Tag: auburn recruiting

Three-star TE Hollis Davidson pledges to Auburn

The 6-5 product from Peachtree City, Georgia is the No. 22 tight end for the 2025 class.

Auburn football has hauled in its second tight end commitment of the 2025 recruiting cycle.

[autotag]Hollis Davidson[/autotag], a three-star tight end from McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Georgia, announced Tuesday that he will pledge his commitment to Auburn. He chose [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and the Tigers over programs such as Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Kentucky.

Davidson committed to Auburn after visiting campus for junior day last Saturday. He tells Christian Clemente of Auburn Undercover that he has developed a great relationship with tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua, and can not wait to learn under him.

“They’re great. I really like how Ben (Aigamaua) is a family man,” Davidson said in a recent interview with Auburn Undercover. “He wants to take me under his wing if I come here and he gets along with my family really well. Coach Logan (Bradley), I actually met him today he was showing me around everywhere and he seems really awesome.”

Davidson is a three-star tight end according to 247Sports. He is the No. 22 tight end for the 2025 class and is the No. 42 overall player from the state of Georgia. He becomes the eighth player to commit to Auburn’s 2025 haul, which ranks No. 6 in the country.

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Four-star Georgia commit visits Auburn, DJ Durkin on Sunday

Jadon Perlotte’s relationship with new defensive coordinator DJ Durkin may help the Tigers chances to flip from rival Georgia.

Auburn has been high on the radar of four-star linebacker [autotag]Jadon Perlotte[/autotag] for quite some time. Their stock has risen now that they have tabbed [autotag]DJ Durkin[/autotag] as the new defensive coordinator.

Perlotte, a Georgia pledge since December of 2022, visited Auburn on Sunday for the seventh time since the 2022 football season. One of the main reasons for his visit was to catch up with Durkin, a coach who recruited him heavily during his days at Texas A&M.

Perlotte tells Caleb Jones of Rivals that Durkin sees Perlotte as a player who can be the “quarterback of the defense.” He also says that his experience as a coach intrigues him.

“(Durkin) bringing his knowledge down here is just a big deal for me,” Perlotte said in an interview with Rivals. “We went through a lot of film. He knows what he’s talking about. His backers are very versatile and the next level is the league, that’s where I wanna be at.”

Georgia is the frontrunner at this time, but Auburn and Florida State remain high in the chase. His high school teammate at Buford, [autotag]KJ Bolden[/autotag], signed with Georgia during the early signing period, which is important due to a quote published by Sports Illustrated last August which he stated that he and Bolden were a “package deal.”

“I’ve got to play with him,” Perlotte said in August. “Nobody has scored, pass-wise, on our side 1-2 during our whole high school careers. I’ve got to play with KJ (Bolden). Our package is just different.”

Perlotte is the No. 3 linebacker for the 2025 cycle and is the No. 25 overall player for the recruiting class. Perlotte says that he plans to visit Auburn more this year, including several times during the spring practice period.

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Auburn offers 2026 linebacker Shadarius Toodle

Auburn is the fourth SEC program to extend an offer to the talented linebacker from Mobile.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] is spending time in Mobile this week to watch several Tigers compete in Senior Bowl festivities. While there, he has delivered an offer to an up-and-coming linebacker.

[autotag]Shadarius Toodle[/autotag], a Mobile native from the class of 2026, announced Wednesday that he has received an offer from Auburn. Auburn is the latest Power Five program to offer Toodle, joining the likes of Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Mississippi State.

Toodle is a two-way player for Cottage Hill Christian Academy in Mobile and was vital in several areas last season as a 10th grader. Defensively, he recorded 103 solo tackles, averaging 10.3 stops per game. He was also Cottage Hill’s leading rusher in 2023 with 488 yards and nine touchdowns.

He recently competed in the All-American combine in San Antonio and tells Jason Caldwell of Auburn Undercover that the experience has given him confidence heading into the final two seasons of his high school career.

“It was a great experience,” Toodle said in an interview with Auburn Undercover. “It gave me a lot of things to bring back to my team in Mobile as a leader. It’s definitely a confidence builder for me and something I can bring back to help my other linebackers and give them knowledge.”

Due to his age, Toodle has not received a ranking from major recruiting services. However, he has great measureables as a high school sophomore. He stands 6-2 and weighs 210 with two high school seasons remaining.

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Four-star DB Chris Ewald schedules Auburn visit

Ewald is the No. 22 cornerback for the 2025 class.

One of the most talented defensive backs in the 2025 recruiting cycle is planning to visit the Plains soon.

