The 2021 recruiting class was a vital one to get things off on the right foot for then-recently announced head coach Bryan Harsin. Auburn signed a total of 18 players in that class and finished with an overall class ranking of No. 18 as well.

Notable signees during this cycle were former Tennessee commit Dylan Brooks, a four-star edge – Lee Hunter and Ahmari Harvey were also four-star recruits.

The transfers out of this class began early, as wide receiver Hal Presley left Auburn just six months after signing with the team. Since then, there have been a total of 11 departures, leaving less than half of the class on roster. Here are the top five most impactful transfers from the 2021 cycle:

The second highest-rated recruit in the class, Hunter was a beast on the defensive line in high school. The same monster production was expected of him at the collegiate level – and he did not get a chance to show anything with the Tigers. Hunter did not appear in a game during his freshman season at Auburn and took a redshirt.

He decided to transfer to UCF in January of this year. He has accumulated seven tackles and one sack for the Knights this season. Given the lack of depth and the injuries that have piled up this year, Hunter would have been a wonderful player to have been retained.

The Tigers’ need for a big-bodied WR has made the departure of King incredibly unfortunate. King was recruited as a TE and was one of the most efficient players on the field in his limited snaps during the 2021 season. He had five receptions for 59 yards and a very important touchdown that came in OT in the Iron Bowl.