Football News: 4-10-2026
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Dudley Dent
Apr 10, 2026, 8:09:15 AM (3 days ago) Apr 10
to Tiger Tracks
Auburn Football News: 4-10-2026
Here’s what Auburn’s first-team offensive line looked like in Thursday’s practice:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/heres-what-auburns-first-team-offensive-line-looked-like-in-thursdays-practice.html
Auburn player shares eye-opening quote on difference between now and last season:
https://flywareagle.com/auburn-player-shares-eye-opening-quote-on-difference-between-now-and-last-season-01knshghtkac
Why Rayshawn Pleasant returned to Auburn for a second season:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/why-rayshawn-pleasant-returned-to-auburn-for-a-second-season.html
High-intensity Hutzler has Auburn's pass rushers improving in spring ball:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-football-jared-smith-coleman-hutzler-dashawn-womack-281034881/
NFL star Derrick Brown shares tips with Auburn defensive tackles at practice:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/nfl-star-derrick-brown-shares-tips-with-auburn-defensive-tackles-at-practice.html
OL Prospect ‘Hungry for More’ After Visit to Auburn:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/recruiting/ol-prospect-hungry-for-more-after-visit-to-auburn-01knqhh3h7cv
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian talks nuances of key Auburn football transfer's acclimation to Longhorns offense:
https://flywareagle.com/texas-coach-steve-sarkisian-talks-nuances-key-auburn-football-transfer-acclimation-longhorns-offense
These former Auburn players will attend the NFL Draft:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/these-former-auburn-players-will-attend-the-nfl-draft.html
Observations from Auburn spring practice No. 10
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
Auburn was back on the practice field Thursday morning as the Tigers continue preparations for next Saturday’s A-Day spring game.
Alex Golesh and the team are just over a week away from competing spring practice, as the team gets its first practices in under the new staff.
Keep Watching
Media members were allowed to watch close to 30 minutes of Thursday’s practice, which included stretching and drill periods.
Here’s what we saw:
Availability report
Demarcus Riddick, Jonathan Echols, Jacob Strand and Jack Luttrell practiced wearing orange non-contact jerseys.
Sam Turner, Stanton Ramil and Champ Anthony were all non-participants, instead working individually with the training staff.
Other observations
Chris Murray had already returned to practice, but is now wearing No. 30 instead of a blank jersey.
During a walkthrough period, the first team offensive line was Jo Simmons (left tackle), Deryc Plazz (left guard), Cole Best (center), Cole Skinner (right guard), Wilson Zierer (right tackle).
In that first group, Tai Buster rotated with Skinner at right guard.
The second team offensive line during that period was Buster, (left tackle), Jack Leyrer (left guard), Kail Ellis (center), Jacobe’ Ward (right guard), TJ Hedrick (right tackle)
With the second group, Jacob Strand rotated with Buster at left tackle and Parker Pritchett rotated with Hedrick at right tackle.
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Here’s what Auburn’s first-team offensive line looked like in Thursday’s practice
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn football held its tenth practice of the spring period Thursday morning and AL.com observed on the offensive linemen.
The offensive line remains Auburn’s most uncertain position group. However, Auburn coach Alex Golesh said he’s seeing steady improvement from the room this spring.
Here’s what stood out during Thursday’s practice ahead of next weekend’s spring game inside Jordan Hare Stadium:
The first drill saw each lineman go head-to-head in a blocking drill. Tai Buster set the tempo with a great rep against Jacobe’ Ward, showing off his power and footwork.
Transfers Jack Leyer and Jo Simmons had some good thuds in their reps during the drill.
Sophomore Deryc Plazz has been receiving praise from his teammates all spring and put that on display, dominating his reps against Leyer.
Sophomore center Kail Ellis banged up his finger during the drill but seemed to be ok and finished up practice.
Freshman Wilson Zierer received coaching from position coach Tyler Hudanick on generating more power, with Hudanick demonstrating proper technique by exploding off the line himself.
In the second drill, Auburn ran through a lineup of its offense where we saw a first and second team look of the offensive line.
First team: RT: Wilson Zierer, RG: Cole Skinner, C: Cole Best, LG: Deryc Plazz, LT: Jo Simmons and TE: Arlis Boardingham
Second team: RT: Wilson Zierer, RG: Tai Buster, C: Cole Best, LG: William Grier McDuffie, LT: Jo Simmons and TE: Arlis Boardingham
Note: These lineups were used in a wildcat scheme where Auburn had running back Jeremiah Cobb take a direct snap and make a pass to running back Omar Mabson II.
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Auburn player shares eye-opening quote on difference between now and last season
By Brian Stultz
Fly War Eagle
There’s always talk when a new coach and staff come in that the atmosphere in and around the facility changes, mostly for the better, as a breath of fresh air arrives and players are given a new start.
That certainly seems to be the case at Auburn, as new head coach Alex Golesh hopes to rebuild the Tigers into title contenders after five lost seasons under Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze.
One Auburn player is already talking about the difference.
