesh left no doubt about the state of his Auburn football program at SEC Media Days:
https://flywareagle.com/alex-golesh-left-no-doubt-state-auburn-football-program-sec-media-days
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn 247
Two seasons ago, Champ Anthony was playing football at an elite level before an injury against Arkansas ended his year prematurely. Last season he dealt with a thumb injury before a second leg injury in two seasons meant another heavy workload in the training room for him. That has been a big part of his life at Auburn, but on Tuesday he found himself in a moment he never thought possible, representing the program at SEC Media Days.
"I have been through a lot," Anthony tells Auburn247. "It's surreal. I thank God that coach Golesh trusted me to represent the team and Auburn. It means a lot. I'm glad to be here.
"There have probably only been about five people that have spent more time in the training room than me and that's the trainers. I have been spending every second I can in the training room making sure I'm bulletproof in my body and I'm ready for the season. It has been a lot of hard work."
Even though he didn't get an opportunity to see Anthony on the field in the spring, Golesh said he knew there was something different about a guy that wanted to hang around for a third year and with a new staff. That has shown up over and over again in the training room, in the weight room, on the field and in the meeting room. Golesh said that's a big reason why Anthony made the trip to Tampa as one of Auburn's representatives at SEC Media Days.
"You look at a guy in Champ Anthony, and Champ is a guy that missed most of spring, but a guy that has done nothing but look out for this team since I've been here," Golesh said. "In the way that he's led vocally, the way that he's led in the locker room, the way that he continues to grab guys and bring guys along and the way he's working. He's doing everything in his power to be the standard. Not just defensively, but as a collective whole. And he'll be the first one to say, man, I haven't played enough to be the face of this program.
"I would tell you what he does day to day represents everything you want Auburn football to be. Tough, smart and a leader. He's got a neat story. He's had to overcome a ton. ?He'd be the first one to tell you he probably shouldn't be here right now because of everything he's gone through. But he's here, he's healthy, he's fighting and kind of brings a smile to my face because he's everything you want in terms of a fighter that's resilient."
That leadership is something Anthony takes very seriously. He's been that voice for Auburn since early in his first season. Despite the ups and downs, he said helping Golesh brand his identity on the program has been fun so far and he can't wait to see the results.
"I know how things are supposed to go at Auburn," Anthony said. "I feel like, just me setting the tone and setting the standard for how things are supposed to go, I feel like it was very important. Coach Golesh is a very hungry guy. He brought that type of angry, hungry mentality and that's how we practice. That's how we train. That's how we do everything in the weight room. Everything on the field is violent. Having a coach like that who embraces that side of you and lets me be free and talk how I want to and be me, it has been great."
Now the biggest question surrounding Anthony is just where does he fit in Auburn's defense? He has played corner, nickel and safety in his first two seasons. Coming back stronger than ever, he's someone that gives the Tigers plenty of flexibility.
"It's the same thing as I always say, I just love football," Anthony said. "I'll play wherever. If I'm on the field it really doesn't matter where I'm at. You can put my hand in the dirt, linebacker, running back, whatever. I just love ball. Just week to week, coach Durkin will have the gameplan and I just follow."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6VZDKOh_CI
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Ramil on track to be ready to go when Tigers open fall camp
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn 247
When Auburn went to the transfer portal to sign offensive tackle Stanton Ramil from Michigan State, the Tigers weren't just looking for a placeholder. They were looking for the former Thompson High standout to be a leader up front for the offense in year one under Alex Golesh. After dealing with injuries in East Lansing that cost him seven games a year ago, Ramil is getting healthy and looks to be on track to be ready to go when the Tigers open camp on August 5th.
"He got cleared there at the end of spring," Golesh said. "We were really guarded with him. We wanted him to have the month of May to get healthy — really healthy. And he's gone into the summer, and he's done a really good job.
"Now it's just a matter of managing his load through fall camp to make sure he's getting the work he needs, but making sure he understands he's got to be healthy. So this summer's been building up confidence. He's had a really, really good summer.
"I'm really proud of where he's at. It's going to be on us and our medical team to manage his load through camp, because again, he didn't go through spring. So now it's just building up to get ready for Week 1 to ultimately be able to play, hopefully, 16 weeks."
This summer, in addition to working on getting back to full speed, Ramil has been working on his leadership skills at Auburn. Even though he didn't get to do a lot on the field in the spring, he's someone that has that in his background after representing the Spartans at Big 10 Media Days a year ago.
Now, he's showing some of those same qualities at Auburn as he prepares for his first season with the Tigers. Golesh said they have seen him take some big strides since the spring and he's looking for big things from the big tackle this season.
"He's got a really unique way of leading, really quietly and kind of in that back without needing to make sure everybody can see him," Golesh said. "But you can see; that's a young man that as a redshirt freshman went to media days and represented his team a year ago. We didn't see that.
"I saw that out of him in high school when we first recruited him. But you hadn't seen that, and I understand why. He wasn't playing. He never felt like he could, then you started to hear that from Gio (Director of Performance George Courides) early in the summer, of like, 'This kid's got a unique way of leading,' and then as we've gotten on the field, you've seen it. He's got a cool energy about him. He's a really good football player. Really athletic, really good skill set. Tough, smart, everything you want your tackle to be."
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Da'Shawn Womack's status still to be determined after offseason arrest
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
The status of one of Auburn's most prominent newcomers on defense is still up in the air.
Defensive end Da'Shawn Womack, a transfer from Ole Miss, was arrested June 6 on reckless endangerment charges in Auburn. Alex Golesh said he has already "handled the punishment" internally, but did not go into detail as to whether that will entail a suspension or any sort of setback for Womack once Auburn begins fall camp Aug. 5.
Womack's court date in Lee County is set for Aug. 13, and Golesh insinuated that Auburn will have a more concrete outlook on Womack and his status later in his legal proceedings.
"We've handled the punishment piece internally,"' Golesh said Monday, speaking to Auburn reporters before his appearance at SEC Media Days on Tuesday. "We're waiting on the legal part of it to, I guess, go through what it's gotta go through. Then we'll make a decision from there."
A former 5-star signee at LSU, Womack transferred out and landed with Ole Miss, where he found a much larger role, contributing 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery.
