Auburn QB Ashton Daniels intends to enter transfer portal

Auburn starting quarterback Ashton Daniels intends to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal when it opens Jan. 2, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Daniels transferred from Stanford ahead of the 2025 season and entered the fall as the backup to Jackson Arnold. As Arnold struggled, Daniels started the second half against Arkansas and helped lead Auburn to its lone SEC victory.

He took over as the Tigers’ starter one week later, with the only exception the Mercer game. Daniels did not play against Mercer in order to preserve his redshirt. He’ll have one season of eligibility remaining.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR AUBURN

Daniels provided the best quarterback play for Auburn this fall. In his final two starts against Vanderbilt and Alabama, with Derrick Nix calling plays, Daniels threw for 612 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He added 197 yards rushing and a pair of rushing touchdowns.

With the expected departure of Daniels and Arnold, it leaves Deuce Knight as the only returning quarterback from last season’s group. Auburn is prioritizing Knight in its roster retention game plan. Regardless, Auburn is thin at quarterback and will need to supplement through the portal.

Eyes will be on South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown, who shined this fall for Alex Golesh. Should Brown enter the transfer portal, Auburn seems as a likely destination.

Departure impact: Moderate

GOLESH ON TRANSFER PORTAL, ROSTER RETENTION

Golesh, who arrived on campus Nov. 30, spoke in his introductory press conference Dec. 1 on the transfer portal and roster retention.

“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,” Golesh said. “And by fits, I don’t mean offensively, defensively or special teams, but truly, who wants to be there. Who’s 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.”

He also touched on the resources available to Auburn in order to recruit and retain talent.

“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.”