Eric Winters already sees difference in team attitude
“It sorta became, ‘Oh, we’ve got to come here and we’ve got to do this?’” sophomore safety Eric Winters told On3’s Chris Low. “I’m not saying that it was like that throughout the whole year, but as time wound down, there was a lot of that, ‘Man, we’ve got to go through this again.’”
It was a rough freshman season for Winters as the Tigers continued to lose games they should have won, finishing 5-7 and seeing Freeze get the can after an embarrassing 10-3 home loss to woeful Kentucky in November. If Freeze brought hope to the program after being hired in 2022 to replace Bryan Harsin, who was a disaster from the start, that went away after two straight losing seasons, leading to a 2025 season in which he entered on the hot seat only to see it get hotter after a four-game losing streak.
Golesh was hired to restore some pride in the Tigers, and after a massive exodus of talented players recruited by Freeze, he brought in a slew of transfers, including several from USF, including quarterback Bryce Brown, to help turn the program around.
Winters continues to see what a difference a year and a new coach make.
“Guys are here all throughout the day just hanging around and putting in extra work. We want to be here, want to go play for the guy beside you,” Winters said. “You didn’t have much of that last year. The guys are here, pushing each other, bonding with each other, and it’s different people, not just the same guys.
“You wake up in the morning and look forward to coming here, look forward to getting better every day. That’s the biggest difference to me.”
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Why Rayshawn Pleasant returned to Auburn for a second season
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
As his first season on the Plains came to an end, Auburn cornerback Rayshawn Pleasant was faced with a decision.
Auburn’s two starting cornerbacks — Jay Crawford and Kayin Lee — entered the transfer portal and Pleasant could have easily done the same. More than 30 Auburn players transferred away from the program, meaning Pleasant following suit wouldn’t have been a shock.
But after transferring to Auburn from Tulane during the previous offseason, Pleasant didn’t want to move again. He opted to stay and is now the leader of the Tigers’ rebuilt cornerback room.
“I felt like I owed it to these boys to come back. I owed it to these fans,” Pleasant said. “It’s been a long drought, and they’ve been supportive of us. I’ve transferred once, but I’m a big guy on just staying committed to a place.”
Pleasant started only two games for Auburn last season but was a key contributor at cornerback. He finished the 2025 campaign with 16 tackles, three pass deflections and two interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown.
That pick-6 wasn’t the only time Pleasant reached the end zone last season. He returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown during Auburn’s season-opening win over Baylor.
Between his contributions to the secondary and explosiveness on special teams, retaining Pleasant was a priority for Auburn this past offseason. Pleasant said he felt the same way and was drawn to Alex Golesh and the new coaching staff.
“I was a big fan of Coach Golesh, me being a (former) G5 guy,” Pleasant said. “I feel like it was only right for me to give them a chance to get my best and stay there for them.”
Pleasant is the only player in Auburn’s revamped cornerback group that played significant snaps for the Tigers last season. Blake Woodby and Devin Williams were both on the team in 2025, but Woodby played a reserve role, and Williams didn’t play due to injury.
New cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Van Dyke has described Pleasant as another coach on the field. Pleasant said is enjoying playing for his new position coach, a former NFL defensive back.
“He’s been really great. He brings a lot of energy,” Pleasant said. “He played in the league, so he gives us game each and every day. I’m just blessed to be here and be coached by him.”
Pleasant is embracing his newfound leadership role, even calling this spring, “one of the most fun times I’ve had.” With only two other returners joining Pleasant, he’s surrounded by a handful of transfers who bring varying levels of experience.
As the group works toward proving itself to a new staff this spring, Pleasant described the cornerback room as “hungry,” “around the ball,” “physical” and said, “we all can run.”
Golesh called Auburn’s cornerback room one of his biggest concerns going into spring ball, but after the Tigers’ first spring scrimmage, Golesh and the staff feel better about the group.
That has been due in no small part to Pleasant’s presence, as he hopes his return to the program will pay dividends in 2026.
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High-intensity Hutzler has Auburn's pass rushers improving in spring ball
By Nathan King
There's no mistaking where Coleman Hutzler is on the field at any given Auburn practice.
Somehow, Auburn found a defensive coach more intense than its coordinator, DJ Durkin. Hutzler, a two-time former SEC coordinator himself, is as high-energy and vocal as they come. For a position that includes some of the best athletes on the roster, exploding off the line of scrimmage, the 41-year-old Hutzler is never far behind them.
"He is so far up their ass," Alex Golesh said last week. "It's fun to watch."
If there was any Auburn assistant who needed to have daily urgency and growth within his group this offseason, it was probably going to be Hutzler and his position room anyway. Hutzler oversees both the edge rushers and defensive ends together — the groups that may be producing Auburn's top draft picks, Keldric Faulk and Keyron Crawford, later this month.
The Tigers have plenty of talent ready to step up in 2026, though, headlined by Ole Miss transfer Da'Shawn Womack and sophomore Jared Smith, a former 5-star recruit. Veteran Chris Murray was granted an extra year of eligibility and will be back for a second year in Durkin's defense.
Ensuring Auburn doesn't have a drop-off rushing the passer and setting the edge without the likes of Faulk and Crawford is now Hutzler's job.
