auburn recruiting – Page 9 – Syndication Server

Can Auburn pull off the flip of five-star DL Isaiah Gibson?

Gibson is a USC pledge, but Auburn is the “top school” to watch out for when it matters most.

Auburn football is no stranger to taking away commits from Power programs. Currently, USC is [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]’s top target for poaching talent.

Auburn will welcome two Trojan pledges to campus this weekend for official visits: five-star QB [autotag]Julian Lewis[/autotag] and three-star RB [autotag]Daune Morris[/autotag]. Lewis and Morris will be the second and third USC commits to officially visit Auburn this week, joining five-star DL [autotag]Isaiah Gibson[/autotag], who wrapped up his trip on Wednesday.

Gibson joined four-star EDGE’s [autotag]Zion Grady[/autotag] and [autotag]Javeon Campbell[/autotag] by taking their official visits beginning Monday and departed with plenty to think about. Gibson, who visited Auburn with his mother, said that Freeze made the visit about football and family, which “meant a lot” to him.

In a recent interview with Auburn Undercover, Gibson says that he does not plan on changing his tune with USC, but Auburn is a school that is showing up boldly on his radar.

“I would say is a top school,” Gibson said of Auburn. “A lot of schools are trying to get me to flip, I don’t see myself flipping no time soon but if I were to flip Auburn would be a top school.”

The possibility of flipping Gibson would be massive for Auburn. As it stands, Auburn holds commitments from two defensive linemen: four-star [autotag]Jourdin Crawford[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Autry[/autotag], who recently received his fifth star from 247Sports. Adding Gibson would bring stability to Auburn’s defensive front, and would mix well with [autotag]Jakaleb Faulk[/autotag], who is set to play EDGE for the Tigers as a member of the 2025 class.

Like so many others, Gibson could return to Auburn for Big Cat weekend in July. That weekend, plus a successful unofficial visit during the season, could make things interesting ahead of December’s signing day.

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Three-star LB Bryce Deas commits to Auburn

The No. 11 recruit from Maryland commits to Auburn after a recent camp on the Plains.

It is amazing how quickly a dream can become a reality.

[autotag]Bryce Deas[/autotag], a three-star linebacker from Balitimore, Maryland, was on Auburn’s campus over the weekend for a camp. According to a report by Christian Clemente of Auburn Undercover, Deas told reporters following the camp that he would commit to Auburn if offered.

Auburn extended an offer on Monday, and Deas followed through by accepting it on Tuesday.

Deas became the 14th member of Auburn’s 2025 recruiting haul on Tuesday, and the third in the span of a week. He chose Auburn over programs such as Boston College, Penn State, and USC. Deas says that Auburn “felt like home” after spending just two days on the Plains, and that he looks forward to learning under defensive coordinator [autotag]DJ Durkin[/autotag].

“You can tell that they want to make you better,” Deas said in an interview with Auburn Undercover. “They touch on every point and everything I messed up on and have a coaching point on it. Just me being able to be coachable, that’s going to be good for the both of us: me and Coach Durkin.”

The addition of Deas bumps Auburn to No. 8 in 247Sports’ 2025 recruiting rankings, and No. 4 in the SEC behind Alabama, Georgia, and Oklahoma. Deas is the No. 46 linebacker of the 2025 cycle and the No. 11 recruit from Maryland.

BREAKING: Class of 2025 ATH Bryce Deas has Committed to Auburn, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’2 215 ATH from Baltimore, MD chose the Tigers over USC, Miami, Penn State, Maryland, & Colorado

“WAR DAMN EAGLE”https://t.co/lzm9Aq56jt pic.twitter.com/7mq82nmNDt

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 11, 2024

Alabama commit Derick Smith enjoys recent Auburn visit

Smith plans to return to the Plains for Big Cat Weekend in July.

Auburn football wrapped up another exciting recruiting weekend by hosting several commits and pledges to other programs.