But Womack was still not a true starter with the Rebels, and despite some openings along the defensive line on that Ole Miss roster, he chose to hit the portal again — and again landing in the SEC, this time at Auburn, where he was immediately viewed as a starting-caliber piece after some considerable turnover at his position.
Mostly playing end in Keldric Faulk's old spot, Womack was a first-teamer for the Tigers throughout the spring, and was also credited by his teammates and coaches for being one of the most vocal leaders off the field. He has prior relationships with many players on this roster from their shared high school in Baltimore, St. Frances Academy.
"Getting Da'Shawn was a great one for us," Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin said earlier this offseason. "He's an NFL-type talent, body. Just all his movement skills from the size he is is pretty incredible. And he has a great relationship with a lot of the guys on our team. As we mentioned, the St. Frances connection, those guys look up to him. He's a guy that's been a leader in their lives, and that's something they looked up to in a younger age, as well. So I think that's a natural connection with some of the guys on our team, and we're certainly going to expect good things out of him."
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Golesh provides Auburn injury updates with fall camp looming
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
Auburn was a shell of itself exiting the spring, but a lot of those names are exiting the injury report heading into fall camp, as Alex Golesh provided reporters with an injury update Monday night before his appearance with the Tigers at SEC Media Days on Tuesday.
For starters, only one player is known to be missing the 2026 season: cornerback Devin Williams, who can't catch a break after being unavailable his entire freshman year after a torn ACL. Williams again injured his knee this past spring, Golesh said, and is out for the year.
The main name to know on the injury list is, and has been for months, offensive tackle Stanton Ramil. The Michigan State transfer has started 17 games already at the Power Four level and is hoped to be one of the Tigers' main components of their offensive-line rebuild, but he missed most of spring while continuing to recover from a lower-body injury.
Golesh said Auburn took things slowly with Ramil toward the end of spring before he was fully cleared in May. Though he's physically ready, Golesh said he'll still be on a pitch count at the start of the preseason.
"It's just a matter of managing his load through fall camp to make sure he's getting the work he needs, but making sure he understands he's got to be healthy," Golesh said. "So this summer's been building up confidence. He's had a really, really good summer. I'm really proud of where he's at. It's going to be on us and our medical team to manage his load through camp, because again, he didn't go through spring."
Ramil's health is hoped to open some doors for the rest of that group and give first-year position coach Tyler Hudanick more answers about where to play someone like Tai Buster, who spent the majority of his time at right tackle in the spring but could move inside to guard.
Fifth-year senior defensive back Champ Anthony will represent the Tigers as part of their crew for SEC Media Days on Tuesday after being injury bugged the past two seasons. He broke his leg early in the 2024 campaign, then had a thumb and separate leg injury last season after returning. Anthony did not participate much in spring ball, but Golesh said Monday that he'll be ready for fall camp.
Linebacker De'marcus Riddick is also expected to be ready in the fall after two separate shoulder surgeries early in the offseason, and receiver Christian Neptune missed much of the spring after a shoulder procedure. Golesh said those who are coming off shoulder procedures will be cleared just this week, so they will likely be "a bit limited contact-wise" at the start of fall camp.
"Outside of that, we've got everybody going into fall camp healthy, knock on wood," Golesh said. "We've got this week and next week (of summer workouts), but we'll be healthy going in."
Golesh later mentioned a couple names who he would like to be in better physical shape but have been limited in their conditioning by injuries: tight end Jonathan Echols and running back Bryson Washington. Echols, a USF transfer, missed most of the spring with an undisclosed injury, and Golesh said he still wants him to put on 5-10 pounds to get to his ideal playing weight.
Washington, Baylor's leading rusher each of the past two seasons, was affectionally called "chubby" by Golesh at the end of spring practice, and Golesh said he's still pushing Washington on a daily basis to get in better shape. Some of Washington's setbacks were related to a lingering injury, though.
Auburn's fall camp kicks off Aug. 5.
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As Golesh's first Auburn season approaches, 'kumbaya time' is almost over
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
Alex Golesh likes the word "connectivity." And that can't be built overnight, especially on a team with nearly 70 new players.
If Auburn wants to conjure its first winning season since 2020, Golesh knows a cohesive locker room has to start now — well, it had to have started many months ago. That's why he put so much value on his 13 transfers from USF to set the tone. As Golesh was taking over the program and so many new faces were in the building, he was relying on Byrum Brown, Cole Best, Chas Nimrod and that crew to assure their new teammates, "Hey, this guy knows what he's doing."
Then in spring meetings, Golesh told the team's leadership to be proactive this summer. Invite a new teammate to lunch each week. Go hang out and shoot hoops — even though Golesh said he winces when watching them go full speed on the court — instead of going home and playing video games. If there aren't good, wide-ranging relationships before fall camp, Golesh knows he's failed before he's even started.
"I've been a part of teams where guys sit there in the corner like, 'Man, when is this over so coach don't rip my ass?'" Golesh said.
If it's not obvious at this point, Golesh wants a connected team. And if you're searching for that during a 2-3 start to the year, or down three touchdowns in the third quarter, it's way, way too late.
So when Golesh saw some Auburn players roll up to his house one morning earlier this offseason with their fishing poles and head into his backyard, he had a big smile. That was his hope all along for the summer, and Golesh said this Auburn team has passed that aspect of the offseason with flying colors.
"When the coaches get away and you see guys organically start to grow, it's been cool to see," Golesh said Monday evening, speaking with reporters in preparation for his time at SEC Media Days on Tuesday.
Golesh had a long list of who to highlight — and thank — for putting the team in the positive position he believes it's in before fall camp.
Byrum Brown, who has already been the gravitational force of Golesh's past few locker rooms, has "come into his own, more and more."
Cole Best, who had a steadying and veteran voice right away after transferring in from USF, shows up to work the same way every day.
Chas Nimrod has already had what is easily the most talked-about offseason in Auburn's building in terms of his on-the-field work, and now he's "coming out of his shell" in the locker room, too. Golesh estimates that it's starting to set in for the fifth-year senior that this is his last shot.
Bryce Deas is young, but after some mentions in the spring that he was getting more confident, Golesh confirmed as much and said the linebacker is finding his voice.
Champ Anthony is, well, the same Champ Anthony that was voted team captain last year and was the "clear choice" to be selected for SEC Media Days this year.
