Auburn spring football preview: Transfer Preview (2025)

Spring practice is underway at Auburn, and it's time to preview another group ahead of A-Day, which will take place on Saturday, April 12 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The next position group that we will examine in our spring breakdown series is the transfer arrivals, which will feature many fresh faces. Auburn needed to address many areas of need after the 2024 season. Top of that list is the quarterback position after Payton Thorne ran out of eligibility. The Tigers added two quarterbacks with starting experience in Jackson Arnold from Oklahoma and Ashton Daniels from Stanford. Only Arnold is with the team during spring practice. The Tigers added more talent to an already skilled wide receiver room, and added some key pieces to the defense.

Here is a look at what the Auburn quarterback room looks like as spring practice continues on the Plains.

Offense

Quarterback No. 11 Jackson Arnold

2024 stats: 1,421 yards, 12 touchdown passes, 63% completion percentage
Career stats (2 seasons): 1,984 yards, 16 touchdown passes, 63% completion percentage

Auburn has a completely new quarterback room, and it is expected that Jackson Arnold will be the opening game starter versus Baylor. However, there are reports out of practice that Deuce Knight has been impressive. Arnold did not have much help at Oklahoma, and is also a very capable runner. Last season he rushed for 444 yards and three touchdowns. 247Sports had him ranked as a four-star transfer portal prospect. “Very, very optimistic. He has a calm demeanor and confidence. He understands ball and has a high football IQ. Arm strength is good, " said Hugh Freeze. "There's a reason he was Gatorade Player of the Year coming out of high school. I think he needed to start to regain some confidence, and I think he's doing that in a fast, fast pace."

Running Back No. 21 Durell Robinson

2024 stats (UConn): 107 carries, 731 yards, 6.8 yards per carry, 8 touchdowns
Career stats (two seasons Charlotte/UConn): 147 carries, 897 yards, 6.1 yards per carry, 9 touchdowns

Wide Receiver No. 1 Eric Singleton

2024 stats (Georgia Tech): 56 receptions, 754 yards, 13.5 yards per catch, three touchdowns
Career stats (Two seasons): 104 receptions, 1,468 yards, 14.1 yards per catch, nine touchdowns

Cam Coleman is the star of the receiver room, but the Tigers needed to find some experience to replace KeAndre Lambert-Smith who led Auburn with 981 yards last season. They did not have to look far in Eric Singleton who comes from Georgia Tech in Atlanta. He was listed as the No. 1 transfer wide receiver by 247Sports and the fourth best player overall.

Wide Receiver No. 5 Horatio Fields

2024 stats (Wake Forest): 39 receptions, 463 yards, 11.9 yards per catch, four touchdowns
Career stats (Three seasons): 44 receptions, 517 yards, 11.8 yards per catch, and four touchdowns

Horatio Fields will add some good depth to the Auburn wide receivers who now has a mixture of youth and experience. 247Sports rated Fields as a four-star transfer prospect and was their No. 7 wide receiver.

Offensive Tackle No. 65 Xavier Chaplin

Xavier Chaplin comes to Auburn from Virginia Tech where he played in 587 snaps last season and allowed just two sacks. Pro Football Focus gave Chaplin an overall grade of 69.8.

Offensive Tackle No. 76 Mason Murphy

The former USC Trojan Mason Murphy adds potential depth to the Auburn offensive line. He played 771 snaps at right tackle last seasons giving up three sacks.

Defense

Defensive Lineman No. 35 Dallas Walker IV

2024 stats (Western Kentucky): 49 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception
Career stats (Three seasons): 61 tackles and five tackles for loss

Edge No. 3 Chris Murray

2024 stats (Sam Houston State): 35 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Career stats (Two seasons): 50 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles

Anytime a team can add a good pass rusher it always a good addition. Last season, Auburn was ninth in the SEC with just 28 sacks. They needed some help in that category with Jalen McLeod no longer on campus.

Linebacker No. 17 Xavier Atkins

2024 stats: Two games played and one tackle

Xavier Atkins is rated as a three-star transfer prospect by 247Sports and is a much needed addition to the linebackers. The unit is the most inexperienced group on the Tigers with only one upperclassman currently on the roster.

Cornerback No. 13 Raion Strader

2024 stats (Miami-OH): 53 tackles and two interceptions
Career stats (Two seasons): 110 tackles and three interceptions

Raion Strader had a very success run for Miami (Ohio) in the MAC. Last season he won the MAC Cornerback of the Year award and was named All-MAC by the College Football News. With the loss of Keionte Scott to the transfer portal the Tigers needed some help with cornerback depth. Strader has shown the ability to be a playmaker, but going from the MAC to the SEC is a big jump.

Safety No. 29 Taye Seymore

2024 stats (Georgia Tech): 46 tackles and three tackles for loss
Career stats (Two seasons): 51 tackles and three tackles for loss

The Tigers once again went into the transfer portal for help at safety and signed Taye Seymore from Georgia Tech. Last season they brought in Jerrin Thompson from Texas and he was an impact player. 247Sports ranked Seymore as a three-star and the No. 29 safety in the transfer portal.

Special Teams

Kicker No. 41 Connor Gibbs

2024 stats (Southern Miss): 7-10 extra points, 10-13 field goals, 37 points scored
Career stats (Two seasons): 9-12 extra points, 10-14 field goals, 39 points scored

After a tough season with kickers, the Tigers needed to bring in help if Alex McPherson was unable to kick this fall. Also, Towns McGough proved to be inconsistent as the relief to McPherson last season. Gibbs brings experience, and has solid leg strength.

Punter No. 14 Hudson Kaak

2024 stats (Oklahoma State): 30 punts, 1,294 yards, 43.1 yards per punt
Career stats (Two seasons): 68 punts, 2,802 yards, 41.2 yards per punt

Hudson Kaak is an Australian punter that played the last two seasons at Oklahoma State. 247Sports lists Kaak as a three-star prospect and the No. 4 punter. He joins freshman John McGuire to determine the 2025 Auburn Tigers punter.

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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football transfers spring preview