Auburn and head coach Hugh Freeze are heading into a crucial third season, with Freeze holding an 11-14 record through his first two years. After back-to-back sub-.500 seasons, the pressure is on to turn things around in 2025-26.
The Tigers have leaned heavily on the transfer portal to upgrade their roster, already adding notable talent like quarterback Jackson Arnold and wide receiver Eric Singleton. And on Wednesday, they secured another key piece with the commitment of Tulane transfer cornerback Rayshawn Pleasant.
Pleasant is a solid addition to Auburn’s secondary, posting 35 tackles and an interception last season. But he’s most dynamic as a return specialist. In 2024, he earned All-American honors as a kick returner, averaging over 34 yards per return and scoring two touchdowns on just 13 attempts.
Scoring has been a consistent challenge for Auburn under Freeze. While offensive reinforcements have arrived, a game-changer like Pleasant in the return game could give the Tigers’ offense a much-needed boost.
As the transfer portal continues to reshape rosters across college football, landing a versatile impact player like Pleasant is a major win for Freeze and the Tigers.