Rayshawn Pleasant was quiet last season but is now embracing the bigger role that comes with the shoes left for him to fill at cornerback.
Cody Sigler was mentioned by strength coach George Courides during his chat with Auburn247 earlier this month as a player who rarely loses in summer workouts, and Golesh said the Arkansas State transfer can always "lead by example."
Yes, Auburn's 2026 success will be defined by how well Golesh's offense and personnel translates from USF, how capable this entirely new-look offensive line will be, how the Tigers replace three NFL draft picks up front on defense, and whether Golesh's biggest "concern" at cornerback can be quelled. Golesh's job is to win football games.
But he's also tasked with establishing a culture and setting the foundation for a program that desperately needs to find more stable footing.
"I think, over the last couple weeks, you've seen it organically happen," Golesh said. "It's been really positive to watch."
That's all fun and great, but that's also offseason talk. Golesh is a practical coach. As such, he finds it tough to heap a ton of praise on an aspect of his team that he knows does not involve helmets or pads, without quickly acknowledging that team chemistry cannot block an edge rusher on third-and-long, and a day fishing on the lake does not add an extra yard on the goal line.
So Golesh is most curious what his Auburn team (and locker room) will look like in fall camp — when the demands get higher from their coaches, and the pressure rises before the season. Or what they look like during the gauntlet of an SEC season.
Will they still like being around each other as much then? Push will soon meet shove.
"You just want to see it carry over into fall camp — where we're going to go right back into creating really hard situations, really tough situations, really competitive situations," Golesh said."Now these guys that are hanging out with each other, it's (about to be) right in their face that they're actually competing for time. I think that's where you see where it really is.
"We're in a little bit of a kumbaya time right now where it's really, really positive. We'll see what it looks like in August."
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Alex Golesh Reaffirms One of His Earliest Commitments to the Auburn Family
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
Lots of things have changed for the Auburn Tigers between Alex Golesh’s hiring back in November and SEC Media Days now in July, but one thing has remained entirely consistent: Golesh’s offensive identity.
In his very first press conference as the head coach of the Tigers, Golesh told the press that they were going to ‘run the piss out of the ball’ in 2026, and Tuesday, at SEC Media Days, he repeated that exact phrase, verbatim.
In his initial press conference, Golesh also joked that he had heard that Auburn fans were typically fans of that philosophy, and the general reaction to that quote has certainly matched his thoughts. For a few years now, particularly under Hugh Freeze, there were many who believed that Freeze was not using his rushing game to the best of its ability.
Golesh, however, appears determined to make sure that does not happen under his reign.
After all, the Tigers have built one of the stronger rushing cores in the country, led by Auburn returner Jeremiah Cobb, who rushed for 969 yards last season, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. The Tigers have also added Baylor transfer Bryson Washington, who missed a good part of last season with an injury, but still managed to rush for 788 yards.
Then, the Tigers complete the three-headed monster with the rushing ability of Byrum Brown, who, aside from passing for over 3,000 yards last season, managed to rush for 1,008 yards, averaging a ridiculous 5.8 yards per carry.
Then, the Tigers have incredible depth in their running back room, including Omar Mabson, who is expected to be fighting for the RB1 spot sometime in the next few years, Nykahi Davenport, USF’s RB1 last year despite the fact that he was a true freshman at the time and even Alvin Henderson, a Hugh Freeze-recruited five-star running back, who was one of the few to stick around after his departure.
For the unit to work to its maximum potential, though, the Tigers’ offensive line will have to step up, and there are some concerns as to the level that they will be able to play, particularly in a loaded SEC schedule. If the unit stays healthy and improves during fall camp, the Tigers could be well-poised for one of the better rushing seasons in recent Auburn memory.
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Alex Golesh Says 'Some of Those Prayers Have Been Answered' on Auburn Football’s Offensive Line
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers have been forced to rebuild almost all of their offense ahead of the 2026 season, and the offensive line was no exception.
Six Tiger offensive line starters from 2025 are now either headed to the NFL or have transferred, so new head coach Alex Golesh has brought in five new starters that he is becoming more confident in each day.
It has, admittedly, been a rollercoaster of emotion for Golesh, at least as far as he has shared with the media, as back in one of his very first press conferences, he told the media that he needed prayers for the unit. Then, a few months later, he told the same group that he believed his unit to be an ‘answer to prayer.’
Now, at SEC Media Days on Tuesday, Golesh shared yet another update on his opinion of the unit, and it seems to fall right down the middle of his previous two assessments.
“It probably doesn’t get talked about enough that those dudes are on the same page,” he said. “I give Cole Best a ton of credit because he’s worked extremely hard to bring that group together. But where it was in early spring, where I was ready to pull my hair out, I think I asked for prayers with our local media, some of those prayers have been answered, we’ve still got a long way to go in terms of the work that needs to go in, but I feel really good going into fall camp.”
Tiger fans certainly hope that this group improves significantly throughout fall camp, as it is set to be the lifeblood of an Auburn rushing attack that, if blocked for well, could very well be one of the best rushing units in the country. Led by Auburn returner Jeremiah Cobb and bolstered by Baylor transfer Bryson Washington and the rushing talent of quarterback Byrum Brown, the unit is the first in modern Auburn history to enter a season with three players over 1,000 career rushing yards each.
Auburn has plenty of talent all across the board, but the team will live and die in the trenches. The largest concern with many of these new offensive linemen is a lack of SEC experience, much like the rest of the offense, so it will certainly be interesting to watch the entire unit attempt to adjust to the gauntlet that is the Southeastern Conference.
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Alex McPherson is healthy and confident ahead of the 2026 season
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Auburn football fans are excited for several things as the Tigers begin a new era in 2026, including kicker Alex McPherson's return to full strength.
After a stellar redshirt freshman season that saw him nail 13-of-13 field goal attempts and 40-of-40 point-after attempts in 2023, McPherson was diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease that limited his action to just one game during the 2024 season.
McPherson returned to action full-time last season, using the season to build strength and return to his usual routine. This season, he is considered to be back to full strength, with evidence provided during Auburn's A-Day game in April, when he connected on a 55-yard field goal, which would be considered the longest of his career in an actual game.
McPherson spoke about his health during his time at the SEC Media Day's podium on Tuesday. He says that returning to normal has been exciting for him, and he is ready to compete at full strength as a senior in 2026.
