For what feels like the first time in a very long time, recruiting is heating up for the Auburn football program. An almost instant difference was made when the Tigers hired head coach Hugh Freeze, and though there is a long road ahead, there is optimism for the future of the program.
Last week, the Tigers earned the commitment of 2024 4-star quarterback Walker White, out of Little Rock, Arkansas. In his lengthy commitment video, White rattled off an impressive list of names of recruits he intends to pursue on behalf of Auburn football, including several athletes committed to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Now, one of those recruits named by Walker White is no longer committed to the Tide. Class of 2024 tight end Martavious Collins will reopen his recruitment after making a pledge to Alabama back in July of 2022.
Collins, a native of Rome, Georgia, is ranked as the #159 overall prospect and the #21 ATH in the recruiting class of 2024, and is the #25 recruit out of The Peach State. He was first recruited by Brad Bedell, the tight end coach in the Bryan Harsin administration, and visited the Plains during the season for the game against San Jose State.
His next visit took place in early January 2023 following the hiring of Hugh Freeze, and has since been building a strong relationship with current tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua. Cole Pinkston of Auburn Live reports that Collins was impressed with his visit to the Plains even though he was still committed to the Tide:
"“I think right now Auburn is pretty high,” Collins said a few days after his visit. “Right now, I’ve still got to keep my options open.”"
According to Collins’ recruiting page in the On3 Database, Auburn football is the only program the tight end has visited since making his commitment to Alabama. Although there is still a long way to go in Martavious Collins’ recruitment, the Tigers are certainly in a good spot.