Auburn CB Raion Strader plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

Raion Strader, Auburn cornerback, plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal when it opens on Jan. 2 according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Strader transferred to Auburn from Miami-Ohio for the 2025 season. While at Miami-Ohio, Strader was an All-Conference performer with 17 pass breakups and 2 interceptions in 2024. At Auburn in 2025, Strader logged 9 tackles and 2 pass breakups while playing in a reserve role. Strader has one season remaining at his next stop.

What does it mean?

Strader looked to be on pace to play more early in the season. While he did log 179 snaps and appear in every game for Auburn, his snaps became more limited down the stretch of the season. Strader allowed 8 receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).

Depending how the cornerback room shakes out, this could be a minor or medium-level departure. For now, this should be considered a minor hit to Auburn’s roster and cornerback room.

Departure impact: Minor

Golesh on the transfer portal, roster retention

Stay up to date and track all entries to the NCAA Transfer Portal at On3

New Auburn head coach Alex Golesh addressed the worries about roster retention and the upcoming transfer portal.

“I think the one thing that doesn’t change is this: You have to be able to identify the immediate roster and figure out really, really quickly who fits,” he said. “And by fits, I don’t mean offensively, defensively or special teams, but truly, who wants to be there. Who is at least got a chance to buy into what you’re doing, understanding that when you come into a situation where the success wasn’t flowing, change has to be made.”

That message was delivered to his team as soon as he got on campus. Golesh arrived in Auburn on Sunday, Dec. 4, going directly to the Woltosz Performance Center to speak to the team.

“I told the guys (Sunday) that change is inevitable. What they choose to do with the change is their choice,” Golesh said.

Golesh also spoke on the recruiting resources that will be available to he and his staff at Auburn.

“The investment that has been made from the administration to go and attack every single part of the recruiting is phenomenal,” said Golesh. “Nothing short of phenomenal. We’ve got every resource known to man right here to be able to go attract, recruit, retain and develop the best talent there is in the entire country.”

He plans to emphasize Auburn’s historical recruiting base including the state of Alabama and surrounding states.

“We’re going to recruit this 250-mile radius harder than anybody in the entire country,” said Golesh. “The high school football within these 250 miles is nothing short of elite. I have been in this part of the country for a long time. I have recruited this part of the country for a long time.

“Our staff, as it all comes together, is going to have a giant footprint in this 250-mile radius around campus. We’re going to identify, we’re going to recruit, we’re going to attack. We’re going to bring those guys right here to the Plains and we’re going to develop as hard as anybody ever has.”