Tag: Hugh Freeze

Four-star WR Travis Smith sets date to visit Auburn

In the midst of many tight recruiting battles, four-star wide receiver Travis Smith has set a date for his official visit to Auburn

Auburn football is currently in the race for many of the nation’s best high school products with the hopes of increasing its recruiting ranking in a big way. Visits play a big factor in these races, so every chance that the Tigers get to show off their campus to these big recruits is crucial.

Four-star wide receiver [autotag]Travis Smith[/autotag] is one of those players in the 2025 class that coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] is after. Luckily for Auburn, the dynamic player out of Westlake High School (Ga.) has set a date to make his official visit to the Plains.

Smith is set to make an appearance on campus on June 7. His visit will be the second of four week stretch where he visits different programs in the SEC.

In addition to the Plains, he is set to visit Georgia on May 31, Alabama on June 14 and Tennessee on June 21. This visit will be critical for the Tigers so they can separate themselves from their rivals that are going after him.

The 6-foot-3, 200 pound star is ranked the No. 90 player in his recruiting class according to the On3 industry ranking, as well as the No. 11 wide receiver in the class. He is also ranked the No. 12 player in the state of Georgia.

Should he commit to Auburn, Smith would be the first wide receiver to join the class, but the 11th overall player. It would also improve the Tigers’ 2025 recruiting class ranking, which currently sits at No. 9 in the country.

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Auburn gets prediction to land 2026 standout Hezekiah Harris

As Auburn football is continually pushing for a great results on the recruiting trail, On3 has logged a prediction for Hezekiah Harris to land on the Plains

Auburn football is in the midst of recruiting battles day in and day out in the offseason, especially with the recent completion of the team’s annual A-Day game. Coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] is trying to impress many potential Tigers and make a national statement.

One of those potential recruits is four-star EDGE [autotag]Hezekiah Harris[/autotag] out of Mae Jemison High School (Ala.), who recently landed a prediction from On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine to commit to Auburn.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder has the chance to be the third player from the 2026 recruiting class to commit to the Tigers. He would join [autotag]Denairius Gray[/autotag] and [autotag]Kail Ellis[/autotag] on that front but would be the first defensive player to join the class.

According to the On3 industry rankings, Harris is ranked No. 24 in the nation in the recruiting class while also being the No. 4 EDGE. In the state of Alabama, he is in the No. 2 spot.

Harris is also being pursued by Alabama and Mississippi State, but Auburn seems to be the heavy favorite as of late.

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Auburn to officially make the switch from Under Armour to Nike

Auburn’s long-time deal with Under Armour will expire in 2025, paving the way for Nike to become the program’s official uniform provider.

After spending 18 seasons as Auburn’s official uniform and apparel provider, Under Armour will make one last run on the Plains in 2024.

Auburn Athletics announced Tuesday that its deal with Under Armour will end next summer, paving the way for Nike to become the program’s next provider of uniforms, shoes, and apparel. Auburn athletic director [autotag]John Cohen[/autotag] is excited for the next chapter in Tigers’ athletics.

“We are excited to enter this new partnership with Nike, a brand that consistently champions athletes and sport around the world. We are appreciative of their strong support throughout this process. We believe that our 10-year agreement, beginning in July 2025, will continue to elevate Auburn and best serve our student-athletes and our university moving forward. We are also grateful to Kevin Plank and Under Armour for their 18 years of valued partnership in growing the Auburn brand and serving our student athletes, coaches, and fans. We look forward to the opportunity to celebrate this relationship throughout the final year ahead.”

Under Armour became Auburn’s official uniform outfitter in 2006, replacing Auburn’s deal with longtime provider, Russell Athletic. The original contract was for five years and was worth $10.6 million. In 2015, Auburn restructured its contract for 10 years and $78.1 million, plus $10 million in Under Armour stock.

Justin Hokanson of Auburn Live reports that Apple CEO and Auburn alum [autotag]Tim Cook[/autotag] played a major role in negotiations. [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] were also open to moving on from Under Armour in favor of Nike.

