After reports of Auburn defensive back Keionte Scott planning to enter the transfer portal surfaced the evening of Jan. 5, Tigers fans were left stunned — and rightfully so as Scott had turned down the prospect of turning pro and announced he’d be returning for his senior year just weeks prior.

Fortunately for Auburn and its wildly green secondary, Scott seemed to suggest Monday night that he wasn’t going anywhere.

“Thankful for the patience and the honest opinions but the REAL know where home is for me,” Scott wrote in a post on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter.

Whether significant or sheer coincidence, Scott’s decision came just hours after it was reported Auburn defensive coordinator Ron Roberts would be leaving The Plains for a similar role at Florida.

Retaining Scott is a huge win for Hugh Freeze and the Tigers, who now avoid having to replace its entire starting secondary as DJ James, Nehemiah Pritchett, Zion Puckett and Jaylin Simpson are all heading to the 2024 NFL Draft.

Returning Scott also means Auburn won’t be left scrambling looking for a way to replace his production. In two seasons with the Tigers, Scott has recorded 97 total tackles — a remarkable number for a player out of the secondary.

And considering Scott was Auburn’s main punt returner in 2023, the Tigers’ special teams unit is also likely to reap the benefits of his return. In 2023, Scott tallied 222 return yards, including a 74-yard punt return touchdown against Arkansas.

On the field, Scott’s return is significant — especially given the turnover Auburn will see in its defensive back field.

In the locker room, however, Scott’s return is equally as significant — if not more.

After missing three games due to an ankle injury that ended up requiring surgery in 2023, Freeze gushed about Scott and his intangibles as he returned to practice ahead of the Ole Miss game.

“Keionte Scott changes our team,” Freeze said of Scott. “And he’s been back around us this week and he just picks everybody’s spirits up. He really does, particularly defense.”

Scott has also taken on a role on the recruiting trail.

Despite hailing all the way from San Diego and having only been at Auburn since 2022 after coming in from the JUCO ranks, Scott is referred to as the “closer” around Auburn’s program and has been relentless in having a hand in Auburn’s recruiting efforts.

With Scott now expected to suit up for the Tigers in 2024, he’ll likely be a shoo-in as one of Auburn’s starting cornerbacks. Barring any other changes to Auburn’s room of cornerbacks, Scott will join Champ Anthony, Kayin Lee, J.D. Rhym, Colton Hood, JC Hart and Tyler Scott, as well as 4-star signees A’mon Lane-Ganus and Jalyn Crawford.