Former Auburn Tigers linebacker Xavier Atkins has officially broken his silence following his sudden dismissal from the college football program on Monday. The star defensive playmaker was previously suspended ahead of Auburn’s massive upset victory over the then-No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs, leaving his status in limbo before head coach Alex Golesh made the final decision to remove him from the roster.

Addressing his departure publicly for the first time, Atkins released a statement expressing respect for the school while laying out his immediate priorities moving forward.

“I have nothing but respect Auburn University and will continue to support my teammates this season,” Atkins stated. “My focus is on my health, my family, and on finishing up the academic semester strong, and I’ll be entering the transfer portal at the appropriate time.”

Losing Atkins leaves a massive hole in the middle of the Auburn defense. Before his internal suspension, the junior linebacker was putting together another strong campaign. Through five games this season, Atkins tallied 37 tackles, three sacks, seven tackles for loss, and one interception for the Tigers.

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His early 2026 production followed a dominant 2025 season where he established himself as one of college football’s premier linebackers. Atkins earned First-Team All-SEC and All-American honors last year after leading the conference with 17 tackles for loss while adding 84 total tackles and nine sacks.

The Auburn Tigers managed to pull off a thrilling win over top-ranked Georgia without their defensive anchor, but losing a talent like Atkins creates a huge challenge for Golesh’s defense as SEC play heats up. Atkins originally began his collegiate career with the LSU Tigers before transferring to Auburn and emerging as a defensive star. Now, the talented linebacker plans to complete his academic requirements and focus on his personal wellbeing before searching for his next college home when the transfer portal opens.