50 Auburn players fans should know: Jake Johnson leads 6-man tight end competition
The veteran transfer is competing with five other tight ends as Auburn looks to improve a position that has underperformed in recent seasons under new coach Alex Golesh.
Olivia Bennett 
EDITOR’S NOTE: Between now and the unofficial kickoff to the football preseason at SEC Media Days on July 20, 205focus.com is featuring one Auburn football player per day. We continue the series today with tight end Jake Johnson.
6-foot-6, 240 pounds, Athens, Georgia
The tight end position for Auburn football has struggled to find its footing over the last few seasons. In 2025, the group’s production was limited, combining for just 251 receiving yards on 26 total catches.
New head coach Alex Golesh is looking to change that narrative. With a coaching background heavily rooted in the development of tight ends, Golesh aggressively addressed the room this offseason by bringing in six new players to compete for snaps. Among this influx of talent, North Carolina transfer Jake Johnson emerges as the seasoned leader of the pack.
A Veteran Presence
Johnson enters his fifth season of collegiate football with valuable Power Four experience spanning both the ACC and the SEC. During his 2025 campaign with the Tar Heels, he hauled in 16 passes for 144 yards and a score. His most productive season came in 2023 with Texas A&M, where he tallied 235 yards and four touchdowns on 24 receptions.
Golesh emphasized the importance of this position group during spring practice. “That group has to be really good for us offensively for us to be where we want to be,” Golesh said. “Those guys have so much to do with the offense, run game and pass game. It’s a critical group for us and a group that’s got to show up.”
Intense Competition
Johnson is not guaranteed a starting role; he is locked in a fierce position battle. The competition includes fellow transfers Jonathan Echols (South Florida), Hunter Herring (Louisiana-Monroe), Xavier Newsome (Howard), and Arlis Boardingham (Bowling Green), alongside freshman DJ Broughton Jr.
While each player offers a unique skill set to the Tigers' scheme, Johnson is focused on cultivating a strong environment within the tight end room heading into fall camp.
“Everybody’s competing,” Johnson noted. “We’re all getting better and encouraging one another, and I think that’s a big thing, just having a tight bond with each other.”
Coming Tuesday: We feature another tight end in USF transfer Jonathan Echols.
