Auburn center Connor Lew announces plans for 2026 season
By David Wasson
Published:
A pivotal piece of the Auburn Tigers offense is departing the Plains, as center Connor Lew is opting to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
A three-year starter, Lew was set to be Auburn’s only remaining starter from the 2025 team. Dillon Wade, Izavion Miller, Jeremiah Wright and Mason Murphy all exhausted their eligibility, and starting left tackle Xavier Chaplin announced plans to enter the transfer portal earlier in December.
“Auburn will always be a part of who I am,” Lew said in a statement posted to social media. “Thank you for everything.”
Lew took over the starting job at center as a true freshman after Avery Jones was sidelined with an injury, starting the final six games of the 2023 campaign. Lew was named to the SEC All-Freshman team for his efforts that season.
Lew started every game in the 2024 season and was voted a team captain for the 2025 season. The junior started the first seven games of 2025 but tore his ACL against Missouri on Oct. 18. Lew allowed just three sacks over three seasons and more than 800 opportunities, according to Pro Football Focus, and was projected as a second-round draft pick prior to the 2025 season.
Auburn is expected to be active in the transfer portal at a number of key positions when it officially opens on Jan. 2.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
