BREAKING: Auburn transfer S Donovan Kaufman commits to NC State
NC State has landed a commitment from former Auburn safety Donovan Kaufman. The 5-foot-10, 204-pound Kaufman made the announcement shortly after his Wolfpack official visit.
Safety was a significant need for State in the transfer portal and Kaufman, who has one year of eligibility, provides an experienced, proven player at the position.
He began his career at Vanderbilt before transferring to Auburn, where he spent three seasons in the Tigers’ program. Kaufman played in 12 games during the 2023 season for Auburn, including four starts, recording 37 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and one sack, an interception, a pass breakup, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
In 2022, he saw action is seven games, registering 39 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble. Kaufman played in 12 games during the 2021 campaign, tallying 33 tackles, including two for loss, one sack, one interception, three pass breakups, and three forced fumbles.
Kaufman, a 2020 recruit out of Metalrle (Louis.) Archbishop Rummel, was a three-star prospect, nation’s No. 50 safety and 26th-ranked player in Louisiana, according to 247Sports.
He signed with Vanderbilt over 20 other scholarship offers, including Baylor, Boston College Colorado, FSU and Memphis.
NC State returns it’s top three safeties from last season in senior Devan Boykin, senior Bishop Fitzgerald and redshirt junior Sean Brown. However, Boykin suffered a ACL injury in bowl practice, Brown may move to linebacker, and there’s little to no proven depth behind the trio, which means Kaufman should have a chance to compete for significant snaps.
He’s the 12th transfer addition for the Wolfpack in this cycle and fourth on the defensive side of the ball, joining former Maryland nickel Tamarcus Cooley, former Maryland cornerback Corey Coley Jr. and former Villanova cornerback Devon Marshall.
Wolfpack safeties coach Joe DeForest led State’s recruiting efforts for Kaufman.
State, which won nine games in 2023 and at least eight in four straight years, opens its 2024 season Aug. 29 at home against Western Carolina, followed by a showdown against SEC foe Tennessee in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium.
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