There was a lot of work for head coach Hugh Freeze to do when he took the job with the Auburn football program at the end of last November. Stagnant recruiting over the last few years had put the Tigers in a tough spot, and the continued rise of Alabama and Georgia—who share recruiting grounds with Auburn— helped nothing.
Freeze and his staff began with salvaging the 2023 class that Bryan Harsin and his staff struggled so mightily to build. When all was said and done, the new coaching staff secured 20 enrollees in the recruiting class of 2023, headlined by JACK Keldric Faulk, who was originally committed to Florida State, and a bunch of offensive linemen that the Tigers needed badly.
After the high schoolers were locked in, along with several talented JUCO additions, Freeze turned to the transfer portal and pulled in another 20 guys from the transfer portal, many of whom are expected to contribute on the field immediately in the 2023 season. Below are all of the 2023 newcomers, divided by freshman enrollees, JUCO additions, and incoming transfers.
Auburn football 2023 Freshman Enrollees
- JACK Keldric Faulk
- CB Kayin Lee
- RB Jeremiah Cobb
- DL Darron Reed
- S Sylvester Smith
- S Terrance Love
- CB Tyler Scott
- CB Colton Hood
- DE Wilky Denaud
- OL Connor Lew
- OL Clay Wedin
- OL Bradyn Joiner
- OL Tyler Johnson
- S CJ Johnson
- WR JC Hart
- JACK Brenton Williams
- DT Stephen Johnson
- QB Hank Brown
Auburn football 2023 JUCO Additions
- OL Izavion Miller
- DB Champ Anthony
Auburn football 2023 Incoming Transfers
- QB Payton Thorne (Michigan State)
- RB Brian Battie (USF)
- WR Nick Mardner (Cincinnati)
- WR Caleb Burton (Ohio State)
- WR Jyaire Shorter (North Texas)
- WR Shane Hooks (Jackson State)
- TE Rivaldo Fairweather (FIU)
- LT Dillon Wade (Tulsa)
- C Avery Jones (East Carolina)
- RT Gunner Britton (Western Kentucky)
- OL Jaden Muskrat (Tulsa)
- NT Justin Rogers (Kentucky)
- DT Lawrence Johnson (Purdue)
- DE Mosiah Nasili-Kite (Maryland)
- JACK Elijah McAllister (Vanderbilt)
- JACK Jalen McLeod (App State)
- JACK Stephen Sings V (Liberty)
- LB DeMario Tolan (LSU)
- LB Austin Keys (Ole Miss)
- LB Larry Nixon III (North Texas)