Two weeks after backing off his pledge to Miami, four-star linebacker [autotag]Elijah Melendez[/autotag] has found a new home.
Melendez, a four-star linebacker from Osceola High School (Fla.), announced Saturday that he has committed to Auburn. The news comes hours before the Tigers’ homecoming contest with New Mexico at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Melendez broke down his commitment with Chad Simmons of On3. He shares that Auburn fans’ love of their university played a role in his decision to commit to Hugh Freeze’s program.
“It’s amazing because the fans don’t just love Auburn football,” Melendez said in an interview with On3. “They love Auburn. They love everything about the school and the football team. It feels like the fans appreciate everything about Auburn. The atmosphere is amazing.”
Melendez also tells Simmons that he believes that Auburn is a great cultural fit for him, citing the city of Auburn and the coaching styles and personality traits of the men that will one day lead him.
“Auburn has a real deal college town and is an SEC program,” Melendez said. “They are on the come up. ([autotag]DJ Durkin[/autotag]) is all about energy, passion and playing hard. ([autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]) is all about faith, believing in yourself and believing in things. It’s where I fit in.”
Melendez is a four-star rated linebacker according to On3, Rivals, and ESPN. He is the No. 4 overall linebacker from the 2025 cycle according to ESPN and Rivals, and ranks as high as No. 20 among 2025 Florida recruits.
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