Year 1 on The Plains: Meet Auburn’s transfer jack linebacker Elijah McAllister

A new coach at Auburn meant significant roster turnover would surely follow. Before Hugh Freeze’s team lines up for fall practices in a few weeks, his roster has more than three dozen new faces, including more than 20 transfers. In his first offseason back in the SEC, Freeze took advantage of the new landscape the transfer portal has made for college football to reshape the Tigers. Auburn brought in the fifth-ranked transfer class, according to 247Sports, and led the nation with 11 four-star rated transfers. Here’s a look at one of them… No. 11 Elijah McAllister, Jack linebacker, graduate transfer Hometown: Asbury Park, N.J. (Rumson-Fair Haven) Previous university: Vanderbilt (2018-22) Height: 6-foot-6 Weight: 271 pounds A look back at the past: Hailing from the Jersey Shore area, McAllister helped lead the Rumson-Fair Haven football program to four conference titles and a state championship. McAllister also played on Rumson-Fair Haven’s state championship-winning basketball team. On the football field, McAllister doubled as a defensive end and wide receiver but ultimately stuck to the defensive side of ball and was rated a 3-star strongside defensive end by 247Sports. After garnering 22 offers, including the likes of Tennessee and UCF, McAllister went on to play at Vanderbilt, where he appeared in 37 games. McAllister tallied 65 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception during his time with the Commodores. 2023 season outlook: McAllister is joined by four other new faces at the Jack linebacker spot, which will be without much returning production after sending Derick Hall and Eku Leota to the league and Dylan Brooks transferring to Kansas. With a need to fill the role, the case for McAllister to get the starting nod is a strong one given his experience at the SEC level. Appalachian State transfer Jalen McLeod and true freshman Keldric Faulk, who was the gem of Auburn’s recent recruiting cycle, could also compete for play time. Should the Tigers go with McAllister, they know what they’re getting: experience and efficiency. McAllister’s time at Vanderbilt proved he’s capable of holding his own in the conference. It’s worth noting McAllister’s transfer to Auburn also serves as a reunion with defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett, who mentored McAllister at Vanderbilt in 2019 as a quality control assistant.