Auburn’s current contract with Under Armour will expire in the Summer of 2025, and Nike will become Auburn’s official uniform provider immediately following the final event of the 2024-25 athletic season.

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Is Auburn finally moving on from Under Armour?

John Cohen provided an update of Auburn’s situation with Under Armour on Tuesday’s edition of The Next Round.

Birmingham-based digital show The Next Round was on campus Tuesday. While there, hosts Lance Taylor, Jim Dunnaway, and Ryan Brown spoke with several Auburn coaches and athletes, as well as Auburn director of athletics, John Cohen.

One of the most discussed issues within the Auburn community is its apparel deal with Under Armour. Programs such as UCLA, Cincinnati, and California have recently axed their deals with Under Armour, and Auburn could be next as their deal with the uniform provider is set to expire next June.

Cohen spoke on the matter during his appearance on the show. He did not share specifics but said that Auburn fans would be happy with the next step in his decision process.

“We feel like we’re in a very, very positive place right now,” Cohen said Tuesday. “I think our fanbase, everyone connected with Auburn is going to be very pleased with where we are. Just not ready to release because not all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed.”

Should Auburn move on from Under Armour, the early favorite for Auburn’s next apparel provider is Nike according to Auburn fans, who have voiced their displeasure with merchandise on social media. It is also rumored that recruits for multiple sports have voiced their preference for Nike. However, Auburn head football coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] shut down those suspicions Tuesday during his press conference.

If Auburn ends its relationship with Under Armour, which uniform provider would be the best fit?

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Leadership is strong within Auburn’s QB room

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is pleased with his quarterbacks’ desire to get better ahead of Saturday’s A-Day game.

Auburn fans are set to flock to the Plains this weekend to watch Auburn’s annual A-Day game. One of the many aspects that fans will be watching this Saturday is the quarterback rotation.

[autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] is set to return as Auburn’s incumbent starter, but returners [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] and [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag], as well as true freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag], are working towards taking the starting role.

How have Auburn’s quarterbacks progressed? Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] says that they are not where he would like for them to be, but there is one aspect of the room that he is truly impressed with.

“Leadership has been really good,” Freeze said. “Our decision-making has not been exactly what I want it to be just yet, but, boy, they’re hungry to learn.”

According to a report by Richard Silva of The Montgomery Advertiser, Thorne continues to see the most action with the first team this spring due to his experience in the role, as well as his understanding of opposing defenses. It appears that the backup competition is between Geriner and Brown. Geriner has taken the most second-team snaps, while Brown is looking to build off of his Music City Bowl outing where he passed for 132 yards.

When it comes to White, Silva says that he appears more experienced than his age would lead everyone to believe. Earlier this spring, Thorne told reporters that White is great at asking questions, and is eager to learn as much as he can.

A-Day is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

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Auburn target Husan Longstreet sets commitment date

The four-star QB will choose between Auburn and seven other programs next month.

 

One of the nation’s top quarterbacks from the 2025 recruiting cycle is counting down the days until he announces his college destination and Auburn is among the eight programs still in the running.

According to Hayes Fawcett of On3, four-star quarterback [autotag]Husan Longstreet[/autotag] will choose between Auburn, Oregon, UCLA, Michigan, Texas A&M, Miami, Ole Miss, and Louisville on April 14.

Auburn joined Longstreet’s recruitment journey late but has skyrocketed in value. [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and company offered Longstreet late last year, which caused Longstreet to schedule a spring visit to the Plains.

According to On3’s Recruiting Machine, Texas A&M is the school to beat for Longstreet’s commitment as they hold a 98% chance to land him. Steve Wiltfong and Andrew Hattersley of 247Sports shares the same sentiment as On3 regarding Longstreet’s possible college destination, as they have submitted Crystal Ball predictions in favor of Mike Elko and the Aggies.

Freeze and the rest of his staff have the chance to change Longstreet’s recruitment journey by hosting him for a visit on March 23.

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Four-star RB Akylin Dear includes Auburn in top 12

One of the best running backs in the 2025 class in Akylin Dear has dropped his top 12 schools, including Auburn in the list.

