It’s not often that college football teams add potential key contributors to the roster in July, but that’s exactly what Auburn did last week.

Former Texas A&M safety Jacoby Mathews officially signed with the Tigers last Wednesday, adding another safety to a loaded room.

Mathews entered the transfer portal in April 2024 and spent the last year in junior college focusing on his academics. Before leaving College Station, he logged 42 tackles, four pass deflections and an interception in 2023, playing for now Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin.

Head coach Hugh Freeze said at Auburn’s AMBUSH event last week that they’re “excited to give him a chance,” following Mathews’ year away.

“I believe with all my heart that he understands this is his last chance,” Freeze said. “He just did not receive the blessing that he had at his previous school, and I think he’s learned a lesson and adding another elite safety to that group is beneficial to us.”

On the field, Mathews adds more talent and experience to a room that already returns multiple starters. Mathews logged an 80.8 coverage grade in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus, giving him a chance to play a role similar to Jerrin Thompson last season.

There’s no guarantee that Mathews would start, but his past performances in the Southeastern Conference indicate that he’s capable. However, it’s hard to predict what exactly his role will be.

Mathews is arriving to the team later than the rest of the group, missing out on reps that returning contributors like Kaleb Harris and Sylvester Smith and newcomers like AnQuon Fegans, Taye Seymore and others got during spring practice.

Despite that, it’s obvious that Mathews is capable of adding something to the group. His 2023 PFF coverage grade was higher than any Auburn player who logged 100 or more coverage snaps last season.

Mathews tallied 276 coverage snaps in 2023, fewer than Auburn’s top safeties last season, but he may be the closest thing to what Thompson gave Auburn in 2024.

His addition to the room draws other similarities to Thompson’s last season, despite not having the same credentials Thompson earned at Texas. Even still, Mathews brings SEC experience, talent that earned him a five-star rating out of high school and coverage skills that can benefit Auburn’s defense on the back end.

The Tigers will begin fall camp in early August, and the battles for playing time at safety and other positions will likely shake out then. Auburn will open the season on Aug. 29 with a road game against Baylor.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m