Xavier Atkins not currently with Auburn football program, per Alex Golesh
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The Auburn Tigers got some unwelcome news earlier this week when it was announced that star linebacker Xavier Atkins had been officially suspended for the team’s Week 7 matchup against No. 1 Georgia.
Head coach Alex Golesh announced the suspension to reporters on Monday during his post-practice press conference, saying that the reasoning was to be kept “in-house” and that he planned to revisit the matter after the game against the Bulldogs.
Golesh provided some more clarity to the situation on Wednesday afternoon, telling Auburn beat reporter Peter Rauterkus that the former All-American is not currently with the team.
Arguably the best player on the Tigers roster, Atkins broke out in 2025 after transferring from LSU, earning Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors after leading Auburn in solo tackles (60) and tackles for loss (17) in his first campaign on The Plains.
He has followed that up by posting 37 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks through the Tigers first 5 games of the season, and he also hauled in an interception in the Vols Week 5 loss to Tennessee.
Atkins is a rare talent at the linebacker position who could start just about anywhere in the country, so it will be interesting to see how Golesh decides to deal with him moving forward.
