Cole Best
Cole Best is a three-star recruit from Winter Park, FL, out of Trinity Preparatory School (No. 1,608 in the 2021 class) who has not played in Auburn's 8 games this season.
Where Best comes from
- Winter Park, FL
- Trinity Preparatory School
- About 500 miles from Jordan-Hare Stadium
- Three-star, No. 1,608 in the 2021 class; signed with South Florida.
Where Best fits
Auburn lists 20 offensive linemen this season.
Auburn offensive linemen with a game this season
The team’s line is 44th in the country in passing-downs success rate this season (a team number).
Auburn is 4-4. Next: vs Arkansas, Sat Nov 7.
Similar players
Same class and position
Also from Winter Park, FL
What’s being said
5 stories in the last 30 days, from 5 outlets.
Auburn Faces Difficult Decision at Center After Cole Best's Struggles
Yahoo Sports Oct 16
Arrived at Auburn from South Florida. First career honor, 2025: All-AAC.
In the news in the last 30 days
from 5 outlets
Auburn Faces Difficult Decision at Center After Cole Best's Struggles
Yahoo Sports Oct 16 · 1 outlet
What they’re talking about
Loss3 storiesfading
- Fly War EagleWhy isn't Kail Ellis getting a shot? Auburn fans call for center change amid Cole Best's strugglesOct 15
AL.comAlex Golesh on Cole Best’s recent struggles: ‘There’s not a question of my faith in him’Oct 15- Yahoo SportsAuburn Faces Difficult Decision at Center After Cole Best's StrugglesOct 16
In the news this season
from 9 outlets
Auburn Faces Difficult Decision at Center After Cole Best's Struggles
Yahoo Sports Oct 16 · 1 outlet
What they’re talking about
Loss3 storiesfading
- Fly War EagleWhy isn't Kail Ellis getting a shot? Auburn fans call for center change amid Cole Best's strugglesOct 15
- AL.comAlex Golesh on Cole Best’s recent struggles: ‘There’s not a question of my faith in him’Oct 15
- Yahoo SportsAuburn Faces Difficult Decision at Center After Cole Best's StrugglesOct 16
Starting job and depth chart3 stories
In his words2 stories
Week by week
- Oct 29 to Nov 4L 15-45 at Ole MissNo stories
- Oct 22 to Oct 28L 17-38 vs LSUNo stories
- Oct 15 to Oct 21W 27-24 at Georgia4 storiesAuburn Faces Difficult Decision at Center After Cole Best's Struggles Yahoo Sports
- Oct 8 to Oct 14No game1 story
- Oct 1 to Oct 7L 14-24 at Tennessee1 story
- Sep 24 to Sep 30W 21-15 vs VanderbiltNo stories
- Sep 17 to Sep 23L 39-44 vs FloridaNo stories
- Sep 10 to Sep 16W 43-8 vs Southern Miss3 storiesAuburn center Cole Best awaits JHS debut: 'I can't wait for that moment' - Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers - Sep 3 to Sep 9W 17-16 vs Baylor4 storiesCole Best, Jo Simmons expresses trust in Auburn QB Byrum Brown after the Baylor game AL.com
- Aug 6 to Aug 12No game2 storiesPlayer profile: Cole Best ready to be the leader on the offensive line Auburn Wire
Each week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
What was said at each stop
Stories we tracked, by school.
Auburn15 stories2026 to now
Most about: loss, starting job and depth chart, in his words.
RoundtableCole Best Gives Auburn Football a Major Advantage on Offensive LineAug 8- Auburn WirePlayer profile: Cole Best ready to be the leader on the offensive lineAug 10
- Opelika-Auburn NewsWhy the connection between Byrum Brown and Cole Best could be the difference vs. Baylor - Opelika-Auburn NewsSep 4
On3Cole Best ready to lead Auburn’s rebuilt offensive lineSep 4- AL.comCole Best, Jo Simmons expresses trust in Auburn QB Byrum Brown after the Baylor gameSep 9
South Florida5 stories2022 to 2025
Most about: profile and feature.
Locked OnAuburn Fans are going to love Cole Best This SeasonMar 23- Locked OnCole Best Continues To Represent Auburn Incredibly WellMay 20
Sports IllustratedMeet the Auburn Tigers: Center Cole BestJun 11- Auburn TigersOn The Plains with Cole Best: 'A true, authentic leader'Jun 23
- On3Path to the Plains: Offensive lineman Cole BestJun 26
In the news across his career
Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
In the game threads
at Ole Miss, Oct 31This is already our best opening drive of the seasonAuburn fan, r/CFB game threadvs LSU, Oct 24We’ve sucked for years but Aubie continues his generational run of being the best mascot in the countryAuburn fan, r/CFB game threadat Georgia, Oct 17Best way I could've possibly imagined this game going up until half.Auburn fan, r/CFB game threadNamed in
- Auburn Faces Difficult Decision at Center After Cole Best's Struggles
- Why isn't Kail Ellis getting a shot? Auburn fans call for center change amid Cole Best's struggles
- 'He knows he's got to be better': Hear Alex Golesh's comments on starting center Cole Best - Opelika-Auburn News
- 'No one wavered': Cole Best reveals the main positive Auburn must carry into the bye week
- Auburn transfer OL Cole Best explains significance of Southern Miss game in Week 2
Where to follow
Awards
A three-star recruit at offensive line for Auburn -- now playing at an All-Conference level.
Offensive line play doesn't show up in a box score. Here's what actually tells you whether he's good.
The unit he anchors ranks 44th nationally in passing-downs success rate this season. See the full unit breakdown →
Auburn has produced 4 All-Conference offensive linemen. 7 have gone on to the NFL Draft since 2012. Braden Smith went on to the NFL out of this room (2018).
Five seasons, two schools
- 2026 Auburn GoleshYear 5 · Games –
- Jan 2026 Entered the transfer portalSouth Florida to Auburn
- 2025 South Florida GoleshYear 4 · Games –All-conference
- 2024 South Florida GoleshYear 3 · Games –
- 2023 South Florida GoleshYear 2 · Games –
- 2022 South Florida ScottYear 1 · Games –
- High school Trinity Preparatory SchoolWinter Park, FL · Class of 2021Three-star, No. 1,608 in the 2021 class. Signed with South Florida.
Moves
- Transferred from South Florida to Auburn, Jan 13, 2026.
2021
- Signed with South FloridaThree-star, out of Trinity Preparatory School
2025
- All-AACthird
2026
- Transferred to Auburnfrom South Florida
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-AAC
All-AAC mention (2025)
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
3 coachesPlayed for 3 head coaches at 2 schools: Jeff Scott, Daniel Da Prato and Alex Golesh.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to Auburn