Recruiting was something fired former Auburn football head coach Bryan Harsin simply “didn’t care to do” according to Barrett Sallee — who told AL.com’s Matt Cohen that the pair’s work on the trail, or rather one’s work and another’s lack thereof, is what sets Harsin and new Tigers HC Hugh Freeze apart.
“It’s definitely recruiting,” Sallee prefaced before saying, “You know, like I said, the fact that Hugh understands what needs to be done through his time at Ole Miss, that helps. That is something that every program needs. It’s something that Bryan Harsin didn’t care to do. And I think the fact that Hugh was able to do that I think goes to show you know where his mindset is.” Perhaps the greatest example of that difference was the recruitment of Chilton County’s 5-star LB Demarcus Riddick, a recent Georgia-to-Auburn flip who hadn’t been pursued at all by the previous regime.
“According to Riddick’s high school coach Marvin Morton, Auburn had not recruited the 5-star recruit under previous head coach Bryan Harsin,” Cohen wrote following Riddick’s AU commitment. “The Tigers began to seriously pursue Riddick under new linebackers coach Josh Aldridge, who came with Freeze from Liberty.”
Hugh Freeze plays the political game as Auburn football head coach better than Bryan Harsin did
Sallee revealed that Freeze is much better at playing the “political game” than Harsin did. In fact, as the CBS Sports reporter relayed, the Boise native wasn’t willing to play ball with Auburn University’s boosters at all.
“I think the ability to go play the political game helps too,” Sallee prefaced before saying, “Hugh is fully comfortable with going to booster clubs and talking to boosters and making sure that part of the program is happy with him. Where the program is listening to feedback, giving feedback, things like that. Bryan Harsin didn’t want to do that. Just flat-out didn’t do that.”
Freeze does shake hands and kiss babies better than Harsin, who seemingly hated his surroundings while situated in East Central Alabama. As Freeze continues to form relationships all over the state, Auburn football will continue to position itself as the go-to landing spot for Alabama’s top recruits from every region.
Perhaps even Central-Phenix City, the current forbidden fruit recruiting ground for the Plains. Well, okay, don’t count on that one as long as Patrick Nix is coaching the Red Devils.
For everywhere else across the Yellowhammer State, though? A Freeze warning is in effect until further notice.