Auburn fans, are you ready for some serious ground game power? Former Baylor Bears running back Bryson Washington is trading in the green and gold for the orange and blue, officially committing to Auburn University, according to On3's Hayes Fawcett! This is a huge get for the Tigers, but here's where it gets controversial... some fans are questioning if Auburn needs another running back. Let's dive into why this transfer could be a game-changer.
Washington arrives on The Plains after spending the past three seasons making a significant impact at Baylor. He wasn't just a rusher; he was the leading rusher for the Bears in each of the last two seasons! Think about that: consistent, reliable production. This past year, the Franklin, Texas, native bulldozed his way to 788 rushing yards and found the endzone six times on 154 carries. Over his entire Baylor career, he racked up an impressive 1,861 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. That's a resume that speaks volumes. To put this in perspective, that's an average of over 600 rushing yards a season – a valuable asset to any team.
And this is the part most people miss... Washington wasn't just a product of Baylor's system. Coming out of high school, he was a highly regarded three-star prospect. According to the On3 Consensus, he was ranked as the No. 648 overall player in the 2023 class. He also held the No. 23 spot among athletes and was the No. 103 overall player in the talent-rich state of Texas. This shows that his success at Baylor wasn't a fluke; he possesses the raw talent and potential that college programs covet.
Washington's decision to join Auburn comes after a period of significant change within the program. He'll be playing under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Alex Golesh. Golesh stepped in to fill the void left by Hugh Freeze, who was let go after a disappointing 4-5 start to the 2025 season. Freeze's departure certainly raised eyebrows, but Auburn moved swiftly to secure Golesh, who had previously led USF to an impressive 9-3 record. Talk about a turnaround!
Golesh, in an interview on 'SportsCenter,' described taking over at Auburn as "surreal," emphasizing the importance of planning and prioritizing the players. "The opportunity to come into a place like Auburn and specifically to get here on the Plains… I mean, this is one of the premier jobs in the entire country," Golesh said. "For me, I’ve dreamed of an opportunity like this... this is one of the very few places in the country that you can come and win a national title at.” It’s clear Golesh has high ambitions for the Auburn program, and the addition of a proven player like Washington is a step in that direction.
Bryson Washington is now the 21st addition to Auburn's roster via the Transfer Portal. Interestingly, 11 of these 21 portal additions followed Coach Golesh from USF, indicating a strong level of trust and familiarity. Here's a quick rundown of Auburn's other Transfer Portal acquisitions:
- Sr. QB Byrum Brown (USF)
- So. RB Nykahi Davenport (USF)
- So. TE Jonathan Echols (USF)
- RS-So. DL Saint Farrior (Appalachian State)
- So. S Fred Gaskin III (USF)
- Fr. QB Locklan Hewlett (USF)
- Fr. CB Gavin Jenkins (USF)
- RS-Jr. TE Jake Johnson (North Carolina)
- Jr. EDGE Nate Johnson (Missouri)
- RS-So. CB Andre Jordan Jr. (UCLA)
- Fr. WR Jeremiah Koger (USF)
- Fr. TE Xavier Newsom (Howard)
- Fr. WR Christian Neptune (USF)
- RS-Jr. WR Chas Nimrod (USF)
- Fr. WR Kory Pettigrew (USF)
- RS-So. LS Hudson Powell (Miami OH)
- RS-So. OT Stanton Ramil (Michigan State)
- Sr. DL Cody Sigler (Arkansas State)
- RS-Jr. OT Joseph Simmons (James Madison)
- RS-So. WR Keshaun Singleton (USF)
- RS-So. RB Bryson Washington (Baylor)
Want to stay on top of all the transfer portal moves? Be sure to check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire and follow the On3 Transfer Portal Instagram and Twitter accounts.
Now, let's get to the real question: Is Bryson Washington the missing piece Auburn needs to contend for a championship? Or is the transfer portal becoming too saturated? Do you think Golesh is making the right moves? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
