Chas Nimrod finds 'a huge family' at Auburn, awaits Tennessee return

AUBURN, Ala. – Returning to where his college football career began, Auburn receiver Chas Nimrod looks forward to Saturday’s Rocky Top reunion.

“I’m excited to go back,” said Nimrod, who played for Tennessee from 2022-24. “It will be really cool to see my old coaches. On my side, there’s no bad blood. They poured everything into me and gave me a very strong foundation and an understanding of what it takes to have success. It will be cool to play in front of everybody.”

Nimrod’s position coach, Auburn associate head coach Kodi Burns, also spent time in Knoxville, coaching receivers in 2021, Nimrod’s senior season at Bentonville High School in Arkansas. 

“I don’t know that this is any bigger for Chas than any other game,” Burns said. “That’s one school that he had a stop at where he was able to grow as a young man and as a player.  Now, he’s here at Auburn and it’s the next-game mentality.”

Auburn head coach Alex Golesh also has Tennessee ties, recruiting Nimrod to Knoxville in 2021 and coaching him in 2022 during a redshirt season when Golesh was the Volunteers’ offensive coordinator. 

Tennessee’s top-ranked offense in 2022 helped Golesh earn his first head coaching opportunity in 2023 at South Florida. Nimrod followed two years later, making 23 receptions for 466 yards and three touchdowns in an injury-shortened 2025 season in Tampa. 

“It will be full circle, because there are a lot of people on our staff who were there,” Nimrod said. “I’m excited to get back in that atmosphere and put out what I’ve always been capable of.”

Nimrod’s impact at Auburn has been immediate. He’s made at least four receptions in every game, including seven against Southern Miss and a season-high 95 receiving yards against Florida. 

“It’s a lot of fun,” Nimrod said. “The program here is amazing, the fans are amazing. It’s like a huge family. Anywhere you go, people are telling you, ‘Good game.’ In the gas station, people recognize you. It’s a super great opportunity.”

At Auburn, Nimrod reunited with Byrum Brown, his quarterback last season at South Florida. Their connection begins off the field, where the seasoned standouts – both in their fifth season of college football – occasionally share meals.  

“I think that plays a huge part on the field,” Nimrod said. “He’s able to trust me off the field in everything I do and, on the field, he’s also able to trust me.”

Nimrod has made touchdown catches in Auburn’s two previous games against Florida and Vanderbilt.

“Really explosive,” Burns said of Nimrod. “Can stretch the field vertically, a really good route runner. He’s a multiple-position guy, plays inside and out, so we’re trying to find different ways to move him around and get him the ball. He’s done a tremendous job with that. The explosive play is what we expect from him.” 

Nimrod and fellow USF transfer receiver Keshaun Singleton share the team lead with 22 receptions each, tied for the fifth in the SEC.

“He and Keshaun Singleton have done a tremendous job of showing up in this league and making plays,” Burns said. 

In addition to his playmaking and productivity, Nimrod also mentors Auburn’s younger receivers.

“I try to instill confidence in them,” Nimrod said. “You’re here for a reason. Don’t let a name or a logo scare you. Our coaches believe in you, they brought you here for a reason, so go out and show them why you’re here. You’re in the SEC for a reason so go out there, play confident and do your thing.”

After hoping to play professional football, Nimrod plans to pursue a career that involves helping others.

“I find fulfillment in pouring into other people,” he said. “What that is, I don’t know yet. I like to focus on day by day and what I have at hand right now. I want to pour back into people, be a leader and do something fulfilling.”

But first, Chas Nimrod figures to play a key role in Auburn’s first visit to Neyland Stadium since 2013. 

“You don’t want to get too high or too low about a certain opponent,” Burns said. “Don’t make it personal. It’s about us. It’s not about the opponent, it’s always about Auburn. We have to execute at a high level, and Chas has to continue to play at a high level for us to be good, and he’s done that so far.”

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