"He's gonna get on your ass for sure, but it's tough coaching," Smith said this week. "And we didn't come here for soft coaching. We came to win an SEC championship."
Added Missouri transfer Nate Johnson after Thursday's practice: "He's just one of a kind, I'll say that. His passion for the game is next level."
It should come as no surprise that Hutzler and Durkin have been not only aligned in their coaching habits, but also as friends in the industry. This is now their fourth different program working together (Stanford, Florida and Ole Miss).
Hutzler came to Auburn after being fired as Mississippi State's defensive coordinator. Before those two seasons in Starkville, he was Alabama's outside linebackers coach under Nick Saban. Needless to say, Hutzler has plenty of recruiting-based connections to some players on this Auburn roster.
"He was a pretty big part of my decision to come back," redshirt freshman J.J. Faulk said. "... You get to learn the knowledge that he had from previous schools."
There's a long way to go for Hutzler's room, but it's one that Golesh complimented as improving every day and being noticeably more confident from the start of spring practice. From the first few days of spring ball, Golesh has pointed to Womack, a senior now on his third SEC stop (Ole Miss and LSU) as being a leader and consistent playmaker in that room.
"Womack is the one guy that's played a ton of football that has taken some leadership in that group," Golesh said.
Replacing Faulk's and Crawford's 73 combined QB pressures from last season — far and away the most on the team — won't be easy. Hutzler will continue to squeeze everything he can out of them at practice, but Smith said it's some of his former teammates' own coaching that is sticking with him, too.
"Just learning from them all year long — how to be a pro," Smith said of stepping into Faulk's and Crawford's shoes. "That's my biggest thing: how to be a pro and being consistent."
Auburn will be back on the practice field Saturday for its 11th session of the spring — one week out from the A-Day game in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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NFL star Derrick Brown shares tips with Auburn defensive tackles at practice
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn football coach Alex Golesh has welcomed former Tigers back to the Plains all spring, as players like Cam Newton and Takeo Spikes attended the team’s scrimmage last week.
This week, Auburn hosted Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who was present during Thursday morning’s practice.
https://twitter.com/AuburnFootball/status/2042316641732542638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2042317925797781540%7Ctwgr%5Ee24425e18e9a95833d4f6e49f12826e7b79e2a5f%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.al.com%2Fauburnfootball%2F2026%2F04%2Fnfl-star-derrick-brown-shares-tips-with-auburn-defensive-tackles-at-practice.html
Brown totaled 30 tackles, with seven for a loss and four sacks in his senior season at Auburn in 2019. He also broke up three passes, added a quarterback hurry, forced two fumbles and returned two fumbles to become a first-team All-American.
That same production has translated well in the NFL since being drafted in 2020. Last year, Brown became the seventh player in NFL history to record seven tackles, two sacks and three passes defended in the same game, a stat tracked since 1999.
Auburn sophomore defensive tackle Jourdin Crawford told reporters after practice what it was like speaking with Brown today.
“He was just giving us tips for what could be better, what could possibly help us, stuff he works on, stuff that we work on, just showing us different stuff that he does,” Crawford said.
“I feel like it means a lot because he’s been here before and he played on the same field. So, him giving us tips is just helping us try to get to where he’s at.”
Golesh is keeping that open door policy with Auburn’s former players to keep the culture alive around the building and the team.
“My answer is the same every time: ‘Be around,’” Golesh said. “‘Let our players feel your energy.’”
Auburn fans can expect more familiar faces at the spring game next Saturday at 2 p.m. CT inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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OL Prospect ‘Hungry for More’ After Visit to Auburn
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Daily
Though the offensive line of the Auburn Tigers has been an “answered prayer” for head coach Alex Golesh, the future of the unit remains uncertain. However, Golesh could solidify the future of his offensive line with a few key pickups, and Liam Lerch could very well be the first.
Lerch, who is a 6-foot-4, 280-pound class of 2027 unit in the trenches, can play center, offensive guard and offensive tackle, which makes him a versatile and valuable prospect for any team looking to fill a hole on their offensive line.
Lerch took a visit to the Plains this past Tuesday, and Auburn Tigers on SI caught up with the 2027 graduate to discuss all things Auburn.
“I loved the visit, only being there for a couple of hours made me hungry for more,” he said. “It taught me a lot of what I need to do this upcoming season, and I took some notes from some of the best coaches in the nation that I will hopefully translate into my game my senior season.”
https://twitter.com/double_cinco/status/2041601031897747518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2041601031897747518%7Ctwgr%5Ebfc2b4d76b7928120e7b5da2a3982761d745a307%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege%2Fauburn%2Frecruiting%2Fol-prospect-hungry-for-more-after-visit-to-auburn-01knqhh3h7cv
For Lerch, just about everything related to Auburn was impressive, from the coaches to the facilities and beyond, but one thing stood out: the energy.
“The moment I stepped into the facility, I felt the energy surging throughout the players,” he said. “They were getting hyped after every play, and you could tell even after getting a lot of transfers, it’s a tight bond within the locker room, making a brotherhood for them!”
