Auburn is in the ‘top three’ for 2025 OL Cortez Smith

He is one of Auburn’s top targets in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

[autotag]Cortez Smith[/autotag] is one of Auburn’s top targets along the offensive line in the 2025 recruiting cycle and the feeling is mutual.

The four-star prospect has taken multiple visits to Auburn this season, including attending the games against Georgia and New Mexico State. He recently spoke with Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente and shared why he is so high on Auburn.

“Auburn, it’s just everything is close,” Smith said. “Nice facility, nice everything. Great football team, great community. Just family.”

Those factors have made Auburn a “top three” program in his recruitment, he admitted.

Smith is the No. 127 overall player and No. 6 interior offensive lineman in the 247Sports composite ranking. The Lilburn native is also the No. 18 player from Georgia.

Offensive line coach [autotag]Jake Thornton[/autotag] has some help in his pursuit of the 6-foot-4, 295-pounder, he is teammates with 2024 Auburn cornerback commit [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag] at Parkview High School.

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Elite 2025 OT Cortez Smith to visit Auburn this weekend

Auburn is getting one of the best offensive linemen in the conutry back on campus this weekend.

Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class is off to a great start with six commitments already and the Tigers are firmly in the race for several other elite players. One of them is four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Cortez Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and Co. will get to make their pitch to him this weekend.

The Lilburn, Georgia product announced on social media Thursday night that he will be visiting for the New Mexico State game. It will be his third time visiting the Plains this year.

Smith is the No. 105 overall player and No. 3 interior offensive lineman in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 16 player from Georgia.

Auburn is heavily pursuing Smith and he is one of their top targets along the offensive line in the 2025 cycle. Something that could help them, he is teammates with 2024 commit [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag] at Parkview High School.

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Four-star CB Jayden Lewis backs off Auburn commitment

He is Auburn’s third decommit of the cycle.

Auburn’s 2024 recruiting class has taken a hit as four-star cornerback [autotag]Jayden Lewis[/autotag] decommitted from the Tigers on Tuesday.

The Anniston, Alabama committed to Auburn back on Feb. 1 and has taken multiple visits to the Plains since, including an official visit in June. He is the second cornerback commit Auburn has lost in the past eight days with Jalewis Solomon flipping to South Carolina.

Lewis is the No. 365 overall player and No. 28 cornerback in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 20 player from Alabama.

Despite losing two commits, Auburn still has three defensive backs committed in four-star cornerbacks [autotag]A’Mon Lane[/autotag], [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag] and four-star safety [autotag]Kensley Faustin[/autotag].

The Tigers are also pursuing several talented defensive backs, including five-star FSU commit KJ Bolden, four-star Miami commit Zaquan Patterson, four-star PF Woodland, JUCO safety Laquan Robinson and three-star Kaleb Harris.

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Auburn CB target PJ Woodland decommits from Mississippi State

It is an SEC West battle for PJ Woodland as Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State are all working to land the talented cornerback.

[autotag]PJ Woodland[/autotag] has emerged as an Auburn target and the three-star cornerback has decided to re-open his recruitment. The Hattiesburg, Mississippi, native decommitted from Mississippi State on Sunday, breaking the news on social media.

Auburn extended an offer to Woodland back in March and cornerbacks coach [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag] is leading Auburn’s charge for him. They are far from the only SEC team recruiting him as Ole Miss, LSU and Mississippi State are also “actively involved” in his recruitment, according to On3’s Sam Spiegelman,

Auburn has its work cut out for it as Spiegelman believes Ole Miss has “jumped to the front of the line” for Woodland.

Woodland is the No. 557 overall player and No. 19 athlete in the On3 industry ranking. He is also the No. 18 player from Mississippi.

The 5-foot-11, 155-pounder plays both ways for Oak Grove High School but is expected to play corner at the next level. Auburn has three four-star cornerbacks committed in [autotag]A’mon Lane[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag].

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Auburn wide receiver commit Bryce Cain makes massive jump in 247Sports ranking

He is now the No. 3 wide reciever in the state of Alabama.

When [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag] committed to Auburn he was a three-star prospect and one of their lowest-ranked commits.

That is no longer the case as 247Sports updated their rankings for the 2024 recruiting class and the speedy Cain made a massive jump, becoming a four-star prospect and moving all the way up to being the No. 237 overall player and No. 33 receiver.

The move makes him the No. 3 wide receiver in the state, trailing only five-star Auburn commit [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag] and five-star Texas A&M commit and Auburn target [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag].

When he picked Auburn back in June he was outside the top 1,000 players but a breakout senior season has revealed that Auburn found a hidden gem in the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder. In seven games for Baker High School Cain has caught 29 passes for 729 yards and twelve touchdowns.

Cain has all the makings of being a slot receiver once he makes it to the Plains due to his combination of size and speed making him a big-play threat whenever he touches the ball.

Not all of Auburn’s commits shot up the rankings as several made small moves up or down the rankings, here is a look at the three biggest movers outside of Cain.