Last weekend’s guest list included [autotag]Derick Smith[/autotag], a four-star athlete from Southside High School in Selma. He and fellow Alabama commit [autotag]Antonio Coleman[/autotag] flocked to the Plains, where they enjoyed their time on their arch-rivals’ campus.

Smith is projected to play wide receiver at Alabama but would have free range to choose his position at Auburn. This is why developing relationships with both wide receivers coach [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag] and safeties coach [autotag]Charles Kelly[/autotag] is important for Smith’s unique situation.

Smith says that Kelly’s success at Alabama from 2019-22 has piqued his interest in Auburn

“What (Kelly) did with defensive backs at Bama, he got 40-something DBs and safeties drafted,” Smith said in a recent interview with Auburn Live. “I feel like I could do the same. Coach Kelly is going to keep it real. He’s going to make sure I’m good.”

How high are Auburn’s chances of flipping Smith from Alabama? It all comes down to Auburn’s success on the field in 2024. If Auburn shows signs of improvement from its 6-7 campaign in 2023, Smith will have a tough decision to make in December.

Auburn will have another chance to sway Smith this summer, as he plans to attend Big Cat Weekend in July.

It’s down to Auburn and Michigan for four-star DL Nate Marshall

Michigan pledge Nate Marshall is leaving the door open for Auburn to change his mind.

[autotag]Nate Marshall[/autotag] was a late addition to this weekend’s visitor list, and will leave with a tough decision to make.

The four-star defensive lineman is committed to Michigan, but his recent visit to the Plains has given Auburn almost identical odds to the Wolverines as far as his top school goes.

“It’s Auburn or Michigan,” Marshall said in a recent interview with On3. “I would say it’s pretty close, especially after this visit.”

This weekend marked the second time that Marshall has visited Auburn, his first since April. In a program that is looking to return to its prior glory, every Auburn coach is looking for players that can “change the culture.” Marshall is viewed as one of those players.

Marshall’s primary recruiter is defensive tackles coach [autotag]Vontrell King-Williams[/autotag], a fellow Chicagoan. The relationship Marshall has built with King-Williams is a key reason why Auburn remains high on his radar.

“I like Coach Vontrell,” Marshall said. “He’s from where I’m from, so we have that connection. He’s been recruiting me for a year or two, so we have that relationship, that bond. He was an analyst here when JG (Jeremy Garrett) was here. For him to be here, it actually really helps Auburn’s chances. He’s a guy that I was already close to, talking to every day.”

Marshall is the No. 4 defensive tackle from the 2025 recruiting cycle according to On3 and ESPN rankings, and is considered to be the top prospect from Illinois by On3 and Rivals. Michigan remains the frontrunner, but Auburn can make one final push in late July as Marshall plans to return to campus for Big Cat Weekend.

Former Auburn star Jabari Smith Jr. is trying his hand at recruiting

Auburn basketball has called on the former first round pick to help recruit AJ Dybantsa and other top targets.

Auburn basketball wants to make the top 2025 recruit [autotag]AJ Dybantsa[/autotag] the top signee in program history. In an effort to make that dream a reality, the current leader is trying his hand and swaying Dybantsa in the Tigers’ direction.

Former first-round pick [autotag]Jabari Smith Jr.[/autotag] spoke with reporters recently, where he was asked about his recruiting tactics when talking with Auburn’s top targets. He says that his message to Dybantsa is the same as his message to other recruits… [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] “plays to win.”

“All schools are going to tell you the same thing: They’re going to give you the ball, they’re going to do all that. But if you come here (to Auburn), it’s going to be more than that. … You’re going to play to win,” Smith said. “You’re going to play the right way; you’re going to play defense. And (Pearl) is going to show the best side of you, always.”

Not only does Pearl put players in the best position to succeed, but he gives the players the tools to succeed at the next level. Smith is sure to mention that in his pitch as well.