Though the culture fostered by Alex Golesh’s new staff stood out to Lerch through the players' actions, the coaches are certainly continuing to lead by example.
“The coaching staff at Auburn is definitely trying hard to get back to that old Auburn mentality,” he said. “Speaking with Coach (Tyler) Hudanick and Coach Kap, I could tell that they don’t want that old Auburn image people imagine from the past couple of years, and after seeing the practice, it looks like they are taking a step in the right direction!”
Even the campus stood out to Lerch, though he admits that a large part of the Plains' appeal is its prestige and tradition.
“One word can describe the facility and campus,” he said. “Beautiful. It’s probably one of the prettiest campuses I’ve seen, and not only that, but the history and traditions that go alongside it make the roots even deeper. Speaking more on the facilities, they were gorgeous, my school has an indoor, but man, it is nothing like what I saw this morning.”
Though Lerch says he is looking to improve his game for his senior season, he will be hard-pressed to improve on a stellar junior season, in which he accumulated over 40 pancake blocks, the hallmark play of a top-tier prospect.
“I just want people to know that I’m looking for a breakout season,” he said. “This past year has by far been my best. I recorded over 40+ pancake blocks, and I didn’t allow anyone to touch my quarterback. Those guys in the backfield are my brothers, and I don’t want anyone to get close to touching them whenever they’re in front of me. Win, lose, or draw, I want the man who decided he could step toe to toe in front of me to remember who blocked him last night.”
Lerch's mentality has shifted a good bit since he began playing high school football, and he said that he has worked hard to develop his mind, not just his body and abilities.
“Throughout my recruitment, I’ve realized I have to be that selfless player,” he said. “Younger me would be jealous of the skill guys getting all the attention, but I’ve grown to realize that when you just play your game, you do get recognized. For me personally, it clicked whenever I would watch football games and my eyes would be glued to those front five. I grew to see that people do see those linemen, and without a good set of guys on that line, the plays won’t ever work.”
Auburn could have a big recruiting win if they are able to land Lerch, as this unique combination of talent and mentality does not come around often. However, if Lerch continues at his current pace, Auburn will have to fight with other top programs if they want to land him.
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Texas coach Steve Sarkisian talks nuances of key Auburn football transfer's acclimation to Longhorns
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
|
2Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is confident that Auburn Tigers transfer Cam Coleman is about to be the next great transfer to arrive in Austin and thrive on the other side of his acclimation in Sark's offense, aided by offensive coordinator Kyle Flood and Passing game coordinator & wide receivers coach Chris Jackson's input.
Sarkisian took it a step further and made a bold prediction that'd most assuredly be accompanied by an Arch Manning Heisman finalist campaign: Coleman and Ryan Wingo will benefit each other and elevate both their games.
“I think it helps both of them, honestly,” Sarkisian said. “I think both of those guys are so accustomed to always having the safety cheating toward them. There are times when, if you’re only going to play with one safety, you can only cheat so many ways. If you’re going to play with split safety, surely that helps their run game.
“I think for Cam, he continues to grow. I credit Ryan Wingo, I credit Daylan McCutcheon, because those guys have been in the system, Emmett Mosley, and kind of helping him along. The athleticism is easy to see, and now it's the nuances of what we are trying to get accomplished, and he’ll get there. … We’ve had a pretty good track record of transferring wide receivers, figuring it out, so we’ll be OK.”
Cam Coleman is a better fit for Texas than he would've been at Auburn
Coleman's flip to Auburn from the Texas A&M Aggies might've been the peak of the Hugh Freeze era. Scratch that, a 43-41 win over TAMU in Week 13 of the 2024 season, where Coleman had 128 yards and two touchdowns, was Freeze's peak. And Coleman's. Coleman had more yards (143) against the Vanderbilt Commodores in 2025, but that was a 45-38 loss in Nashville.
Could Coleman have continued producing the good times on the Plains in Alex Golesh and Joel Gordon's offense, catching tosses from star USF Bulls transfer Byrum Brown? Absolutely. Probably not as much as his NFL draft stock needs, though, with so many USF receivers joining Brown in Lee County, Alabama.
Coleman had his times near his home in Phenix City. Now, it's time he attempts to reach his potential in Central Texas, playing with a Manning QB and a roster worth over $30 million.
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These former Auburn players will attend the NFL Draft
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
The 2026 NFL Draft is exactly two weeks away and Auburn is expected to be represented in the first round for the first time since 2020.
Former defensive end Keldric Faulk is projected by most draft analysts to hear his name called on Day 1 of the draft. The NFL announced on Thursday that Faulk is among the 16 players who will attend this year’s draft in Pittsburgh.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/2042364791621370106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2042364791621370106%7Ctwgr%5E2b80a3da130c1e75279895db8f6ac04f5b717c73%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.al.com%2Fauburnfootball%2F2026%2F04%2Fthese-former-auburn-players-will-attend-the-nfl-draft.html
A three-year player at Auburn, Faulk played a major role in the Tigers’ defensive success over the past two seasons. He totaled 109 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks during his Auburn career, with his best season coming in 2024.
