ESPN Projects Auburn Tigers’ Starting Lineup After Transfer Portal Closes, Revealing New Faces and Key Returning Stars
The dust has finally settled after one of the most intense and fast-paced transfer portal windows in recent memory, and ESPN wasted no time in revealing its projected starting lineup for the Auburn Tigers football team ahead of the 2025 season. For head coach Hugh Freeze, the close of the spring portal window signals the final opportunity to lock in his roster, evaluate talent, and prepare his squad for a pivotal campaign in the rugged Southeastern Conference. With a mix of returning veterans, promising underclassmen, and key additions via the transfer portal, Auburn’s new-look depth chart is as intriguing as it is unpredictable.
ESPN’s projection reveals a team that has grown more balanced on both sides of the ball, thanks largely to a transfer class that brought in plug-and-play talent at positions of need. Despite losing a few notable names to the portal, Auburn managed to reload in several key spots, including quarterback, offensive line, and the secondary—areas where the Tigers struggled with consistency last year.
At quarterback, ESPN projects that transfer signal-caller Grayson McCall, who arrived in January from Coastal Carolina, will take over the reins. McCall, a seasoned veteran with over 9,000 career passing yards, brings a dual-threat element and calm leadership to the position. While Holden Geriner and Hank Brown remained on the roster to compete, McCall’s experience and proven production have given him the early edge during spring practice and now into fall camp preparations. ESPN cited McCall’s football IQ and system adaptability as crucial factors in his projected starting status.
Joining McCall in the backfield is returning running back Jarquez Hunter, who looks to make a big leap in his senior season. Hunter flirted with the NFL Draft before choosing to return, a decision that Freeze has publicly praised. With over 1,100 rushing yards last year and a stronger offensive line expected in 2025, Hunter is poised to be one of the SEC’s top rushers. ESPN also noted the importance of backup running backs Brian Battie and Damari Alston, who will rotate in to keep Hunter fresh and provide explosive plays in the screen game.
Wide receiver has been a position of concern for Auburn in recent years, but the portal helped change that narrative. ESPN lists LSU transfer Chris Hilton Jr. and returning sophomore Caleb Burton III as the projected starting outside receivers, with Ohio State transfer Bryson Rodgers expected to hold down the slot. Hilton brings elite speed and vertical threat ability, while Burton showed glimpses of stardom late last season. The Tigers also get back tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, who was arguably the team’s most reliable pass-catcher in 2024. Fairweather’s size and route-running ability will make him a safety blanket for McCall, especially in the red zone.
Up front, ESPN’s lineup projection shows a transformed offensive line—a unit that was a glaring weakness last season. The Tigers added three veteran linemen via the portal, including former North Carolina guard Ed Montilus and Tulsa tackle Tyler Smith. Both are expected to start alongside returning center Avery Jones, creating a more experienced and physically mature offensive front. At left tackle, true sophomore Connor Lew is listed as the starter after an impressive freshman campaign, while the right guard spot is projected to go to Western Kentucky transfer Vincent Murphy. This revamped line will be key to unlocking Auburn’s run-heavy offensive identity and giving McCall the time he needs to operate efficiently.
Defensively, ESPN highlights a deep and versatile front seven, anchored by returning defensive tackle Marcus Harris. Harris, who turned down the NFL for one more season on The Plains, is joined up front by Ole Miss transfer J.J. Pegues—an Auburn legacy returning home. Edge rusher Keldric Faulk, now a sophomore, is poised for a breakout season after adding size and technique during the offseason. On the opposite end, redshirt junior Elijah McAllister, a Vanderbilt transfer from 2024, continues to provide leadership and edge-setting ability.
Linebacker has seen major reshuffling, with the portal playing a decisive role. ESPN projects that former Clemson linebacker Kobe McCloud and Miami transfer Wesley Bissainthe will form the starting duo. Both are rangy, athletic tacklers with sideline-to-sideline speed and experience in power-conference environments. They replace Eugene Asante and Austin Keys, both of whom transferred out. While losing Asante’s leadership stings, Freeze and his staff believe the new duo offers more raw talent and better coverage skills in space.
The secondary underwent the most dramatic makeover, as ESPN outlines. Gone are starting cornerbacks D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett, both now in the NFL. In their place, Auburn welcomes a pair of standout transfers—Florida State corner Greedy Vance and UAB’s Starling Thomas V. Vance is expected to hold down the No. 1 corner role with his ball skills and instincts, while Thomas brings physicality and man coverage expertise to the opposite side. At safety, Zion Puckett returns for a fifth year and will be joined by Louisville transfer M.J. Griffin, who was one of the top coverage safeties in the ACC last year.
Rounding out the defensive unit is sophomore nickel Keionte Scott, a player ESPN singled out as a potential All-SEC candidate. His ability to blitz, cover, and tackle in space makes him invaluable in modern defensive schemes, and Auburn’s staff is reportedly building more of the defense around his skill set in 2025.
On special teams, there are no surprises in ESPN’s projection. Oscar Chapman returns as the team’s punter, while sophomore Alex McPherson remains the placekicker. Both were consistent and occasionally spectacular in 2024, giving Auburn an edge in field position and long-distance kicking. McPherson, in particular, has developed into one of the nation’s most accurate kickers, converting 90% of his field goal attempts last season.
Beyond the projected starters, ESPN also highlighted a number of under-the-radar contributors who could carve out roles as the season progresses. Among them is true freshman linebacker Jamal Bridges, who turned heads in spring ball with his instincts and physicality. Wide receiver Cam Coleman, a five-star early enrollee, also earned praise for his polished route-running and could rotate in as a deep threat.
Hugh Freeze, now entering his second full season, is under pressure to produce results after a 6-7 finish in 2024 that included an Iron Bowl collapse and a Birmingham Bowl loss. However, the ESPN projection paints a cautiously optimistic picture of what Auburn could be—a team with a stable quarterback, a proven lead back, and a defense filled with battle-tested veterans. The challenge will be chemistry. Integrating more than a dozen transfer starters into a cohesive unit by Week 1 is no small feat, and the early portion of the schedule will not offer much leniency.
Auburn opens the 2025 season with a non-conference tilt against Cal before quickly diving into SEC play with back-to-back matchups against Texas A&M and Georgia. ESPN’s analysts stress that how fast this roster gels could determine whether Auburn is a middle-tier SEC West team or a legitimate threat to compete for a division crown. Much will also depend on McCall’s ability to command the offense and stay healthy, as depth behind him is promising but unproven.
Despite the heavy influx of new players, ESPN’s projection shows a team that has potentially upgraded at more positions than it downgraded. The staff attacked needs with precision during the portal period, replacing attrition with experience and versatility. That proactive approach has given Freeze a legitimate chance to make a leap in Year Two—if all the puzzle pieces can align in time.
Auburn’s fan base, known for its passion and patience in equal measure, will be watching closely. The Tigers may not be favored to win the SEC in 2025, but they now have the personnel to surprise those who sleep on them. With a battle-tested quarterback, a revamped offensive line, and a defense that finally appears to have SEC speed across the board, Auburn is gearing up for what could be a season of renewal—or redemption. Either way, ESPN’s projected starting lineup makes one thing clear: the Auburn Tigers are no longer rebuilding. They’re reloaded and ready.