"I think I'm kicking as good as I have since before I got sick," McPherson said. "It's just really exciting getting to do that and play with the guys to the full extent."
Not only is McPherson's health back to normal, but so is his confidence. McPherson shared that he is willing to take on any situation the team needs him to and feels that he can deliver on their requests.
"We kicked yesterday before I actually got on the plane to come here, and we made a 60-yarder as a unit," McPherson said. "So I think wherever you need me, I think at this point I'm confident in from kicking, distance-wise. And just excited to have that strength back."
McPherson is ready to lead Auburn's special teams unit as a senior in 2026, hoping to end his collegiate career on a high note. Heading into the season, McPherson is 100% on extra points, connecting on all 87 opportunities. He has also made 89% of his field goal tries in four seasons, making 40-of-45 in 30 games.
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ESPN analyst praises Auburn football's hire of Alex Golesh
By Phillip Jordan
Auburn Wire
While the Auburn Tigers are not set to take center stage at SEC Media Days until Tuesday, they were a hot topic for many on Monday in Tampa. That includes a former Alabama quarterback and current ESPN analyst.
Per Al.com, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy said the Auburn Tigers hired one of the best offensive minds in Alex Golesh. McElroy mentioned that the Tigers shifted gears after experiencing some bad offenses over the last three seasons under head coach Hugh Freeze.
"So they go out and hire one of the best offensive minds in the sport in Alex Golesh," McElroy said.
The hope when Freeze was hired after the 2022 season was that he would field an exciting offense. This was due to his success at both Ole Miss and Liberty before arriving on the Plains. That hope was never realized during his almost three seasons as the Tigers' head coach. Auburn finished No. 10 (2023), No. 6 (2024), and No. 10 (2025) in the SEC in total offense over those three seasons, with the passing game being the major point of the struggles. Freeze brought in transfers Payton Thorne and Jackson Arnold, but neither panned out to be consistent passers.
Golesh arrives at Auburn after coaching one of the top offenses in college football during the 2025 season. The South Florida Bulls ranked third nationally with 488.7 yards per game. They were led by one of the best signal callers in the sport and new Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown. He was the only player in college football to throw for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000. Like Golesh looks to succeed where Freeze failed, Brown will look to do what previous quarterbacks could not for Auburn.
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Alex Golesh left no doubt about the state of his Auburn football program at SEC Media Days
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
Alex Golesh is the early winner of 2026 SEC Football Media Days for proving he's a man of his word.
Golesh has shown this week that he's set a standard for his Auburn Tigers, and he's sticking to it himself on a personal level with his appearance at the Tampa Marriott Water Street and neighboring JW Marriott.
In a photo shared by Tigers quarterback Byrum Brown on X -- Brown, of course, whom Golesh brought with him from the USF Bulls in the portal window's most consequential move -- the head coach is looking to be in the best shape of his coaching career.
https://x.com/byrumbrown17/status/2079392814182338643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2079392814182338643%7Ctwgr%5E8e5b918f64fb472578a856e69d105c5e7d310446%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fflywareagle.com%2Falex-golesh-left-no-doubt-state-auburn-football-program-sec-media-days
When you preach accountability and then display it yourself, you gain credibility. Golesh appears laser focused on being an effective leader on a new level. As he stepped up in weight class on the field, he lowered in another off it.
Not only that, but Golesh didn't feed any "we're close" BS just because he has been recruiting well when his scheduled media availability began on Tuesday. He actually took accountability for the fact that in today's recruiting landscape, the job isn't done until signing day.
"...signing day is in December, so we need to have success on the field to validate what we've been preaching," Golesh said.
What a breath of fresh air, not celebrating victories until they are in the bag.
Golesh also made it clear that Ole Miss Rebels transfer linebacker Da'Shawn Womack's arrest in North Auburn in June was being handled internally as the legal process plays out. No stone was left unturned. There were landmines avoided, though.
Alex Golesh doesn't engage the USF beat in Tampa
It gets better. With the SEC's media days taking place in Tampa this year, Golesh didn't let the local USF beat get the better of him. With a full schedule and a mix of PR savvy, Golesh denied appearances in potential hostile environments.
"Auburn just refuses to let us speak with Coach Alex Golesh. We were told he’s completely booked up today," 95.7 WDAE & AM620's Nick Wize wrote on X. "We reached out 2 weeks ago knowing he would be booked up. Very unfortunate that you can’t come on the air in Tampa, host city of SEC Media days and a place you coached…"
You could tell the appearance was going to be neutral based on the guilting of Golesh there. No need to feed any soundbites that could distract from the job from hosts who are not playing nice.
The Bulls' fanbase has been relentless toward Golesh for taking interviews with AU and the Arkansas Razorbacks during the 2025 season, ignoring that Jon Sumrall did the same thing with the Tulane Green Wave when he interviewed with the Tigers and Florida Gators around the same time. USF didn't have enough talent to complement the Brown-led offensive attack, hence the upgrade to Auburn. Tulane was able to keep it together and still win, plus there's no bad blood in New Orleans.
Alex Golesh is in full control heading into the 2026 season
Golesh is in a very good place leading into the 2026 season. If there's a university brain trust that will protect its coach, it's AU's. Jimmy Rane has already publicly backed him. Based on 2027 recruiting, that includes financial backing too. Not that we didn't know that from Golesh's six-year, $44.25 million contract.
Golesh is clearly an ROI guy. He didn't see enough of it at USF, but the early returns in Auburn show he's found a great fit with the Loveliest Village on the Plains.
The results so far make it too obvious.
