The Auburn football coaching staff has been focused hard on recruiting ever since Hugh Freeze was hired as the Tigers’ head coach. The full coaching staff hasn’t even been hired yet due to the recruiting focus as the Tigers have only 11 commits in the class of 2023 so far.
Although the numbers are low right now, the Tigers will certainly add some commits on signing day, and several prospects who have already given our verbal commitments are trending towards flipping to Auburn football.
The first is a longtime Auburn target: 4-star offensive lineman DJ Chester. The McDonough, GA, native committed to the Brian Kelly’s Tigers in early November, but has taken both official and unofficial visits to the Plains.
According to Auburn Live, several members of the coaching staff, including head coach Hugh Freeze, secondary coach Zac Etheridge, offensive line coach Jake Thornton, and offensive analyst Joe Bernardi conducted an in-home visit with Chester earlier this week, and the staff are “cautiously optimistic” about flipping the cornerback. Although Chester is scheduled to visit FSU this weekend, the Tigers have another visit planned ahead of signing day.
The second is 3-star offensive tackle Izavion Miller, who has been committed to the Ole Miss Rebels since the end of July. He is ranked as the #13 overall JUCO prospect and the #5 JUCO offensive tackle.
A Mississippi native, Miller has been strong in his commitment to Ole Miss, but with the coach he committed to play for now taking up residence on the Plains, it’s possible he thinks twice about his pledge to the Rebs. They’ll have to watch out for Illinois, who has also been moving in on the OT, but with Jake Thornton on the staff, combined with the Tigers’ huge need for offensive linemen, it’s likely Miller becomes an Auburn football target quickly.