Since the transfer portal has changed how college football head coaches build rosters, true freshmen have gotten fewer chances to show off their skills early.
Auburn added 40 transfers last offseason, with most, including quarterback Byrum Brown, seeing adequate playing time. Still, several freshmen have already had the chance to prove their worth. Through the first five games of the season, seven of Auburn's 21-member 2026 signing class have taken at least one snap; some have already worked their way into their position group's rotation.
Here is a look at how many snaps each true freshman has taken through five games, according to Pro Football Focus data:
Wilson Zierer has directly benefited from the Auburn coaching staff's quest to build the perfect
offensive line rotation. Zierer has played at least 59 snaps in four games this season, making three starts at left guard. He has also seen time at right tackle and right guard, but he mostly rotates with Jacob Strand at left guard.
Wide receivers DeShawn Spencer and Brian Williams Jr. are next. Spencer burst onto the scene during A-Day when he won the offensive MVP award after recording nine receptions for 91 yards. So far in 2026, Spencer has made five catches for 44 yards and is tied with Chas Nimrod for the team lead in touchdowns with two. Williams Jr. has appeared in just one game this season and made the most of his quick appearance by recording one catch for 25 yards in Auburn's Week 2 win over Southern Miss.
Wilkes and Pritchett also saw adequate playing time against Southern Miss, while Mason Mathis and Bear McWhorter filled in for a few plays.
Zierer, Spencer, and Williams Jr. are sure to see their snap count increase by a wide margin over Auburn's final seven games, and it will be interesting to see just how many true freshmen see the field before season's end.
Taylor Jones is the lead writer for Auburn Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) and BlueSky. FollowAuburn Wire on X andFacebook.
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: How many true freshmen have played for Auburn so far in 2026?
