Despite injuries and rotations in the first half of the season, cornerback became a position of strength for Auburn in 2024.

Kayin Lee and Jay Crawford eventually became the two players to hold down starting spots on the boundary, and both were solid. Lee locked down his place in the starting lineup by Week 1, while Crawford’s emergence came during the season.

Injuries to Keionte Scott and Champ Anthony forced Crawford, a freshman at the time, into action, and he was up to the task. Of players who played in five games or more, Crawford finished with the second highest coverage grade on the team, according to Pro Football Focus, and the second-highest catch percentage allowed in the SEC.

Despite the solid seasons from both players, Auburn was active in the transfer portal at that position. The Tigers signed Raion Strader from Miami (OH) and Rayshawn Pleasant from Tulane, two-starting caliber players.

When asked why Auburn was so aggressive in adding to a position of strength, head coach Hugh Freeze said he wanted to create competition.

“We need competition, particularly at places like corner where you need four guys that can play,” Freeze said. “We believe in them, they are good players. But I’m glad we got two other good ones behind them too.”

At Tulane, Pleasant finished with 35 tackles, three pass deflections and one interception in 2024. He was also named to the Walter Camp Preseason All-America Second Team as a kick returner after averaging 34.5 yards per return last season.

Strader finished with 53 tackles, 17 pass deflections and two interceptions at Miami (OH) last season and was the 2024 MAC cornerback of the year.

Freeze mentioned that Pleasant and Strader bring length and quick twitch ability, along with experience, something Auburn is lacking at corner behind Lee and Crawford.

More than anything else, Freeze believes bringing in the two experienced transfers can bring the best out of Lee and Crawford and kill any entitlement or complacency that could come with being handed a starting job.

“If we truly want to get Auburn back to where it has to be, there has to be a level where every single kid buys into the standard all the time,” Freeze said. “And this is not a deal where some entitlement because I played well last year at times, or I got a certain NIL deal or revenue sharing deal that I’m entitled to something now.”

Auburn will begin fall camp ahead of the 2025 season on July 29. The Tigers will open the campaign exactly one month later against Baylor on Aug. 29.

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