Marcus Davis – Syndication Server

Bryce Cain brings ‘grateful’ attitude to the Plains

Cain never dreamed he would be an Auburn Tiger, and he is enjoying every second of it.

Auburn football freshman wide receiver [autotag]Bryce Cain[/autotag] had an unorthodox journey to the Plains and is enjoying every second.

Cain, who signed with Auburn as part of its historical wide receiver class in 2024, began playing football as an 11th grader after spending most of his athletic career on the baseball diamond. He broke out in 2022 by hauling 31 catches for 390 yards for the Baker Hornets and blew past those numbers as a senior in 2023 with 948 yards on 43 catches with 16 touchdowns.

Due to those impressive numbers and visits to several camps, Cain became an attractive target on many college football recruiting boards, including Auburn’s. It was a path that Cain could have never predicted.

“I never thought this day would come,” Cain said during a recent media availability. “I just gave it in God’s hands, and he led me to the right path. I didn’t think I was going to be here, but I am. And I’m grateful.”

His stats were impressive, but his speed drew Auburn wide receivers coach [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag] to Cain. Davis is excited for the potential that Cain can bring to the Auburn offense.

“One thing you can’t coach is speed, and he’s definitely got that. You can see his development from the spring to now; you can tell he was here this spring, just with how he’s developed. Just knowing what to do,” Davis said. “It’s fun coaching Bryce; he’s another guy who comes in with the same attitude every day, man. One thing I can say about the room right now is the approach to things is a grateful, gratitude attitude. It’s been fun so far.”

Cain is a member of the infamous “Freeze Four” which includes [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag], and [autotag]Malcolm Simmons[/autotag]. He says that the hype surrounding the group is real and expects the unit to make an immediate impact.

“Oh we can have a big impact,” Cain said. “If we get all the plays down and learn just like that *snaps* we’re going to be on the field. It’s going to be a big impact for this team.”

Cain joins Auburn as the No. 13 recruit from Alabama from the 2024 class according to 247Sports, and the No. 30 wide receiver nationally.

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A look at four ‘flip’ candidates ahead of Big Cat Weekend

Will Auburn end the weekend by flipping these four talented recruits?

Guests are beginning to arrive on Auburn’s campus for the biggest recruiting event of the season, Big Cat Weekend.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and his coaching staff will welcome several uncommitted recruits and even more talented 2026 targets. However, its toughest recruiting effort will be spent on four players committed to playing college football elsewhere.

A total of 22 known recruits from the 2025 cycle will be present during Big Cat Weekend, with four committed to fellow Power Four programs. According to Auburn Undercover’s running list of Big Cat visitors, four-star athlete [autotag]Derick Smith[/autotag] (Alabama), four-star EDGE [autotag]Zion Grady[/autotag] (Ohio State), three-star RB [autotag]Daune Morris[/autotag] (USC), and three-star WR [autotag]Sam Turner[/autotag] (Georgia Tech) will all participate in this weekend’s activities.

Smith pledged to Alabama in March, and still appears to be leaning towards the Crimson Tide. However, Steve Wiltfong of On3 places Smith at the top of Auburn’s flip wish list. The Selma native is being recruited by Auburn to play wide receiver and in the secondary according to Wiltfong. The possibilities are endless with Smith, as he enters the weekend as the No. 2 athlete in the nation according to 247Sports.

Grady has flipped his commitment from Georgia to Ohio State this calendar year, but his recruitment is not quite finished. Auburn has already landed a commitment from one of Grady’s high school teammates from Enterprise High School, four-star safety [autotag]Eric Winters[/autotag]. Winters will also attend Big Cat Weekend and could work some magic in order to shift Grady’s pledge to the Tigers.

Morris is a three-star running back from Murfreesboro, Tennessee and is pledged to USC. However, a few programs including Auburn, Ole Miss, and Tennessee are also candidates to flip him. Can Auburn get the upper-hand and sway Morris to stay closer to home?

The final candidate is Dekalb County, Georgia native Sam Turner. Turner earned an Auburn offer in June and is quickly shooting up the recruiting board for Auburn. Turner, a Georgia Tech commit, says that he is building a relationship with Auburn wide receivers coach [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag] and that his recruitment is not over.

Auburn’s coaching staff will need to bring their best efforts in order to steal these talented prospects away from their respective commitments. The great news for Auburn is that 12 of their commitments will also be on campus this weekend working as extra recruiters.

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.

