Auburn football’s Byrum Brown named ESPN’s No. 16 newcomer for 2026 season
Despite finishing with just 85 passing yards and two interceptions in the spring game, Brown says he's blessed to lead the Tigers offense and promises a really good 2026 season.
Olivia Bennett 
The future of Auburn football has a new face, and the national media is already taking notice. Quarterback Byrum Brown has officially been named ESPN’s No. 16 newcomer in the country heading into the 2026 campaign.
A New Era Under Center
All eyes will be on Brown this fall as he takes the keys to an Auburn offense looking to revitalize its identity following several seasons of subpar performance. Brown was handpicked by head coach Alex Golesh to make the jump from South Florida to the Plains after Golesh accepted the position last December. As the centerpiece of this transition, Brown is embracing the pressure.
"It’s truly a blessing. This is something you dream of," Brown noted during spring drills. "I’m just truly blessed to be in this position. But I know with that, there comes a lot of hard work. I’m trying to do everything I can outside of talking to fans—inside this building—so I know that when I’m out on the field, the fans can trust I’m going to do my job. And my teammates and coaches can trust I’m going to do my job, as well."
Proven Production
Brown arrives at Auburn with impressive credentials. Last season at South Florida, he put up massive numbers, throwing for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns. He notably stood alone as the only Division I quarterback in 2025 to surpass 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards.
While his spring game performance was modest—tallying 85 passing yards and two interceptions—Brown remains unfazed. He is firmly committed to Golesh’s vision of a physically and mentally tough squad.
"He’s been harping on it a lot. We want to be physically and mentally tough, fly around, be the hardest working group on the field and dominate the other team on the line of scrimmage," Brown said. "We grew a lot from practice one to practice 15. Tremendously different offense, defense, special teams. Everyone’s bought in and continuing to buy in. So, I think it’s going to be a really good 2026 season."
