Josh Aldridge – Syndication Server

Auburn to promote TJ Rushing to outside linebackers coach

Rushing is expected to fill the void left by outgoing EDGE coach Josh Aldridge.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] is not searching far for a replacement for outgoing EDGE coach [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag].

According to reports from On3 and Auburn Undercover, Auburn is expected to promote special assistant to the head coach [autotag]TJ Rushing[/autotag] to an on-field role. Rushing is forecasted to coach outside linebackers and possibly work with Auburn’s nickelbacks.

After a professional football career that saw him win a Super Bowl title and build 1,290 return yards, Rushing dipped into the coaching world in 2013 as a graduate assistant at Arizona State, which later turned into a job with defensive quality control. He joined Texas A&M‘s coaching staff as a defensive backs coach under Jimbo Fisher in 2020. He was later dismissed along with the entire coaching staff following Fisher’s firing in 2023.

He followed ex-Texas A&M defensive coordinator [autotag]DJ Durkin[/autotag] to Auburn by taking an off-the-field role for the 2024 season to serve as special assistant to the head coach. Rushing has also coached at Northern Arizona and Memphis.

Rushing will fill the role left behind by former EDGE coach Josh Aldridge. Earlier this week, Aldridge announced that he is leaving Auburn after two seasons to become the defensive coordinator at East Carolina. He will step back into the coordinator role after being Freeze’s defensive coordinator at Liberty in 2022.

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Amaris Williams changes course, elects to stay with Auburn

Williams briefly considered entering the transfer portal after his debut season on the Plains.

Auburn fans can breathe a sigh of relief as a key true freshman has backed off his intent to enter the transfer portal.

Earlier this week, it was reported that freshman EDGE Amaris Williams filed the paperwork necessary to enter the transfer portal. After taking a couple of days to weigh options, Williams announced Tuesday that he will change course and stay with Auburn for the 2025 season.

As a freshman, Williams recorded seven tackles with 0.5 sacks. Williams was Auburn’s 13th-highest-graded defensive player in 2024 according to Pro Football Focus (71.2), with tackling being his strong suit at 78.3. He logged five total pressures last season in 120 snaps over 10 games.

The news of his return is important for Auburn football as he is expected to fill the role of outgoing EDGE Jalen McLeod, who logged 106 tackles and 13.5 sacks over the last two seasons for Auburn. With the return of Williams, [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag], and [autotag]Zykeivous Walker[/autotag], along with the signing of five-star EDGE [autotag]Jared Smith[/autotag], the EDGE position will continue to be a strong point within the Tigers’ defense.

The only question surrounding Auburn’s EDGE rushers is “Who will lead the position group?” Hugh Freeze is looking to fill the slot of EDGE coach following the departure of [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag], who accepted the defensive coordinator position at ECU earlier this week.

Auburn EDGE coach Josh Aldridge to become defensive coordinator at ECU

After coaching Jalen McLeod and Keldric Faulk to success in 2023 and 2024, Aldridge is ready to take on a larger role at an AAC program.

The first coaching move of the offseason has officially taken place.

[autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag], who spent the previous two seasons as Auburn’s EDGE coach, departs the program for the defensive coordinator position at East Carolina according to a report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Auburn’s EDGE rushers were arguably the strongest unit on Auburn’s defense the past two seasons under Aldridge. This season, [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] and [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] were the highest-graded defensive players according to Pro Football Focus at 85.5 and 84.7 respectively. The pair combined to create 74 quarterback pressures with 16 sacks and three forced fumbles. Backup EDGE rushers [autotag]Zykeivous Walker[/autotag] and [autotag]Amaris Williams[/autotag] had solid seasons as well by combining to make 13 pressures and 12 quarterback hurries.

McLeod found similar success in 2023 by creating 37 quarterback pressures with six sacks. As a freshman that season, Faulk made 36 tackles with a sack.

Before his time at Auburn, Aldridge spent four seasons under head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] at Liberty, where he began as a defensive line coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator, becoming a Broyles Award nominee in 2021. He has also spent time at Lenor-Rhyne and West Georgia.

Auburn holds position in EDGE Jordan Carter’s top schools

A battle for one of the top players in the class of 2026, Jordan Carter, has Auburn in a firm race as one of his top considered schools.

Auburn football is making huge strides in the recruiting game as of late, gaining ground on many of the nation’s top high school prospects. While the class of 2025 is still being pursued, heavy efforts are being made for the class of 2026.

One of the nation’s top prospects the 2026 class has to offer, Jordan Carter, is on high watch, and the Tigers are firmly in consideration amongst the star’s top schools after he visited the Plains for Big Cat Weekend.

