3 days ago
TAMPA, Fla. — Since becoming Auburn football's head coach, Alex Golesh has described the program's circumstance on the recruiting trail as a matter of catching up.
He and his staff had mere days to cobble together Auburn's 2026 signing class, which ranked 31st nationally and 12th in the SEC, according to 247Sports' team rankings.
"We've had to make up a lot of ground in recruiting," Golesh said Tuesday, July 21, at SEC Media Days. "That was such a huge, huge point of emphasis from the moment I got there. I told our staff right away, we're a year behind."
With Golesh's first season at Auburn nearly a month away, the outlook for the 2027 recruiting cycle looks far more favorable. The program boasts a top-10 class nationally, and it's top-five in the conference, in front of several powers like Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee.
A 25-prospect bunch, 15 of those commitments are rated as four-star prospects or better. It's a class that already looks readymade for signing day, but is Golesh putting a set number on how many signees he wants to have?
#class #huge
He and his staff had mere days to cobble together Auburn's 2026 signing class, which ranked 31st nationally and 12th in the SEC, according to 247Sports' team rankings.
"We've had to make up a lot of ground in recruiting," Golesh said Tuesday, July 21, at SEC Media Days. "That was such a huge, huge point of emphasis from the moment I got there. I told our staff right away, we're a year behind."
With Golesh's first season at Auburn nearly a month away, the outlook for the 2027 recruiting cycle looks far more favorable. The program boasts a top-10 class nationally, and it's top-five in the conference, in front of several powers like Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee.
A 25-prospect bunch, 15 of those commitments are rated as four-star prospects or better. It's a class that already looks readymade for signing day, but is Golesh putting a set number on how many signees he wants to have?
#class #huge
5 days ago
TAMPA, Fla. — During an Auburn football scrimmage this spring at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the program shared a snippet of one quarterback chatting with another. Those passers were Cam Newton and Byrum Brown, bridging generations of the program at one position.
The former doesn't need much introduction. He was a Heisman Trophy-winner and national champion on the Plains. The latter has yet to play a meaningful snap as a Tiger, but after helping South Florida turn around the past three seasons, he'll strive to do the same for his new home.
Stadium music drowned out all other noise in their 20-second introduction, but at SEC Media Days, Brown shared what the message was from one of Auburn's most-heralded former players.
"It was just go out there and be you," Brown said Tuesday, July 21. "Be a dog, and that's really it. Just go out there and be a dog and, like, you did at the past institution, will this team to victory."
Brown spent four seasons in total with the Bulls, but he was their starting quarterback for all three seasons of coach Alex Golesh's tenure.
#quarterback #past
The former doesn't need much introduction. He was a Heisman Trophy-winner and national champion on the Plains. The latter has yet to play a meaningful snap as a Tiger, but after helping South Florida turn around the past three seasons, he'll strive to do the same for his new home.
Stadium music drowned out all other noise in their 20-second introduction, but at SEC Media Days, Brown shared what the message was from one of Auburn's most-heralded former players.
"It was just go out there and be you," Brown said Tuesday, July 21. "Be a dog, and that's really it. Just go out there and be a dog and, like, you did at the past institution, will this team to victory."
Brown spent four seasons in total with the Bulls, but he was their starting quarterback for all three seasons of coach Alex Golesh's tenure.
#quarterback #past
6 days ago
The Auburn football program is one of the most successful in the history of college football. For the past five seasons, that success has not been seen on the gridiron. New head coach Alex Golesh is looking to change that, but he is not the only one. Quarterback Byrum Brown is as well.
Brown is one of three Tigers that Golesh brought with him to Tampa for the 2026 SEC Media Days along with defensive back Champ Anthony and kicker Alex McPherson. He was asked many questions, but one was about bringing success back to Auburn and how that can be done.
"A successful season looks like taking every game, preparing to our absolute best and going out there and playing, and we don't control the outcome. We just control our process that leads to the outcome," Brown said.
It is very similar to the message that Golesh also gave on Tuesday to the media on what a successful season looks like. "I don't really have any goals other than laying a foundation for what Auburn Football is going to be for years to come," Golesh stated on Tuesday. The key to that foundation for 2026 is without a doubt the abilities of Brown.
"Hopefully it's a favorable one, but it's just working each and every day, and that started in January. And it's continuing now, going to continue into fall camp. And we can't wait to strap it up in fall camp, strap it up for the first week against Baylor and go play," added Brown.
