Auburn Football – Page 7 – Syndication Server

Auburn officially signs four-star defensive lineman Antonio Coleman

Coleman is a top 20 defensive lineman in the 2025 cycle and a top 15 recruit from the state of Alabama.

Another domino in Auburn’s highly-touted recruiting class has officially fallen.

Four-star defensive line prospect [autotag]Antonio Coleman[/autotag] signed his letter of intent to join the Tigers on Wednesday, further bolstering an already impressive defensive line signee class that includes five-star recruits [autotag]Jared Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Autry[/autotag].

Standing at 6-2, 275-pounds, Coleman was ranked as a top 20 defensive lineman in the 2025 cycle and a top 15 recruit from Alabama. Originally committed to play his football across the state with Alabama, Coleman committed to the Tigers in July of this year before making it official on Wednesday.

Coleman, along with the aforementioned Smith, Autry, and likely Auburn signee [autotag]Jourdin Crawford[/autotag] should all make immediate impacts on the Plains when they begin their careers next fall. It’s a real possibility Coleman will receive a high snap-share as a freshman because of his size and skills.

[lawrence-related id=87853]

The Saraland, Alabama native is the thirteenth high school prospect to sign his letter of intent with Auburn on National Signing Day. The Tigers have eleven “hard commits” that have yet to sign, along with a handful of “flip” hopefuls as well. No matter the case, [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]’s 2025 class is trending towards finishing among the best in the country.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Four-star Shamar Arnoux flips from Auburn to Florida State

The Georgia native was ranked as the No. 53 prospect from the Peach State according to 247Sports.

Auburn football may be in the midst of one of its best National Signing Days in program history, but the Tigers did miss out on inking a major recruit this morning. Four-star cornerback [autotag]Shamar Arnoux[/autotag], who committed to Auburn last month, flipped his commitment to Florida State on Wednesday.

A consensus top-60 cornerback in the 2025 cycle, Arnoux committed to join Auburn after committing from USC earlier this year. The Carrollton, Georgia native was ranked as the No. 53 prospect from the Peach State according to 247 Sports.

While the loss of Arnoux certainly stings for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and his staff, Auburn’s 2025 class is still expected to finish among the best in the SEC, and the country, once National Signing Day comes to an end. The Tigers currently have five other defensive backs committed to join the Plains next season. Safeties [autotag]Anquon Fegans[/autotag] and [autotag]Eric Winters[/autotag] are officially on board, as both signed their letters of intent early on Wednesday morning.

[lawrence-related id=87853]

As for Florida State, Arnoux marks the third defensive back to pledge his commitment to the Seminoles. The four-star recruit joins fellow four-star Zae Thomas and three-star safety Max Redmon as prospects set to play in Tallahassee next season.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Five-star quarterback Deuce Knight signs with Auburn over Ole Miss

Auburn signs the five-star QB from Mississippi despite late flip attempt by Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels.

Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels worked tirelessly to flip Auburn commit [autotag]Deuce Knight[/autotag] in the days leading up to the early signing period. However, [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] will get the last laugh at the end of the day.

Knight, a five-star quarterback from Lucedale, Mississippi, flipped his commitment from Notre Dame to Auburn in October. On Wednesday, he honored his commitment to the Tigers by signing during the first day of the early signing period, spurning Kiffin and his home-state Ole Miss Rebels.

Knight visited Ole Miss several times after committing to Auburn, most recently for the Rebels’ win over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl last Saturday. Talks of a possible flip began with David Johnson of 247Sports submitting a “crystal ball” prediction for Knight to flip to Ole Miss in November. However, Auburn never waivered and ultimately ended up with Knight in their 2025 recruiting haul.

Knight had a spectacular senior season at George County High School, where he passed for 2,082 yards and 24 touchdowns, throwing just five interceptions. On the ground, Knight added 450 yards and nine touchdowns to his overall total. In 26 total games as a high school quarterback, Knight completed 57% (324-of-560) passes for 5,618 yards and 50 touchdowns while adding 1,282 yards and 31 touchdowns on the ground.