During his sophomore year, Faulk tallied 45 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks, while also adding one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. A native of Highland Home, Alabama, Faulk was a four-star recruit coming out of high school.
Faulk is the only player who spent the 2025 season at Auburn who will attend the draft, but he won’t be the only former Tiger in attendance. Tennessee defensive back Colton Hood will also be on site for the draft in Pittsburgh.
He spent his freshman season at Auburn in 2023 before transferring to Colorado in 2024 and finishing his college career at Tennessee last season. Hood tallied three tackles during that season and redshirted, only playing in four games.
Observations from Auburn spring practice No. 10:
Here’s what Auburn’s first-team offensive line looked like in Thursday’s practice:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/heres-what-auburns-first-team-offensive-line-looked-like-in-thursdays-practice.html
Auburn player shares eye-opening quote on difference between now and last season:
https://flywareagle.com/auburn-player-shares-eye-opening-quote-on-difference-between-now-and-last-season-01knshghtkac
Why Rayshawn Pleasant returned to Auburn for a second season:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/why-rayshawn-pleasant-returned-to-auburn-for-a-second-season.html
High-intensity Hutzler has Auburn's pass rushers improving in spring ball:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-football-jared-smith-coleman-hutzler-dashawn-womack-281034881/
NFL star Derrick Brown shares tips with Auburn defensive tackles at practice:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/nfl-star-derrick-brown-shares-tips-with-auburn-defensive-tackles-at-practice.html
OL Prospect ‘Hungry for More’ After Visit to Auburn:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/recruiting/ol-prospect-hungry-for-more-after-visit-to-auburn-01knqhh3h7cv
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian talks nuances of key Auburn football transfer's acclimation to Longhorns offense:
https://flywareagle.com/texas-coach-steve-sarkisian-talks-nuances-key-auburn-football-transfer-acclimation-longhorns-offense
These former Auburn players will attend the NFL Draft:
https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2026/04/these-former-auburn-players-will-attend-the-nfl-draft.html
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By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
Auburn was back on the practice field Thursday morning as the Tigers continue preparations for next Saturday’s A-Day spring game.
Alex Golesh and the team are just over a week away from competing spring practice, as the team gets its first practices in under the new staff.
Keep Watching
Media members were allowed to watch close to 30 minutes of Thursday’s practice, which included stretching and drill periods.
Here’s what we saw:
Availability report
Demarcus Riddick, Jonathan Echols, Jacob Strand and Jack Luttrell practiced wearing orange non-contact jerseys.
Sam Turner, Stanton Ramil and Champ Anthony were all non-participants, instead working individually with the training staff.
Other observations
Chris Murray had already returned to practice, but is now wearing No. 30 instead of a blank jersey.
During a walkthrough period, the first team offensive line was Jo Simmons (left tackle), Deryc Plazz (left guard), Cole Best (center), Cole Skinner (right guard), Wilson Zierer (right tackle).
In that first group, Tai Buster rotated with Skinner at right guard.
The second team offensive line during that period was Buster, (left tackle), Jack Leyrer (left guard), Kail Ellis (center), Jacobe’ Ward (right guard), TJ Hedrick (right tackle)
With the second group, Jacob Strand rotated with Buster at left tackle and Parker Pritchett rotated with Hedrick at right tackle.
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Here’s what Auburn’s first-team offensive line looked like in Thursday’s practice
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn football held its tenth practice of the spring period Thursday morning and AL.com observed on the offensive linemen.
The offensive line remains Auburn’s most uncertain position group. However, Auburn coach Alex Golesh said he’s seeing steady improvement from the room this spring.
Here’s what stood out during Thursday’s practice ahead of next weekend’s spring game inside Jordan Hare Stadium:
The first drill saw each lineman go head-to-head in a blocking drill. Tai Buster set the tempo with a great rep against Jacobe’ Ward, showing off his power and footwork.
Transfers Jack Leyer and Jo Simmons had some good thuds in their reps during the drill.
Sophomore Deryc Plazz has been receiving praise from his teammates all spring and put that on display, dominating his reps against Leyer.
Sophomore center Kail Ellis banged up his finger during the drill but seemed to be ok and finished up practice.
Freshman Wilson Zierer received coaching from position coach Tyler Hudanick on generating more power, with Hudanick demonstrating proper technique by exploding off the line himself.
In the second drill, Auburn ran through a lineup of its offense where we saw a first and second team look of the offensive line.
First team: RT: Wilson Zierer, RG: Cole Skinner, C: Cole Best, LG: Deryc Plazz, LT: Jo Simmons and TE: Arlis Boardingham
Second team: RT: Wilson Zierer, RG: Tai Buster, C: Cole Best, LG: William Grier McDuffie, LT: Jo Simmons and TE: Arlis Boardingham
Note: These lineups were used in a wildcat scheme where Auburn had running back Jeremiah Cobb take a direct snap and make a pass to running back Omar Mabson II.
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Auburn player shares eye-opening quote on difference between now and last season
By Brian Stultz
Fly War Eagle
There’s always talk when a new coach and staff come in that the atmosphere in and around the facility changes, mostly for the better, as a breath of fresh air arrives and players are given a new start.