#going #Media
Brown is one of three Tigers that Golesh brought with him to Tampa for the 2026 SEC Media Days along with defensive back Champ Anthony and kicker Alex McPherson. He was asked many questions, but one was about bringing success back to Auburn and how that can be done.
"A successful season looks like taking every game, preparing to our absolute best and going out there and playing, and we don't control the outcome. We just control our process that leads to the outcome," Brown said.
It is very similar to the message that Golesh also gave on Tuesday to the media on what a successful season looks like. "I don't really have any goals other than laying a foundation for what Auburn Football is going to be for years to come," Golesh stated on Tuesday. The key to that foundation for 2026 is without a doubt the abilities of Brown.
"Hopefully it's a favorable one, but it's just working each and every day, and that started in January. And it's continuing now, going to continue into fall camp. And we can't wait to strap it up in fall camp, strap it up for the first week against Baylor and go play," added Brown.
#going #Media
7 days ago
The 21st century has featured extreme highs and lows for Auburn football, but the highs have been something to behold.
The Tigers won a national championship in 2010 behind arguably the single greatest individual season in the sport's history from Cam Newton, played for another in 2013 and nearly cracked the four-team College Football Playoff in 2017. However, since the 2020s began, it's been a rough time on the Plains.
AU has only finished above .500 once in this decade, and it came amid a 6-5 pandemic-shortened 2020 season that culminated in coach Gus Malzahn's dismissal. The program is now on its third coach since then after it hired Alex Golesh this offseason.
Speaking at his first SEC media days on Tuesday, Golesh said the goal at Auburn is clear: return the program to national prominence.
"This was a top-5 program in the country for a long time — like 10 years ago," Golesh said, per ESPN's David Hale. "We've got to get it back to that. And that's where all the time and energy has been getting kids around us. ... It's been changing a mindset even in our own state."
#golesh #national #since
The Tigers won a national championship in 2010 behind arguably the single greatest individual season in the sport's history from Cam Newton, played for another in 2013 and nearly cracked the four-team College Football Playoff in 2017. However, since the 2020s began, it's been a rough time on the Plains.
AU has only finished above .500 once in this decade, and it came amid a 6-5 pandemic-shortened 2020 season that culminated in coach Gus Malzahn's dismissal. The program is now on its third coach since then after it hired Alex Golesh this offseason.
Speaking at his first SEC media days on Tuesday, Golesh said the goal at Auburn is clear: return the program to national prominence.
"This was a top-5 program in the country for a long time — like 10 years ago," Golesh said, per ESPN's David Hale. "We've got to get it back to that. And that's where all the time and energy has been getting kids around us. ... It's been changing a mindset even in our own state."
#golesh #national #since
7 days ago
Alex Golesh made his SEC football media days debut on Tuesday in Tampa, Florida. He was hired as Auburn's head coach on Nov. 30, 2025.
Golesh returns to the SEC after serving as Tennessee's offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.
He left the Vols to become USF's head coach from 2023-25. The former Tennessee ******* istant led the Bulls to a 23-15 (14-10 AAC) record and two bowl game wins.
"I am humbled and grateful to have been named the head football coach at Auburn University seven months ago, and it has been an incredible journey up until this point," Golesh said at SEC media days. "Thankful to be back in Tampa. We spent just over three years here and met some incredible people here, some dear friends still. This community was incredible to my family. I am really, really thankful for my time here and the way we got treated and the commitment that was made to us here in Tampa.
"Thankful to Dr. (Christopher) Roberts and our administration, and them welcoming us to Auburn. What they've done for us through these first seven months in giving us the ability to go hire an elite staff, to go build the way we need to. Thankful to John Cohen for bringing me to Auburn, our board of trustees that continues to pour into our program. Beyond thankful to the Auburn family for welcoming us, my family."
#family
Golesh returns to the SEC after serving as Tennessee's offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.
He left the Vols to become USF's head coach from 2023-25. The former Tennessee ******* istant led the Bulls to a 23-15 (14-10 AAC) record and two bowl game wins.
"I am humbled and grateful to have been named the head football coach at Auburn University seven months ago, and it has been an incredible journey up until this point," Golesh said at SEC media days. "Thankful to be back in Tampa. We spent just over three years here and met some incredible people here, some dear friends still. This community was incredible to my family. I am really, really thankful for my time here and the way we got treated and the commitment that was made to us here in Tampa.
