It’s officially game week for Auburn football.
The Tigers are gearing up for a long-awaited season opening kickoff in Waco, Texas, against Big 12 foe Baylor on Friday.
Auburn’s roster is much improved from top to bottom at nearly every position group on the field heading into the season. It’s a testament to head coach Hugh Freeze and his staff on the recruiting trail the past two years, compiling two consecutive top 10 classes and some key additions through the portal.
When Auburn takes the field on Friday it will have 45 newcomers making their debut in orange and blue — 19 through the transfer portal. Some that will determine the Tigers’ fate in 2025.
With that, here’s a list of five transfer portal additions who could make the biggest impact for the Tigers on Friday:
QB Jackson Arnold
This is a bit of a cookie-cutter pick, so we’ll go ahead and get this one out of the way. Arnold arrived on the Plains as the highest-rated quarterback signee ever. He’s manned the Tigers’ offense since his arrival in the spring, and Freeze has openly declared him the starter.
Obviously, his first year at the helm of Oklahoma’s offense last season was one to forget. But a fresh start in orange and blue has seemed to be just what the former Gatorade Player of the Year needed. Freeze made a point that it’s crucial for Arnold to regain the “confidence” and “swagger” that made him one of the most sought after quarterbacks in the 2023 class.
Needless to say, Arnold will be returning to his home state of Texas – where he won the prestigious POY award – in a primetime Friday night matchup. He has the talent around him to succeed. If he and Freeze are on the same page, and can avoid any disastrous mistakes, Arnold could have a stellar performance, setting the narrative that Auburn’s offense is a dangerous one right at the beginning of the season.
OT Xavier Chaplin
The second-highest ranked offensive tackle prospect through the portal this offseason, per 247Sports, Chaplin was a crucial pickup for offensive line coach Jake Thornton and the Tigers.
Not going through the spring due to a shoulder injury he suffered last season, Chaplin has declared that he feels much better this fall. He says he can finally play freely without thinking about the injury.
He’s received high-praise throughout the offseason, and some even believe he could be a first-rounder – which would make him the Tigers’ first offensive lineman drafted in the first round since Greg Robinson in 2013. Auburn certainly hasn’t had many worthy of being in the same discussion as Robinson at that spot since his departure – and Robinson was suited to play guard at the next level.
Freeze was openly frustrated with the Tigers’ pass protection sets in the latter half of camp, saying they have been losing too many one-on-ones and must protect the quarterback better.
If Chaplin will take it upon himself – which the staff believes he can and will – to lead the Tigers’ frontline, it will be Auburn’s best group in nearly a decade. Protect Arnold, pave the way for the running backs, and the Tigers will enjoy the flight back to the Plains on Friday night.
And it all could start with Chaplin.
WR Eric Singleton Jr.
Just one of many weapons on the outside for Auburn this season, Singleton may be the best athlete on the field at all times.
With the speed to blow past any defender – his 664 receiving yards on deep balls since 2023 lead all returning Power Four receivers, per Pro Football Focus – he poses a problem for any team.
Baylor was 92nd in the country last season in pass defense, giving up 234.2 yards per game through the air. Auburn’s passing offense last season – and keep in mind how much improvement is expected in that department in 2025 – racked up 263.9 yards per game.
Singleton will be hard to stop for any squad this season. With Auburn having so many threats out wide, it bodes well for Singleton to have a breakout game and put the country on notice.
LB Caleb Wheatland
Wheatland could turn out to be one of the most important pickups through the portal.
He wasn’t the biggest get, or the highest rated, but he is the only linebacker Auburn got through the portal with starting experience. The Tigers’ linebacker room is deep, and talented, and it’s undergone constant rotation all spring.
However, Wheatland could be the leader of that group. He has the potential to be a constant presence in the middle for Auburn.
Baylor’s leading rusher from a season ago, Dawson Pendergrass, is out for the season with a foot injury. The Bears averaged 178.4 yards per game last season, really having no trouble in that department. Wheatland could show up big for Auburn’s run defense on Friday night. If he does, Auburn’s chances of winning increase significantly.
CB Rayshawn Pleasant
A bit of an under the radar pickup through the portal this offseason, Pleasant is a name people need to know.
Now, Auburn’s cornerback room is pretty clear cut – Jay Crawford and Kayin Lee will start and take the bulk of the snaps. But Pleasant, along with Raion Strader, is going to see some time on the outside and give Auburn key depth pieces.
The reason Pleasant is on this list as someone who can make a significant impact on Friday night is because of his ability to make something happen in the return game. Pleasant is sure to trot out as the Tigers’ main kick returner. He was one of five players in the nation who returned multiple kickoffs for touchdowns last season while at Tulane.
If Auburn can make a play in the return game – and turn things around from last season, when the Tigers were often pinned back inside their own 20-yard line – it could swing momentum. That’s the type of spark that can help open the season with a win.
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