Head coach Hugh Freeze and the Auburn football staff placed high value on recruiting in-state prospects in the 2025 cycle
After a troubling few years on the Plains, including multiple losing records and this year's losing season, it's a major relief that the on-field product is not hindering the recruiting process. When he first arrived at Auburn, head coach Hugh Freeze knew there was a lot of work to be done when it came to recruiting, and he has taken leaps and bounds since the Harsin era of recruiting.
Last year's recruiting class finished at #8, and as the early signing period draws to a close, this year's class is sitting at #6 in the country and #4 in the SEC behind Texas, Georgia, and Alabama. And while a lot of times Auburn would consider taking some of the top in-state prospects away from Alabama a big deal, this year it wasn't even something worth thinking about. Auburn signed 11 players out of the state of Alabama, and the Tide only signed two.
Auburn football locked in eight out of the top-10 recruits from the state of Alabama, including:
- #2 Jared Smith (edge)
- #3 Anquon Fegans (safety)
- #4 Derick Smith (ATH)
- #5 Eric Winters (safety)
- #7 Malik Autry (defensive line)
- #8 Alvin Henderson (running back)
- #9 Jakaleb Faulk (linebacker)
The Tigers also picked up #11 Jourdin Crawford and #14 Antonion Coleman, who are both defensive linemen. The #1 recruit, Na'eem Offord, brushed Auburn off and flipped from Ohio State to Oregon on signing day, and the #6 recruit, Zion Grady, signed with Ohio State.
“It was priority No. 1,” said Freeze, per Auburn Rivals. “We have to win our share of battles in state. I was clear with our staff how I saw recruiting and how I saw it geographically when we got here and it starts in this state. This year was a success for sure, came really close to being even more successful. We were really in some good battles for all of them.
“I think it matters. It still matters that you represent your home state at a school that you dreamed of coming to. That's what we're going to try and continue to push and make the foundation here from inside our state outwards.”
The early signing period ends on December 6, and the regular signing period will take place in February.