The transfer portal’s spring window continues to have an impact on the Auburn football program. Last week, five players left Auburn, including wideout Jay Fair and cornerback J.D. Rhym. Fair had 31 receptions for 324 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers last season, while Rhym, the most highly regarded player to leave the program, had an interception and six stops. On Monday, Auburn’s head coach Hugh Freeze lost another player to the portal, as former four-star recruit Wesley Steiner began looking for a new home.
Auburn has also added in the spring transfer window. Isaiah Raikes, a defensive lineman who previously played for the Texas A&M Aggies, will join the Tigers in 2024. In four seasons in the SEC, he recorded 43 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks. Meanwhile, Indiana transfer Philip Blidi has enrolled at Auburn after recording 30 tackles in 2023.
Wesley Steiner: Leaving Auburn
Wesley Steiner, an Auburn Tigers linebacker, is departing the program after four seasons. According to recruiting website 247Sports, Steiner is the fifth-ranked linebacker in the class of 2020 and chose Auburn football over LSU, Alabama, and Georgia Tech. Despite his impressive pedigree, Steiner struggled to post significant 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 played in only three games as a true freshman, recording three tackles but no sacks. He played a larger role in 2021, making 21 tackles and 1.5 TFLs in seven games. The six-foot second-level defender had his finest statistical season in 2022, with 46 tackles. During a midseason run, Steiner recorded 21 tackles in three games, including an 11-tackle performance against LSU. The former four-star prospect produced only 16 tackles last season.
Auburn Football: Current LB Depth Chart
The loss of Wesley Steiner has no impact on the current linebacker depth chart standings. Austin Keys and Dorian Mausi Jr. should continue to cover the middle linebacker spot. Keys recorded 30 tackles, three TFLs, and two sacks in his first season with Auburn football. He transferred from Ole Miss after making 39 tackles. Meanwhile, Mausi recorded 61 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, and a sack for the Duke Blue Devils in 2023.
Eugene Asante and Demarcus Riddick will join Keys and Mausi at the weak-side linebacker positions. Asante excelled for Auburn in 2023, recording 86 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and five sacks. Riddick is a four-star recruit in the class of 2024, who chose to play for head coach Hugh Freeze over Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, and Florida.
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