Hugh Frozen I will not train Auburn football through a bowl game this offseason. His year 2024 is theoretically over. But he will enter the biggest week next Monday.

College football’s early signing period, which opens Wednesday and ends two days later, is two days away. He and the Tigers will try for a top-five finish.

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If they do, they won’t have time to celebrate, as the first of two college transfer portal windows this offseason will be less than a week from opening.

From Dec. 9-28, Auburn and the rest of college football will attempt to secure additions for positions in need of immediate improvement. This will set the stage for Auburn’s offseason, as it will no longer have the opportunity to add any more transfers as the second window opens the third week of April.

Here are Freeze and Auburn’s seven biggest needs with a week to go before the silly season.

No. 1: Starting Quarterback

Payton Thorne played the final game of his college career Saturday in Tuscaloosa. He closed the book on two seasons of mixed results at Auburn and opened the book for Freeze to find another passer in the portal for the second time in his Auburn tenure.

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This fact became even more true on Sunday, as Holden Geriner announced his intention to enter the transfer portal and reports circulated that Hank Brown planned to do the same.

Without this trio, Auburn’s quarterback room currently only has one player: White Walkerwho only collected 19 snaps as a true freshman.

If the Tigers can follow through Two knightsand signed him on Wednesday, they would have two top pass rushers between him and White. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that Freeze absolutely needs to find a premium quarterback in the portal.

No. 2: Offensive tackles

Percy Lewis’ transfer from Mississippi State didn’t pan out, and between pro prospects and limited eligibility options, Dillon Wade is unlikely to return.

That leaves Auburn with Izavion Miller, who gave up double-digit pressures at right tackle this season, and a handful of younger options. That includes redshirt freshman Tyler Johnson and JUCO transfer Seth Wilfred, who only played six snaps this fall.

Ideally, one of Auburn’s current options falls into place. Maybe it’s Johnson or Wilfred. The same could be said for DeAndre Carter or Favor Edwin. But if Freeze plays it safe, he’ll find true blind side protection and another option at either tackle spot to boot.

No. 3: A pass-catching tight end

Rivaldo Fairweather’s eligibility is exhausted and Auburn won’t have much experience with Luke Deal and Brandon Frazier being in the same boat. The only option left for the veterans was Micah Rileybut he announced on Sunday that he would enter the portal as soon as it opened.

Auburn already has a pair of tight ends committed to its 2025 class, but Freeze has a chance to make a compelling case at all available ends, as Fairweather came to Auburn and posted All-SEC numbers in his first season.

No. 4: Entry-caliber linebacker

With Eugene Asante, Austin Keys and Dorian Mausi all ineligible, it would be crucial to add at least one linebacker capable of starting, perhaps even taking on an Asante-like leadership role.

Even if the Tigers should come back Demarcus Riddickwho made his fortune as a quarterback and blitz linebacker this fall, they currently only have one rostered linebacker who would be an upperclassman in 2025.

No. 5: An experienced cornerback

The cornerback position has rounded out remarkably late this fall, but its depth has bitten by the snake more than once.

Between Kayin Lee, Jay Crawford and Champ Anthony, the Tigers’ top line of corners seems ideal, especially with six defensive backs committed to the 2025 class. But it would be optimal to draft a veteran who could at best compete for a starting job .

No. 6: A veteran punter

Oscar Chapman’s career at Auburn is over and all the Tigers that followed him were Towns McGough and Gabe Russo.

John Alan McGuirewho is rated a five-star kicker and punter by Kohl’s Kicking, is currently committed to Auburn’s 2025 class. He’s a likely option to replace Chapman, but as Auburn learned this fall, there’s nothing stopping a touted recruit from having freshman moments.

#7: Skill Position Depth

Auburn’s running back and wide receiver rooms are in similar situations: Their most productive player this season can’t return in 2025, but the pieces behind them look promising. At running back, they are Damari Alston, Jeremiah Cobb and four-star commit Alvin Henderson. At the receiver, you could choose between Cam ColemanMalcolm Simmons and Perry Thompson.

It wouldn’t be shocking to see Freeze let his young talent ride in 2025, but if the Tigers could add another veteran piece in either room – much like they did with KeAndre Lambert-Smith this season, it could pay dividends.

Adam Cole is the Auburn sports editor for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.

This article was originally published on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football: These are the Tigers’ 7 biggest transfer portal needs