After the conclusion of Spring practice for the Auburn Tigers, head coach Hugh Freeze highlighted the need to bolster the team’s defensive line depth. In just a few days, they have made significant additions to address this concern. The departures of Marcus Harris and Justin Rogers following the 2023 season left a void in the interior defensive line, as Harris, who led the team with seven sacks last season, is expected to be a late-round draft pick. Finding suitable replacements for these key players will be crucial for the Tigers in the upcoming season.
Returning for another season is Jayson Jones, providing some continuity on the defensive line. During the winter transfer portal window, Auburn added Gage Keys from Kansas and Trill Carter from Texas to shore up the defensive line. The team also had concerns at the edge rusher position, but with Jalen McCleod returning after a productive season and high hopes for Keldric Faulk in his second season, there is optimism for improvement. New defensive line coach Vontrell King-Williams received a boost this week with the addition of these new players.
Philip Blidi was the first addition, coming from Indiana as a graduate transfer. In his lone season with the Hoosiers, Blidi had 30 tackles and four tackles for loss, starting in 11 of 12 games. He previously played for Texas Tech, appearing in 34 games and recording 40 total tackles and two and a half sacks. Blidi entered the transfer portal on March 19th and is considered a three-star recruit by 247Sports.
Isaiah Raikes is returning to the SEC after initially transferring to USC following the 2023 season. Raikes spent four seasons at Texas A&M, playing 42 games and accumulating 43 tackles and four and a half tackles for loss. He committed to USC on January 9th but re-entered the transfer portal on April 12th, reuniting with D.J. Durkin, who was the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M in 2022 and 2023.
Keyron Crawford, a pass rusher from Arkansas State, adds much-needed depth to the Tigers’ defensive line. In 2023, Crawford had 44 total tackles and five and a half sacks, with a standout performance against Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns where he had seven total tackles and two sacks. Crawford entered the transfer portal on April 16th and is listed as a three-star transfer portal recruit.
While Auburn has added talent, they have also seen some departures. Linebacker Wesley Steiner, who had 15 tackles last season, has entered the transfer portal, along with defensive backs J.D. Rhym and Colton Hood. On the offensive side, the Tigers are focusing on adding wide receivers, with visits from Penn State’s KeAndre Lambert-Smith and potential interest from Arizona State’s Jaden Rashada. Keeping an eye on the transfer portal will be important for the Auburn Tigers as they continue to shape their roster for the upcoming season.
