Hugh Freeze finally landed his big-fish Class of 2025 recruit, Deuce Knight -- but before the George County (MS) star announced his commitment to the Auburn football program on October 2, Knight was already recruiting for Freeze's Tigers behind the scenes.
"He was talking to several other blue-chips about their interest in Auburn and recruiting for the Tigers some behind the scenes but from the lens of 'if I actually do it, who realistically is also going to join this terrific class,'" said On3's Steve Wiltfong.
Knight had been an Auburn Tiger in his heart for a while now. No one seriously committed to Notre Dame envisions playing alongside fellow recruits in a different uniform. We had known for months that his pledge to the Fighting Irish was shaky but perhaps Ole Miss's Week 5 loss to Kentucky was the sign he needed that his best chance to win something of note was on the Plains.
After all, Notre Dame last won it all in 1988 and the Rebels' last claimed championship was in 1962. AU at least won a championship during Knight's lifetime.
Hugh Freeze selling recruits on rebuilding Auburn football
There's little proof of concept right for Freeze to show recruits. While the offense is much better than it appears -- they're outgaining opponents but turning the ball over too many times for it to win football games -- Freeze's record in two years at Auburn has been beyond underwhelming.
Luckily, Freeze is doing a masterful job selling recruits on rebuilding AU and being the future of the program. Knight revealed Freeze's Twitter DM selling the QB on being the Tigers' future on his Instagram story.
Losing on the field usually doesn't inspire hope, but Freeze is getting recruits to understand the potential Auburn has with its vast financial resources, die-hard fanbase, and state of the art facilities.
At least he's earning his salary somehow. His predecessor couldn't sell recruits on the present or the future.