Auburn QB Byrum Brown ready to roll

AUBURN, Ala. – Alex Golesh’s blueprint for returning Auburn to SEC prominence began with the signing of South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown, who follows his coach from Tampa to the Plains.  

“Coach Golesh showed me his plan from day one when he got to USF and now he came here and wanted to build something again,” Brown said. “I trust in that man fully. I can’t wait to bring this place back to where it should be.”

In Brown’s first meeting with Auburn’s beat reporters, the Tigers’ new quarterback was asked what people should know about Golesh’s offense.

“We’re going to score a lot of points,” Brown said matter-of-factly.

There will be no learning curve for Auburn’s new quarterback. 2026 marks Brown’s fourth consecutive season to trigger Golesh’s offense.

“I enjoy being able to facilitate the ball, get the ball to the playmakers and let them make plays,” Brown said. “Given the opportunity, I’ll make plays. I’m a quarterback. I just want to do whatever it takes to win. Whether I have to run, whether I have to throw, whatever it takes to win.”

Brown relishes the opportunity to compete in the SEC.

“Stoked,” said Brown, eager to disabuse anyone holding to the notion that the American Conference, in which he competed the past three seasons, does not belong in the same conversation as Power Four leagues. “To come to this conference and showcase the same skillset and ability, and win. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Brown led all FBS quarterbacks in 2025 with 42 total touchdowns while averaging 347.2 yards of offense per game. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound senior from Raleigh, North Carolina, completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,158 yards with 28 touchdowns while rushing for 1,008 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“A quarterback that’s going to do whatever it takes to win,” said Brown, who rushed for at least 100 yards in six games last season. “Throw the ball 50 times a game, run the ball 50 times a game. Whatever it takes to win, that’s my mentality.”

Further easing Brown’s transition to the SEC is Auburn’s signing of six of his top targets from South Florida last season.

“Very excited, but I’m also very excited to get other pieces here and build with the team that’s already here,” he said. “Looking forward to meeting those guys and hopefully being accepted fairly quickly.”

Brown redshirted at South Florida in 2022, then took over as USF’s starter when Golesh arrived the following season. In his USF career, Brown totaled 7,690 passing yards with 61 touchdowns while adding 2,265 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. 

 After joining 11 others in NCAA history with 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season, Brown reunites with Golesh, hoping to duplicate those sizzling stats in the SEC. 

“They want to win,” Brown said of Golesh and the Auburn coaching staff. “I believe they’re going to do exactly what they said to me when they first got there at USF and now here.”

A javelin thrower in high school, Brown graduated from USF in December with a 3.77 GPA in health sciences after setting 15 USF program records.

“It was truly a decision between staying and coming here,” Brown said. “It’s been home for the past four years but sometimes the best thing is to move on. I felt like that was my best opportunity.”

Brown concluded his first media session with a message for Auburn fans. 

“Pack out Jordan-Hare Stadium and let’s do it,” he said. “War Eagle.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer