Auburn football linebacker Xavier Atkins announces return for 2026
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AUBURN — Alex Golesh got one of his biggest offseason victories as Auburn football head coach, as All-American linebacker Xavier Atkins announced Wednesday, Dec. 17, that he’d be returning to the Plains for the 2026 season and not exploring his transfer options.
A rising junior and former DJ Durkin recruit, Atkins was Auburn‘s most-productive defender in 2025, leading the Tigers in tackles (84), tackles for loss (17) and sacks (9). All of those marks were top five in the SEC, with his tackles for loss leading the conference. Atkins was named named an All-American and first team All-SEC by multiple outlets.
Let’s Run it back #WDEpic.twitter.com/0IMI8huOen
— Xavier “DEEBO” Atkins (@XavierAtkins8) December 17, 2025
Atkins transferred to Auburn from LSU, where the former four-star recruit saw the field sparingly as a true freshman in 2024.
The transfer portal won’t open until Jan. 2, and the program has already seen ample attrition, with 14 players reportedly planning to enter the portal.
Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.To support Adam’s work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football linebacker Xavier Atkins announces return for 2026
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