Auburn football coaching staff pushing to flip Kentucky safety

The Auburn football coaching staff is not letting up on 4-star Kentucky commit Martels Carter Jr.

At this point in the summer, all roads lead to Big Cat Weekend. At the end of the month of July, prospects from all over the country will make their way to the Plains for Auburn football's biggest recruiting event, one that usually results in a commitment or two for the Tigers.

The attendance list for the event continues to grow throughout the summer, and the Tigers' coaching staff has been working hard to add new attendees to the group. One recruit the Tigers would love to see attend Big Cat Weekend is 4-star safety Martels Carter Jr.

Ranked as the #19 safety in the recruiting class of 2025 and the #2 recruit out of the state of Kentucky, Carter Jr. committed to the Wildcats in May but the Tigers have not backed down. According to Auburn Rivals, the safety hears from Auburn football multiple times a week, and it's typically head coach Hugh Freeze making the calls with the strong message that the Tigers will flip him.

Charles Kelly, Auburn co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach, has also been involved in Carter Jr.'s recruitment, and has pushed to make the safety a recruiting priority for the Tigers.

"I was the first person he came to see and he spent the whole day with me," Carter said, per Auburn Rivals. "That means a lot. When I went there, just looking at, hearing and paying attention to what he’s telling his safeties and how he wants to play."

The Tigers are trying to get Carter Jr. on campus for a visit, but he has not yet confirmed whether or not he will make it to the Plains for Big Cat Weeked. However, Carter Jr.'s recruiting page on On3 lists July 27, 2024 as an unofficial visit date with Auburn, so it seems likely he will make the trip. So far, the only official visit he has taken was at the end of June to Kentucky.