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Auburn Dismisses Star Linebacker Xavier Atkins After Georgia Suspension

ESPN reported Monday night that Auburn has dismissed first team All-SEC linebacker Xavier Atkins, days after he was suspended for the upset win over No. 1 Georgia. Atkins said on X that he will enter the transfer portal.

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Auburn Dismisses Star Linebacker Xavier Atkins After Georgia Suspension
Photo: AuburnPilot, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jordan-Hare_Stadium_west.jpg)

Key points

  • Auburn has dismissed star linebacker Xavier Atkins from the program, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on X on Monday night, Oct 19, 2026.
  • Atkins was suspended for Auburn's game against Georgia on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026, a game the Tigers won 27-24 over the No. 1 team in the country.
  • Asked about Atkins on Monday, Oct 19, 2026, Golesh said the team was still working through the situation and that he did not have an update.

Auburn has dismissed star linebacker Xavier Atkins from the program, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on X on Monday night, Oct 19, 2026. The decision ends a week of uncertainty that began with a suspension and played out in public, first in a reporter's post and then in the player's own words.

Atkins was suspended for Auburn's game against Georgia on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026, a game the Tigers won 27-24 over the No. 1 team in the country. Head coach Alex Golesh announced the suspension on Oct 12, 2026 and said the reason would stay in house. He gave no detail then, and Auburn has still not said publicly why Atkins was suspended or why he was dismissed.

What the coach said, and what the player said

Asked about Atkins on Monday, Oct 19, 2026, Golesh said the team was still working through the situation and that he did not have an update. Hours later, Thamel reported the dismissal. Atkins finished the night with a post of his own on X, and followed it early on Tuesday.

"I have nothing but respect [for] Auburn University and will continue to support my teammates this season," Atkins wrote. "My focus is on my health, my family, and on finishing up the academic semester strong, and I'll be entering the transfer portal at the appropriate time."

Reports in several outlets said this was not his first discipline this season. ClutchPoints reported that Atkins also missed the start of the Tigers' game against Southern Miss earlier this season because of internal discipline.

What Auburn loses

Atkins was one of the best defenders in the SEC. In 2025 he earned first team All-SEC honors, led the league with 17.0 tackles for loss, and finished the season with 84 tackles, nine sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. He had transferred to Auburn from LSU, where he played as a freshman, after joining the Tigers for the 2025 season.

This season, through five games, he had 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception. Auburn won the Georgia game without him, but the defense now goes forward without its most disruptive linebacker for the rest of the year.

Auburn plays LSU, Atkins' former team, on Saturday. Atkins is eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft, and if he follows through on the portal, he will be one of the top linebackers available to other programs.

Timeline

  1. Oct 12, 2026Head coach Alex Golesh announced Atkins would not play against Georgia and said the reason would stay in house.
  2. Oct 17, 2026Auburn beat No. 1 Georgia 27-24 without Atkins, who was suspended for the game.
  3. Oct 19, 2026Golesh said the team was still working through the situation. That night, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on X that Auburn had dismissed Atkins.
  4. Oct 20, 2026Atkins posted on X that he respects Auburn, will support his teammates, and will enter the transfer portal at the appropriate time.

Sources