The Auburn Tigers will kick off their 2026 season in just a matter of days, but compared to last year, the program looks vastly different with a number of transfers having come into the program to don the orange and blue.
The Tigers will take on the Baylor Bears in their season opener in Atlanta on Sept. 5 with those new players, but the Bears are also coming into the campaign with some new faces that weren’t with the program in 2025.
Those transfers mean there are some players that the team will have to watch some additional film on after having not played them in Waco to kick off last year.
With that in mind, here are our top five transfers that Baylor has fielded that will be ones to watch heading into next week.
DJ Lagway, quarterback
Previous school: Florida
With the departure of Sawyer Robertson comes the arrival of someone new under center. However, the new quarterback of the Bears is one that is not entirely unfamiliar with the SEC landscape.
DJ Lagway has come in after two seasons with the Florida Gators and enters his junior season with a lot to prove.
Over his two years in Gainesville, Lagway carried a 62-percent completion percentage, throwing 328-for-529, 4,179 yards, 28 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He also rushed 121 times for 237 yards and one touchdown.
One of Lagway’s biggest strengths is his ability to operate his way outside of the pocket, which is a type of quarterback that Auburn has struggled with in recent years. However, he has been prone to turnovers, which will be something the Tigers will look to capitalize on in Atlanta.
Dre’lon Miller, wide receiver
Previous school: Colorado
Dre’lon Miller may not have gotten the amount of production he had hoped for while playing for Deion Sanders, but the potential for him to be a solid weapon is there.
Miller spent two seasons in Boulder and racked up 52 receptions for the Buffaloes, gaining 435 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Those totals placed him fourth on the team in receiving yards.
The junior was the top rushing receiver though on the team in 2025, putting up 46 carries for 134 yards and a touchdown. It is expected that he will get at least a couple of carries in Atlanta, something Auburn will need to be on the lookout for.
At 6-feet tall, Miller is not the tallest in the team’s receiver corps, but stands to be a speed threat if he gets in the open field.
Tony Livingston, tight end
Previous school: Florida
Lagway was not the only player Dave Aranda picked up from the swamp, as Tony Livingston has arrived in Waco to be the new primary tight end.
Livingston is filling the shoes of Michael Trigg, who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys and was second in receiving yards for Baylor last year.
The 6-foot-6 target carries a lot of size, but had minimal production in his three seasons in Gainesville. The senior notched 23 receptions for 232 yards and four touchdowns during his time in the SEC, catching 11 passes in each of the last two years.
Why is he on this list? With as big of shoes as he is having to fill, Livingston stands to be a critical part of the Bears offense, whether he is used primarily as a receiving tight end or not.
His size can definitely cause a problem, it is a matter of how he will fare against the Tigers’ edge rushers.
Hosea Wheeler, defensive lineman
Previous school: Indiana
It’s safe to say that Hosea Wheeler is bringing a winners mentality into Waco for his sixth season of football. Wheeler comes into Baylor fresh off of winning a national title with Indiana, now seeking to be a force for the Bears defensive front.
In his lone season in Bloomington, he started in five games but appeared in all 15, racking up 31 total tackles. For his career, he has 139 total tackles with four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception, standing to be a threat on the inside.
At 6-foot-3, 306 pounds, Wheeler carries some size on the inside of the line and will be a veteran leader up front for Baylor.
He will be a key piece in helping out a defense that placed second to last in the Big 12 in average points given up and rushing yards.
Garrick Ponder, JACK
Previous school: Southern Miss
As a combination of an outside linebacker and edge rusher, Garrick Ponder is heading into the Power 4 looking to make a statement in his fifth year of college ball.
Ponder comes over from Southern Miss after one season in Hattiesburg, and three before that at North Alabama. During his time, Ponder has tallied 76 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble.
At 6-foot-2, 247 pounds, Ponder has good size for his position and will be nimble in space, making him dangerous on a linebacker blitz.
Ponder stands to be a solid rotational piece for the Bears front seven, but has the potential to be a key piece down the road that will prove himself as a beneficial transfer addition.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
