Auburn football recruiting and transfer portal updates

There have been a lot of ups and downs over the last two years on the Plains with Bryan Harsin, but it seems that the Auburn football program has turned the page and ushered in a new era under head coach Hugh Freeze and associate head coach Cadillac Williams.

Though a faction of fans are extremely unhappy with the hire, it is refreshing to see a coach that actually wants to be at Auburn and that actually wants to recruit high school kids to the program. In fact, just last night Freeze and some members of the staff spent time with more than 100 high school coaches at an event at Baumhower’s.

Freeze is expected to hit the road today with the end of the recruiting dead period to see several Auburn football commits, including Montgomery running back Jeremiah Cobb, defensive back JC Hart, and offensive lineman Bradyn Joiner.

The Tigers’ new head coach noted that he expects to lean heavily on transfer portal players during his first year on the Plains, but he already has achieved two portal wins in the withdrawals of wide receivers Ze’Vian Capers and Landen King.

Capers announced early last month his intention to transfer out of Auburn during the transfer window following the regular season, but confirmed to Auburn Live’s Keith Niebuhr that he intends to play for the Tigers in 2023:

"“Yes I do plan on staying at Auburn,” Capers said via Twitter Direct Message. “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 next wave of receivers are all talented and we have what it takes to bring a national championship back to Auburn.”"

Fellow wide receiver Landen King withdrew his name from the portal last week, as well, and this week it was announced that offensive lineman Keiondre Jones would be entering the portal.