Auburn football recruiting rankings after Big Cat Weekend

The biggest recruiting event of the summer, Big Cat Weekend, is now in the rearview mirror for the Auburn football program, but its impacts are going to be felt for a long time. The team was riding on the momentum of a huge flip, and the dominos kept falling.

It began on July 26, with 5-star linebacker Demarcus Riddick finally making it official and flipping his commitment from Georgia to Auburn. No matter what they say now, Riddick was someone that Nick Saban wanted, and Hugh Freeze got him. He is the first recruit to flip from Georgia since 2015, and the Tigers’ first 5-star since 2019.

Next up was 4-star wide receiver Malcolm Simmons, an in-state kid from Alexander City. Simmons told Auburn Undercover it was a dream come true to be committed to Auburn football, and that next up for the program is a National Championship.

While the recruits were at the pool party portion of Big Cat Weekend, 5-star Perry Thompson, a wide receiver who has been committed to Alabama since last November, flipped his commitment from the Tide to the Tigers, marking Freeze’s second huge flip and his second massive take from the Crimson Tide.

According to the On3 2024 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings, Auburn football shot up the list to #15 in the country, meaning that by the end of July, Hugh Freeze has secured a top 20 recruiting class and he isn’t done yet. In the SEC, the Tigers are now ranked #7, above Oklahoma and behind LSU. Over on 247 Sports, the Tigers are at spot #17 overall, while in the SEC they’re at #8, above Arkansas and behind Oklahoma.

The bottom line? Greatness is coming to the Plains. Hugh Freeze said from the beginning that his recruiting classes in 2024 and 2025 would define his tenure at Auburn, and so far, things are looking pretty good.