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On SI predicts Auburn football landing 5-star EDGE from Crimson Tide stronghold during Big Cat Weekend

By Andrew Hughes

Hugh Freeze's defensive staff could be landing a big fish from Thompson High School during Big Cat Weekend
Hugh Freeze's defensive staff could be landing a big fish from Thompson High School during Big Cat Weekend / Michael Chang/GettyImages
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Hugh Freeze's Auburn football program is seemingly on the verge of landing a massive in-state recruit from a longtime Alabama recruiting stronghold during the Nick Saban years in Thompson EDGE rusher Jared Smith.

On SI's Andrew Nemec predicts that AU will land Smith despite a strong push from South Carolina during Big Cat Weekend.

"Throughout the spring and early summer many thought that South Carolina had the upperhand in Smith's recruitment," Nemec prefaced before saying, "But in recent weeks that feeling has shifted significantly. Smith, who is one of the marquee visitors for Big Cat this weekend, is widely projected to choose the Tigers.

"South Carolina is still working hard to re-establish itself as the leader, but this weekend's visit could go a long way in making 'Smith to Auburn' a locked-in reality."

Bammer sites had disparaged Freeze and his coaching staff for not being able to show recruits the proverbial bag during Big Cat Weekend, Taking one of the top talents from Thompson would surely have those Tide fans switching up on a dime.

Hugh Freeze making valuable inroads for Auburn football in-state

Freeze ended the longstanding stand-off between AU and Central (Phenix City) with the addition of Cam Coleman and others during the 2024 class. If he can chip away at the Crimson Tide's connection to the Warriors too, Auburn will have a chance at stealing back the state on the trail during the post-Saban era.

Of the victories Freeze has had on and off the field on the Plains, none have been greater than his rebuilding of the Tigers' relationships with high school coaches across the state. By that same token, that was one of the many pitfalls of the Bryan Harsin era: doing away with them for the first two years of the NIL era of the sport.

Land Smith and enough talent to vault the 2025 class into the top 10 nationally, and Freeze's staff will have squashed fears that naturally occurred after Auburn lost several commitments to start the summer off.

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