Former Auburn WR Ze’Vian Capers re-joins Transfer Portal

Capers is searching for a new home after spending the 2023 season at Western Kentucky.

After spending his first three collegiate seasons at Auburn, wide receiver [autotag]Ze’vian Capers[/autotag] elected to find more production elsewhere by entering the transfer portal.

He would go on to find a new home at Western Kentucky. However, he is back on the market after spending one season as a Hilltopper according to Alex Weber of On3.

Capers was a four-star wide receiver out of Denmark High School in Alpharetta, Georgia from the 2020 cycle. He was the No. 20 player from the state of Georgia and was the No. 30 overall wide receiver from the class.

Despite his high recruiting ranking, he has yet to find a prominent role in a receiver rotation. In three seasons at Auburn, he caught 14 passes for 147 yards and one touchdown. His time at Western Kentucky was not much better, as he made just three catches for 18 yards.

Capers has one season of eligibility remaining.

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REPORT: Ze’Vian Capers will not enter the transfer portal

This is an early recruiting win for Hugh Freeze and Auburn.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has already won his first transfer portal battle.

Auburn receiver [autotag]Ze’Vian Capers[/autotag] announced his plans to enter the transfer portal on Nov. 1 but the Tigers decision to hire Freeze has caused him to change his mind. According to Keith Niebuhr of Auburn Live he no longer plans to enter the transfer portal and will return to Auburn.

Capers has spent three seasons at Auburn and likes Freeze’s history of developing quarterbacks and using bigger receivers, Capers is 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds.

“Yes I do plan on staying at Auburn,” Capers told Niebuhr. “I’ve decided to come back because (new Tigers coach) Hugh Freeze has a great track record with developing quarterbacks and using big-body receivers in his offense and I know I would thrive in his offense.”

The Cumming, Georgia, native has caught 14 passes for 147 yards and one touchdown in 14 games on the Plains. He caught one pass last season.

He flashed his potential as a freshman but did not take the next step and is looking to breakout in Freeze’s offense which places a greater emphasis on passing the ball.

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Offensive lineman announces plans to enter transfer portal

With the transfer portal opening on Monday, this offensive lineman plans to use his two years of eligibility to play elsewhere.

The transfer portal officially opens for business on Monday, Dec. 5, and many athletes are making plans to enter.

It has been relatively quiet on The Plains as far as those announcing their intent to enter the portal, but one Tiger has announced his intention to use his final two seasons of eligibility to play elsewhere as a graduate transfer.

[autotag]Keiondre Jones[/autotag], who saw time at right guard off the bench, announced Thursday that he will look for a new home as he pursues his master’s degree.

Jones did not receive a start this season but recorded 334 total snaps over 11 games in 2022. According to Pro Football Focus, Jones received a grade of 53% this season, with his strongest category being pass blocking, where he graded at 61.9%. He allowed two sacks and six hurries.

On the other side of the portal, wide receivers [autotag]Landen King[/autotag] and [autotag]Ze’vian Capers[/autotag] have announced their intentions to return to Auburn after entering the portal during the season.

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Auburn WR Ze’Vian Capers to enter transfer portal

Ze’Vian Capers is the first player to announce his plans since Auburn fired Bryan Harsin.

Auburn wide receiver [autotag]Ze’Vian Capers[/autotag] has become the first player to announce his departure from the program after the Tigers fired [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] on Monday.

The junior wideout announced that he will be entering the transfer portal on Dec. 5. He played 17 snaps in three games this season and caught one pass for 16 yards.

He showcased his potential as a true freshman, catching seven passes for 77 yards and a touchdown but was never able to become an impact player. He finished his Auburn career with 14 catches for 147 yards and one touchdown in 23 games played.

“First off I would love to thank God and Auburn for giving me the opportunity to play the game that I cherish the most,” Capers tweeted. “I’m so grateful for everything that Auburn has blessed me with, I couldn’t ask for a better experience the past two years. I would like to thank Coach Ike and Whitlow for believing in me when no one else did. It truly means a lot to my family and I. I would like to thank my teammates for everything. You guys have taught me so much. I enjoyed sharing the field with every single last one of y’all and there will be tons of memories that I will never forget. I’m truly proud to call y’all my brothers and our relationship will always be deeper than football. I will always have a special connection for Auburn. Being an Auburn man is more than just wearing a jersey. It’s the dedication, the hard work, and sacrifice to be able to reach my ultimate goal. With that being said I will be entering my name in the transfer portal on December. 5th.”

