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Cam Coleman knocks down big domino for Auburn's portal season

·28 min·2 clips

Robert Woodyard's departure is the clearest evidence of new-age college football: Auburn must choose between paying him and keeping Elijah Melendez.

1. The Auburn Undercover Podcast, recorded December 29, covers Cam Coleman's decision to enter the transfer portal before it opens on January 2. 2. Hosts Nathan King and Christian Clemente cover Auburn for the 24-7 Sports Network and describe the pre-portal month as one where "the only thing that can happen is negative." 3. Their central claim is that Auburn was not outbid, since its offer approached 10% of a $30 million salary cap and the staff met extensively with Coleman and his family. 4. They say the loss follows the hiring of Alex Golesh on December 1, with Coleman unfamiliar with the new building and likely seeking a more competitive program for what is probably his last college season. 5. They argue Coleman's departure ends the Hugh Freese-era approach of leaning on offensive talent, noting Auburn scored three points against Kentucky and says it has had five straight losing seasons. 6. They say Auburn would pay around 10% of the cap for Byron Brown, so keeping Coleman would put 20% of the cap on two players, and they list needs at offensive line, defensive line, edge, cornerback and tight end. 7. On Deuce Knight, a former top-50 recruit with four years of eligibility, they say Auburn has a competitive offer out, though if Brown wins eight games and Knight six, "you got to go get Byron Brown." 8. They count Auburn at two of four on key retention decisions, with Xavier Atkins retained and Coleman gone, and note the roster has only four non-freshman scholarship offensive linemen and just Malik Autry and Jordan Crawford at defensive tackle. 9. They use linebacker Robert Woodyard as an example of cap tradeoffs, with Auburn choosing between paying him and building around Elijah Melendez, Bryce Diaz and DeMarcus Riddick, while the move to 105 scholarships forces room rebuilds. 10. Auburn fans following the portal and the Golesh rebuild will get the most from it.

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