"Thankful to Dr. (Christopher) Roberts and our administration, and them welcoming us to Auburn. What they've done for us through these first seven months in giving us the ability to go hire an elite staff, to go build the way we need to. Thankful to John Cohen for bringing me to Auburn, our board of trustees that continues to pour into our program. Beyond thankful to the Auburn family for welcoming us, my family."
#family
15 days ago
On Monday, On3 and Warchant's Matt LaSerre reported that Tom Herman, a former head coach at Texas, Houston, and FAU, would be joining the Florida State football coaching staff. Herman did not coach in the 2025-26 college football season after being fired from FAU with two games left in the 2024 season.
Herman has an interesting track record, to say the least. He has been part of some extraordinary seasons, including winning a national **** le with Ohio State as offensive coordinator in 2014 and taking home the Sugar Bowl with Texas in 2018. However, there have certainly been some **** ps along the way, such as his most recent stint with FAU, where he went 6-16 across 22 games and almost two seasons with the Owls.
There is also some off-the-field baggage that comes with Herman, such as the frosty handshake with former USF, now Auburn head coach Alex Golesh, two years ago, along with distasteful stories about his personal life during his time at OSU.
The move is certainly an interesting one for head coach Mike Norvell, who clearly feels that he needed more help on his offensive staff after the abrupt retirement of former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn in February. While certainly a late add in the offseason with fall camp starting in less than a month, Herman should bring a new perspective and take some of the offensive load off of Norvell's plate.
Herman has an interesting track record, to say the least. He has been part of some extraordinary seasons, including winning a national **** le with Ohio State as offensive coordinator in 2014 and taking home the Sugar Bowl with Texas in 2018. However, there have certainly been some **** ps along the way, such as his most recent stint with FAU, where he went 6-16 across 22 games and almost two seasons with the Owls.
There is also some off-the-field baggage that comes with Herman, such as the frosty handshake with former USF, now Auburn head coach Alex Golesh, two years ago, along with distasteful stories about his personal life during his time at OSU.
The move is certainly an interesting one for head coach Mike Norvell, who clearly feels that he needed more help on his offensive staff after the abrupt retirement of former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn in February. While certainly a late add in the offseason with fall camp starting in less than a month, Herman should bring a new perspective and take some of the offensive load off of Norvell's plate.
28 days ago
The SEC has half of the nation's top-10 recruiting classes following a very eventful June. The Texas Longhorns were big movers in June and now have the nation's No. 5 recruiting class, per 247Sports.
Texas is still ranked behind the Texas A&M Aggies, who have the nation's No. 1 recruiting class. The Aggies are making big moves under head coach Mike Elko after making the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma has the nation's No. 3 recruiting class and appears to be in solid shape. Florida has the ninth-best recruiting class while Auburn has the tenth-best class as first-year coaches Jon Sumrall and Alex Golesh are off to strong recruiting starts.
The Georgia Bulldogs and coach Kirby Smart have the No. 15 recruiting class in the country. Georgia has not landed as many blue-chip recruits as usual and has 17 total commitments. Not far behind Georgia is LSU and new head coach Lane Kiffin, who has been on a strong recruiting run recently after a slow start.
Two notable SEC powers are lagging behind on the recruiting trail. The Alabama Crimson Tide and Tennessee Volunteers both rank well outside the top-25. Alabama and Tennessee will rise in the rankings as they get more commitments, but they are not doing as well as they would like.
Texas A&M Aggies (25 commits, No. 1 national ranking)
Texas is still ranked behind the Texas A&M Aggies, who have the nation's No. 1 recruiting class. The Aggies are making big moves under head coach Mike Elko after making the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma has the nation's No. 3 recruiting class and appears to be in solid shape. Florida has the ninth-best recruiting class while Auburn has the tenth-best class as first-year coaches Jon Sumrall and Alex Golesh are off to strong recruiting starts.
The Georgia Bulldogs and coach Kirby Smart have the No. 15 recruiting class in the country. Georgia has not landed as many blue-chip recruits as usual and has 17 total commitments. Not far behind Georgia is LSU and new head coach Lane Kiffin, who has been on a strong recruiting run recently after a slow start.
Two notable SEC powers are lagging behind on the recruiting trail. The Alabama Crimson Tide and Tennessee Volunteers both rank well outside the top-25. Alabama and Tennessee will rise in the rankings as they get more commitments, but they are not doing as well as they would like.