  • OL [autotag]Deandre Carter[/autotag]: No. 55 to No. 122
  • RB [autotag]J’Marrion Burnette[/autotag]: No. 185 to No. 257
  • CB [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag]: No. 159 to unranked

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Auburn trending for in-state safety Kaleb Harris

Auburn could be adding another talented player to an impressive haul in the secondary.

Auburn’s 2024 recruiting class took a blow on Tuesday when four-star athlete [autotag]Jalewis Solomon[/autotag] decommitted but help could be on the way as Auburn has ramped up its recruitment of three-star safety [autotag]Kaleb Harris[/autotag].

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is having a breakout season for the Thompson Warriors. In five games he has made 54 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, picked off four passes, broken up three more, forced a fumble and recovered another one.

Secondary coach [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag] is leading the charge for Auburn and while several programs are in pursuit of Harris, two recruiting experts believe Auburn will land him.

Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente logged a crystal ball for Auburn to land Harris on Tuesday and Hale McGranahan of The BigSpur followed suit on Wednesday.

Harris is the No. 671 overall player and No. 68 safety in the 247Sports composite ranking. The Alabaster native is also the No. 31 player from Alabama.

If Auburn is able to land him, he would be their 18th commitment and fifth in the secondary, joining four-star safety [autotag]Kensley Faustin[/autotag] and four-star cornerbacks [autotag]A’Mon Lane[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag].

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Four-star athlete Jalewis Solomon decommits from Auburn

Four-star athlete Jalewis Solomon is back on the market after committing to Auburn in August.

Four-star athlete [autotag]Jalewis Solomon[/autotag] has backed off his commitment to Auburn and is back on the open market, he announced the move Tuesday afternoon.

Solomon committed to Auburn back in August in a surprise move, the South Carolina Gamecocks were the heavy favorite to land the Ellaville, Georgia product. They as well as the Florida State Seminoles will be teams to watch moving forward.

He is the No. 199 overall player and No. 15 athlete in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 29 player from Georgia.

Solomon was expected to play cornerback at Auburn but also had the ability to play wide receiver for the Tigers. He plays both Schley County High School and has had a great senior season, catching 28 passes for 588 yards and eight touchdowns as well as making seven tackles, breaking up three passes and picking off two more.

His decommitment leaves Auburn with 17 commits, four of whom are in the secondary. The group features four-star cornerbacks [autotag]A’Mon Lane[/autotag], [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag], [autotag]Jaden Lewis[/autotag] and four-star safety [autotag]Kensley Faustin[/autotag].

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Auburn targeting 2025 4-star OL Cortez Smith

Auburn is looking to land a second blue-chip recruit from Parkview High School.

[autotag]Cortez Smith[/autotag] is one of the top offensive linemen in the 2025 recruiting cycle and he is starting to become a key target for Auburn.

The four-star prospect was in Auburn for the game against Georgia and the visit made quite an impression on the Snellville, Georgia product.

“It went great, it was a great game today, great dog fight,” Smith told On3’s Cole Pinkston. “It was crazy, once the fourth quarter hit, it was just up from there. It was great, ever since the Tiger Walk when I first got here, the atmosphere, it was good.”

The visit went so well that he told Pinkston that he would be returning for another visit at some point. While Auburn is just one of several schools prioritizing Smith, they have some help as he is teammates with Auburn cornerback commit [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag].

Smith is the No. 119 overall player and No. 5 interior offensive lineman in the On3 industry ranking. He is also the No. 18 player from Georgia.

Auburn has already landed one offensive lineman in the 2025 cycle, three-star offensive tackle [autotag]Spencer Dowland[/autotag].

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Auburn is an early leader for elite 2025 OL Cortez Smith

Auburn is firmly in the mix for Cortez Smith.

[autotag]Cortez Smith[/autotag] is one of the top offensive linemen in the 2025 recruiting cycle and the Lilburn, Georgia product is a major target for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and Auburn.

He was able to take his first visit to the Plains to watch Auburn take on the Georgia Bulldogs and it could not have gone better.

“It was great. Every single thing since I got here was great, atmosphere was big,” Smith told Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente.

In fact, it went so well that he revealed that Auburn is currently one of the leaders in his recruitment. They are joined by Georgia, Miami, Tennessee and South Carolina in his top group.

Smith is the No. 93 overall player and No. 3 interior offensive lineman in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also the No. 15 player from Georgia.

Auburn has an advantage over the rest of his leaders, he is teammates with Auburn cornerback commit [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag].

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Tracking the Tigers: Where Auburn’s commits will play this week

Here is where all the future Tigers will be playing this week.

The high school football season is in full swing and the vast majority of Auburn’s commits are set to take the field on Friday.

Two future teammates will get a chance to square off, as Andalusia and Anniston are set to play. The two teams faced off last season in the playoffs and it will give defensive back [autotag]Jayden Lewis[/autotag] and running back [autotag]J’Marrion Burnette[/autotag] a chance to play for some bragging rights.

Two of Auburn’s 17 commits won’t be in action as [autotag]TJ Lindsey[/autotag] and IMG had their game canceled due to Hurricane Idalia and [autotag]Jalyn Crawford[/autotag] and Parkview are on a bye.

Here is a look at where the rest of Auburn’s commits will be playing this week.