Even the most devoted Auburn football fans will need to pay attention to the game program when the Tigers hit the field on Sept 2 against UMass at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Hugh Freeze is in his first season as Auburn’s head coach. He added the 20th player from the transfer portal since his arrival in November with Sunday’s announcement from wide receiver Shane Hooks on Twitter.

Hooks had 66 receptions for 775 yards and 10 touchdowns last season at Jackson State under former head coach Deion Sanders. He played six games in 2021 with two touchdowns and 199 yards. Speaking of Sanders, the Tigers are second in transfer portal recruiting behind Prime’s new team Colorado in 247Sports’ team transfer portal rankings.

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The Tigers will unlikely catch Colorado since the Buffaloes have signed 48 players in the portal, including Tar’Varish Dawson, who went to the Rocky Mountains from the Plains after spring football.

The 6′4 205-pound receiver is one of 41 new players, including 21 athletes in the 2023 class, to choose Auburn since Freeze became the head coach. Jyaire Shorter (North Texas) and Caleb Burton (Ohio State) are the other receivers to transfer after spring football ended with the April 8th A-Day scrimmage. Nick Mardner came from Cincinnati before spring camp.

Quarterback Payton Thorne (Michigan State), linebacker Larry Nixon III (North Texas), offensive lineman Jaden Muskrat (Tulsa), Shorter, Burton, and rushers Steven Sings V (Liberty), Jalen McLeod (Appalachian State) are the other players to transfer into the program after spring football.

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.