Report: Auburn linebacker DeMario Tolan no longer with program

Auburn linebacker DeMario Tolan is no longer with the program, AL.com’s Matt Cohen reported Wednesday. Tolan transferred from LSU earlier in the offseason.

Tolan’s profile has also been removed from the Tigers’ website. It’s unclear why or when he left the program.

Tolan appeared in 12 games last season for LSU, totaling nine tackles in that time. He entered the transfer portal after the season and was the No. 18-ranked linebacker to hit the portal this cycle, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

As a recruit, Tolan was a four-star prospect out of Dr. Phillips (FL) high school. He was the No. 229-ranked recruit in the nation from the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Through spring practice, Tolan garnered some high praise from the Auburn staff. Tigers defensive coordinator Ron Roberts spoke highly of him in March and what he could do for the defense.

“DeMario shows a ton of ability, he runs exceptionally well, he will strike you,” Roberts said, via Auburn Live’s Cole Pinkston. “When he pulls his pin he pulls it about as fast as anybody that can play the game. So he has a bright future here at Auburn.”

Auburn is preparing to lift the curtain on the Hugh Freeze Era after the program moved on from Bryan Harsin. He’s used the portal in a big way to revamp the roster as he tries to orchestrate a turnaround on The Plains.

After Freeze’s hiring, there was some backlash given his past in college football at Ole Miss and Liberty. However, it appears he’s handling the transition back to the SEC well. In fact, SEC Network host Paul Finebaum thinks it’s been a “flawless” return to the league.

“Not only did it happen, Matt. It happened flawlessly,” Finebaum told Matt Barrie about Freeze’s move back to the league. “All the hue and cry about what he did or didn’t do or why he got fired, it was over in five seconds. He handled his introduction brilliantly. I’ve seen Hugh a couple of times at events and he’s just very cool. … I give him an A-plus-plus for the way he’s handled it.

“Not only that, Auburn fans are just enthusiastic. They are on board. It has as much to do with the person who replaced. Bryan Harsin, no debating here whether he’s a good football coach. He was a terrible fit. Not his fault he took the job. But he neutered any level of enthusiasm.