“Today (Big Cat) was amazing, the atmosphere was great,” Carter said in an interview with Auburn Live. “Being able to hang out with the coaches and some of my friends from different schools was amazing.”

The big man out of Douglas County High School (Ga.) has met with head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and EDGE coach [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag] on multiple occasions, speaking on the strong bond that he has built with Aldridge.

“Coach Aldridge is an amazing coach,” Carter said. “He develops players and then gets them to the NFL. He makes sure every player is ok, and makes sure their families are alright as well.”

Amongst Auburn’s competitors for Carter are Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and LSU, all looking to land a big commitment.

The 6-3, 235-pound junior is currently ranked as the No. 19 overall player and No. 3 EDGE in the country according to the On3 industry ranking. He is also the No. 2 player in the state of Georgia.

The Tigers have the top-ranked recruiting class for the 2026 cycle and a commitment from Carter would make him the highest-rated player in the team’s pool. He would be up there with [autotag]Hezekiah Harris[/autotag] as to standout EDGE rushers in the early going.

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Where does Auburn stand with LB JaMichael Garrett ahead of his commitment date?

The 2026 product is almost ready to announce his commitment. Is Auburn in position to close the deal?

Commitment date is looming for 2026 linebacker [autotag]JaMichael Garrett[/autotag], and Auburn is in a comfortable spot to land him.

In a recent interview with Chad Simmons of On3, Garrett says that he will announce his commitment “in the next two weeks or so.” Where does Auburn stand with Garrett ahead of his decision date? On3 is heavily leaning towards Auburn by giving them a 97.3% chance to earn his commitment while 247Sports has logged two crystal ball predictions in favor of the Tigers.

Garrett tells On3 that his relationships with defensive coordinator [autotag]DJ Durkin[/autotag], EDGE coach [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag], and cornerbacks coach [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag] are strong and he feels that they can push him to be great. For the program as a whole, Garrett says that Auburn reminds him of his high school program.

“The brotherhood at Auburn is different from anyone in the nation. It is like my high school team and everyone is close,” Garrett said. “It just feels good when I am there. Then the networking is great too. It is a great school to go to get set up for after football.”

LSU is the team to beat for Garrett’s commitment, but Auburn is the early favorite to land him. Garrett will have a busy week by visiting the Bayou on July 25 before making his way to the Plains for Big Cat Weekend beginning Friday. Much like 2025 safety Anquon Fegans, Garrett could commit to Auburn following a successful weekend visit.

2026 EDGE Anthony Jones schedules Auburn visit

Alabama’s top 2026 recruit will be on campus during a critical recruiting weekend.

Auburn football is looking to get a head start in its 2026 recruiting efforts, and one of its top targets has scheduled a visit during a critical weekend.

[autotag]Anthony Jones[/autotag], a five-star EDGE from Mobile, will be on campus during Auburn’s annual Big Cat Weekend beginning July 27 according to a report by On3’s Chad Simmons.

Auburn has been high on Jones’ list as he has visited the Plains four times this calendar year. He is intrigued by Auburn’s culture, the proximity of Auburn’s campus to his hometown, and his fit within the Tigers’ defense. He has also built a strong relationship with EDGE coach [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag], which whom he has held a strong bond since the early days of his recruitment.

“Oh, I love him, he’s a great coach,” Jones said of Aldridge in a recent interview with Auburn Live. “We get along well. I can see myself playing for him, too. He’s really saying I am a top priority for the 2026 class. He just wants to get me back on campus and stuff.”

Jones is the top recruit from Alabama from the 2026 cycle according to every major recruiting outlet, and is the No. 1 EDGE prospect by ESPN, 247Sports, and Rivals. Auburn is the program to beat for Jones according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine with a 32.5% forecast, with LSU, Alabama, and Georgia next in line.

Auburn projected to land a 2025 three-star EDGE

Auburn’s chances of grabbing Herbert Scroggins’ commitment are great ahead of his commitment date.

The busiest recruiting weekend of the summer to date has just concluded for Auburn football, and now many of Auburn’s top targets have difficult decisions to make.

One of those visitors was [autotag]Herbert Scroggins[/autotag], a three-star EDGE from Savannah, Georgia. Scroggins plans to announce his commitment on June 24 or 25 and will take one more visit before announcing his plans. Where does Auburn stand in Scroggins’ recruitment leading to the important date? Two recruiting experts at 247Sports are confident in the Tigers’ chances to secure his signature.

