Auburn’s football program is entering a pivotal offseason, with nearly four dozen players having moved on since the 2025 campaign and about 60 newcomers arriving for 2026. The Tigers have endured five consecutive losing seasons, leaving the roster in flux as the first kickoff approaches in just over two months.
A cornerback reshuffle
The most pronounced shake‑up has occurred in the secondary. The cornerback room lost several key contributors, including sophomore Blake Woodby, freshman All‑American Jay Crawford, top recruit Kayin Lee and Raion Strader, who together accounted for more than 500 coverage snaps last year.
Among the departures, former 4‑star recruit Donovan Starr also headed to Clemson, further thinning the group. Yet Rayshawn Pleasant, an All‑American kick returner and one of the few experienced corners, decided to stay, citing a sense of duty to teammates, fans and the coaching staff.
Pleasant’s 187 coverage snaps topped the returning cohort, while Woodby logged 56 as a true freshman. The remaining corners are now tasked with filling the experience gap, and they have voiced a collective resolve to work harder and silence doubters.