For the second straight year, Hugh Freeze has delivered a top-10 recruiting class for Auburn football. By most accounts, this is a significant coup for a program still finding its footing in the ultra-competitive SEC. Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class is currently ranked sixth by 247Sports and On3 rankings, and rightfully so as it features 5-star quarterback Deuce Knight, elite cornerback Blake Woodby, and in-state running back phenom Alvin Henderson.
Freeze's recruiting machine is operating at full capacity. This year they pulled off a recruitment class of 25 players. Getting back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes is something that Auburn has not experienced in almost a decade.
However, not everyone is impressed.
For Finebaum, recruiting rankings alone aren't enough to secure Freeze's future. He pointed out that while the “hype machine” surrounding Auburn's recruiting is in full swing, Freeze's on-field results don't match.
"Recruiting is one thing," Finebaum said (h/t On SI). "But in two or three weeks, we'll have a better look at the portal and recruiting and try to figure out what Hugh Freeze needs to do next year to save his job. Because he's clearly on the hot seat."
What’s Fueling the Criticism of Hugh Freeze?
For the Auburn Tigers, recruiting success has not translated to wins (yet), and AU's 2024 season is the best proof of that. Despite having a top-10 recruiting class as well, the Tigers' on-field product disappointed. They finished 5-7, including a second consecutive loss to Alabama in the Iron Bowl. It is especially disappointing to go 2-6 in the SEC, where powerhouses like Alabama, Texas, and Georgia are likelier to get better next year.
This marked back-to-back losing seasons for Freeze, with an overall record of 11-13 since taking over.
While Freeze has improved Auburn's roster with high-profile recruits, his on-field coaching decisions have been widely criticized by fans. The team was dogged with Issues like poor red-zone efficiency, questionable play-calling, and reliance on an ineffective quarterback (Payton Thorne) all season. Freeze was unable to find a solution to the problems.
Having experienced the highs of the national championships from the Cam Newton era, Auburn's fan base is notoriously demanding. Patience runs thin when the Tigers aren’t winning. It's no secret that Freeze's hiring was met with mixed reactions, and two straight seasons without a bowl game only added fuel to the fire.
Recruiting wins are nice, but the Auburn faithful expect more from their head coach. In this era of NIL, it is hard to assess whether a good recruiting class is the work of a convincing head coach or a community of powerful boosters.
The SEC is the hardest division in football, and no coach’s job is ever truly safe. Freeze's predecessor, Bryan Harsin, was dismissed after a similarly underwhelming 9-12 record.
Freeze is 11-13 through two seasons, and there is almost no chance for him to keep his job if they have another losing season.
Recruiting Success: Players to Watch
Freeze's second consecutive top-10 class is undeniably impressive. Here are some of the key players Tiger fans should keep an eye on:
Deuce Knight (5-star, QB, Lucedale, MS)
Deuce Knight is Auburn's highest-rated quarterback recruit in years. Freeze has touted Knight as one of his top priorities since arriving at Auburn, and his arrival could herald the beginning of a new era. Knight is a dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm and athleticism. That combination gives him the potential to become a game-changer for the Tigers. Quarterback is arguably the roster's biggest need, and having Knight provides Auburn with one option heading into the season. It is still expected that they will dip into the transfer portal for another quarterback
Blake Woodby (4-star, CB, Baltimore, MD)
Woodby is the No. 3-ranked cornerback in the nation and one of the most highly regarded defensive backs in the 2025 class. His ability to lock down receivers gives the defense an option to play man coverage against the top receivers in the SEC.
Alvin Henderson (4-star, RB, Elba, AL)
Henderson is the state of Alabama’s all-time leading rusher with over 10,000 career rushing yards. Securing Henderson was critical, as it signaled Auburn's ability to win in-state recruiting battles. With the Tigers' veteran running back Jarquez Hunter likely to be a late-round NFL draft pick, Henderson will have a clear path to early playing time.
Recruiting alone won't save Hugh Freeze
Paul Finebaum’s skepticism isn’t without merit. Auburn’s recent history has shown that recruiting alone isn’t enough to keep a coach safe. Bryan Harsin had a respectable recruiting track record too, and he was fired with a 9-12 record.
The reality is that Freeze's recruiting success has bought him some time, but that time is quickly running out. He'll need to deliver better on-field results in 2025. The Tigers need to be more competitive in key matchups, especially in the Iron Bowl.
The addition of Knight gives Auburn fans hope, but a true freshman quarterback rarely changes a program’s trajectory overnight. The development of Knight — or the acquisition of a veteran transfer QB — will be one of the biggest storylines heading into next season.