Auburn linebacker Donovan Kaufman and Cam Riley are anticipated to access the transfer portal.
December 30, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE Auburn Tigers vs. Maryland Terrapins TransPerfect Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. Auburn linebacker Cam Riley (13), Auburn linebacker Austin Keys (6), and Auburn defensive back Donovan Kaufman (5). Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers imageAaron Bland/Tigers of Auburn
Two important defensive players for Auburn are anticipated to leave via the transfer portal, per reports from On3 and 247Sports.
Both defensive back Donovan Kaufman and linebacker Cam Riley are anticipated to leave the team. The announcement was made not long after Auburn’s defensive coaching staff underwent several changes.
Riley and Kaufman, who each have one more year of eligibility, have both been reliable members of Auburn’s defense over the course of their time as Tigers.
Kaufman transferred from Vanderbilt to Auburn in 2021. In 2021 and 2022, he started at safety; however, in 2023, he switched to a nickel cornerback position. When fellow defensive back Keionte Scott missed time this season due to an ankle injury, Kaufman took his place at the start.
Kaufman was virtually expected to replace Scott as a starter heading into the 2024 campaign, with Scott switching to an outside cornerback role the following season.
At Auburn, Kaufman recorded 109 total tackles, two interceptions, and six forced fumbles.
Riley has participated in 46 games during the course of his four years at Auburn, 13 of which were played during Hugh Freeze’s first season as head coach. During his time at Auburn, Riley played both inside and outside linebacker. In 2023, several coaches discussed using Riley more as a pass-rushing jack linebacker.
Riley did not have any sacks in his career prior to 2023, when he had 2.5 sacks. His total tackle total dropped from 65 in 2022 to 32 in 2023 as a result.
Jerrin Thompson, a defensive back from Texas, was added to Auburn on Monday via the transfer portal. He is Kaufman’s obvious choice to succeed him.
Along with Dorian Mausi from Duke, Auburn also added highly regarded high school linebacker Demarcus Riddick, who is currently practicing with the team.
In roughly twenty minutes Matt McMahon experienced a wide range of emotions on Saturday.
Disappointment came first. Next came words of encouragement.
With 11.5 minutes remaining, the LSU basketball team had dug itself a 28-point hole. However, with a 21-2 second-half run against then-No. 16 Auburn in a boisterous Neville Arena, the team turned around its fortunes dramatically.
LSU turned it around about the time the student section began rattling their keys, the signal to start the bus.
But LSU was only behind by nine points when the clock reached the five and a half minute mark. With 2:12 remaining, they were able to close the gap to eight, but Auburn regained momentum and won 93-78.
It demonstrated how a team must persevere through difficult times, as McMahon noted on Monday.
