Auburn Tigers Lose Another OL in Jaden Muskrat to Transfer Portal

The Auburn Tigers are facing another unexpected hit to their offensive line depth this spring. Veteran offensive lineman Jaden Muskrat has officially entered the NCAA transfer portal, sources confirmed Friday afternoon, marking yet another setback for an Auburn program trying to build stability in the trenches.

Muskrat, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound lineman from Bentonville, Arkansas, transferred to Auburn from Tulsa ahead of the 2023 season. After a year with the Tigers, he has decided to seek opportunities elsewhere, making him the latest in a growing list of departures from a position group that has been in desperate need of experience, cohesion, and durability.

Muskrat’s departure is particularly painful because of what it represents — not just the loss of a capable body up front, but a blow to Auburn’s efforts to solidify one of its most critical weaknesses.

Offensive line play has long been an Achilles’ heel for Auburn in recent seasons, predating even Hugh Freeze’s arrival as head coach. Freeze and offensive line coach Jake Thornton worked hard to restock the group through the transfer portal and high school recruiting, adding players like Muskrat to inject experience into the lineup.

Last year, Muskrat started four games at right tackle and appeared in 11 contests overall, providing valuable depth and rotational support during an injury-riddled season. He was projected to be at least a key second-team contributor for 2025, if not a challenger for a starting job at right tackle or guard. His versatility — the ability to swing between multiple spots — made him a particularly valuable asset.

Now, that depth has thinned even more, raising serious questions about Auburn’s readiness to navigate the grueling SEC slate.

While no official reason has been given for Muskrat’s entry into the portal, several factors could have contributed to his decision.

First, competition on Auburn’s offensive line had intensified significantly this spring. With multiple new arrivals, including prized recruits and portal pickups, the battle for starting spots became fierce. Sources close to the program noted that Muskrat had not locked down a definitive first-team role through spring practices and may have seen the writing on the wall.

Second, Muskrat still has eligibility remaining, and with offensive linemen at a premium across college football, he is in a strong position to find immediate opportunities elsewhere — likely at a Power Five program hungry for experienced protection.

Finally, personal factors often play into these decisions. Muskrat had already transferred once, and if he feels he can find a system better suited to his skills or a clearer path to the field, it makes sense to make a move now rather than ride the bench in a pivotal year for his career.

The Tigers now find themselves in a precarious situation. Muskrat’s departure follows that of other linemen who left either via graduation, transfer, or early entry into the NFL Draft. Depth, which was already a concern, is now an even greater one.

Auburn’s current likely starting five consists of:

• LT: Gunnar Britton (Super senior; Western Kentucky transfer)
• LG: Dillon Wade (Senior; Tulsa transfer)
• C: Connor Lew (Sophomore; rising young star)
• RG: Kam Stutts (Veteran presence)
• RT: Izavion Miller (Junior; JUCO addition from 2023)

Beyond the first five, depth looks shaky. Players like freshman DeAndre Carter and sophomore E.J. Harris have flashed potential, but they are young and relatively untested. A few versatile pieces remain in the rotation, but Auburn is now almost certainly going to be active again in the transfer portal to backfill the loss of Muskrat and bolster competition.

Portal additions remain possible through the post-spring transfer window, but the Tigers will need to move quickly, as competition for proven offensive linemen is fierce, especially this late in the calendar.

Speaking at a post-practice media session Friday evening, Freeze addressed the news, offering a mix of candor and optimism.

“Look, we hate to lose Jaden. He’s a good kid, he worked hard, and we wish him the best,” Freeze said. “That being said, it’s the nature of college football now. These things happen. Our job is to make sure the guys who are here are developing every day and ready to roll come fall.”

Freeze has been relatively transparent about Auburn’s roster rebuild, noting that it will take multiple cycles to get the Tigers back to SEC championship contention. Muskrat’s departure is a reminder that portal strategy cuts both ways: it can deliver instant-impact players, but it also increases roster volatility.

Privately, however, sources suggest that Freeze and his staff are concerned about the offensive line group’s ability to survive injuries over the course of a 12-game season. The staff had already been monitoring the portal closely; Muskrat’s exit may accelerate those efforts.

Muskrat immediately becomes one of the most intriguing offensive line names on the market. He brings multiple years of starting experience, has competed against SEC-level competition, and offers position versatility — able to play tackle or slide inside if necessary.

Potential landing spots could include programs like:

• Arkansas: Closer to home; OL-needy
• Oklahoma State: Recent OL injuries and thin depth
• Missouri: Proven track record developing portal linemen
• Louisville: Aggressive in portal under Jeff Brohm

Wherever he lands, Muskrat figures to be in high demand. Offensive linemen with starting experience in the SEC don’t stay unsigned for long, particularly as programs begin to reassess their depth charts after spring practice.

Muskrat’s departure also invites bigger questions about Auburn’s broader portal strategy.

Since Freeze’s hiring, Auburn has aggressively targeted transfers to accelerate roster building. That approach paid dividends at times in 2023 — especially with additions like Britton and Wade on the offensive line — but it also introduces risk. Transfers can leave as quickly as they arrive if they don’t win jobs, feel dissatisfied, or spot better opportunities elsewhere.

Finding the right balance between portal reliance and high school development will be crucial for Auburn’s long-term success. It’s a lesson Freeze’s staff is learning in real time.

Recruiting efforts on the high school level remain robust — Auburn’s 2025 OL class already includes several high-upside prospects. But for the immediate future, the Tigers must plug holes with quick fixes, and the portal remains both a blessing and a curse.

As expected, reaction from the Auburn fanbase was swift and intense.

Many fans expressed frustration at losing another offensive lineman so close to the season. On social media, several pointed out that building “chemistry” along the offensive line — something that typically takes months, even years — will be even harder with players shuffling in and out.

Others, however, took a more measured approach, trusting Freeze’s track record for finding quality portal players and developing them quickly. Some pointed to Muskrat’s limited starting role last season as a sign that, while his depth mattered, he was not necessarily a core piece of the 2025 plans.

Still, the overwhelming sentiment remains one of concern. The SEC is no place for a thin, inexperienced offensive line, and Auburn fans know it.

Jaden Muskrat’s departure is not a fatal blow to Auburn’s 2025 hopes, but it’s undeniably a significant setback. It further exposes the Tigers’ ongoing challenge in building a reliable, durable offensive line capable of competing at a championship level.

Hugh Freeze and his staff must now scramble to patch the hole, either by developing younger players faster than expected or dipping back into the portal for reinforcements.

Meanwhile, Muskrat’s journey continues elsewhere, and Auburn fans will no doubt be watching to see where he lands — and whether the Tigers ultimately regret letting him slip away.

As spring turns to summer, one thing is certain: Auburn’s offensive line situation remains one of the most fascinating, and potentially most pivotal, storylines of the 2025 college football season.