Golesh on Champ Anthony: 'Everything you want Auburn football to be':
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburns-champ-anthony-is-ready-to-go-this-fall-for-the-tigers-288438871/
Ramil on track to be ready to go when Tigers open fall camp:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tackle-stanton-ramil-is-expected-to-be-ready-to-go-in-camp-288430929/
Da'Shawn Womack's status still to be determined after offseason arrest:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-dashawn-womack-arrest--288419071/
Golesh provides Auburn injury updates with fall camp looming:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-fall-camp-injury-sec-media-days-288423020/
As Golesh's first Auburn season approaches, 'kumbaya time' is almost over:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-tigers-football-alex-golesh-sec-media-days-2026-288431848/
Alex Golesh Reaffirms One of His Earliest Commitments to the Auburn Family:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/alex-golesh-reaffirms-earliest-commitments-auburn-family-run-game
Alex Golesh Says 'Some of Those Prayers Have Been Answered' on Auburn Football’s Offensive Line:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/football/alex-golesh-prayers-have-been-answered-auburn-football-offensive-line-
Alex McPherson is healthy and confident ahead of the 2026 season:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/07/21/auburn-football-sec-media-days-alex-mcpherson-confidence-health/90994299007/
ESPN analyst praises Auburn football's hire of Alex Golesh:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/07/21/auburn-football-espn-analyst-praises-alex-golesh-hire/90990978007/
Alex Golesh left no doubt about the state of his Auburn football program at SEC Media Days:
https://flywareagle.com/alex-golesh-left-no-doubt-state-auburn-football-program-sec-media-days
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Golesh on Champ Anthony: 'Everything you want Auburn football to be'
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn 247
Two seasons ago, Champ Anthony was playing football at an elite level before an injury against Arkansas ended his year prematurely. Last season he dealt with a thumb injury before a second leg injury in two seasons meant another heavy workload in the training room for him. That has been a big part of his life at Auburn, but on Tuesday he found himself in a moment he never thought possible, representing the program at SEC Media Days.
"I have been through a lot," Anthony tells Auburn247. "It's surreal. I thank God that coach Golesh trusted me to represent the team and Auburn. It means a lot. I'm glad to be here.
"There have probably only been about five people that have spent more time in the training room than me and that's the trainers. I have been spending every second I can in the training room making sure I'm bulletproof in my body and I'm ready for the season. It has been a lot of hard work."
Even though he didn't get an opportunity to see Anthony on the field in the spring, Golesh said he knew there was something different about a guy that wanted to hang around for a third year and with a new staff. That has shown up over and over again in the training room, in the weight room, on the field and in the meeting room. Golesh said that's a big reason why Anthony made the trip to Tampa as one of Auburn's representatives at SEC Media Days.
"You look at a guy in Champ Anthony, and Champ is a guy that missed most of spring, but a guy that has done nothing but look out for this team since I've been here," Golesh said. "In the way that he's led vocally, the way that he's led in the locker room, the way that he continues to grab guys and bring guys along and the way he's working. He's doing everything in his power to be the standard. Not just defensively, but as a collective whole. And he'll be the first one to say, man, I haven't played enough to be the face of this program.
"I would tell you what he does day to day represents everything you want Auburn football to be. Tough, smart and a leader. He's got a neat story. He's had to overcome a ton. ?He'd be the first one to tell you he probably shouldn't be here right now because of everything he's gone through. But he's here, he's healthy, he's fighting and kind of brings a smile to my face because he's everything you want in terms of a fighter that's resilient."
That leadership is something Anthony takes very seriously. He's been that voice for Auburn since early in his first season. Despite the ups and downs, he said helping Golesh brand his identity on the program has been fun so far and he can't wait to see the results.
"I know how things are supposed to go at Auburn," Anthony said. "I feel like, just me setting the tone and setting the standard for how things are supposed to go, I feel like it was very important. Coach Golesh is a very hungry guy. He brought that type of angry, hungry mentality and that's how we practice. That's how we train. That's how we do everything in the weight room. Everything on the field is violent. Having a coach like that who embraces that side of you and lets me be free and talk how I want to and be me, it has been great."
Now the biggest question surrounding Anthony is just where does he fit in Auburn's defense? He has played corner, nickel and safety in his first two seasons. Coming back stronger than ever, he's someone that gives the Tigers plenty of flexibility.
"It's the same thing as I always say, I just love football," Anthony said. "I'll play wherever. If I'm on the field it really doesn't matter where I'm at. You can put my hand in the dirt, linebacker, running back, whatever. I just love ball. Just week to week, coach Durkin will have the gameplan and I just follow."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6VZDKOh_CI
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Ramil on track to be ready to go when Tigers open fall camp
By Jason Caldwell
Auburn 247
When Auburn went to the transfer portal to sign offensive tackle Stanton Ramil from Michigan State, the Tigers weren't just looking for a placeholder. They were looking for the former Thompson High standout to be a leader up front for the offense in year one under Alex Golesh. After dealing with injuries in East Lansing that cost him seven games a year ago, Ramil is getting healthy and looks to be on track to be ready to go when the Tigers open camp on August 5th.
"He got cleared there at the end of spring," Golesh said. "We were really guarded with him. We wanted him to have the month of May to get healthy — really healthy. And he's gone into the summer, and he's done a really good job.
"Now it's just a matter of managing his load through fall camp to make sure he's getting the work he needs, but making sure he understands he's got to be healthy. So this summer's been building up confidence. He's had a really, really good summer.
"I'm really proud of where he's at. It's going to be on us and our medical team to manage his load through camp, because again, he didn't go through spring. So now it's just building up to get ready for Week 1 to ultimately be able to play, hopefully, 16 weeks."
This summer, in addition to working on getting back to full speed, Ramil has been working on his leadership skills at Auburn. Even though he didn't get to do a lot on the field in the spring, he's someone that has that in his background after representing the Spartans at Big 10 Media Days a year ago.
Now, he's showing some of those same qualities at Auburn as he prepares for his first season with the Tigers. Golesh said they have seen him take some big strides since the spring and he's looking for big things from the big tackle this season.
"He's got a really unique way of leading, really quietly and kind of in that back without needing to make sure everybody can see him," Golesh said. "But you can see; that's a young man that as a redshirt freshman went to media days and represented his team a year ago. We didn't see that.
"I saw that out of him in high school when we first recruited him. But you hadn't seen that, and I understand why. He wasn't playing. He never felt like he could, then you started to hear that from Gio (Director of Performance George Courides) early in the summer, of like, 'This kid's got a unique way of leading,' and then as we've gotten on the field, you've seen it. He's got a cool energy about him. He's a really good football player. Really athletic, really good skill set. Tough, smart, everything you want your tackle to be."
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Da'Shawn Womack's status still to be determined after offseason arrest
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
The status of one of Auburn's most prominent newcomers on defense is still up in the air.
Defensive end Da'Shawn Womack, a transfer from Ole Miss, was arrested June 6 on reckless endangerment charges in Auburn. Alex Golesh said he has already "handled the punishment" internally, but did not go into detail as to whether that will entail a suspension or any sort of setback for Womack once Auburn begins fall camp Aug. 5.