Texas A&M Aggies (25 commits, No. 1 national ranking)
1 month ago
Southwind football running back Khamoni Williams has committed to Auburn, he announced via social media.
He had committed to West Virginia on June 12, but flipped to first-year coach Alex Golesh's program after taking an official visit to Auburn on June 19. Williams made his announcement the night of June 21.
Williams is a three-star recruit ranked as Tennessee's No. 24 player in the 2027 class. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound athlete ranks as The Commercial Appeal's No. 1 running back entering the 2026 TSSAA season.
The Jaguars' running back previously played at Class 2A Memphis Business Academy, where he led the Execs on multiple TSSAA playoff runs and was an All-Metro third-team selection in 2025.
He had committed to West Virginia on June 12, but flipped to first-year coach Alex Golesh's program after taking an official visit to Auburn on June 19. Williams made his announcement the night of June 21.
Williams is a three-star recruit ranked as Tennessee's No. 24 player in the 2027 class. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound athlete ranks as The Commercial Appeal's No. 1 running back entering the 2026 TSSAA season.
The Jaguars' running back previously played at Class 2A Memphis Business Academy, where he led the Execs on multiple TSSAA playoff runs and was an All-Metro third-team selection in 2025.
1 month ago
The Auburn Tigers have added another blue-chip commitment to their 2027 recruiting haul as a four-star EDGE rusher from Maryland has announced his pledge to Alex Golesh and the Tigers.
James Pace, a four-star EDGE rusher from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, announced his commitment to the Auburn Tigers on Friday, choosing Auburn over several SEC rivals, including South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia, as well as in-state program Maryland. Several expert predictions favored Auburn to land Pace, and the Tigers' coaching staff closed the deal on Friday.
Auburn's 2027 class now features 20 commitments, with 12 of them considered blue-chip prospects. Four-star running back Myson Johnson-Cook leads Auburn's recruiting haul with a 0.9791 composite score from 247Sports. Pace, who holds a 0.9366 composite score from 247Sports, becomes the sixth-best player in Auburn's 2027 class, behind defensive lineman Donivan Moore. Pace is a four-star EDGE rusher according to 247Sports' composite rankings, and is the No. 16 EDGE in the country from the 2027 recruiting cycle.
Pace is the second player from DeMatha Catholic to commit to Auburn this week, joining three-star safety Knyair Crumb, who pledged to Auburn on Tuesday. Auburn now has three players from the state of Maryland in its 2027 recruiting class. Pace, the No. 2 EDGE rusher and No. 3 overall player from the state, is joined by Crumb and fellow EDGE rusher Rion Jackson, who ranks No. 3 among EDGE rushers from Maryland, in Auburn's 2027 class.
Pace is the 10th player to commit to Auburn since the calendar flipped to June. Kicker Noah Ash and running back Kingston Miles kicked off the wave by committing on June 1, and the likes of safety Chance Gilbert, defensive lineman Nate Kamba, and offensive lineman Reed Ramsier have followed suit.
James Pace, a four-star EDGE rusher from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, announced his commitment to the Auburn Tigers on Friday, choosing Auburn over several SEC rivals, including South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia, as well as in-state program Maryland. Several expert predictions favored Auburn to land Pace, and the Tigers' coaching staff closed the deal on Friday.
Auburn's 2027 class now features 20 commitments, with 12 of them considered blue-chip prospects. Four-star running back Myson Johnson-Cook leads Auburn's recruiting haul with a 0.9791 composite score from 247Sports. Pace, who holds a 0.9366 composite score from 247Sports, becomes the sixth-best player in Auburn's 2027 class, behind defensive lineman Donivan Moore. Pace is a four-star EDGE rusher according to 247Sports' composite rankings, and is the No. 16 EDGE in the country from the 2027 recruiting cycle.
Pace is the second player from DeMatha Catholic to commit to Auburn this week, joining three-star safety Knyair Crumb, who pledged to Auburn on Tuesday. Auburn now has three players from the state of Maryland in its 2027 recruiting class. Pace, the No. 2 EDGE rusher and No. 3 overall player from the state, is joined by Crumb and fellow EDGE rusher Rion Jackson, who ranks No. 3 among EDGE rushers from Maryland, in Auburn's 2027 class.
