Top Five (or six): Seniors for '24

In the transfer portal era, it's becoming increasingly less common for players to stay at a single school heading into their season. That is true for the 2024 Auburn Tigers, as five of the six top seniors on this list started their collegiate careers somewhere else.

Hugh Freeze has made sure that the portal has added talent to the roster while focusing on building the program with high-school talent. And while the freshmen class is loaded with future stars, it will be the seniors who provide the leadership and production on the field for the most part.

Here are five (okay, make it six) seniors who will play a critical role in Auburn's success this upcoming season.

In his first season as the featured back, Hunter had considerable success, rushing for 909 yards and seven touchdowns while catching 18 passes for 118 yards. He was at his best during Auburn's three-game winning streak, averaging 145 yards on the ground. That shouldn't be considered a coincidence, as the Tigers' offense is explosive when the running game gets going. The question is whether Hunter can stay focused for an entire season while sharing snaps with Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb at the running back position. If so, he can be another force to deal with. His play on special teams makes him even more vital for the 2024 season.

Love it or hate it, Thorne will likely be the starting quarterback for Freeze when the season begins, and while he had some excuses last season with the lack of talent at wide receiver, that is now gone. This is the most amount of explosive players he has had at his side since throwing for 3,232 yards and 27 touchdowns for Michigan State in 2021. Now, he must take advantage of that. A year working with Freeze and quarterback guru Kent Austin will definitely have its benefits, along with consistency among everyone on the offensive coaching staff. If Thorne can put it together, this offense will be full of firepower.

Scott's return helped stabilize a secondary that lost four of its five starters. He provides leadership, experience, and massive talent to this group. And while his effect on defense is immense, his role as punt returner puts him over the edge after leading the SEC in that category (14.8 yards per return) in 2023. Getting him back for another season helps out in so many ways.

The one constant receiver threat that Thorne could count on last year returns and should be even more of a force in 2024 as other playmakers now surround him. An end-zone threat who can go up and high-point the ball, he will likely have more single coverage on him with the addition of Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson. That, plus his size against smaller defenders, equals a lot of opportunity to come down with the ball for touchdowns.

The "Let's Work!" linebacker went from rarely used in 2022 to the Tigers' leading tackler and energy guy last season, putting up 86 total tackles (53 solo) with 8.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks and five quarterback hurries. Needless to say, he is the leader and producer on the second level of Auburn's defense and will likely be joined by Austin Keys on top of the linebacker depth chart.

After joining the Tigers from Appalachian State before last season, McLeod became a guy who constantly got into opposing backfields, recording 10.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks while posting five more quarterback hurries. He made life miserable for Arkansas in the blowout victory in Fayetteville and is due to be even better heading into his final year. You don't want to see McLeod heading your way if you are a quarterback.

Honorable Mention: Oscar Chapman (P)