[autotag]Chris Ewald[/autotag], a four-star cornerback from Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Florida, is set to visit Auburn this weekend according to a report by Adam Gorney of Rivals. He has garnered plenty of Power Five attention, with Georgia, Florida State, Miami, and Michigan showing the most interest early on.

Andrew Ivins of 247Sports says that Ewald can cover well by saying that he is “versed in both press-man and off-man coverage. Has seen a high volume of targets come his way over the years and while it can be a bit of an adventure once the ball is in the air, he’s usually where he needs to be.”

Ewald is another product from Chaminade-Madonna that Auburn has begun to invest in. His teammate, [autotag]Denairius Gray[/autotag], is committed to Auburn’s 2026 class. [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and staff are also interested in Chaminade-Madonna running back, [autotag]Arwin Jackson[/autotag], who has also recently received an Auburn offer.

Ewald is a four-star corner from Hollywood, Florida. He is the No. 22 cornerback for the 2025 cycle and is the No. 20 overall player from Florida.

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Elite linebacker Riley Pettijohn sets first visit to Auburn

The Tigers are set to host Riley Pettijohn, one of the best linebackers in the country, on a visit.

[autotag]Riley Pettijohn[/autotag] is one of the top players in the 2025 cycle and a key target for Auburn at linebacker.

The McKinney, Texas product included Auburn in his top 12 schools back in October but has yet to visit the Plains. That will change next weekend according to a report from 247Sports’ Mike Roach. Pettijohn is set to attend Auburn’s third and final Junior Day before the dead period starts in February.

Pettijohn is the No. 33 overall player and No. 3 linebacker in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 7 player from Texas.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder had a sensational junior season for McKinney High School, making 125 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, and one interception in 11 games.

The Tigers have the No. 6 recruiting class in the 2025 recruiting cycle and while it is highlighted by five blue-chip defenders, none of them are linebackers. [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag] has Auburn in the mix for several top targets in addition to Pettijohn, but this visit will give the Tigers a chance to become a serious contender for him.

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Auburn ‘showing a lot of love’ to 4-star tight end AJ Ia

Auburn is recruiting four-star tight end AJ Ia, who happens to play his high school ball with four-star quarterback target TJ Lateef.

[autotag]AJ Ia[/autotag] is one of the top tight ends in the 2025 recruiting cycle and teams all across the country are pursuing the four-star prospect. The Auburn Tigers are one of those teams and they have the attention of the Orange, California native.

“Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee, Brigham Young, Penn State have all been coming out and showing a lot of love recently,” Ia told 247Sports. “They’ve all told me I’m high on their list. It means a lot because obviously those are some schools that are long distance from here but they have told me they like my talent.”

Ia is the No. 306 overall player and No. 15 tight end in the 247Sports composite ranking. The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder is also the No. 28 player from California.

He isn’t Auburn’s only target out of Orange Lutheran High School, his quarterback is four-star [autotag]TJ Lateef[/autotag], who recently included Auburn in his top seven schools. The two connected on 21 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns in six games as juniors.

Auburn and tight end coach [autotag]Ben Aigamaua[/autotag] has already landed one tight end in the 2025 cycle in Ryan Ghea but the Tigers are looking to sign two to help replenish the depth at the position. Ia has the ability to help in the blocking game as well as run routes, making him exactly the kind of player Auburn is looking for.

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Four-star WR Travis Smith Jr. enjoys an ‘amazing’ visit to Auburn

Four-star wide receiver Travis Smith Jr. was Auburn’s only visitor this weekend, letting him spend plenty of time with Auburn’s coaching staff.

After hosting several impressive Junior Days this month, Auburn took a different route this weekend with just one unofficial visitor.

Four-star wide receiver [autotag]Travis Smith Jr.[/autotag] made the trek from Atlanta to the Plains and it left quite an impression on him.

“Today was amazing. Being the only on here for this unofficial visit was very fun,” Smith Jr. told Auburn Undercover. “Seeing their new facility for the first time, it was fun. It was great getting to know Coach (Hugh) Freeze and Coach (Marcus) Davis and Coach (Derrick) Nix. Having those conversations, they showed me the true them and what this program holds.”

It was his second visit to Auburn and allowed him to spend plenty of time with Freeze and learn more about his history of developing wide receivers.

“It was great,” Smith Jr. said. “Coming in I didn’t know his history on receivers, but just knowing that he produced A.J. Brown and guys like DK Metcalf, I’m sure he can definitely produce a guy like me. That was great to hear.”

Smith is the No. 196 overall player and No. 25 wide receiver in the 247Sports Composite ranking. The 6-foot-4, 191-pounder is also the No. 27 player from Georgia.

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Auburn dubbed a ‘transfer portal winner’ by The Athletic

Auburn has reeled in several notable additions from the transfer portal to fill key areas ahead of the 2024 season.