Anna Adams and Christian Clemente of 247Sports have submitted “crystal ball predictions” in favor of Auburn to land Scroggins with medium confidence. Both predictions come after Scroggins took an official visit to the Plains over the weekend.

Academics are important for Scroggins, and he is looking to find a school that offers a solid balance of academic prestige and athletic success. Over the weekend, he visited Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and came away impressed.

“You can get a good degree here and still play football,” Scroggins said in an interview with Auburn Undercover. “I’ve been touring all the ACC schools, I’m a big academic guy, so I’ve been going to Miami, Georgia Tech, North Carolina looking for a good way to football and get a good education. When I went to the engineering center here and saw everything, that clicked.”

In a football sense, Scroggins’ relationship with EDGE coach [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag] has Auburn trending upward.

“I have an amazing relationship with Coach Aldridge, I love him,” Scroggins said. “Just the coaching staff in general, but Coach Aldridge is a great guy, he knows what he’s talking about and he’s going to recruit the heck out of you. He said I’m that guy, he really wants me and he knows that I fit well in this defense. He said I’m his No. 1 priority.”

Scroggins is set to visit Miami this weekend, and plans to announce his commitment within a week. Miami, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina are the schools to beat for the nation’s No. 36 EDGE from the 2025 cycle.

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.

Four-star LB JaMichael Garrett to visit Auburn on Sunday

Auburn will close an exciting weekend by hosting Alabama’s No. 8 recruit from the 2026 class.

Auburn football’s weekend has become much more interesting.

Six of Auburn’s top 2025 targets are in town this weekend for official visits, and one of Alabama’s top 2026 recruits is set to join them on Sunday. [autotag]JaMichael Garrett[/autotag], a four-star linebacker from Gulf Shores High School (Alabama) shared on X (formerly Twitter) Friday night that he will close out the weekend by visiting the Plains.

Garrett played an instrumental role in Gulf Shores’ class 5A state championship run in 2023 by recording 87 tackles with 26.5 registered for a loss. He also recorded 9.5 sacks last season, which tied the team lead.

Auburn is the early front runner to land Garrett according to experts from 247Sports and On3. 247Sports’ Christian Clemente submitted a “crystal ball prediction” in favor of Auburn in March, and the Tigers have a 95% chance to earn his pledge according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Following a visit in March, Garrett told On3’s Cole Pinkston that he was impressed with Auburn’s facilities, and could see himself in an Auburn uniform. The biggest takeaway from Garrett’s trip was his conversation with linebackers coach [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag].

“The meeting I just had with Coach Aldridge,” Garrett said in an interview with On3. “Him letting me and my mom know how interested they are in me. He just let me know they’re only recruiting three guys in my class that they have offered. He said they think I could come in and start as a freshman.”

All four major recruiting outlets have ranked Garrett as a four-star linebacker from the 2026 class. He is a top-15 linebacker nationally, ranking as high as No. 9 by ESPN and 247Sports. On3 and 247Sports lists Garrett as the No. 8 recruit from Alabama for the 2026 cycle.

AU SUNDAY 🦅🦅! @CoachA_AU pic.twitter.com/DkRZLC5ma3

— Jamichael “Jmike” Garrett (@jamichael97) June 1, 2024

Four-star USC commit plans official visit to Auburn

Auburn will look to flip four-star EDGE Isaiah Gibson from USC during his summer visit.

It is no secret that Auburn is pursuing 2025 five-star quarterback and USC commit [autotag]Julian Lewis[/autotag]. However, he is far from the only Trojan commit that Auburn has in its sights.

[autotag]Isaiah Gibson[/autotag], a four-star EDGE from Warner Robins, Georgia, has been a USC commit since March but is not ready to shut down his recruitment. He has planned several official visits this summer, with Auburn getting the nod for June 10.

Gibson tells Chad Simmons of On3 that he is still firmly committed to USC ahead of his official visits but he will allow five SEC programs to sway him. He also says that his relationships with defensive line back [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag] and head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] are keeping Auburn in the running.

“Coach Aldridge came from Liberty to Auburn. At first he coached inside linebackers, and he switched to d-line. I had a relationship with him when he coached inside linebackers, so it just carried on to him being a defensive ends coach,” Gibson said in an interview with On3. “I also have a good relationship with coach Freeze. The motiviation that he gives his players — that’s why I feel like Auburn will be really good this year. When I went to Auburn. . . you could tell the whole defensive side of the team had a lot of energy.”

Georgia will get Gibson’s first official visit on May 31, followed by South Carolina (June 7), Auburn (June 10), and Florida (June 14), Ohio State (June 18), and Oklahoma (June 21).