[autotag]Akylin Dear[/autotag] has easily submitted himself to be one of the most elusive and dangerous running backs in the 2025 recruiting class, with many big name programs on the hunt to land him. Now, the four-star out of Quitman High School (Miss.) has shortened his list to just 12 schools.

That list includes the likes of Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Miami, Texas, Florida State, Florida, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and running backs coach [autotag]Derrick Nix[/autotag] visited Dear back in late January, where the visit gave the running back a positive outlook on Auburn’s program.

Dear is ranked as the No. 64 overall player and No. 3 running back in the On3 industry ranking. He is also ranked the No. 3 player in the state of Mississippi.

Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class has the potential to improve its stock from its current No. 8 national ranking if Dear commits and signs. He would be the Tigers’ first running back of the class.

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Five-star QB Julian Lewis schedules Auburn visit

Lewis, a USC pledge, is the No. 2 quarterback from the 2025 recruiting class according to On3’s industry rankings.

Five-star quarterback [autotag]Julian Lewis[/autotag] is a hard USC commit, but he still plans to pay a visit to several schools this spring.

Chad Simmons of On3 reports that Lewis, the No. 2 QB from the 2025 class, will visit five schools this spring. Auburn is among those on the docket. Auburn is the third school that Lewis will visit this spring, and will do so on March 16.

This will be the third visit that Lewis has taken to Auburn according to On3. He visited the Plains for Auburn’s game against Georgia last September and returned in January. He tells Jeffrey Lee of Auburn Live that he is impressed with how Auburn has competed since [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] took over as head coach, and likes the idea of potentially throwing passes to five-star signee [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag].

“You have to have guys to throw the ball to. Kids like Cam Coleman and people like that you can get the rock to,” Lewis said in an interview with Auburn Live. “That is our job at the end of the day, so that is definitely something to look at.”

Lewis will begin his spring tour on March 8 by visiting Alabama. He will also stop by Georgia, Colorado, and USC by the end of March.

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Breaking down Auburn’s QB situation ahead of spring practice

Who will challenge Payton Thorne for the QB1 spot this season?

Spring practice is set to begin on Feb. 27, and all eyes will be on Auburn’s quarterbacks.

Incumbent starter Payton Thorne returns to the roster for the 2024 season and will look to bounce back following a disappointing debut season on the Plains.

In a recent episode of the “Andy Staples On3” podcast, On3 analysts Andy Staples and Jesse Simonton analyzed Auburn’s quarterback situation. When discussing Thorne, Simonton says that he feels as if head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] “fumbled the bag” when taking Thorne from the transfer portal last spring.

Recruiting efforts have gone smoothly through one season of the Freeze era, and Simonton has just one question.

“He has done a great job assembling all of this talent around the quarterback position,” Simonton said. “They sign this insane wide receiver class with multiple five-stars – you flip (Cam) Coleman from Texas A&M, you get (Perry) Thompson as another in-state guy. Yet, who the heck is going to throw them the ball?”

Thorne will get a do-over this spring as he looks to bounce back with a new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. If he is not the guy, then who is? Here is a breakdown of Auburn’s quarterback room ahead of spring practice.

2026 quarterback Dia Bell to visit Auburn in March

The 6-foot-2, 192-pound prospect has already received an offer from the Tigers with plenty of other major programs also interested.

Class of 2026 quarterback [autotag]Dia Bell[/autotag] has announced his intention to visit Auburn this spring. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound prospect has already received an offer from the Tigers with plenty of other major programs also interested.

Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Miami, Indiana, Penn State as well as SEC programs Florida and LSU have already extended an offer to the sophomore.

Bell will make stops at two of those schools, Miami and LSU, a week before he comes down to the Plains. He’ll then continue to Texas, Penn State, West Virginia, Florida, and Mississippi State at some point later on in the spring or summer.

While it is still very early in the process for Bell, it is likely a prospect of his size and talent waits until the last minute to verbally commit to a program.

We’ll see how incoming Auburn freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] performs over the next year and a half. His performance could tie directly into how hard head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and company go after Bell in the coming years.

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