That certainly seems to be the case at Auburn, as new head coach Alex Golesh hopes to rebuild the Tigers into title contenders after five lost seasons under Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze.
One Auburn player is already talking about the difference.
Eric Winters already sees difference in team attitude
“It sorta became, ‘Oh, we’ve got to come here and we’ve got to do this?’” sophomore safety Eric Winters told On3’s Chris Low. “I’m not saying that it was like that throughout the whole year, but as time wound down, there was a lot of that, ‘Man, we’ve got to go through this again.’”
It was a rough freshman season for Winters as the Tigers continued to lose games they should have won, finishing 5-7 and seeing Freeze get the can after an embarrassing 10-3 home loss to woeful Kentucky in November. If Freeze brought hope to the program after being hired in 2022 to replace Bryan Harsin, who was a disaster from the start, that went away after two straight losing seasons, leading to a 2025 season in which he entered on the hot seat only to see it get hotter after a four-game losing streak.
Golesh was hired to restore some pride in the Tigers, and after a massive exodus of talented players recruited by Freeze, he brought in a slew of transfers, including several from USF, including quarterback Bryce Brown, to help turn the program around.
Winters continues to see what a difference a year and a new coach make.
“Guys are here all throughout the day just hanging around and putting in extra work. We want to be here, want to go play for the guy beside you,” Winters said. “You didn’t have much of that last year. The guys are here, pushing each other, bonding with each other, and it’s different people, not just the same guys.
“You wake up in the morning and look forward to coming here, look forward to getting better every day. That’s the biggest difference to me.”
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Why Rayshawn Pleasant returned to Auburn for a second season
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
As his first season on the Plains came to an end, Auburn cornerback Rayshawn Pleasant was faced with a decision.
Auburn’s two starting cornerbacks — Jay Crawford and Kayin Lee — entered the transfer portal and Pleasant could have easily done the same. More than 30 Auburn players transferred away from the program, meaning Pleasant following suit wouldn’t have been a shock.
But after transferring to Auburn from Tulane during the previous offseason, Pleasant didn’t want to move again. He opted to stay and is now the leader of the Tigers’ rebuilt cornerback room.
“I felt like I owed it to these boys to come back. I owed it to these fans,” Pleasant said. “It’s been a long drought, and they’ve been supportive of us. I’ve transferred once, but I’m a big guy on just staying committed to a place.”
Pleasant started only two games for Auburn last season but was a key contributor at cornerback. He finished the 2025 campaign with 16 tackles, three pass deflections and two interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown.
That pick-6 wasn’t the only time Pleasant reached the end zone last season. He returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown during Auburn’s season-opening win over Baylor.
Between his contributions to the secondary and explosiveness on special teams, retaining Pleasant was a priority for Auburn this past offseason. Pleasant said he felt the same way and was drawn to Alex Golesh and the new coaching staff.
“I was a big fan of Coach Golesh, me being a (former) G5 guy,” Pleasant said. “I feel like it was only right for me to give them a chance to get my best and stay there for them.”
Pleasant is the only player in Auburn’s revamped cornerback group that played significant snaps for the Tigers last season. Blake Woodby and Devin Williams were both on the team in 2025, but Woodby played a reserve role, and Williams didn’t play due to injury.
New cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Van Dyke has described Pleasant as another coach on the field. Pleasant said is enjoying playing for his new position coach, a former NFL defensive back.
“He’s been really great. He brings a lot of energy,” Pleasant said. “He played in the league, so he gives us game each and every day. I’m just blessed to be here and be coached by him.”
Pleasant is embracing his newfound leadership role, even calling this spring, “one of the most fun times I’ve had.” With only two other returners joining Pleasant, he’s surrounded by a handful of transfers who bring varying levels of experience.
As the group works toward proving itself to a new staff this spring, Pleasant described the cornerback room as “hungry,” “around the ball,” “physical” and said, “we all can run.”
Golesh called Auburn’s cornerback room one of his biggest concerns going into spring ball, but after the Tigers’ first spring scrimmage, Golesh and the staff feel better about the group.
That has been due in no small part to Pleasant’s presence, as he hopes his return to the program will pay dividends in 2026.
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High-intensity Hutzler has Auburn's pass rushers improving in spring ball
By Nathan King
There's no mistaking where Coleman Hutzler is on the field at any given Auburn practice.
Somehow, Auburn found a defensive coach more intense than its coordinator, DJ Durkin. Hutzler, a two-time former SEC coordinator himself, is as high-energy and vocal as they come. For a position that includes some of the best athletes on the roster, exploding off the line of scrimmage, the 41-year-old Hutzler is never far behind them.
"He is so far up their ass," Alex Golesh said last week. "It's fun to watch."
If there was any Auburn assistant who needed to have daily urgency and growth within his group this offseason, it was probably going to be Hutzler and his position room anyway. Hutzler oversees both the edge rushers and defensive ends together — the groups that may be producing Auburn's top draft picks, Keldric Faulk and Keyron Crawford, later this month.