Auburn shoots to the top of five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham’s list

The momentum built from last season’s WR haul has carried over into the 2025 recruiting cycle.

Auburn football is making big strides to try and land highly talented recruits from across the country, hosting many on official visits as of late. Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] is attempting to turn around a program that has struggled in recent years, and he seems to have high school prospects on board with his plan for the future.

One of those prospects who is optimistic about the experience is five-star wide receiver [autotag]Caleb Cunningham[/autotag], who made his fifth total visit to the Plains last weekend.

The Choctaw County High School (Mississippi) product seemed to have another overall positive experience in his time on campus. He has been heavily pursued by the Tigers, which seems to be currently paying off.

“I told them yesterday they stand No. 1,” Cunningham said in an interview with Auburn Live. “Just the culture and how they treat me like family. It’s great people and I want to be around great people. It’s just a vibe here. It’s just great being here. I told them I don’t want to leave.”

Wide receivers coach [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag] and offensive coordinator [autotag]Derrick Nix[/autotag] have been developing relationships with Cunningham throughout the process, which has played a big factor in how the Mississippi native feels towards the program.

The 6-3, 185-pound product is being heavily recruited by other schools in the SEC and has lined up official visits to Florida, Tennessee and Alabama over the next three weeks.

Cunningham is currently ranked as the No. 15 player in the nation and the No. 2 wide receiver in the 2025 class according to the On3 industry ranking. He is also the No. 1 player in the state of Mississippi.

A commitment by Cunningham would make him Auburn’s highest rated recruit in the 2025 cycle. As of now, he would join [autotag]Tavaris Dice[/autotag], [autotag]Carde Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Ryan Ghea[/autotag], [autotag]Tai Buster[/autotag] and [autotag]Spencer Dowland[/autotag] on the offensive side of the ball in this class, along with others who made their official visits this weekend, as well.

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Auburn target Travis Smith sets commitment date

Auburn is in the top-four for the 4-star wide receiver from Atlanta, Georgia.

One of Georgia’s top 2025 recruits has set his commitment date, and Auburn remains in the mix.

[autotag]Travis Smith[/autotag], a four-star wide receiver from Westlake High School in Atlanta, Georgia, has revealed his top four schools and has selected a commitment date. Smith will choose between Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee on July 13. Smith tells Chad Simmons of On3 that it is a part of his plan to commit to a program before his senior season.

Ahead of his summer visits, Smith says that each program in his top four has a chance to land him. He will visit Auburn during the weekend of June 7, one week after he makes a trip to home-state Georgia. He will visit Alabama on June 14 and Tennessee on June 21 before his July commitment date.

During a visit to Auburn in March, Smith says that the style of coaching that Auburn wide receiver coach [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag] exhibits has caught his attention.

“I loved it,” Smith said in March. “The way those guys coach, it’s very high intensity, but graceful as well. Just seeing those guys, it was just back and forth with defense and offense. Seeing the way they compete.”

All major recruiting outlets rank Smith as a four-star wide receiver. He is the No. 10 wide receiver for the 2025 class according to On3, and the No. 11 overall recruit from Georgia.

Four-star Alabama commit locks in official visit to Auburn

Auburn is looking to flip one of the state’s top recruits from the 2025 cycle.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and the Auburn coaching staff have successfully recruited in-state talent as three of the state’s top 10 2025 recruits have pledged to the Tigers.

Auburn’s pursuit of the state’s top players continues as Alabama’s No. 7 recruit for the 2025 cycle has scheduled a summer visit to the Plains.

[autotag]Derick Smith[/autotag], a four-star wide receiver from Selma, tells On3 that he will visit Auburn the first weekend in June. Smith, an Alabama commitment, will visit Tuscaloosa a week before his Auburn visit on May 31.

Like so many other offensive recruits, Smith has developed a sturdy relationship with Auburn wide receivers coach [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag]. Smith tells On3’s Jeffrey Lee that Davis makes him feel like a priority.

“(Davis) wants me here bad. He wants me real bad,” Smith said in a March interview with On3. “We’re getting a real good connection with each other, the relationship getting stronger and stronger every time I visit.”

Smith is a four-star wide receiver and each recruiting outlet considers him a top-10 overall recruit from Alabama. Outside of his relationship with Davis, he says that Auburn’s recent haul of [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] and [autotag]Perry Thompson[/autotag] sparks his interest in the Tigers.

Auburn is back in the hunt for four-star WR Devin Carter

Carter recently backed off his pledge to Florida State, and Auburn has the chance to capitalize.