Pace is the 10th player to commit to Auburn since the calendar flipped to June. Kicker Noah Ash and running back Kingston Miles kicked off the wave by committing on June 1, and the likes of safety Chance Gilbert, defensive lineman Nate Kamba, and offensive lineman Reed Ramsier have followed suit.
1 month ago
AUBURN — The recruits are still committing to Auburn football.
Alex Golesh and coaching staff got another addition to their 2027 recruiting class Wednesday, June 17, as three-start safety Knyair Crumb announced his pledge to the Tigers.
A consensus three-star prospect, Crumb's the 19th commitment in Auburn's upcoming class, and he's the 18th addition since the close of the program's spring practices in mid-April.
Listed a 6-foot and 200 pounds, Crumb registered 58 tackles, 7 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries last fall, earning All-Met recognition from the Washington Post.
With Crumb in the fold, Auburn's class holds firm in the 247Sports team rankings, at 15th nationally in sixth in the SEC.
Alex Golesh and coaching staff got another addition to their 2027 recruiting class Wednesday, June 17, as three-start safety Knyair Crumb announced his pledge to the Tigers.
A consensus three-star prospect, Crumb's the 19th commitment in Auburn's upcoming class, and he's the 18th addition since the close of the program's spring practices in mid-April.
Listed a 6-foot and 200 pounds, Crumb registered 58 tackles, 7 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries last fall, earning All-Met recognition from the Washington Post.
With Crumb in the fold, Auburn's class holds firm in the 247Sports team rankings, at 15th nationally in sixth in the SEC.
2 months ago
Auburn football made plenty of changes over the offseason, from coaches to transfer portal moves. However, its best move of the offseason was hanging on to one of the SEC's top returning defenders.
Xavier Atkins is back with the Auburn Tigers after leading the SEC in solo tackles (60) and tackles for loss (17) last season. Atkins is poised to take a giant step forward under new head coach Alex Golesh in 2026 and capitalize on his 84-tackle performance from a season ago.
Atkins was seen as a breakout performer last season, which will bring higher expectations in 2026. ESPN is already on the Atkins bandwagon by including him in their top non-quarterback playmakers list ahead of the new college football season.
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg pointed out that Atkins showcased his explosiveness as a linebacker last season despite being undersized at 6-foot, 210-pounds. Rittenberg feels that Atkins will now have to navigate a new role in addition to finding ways to improve his stats.
The next step is being a headliner for a largely revamped Auburn defense, which integrates several players who joined Golesh and the staff from South Florida as well as outsiders, such as linemen Cody Sigler and Da'Shawn Womack, and cornerback Andre Jordan Jr.
Xavier Atkins is back with the Auburn Tigers after leading the SEC in solo tackles (60) and tackles for loss (17) last season. Atkins is poised to take a giant step forward under new head coach Alex Golesh in 2026 and capitalize on his 84-tackle performance from a season ago.
Atkins was seen as a breakout performer last season, which will bring higher expectations in 2026. ESPN is already on the Atkins bandwagon by including him in their top non-quarterback playmakers list ahead of the new college football season.
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg pointed out that Atkins showcased his explosiveness as a linebacker last season despite being undersized at 6-foot, 210-pounds. Rittenberg feels that Atkins will now have to navigate a new role in addition to finding ways to improve his stats.
The next step is being a headliner for a largely revamped Auburn defense, which integrates several players who joined Golesh and the staff from South Florida as well as outsiders, such as linemen Cody Sigler and Da'Shawn Womack, and cornerback Andre Jordan Jr.
8 months ago
Auburn football hires USF's Alex Golesh as next head coach
The Montgomery Advertiser
This story has been updated to include quotes and new information.
AUBURN — Alex Golesh has been hired as Auburn football's next head coach, the program announced Sunday, Nov. 30, coming from South Florida to succeed Hugh Freeze on the Plains.
Golesh, 41, signed a six-year deal to come to become the 33rd head coach in Auburn history, according to multiple reports. Contract figures have yet to be released.
“Auburn Football is one of the proudest, most tradition-rich programs in all of college football an
The Montgomery Advertiser
This story has been updated to include quotes and new information.
AUBURN — Alex Golesh has been hired as Auburn football's next head coach, the program announced Sunday, Nov. 30, coming from South Florida to succeed Hugh Freeze on the Plains.
Golesh, 41, signed a six-year deal to come to become the 33rd head coach in Auburn history, according to multiple reports. Contract figures have yet to be released.
“Auburn Football is one of the proudest, most tradition-rich programs in all of college football an
