Auburn Tigers News: Isaiah Raikes explains AU transfer, 3 commits named MaxPreps All-American

In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, defensive tackle Isaiah Raikes opens up on his decision to transfer to Auburn, and 3 football commits have been named to the pre-season MaxPreps All-America Team

Auburn football wanted Isaiah Raikes out of the transfer portal, but they had to wait a little while to get him. In the first portal window following the end of the 2023 season, former Texas A&M Aggie Raikes was a priority target for the Tigers, but he ultimately chose to transfer to USC.

Three months later, after spending the spring semester at USC, Raikes hit the portal again, and this time he exited as an Auburn Tiger. Though the defensive tackle said it was a tough decision, there was one factor that helped solidify his choice: DJ Durkin.

"I was making a tough decision between two good universities and good situations to play my last year before I look forward to going to the NFL," Raikes said, per Auburn Undercover. "But, honestly, they were both great situations. It was a tough decision. I feel like, ultimately, I went with playing for DJ Durkin one last year because we had a great relationship at Texas A&M, and we did great things together."

Three commits named to the pre-season MaxPreps All-America Team

With high school football just around the corner, pre-season rankings of high school athletes are beginning to pop up, and earlier this week MaxPreps dropped their pre-season All-America team rankings.

4-star safety Anquon Fegans was the lone Auburn commit to make the first team group. Out of Thompson High School in Alabaster, AL, Fegans is ranked as the #3 safety in the recruiting class of 2025 and is the #2 recruit out of the state.

Running back Alvin Henderson and athlete Derick Smith were both named to the second team. Henderson, from Elba, AL, is ranked as the #8 RB in the recruiting class of 2025 and is the #12 recruit out of the state. From Selma, AL, Smith is ranked as the #2 ATH in the class of 2025 and is the #3 recrut out of the stae.