“(Pearl is) going to coach you, and I feel that’s the biggest thing — so you won’t be shocked when you get to the league,” Smith said. “When you get to the league, it’s just like starting over. When you get to college, it’s like starting over. You want it to be like that. You don’t want to get to campus and somebody be kissing your butt all day. BP never did that to me, and I feel like that’s a big reason why I’m so humble. I see how he carries himself and how he treated me as a 5-star and as the highest recruit to come to Auburn. He never treated me like that.”

Smith signed with Auburn as the nation’s No. 7 recruit from the 2021 class, and went on to become the No. 3 overall draft pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. Dybantsa is the top overall recruit for 2025 class, and is poised to follow Smith’s steps by becoming a first round pick.

Auburn and Bruce Pearl is currently battling Eric Musselman and the USC Trojans for the chance to earn Dybantsa’s commitment. It is unknown when Dybantsa plans to announce his commitment, but his recruitment is definitely worth following.

Auburn football adds four-star LB to official visitor list

Auburn’s important recruiting weekend just became more interesting.

Auburn football’s important recruiting weekend just became more interesting.

This weekend’s list of visitors includes Alabama commits [autotag]Derick Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Antonio Coleman[/autotag], as well as priority wide receiver [autotag]Travis Smith Jr.[/autotag] [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] was surprised Thursday as four-star linebacker [autotag]Christian Jones[/autotag] changed gears by scheduling his official visit to Auburn instead of his previous plans of visiting USC.

This weekend’s visit to Auburn will be the first for Jones, as he has not been a major blip on Auburn’s radar to this point. However, his relationship with newly hired defensive coordinator [autotag]DJ Durkin[/autotag] has carried over from his time at Texas A&M. He looks forward to growing the bond this weekend on the Plains.

“Continuing to build a relationship with Coach Durkin because he recruited me when he was at A&M,” Jones said in a recent interview with On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “And I liked the way he coaches and his defensive structure.”

Nebraska is the team to beat currently for Jones according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine. The Cornhuskers have two crystal ball predictions from 247Sports in favor of landing the Omaha product as well.

Jones is the top recruit from Nebraska according to 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals. The four-star linebacker ranks as high as No. 7 at his position in the 2025 class, and is the nation’s No. 58 overall recruit according to Rivals.

Former Auburn commit set to return to the Plains this weekend

Auburn will try to get Antonio Coleman to re-consider his commitment to Alabama during this weekend’s official visit.

The recruitment of four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Antonio Coleman[/autotag] can be described as a “mixed bag.”

Coleman committed to Alabama last September before changing gears in December in favor of flipping to Auburn. However, new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer won over Coleman in March and convinced him to swap back to the Tide.

This weekend, Auburn will take its chances of changing Coleman’s mind again by hosting him of an official visit.

Despite Coleman’s flip to Alabama, Auburn is not completely out of the running. Coleman returned to Auburn on March 16, and will join fellow Alabama commit [autotag]Derrick Smith[/autotag], a four-star wide receiver from Selma.

Coleman is a part of a growing powerhouse at Saraland High School, which is home to several talented athletes such as Texas commit KJ Lacey and 2024 Alabama signee Ryan Williams. Last season, Coleman made 62 stops, with 22.5 being registered for a loss. Auburn has a 20.8% chance of signing Coleman to its 2025 class according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine. Can Auburn increase that percentage this weekend?

Five-star guard Meleek Thomas ‘intrigued’ by Auburn during recent visit

Auburn is in a heated race with three other programs for one of the best shooting guards from the 2025 class.

The state of Pennsylvania’s top recruit for the 2025 recruiting cycle was impressed with his recent visit to Auburn.

[autotag]Meleek Thomas[/autotag], a five-star shooting guard from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, traveled south to Auburn for his official visit recently and was pleased with [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag]’s desire to win. He also learned plenty about Auburn’s culture.

In a follow-up interview with On3’s Jamie Shaw, Thomas says he was “intrigued” by Auburn’s family atmosphere.

