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Tag: Xavier Atkins

  • Auburn Dismisses Star Linebacker Xavier Atkins, Multiple Outlets Report

    Auburn Dismisses Star Linebacker Xavier Atkins, Multiple Outlets Report

    UPDATE (Oct. 20, 2026, 8:47 AM CT) — CONFIRMED: Xavier Atkins says he will enter the transfer portal. In a post on X early Tuesday, Oct. 20, he wrote: "I have nothing but respect [for] Auburn University and will continue to support my teammates this season," adding that his focus is on his health, his family and finishing the semester, and that he will be entering the portal "at the appropriate time," per ESPN (Pete Thamel) and Pete Thamel on X. He did not address the dismissal itself. He is no longer listed on Auburn's online roster, per Auburn Wire (USA Today). Pete Nakos of On3 reported the portal plan first. Auburn still has not put out a statement.

    The first-team All-SEC linebacker, who sat out Saturday’s upset of No. 1 Georgia, is no longer with the program. LSU, his former school, visits the Plains on Saturday.

    By T-Rohn, Gridiron Gumbo · Posted Oct. 19, 2026, late night CT

    The news, straight up

    CONFIRMED: Auburn has dismissed linebacker Xavier Atkins from the football program, according to several outlets that reported it independently late Monday night, Oct. 19. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported it first, at about 10:36 p.m. CT, citing sources. On3’s AuburnSports (Justin Hokanson), 247Sports’ Auburn247 (Jason Caldwell) and AL.com (Peter Rauterkus) each confirmed it through their own sources within minutes, and WSFA’s Davis Baker said he could confirm the reports.

    Not yet official: At press time we had not found a statement from Auburn or from Atkins. Head coach Alex Golesh has kept the reasons in-house.

    How we got here

    CONFIRMED: Golesh announced on Oct. 12 that Atkins would not play against Georgia. “We’ll keep it in house,” Golesh said. “He won’t be available for us this week for the game.” Atkins did not travel for Auburn’s 27-24 win in Athens on Saturday.

    CONFIRMED: At his Monday press conference, hours before the reports, Golesh said, “We’re still working through it. I don’t have an update right now.”

    REPORTED (On3, Oct. 12): Sources told AuburnSports that Atkins’ discipline this season was mostly about showing up late to, or skipping, required meetings, and at times about how he practiced. Auburn has not commented on that.

    What Auburn loses

    CONFIRMED: Atkins was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2025 and earned All-American honors from several publications. He led the SEC with 17 tackles for loss last season, with 84 tackles and nine sacks. This season he had 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in five games.

    CONFIRMED: Auburn’s defense held up without him at Georgia. Bryce Deas started in his place and made eight tackles, and Elijah Melendez had nine tackles, a sack and an interception. Georgia ran for just 113 yards.

    What’s next

    CONFIRMED: Auburn (4-2, 2-2 SEC) hosts LSU on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. CT on ABC. Atkins transferred to Auburn from LSU, so the Tigers from Baton Rouge will see a familiar name missing from the other sideline.

    The Gumbo Take

    (TAKE, not news.) This is a tough one, and there’s nothing funny about a young man’s career taking a hard turn. Golesh made a call about his locker room, and his defense just proved at Georgia it can cook without its best ingredient. We wish Atkins the best wherever he goes from here. We’ll update this story if Auburn or Atkins comments.

    Labels: CONFIRMED = verified by two or more reliable sources or official records. REPORTED = from one reliable outlet. TAKE = T-Rohn’s opinion.

    Sources

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