On paper, Auburn football’s 2025 roster is the strongest it has been since Hugh Freeze was hired ahead of the 2023 season and arguably the strongest since Gus Malzahn’s final season in 2020.

Back-to-back top 10 recruiting classes and a 19-player transfer class this offseason both helped contribute to building a team that the program hopes can compete toward the top of the Southeastern Conference.

After a 5-7 season in 2024 that fell short of expectations, Auburn addressed a handful of specific positions during the offseason, while a few others return young players who got playing time as freshmen last season.

With two portal windows and three weeks of spring practice in the past, here’s how we ranked Auburn’s position groups going into the summer.

1. Wide receiver

Players: Cam Coleman, Eric Singleton Jr., Horatio Fields, Malcolm Simmons, Perry Thompson, Bryce Cain, Sam Turner, Derick Smith, Erick Smith

Analysis: When combining both collegiate production and natural talent, it’s hard to argue against wide receiver being Auburn’s best and deepest group on the team. With nine total scholarship players, the numbers are there, and the top four all have the ability to be the leading receiver in any game.

The additions of Singleton and Fields add to Simmons and Coleman’s returning production. Turner, a true freshman, was one of the standouts during spring ball, and is someone who can compete for snaps alongside Thompson and Cain.

2. Defensive line

Players: Keldric Faulk, Amaris Williams, Jared Smith, Antonio Coleman, Quientrail Jamison-Travis, Malik Blocton, Zykeivous Walker, Dallas Walker IV, Jay Hardy, James Ash, Jourdin Crawford, Malik Autry, Darrion Smith

Analysis: Auburn’s defensive line in 2025 may not be as loaded with NFL talent as past units, but it’s highlighted by arguably the team’s best 2026 NFL Draft prospect.

Faulk is mocked as high as inside the top 10 by some outlets, and his production in 2024 backs that up. He anchors the unit at defensive end, but the interior defensive line looks different from last season.

Blocton and Jamison-Travis return as the likely two starters, but anywhere from four to eight players could rotate inside. The additions of experienced transfers such as Walker, Ash and Hardy help balance out the inexperience from Crawford, Autry, Smith and Coleman, who are all true freshmen.

3. Cornerback

Players: Kayin Lee, Jay Crawford, Champ Anthony, Raion Strader, Rayshawn Pleasant, Blake Woodby, Donovan Starr, Devin Williams

Analysis: Lee and Crawford became a solid duo on the outside last season after Auburn tried a few different combinations in the first couple weeks. Anthony also returns after suffering a season-ending injury in Week 4, and he’ll likely play nickel.

Strader and Pleasant both transferred to Auburn with starting experience, albeit at the Group of Five level. Woodby and Starr highlight the freshman class in the secondary, but will likely sit behind Lee, Crawford, Strader and Pleasant on the depth chart.

4. Specialists

Players: Alex McPherson, Connor Gibbs, Towns McGough, Hudson Kaak, John McGuire, Reed Hughes, Keaton McNutt

Analysis: This ranking mostly hinges on McPherson’s health, but for now he seems to be full go for the 2025 season. Auburn’s starting kicker missed all but one game in 2024, leading to an at best inconsistent and at worst disastrous year from the Tigers’ kicking game.

When healthy, McPherson can fix those problems. Auburn lost its longtime punter, Oscar Chapman, but it replaced him Kaak, who comes with two years of experience at Oklahoma State, minimizing the drop off.

5. Offensive line

Players: Xavier Chaplin, Dillon Wade, Connor Lew, Jeremiah Wright, Izavion Miller, Mason Murphy, DeAndre Carter, Tyler Johnson, Dylan Senda, Seth Wilfred, Clay Wedin, Favour Ebuka Edwin, Broderick Shull, Tai Buster, Kail Ellis, Jacobe Ward

Analysis: The offensive line gets a spot in the top half mainly due to the fact it returns four of its five starters, while adding two Power Four starters through the transfer portal.

Chaplin, a Virginia Tech transfer, gives the group a true left tackle and was an All-ACC Honorable Mention last season. He and Murphy give Auburn a boost at the two tackle spots with the experienced trio of Wade, Lew and Wright on the inside.

6. Safety

Players: Kaleb Harris, Sylvester Smith, Jahquez Robinson, Taye Seymore, Kensley Louidor-Faustin, A’mon Lane-Ganus, AnQuon Fegans, Eric Winters

Analysis: Safety is one of the toughest groups to rank. The talent at the top is there, but the lack of depth and experience push it just outside the top half.

Harris was arguably Auburn’s best defensive freshman last season, and returns to play an even bigger role in 2025. Smith got snaps as a freshman in 2024 too, and he’s the favorite to start next to Harris. Fegans and Winters, both freshmen, bring some added promise to the room, but it’s hard to rank the group any higher than sixth.

7. Middle Linebacker

Players: Caleb Wheatland, Demarcus Riddick, Robert Woodyard Jr., Xavier Atkins, DJ Barber, Elijah Melendez, JJ Faulk, Bryce Deas

Analysis: This was a glaring position of need after losing four seniors after last season, but the addition of Wheatland from Maryland gives the group a boost.

Riddick is the player to watch, returning for a bigger role his sophomore season after establishing himself as a freshman. Wheatland will get some stiff competition from Woodyard for the starting Mike linebacker spot, but both players will likely have a role.

8. Running back

Players: Damari Alston, Jeremiah Cobb, Durell Robinson, Alvin Henderson, Omar Mabson

Analysis: Auburn’s outlook at running back looks different in 2025 after losing Jarquez Hunter, its go-to back over the previous two seasons. The unit that remains is solid, but there’s no one player who stands out as a star.

Alston and Cobb both return with experience in the offense, but Robinson, a UConn transfer will likely contribute as well. After those three Auburn is down to two true freshmen, but Henderson and Mabson both have the potential to contribute down the road.

9. Quarterback

Players: Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels, Deuce Knight

Analysis: It’s the position everyone is talking about, and Auburn’s quarterback outlook is hard to evaluate in May, almost four months before the season opener.

The room is completely overhauled from last season, and Arnold, the likely starter, has yet to prove himself as a better than average SEC quarterback. That doesn’t mean he’s incapable — Auburn’s staff certainly believes in him — but with the questions that still remain, quarterback ranks in the bottom half for now.

10. Buck linebacker

Players: Keyron Crawford, Chris Murray, Jamonta Waller, Joe Phillips

Analysis: No. 10 might feel like a harsh spot for the buck linebackers, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the group is bad. However, there’s not a lot of proven starting talent.

Crawford is the favorite to start in the fall after backing up Jalen McLeod last season and Murray was a productive pass rusher at Sam Houston State. What the group is missing is an elite pass rusher who can complement Faulk and that’s what keeps it from standing out.

11. Tight end

Players: Brandon Frazier, Preston Howard, Tate Johnson, Hollis Davidson, Ryan Ghea

Analysis: One group had to come last on the list and right now, it’s the tight ends. As for the reason why, the room is missing a true difference maker or matchup nightmare.

Frazier is the leader of the group, but in five college seasons has just 12 catches for 121 yards. Howard gives the unit another experienced pass catching option, but neither he nor Frazier have the athleticism that Rivaldo Fairweather brought to the room last season.

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