Auburn’s coaching staff is working hard to fill key areas with transfer portal additions, and are currently succeeding.

The Tigers will have added a talented wide receiver, a sturdy offensive lineman, and several solid defensive additions which should help boost its stock in the upcoming 2024 season. The haul has been impressive so far, and outlets such as The Athletic are taking notice.

Manny Navarro of The Athletic recently revealed his winners and losers from the SEC when it comes to their activity in the transfer portal. At the front of the “winners” list is Auburn. Navarro says the Tigers’ transfer additions have outweighed their departures.

Auburn’s recruiting has been on the uptick since Hugh Freeze took over. The 2024 class ranks No. 8 after the early signing period and the Tigers are also bringing in quality talent in the portal. Among the notable additions are former Georgia State standout receiver [autotag]Robert Lewis[/autotag] (70 catches, 877 yards in 2023), ex-Mississippi State left tackle [autotag]Percy Lewis[/autotag] (seven starts in 2023), former Texas and Minnesota defensive tackle [autotag]Trill Carter[/autotag] (31 career starts), ex-Duke linebacker [autotag]Dorian Mausi[/autotag] (27 starts) and former Texas safety [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag] (31 starts).

Those pickups outweigh the losses of 2022 starting quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] (South Carolina) and linebacker [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag] and safety [autotag]Donovan Kaufman[/autotag], who both ranked in the top 11 on the team in tackles last season and haven’t found new landing spots yet.

[autotag]Antonio Kite[/autotag] (CB-Alabama), Jerrin Thompson (S-Texas), Percy Lewis (OT-Mississippi State), and [autotag]Rico Walker[/autotag] (TE-Maryland) are the most notable transfer additions for Auburn so far, as they all join the roster as four-star transfers according to 247Sports.

Joining Auburn as “winners” include Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Missouri. Arkansas and Florida were teams who “broke even”, while Alabama, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt joined the “losers” category.

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Four-star QB TJ Lateef feels like Hugh Freeze ‘has something up his sleeve’

TJ Lateef is one of the best quarterbacks in the country and the California native is paying attention to what Hugh Freeze is building at Auburn.

Auburn has primarily recruited the southeast under [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] but the Tigers have shown they are willing to go anywhere in the country to land an elite player.

In the 2024 cycle that was four-star offensive lineman DeAndre Carter, a California native, and in 2025 they are once again going back to California. This time it’s for quarterback [autotag]TJ Lateef[/autotag], a four-star prospect who recently included Auburn in his top seven schools.

Lateef hasn’t visited Auburn but he has been keeping his eye on the Tigers and he told On3’s Cole Pinkston that he’s liked what they are building.

“Their recruiting class that they have in the 2024 class, I just feel like Hugh Freeze has something up his sleeve and I just want to be a part of it,” Lateef said. “I feel like the recruiting he has been doing with the portal, the 2025 class, and I know he has an early 2026 wide receiver commit. I feel like he has some guys coming in that I feel like I would be able to blend with.”

Lateef is the No. 232 overall player and No. 18 quarterback in the On3 industry ranking. He is also the No. 21 player from California.

While some players would be hesitant to leave their home state, Lateef is excited about the opportunity and thinks playing in the state of Alabama would be great for him.

“No, I think that is where I need to be, to be honest,” Lateef said. “I just feel like you guys breed football out there. Not that they don’t breed it out here, but I just feel like that is where the dogs come out of.”

He had a strong junior season for Orange Lutheran, completing 63% (152-241) of his passes for 1,965 yards and 13 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He also rushed for 230 yards and five touchdowns.

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Walker White ranks top-five in 247Sports’ final 2024 quarterback rankings

White is one of many talented players that will join the Tigers’ roster ahead of the 2024 season.

Auburn football’s 2024 signing class is special.

The Tigers have landed quality talent at wide receiver, such as five-star [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag]. The guy who will be throwing passes to those stud wide receivers is not so bad himself.

247Sports recently released its final rankings for the 2024 class, and quarterback signee [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] is among the nation’s best at the position. White is considered to be the fifth-best quarterback in the class, which makes him the highest-ranked quarterback signee for Auburn since [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag], who was the No. 2 quarterback in the 2019 class.

White is considered to be a four-star quarterback by 247Sports’ standards. He is the No. 41 overall player for the 2024 class and is the top player from the state of Arkansas. As a senior at Little Rock Christian Academy, White passed for 2,660 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for an additional 834 yards and eight scores.

White is one of three SEC signees to earn a top-10 ranking from 247Sports, joining Florida signee DJ Lagway and Georgia pledge Ryan Puglisi.

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