Jonathan Echols, a former four-star tight end prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, was committed to Josh Heupel’s Tennessee program for 17 months before flipping his commitment and signing with South Florida in late 2023. Former Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh was his lead recruiter at Tennessee, and Echols decided to follow him to South Florida after his first season with the Bulls.
Last Friday, Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett reported that Echols was set to enter the transfer portal after two seasons with USF. Auburn seemed like the likely option after Golesh took over as head coach, and it looks like that is exactly what happened.
According to a report from On3 Sports’ Pete Nakos on Monday, Echols has indeed signed with Auburn. The move puts him back on track to playing in the SEC, and more importantly, back on a path to playing inside Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee will host Golesh and Echols’ Tigers in October next season. Auburn’s trip to Knoxville is part of the SEC’s new scheduling format, which will present the Vols with several seldom-seen opponents during the 2026 campaign. The Auburn game will also present a return trip to Neyland Stadium for former defensive coordinator Tim Banks, former wide receivers coach Kodi Burns, former offensive coordinator Larry Scott, and former offensive lineman Parker Ball. Banks will serve as the Tigers’ Co-DC and safeties coach, Burns is the associate head coach and WR coach, Scott is the tight ends coach, and Ball is an assistant offensive line coach.
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Echols originally committed to Tennessee as a five-star recruit in July 2022. He was a big part of the Vols’ recruiting class, but his ranking did drop as the 2024 cycle went on. He was still a highly-touted prospect by the time he flipped, though, and gave Golesh a good piece to work with as he assembled his roster in Tampa.
In 12 games with the Bulls over two years, Echols had 10 total receptions and four touchdowns. He only played in two games as a true freshman before finding a bigger role in his second year in the program. This past season, he caught nine passes for 109 yards and three scores.
It’s unclear what his role will look like with the Tigers after transferring to Auburn, but he clearly made the move to stay with his previous head coach over the past two seasons. We’ll see how things work out next fall.
Tennessee will host Auburn on Oct. 3 in Neyland Stadium next fall. It’ll be the fifth game of the Vols’ season and their second game in SEC play.
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