Auburn football loses commitment of 3-star edge Ashley Williams

When the Auburn football program parted ways with Bryan Harsin and brought on Hugh Freeze as the next head coach, there was not a mass-exodus of players to the transfer portal as can sometimes happen with a new coaching staff.

Of course, there have been a few players looking to go somewhere else, but several also withdrew their names from the portal and returned to the Plains. Although there is still time to make up lost ground, the biggest hits to the program may come from the loss of commitments from the class of 2023.

Several commits that once committed to Bryan Harsin or members of his staff de-committed and reopened their recruitments when there were changes to the coaching staff, including Gernorris Wilson, Jamarrion Harkless, and Adam Hopkins.

Now, another committed prospect has decided to consider other options ahead of the early signing period at the end of the month on December 21. 3-star edge Ashley Williams, who was originally committed to Nebraska before flipping to Auburn, has de-committed from Auburn football. He made the decision after it was announced that Hugh Freeze would not be keeping edges coach Roc Bellantoni, Williams’ primary recruiter, on the 2023 staff.

This is a blow primarily because the Tigers need bodies at the edge position, with only Dylan Brooks returning and Derick Hall and Eku Leota moving on. While it’s highly likely Freeze and the staff turn their attention to other high school edge recruits, it’s also likely that they try to pull in a couple of edge rushers from the portal.

Auburn football has already extended an offer to former Western Michigan defensive end Andre Carter, and it’s possible he gets to campus for a visit sooner than later.

There are plenty of holes to fill on the Tigers’ offense, but with so many key defensive players leaving before the 2023 season, getting some edge rushers in should be a high priority for the new coaching staff.