BREAKING: Ole Miss transfer linebacker Austin Keys commits to Auburn

Transfer linebacker Austin Keys, one of the top players at the position in the portal, has committed to Auburn.

Keys, who is transferring from Ole Miss, announced his commitment Sunday on social media. He entered the portal on Jan. 6 and visited Auburn Jan. 13-15.

Keys started and played in 12 games at Ole Miss in 2022. He had 39 total tackles, including 14 solos, four quarterback hurries, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.

Keys signed with the Rebels in 2020 out of Seminary, Miss. He was ranked the No. 87 linebacker in the country and No. 23 overall recruit in Mississippi, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally-weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

He has two years of eligibility.

#WDE🦅 pic.twitter.com/y7jKSC2E38

— KEYS (@iamAustinK_) January 15, 2023

Keys is the 12th transfer addition for Auburn in the ’23 class. He joins running back Brian Battie (USF), interior offensive lineman Avery Jones (East Carolina), offensive tackles Gunner Britton (Western Kentucky) and Dillon Wade (Tulsa), defensive linemen Lawrence Johnson (Purdue), Justin Rogers (Kentucky) and Mosiah Nasili-Kite (Maryland), tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (FIU), wide receiver Nick Mardner, defensive end Elijah McAllister (Vanderbilt) and linebacker DeMario Tolan (LSU).

As of Saturday night, Auburn’s transfer class ranked No. 2 in the country, according to On3 Transfer Team Rankings. The Tigers trailed only UCLA.

Auburn expecting to sign several transfers in ’23 class

College football players have a 45-day window to enter the portal and find a new home. The window will close on Jan. 19 before reopening after spring for another 15-day window.

Once in the portal, players like Tolan are allowed to speak with coaches at other programs about transferring. Players also can visit other schools.

Auburn is expected to hit the transfer portal hard over the next 45 days. First-year coach Hugh Freeze said as much in his opening press conference.

“In Year One, the portal will be a big priority,” Freeze said. “I do believe in building (the roster) with high school kids and filling it in with the portal. Can we do that in Year One? I’m not sure yet, so I would anticipate it being heavier towards the portal.”