The spring window of the transfer portal continues to affect the Auburn football program. Last week, five players darted from Auburn, headlined by wideout Jay Fair and corner J.D. Rhym. Fair snagged 31 receptions for 324 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers last season, while Rhym, the highest-regarded player leaving the program, had an interception and six tackles. On Monday, head coach Hugh Freeze and Auburn lost another player to the portal, with former four-star prospect Wesley Steiner officially looking for a new home.
Auburn has also added in the spring window of the transfer cycle. Defensive lineman Isaiah Raikes, formerly of the Texas A&M Aggies, will play for the Tigers in 2024. he had 43 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks in four seasons of SEC play. Meanwhile, Indiana transfer Philip Blidi has enrolled at Auburn after collecting 30 tackles in 2023.
Wesley Steiner: Leaving Auburn
Auburn Tigers linebacker Wesley Steiner is leaving the program after four seasons. The fifth-ranked linebacker in the class of 2020 according to recruiting website 247Sports, Steiner landed with Auburn football over LSU, Alabama, and Georgia Tech, among others. However, despite the high pedigree, Steiner struggled to produce big numbers during his time with the Tigers.
Auburn linebacker Wesley Steiner is expected to enter the transfer portal, a source tells @247Sports.
Former four-star recruit. Has 86 career tackles. Posted 46 tackles in 2022.https://t.co/vOGZr5At4g pic.twitter.com/7ljtgrj1BR
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) April 22, 2024
Steiner appeared in only three games as a true freshman, collecting three tackles and no sacks. He had an increased role in 2021, tallying 21 tackles and 1.5 TFLs through seven games. The six-foot second-level defender had his best statistical season in 2022, registering 46 tackles. During a mid-season stretch, Steiner posted 21 tackles in three games, including an 11-tackle effort against LSU. The former four-star recruit dipped in production last season, producing only 16 tackles.
Auburn Football: Current LB Depth Chart
The loss of Wesley Steiner does little to impact the current standings of the linebacker depth chart. Austin Keys and Dorian Mausi Jr. should continue to cover the middle linebacker position. Keys had 30 tackles, three TFLs, and a pair of sacks last season, his first with Auburn football. He transferred from Ole Miss after a 39-tackle campaign. Meanwhile, Mausi had 61 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, and a sack with the Duke Blue Devils in 2023.
Eugene Asante and Demarcus Riddick will operate alongside Keys and Mausi at the weak-side linebacker position. Asante shined for Auburn in 2023, collecting 86 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and five sacks. Riddick is a four-star recruit in the class of 2024, picked to play for head coach Hugh Freeze over Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, and Florida.
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