Star Saraland recruit sends worrying message about Auburn football commitment status

4-star defensive lineman Antonio Coleman says he's 100% committed to Hugh Freeze's Auburn football program, but the Saraland star had some worrying (for Tiger fans, at least) praise for Kalen DeBoer and Alabama defensive line coach Freddie Roach.

“Kalen DeBoer is a great coach,” Coleman said (h/t AL.com). “I like that he wants to win and make sure all his players are good. Coach (Freddie) Roach is like a father figure. He wants the best for you rather you are there or not. The overall visit was great.

“I’m definitely 100 percent still with Auburn, but Alabama is not yet left out. They are still a school I committed to, and they are still in my mind, but right now it’s definitely War Eagle.”

Ryan Williams' Alabama commitment building momentum against Auburn football

Given the hoopla of Ryan Williams' Alabama commitment, it's hard to blame Coleman for taking a look at what DeBoer and his new Crimson Tide staff -- one that kept Roach on staff because DeBoer knows better than to not -- has to offer moving forward.

After Nick Saban's retirement, there was a mass exodus of talent from Alabama; most notably, safety Caleb Downs, offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, and 5-star 2024 quarterback recruit Julian Sayin. It could've been worse, but clearly, DeBoer was able to convince Coleman's star Saraland teammate, Williams, to stay.

Can he finish the job and bring Coleman to Tuscaloosa as well? From the sounds of it, it'd take a major job convincing Coleman given the respect he has for Freeze's standing on business as the Tigers' head coach.

“What sticks out to me about coach Freeze is when he talks, he means business,” Coleman prefaced before saying, "He is going to tell you the truth whether you like it or don’t like it.”

Now we wait to see if Coleman himself was telling the truth about being 100% committed to Auburn.