How we see each of Auburn football's 15 transfers fitting in with the Tigers next season

AUBURN — Having to dip into the transfer portal each offseason is just part of a new reality for teams across the country, including Auburn football.

Few, if any, programs are above it. Even the elites.

Georgia and Texas have added 11 transfers this offseason; Oregon has brought in 14. Florida State has ushered in 17. Among the teams who finished in the top 10 of last season's final AP Top 25 Poll, there have been 151 portal pickups. Michigan (9) and Ohio State (7) are the only ones not in double digits. Washington leads the way with 28, and Ole Miss follows close behind with 24.

The Tigers have added 15 this offseason, with former Colorado and Alabama defensive back Jahquez Robinson being the latest. Hovering around 80 scholarships, Auburn could, in theory, bring in another transfer or two, but the Tigers are likely done making moves with preseason practices about a month away.

With these 15 newcomers officially in, here's a breakdown of how we see them fitting in for the 2024 season:

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Expected starters (6)

The players: DL Gage Keys, WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, OT Percy Lewis, WR Robert Lewis, DL Isaiah Raikes and S Jerrin Thompson

Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith is the flashiest name Auburn nabbed out of the portal, as he was the leading receiver for the Nittany Lions in 2023. Offensive lineman Percy Lewis may be the most important addition, though, as he's expected to be Auburn's starting left tackle. Robert Lewis (Georgia State) will likely be among the three most productive receivers for the Tigers, and safety Jerrin Thompson (Texas) all but locked down a starting role throughout spring practice.

There's going to be plenty of rotation along the defensive line, so calling Gage Keys (Kansas) and Isaiah Raikes (USC) the starters may not mean much. Expect those two, however, along with a couple other transfers and returnees, to play meaningful snaps next season.

Key contributors (6)

The players: DL Philip Blidi, DL Trill Carter, EDGE Keyron Crawford, WR Sam Jackson V, CB Antonio Kite and LB Dorian Mausi Jr.

Indiana transfer Philip Blidi and Texas transfer Trill Carter will be among the crew rotating with Keys and Raikes on the line, and former Arkansas State standout Keyron Crawford will also be an important player on the defensive front. Expect to see Antonio Kite (Alabama) as the top reserve cornerback, as well as Dorian Mausi Jr. as the top reserve off-ball linebacker.

Sam Jackson V, who was a quarterback at Cal last season but will now be playing receiver, had a fairly impressive spring. Lambert-Smith's addition may slide him down a spot in the depth chart, but his relationship with QB Payton Thorne should give him an advantage.

Depth pieces (3)

The players: OT Ronan Chambers, DB Jahquez Robinson and TE Rico Walker

Robinson has the best chance of these three to see the field, as Rico Walker (Maryland) and Ronan Chambers (Akron) will likely be buried on the depth chart. It appears Walker has four players ahead of him in Rivaldo Fairweather, Luke Deal, Brandon Frazier and Micah Riley, and Chambers has at least a few in Lewis, Izavion Miller and Tyler Johnson.

Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rich_silva18.