Texas Kicker Auburn Enters NCAA Transfer Portal After Four Seasons

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Longhorns kicker Auburn announced his decision to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal on Thursday evening, citing a desire for a fresh start ahead of the 2025 season.

In a heartfelt message shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Auburn expressed gratitude for his time at Texas: “Thank you Texas. Through all the ups and downs, these have been some of the best years. It’s been an honor to be a Longhorn! I will be entering the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining.”

With his announcement, Auburn becomes the twelfth scholarship player from Texas to enter the Transfer Portal this offseason. During his career at Texas, Auburn appeared in 43 games, going 178 of 178 on extra points and 66 of 86 (76.7%) on field goals.

The Flower Mound native’s journey began after taking a redshirt in his freshman year in 2021, during which he played in just one game but made all three of his extra point attempts against Rice.

Auburn rose to prominence in his second year, finishing the 2022 season with 21 of 26 field goals (80.8%) and perfect on 55 attempts from the PAT line. His performance earned him an honorable mention on the 2022 All-Big 12 team, accumulating 118 points, making him Texas’ second-highest scoring kicker in a single season.

Auburn showcased his ability during key matchups, including a standout game against Alabama where he went 4 for 5 on field goals—highlighted by a 49-yarder—and sent a game against Texas Tech into overtime with a 44-yard field goal just before time expired.

The following season, in 2023, he further cemented his legacy by achieving First Team All-Big 12 honors and breaking several records, including a Texas and Big 12 record of 19 consecutive field goals. He completed 29 of 35 field goals (82.9%) and was perfect in scoring 143 points, marking the most ever by a Longhorn kicker in a season.

His best performance that year came against Texas Tech, scoring 21 points with five field goals and six extra points in a decisive 57-7 victory.

However, 2024 brought challenges for Auburn, as he struggled with accuracy, finishing the season 16 of 25 (64%) on field goals. His late-season performance saw him missing crucial field goals, including attempts in both the SEC Championship against Georgia and the College Football Playoff semifinal against Arizona State, leading to Texas’ narrow losses in both contests.

Despite these setbacks, Auburn remains one of the most experienced kickers available in the Transfer Portal. He is expected to attract interest as he seeks to bounce back in his fifth collegiate season—having left Texas holding the fourth all-time record for career points at 376, following only a handful of his predecessors.

Meanwhile, the Longhorns will need to fill the void left by Auburn. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is renowned for his ability to develop special teams talent, which may lead to some exciting prospects to step into the kicker role.