Florida State‘s loss has the potential to be Auburn’s gain.

Four-star wide receiver [autotag]Devin Carter[/autotag] backed off his pledge to Florida State in January. Auburn is among the programs that have the chance to capitalize on the opportunity.

Carter, a native of Augusta, Georgia, recently broke down his top schools with On3’s Chad Simmons. Carter says that he is still considering Florida State as his college destination, but is also taking a look at several SEC programs including Auburn. His relationship with wide receivers coach [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag] is one of several reasons Carter is considering Auburn.

“I was at Auburn for the Iron Bowl and it is about relationships with them. Coach Marcus Davis is a great coach and I have a great relationship with him. He is a cool coach, I see Auburn coming up as a program and I like the way (head) coach (Hugh) Freeze and coach Davis are working there.”

Carter is also considering Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Clemson. He has scheduled a visit to Clemson but is working on setting up more. Carter is the No. 4 wide receiver for the 2026 cycle and is the No. 5 overall recruit from Georgia.

Five-star WR Caleb Cunningham puts Auburn in top 12

Caleb Cunningham has released his top 12 schools, in which he included the Tigers amongst several other SEC schools.

[autotag]Caleb Cunningham[/autotag] has established himself as one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the 2025 recruiting class, with college coaches being in contact with him constantly. However, the five-star out of Choctaw County High School (Miss.) has cut his list to just 12 schools.

That list includes the likes of Auburn, Mississippi State, LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, and Florida.

Cunningham visited the Plains on Jan. 20 and was left with a highly positive impression from what he, [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag], and wide receivers coach [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag] discussed.

The Mississippi native is ranked as the No. 11 overall player and No. 2 wide receiver in the On3 industry ranking. He is also still ranked as the No. 1 player in the state.

Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class can improve its stock from No. 8 if it lands the star receiver, which would be its first of the class.

Where’s 🏠?? ⁦@Hayesfawcett3⁩ ⁦@ChadSimmons_⁩ ⁦@On3Recruits⁩ ⁦@247Sports⁩ ⁦@MacCorleone74⁩ @D_Mitchell91 ⁦@Rivals⁩ ⁦@Coachkdantzler⁩ ⁦@SWiltfong247⁩ ⁦@_colepatterson⁩ ⁦@robbiefaulkOn3⁩ pic.twitter.com/fjpAw7e5Oa

— Caleb Cunningham ✝️ (@calebcunning13) January 29, 2024

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Examining DJ Durkin’s top recruits of all-time

Auburn’s new defensive coordinator has a knack for finding elite talent.

Auburn has landed its next defensive coordinator in [autotag]DJ Durkin[/autotag].

Durkin brings a wealth of knowledge to the Plains, as he has served as a Power Five coach since 2007, with one exception. He joined the Atlanta Falcons staff as a consultant during the 2019 season before re-joining the college ranks as a defensive coordinator under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss and most recently under Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M.

He has led defenses to produce solid numbers throughout the years, but another impressive aspect of his resume is his ability to recruit.

Throughout his time at places such as Florida, Maryland, and Texas A&M, Durkin has played a hand in several of the nation’s best athletes signing with his program. Durkin is now paired with great recruiters such as [autotag]Charles Kelly[/autotag], [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag], and even his new head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag], which should allow him to continue recruiting at a high level.

Here’s a look at the top 10 recruits that Durkin has had a hand in landing over the years.

Auburn is one of 4-star wide receiver Derick Smith’s top schools

Auburn is a major contender for four-star, in-state wide receiver Derick Smith.

Auburn and wide receivers coach [autotag]Marcus Davis[/autotag] signed one of the best wide receiver classes in the country in the 2024 recruiting cycle and he is now turning his efforts to the 2025 class.

One of Auburn’s top targets is four-star [autotag]Derick Smith[/autotag], who is from Selma, Alabama, and has already taken several visits to the Plains. He returned on Saturday and once again came away impressed.

“It was fun, it was good. I just love the atmosphere here,” Smith told Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente. “It gets better and better every time I come. I loved it, I’m not gonna lie. The fanbase, how the fanbase watched. I love the atmosphere out here.”

Smith is the No. 68 overall player and No. 8 wide receiver in the 247Sports composite ranking. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder is also the No. 6 player from Alabama.

While teams all across the country have offered him, the in-state Tigers are standing out. With Smith saying they are “top two for sure.”

He is coming off a great junior season for Southside High School. He caught 46 passes for 1,487 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 1,036 yards and nine touchdowns.

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