- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Auburn Football Overhauls Roster in NIL Era
New coach Alex Golesh says rebuilding the Tigers' roster was like "a documentary"
Feb. 4, 2026 at 6:55pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
In his first two months on the job, new Auburn football coach Alex Golesh had to completely overhaul the Tigers' roster, bringing in 40 players from the transfer portal after losing 37 players. Golesh said the process of retaining players and recruiting transfers was like "a documentary" with "certain points where you're like, 'Dude, are you going to be here or not?'" Auburn's transfer class ranks 13th nationally, and combined with the 2026 recruiting class, the Tigers have 60 new players for the upcoming season.
Why it matters
The rapid roster turnover at Auburn highlights the challenges coaches face in the new NIL era of college football, where players have more freedom to transfer and seek opportunities that align with their personal brand and financial interests. Golesh's experience shows how much work is required to rebuild a competitive team in this environment.
The details
Golesh said he started engaging with Auburn's current roster the night he was hired, the day after the Iron Bowl. Some players quickly committed to staying, while others were more uncertain about their futures. With the transfer portal looming, Golesh and his staff had to build out their transfer board and recruit heavily to fill holes across the roster. Golesh estimated that around 75% of Auburn's transfer additions had prior relationships with the coaching staff, many from Golesh's time at USF.
- Golesh was hired the day after the Iron Bowl in late 2025.
- Players went home for the entirety of the Christmas break, making some conversations more difficult.
- The transfer portal officially opened, and Auburn's transfer class was finalized in early 2026.
The players
Alex Golesh
The new head football coach at Auburn University, hired after the 2025 season.
Cam Coleman
A wide receiver who declared his intention to transfer from Auburn.
Deuce Knight
A quarterback who declared his intention to transfer from Auburn.
Jay Crawford
A cornerback who transferred out of Auburn.
Kayin Lee
A cornerback who transferred out of Auburn.
What they’re saying
“I joked that if there was a documentary crew in here, somebody could make a ton of money.”
— Alex Golesh, Head Football Coach, Auburn University
“There were certain points where you're like, 'Dude, are you going to be here or not?'”
— Alex Golesh, Head Football Coach, Auburn University
What’s next
Golesh and his staff will continue to work with the new-look Auburn roster as they prepare for the 2026 season.
The takeaway
The rapid roster turnover at Auburn underscores the challenges coaches face in the NIL era, where players have more freedom to transfer and seek opportunities that align with their personal brand and financial interests. Rebuilding a competitive team requires extensive recruiting and relationship-building in a short period of time.
