It’s unusual for a college football player to play for three different colleges in the same year.
It was an unthinkable concept before the transfer portal, but Auburn defensive lineman Isaiah Raikes has made it a reality.
Raikes spent the first four years of his undergraduate career at Texas A&M, where he committed and played for head coach Jimbo Fisher.
Fisher was sacked during the 2023 season, prompting Raikes and many others to use the transfer portal. He eventually decided on USC and spent spring camp in Los Angeles.
Raikes quickly reconsidered his decision, and he returned to the gateway on April 12.
“Really just thinking and reevaluating everything. It’s a good scenario, but what do I consider to be the best situation?” Raikes remarked Monday, reflecting on his decision to re-enter the portal.
The decisive factor was a sense of familiarity from his time at Texas A&M.
“I went with playing for DJ Durkin one last year because we had a great relationship at Texas A&M and we did great things together,” Raikes mentioned.
Durkin, who Auburn hired in January to replace Ron Roberts, previously served as Raikes’ defensive coordinator in College Station for two seasons.
During that time, Texas A&M’s defense was one of the best in the SEC, with the fewest passing yards allowed in 2022.
Having previously played under Durkin, Raikes chose Auburn because it provided a more manageable learning curve.
“I knew the whole playbook, to be honest, coming in,” Raikes told reporters. “I’ve just been fine-tuning things. Really secure in the calls and what he wants from them.”
Raikes is entering his fifth season of SEC football and already appears to be a significant member of Auburn’s defensive line.
He was the first-team nose tackle in Auburn’s Saturday scrimmage.
Raikes provides a distinct skill set to the Auburn defensive line. At 6-foot-1 and 323 pounds, his bulk and low center of gravity make him difficult for many offensive lineman to block.
“I’d say the two people I’m having the most trouble with right now are Jayson Jones and the new addition, Isaiah Raikes. “I think he’ll be really good for us,” said Auburn center Connor Lew.
Auburn has the benefit of depth on their interior defensive line. Head coach Hugh Freeze has stated that he intends to rotate heavily on the interior, but there is still space for someone to stand out and become the face.
While Freeze stated that Raikes may be that player for Auburn this season, that distinction has yet to be made.
“Have we got that guy? “I’m not sure,” Freeze responded. “I do think we have six to seven bodies that fit the prototype of what you need in there.”
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