Auburn Tigers News: 2026 OL reclassifies, Hugh Freeze on expectations after UGA loss
In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, a 4-star IOL commit reclassifies to the class of 2025 and Hugh Freeze speaks on his expectations after Saturday's loss
Amidst the disappointment over another loss for the Auburn football team, Tiger fans got some good news from 4-star inside offensive lineman Kail Ellis. The Georgia native, a member of the class of 2026, will reclassify and join the Tigers on the Plains a year early.
Ranked as the #21 interior offensive lineman and #31 player out of his state in the 2026 class, Ellis committed to Auburn back in December and shared his reclassification announcement on social media over the weekend.
“Auburn, myself and my family feel like it gives me the best opportunity to achieve what I’m trying to achieve,” Ellis said, per Auburn Live. “God has blessed me with an incredible opportunity to play this game, so why not come in early learn from the veteran guys and work my butt off to fight for a job?”
Hugh Freeze speaks on his expectations after Saturday's loss
After a disappointing (but expected) loss to the Georgia Bulldogs this past weekend in Athens, the Tigers have added another L to the record and remain winless in conference play. Between penalties, turnovers, and poor decisions, the team has essentially beaten itself in every game it's played.
Saturday the Tigers played a much cleaner game, but head coach Hugh Freeze was unhappy with the effort displayed by his players in the 31-13 loss on the road.
“I expect more fight than what we saw for the 60 minutes today,” said Freeze, per Auburn Rivals. “I told them that in the locker room, and I mean it. It's my job to get that out of them, and I'm gonna die trying.
“We've got to, as coaches, figure out how to coach them harder and make sure we don't make critical errors at critical times that cost us a chance to win a football game. I keep saying we're not that far off, because, you know, I think — they're the No. 5 team in the country, and we should have been in this game.
“We're not playing winning football in critical times and moments. We, as coaches — it's our job, it's my job, to get that fixed.”