Spring preview: Auburn's safety room has rising star potential

Auburn football safety room has some young talent that could take a huge leap in year two after great freshman campaigns.

Tim Banks leads the Auburn safety room as the new safeties coach after being hired back in December of 2025. The room that he was given is pretty well stacked with young talent that is ready to take that next step in their development. Last season the Tigers had two freshman standouts in AnQuon Fegans and Eric Winters that combined for 57 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and two pass breakups.

Winters was the highest graded run defender (92.0) by Pro Football Focus in the SEC last season. Banks and many other expect those two to really evolve into some stars on this Tigers defense. Another one of head coach Alex Golesh's former South Florida players followed in the transfer junior Fred Gaskins. The All-AAC safety had 49 tackles, two pass deflections, two interceptions and a forced fumble. Auburn does have other returning players to play a veteran role in senior senior Champ Anthony, junior Kaleb Harris, senior Jacoby Matthews and junior Sylvester Smith-Reed.

The senior Anthony is coming off severe season ending leg injury that derailed his junior season. So he will have a bit of uphill battle in getting healthy as its not clear when exactly he will be able to return. Smith and Harris started majority of the year for Auburn. The production from Harris dipped from his year prior with 38 tackles, one pass break up and one interception, while Smith had a solid season with 59 tackles, one interception and two sacks.

Auburn has many players that will make that room one of the most competitive in the building. It will be interesting to see how this group of players perform at A-Day on Saturday, Apr. 18 inside Jordan-Hare.

Sylvester Smith-Reed

Nov 29, 2025; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn safety Sylvester Smith (19) breaks up a would-be touchdown pass to Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard (5) at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

• Number: 0
• Measurables: 6-0, 195 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Career Stats: 60 TOT, 8 PD, 1 INT

Champ Anthony

Auburn Tigers safety Champ Anthony (1) during warm ups before Auburn Tigers take on South Alabama Jaguars at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.

• Number: 1
• Measurables: 5-11, 188 pounds
• Class: Senior
• Career Stats: 30 TOT, 4 PD

AnQuon Fegans

Nov 1, 2025; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers safety Anquon Fegans (21) closes in on Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Kendrick Law (1) during the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images

• Number: 3
• Measurables: 6-0, 191 pounds
• Class: Sophomore
• Career Stats: 24 TOT, 1 PD, 1 INT

Eric Winters

Sep 27, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Auburn Tigers safety Eric Winters (25) reacts after sacking Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (not pictured) during the first quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

• Number: 5
• Measurables: 6-0, 219 pounds
• Class: Sophomore
• Career Stats: 33 TOT, 1 PD, 1 SACK

Kaleb Harris

Oct 5, 2024; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Lawson Luckie (7) tries to make a catch against Auburn Tigers safety Kaleb Harris (18) at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

• Number: 8
• Measurables: 6-1, 201 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Career Stats: 94 TOT, 4 PD, 1 INT

Jack Luttrell

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats defensive back Jack Luttrell (13) intercepts a ball against the Colorado Buffaloes during the second quarter at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

• Number: 13
• Measurables: 6-0, 188 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Career Stats: 42 TOT, 1 PD, 4 INT
• Previous School: Arizona

Jacoby Matthews

• Number: 20
• Measurables: 6-1, 216 pounds
• Class: Senior
• Career Stats: 68 TOT, 7 PD, 1 INT

Fred Gaskin III

Dec 17, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; South Florida Bulls defensive back Fred Gaskin (5) holds off Old Dominion Monarchs quarterback Quinn Henicle (10) after reviving a fumble in the first quarter during the Cure Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

• Number: 23
• Measurables: 5-10, 198 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Career Stats: 65 TOT, 3 PD, 3 INT
• Previous school: South Florida

Wayne Henry

• Number: 26
• Measurables: 5-10, 160 pounds
• Class: Freshman
• Career Stats: NA

Shadrick Toodle Jr.

• Number: 28
• Measurables: 6-4, 210 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Career Stats: NA
• Previous school: Mississippi Gulf Coast CC

Paul Thompson Jr

• Number: 48
• Measurables: 6-0, 194 pounds
• Class: Senior
• Career Stats: NA

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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football 2026 spring breakdown of the safety room