When Larry Scott left his head coaching position to become Auburn's tight end coach, it raised eyebrows. A year later, the wisdom of that decision is becoming clear.

Tasked with completely rebuilding Auburn's tight end room after the departures of Brandon Frasier, Tate Johnson, and Preston Howard, Scott has assembled a group that blends portal experience with long-term developmental talent.

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A Head Coach Coaching a Position

Scott is part of a broader trend on Alex Golesh's staff — former head coaches and coordinators accepting position roles at Auburn. It's a testament to Golesh's reputation and vision that coaches with head coaching experience are willing to take these jobs.

That experience matters in the meeting room. Scott isn't just teaching technique — he's bringing a program-building perspective to every interaction with his tight ends.

The Portal Haul

Scott's hand in recruiting this group appears to have been significant. Jake Johnson arrives from North Carolina as the presumptive starter, bringing SEC-level experience and route-running ability. Arlis Boardingham comes from Bowling Green with Florida production on his resume and the kind of versatility this offense demands. Hunter Herring, the former ULM quarterback, is an athletic project with a high ceiling.

The South Florida Pipeline

Jonathan Echols followed the coaching staff from USF, already fluent in Golesh's system. That built-in chemistry with the offensive scheme gives Echols an advantage that can't be replicated in a single spring.

The Loyalty Factor

Perhaps the most telling move was Xavier Newsom, who followed Scott from Howard. Scott could have brought multiple players from his former program. Instead, he selected one tight end — a signal of how highly he values Newsom's potential.

Newsom and returning tight end Ryan Ghea are both true sophomores who may not compete for starting roles in 2026. But when Johnson and Herring exhaust their eligibility after this season, Auburn will have Echols, Newsom, and Ghea as experienced juniors who already know the system.

The Big Picture

Scott didn't just fill a roster. He built a room with immediate starters, competitive depth, and a succession plan. That's head coach thinking applied to a position group — and it's exactly why Golesh wanted him on staff.