Auburn football trending up for two in-state 2025 prospects

The Auburn football program is trending up for two 4-star prospects from the state of Alabama in the recruiting class of 2025

This weekend the Auburn football program hosted a group of prospects on campus for a small recruiting event. A number of highly-ranked recruits, including several who are committed to Alabama, made their way to the Plains to spend quality time with the Tigers' coaching staff and attend the Auburn basketball game.

Many of the recruits who visited were from around the state of Alabama, and the Tigers are trending up for two of those in-state targets.

The first is 4-star wide receiver Derick Smith, a product of Southside High School in Selma. Smith is ranked as the #8 WR in the recruiting class of 2025 and the #6 prospect out of Alabama. According to Auburn Rivals, Smith spent a lot of time with his would-be position coach Marcus Davis, and the pair have built a strong bond:

"He wants me here bad," Smith said. "He wants me real bad. We’re getting a real good connection with each other, the relationship getting stronger and stronger every time I visit."

Smith's top schools include Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, and Florida State, but he told Rivals that Auburn is definitely in his top two. He plans to return to the Plains in the spring.

4-star linebacker Eric Winters is also impressed with Auburn football. From Enterprise, AL, Winters is ranked as the #14 LB in the recruiting class of 2025 and the #9 recruit out of Alabama. Linebackers coach Josh Aldridge has been Winters' primary recruiter, and has been working to fend off the Georgia Bulldogs, the other top program in the LB's recruitment, per Auburn Rivals.

“He stays on me pretty hard," Winters said. "He’s a pretty good coach and trying to get the deal sealed."

"Come join the family," Winters said is the message. "I’m thinking about it."

Winter has an upcoming visit to Georgia, and then plans to return to the Plains. He hopes to have an official decision made sometime this spring.