Auburn Dealt Transfer Portal Blow on Saturday
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The Auburn Tigers’ 2025 season ended after a 27-20 Week 14 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide. After going 5-7, the program failed to reach bowl eligibility for the second straight year.
The Tigers have already undergone several significant changes. Former South Florida Bulls head coach Alex Golesh was brought in as Hugh Freeze’s replacement after Freeze was fired on Nov. 2.
With no plans of coaching the Bulls’ Cure Bowl matchup against the Old Dominion Monarchs, Golesh is already in offseason mode. Along with a coaching change, Auburn is experiencing shifts due to the transfer portal.
The portal officially opens Jan. 2, but players can reveal intent to leave before then. On Saturday, Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett reported that Auburn wide receiver Malcolm Simmons plans to leave.
“BREAKING: Auburn WR Malcolm Simmons plans to enter the @TransferPortal, his agent tells @On3Sports,” Fawcett wrote.
BREAKING: Auburn WR Malcolm Simmons plans to enter the @TransferPortal, his agent tells @On3Sports
He closed the season with back-to-back 140 yard performances, highlighted by a 3 catch, 143 yard, & 1 TD outing against Alabama
Repped by @caseygunn0https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7qpic.twitter.com/xmsPeimemk
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 13, 2025
Coming out of high school, Simmons was a four-star recruit with offers from programs such as the Arkansas Razorbacks, Liberty Flames, UCF Knights and Troy Trojans.
Over the past two seasons with the Tigers, Simmons has racked up 65 receptions, 908 yards and five touchdowns. He was one of the team’s top targets in 2025, having the third-most receptions (25), yards (457) and touchdowns (two).
Auburn’s offense struggled this year, tied for 75th in points per game (26.8) and ranked 80th in total yards per game (373.9). Losing a player with Simmons’ kind of production only makes the unit weaker.
To make matters worse, he’s the third wide receiver with plans to enter the transfer portal. The Tigers are also set to lose three-star Horatio Fields and four-star Perry Thompson.
Last offseason, Golesh brought in 22 players through the transfer portal for South Florida. With increased resources at Auburn, staying active in the portal could be key to the team’s success in 2026.
Related: Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed Announces NIL Update Before Miami Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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