The Miami Hurricanes have made big-time moves in the transfer portal by securing commitments from three impactful transfers: linebacker Kamal Bonner from NC State, BYU wide receiver and kick returner Keelan Marion and kicker Bert Auburn from Texas.
Auburn attended Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas, and joined the University of Texas football program as a preferred walk-on.
Auburn is the all-time leading scorer in Texas Longhorns history with 66 field goals and 376 points. He brings plenty of experience to what it is now becoming an elite special teams unit. In 2022, Auburn made 21 of 26 field goals, followed by a 29 of 35 performance in 2023, earning him First-Team All-Big 12 honors. The successful 2023 campaign included a game-winner against Kansas State in week 10 and was good enough to earn him a spot on the Lou Groza Award preseason watch list for the 2024 season.
Although he faced challenges in 2024, converting 16 of 25 attempts, his overall track record is reliable. Skeptics will point to his two missed FG's in the Peach Bowl against Arizona State but his 2024 season was still very productive. For his career, Auburn has made 66 of his 86 career field goals for a conversion rate of 76.7%.
Auburn's addition is timely, as Miami seeks to replace standout kicker Andres Borregales, who was the first kicker taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. He will compete with FAU transfer Carter Davis, who joined the Hurricanes earlier this offseason. Davis, known for his strong leg, achieved an 81% touchback rate on kickoffs and made a 51-yard field goal during the 2024 season. Miami could opt to split kicking duties with Auburn being the designated field goal kicker and Davis working on kickoffs and long-range field goal attempts.
Miami's Saturday can be described as eventful and successful. With multiple former players being selected in Day 3 of the NFL Draft, a handful getting UDFA contracts and the three transfer portal commitments, Miami football has stayed in the headlines.