The Tigers have plenty of talent ready to step up in 2026, though, headlined by Ole Miss transfer Da'Shawn Womack and sophomore Jared Smith, a former 5-star recruit. Veteran Chris Murray was granted an extra year of eligibility and will be back for a second year in Durkin's defense.
Ensuring Auburn doesn't have a drop-off rushing the passer and setting the edge without the likes of Faulk and Crawford is now Hutzler's job.
"He's gonna get on your ass for sure, but it's tough coaching," Smith said this week. "And we didn't come here for soft coaching. We came to win an SEC championship."
Added Missouri transfer Nate Johnson after Thursday's practice: "He's just one of a kind, I'll say that. His passion for the game is next level."
It should come as no surprise that Hutzler and Durkin have been not only aligned in their coaching habits, but also as friends in the industry. This is now their fourth different program working together (Stanford, Florida and Ole Miss).
Hutzler came to Auburn after being fired as Mississippi State's defensive coordinator. Before those two seasons in Starkville, he was Alabama's outside linebackers coach under Nick Saban. Needless to say, Hutzler has plenty of recruiting-based connections to some players on this Auburn roster.
"He was a pretty big part of my decision to come back," redshirt freshman J.J. Faulk said. "... You get to learn the knowledge that he had from previous schools."
There's a long way to go for Hutzler's room, but it's one that Golesh complimented as improving every day and being noticeably more confident from the start of spring practice. From the first few days of spring ball, Golesh has pointed to Womack, a senior now on his third SEC stop (Ole Miss and LSU) as being a leader and consistent playmaker in that room.
"Womack is the one guy that's played a ton of football that has taken some leadership in that group," Golesh said.
Replacing Faulk's and Crawford's 73 combined QB pressures from last season — far and away the most on the team — won't be easy. Hutzler will continue to squeeze everything he can out of them at practice, but Smith said it's some of his former teammates' own coaching that is sticking with him, too.
"Just learning from them all year long — how to be a pro," Smith said of stepping into Faulk's and Crawford's shoes. "That's my biggest thing: how to be a pro and being consistent."
Auburn will be back on the practice field Saturday for its 11th session of the spring — one week out from the A-Day game in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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NFL star Derrick Brown shares tips with Auburn defensive tackles at practice
By Jerry Humphrey III
al.com
Auburn football coach Alex Golesh has welcomed former Tigers back to the Plains all spring, as players like Cam Newton and Takeo Spikes attended the team’s scrimmage last week.
This week, Auburn hosted Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who was present during Thursday morning’s practice.
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Brown totaled 30 tackles, with seven for a loss and four sacks in his senior season at Auburn in 2019. He also broke up three passes, added a quarterback hurry, forced two fumbles and returned two fumbles to become a first-team All-American.
That same production has translated well in the NFL since being drafted in 2020. Last year, Brown became the seventh player in NFL history to record seven tackles, two sacks and three passes defended in the same game, a stat tracked since 1999.
Auburn sophomore defensive tackle Jourdin Crawford told reporters after practice what it was like speaking with Brown today.
“He was just giving us tips for what could be better, what could possibly help us, stuff he works on, stuff that we work on, just showing us different stuff that he does,” Crawford said.
“I feel like it means a lot because he’s been here before and he played on the same field. So, him giving us tips is just helping us try to get to where he’s at.”
Golesh is keeping that open door policy with Auburn’s former players to keep the culture alive around the building and the team.
“My answer is the same every time: ‘Be around,’” Golesh said. “‘Let our players feel your energy.’”
Auburn fans can expect more familiar faces at the spring game next Saturday at 2 p.m. CT inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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OL Prospect ‘Hungry for More’ After Visit to Auburn
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Daily
Though the offensive line of the Auburn Tigers has been an “answered prayer” for head coach Alex Golesh, the future of the unit remains uncertain. However, Golesh could solidify the future of his offensive line with a few key pickups, and Liam Lerch could very well be the first.
Lerch, who is a 6-foot-4, 280-pound class of 2027 unit in the trenches, can play center, offensive guard and offensive tackle, which makes him a versatile and valuable prospect for any team looking to fill a hole on their offensive line.
Lerch took a visit to the Plains this past Tuesday, and Auburn Tigers on SI caught up with the 2027 graduate to discuss all things Auburn.
“I loved the visit, only being there for a couple of hours made me hungry for more,” he said. “It taught me a lot of what I need to do this upcoming season, and I took some notes from some of the best coaches in the nation that I will hopefully translate into my game my senior season.”
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For Lerch, just about everything related to Auburn was impressive, from the coaches to the facilities and beyond, but one thing stood out: the energy.
“The moment I stepped into the facility, I felt the energy surging throughout the players,” he said. “They were getting hyped after every play, and you could tell even after getting a lot of transfers, it’s a tight bond within the locker room, making a brotherhood for them!”
Though the culture fostered by Alex Golesh’s new staff stood out to Lerch through the players' actions, the coaches are certainly continuing to lead by example.
“The coaching staff at Auburn is definitely trying hard to get back to that old Auburn mentality,” he said. “Speaking with Coach (Tyler) Hudanick and Coach Kap, I could tell that they don’t want that old Auburn image people imagine from the past couple of years, and after seeing the practice, it looks like they are taking a step in the right direction!”
