Virginia Tech Transfer LT Xavier Chaplin Joins Auburn
Auburn has officially signed Virginia Tech transfer left tackle Xavier Chaplin, as reported by On3’s Pete Nakos. Chaplin, who has two years of eligibility remaining, expressed his excitement about joining the Tigers.
“The people here make it feel like home,” Chaplin said. “I don’t have to change who I am—I can just be Xavier.”
His commitment follows a two-day official visit to Auburn, which left a strong impression.
“I had a great experience,” he shared. “I really enjoyed the people and the atmosphere.”
Auburn’s need at left tackle played a key role in his decision.
“It was an important factor because they showed me how much they need me, how they’ll take care of me, and how they can develop me into the player I want to be,” he explained. “Coach Jake Thornton emphasized that I have the potential to be great.”
Thornton introduced Chaplin to his coaching style, drills, and the overall expectations of playing for Auburn.
When asked what stood out about Auburn, Chaplin couldn’t pinpoint just one thing.
“Everything,” he said. “Auburn offers so much, and the program has a rich history.”
In the 2022 recruiting class, Chaplin was ranked No. 665 overall, No. 43 among offensive tackles, and the No. 8 prospect in South Carolina, per the On3 Industry Ranking.
Understanding the Transfer Portal
The NCAA Transfer Portal serves as a private database for Division I, II, and III athletes seeking to transfer. Players enter the portal through their school’s compliance office by submitting a written request, which must be processed within 48 hours. Once listed, players can be contacted by other programs and may withdraw their name at any time. However, once in the portal, their current school is no longer required to honor their scholarship.
The portal, which has been in place since October 15, 2018, starts a new cycle every August. The number of FBS football players entering the portal has steadily increased, with 2,626 entering in 2020-21 compared to 1,681 in 2019-20. The same trend is seen in Division I basketball, where 1,833 players entered during the 2020-21 cycle.
Leave a Reply