David Pollack tells Auburn fans to 'get excited' about Byrum Brown at quarterback

Former star defender and college football analyst David Pollack didn’t mince words when discussing Byrum Brown’s fit at Auburn. He delivered an emphatic endorsement that Tigers fans have been waiting to hear.

Speaking via See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack, the analyst framed Brown’s arrival as a rare “hand to the glove” situation. A perfect schematic and cultural fit for Auburn football. While acknowledging the hesitation that comes with lofty comparisons, Pollack leaned into them anyway.

“Auburn fans get excited,” Pollack stated. “You’ve got a dude that’s really special now with Alex Golesh. Byrum Brown — he’s 6-3, 240. He’s a freak. He’s an absolute freak show.”

Pollack pointed directly to Brown’s historic 2025 season at USF, where he led the FBS with 42 total touchdowns and became the only player in the country to achieve the 3,000-passing-yard, 1,000-rushing-yard benchmark during the regular season. 

To illustrate the magnitude of that accomplishment, Pollack grouped Brown with elite company, citing Johnny Manziel, Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, and Vince Young as the only comparable names.

Moreover, Brown’s move to Auburn followed the hiring of his former head coach in Golesh, a reunion that Pollack believes maximizes Brown’s strengths. Under Golesh, USF went 23-15 and reached a bowl game in each of his three seasons after inheriting a 1-11 program, a turnaround Pollack sees as highly relevant to Auburn’s current position.

A former three-star recruit from Rolesville, North Carolina, Brown developed into one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in college football, completing 64.8 percent of his passes for 7,690 yards and 61 touchdowns, while adding 2,265 rushing yards and 31 scores on the ground across 35 games. His physicality and mobility align closely with Auburn’s most successful eras.

“He’s a mobile guy that fits your style, your personality, your brand,” Pollack added. “I don’t know that there’s a better fit in college football.”

Meanwhile, Brown won’t arrive alone. Several former USF pass catchers, including Christian Neptune, Kory Pettigrew and Jonathan Echols, are following him to Auburn.. With DJ Durkin overseeing the defense and a roster that has recruited well despite recent struggles, Pollack sees the foundation firmly in place.

After a 5-7 season and bowl appearances tough to come by recently, Auburn is searching for momentum. Pollack believes Byrum Brown, paired with Golesh, may be exactly what ignites it. We’ll see if he’s right about that.