With new head coach Hugh Freeze leading the Auburn football program, taking recruits out of the clutches of Alabama is becoming more and more possible. Several Bama commits have been visiting the Plains this spring, including some that 2024 QB commit Walker White has been adamant about getting to Auburn.
4-star ATH Martavious Collins has been tentatively interested in the Tigers for awhile now, having visited last fall for the San Jose State game and returning again in mid-January despite being committed to Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.
Then, just days after his January visit, Collins walked back his verbal pledge and re-opened his recruitment—a very good sign for the Auburn football program. The Rome, GA, native has been unable to visit the Plains for a chance to watch spring practices in the last month, but has announced that he will be visiting campus for the annual scrimmage, A-Day, on April 8.
I will be attending @AuburnFootball spring game April 8th@B_Aigamaua @CoachHughFreeze @On3Recruits @247Sports pic.twitter.com/D1UTJWgcDQ
— Martavious Collins (@Martavious122) April 3, 2023
Collins is listed as the #374 overall prospect and the #36 ATH in the recruiting class of 2024 and is the #45 recruit out of the Peach State. Though classified as an ATH, Collins is being recruited to the Plains as a tight end by Coach Ben Aigamaua.
According to his recruiting profile and the On3 Visitor Center, Collins has visited Alabama three times, both Auburn and NC State twice, and South Carolina and Tennessee once. Alabama seems to still have a slight edge in the recruiting race, but Auburn football is very close behind and could take the lead based on his A-Day trip this upcoming weekend.
Other Alabama commits that the Tigers are interested in flipping in the 2024 cycle include wide receiver Perry Thompson, defensive back Jaylen Mbakwe, and edge Sterling Dixon.