Auburn and Hugh Freeze are on the verge of another hot streak on the recruiting trail.
Pushing for a second-straight Top10 recruiting class, the Tigers head into Big Cat Weekend trending for a four-star commitment in the 2025 class, perhaps on the verge of flipping a top target, and closing in on pledges from two more coveted players.
But before we get into all that, the prospect Freeze and company want to build the whole thing around is On300 quarterback Deuce Knight .
Where do things stand with the Tigers and Knight
Currently committed to Notre Dame, Auburn hasn’t relented in its pursuit of the Lucedale (Miss.) George County blue-chipper. Much has been made about the Tigers working to flip other quarterbacks like USC verbal Julian Lewis and Texas commit KJ Lacey at various points in the cycle, but it’s the uber-talented 6-foot-5, 208-pound Knight that is Auburn’s top target at the position.
Easy to see why.
Knight was On3’s top performer at the recent Elite 11 Finals. A gifted dual-threat signal-caller with an explosive arm, tremendous frame, and plus athleticism, this is the prospect Freeze and their staff have marked as the one that can help them compete with the SEC’s elites. A player with the talent to come in and push another talented young quarterback in former four-star Walker White who they beat Clemson for in the 2024 cycle.
I think the Tigers are more in this one than they’ve been given credit for. That doesn’t mean a flip is imminent, just saying that I think communication has continued and Auburn is getting a look. The opportunity to play in the SEC, closer to home, for a program recruiting at a high level has given Knight a lot to think about. Freeze, quarterbacks coach Kent Austin and Kenyatta Watson are among the Auburn staffers that have been involved in pushing for Knight.
The On3 Industry tabs Knight as the nation’s No. 7 quarterback and No. 38 prospect overall. He’s been a verbal to Notre Dame since last September. The Tigers are doing what they can to give him plenty to think about.
Who could be next in?
On3 Industry four-star cornerback Blake Woodby is the one on commit watch. The On3 Industry ranks Woodby as the nation’s No. 17 cornerback and No. 138 prospect overall. The secondary has been a point of emphasis for the Tigers in 2025 and Woodby would join the likes of On300 recruits in safety Eric Winters and speedy cornerback Devin Williams.
The flip on the radar
The buzz continues to pick up in Saturday morning regarding Auburn and its chances of flipping Selma (Ala.) Southside On300 athlete Derick Smith from Alabama. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Smith is the On3 Industry’s No. 3 athlete and No. 52 prospect overall. He’s been committed to the Crimson Tide since March. And since that span no program has stayed in steadier communication than Auburn who is telling Smith he can stand out on both sides of the ball.
Smith is a phenomenal football player, a two-way standout that impacts the game nearly every snap. As a junior he rushed for 1,036 yards and nine touchdowns averaging over 15 yards per rush, had 1,487 yards receiving and 14 scores averaging over 32 yards per catch and he passes for 286 yards and two scores when asked to do that. On defense he posted 74 tackles, 15 stops for loss, 11 sacks and three fumble recoveries. Let’s just note he also had eight interceptions as a sophomore.
Two more coming soon
Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson On300 teammates in edge rusher Jared Smith and safety Anquon Fegans are two more high-profile prospects visiting for Big Cat.
Smith is trending towards the Tigers ahead of his Aug. 3 decision. The On3 Industry pegs him as the country’s No. 4 edge and No. 42 prospect overall.
Fegans will commit on July 29. Auburn is the heavy On3 RPM favorite. He ranks as the No. 5 safety and No. 57 prospect overall. After Fegans the Tigers will continue to push for guys like five-star Ohio State cornerback commit Na’eem Offord .
The post Working towards big flips including QB, Auburn pushing for another stellar recruiting class appeared first on On3 .
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