Knight is a 6-4, 206-pound quarterback from Lucedale, Mississippi, and is the No. 4 quarterback from the 2025 class according to 247Sports composite rankings. He will compete alongside [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag], [autotag]Walker White[/autotag], and a possible transfer quarterback for the role of QB1 next fall for the Tigers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKUnmqxWbQ/?img_index=1

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Auburn football lands five-star DL Malik Autry. Why he signed with the Tigers

Auburn fights off Ohio State and Florida to sign the five-star DL from Opelika. Why did Autry elect to stay home?

Auburn football has secured one of its important commitments as [autotag]Malik Autry[/autotag] has officially signed with the Tigers.

Autry, a five-star defensive lineman from nearby Opelika, signed with Auburn on Wednesday morning, choosing [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]’s program over schools such as Ohio State and Florida, who made a late push to snag Autry away from Auburn.

How did Auburn beat out the Buckeyes and Gators? Last week, Autry publicly shut down his recruitment, citing that his time at Opelika High School prepared him for the situation he will endure at Auburn.

“Going to all the other schools made me realize what I really wanted,” Autry said in an interview with Auburn Undercover ($). “My high school, my sophomore year we went 5-5, my junior year we went 4-6 and this past year we went 9-3 with a second round exit but just to see our team turnaround really shows me that — I had opportunities to go play for Central-Phenix City and IMG and all those big-time programs — but to stick it out and fight with your brothers and fight for a place you really love does mean more than just joining something that’s already established. That’s kind of been my mindset and helped me narrow down my decision and let me know that Auburn was home.”

Autry joins a long list of recruits that have officially signed with Auburn for the 2025 cycle including five-star EDGE [autotag]Jared Smith[/autotag] and four-star safety [autotag]Eric Winters[/autotag]. He is a 6-5, 320-pound defensive lineman from Opelika, Alabama, and is the No. 5 defensive lineman in the nation according to 247Sports composite rankings.

[lawrence-related id=87853]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKQ0nYR8qP/?img_index=1

Auburn football officially signs five-star EDGE Jared Smith

Auburn fights off late pushes from Ole Miss and South Carolina to sign the five-star EDGE from Alabaster, Alabama.

The start of early signing day is still in its beginning stages. However, Auburn fans have plenty to smile about on Wednesday morning.

[autotag]Jared Smith[/autotag], a five-star EDGE from Thompson High School in Alabaster, officially signed with Auburn on Wednesday after a late push from SEC rivals South Carolina and Ole Miss.

Smith committed to Auburn on Aug. 3, choosing Hugh Freeze’s program after taking official visits to Tennessee, USC, Florida State, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Ole Miss and South Carolina made late pushes for Smith. So much so that recruiting experts forecasted flips for Smith to land at Ole Miss eventually. However, Smith told Auburn Live in November that he remained solid in his commitment because he believes in a successful future for the Tigers despite the less-than-ideal season.

“No, I know the people we have coming in, I know what we’ve got still in the locker room, so it should be good,” Smith said.

Smith is the No. 2 overall recruit from Alabama for the 2025 cycle and is the No. 2 ranked EDGE nationally. He is a 6-6, 235-pound EDGE from Alabaster, Alabama, and will cap his high school career Wednesday when he plays for the AHSAA Class 7A state championship for Thompson High School.

Kail Ellis signs with Auburn

The three-star offensive lineman is the first to officially sign with Auburn for the 2025 recruiting cycle.

The start of the early signing period is underway for the Auburn Tigers.

Auburn has officially signed three-star offensive lineman [autotag]Kail Ellis[/autotag] this morning. Ellis is the first official signee of the 2025 recruiting cycle for the Auburn Tigers.

Ellis committed to Auburn on Nov. 30, 2023, after receiving Auburn’s initial offer in June of last year. Following his commitment to Auburn, he told Auburn Undercover that Auburn was a great place to develop in several key areas.