Even the campus stood out to Lerch, though he admits that a large part of the Plains' appeal is its prestige and tradition.
“One word can describe the facility and campus,” he said. “Beautiful. It’s probably one of the prettiest campuses I’ve seen, and not only that, but the history and traditions that go alongside it make the roots even deeper. Speaking more on the facilities, they were gorgeous, my school has an indoor, but man, it is nothing like what I saw this morning.”
Though Lerch says he is looking to improve his game for his senior season, he will be hard-pressed to improve on a stellar junior season, in which he accumulated over 40 pancake blocks, the hallmark play of a top-tier prospect.
“I just want people to know that I’m looking for a breakout season,” he said. “This past year has by far been my best. I recorded over 40+ pancake blocks, and I didn’t allow anyone to touch my quarterback. Those guys in the backfield are my brothers, and I don’t want anyone to get close to touching them whenever they’re in front of me. Win, lose, or draw, I want the man who decided he could step toe to toe in front of me to remember who blocked him last night.”
Lerch's mentality has shifted a good bit since he began playing high school football, and he said that he has worked hard to develop his mind, not just his body and abilities.
“Throughout my recruitment, I’ve realized I have to be that selfless player,” he said. “Younger me would be jealous of the skill guys getting all the attention, but I’ve grown to realize that when you just play your game, you do get recognized. For me personally, it clicked whenever I would watch football games and my eyes would be glued to those front five. I grew to see that people do see those linemen, and without a good set of guys on that line, the plays won’t ever work.”
Auburn could have a big recruiting win if they are able to land Lerch, as this unique combination of talent and mentality does not come around often. However, if Lerch continues at his current pace, Auburn will have to fight with other top programs if they want to land him.
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Texas coach Steve Sarkisian talks nuances of key Auburn football transfer's acclimation to Longhorns
By Andrew Hughes
Fly War Eagle
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2Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is confident that Auburn Tigers transfer Cam Coleman is about to be the next great transfer to arrive in Austin and thrive on the other side of his acclimation in Sark's offense, aided by offensive coordinator Kyle Flood and Passing game coordinator & wide receivers coach Chris Jackson's input.
Sarkisian took it a step further and made a bold prediction that'd most assuredly be accompanied by an Arch Manning Heisman finalist campaign: Coleman and Ryan Wingo will benefit each other and elevate both their games.
“I think it helps both of them, honestly,” Sarkisian said. “I think both of those guys are so accustomed to always having the safety cheating toward them. There are times when, if you’re only going to play with one safety, you can only cheat so many ways. If you’re going to play with split safety, surely that helps their run game.
“I think for Cam, he continues to grow. I credit Ryan Wingo, I credit Daylan McCutcheon, because those guys have been in the system, Emmett Mosley, and kind of helping him along. The athleticism is easy to see, and now it's the nuances of what we are trying to get accomplished, and he’ll get there. … We’ve had a pretty good track record of transferring wide receivers, figuring it out, so we’ll be OK.”
Cam Coleman is a better fit for Texas than he would've been at Auburn
Coleman's flip to Auburn from the Texas A&M Aggies might've been the peak of the Hugh Freeze era. Scratch that, a 43-41 win over TAMU in Week 13 of the 2024 season, where Coleman had 128 yards and two touchdowns, was Freeze's peak. And Coleman's. Coleman had more yards (143) against the Vanderbilt Commodores in 2025, but that was a 45-38 loss in Nashville.
Could Coleman have continued producing the good times on the Plains in Alex Golesh and Joel Gordon's offense, catching tosses from star USF Bulls transfer Byrum Brown? Absolutely. Probably not as much as his NFL draft stock needs, though, with so many USF receivers joining Brown in Lee County, Alabama.
Coleman had his times near his home in Phenix City. Now, it's time he attempts to reach his potential in Central Texas, playing with a Manning QB and a roster worth over $30 million.
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These former Auburn players will attend the NFL Draft
By Peter Rauterkus
al.com
The 2026 NFL Draft is exactly two weeks away and Auburn is expected to be represented in the first round for the first time since 2020.
Former defensive end Keldric Faulk is projected by most draft analysts to hear his name called on Day 1 of the draft. The NFL announced on Thursday that Faulk is among the 16 players who will attend this year’s draft in Pittsburgh.
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A three-year player at Auburn, Faulk played a major role in the Tigers’ defensive success over the past two seasons. He totaled 109 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks during his Auburn career, with his best season coming in 2024.
During his sophomore year, Faulk tallied 45 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks, while also adding one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. A native of Highland Home, Alabama, Faulk was a four-star recruit coming out of high school.
Faulk is the only player who spent the 2025 season at Auburn who will attend the draft, but he won’t be the only former Tiger in attendance. Tennessee defensive back Colton Hood will also be on site for the draft in Pittsburgh.
He spent his freshman season at Auburn in 2023 before transferring to Colorado in 2024 and finishing his college career at Tennessee last season. Hood tallied three tackles during that season and redshirted, only playing in four games.
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