Vontrell King-Williams – Syndication Server

Three-star defensive lineman ranks Auburn in ‘top three’ following visit

The No. 38 defensive lineman in the class mentioned the family culture on the Plains as a main reason he enjoyed his time in Auburn.

Three-star defensive lineman [autotag]Walter Mathis Jr.[/autotag] visited Auburn for the first time last week and the visit went “excellent” according to the Savannah, Georgia native.

The No. 38 defensive lineman in the class, like so many recruits before him, mentioned the family culture on the Plains as a main reason he enjoyed his time in Auburn so much. Mathis Jr. saw that culture when watching the team.

“They’re really bonding well together and it is just like a family,” Mathis said this week.

The 6-3, 285-pound prospect also mentioned his quick chemistry with head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]Vontrell King-Williams[/autotag] as other reasons Auburn is now in his “top three” heading into decision season. Mathis Jr. mentioned LSU and Miami as the other programs he is considering. He has an official visit to LSU planned later this month.

After that visit, Mathis Jr. hopes to make a decision at some point this summer. A commitment from the talented defensive lineman in late summer could be a nice appetizer for Auburn fans before the team kicks off the season on August 31 against Alabama A&M.

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Alabama DL commit Antonio Coleman makes another visit to Auburn

In a back-and-forth recruiting battle, Alabama defensive line commit Antonio Coleman made a visit to the Plains last weekend

The recruiting process is a long road that can go back and forth weekly with different schools pushing for top prospects. Auburn is one of those schools that is constantly working its hardest, which is keeping them in the race for talented players.

One of those players is four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Antonio Coleman[/autotag], who is currently committed to the Tigers’ archrival, Alabama.

Coleman returned to the Plains for an official visit last weekend. It was his third visit to Auburn this year, and the second since he flipped to the Crimson Tide in March. He has flipped between the two schools twice in his recruiting process.

His visit was all about talking through what the program can do to make him the best player possible, which was largely led by defensive line coach [autotag]Vontrell King-Williams[/autotag].

“I spent a lot of time with Coach Vontrell,” Coleman said in an interview with Auburn Live. “We talked about the scheme that they run and things I could do to be a better player. We had a great time. He’s a great coach. He’s going to shoot it to you straight. If you have something going on that he feel like you can do to get better, he’s going to work his tail off to make sure you get to that level.”

The Saraland High School (Alabama) product is set to make a visit back to Tuscaloosa this weekend before returning to the Plains in late July for Big Cat Weekend.

Coleman is currently placed as the No. 129 player in the nation and the No. 11 defensive lineman according to the On3 industry ranking. He is also the No. 12 player in the state of Alabama.

Should he flip back to the Tigers, Coleman would be the third-highest rated player in their 2025 class, joining [autotag]Malik Autry[/autotag], [autotag]Jakaleb Faulk[/autotag] and [autotag]Jourdin Crawford[/autotag] on the defensive line.

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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.

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Former Auburn commit Kalen Edwards plans to visit the Plains more

The former Auburn pledge struck up a relationship with DL coach Vontrell King-Williams during his recent weekend visit.

2025 defensive lineman recruit[autotag]Kalen Edwards[/autotag] was once committed to become an Auburn Tiger, but backed off his promise following defensive line coach [autotag]Jeremy Garrett[/autotag]’s departure for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

Although the 6-4, 330-pound lineman is no longer committed to Auburn, he did have the chance to visit the Plains recently. The Tennessee native reportedly enjoyed his time with new defensive line coach [autotag]Vontrell King-Williams[/autotag]. The new relationship has caused Edwards to have second thoughts, which will lead to more visits in the future.

If Edwards were to come back to the Tigers, [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] would be securing the talents of the No. 38 ranked defensive lineman in the 2025 class. Edwards is also the No. 11 ranked player out of the “Volunteer State.”

Auburn isn’t the only program vying for his talents however, as Edwards has visits to Louisville, Memphis, and Georgia lined up in the near future. The high schoolers decision could come after the trio of visits.

“I really don’t know for sure. I’m going on the rest of my OV’s just to see,” Edwards said in an interview with On3. “Auburn is in the back of my head for sure.”

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Hugh Freeze promotes Vontrell King-Williams to defensive line coach

King-Williams replaces Jeremy Garrett, who recently took a position with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] did not have to search long, or even far, to find his next defensive line coach.

Former defensive line coach [autotag]Jeremy Garrett[/autotag] was named defensive line coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, and his replacement was in-house. According to a report by Brian Stultz of Auburn Rivals, analyst [autotag]Vontrell King-Williams[/autotag] has been promoted to defensive line coach.

King-Williams joined Freeze’s staff last January as an analyst, working primarily with Auburn’s defensive line alongside Garrett. Before his time at Auburn, King-Williams served as defensive line coach for Eastern Michigan for the 2022 season and was a graduate assistant for EMU from 2018-19. He previously worked on Freeze’s staff at Liberty as a defensive graduate assistant for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Garrett spoke of King-Williams last year in an interview with Auburn Undercover, saying that he knows how to build relationships with players.

“He’s a really good coach. He’s a smart coach. He’s a really good teacher. He knows the players and gets to know those guys well,” Garrett said of King-Williams. “I just think what he’s going to bring to the table, it’s going to be a dynamic duo in recruiting and teaching these guys.”

The promotion of King-Williams to the on-field staff will cause shifting among the staff. Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reports that linebackers coach [autotag]Josh Aldridge[/autotag] will now coach EDGE rushers while newly-named defensive coordinator [autotag]DJ Durkin[/autotag] will handle linebackers.