Prattville's Austin Golson to transfer from Ole Miss, walk-on at Auburn

AUBURN -- Former Prattville star Austin Golson will transfer from Ole Miss and walk-on at Auburn, Rebels coach Hugh Freeze announced Monday.

The sophomore offensive tackle started 12 games as a true freshman last season.

"We wish him the very best," coach Hugh Freeze said in a statement to Ole Miss reporters.

Initially thought to be likely to receive a full release from his scholarship, Freeze indicated Golson will instead follow "normal transfer rules" and "walk-on" with the Tigers.

If so, the former U.S. Army All-American would not be eligible to play until 2015 unless he were granted a hardship waiver, similar to what former Auburn H-back Jay Prosch received when he transferred from Illinois in 2012.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn declined comment on Golson, who has not yet enrolled at Auburn.

Golson's move is not unexpected, with Golson telling reporters he wished to be closer his grandparents, who are ill.

"My family comes before football," Golson said, in a report last month by the Clarion-Ledger.

A former four-star prospect and U.S. Army All-American, Golson was among the top-ranked tackles in the country in 2012-13. He was a two-time Class 6A All-State first-team selection while at Prattville.

He'll join an Auburn offensive line group that has four returning starters. The coaching staff feels actually has "six starters," with Shon Coleman, Patrick Miller, Alex Kozan, Reese Dismukes, Chad Slade and Avery Young.

Auburn also returns Devonte Danzey, Jordan Diamond, Robert Leff and Will Adams, along with junior college transfer and earlier enrollee Xavier Dampeer and has heralded signee Braden Smith arriving in the summer.