Womack's court date in Lee County is set for Aug. 13, and Golesh insinuated that Auburn will have a more concrete outlook on Womack and his status later in his legal proceedings.
"We've handled the punishment piece internally,"' Golesh said Monday, speaking to Auburn reporters before his appearance at SEC Media Days on Tuesday. "We're waiting on the legal part of it to, I guess, go through what it's gotta go through. Then we'll make a decision from there."
A former 5-star signee at LSU, Womack transferred out and landed with Ole Miss, where he found a much larger role, contributing 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery.
But Womack was still not a true starter with the Rebels, and despite some openings along the defensive line on that Ole Miss roster, he chose to hit the portal again — and again landing in the SEC, this time at Auburn, where he was immediately viewed as a starting-caliber piece after some considerable turnover at his position.
Mostly playing end in Keldric Faulk's old spot, Womack was a first-teamer for the Tigers throughout the spring, and was also credited by his teammates and coaches for being one of the most vocal leaders off the field. He has prior relationships with many players on this roster from their shared high school in Baltimore, St. Frances Academy.
"Getting Da'Shawn was a great one for us," Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin said earlier this offseason. "He's an NFL-type talent, body. Just all his movement skills from the size he is is pretty incredible. And he has a great relationship with a lot of the guys on our team. As we mentioned, the St. Frances connection, those guys look up to him. He's a guy that's been a leader in their lives, and that's something they looked up to in a younger age, as well. So I think that's a natural connection with some of the guys on our team, and we're certainly going to expect good things out of him."
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Golesh provides Auburn injury updates with fall camp looming
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
Auburn was a shell of itself exiting the spring, but a lot of those names are exiting the injury report heading into fall camp, as Alex Golesh provided reporters with an injury update Monday night before his appearance with the Tigers at SEC Media Days on Tuesday.
For starters, only one player is known to be missing the 2026 season: cornerback Devin Williams, who can't catch a break after being unavailable his entire freshman year after a torn ACL. Williams again injured his knee this past spring, Golesh said, and is out for the year.
The main name to know on the injury list is, and has been for months, offensive tackle Stanton Ramil. The Michigan State transfer has started 17 games already at the Power Four level and is hoped to be one of the Tigers' main components of their offensive-line rebuild, but he missed most of spring while continuing to recover from a lower-body injury.
Golesh said Auburn took things slowly with Ramil toward the end of spring before he was fully cleared in May. Though he's physically ready, Golesh said he'll still be on a pitch count at the start of the preseason.
"It's just a matter of managing his load through fall camp to make sure he's getting the work he needs, but making sure he understands he's got to be healthy," Golesh said. "So this summer's been building up confidence. He's had a really, really good summer. I'm really proud of where he's at. It's going to be on us and our medical team to manage his load through camp, because again, he didn't go through spring."
Ramil's health is hoped to open some doors for the rest of that group and give first-year position coach Tyler Hudanick more answers about where to play someone like Tai Buster, who spent the majority of his time at right tackle in the spring but could move inside to guard.
Fifth-year senior defensive back Champ Anthony will represent the Tigers as part of their crew for SEC Media Days on Tuesday after being injury bugged the past two seasons. He broke his leg early in the 2024 campaign, then had a thumb and separate leg injury last season after returning. Anthony did not participate much in spring ball, but Golesh said Monday that he'll be ready for fall camp.
Linebacker De'marcus Riddick is also expected to be ready in the fall after two separate shoulder surgeries early in the offseason, and receiver Christian Neptune missed much of the spring after a shoulder procedure. Golesh said those who are coming off shoulder procedures will be cleared just this week, so they will likely be "a bit limited contact-wise" at the start of fall camp.
"Outside of that, we've got everybody going into fall camp healthy, knock on wood," Golesh said. "We've got this week and next week (of summer workouts), but we'll be healthy going in."
Golesh later mentioned a couple names who he would like to be in better physical shape but have been limited in their conditioning by injuries: tight end Jonathan Echols and running back Bryson Washington. Echols, a USF transfer, missed most of the spring with an undisclosed injury, and Golesh said he still wants him to put on 5-10 pounds to get to his ideal playing weight.
Washington, Baylor's leading rusher each of the past two seasons, was affectionally called "chubby" by Golesh at the end of spring practice, and Golesh said he's still pushing Washington on a daily basis to get in better shape. Some of Washington's setbacks were related to a lingering injury, though.
Auburn's fall camp kicks off Aug. 5.
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As Golesh's first Auburn season approaches, 'kumbaya time' is almost over
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
Alex Golesh likes the word "connectivity." And that can't be built overnight, especially on a team with nearly 70 new players.
If Auburn wants to conjure its first winning season since 2020, Golesh knows a cohesive locker room has to start now — well, it had to have started many months ago. That's why he put so much value on his 13 transfers from USF to set the tone. As Golesh was taking over the program and so many new faces were in the building, he was relying on Byrum Brown, Cole Best, Chas Nimrod and that crew to assure their new teammates, "Hey, this guy knows what he's doing."
Then in spring meetings, Golesh told the team's leadership to be proactive this summer. Invite a new teammate to lunch each week. Go hang out and shoot hoops — even though Golesh said he winces when watching them go full speed on the court — instead of going home and playing video games. If there aren't good, wide-ranging relationships before fall camp, Golesh knows he's failed before he's even started.
"I've been a part of teams where guys sit there in the corner like, 'Man, when is this over so coach don't rip my ass?'" Golesh said.
If it's not obvious at this point, Golesh wants a connected team. And if you're searching for that during a 2-3 start to the year, or down three touchdowns in the third quarter, it's way, way too late.
So when Golesh saw some Auburn players roll up to his house one morning earlier this offseason with their fishing poles and head into his backyard, he had a big smile. That was his hope all along for the summer, and Golesh said this Auburn team has passed that aspect of the offseason with flying colors.
"When the coaches get away and you see guys organically start to grow, it's been cool to see," Golesh said Monday evening, speaking with reporters in preparation for his time at SEC Media Days on Tuesday.
Golesh had a long list of who to highlight — and thank — for putting the team in the positive position he believes it's in before fall camp.
