Auburn linebacker D'Angelo Barber arrested on multiple felony drug trafficking charges

Auburn redshirt freshman linebacker D’Angelo Barber was one of two individuals arrested on felony drug trafficking charges following a traffic stop in Dadeville on Monday, according to the Alex City Outlook. Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force discovered 2.5 pounds of marijuana and a gun in the 2019 GMC Yukon XL stopped along Highway 280 early Monday morning, the Alex City Outlook reported.

Barber, 19, was charged with trafficking marijuana, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force press release provided to the Outlook. Marcell Brewster, also 19, was charged with second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, per the release.

The release also revealed Tallapoosa County investigators recovered 2.5 pounds of marijuana, THC vapes, digital scales, marijuana packaging, a Glock 19 9mmm pistol and $1,897 in cash, per the Outlook.

Brewster is a former classmate of Barber at Clay-Chalkville, according to the Opelika-Auburn News. The release provided to the Alex City Outlook revealed a Dadeville Police patrolman stopped Barber and Brewster’s vehicle at 9 a.m. CT Monday before developing probable cause to search the vehicle and alerting the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force.

Barber signed with Auburn as a three-star member of the Tigers’ 2024 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, where he was rated as the No. 31 player from Alabama, No. 50 linebacker nationally and No. 568 overall in the class.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 233 pounds, Barber has a traditional middle linebacker build and was in line to compete for additional playing time after redshirting in 2024. Of course, following his arrest Monday, Barber’s status with the team is now up in the air.

Hugh Freeze addresses Auburn recruiting, defends against low rankings

Recruiting has long since been the name of the game in college football, but particularly in the SEC. The Auburn Tigers know that, as does head coach Hugh Freeze, which is part of what makes their current struggles to recruit frustrating.

This comes at a time when the House settlement is taking effect in college sports. Auburn and Freeze need to adjust and, while it hasn’t worked out on the recruiting trail just yet for Auburn, Freeze believes in the school’s plan and that things will end up working out.

“It’s hard to feel great when you’re not one of the top-ranked recruiting classes,” Freeze said. “And I think Auburn should be. But I’m confident in our administration and the way that they lead and trust them immensely that we’re doing things the right way. At the end of the day that’s really what we have to do, in my opinion, is we can’t put ourselves in jeopardy. We’ve got great interpretations from our administration and our legal team on what the settlement really means and how we should operate, and that’s what we’re doing. And if others are operating in a manner not with that, I’m hopeful that they’ll be called out on that at some point.”

Auburn currently has the 79th-ranked recruiting class in the 2026 cycle. That’s 16th in the SEC. Ultimately, it is likely being hurt by just how few recruits Auburn has, with only seven players currently committed. Nobody else in the SEC has fewer than 10 commits. That’s also a season removed from Auburn producing the eighth-ranked recruiting class in the entire country.

“It does seem kind of strange that we’re like some of the lowest range of numbers. I mean, we’re like, you know, really, really low compared to some. And I’m trying to figure that out, but I do think it will shake out in the long run,” Freeze said. “But it is complicated and hard to sit there and feel great about. But I feel great about our relationships and I feel great about Auburn, and I know the families know that. And I do think just after we win games this fall, which I’m confident we will, I think it’ll all kind of shake itself out.”

— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report.