The Auburn football program's first early signing period under new head coach Alex Golesh is off to a hot start. Despite a few decommitments following the staffing shakeup on the Plains, a lot more guys are choosing to stick around.
4-star linebacker Jaquez Wilkes was one of the first players in the 2026 class to officially sign with the Auburn Tigers on Wednesday morning. From Wadley, Alabama, Wilkes is ranked as the No. 67 overall player and the No. 6 linebacker in the recruiting class of 2026. He is the No. 5 player out of his home state.
Even as Auburn navigated a coaching change near the end of the season, Wilkes remained true to his commitment, which he made back in July. According to Auburn Undercover, defensive coordinator DJ Durkin was a key player in Wilkes' recruitment, which indicates that keeping Durkin on the staff was a factor in Wilkes staying true to the Tigers.
“I’m stuck. I’m stuck like glue,” Wilkes said, per Auburn Sports. “I just really love the defense. The offense really doesn’t have anything to do with me, so I don’t see why (a coaching change) would (change anything for me).”
Wilkes' high school team is set to play for the 1A state championship in Birmingham this week. Excluding his senior year, the linebacker has recorded 367 tackles and 42 tackles for loss. He is expected to enroll in January, and he chose the Tigers over Texas A&M, Miami, and Alabama.
2026 Early Signing Period
So far, the Tigers have signed seven new players to the team, and the class is ranked as No. 60 overall and No. 14 in the SEC, but the day isn't over yet. It is also expected that Golesh and his staff will heavily utilize the transfer portal, which does not open until early January.