“What Coach (Hugh) Freeze, Coach (Jake) Thornton, and that staff has going on is so special and I wanted to be a part of it,” Ellis said in an interview with Auburn Undercover. “I feel Auburn can develop me more than anyone, academically and as a football player.”

Ellis is a 6-4, 285-pound lineman from Cartersville, Georgia and Cass High School. He chose Auburn over his home state school of Georgia, as well as Florida State, which were also instrumental in the early stages of his recruitment.

Ellis is the first of many recruits that will sign with Auburn this week. Stay tuned to Auburn Wire for the latest Auburn recruiting news.

Auburn finishes season in bottom of final SEC Power Poll

The Tigers finished near the basement of the final SEC Power Poll

The Auburn Tigers won’t be going bowling this season. For only the second time since 2012, the Tigers failed to qualify for the college football postseason after posting a disappointing 5-7 record in 12 contests. Hugh Freeze’s squad won just two SEC games throughout the season, losing their lone Power 4 non-conference game against California as well.

Despite the inconsistent, at times ugly campaign, Auburn was an Iron Bowl victory away from earning a spot in a low-level bowl game. The Tigers were unable to conquer their Tuscaloosa demons however, dropping the final game of the season 28-14 on Saturday. The loss not only dropped Auburn out of postseason contention, but dropped Payton Thorne and company in SEC columist Chase Goodbread’s final SEC Power Poll as well.

Auburn’s loss kept them in the basement of the conference in Goodbread’s power poll. Hugh Freeze’s Tigers finished above just Kentucky (15) and Mississippi State (16) in the conference. The Tigers finished just behind Arkansas (13) and Vanderbilt (12), who they lost at home for the first time ever this season, in the poll. Iron Bowl opponent Alabama (5) secured a spot in the final top 5 after defeating Auburn while Ole Miss (4), Tennessee (3), Georgia (2), and Texas (1) made up the final top 5.

Hugh Freeze certainly is disappointed with how his second season on the Plains ended, and the Tigers head coach will now focus fully on National Signing Day this week in hopes of reviving a program that was once a yearly contender in the best conference in college football.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Former Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos receiving interest from Auburn

Is Castellanos a great fit for Auburn?

Auburn football will enter the 2025 season with two fewer quarterbacks following the graduation of [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] and the intent to transfer from Holden Geriner.

[autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] and [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] remain on the team, and [autotag]Deuce Knight[/autotag] is expected to sign with the team this week. Could Auburn add experience at the position while White and Knight develop? According to a report from Rivals, it appears that Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is exploring the possibility.

Adam Gortney of Rivals reported late Monday that Auburn is one of four schools showing interest in former Boston College quarterback [autotag]Thomas Castellanos[/autotag], joining Florida State, Missouri, and Miami.

Castellanos, a 5-9 196-pound quarterback from Waycross, Georgia, has played his two most recent seasons at Boston College after signing with UCF in 2022. While in Boston, Castellanos passed for 3,614 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. The 2024 season saw Castellanos expand his touchdown-to-interception ratio, where he threw 18 touchdowns to five interceptions.

The biggest storyline surrounding Castellanos took place during the Eagles 37-31 win over Syracuse on Nov. 9. Castellanos left the game due to a leg injury, which forced Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien to play Grayson James in the position. Following the game, O’Brien elected to keep James at the starting quarterback slot.

“I think what’s best for the team right now is for Grayson James to be the starter,” O’Brien said of the change at quarterback. “(Castellanos) has done a great job for us. He’s an awesome competitor. We have a lot of respect for Tommy. Obviously he wasn’t real thrilled with that. He’s taken a couple days.”

A few days later on Nov. 14, Castellanos announced that he was officially leaving the program and would enter the transfer portal once it opens on Dec. 9.