He is the fourth receiver to enter the portal this season, joining J.J. Evans, Landen King, and Tar’Varish Dawson.

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Spring Football Preview: Projecting an unproven receiver group

One group that has more questions than answers right now.

No unit on the offensive side of the ball has been hit harder this offseason than the wide receiver room for Auburn.

The Tigers knew they were losing Demetris Robertson after his senior season, but Kobe Hudson, Caylin Newton, Elijah Canion and Ja’Varrius Johnson all entered the transfer portal.

These departures mean Auburn must replace 105 receptions, 1,420 yards and 10 touchdowns from last years group, which struggles were well documented.

It will be up to wide receivers coach Eric Kiesau to help develop the receivers on the roster into solid targets for whoever wins the quarterback job. Here is a look at the wide receivers on the roster who will look to take advantage of the open opportunities.

Ja’Varrius Johnson reportedly enters transfer portal

Ja’Varrius Johnson is leaving town. Third WR to leave Auburn this offseason

Auburn may be losing another wide receiver.

According to On3.com’s Matt Zenitz, Auburn receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson has entered the transfer portal. The move would make him the third Auburn wide receiver to enter the portal this offseason, following Kobe Hudson and Elijah Canion, who transferred to UCF and Purdue, respectively.

Johnson appeared in 12 games for Auburn last season, catching 19 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns. His departure leaves Auburn with eight scholarship receivers on the roster in Shedrick Jackson, Malcolm Johnson Jr., Ze’Vian Capers, J.J. Evans, Tar’Varish Dawson, Omari Kelly, Camden Brown and Jay Fair.

Of them, only Jackson (40), Johnson (six) and Capers (six) have caught a pass in college.

Ranking Auburn’s top 50 players: Nos. 30-26

What do you think about these rankings for Auburn’s 2021 football team?

Ahead of 2021, Auburn Wire is ranking the top 50 players on Auburn’s roster

This list attempts to include past production and their assumed production in 2021. It is not a ranking of the 50 best players in order. If a freshman or newcomer is higher than a returning player his ranking is based more on the projection of his abilities and importance to that position group. 

The next group is players 30-26.

Check out the previous parts of the rankings.

50-46

45-41

40-36

35-31

2021 Auburn football player profile, overview: No. 80 Ze’Vian Capers

How many touchdowns do you think Ze’Vian Capers will score this season?

Name: Ze’Vian Capers

Number: 80

Position: Wide Receiver 

Class: Sophomore 

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 195 lbs

Hometown: Alpharetta, Georgia

High School: Denmark

2020 Statistics: 7 receptions, 77 yards, 1 touchdown

Twitter: @_ZeVianCapers

Overview: Capers was one of the players to watch in spring practice as he recovered from surgery on his left foot. Auburn’s staff was understandably cautious with him, holding him out of scrimmages or full practices. He is expected to be a full go in fall camp as he will attempt to become Auburn’s top receiver as just a sophomore. Capers looked best playing split end but he has experience at big slot, providing several options when he is on the field. 

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Auburn ‘hopeful’ to get injured players back this week

In Auburn’s season opener against Kentucky, the Tigers were down several notable players.

In Auburn’s season opener against Kentucky, the Tigers were down several notable players.

Jay Hardy, Marco Domio, Dre Butler, Daniel Foster-Allen, Shedrick Jackson, and Brandon Frazier were all out. Big Kat Bryant was limited only played a few snaps.

Romello Height and O.C. Brothers are also out for an indefinite amount of time after undergoing shoulder procedures, although Gus Malzahn is hopeful they will be available sometime this season.

Malzahn is ‘hopeful’ that the players who were unavailable for the Kentucky game will return this week.

“We’re hopeful for everybody at this point,” Malzahn said. “Now, we’ll see but we’re hopeful that we’ll have everybody back.”

While their injuries are undisclosed, Bryant was said to have suffered an ankle injury in practice and Hardy was seen wearing a boot before the game.

With Auburn down Hardy and Butler along the defensive line, the groups depth stood out, as nine different defensive linemen saw the field against Kentucky and DaQuan Newkirk had a big game, recording six tackles, two tackles for loss and the first sack of his career.

With Jackson out, freshman wide receiver Ze’Vian Capers stepped up, hauling in one catch for 17 yards and perhaps more impressively, did not react when a Kentucky defender shoved him for a personal foul.

Auburn will need to be as close to full strength as possible next week when they travel to Athens to take on No. 4 Georgia.