During this offseason, the Auburn football program has stepped up their recruiting game dramatically. When he took the job last November, head coach Hugh Freeze saw a problem and began implementing solutions quickly.
The Tigers have found themselves square in the middle of several high profile recruiting battles as of late, including some prospects who are already committed to other schools. For a long time, Auburn football was considered the favorite with 5-star wide receiver Cam Coleman, but the prospect ended up committing to Texas A&M in a surprise announcement on July 4.
However, there are several targets that the Tigers are still after, including 5-star wide receiver Perry Thompson (committed to Alabama) and 5-star linebacker Demarcus Riddick (committed to Georgia), who may be the top targets on the board for Auburn right now.
While it’s a waiting game to see whether or not Thompson will flip from Alabama, Riddick is set to make a final decision and shut down his recruitment this Wednesday. Though he has been committed to Georgia since last November, most believe the final battle is down to Iron Bowl Rivals Auburn and Alabama.
According to Riddick’s high school coach Marvin Morton, the linebacker will stick with the school he chooses on Wednesday, per AL.com:
"“He hasn’t told me,” Morton said. “I told him if he wanted to share, he certainly could. I didn’t want to pressure him by asking. But he did tell me this decision Wednesday would be it. This will be where he wants to go. I think he will have a peace of mind about it all at that time.”"
While Alabama seems to hold an edge over Auburn on the recruiting websites, the Tigers feel good about the spot they’re in with Riddick, who is ranked as the #3 linebacker in the class of 2024 and the #3 player out of the state of Alabama. If the Tigers can pull Demarcus Riddick it will set the tone for the rest of the 2024 class and mark a huge victory for Hugh Freeze and his staff.