AUBURN, Ala. – When it was time for Alabama’s top football recruits to choose their college destinations, many of the state’s best players opted to wear Auburn’s orange and blue.
Auburn coach Hugh Freeze’s second full recruiting class received a significant boost from the state’s top talent, with several of Alabama’s highest-rated prospects signing with the Tigers on Wednesday, marking the start of the early signing period.
“It’s our top priority,” Freeze said. “We need to win our fair share of battles in the state, and this year was a success. It’s important. Representing your home state at a school you’ve always dreamed of attending matters.”
Freeze added that the program will continue to focus on building from within the state, emphasizing the value of relationships and trust. “Winning these in-state battles was huge for us.”
One notable in-state signee is running back Alvin Henderson from Elba, the state’s all-time leading rusher with over 10,000 yards.
“Any time you sign a player with that kind of national production, it’s a great sign,” Freeze said. “Alvin has been a pleasure to recruit. We’re thrilled about his future here. He’s a well-rounded back with excellent balance, good hands, and the ability to finish runs. He runs with power.”
In addition to local talent, Auburn looked out of state to land five-star quarterback Deuce Knight from Lucedale, Mississippi, located just 45 miles northwest of Mobile.
“Deuce was my top choice when I first got here,” Freeze said. “I loved his length and his potential. We kept pushing for him, and he saw the vision and knew he fit the system.
His favorite player was Cam Newton, which helped. Deuce is one of the highest-rated quarterbacks Auburn has signed in a while.”
Freeze also praised Knight’s leadership, likening it to former Auburn quarterback Malik Willis. “Deuce has a natural leadership quality that makes people want to follow him. He has the potential to be the best I’ve worked with so far.”
Auburn signed 25 high school players on Wednesday, with defensive back Donovan Starr from Brentwood, Tennessee, announcing his commitment during Freeze’s afternoon press conference.
“That’s a major signing for us,” Freeze remarked.
Auburn’s recruiting class has ranked in the top 10 for the second consecutive season, a feat the Tigers haven’t achieved in nearly a decade. This accomplishment was a goal set by head coach Hugh Freeze when he took over the program two years ago.
“It’s impossible to achieve our goals without these kinds of classes,” Freeze said. “To reach where we want to be, we need to recruit at the level of the elite programs.”
Freeze emphasized that maintaining consistency with nine- or ten-win seasons in the SEC requires a roster built from top-tier recruiting classes. “We’ve now had back-to-back top 10 classes, and that’s a crucial step for us to get where we want to go,” he added.
Most of the signees plan to enroll in January and participate in spring practices, which will give them a head start in competing for playing time next season.
With the high school class secured, Freeze and his staff will now shift their focus to the transfer portal, which opens on Monday.
“We’re going to enjoy and celebrate today,” Freeze said, “but we can’t stop evaluating. We’ll be ready to go next week.”
Leave a Reply