Over the past few years, the rise of the transfer portal and NIL deals has dramatically changed college athletics, with many coaches now comparing their sport to the “Wild West.” As a result, college athletes are earning more money than ever to play for their favorite teams.
Not every big-money transfer works out, of course just look at how Jackson Arnold, Payton Thorne, and Xavier Chaplin performed at Auburn after their big paydays. But once in a while, players truly earn every penny and then some.
Here are three transfers who joined the Tigers and went on to have successful careers in orange and blue.
Xavier Atkins
When Atkins arrived last offseason after a quiet freshman year at LSU, few expected him to break out. But that’s exactly what he did, earning All-SEC honors with 84 total tackles (60 solo), 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks, seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, one interception, and one pass breakup. Simply put, he was the star of Auburn’s defense last season.
The good news for Auburn fans? He’s back for DJ Durkin’s defense as a junior in 2026. If he repeats last season’s performance, his name could be called early in the 2027 NFL Draft.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith
Heading into the 2024 season, all the buzz surrounded the Freeze Four, but it was the Penn State transfer who became Auburn’s most reliable and productive receiver. In his lone season on the Plains, he caught 50 passes for 981 yards and eight touchdowns even without a high-powered offense.
If the ball came his way, he was almost certain to catch it.
Jalen McLeod
McLeod arrived from Appalachian State with an impressive highlight reel, but he was even better once he got to Auburn. Over two seasons with the Tigers, the Washington, D.C., native recorded 105 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, and three forced fumbles.
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