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TAMPA, Fla. – When Byrum Brown got up from the dais following his 10-minute question-and-answer session Tuesday morning, he thanked the media and said “War Eagle.” While nobody was expecting him to flash “Horns up!” as he exited the room, it was yet another reminder, along with the quarterback’s appearance in a navy blue blazer and blue and orange tie, that he is the face of a program more than 400 miles away and not one a few miles from the Marriott Water Street where he was participating in SEC Media Days.
Though the page has been turned and the Auburn Tigers and USF Bulls are looking forward to their respective seasons, there were a couple of instances Brown was asked to reflect on his four years with the green and gold.
“I feel blessed to be able to start my journey here,” he said. “And honestly, it is a blessing. It’s like surreal to be back (in Tampa), and be back with Auburn.”
Becoming the 12th quarterback in FBS history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush 1,000 in a single season, as he did in 2025 while leading the nation in total offense (347 yards), was most impressive.
“It prepared me in a lot of ways, just being able to play and showcase my ability,” he said of his time at USF. “We had some tough games. We played ‘Bama. We played Florida and Miami. So, it definitely helped me now.”
A body of work that included setting or equaling 28 USF records were not the only credentials he took with him to Auburn.
“I’m an alum, got a degree from there,” he said. “Truly grateful.”
He was grateful for the opportunity to continue to play for coach Alex Golesh, offensive coordinator Joel Gordon and a bevy of teammates that also transferred to Auburn.
“It was a decision with my parents and the Lord, but why not follow a guy that has believed in me since I was 18,” he said of his decision to transfer.
Golesh took over at USF following the 2022 season, the third and final year of the disastrous Jeff Scott era. Scott, it should be noted, recruited and brought Brown to USF. The North Carolina native was a 17-year-old backup to Gerry Bohanon and Katravis Marsh while seeing action in four games (preserving a redshirt) in 2022 before taking over the offense under Golesh the following season.
“To go (to Auburn) with a phenomenal offensive staff that also believed in me, it kind of became a no-brainer at the end of day,” he said. “Obviously, I had to talk it over, but why not follow them?”
Having many familiar faces with him on the Plains – 13 players and six members of the coaching staff left USF for Auburn — has made the assimilation process much easier than it likely would have been otherwise.
“It helps a lot to have many of the same teammates,” said Brown. “With the coaches, not having to necessarily take a deep dive into learning who they are (has allowed me) to take a deep dive into learning who my new teammates are and who I will be going to battle with to the right and to the left of me each and every day.”
Brown will be battling with a chip on his shoulder. After all, eyebrows were raised with so many players coming from a non-power conference program that first played in 1997 to join a team that is entering its 134th season and was a charter member of the SEC, which began play in 1933.
“I mean, a chip on your shoulder comes with it, going to a bigger conference,” he said. “We’re just going to continue to be ‘us.’ We trust our inner circle and just getting better each day. Build with everyone that has (transferred), everyone that has stayed and be the best 2026 Auburn football team we can possibly be.”
READ: Youthful Ambitions: Tampa Catholic Product Eddy Pierre-Louis Was Determined To Play At Oklahoma
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