“I never really heard much of them growing up unless they had a big player, but they’re really a family down there. The players, the staff, the fans, everyone is just one. I never knew that,” Thomas said. “When I went down there, everything was just ‘Auburn basketball, Auburn basketball’. And they’re known for football, so to go down there and see so much Auburn basketball was just intriguing.”

Along with Auburn, Thomas has taken official visits to Kentucky and Pittsburgh. He is scheduled to visit UConn and Arkansas this month, and plans to scout Kansas, Tennessee, and Miami as well. He tells Shaw that he does not have a timeline for announcing his commitment, as he wants to find the right fit which includes a “genuine coaching staff” and “winning players.”

Auburn football is a ‘top three’ choice for five-star EDGE Anthony Jones

Auburn made a giant leap forward in recruitment of Alabama’s top 2026 recruit during a recent visit.

Auburn football has been on a tear lately on the recruiting trail and is making an impression on another top prospect.

[autotag]Anthony Jones[/autotag], a 2026 five-star EDGE from St. Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile, visited Auburn last Saturday before competing in a camp with his high school on Sunday. While on the Plains, Jones spent time with defensive line coach [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag] and learned several new techniques.

“It was good, I feel like (Aldridge) taught me some stuff,” Jones said in an interview with On3. “I really liked it because we got closer. The relationship is getting closer.”

Several power programs across the south have reached out to Jones including LSU, Georgia, Florida State, and Alabama. Auburn made quite an impression on Jones, as he tells On3 that the Tigers are now in his “top three” college choices, and that he plans to visit again for Big Cat Weekend in late July.

Jones is the No. 8 overall recruit from the 2026 class according to On3’s Industry Ranking, and is the top recruit from Alabama according to all major recruiting outlets. Alabama has a slight edge over Auburn as the current favorite to secure Jones’s signature, with LSU and Georgia next in line.

Son of former NBA star plans to visit Auburn this September

In “ready to feel old” news, Kiyan Anthony, son of Carmelo Anthony, is planning to visit Auburn before the season.

Here is another installment of a series unofficially known as “ready to feel old?”

Carmelo Anthony enjoyed a lengthy NBA career where he experienced 10 All-Star nods, two appearances on the All-NBA second team, and a scoring title over 19 seasons. Now that his playing days are finished, it is time for his children to experience the dream of playing basketball at the power-conference level.

Carmelo’s son, [autotag]Kiyan Anthony[/autotag], has become one of the top recruits from the 2025 cycle. Great news for Auburn fans, the guard plans to take an official visit to the Plains this September.

Just like his father, Anthony is “wired to score the ball” according to a scouting report from On3’s Joe Tipton. Tipton says that Anthony has found ways to improve his game every season at the high school level.

Standing 6-4/6-5, he has a good frame with nice length. Good positional size. Offensively, Anthony has good touch with a solid base in his jump shot. He is comfortable off the bounce or the catch. He is starting to show comfort as a go-to type scorer. Anthony plays confidently. He will need to continue developing the handle. This will also help his efficiency and help in learning (and getting to) his spots on the floor. Taking a less is more offensive approach will help his overall threat as a scorer. He has solid defensive anticipation off the ball. Will need to continue adding strength. The range is deep and he has an array of off-balance or step-back type moves to get a clean look. Anthony is already producing big numbers and he still has some ceiling to continue growing into as a player.

Heading into his senior season at Long Island Lutheran in New York, Anthony holds several notable offers from programs including Tennessee, Florida State, Michigan, Indiana, and his father’s alma mater, Syracuse. Anthony is a top-10 shooting guard according to all four major recruiting outlets, and is the top player from New York for the 2025 cycle.

2025 Top-30 recruit Kiyan Anthony, the son of 10x NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, tells @On3Recruits he's eyeing visits to Auburn, Ohio State, and Indiana. https://t.co/Jcr2XxNooU pic.twitter.com/inqpTcb0pa

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) June 3, 2024