Byrum Brown, who has already been the gravitational force of Golesh's past few locker rooms, has "come into his own, more and more."
Cole Best, who had a steadying and veteran voice right away after transferring in from USF, shows up to work the same way every day.
Chas Nimrod has already had what is easily the most talked-about offseason in Auburn's building in terms of his on-the-field work, and now he's "coming out of his shell" in the locker room, too. Golesh estimates that it's starting to set in for the fifth-year senior that this is his last shot.
Bryce Deas is young, but after some mentions in the spring that he was getting more confident, Golesh confirmed as much and said the linebacker is finding his voice.
Champ Anthony is, well, the same Champ Anthony that was voted team captain last year and was the "clear choice" to be selected for SEC Media Days this year.
Rayshawn Pleasant was quiet last season but is now embracing the bigger role that comes with the shoes left for him to fill at cornerback.
Cody Sigler was mentioned by strength coach George Courides during his chat with Auburn247 earlier this month as a player who rarely loses in summer workouts, and Golesh said the Arkansas State transfer can always "lead by example."
Yes, Auburn's 2026 success will be defined by how well Golesh's offense and personnel translates from USF, how capable this entirely new-look offensive line will be, how the Tigers replace three NFL draft picks up front on defense, and whether Golesh's biggest "concern" at cornerback can be quelled. Golesh's job is to win football games.
But he's also tasked with establishing a culture and setting the foundation for a program that desperately needs to find more stable footing.
"I think, over the last couple weeks, you've seen it organically happen," Golesh said. "It's been really positive to watch."
That's all fun and great, but that's also offseason talk. Golesh is a practical coach. As such, he finds it tough to heap a ton of praise on an aspect of his team that he knows does not involve helmets or pads, without quickly acknowledging that team chemistry cannot block an edge rusher on third-and-long, and a day fishing on the lake does not add an extra yard on the goal line.
So Golesh is most curious what his Auburn team (and locker room) will look like in fall camp — when the demands get higher from their coaches, and the pressure rises before the season. Or what they look like during the gauntlet of an SEC season.
Will they still like being around each other as much then? Push will soon meet shove.
"You just want to see it carry over into fall camp — where we're going to go right back into creating really hard situations, really tough situations, really competitive situations," Golesh said."Now these guys that are hanging out with each other, it's (about to be) right in their face that they're actually competing for time. I think that's where you see where it really is.
"We're in a little bit of a kumbaya time right now where it's really, really positive. We'll see what it looks like in August."
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Alex Golesh Reaffirms One of His Earliest Commitments to the Auburn Family
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
Lots of things have changed for the Auburn Tigers between Alex Golesh’s hiring back in November and SEC Media Days now in July, but one thing has remained entirely consistent: Golesh’s offensive identity.
In his very first press conference as the head coach of the Tigers, Golesh told the press that they were going to ‘run the piss out of the ball’ in 2026, and Tuesday, at SEC Media Days, he repeated that exact phrase, verbatim.
In his initial press conference, Golesh also joked that he had heard that Auburn fans were typically fans of that philosophy, and the general reaction to that quote has certainly matched his thoughts. For a few years now, particularly under Hugh Freeze, there were many who believed that Freeze was not using his rushing game to the best of its ability.
Golesh, however, appears determined to make sure that does not happen under his reign.
After all, the Tigers have built one of the stronger rushing cores in the country, led by Auburn returner Jeremiah Cobb, who rushed for 969 yards last season, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. The Tigers have also added Baylor transfer Bryson Washington, who missed a good part of last season with an injury, but still managed to rush for 788 yards.
Then, the Tigers complete the three-headed monster with the rushing ability of Byrum Brown, who, aside from passing for over 3,000 yards last season, managed to rush for 1,008 yards, averaging a ridiculous 5.8 yards per carry.
Then, the Tigers have incredible depth in their running back room, including Omar Mabson, who is expected to be fighting for the RB1 spot sometime in the next few years, Nykahi Davenport, USF’s RB1 last year despite the fact that he was a true freshman at the time and even Alvin Henderson, a Hugh Freeze-recruited five-star running back, who was one of the few to stick around after his departure.
For the unit to work to its maximum potential, though, the Tigers’ offensive line will have to step up, and there are some concerns as to the level that they will be able to play, particularly in a loaded SEC schedule. If the unit stays healthy and improves during fall camp, the Tigers could be well-poised for one of the better rushing seasons in recent Auburn memory.
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Alex Golesh Says 'Some of Those Prayers Have Been Answered' on Auburn Football’s Offensive Line
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers have been forced to rebuild almost all of their offense ahead of the 2026 season, and the offensive line was no exception.
Six Tiger offensive line starters from 2025 are now either headed to the NFL or have transferred, so new head coach Alex Golesh has brought in five new starters that he is becoming more confident in each day.
It has, admittedly, been a rollercoaster of emotion for Golesh, at least as far as he has shared with the media, as back in one of his very first press conferences, he told the media that he needed prayers for the unit. Then, a few months later, he told the same group that he believed his unit to be an ‘answer to prayer.’
Now, at SEC Media Days on Tuesday, Golesh shared yet another update on his opinion of the unit, and it seems to fall right down the middle of his previous two assessments.
“It probably doesn’t get talked about enough that those dudes are on the same page,” he said. “I give Cole Best a ton of credit because he’s worked extremely hard to bring that group together. But where it was in early spring, where I was ready to pull my hair out, I think I asked for prayers with our local media, some of those prayers have been answered, we’ve still got a long way to go in terms of the work that needs to go in, but I feel really good going into fall camp.”
Tiger fans certainly hope that this group improves significantly throughout fall camp, as it is set to be the lifeblood of an Auburn rushing attack that, if blocked for well, could very well be one of the best rushing units in the country. Led by Auburn returner Jeremiah Cobb and bolstered by Baylor transfer Bryson Washington and the rushing talent of quarterback Byrum Brown, the unit is the first in modern Auburn history to enter a season with three players over 1,000 career rushing yards each.
Auburn has plenty of talent all across the board, but the team will live and die in the trenches. The largest concern with many of these new offensive linemen is a lack of SEC experience, much like the rest of the offense, so it will certainly be interesting to watch the entire unit attempt to adjust to the gauntlet that is the Southeastern Conference.
