In the midst of National Signing Day, Alex Golesh and his staff is beginning to build Auburn football’s roster for the 2026 season.
After already flipping former USF commits to Auburn, it’s pretty clear Golesh will continue this aggressive approach once the transfer portal opens up next month.
The normal offseason portal window for college football will be from Jan. 2-16.
Here are five players Golesh and Auburn’s coaching staff should target and bring in from the transfer portal.
Byrum Brown, Quarterback
Byrum Brown, Golesh’s quarterback this past season at UCF, passed for 3,158 yards through the air and added 1,008 yards on the ground.
With one more year of eligibility remaining, a Golesh and Brown reunion at Auburn makes sense. However, Auburn’s current quarterback room includes Ashton Daniels, Deuce Knight and Jackson Arnold.
If Brown decides to stay at USF for his final year, freshman quarterbacks Locklan Hewlett and Marcelis Tate could be other options Golesh brings in from the Bulls quarterback room.
Keshaun Singleton, Wide Receiver
Keshaun Singleton was a major weapon for Golesh and USF’s offense last year, finishing with 50 receptions, 877 yards and eight touchdowns.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound wide receiver out of Norcross, Georgia also averaged 17.5 yards a reception, hauling in a 66-yard catch as his longest on the season.
With the uncertainty on which offensive players will stay or leave from Auburn’s 2025 roster, Singleton’s addition will help make Golesh’s transition to the SEC a lot smoother.
South Florida wide receiver Keshaun Singleton (11) celebrates his 66-yard touchdown against Florida with quarterback Byrum Brown (17) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)AP
Jordan Seaton, Offensive lineman
The former five-star recruit and No. 1 offensive lineman from Colorado endured a 3-7 season with the Buffaloes last season under coach Deion Sanders.
With the offensive tackle position being one of the most sought-after spots in the portal, a number of potential suitors will be trying to land Seaton if he does enter his name.
For Auburn, the Tigers will be losing starters such as Mason Murphy, Izavion Miller, Dillon Wade and Jeremiah Wright. Landing Seaton will help Golesh a lot in building the Tigers new offensive identity.
Jo Pierce, Safety
Jo Pierce was a three-star recruit out of Montgomery, Alabama who helped Montgomery Catholic win back-to-back state championships under then coach Kirk Johnson.
Pierce committed to Oklahoma State where he recorded zero stats in his freshman season. However, after Oklahoma State fired coach Mike Gundy, Pierce entered his name in the transfer portal following the 2025 season.
With Auburn retaining defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, most of the roster retention on defense will remain intact. Freshman safeties Eric Winters and AnQuon Fegans had huge impacts early for Auburn and will be key contributors in 2026. Adding Pierce to the roster will add even more depth to the Tigers secondary.
Ryan Williams, Wide Receiver
This may sound bold to Alabama fans, but after seeing Ryan Williams’ lack of production in the 2025 Iron Bowl, it raises questions about what’s actually going on in Tuscaloosa.
Williams had zero targets in the 27-20 victory over Auburn last weekend and played just 37 of 73 offensive snaps. Williams led Alabama with 865 yards and eight touchdowns on 48 receptions during his freshman season last year. Through 11 games in the 2025 season, he had 40 catches for 598 yards and four touchdowns.
Prior to signing with Alabama in the 2023 recruiting class, Williams heavily considered Auburn after his dad Ryan Williams Sr. signed with Auburn in 2007. If Golesh can lure Williams back to Auburn, it will be viewed as one of the biggest recruiting coups in the state.