In eight games this season, Castellanos led Boston College to four wins while completing 99-of-161 passes for 1,366 yards and 18 scores. According to Pro Football Focus, Castellanos was pressured 69 times, which resulted in 18 sacks and seven turnover-worthy passes. As a runner, Castellanos rushed for 194 yards on 93 carries with a score.

The transfer portal officially opens on Dec. 9 and will remain open until Dec. 28.

Four-star edge rusher Nate Marshall flips from Auburn to Michigan

Marshall has flipped back to Michigan after flipping to the Tigers in August

The Auburn Tigers have lost a major piece to a recruiting class they hope finishes among the top 5 in the country once National Signing Day ends in less than 24 hours. Four-star edge rusher Nathaniel Marshall, who committed to join the Tigers back in August of 2024, flipped to Michigan on Tuesday.

Standing at 6-foot-4, and weighing in at 265 pounds, Marshall is one of the premier pass rushing prospects in the 2025 cycle. He was originally committed to join the Wolverines in April of 2024 before flipping to Auburn in August after an official visit to the Plains over the summer.

The Oak Park, IL native is highly unlikely to change his decision again before he puts pen to paper during Wednesday’s National Signing Day window. The No. 3 prospect from the state of Illinois is now all-but certain to play his college football in BIG 10 country.

Marshall won his respective league’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023 Marshall after a fantastic season in which he registered 38 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and 4 forced fumbles. The elite pass rusher helped Fenwick High School earn an 8-3 record in 2024, leading to the No. 12 ranking in the state of Illinois.

While Auburn’s 2025 class is still ranked among the top 5 in the country heading into tomorrow’s National Signing Day, Marshall’s de-commitment from the Tigers continues an alarming trend of flips, specifically on the defensive side of the ball, that Hugh Freeze and his staff will want to end.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Five 2025 Auburn commits to play in AHSAA Super 7 this week in Birmingham

Auburn will be represented in Birmingham this week by Thompson’s Jared Smith, Parker’s Jourdin Crawford, and several others.

Early signing day is this week, and several Auburn commits will play one final high school football game before embarking to the Plains to begin the next chapter of their football careers.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association’s football state championships, otherwise known as the “Super 7,” will take place this week at Protective Stadium in midtown Birmingham. The event begins Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT when Thompson High School faces Central High School of Phenix City for the 7A state championship and will wrap up Friday night when Parker High School battles Saraland High School for the 6A title.

Both “headlining games” will be filled with Auburn commits and targets. Three Thompson players, EDGE [autotag]Jared Smith[/autotag], safety [autotag]Anquon Fegans[/autotag], and punter [autotag]John Alan McGuire[/autotag], will look to win its third state championship in four opportunities Wednesday night when it battles Central (Phenix City) for the 7A championship.

The most entertaining game for Auburn recruiting interest will be Friday’s 6A championship between Saraland and Parker. A pair of Auburn defensive line commits, Saraland’s [autotag]Antonio Coleman[/autotag] and Parker’s [autotag]Jourdin Crawford[/autotag] will battle it out for the right to claim a state championship.

Several other recruits of interest will be competing for state championships this week in Birmingham. Here is a look at this week’s Super 7 schedule:

Wednesday

7A: Thompson vs. Central (Phenix City), 7 p.m. CT
- Thompson: Anquon Fegans, Jared Smith, John Alan McGuire (2025 commits)

Thursday

3A: Houston Academy vs. Mars Hill Bible, 11 a.m. CT
1A: Wadley vs. Maplesville, 3 p.m. CT
- Wadley: Jaquez Wilkes (2026 target)
5A: Moody vs. Catholic (Montgomery), 7 p.m. CT

Friday

4A: Cherokee County vs. Jackson, 11 a.m. CT
2A: Reeltown vs. Tuscaloosa Academy, 3 p.m. CT
6A: Parker vs. Saraland, 7 p.m. CT
- Parker: Jourdin Crawford (2025 commit), Na’eem Offord (2025 target)
- Saraland: Antonio Coleman (2025 commit)