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Alex McPherson is healthy and confident ahead of the 2026 season
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
Auburn football fans are excited for several things as the Tigers begin a new era in 2026, including kicker Alex McPherson's return to full strength.
After a stellar redshirt freshman season that saw him nail 13-of-13 field goal attempts and 40-of-40 point-after attempts in 2023, McPherson was diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease that limited his action to just one game during the 2024 season.
McPherson returned to action full-time last season, using the season to build strength and return to his usual routine. This season, he is considered to be back to full strength, with evidence provided during Auburn's A-Day game in April, when he connected on a 55-yard field goal, which would be considered the longest of his career in an actual game.
McPherson spoke about his health during his time at the SEC Media Day's podium on Tuesday. He says that returning to normal has been exciting for him, and he is ready to compete at full strength as a senior in 2026.
"I think I'm kicking as good as I have since before I got sick," McPherson said. "It's just really exciting getting to do that and play with the guys to the full extent."
Not only is McPherson's health back to normal, but so is his confidence. McPherson shared that he is willing to take on any situation the team needs him to and feels that he can deliver on their requests.
"We kicked yesterday before I actually got on the plane to come here, and we made a 60-yarder as a unit," McPherson said. "So I think wherever you need me, I think at this point I'm confident in from kicking, distance-wise. And just excited to have that strength back."
McPherson is ready to lead Auburn's special teams unit as a senior in 2026, hoping to end his collegiate career on a high note. Heading into the season, McPherson is 100% on extra points, connecting on all 87 opportunities. He has also made 89% of his field goal tries in four seasons, making 40-of-45 in 30 games.
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ESPN analyst praises Auburn football's hire of Alex Golesh
By Phillip Jordan
Auburn Wire
While the Auburn Tigers are not set to take center stage at SEC Media Days until Tuesday, they were a hot topic for many on Monday in Tampa. That includes a former Alabama quarterback and current ESPN analyst.
Per Al.com, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy said the Auburn Tigers hired one of the best offensive minds in Alex Golesh. McElroy mentioned that the Tigers shifted gears after experiencing some bad offenses over the last three seasons under head coach Hugh Freeze.
"So they go out and hire one of the best offensive minds in the sport in Alex Golesh," McElroy said.
The hope when Freeze was hired after the 2022 season was that he would field an exciting offense. This was due to his success at both Ole Miss and Liberty before arriving on the Plains. That hope was never realized during his almost three seasons as the Tigers' head coach. Auburn finished No. 10 (2023), No. 6 (2024), and No. 10 (2025) in the SEC in total offense over those three seasons, with the passing game being the major point of the struggles. Freeze brought in transfers Payton Thorne and Jackson Arnold, but neither panned out to be consistent passers.
Golesh arrives at Auburn after coaching one of the top offenses in college football during the 2025 season. The South Florida Bulls ranked third nationally with 488.7 yards per game. They were led by one of the best signal callers in the sport and new Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown. He was the only player in college football to throw for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000. Like Golesh looks to succeed where Freeze failed, Brown will look to do what previous quarterbacks could not for Auburn.
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Alex Golesh left no doubt about the state of his Auburn football program at SEC Media Days
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
Alex Golesh is the early winner of 2026 SEC Football Media Days for proving he's a man of his word.
Golesh has shown this week that he's set a standard for his Auburn Tigers, and he's sticking to it himself on a personal level with his appearance at the Tampa Marriott Water Street and neighboring JW Marriott.
In a photo shared by Tigers quarterback Byrum Brown on X -- Brown, of course, whom Golesh brought with him from the USF Bulls in the portal window's most consequential move -- the head coach is looking to be in the best shape of his coaching career.
https://x.com/byrumbrown17/status/2079392814182338643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2079392814182338643%7Ctwgr%5E8e5b918f64fb472578a856e69d105c5e7d310446%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fflywareagle.com%2Falex-golesh-left-no-doubt-state-auburn-football-program-sec-media-days
When you preach accountability and then display it yourself, you gain credibility. Golesh appears laser focused on being an effective leader on a new level. As he stepped up in weight class on the field, he lowered in another off it.
Not only that, but Golesh didn't feed any "we're close" BS just because he has been recruiting well when his scheduled media availability began on Tuesday. He actually took accountability for the fact that in today's recruiting landscape, the job isn't done until signing day.
"...signing day is in December, so we need to have success on the field to validate what we've been preaching," Golesh said.
What a breath of fresh air, not celebrating victories until they are in the bag.
Golesh also made it clear that Ole Miss Rebels transfer linebacker Da'Shawn Womack's arrest in North Auburn in June was being handled internally as the legal process plays out. No stone was left unturned. There were landmines avoided, though.
Alex Golesh doesn't engage the USF beat in Tampa
It gets better. With the SEC's media days taking place in Tampa this year, Golesh didn't let the local USF beat get the better of him. With a full schedule and a mix of PR savvy, Golesh denied appearances in potential hostile environments.
"Auburn just refuses to let us speak with Coach Alex Golesh. We were told he’s completely booked up today," 95.7 WDAE & AM620's Nick Wize wrote on X. "We reached out 2 weeks ago knowing he would be booked up. Very unfortunate that you can’t come on the air in Tampa, host city of SEC Media days and a place you coached…"
You could tell the appearance was going to be neutral based on the guilting of Golesh there. No need to feed any soundbites that could distract from the job from hosts who are not playing nice.
The Bulls' fanbase has been relentless toward Golesh for taking interviews with AU and the Arkansas Razorbacks during the 2025 season, ignoring that Jon Sumrall did the same thing with the Tulane Green Wave when he interviewed with the Tigers and Florida Gators around the same time. USF didn't have enough talent to complement the Brown-led offensive attack, hence the upgrade to Auburn. Tulane was able to keep it together and still win, plus there's no bad blood in New Orleans.
Alex Golesh is in full control heading into the 2026 season
Golesh is in a very good place leading into the 2026 season. If there's a university brain trust that will protect its coach, it's AU's. Jimmy Rane has already publicly backed him. Based on 2027 recruiting, that includes financial backing too. Not that we didn't know that from Golesh's six-year, $44.25 million contract.
Golesh is clearly an ROI guy. He didn't see enough of it at USF, but the early returns in Auburn show he's found a great fit with the Loveliest Village on the Plains.
The results so far make it too obvious.
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