Auburn looking to close strong with key recruiting targets

New Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze will have his work cut out for him turning around the Tigers’ fortunes after their struggles under Bryan Harsin. But one of the biggest — and most immediate — areas of concern is on the recruiting trail.

The Tigers currently have just 13 commitments in their 2023 class, all but three of whom committed under the previous coaching staff. That said, Auburn just barely sits outside the top 25 of the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings, and they have some momentum brewing. After flipping four-star defensive lineman Darron Reed (On3’s No. 40 player this cycle) from LSU, the Tigers have a number of key targets still on the board they’ll look to close on in the next few weeks. And Freeze will reportedly have more than $13 million from Auburn’s NIL collective, On To Victory, at his disposal as he looks to make some late moves.

Let’s take a look at some of the Tigers’ top targets:

5-star DL James Smith
School: Montgomery (Ala.) Carver
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 14
On3 RPM: Alabama 42.3%, Georgia 27.6%, Auburn 23.1%

The Skinny: The two in-state schools — Auburn and Alabama — have long been thought of as the top two contenders for Smith. He and high school teammate Qua Russaw (more on him in a second) have been on The Plains a few times already this fall and kept the Tigers in contention despite their coaching turmoil and play on the field. The duo could take another official visit to Auburn the final weekend before the Early Signing Period, and the Tigers are far from out of this one.

5-star LB Qua Russaw
School: Montgomery (Ala.) Carver
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 23
On3 RPM: Alabama 74.7%, Auburn 14.2%, Florida 4.4%

The Skinny: Much that was said about Smith applies to Russaw as well. Both have been on campus at Auburn more than any other program outside of Alabama, and there’s a lot of push for them to stay home and help Freeze rebuild things. Freeze and Co. are surely to make in-home visits starting this weekend, and these two will be at the top of the list.

4-star S Tony Mitchell
School: Montgomery (Ala.) Carver
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 14
Status: Committed to Alabama

The Skinny: Mitchell has been committed to the Crimson Tide since June, but he hasn’t been shy about taking other visits, including an official to Auburn in late September. Texas A&M is also working to flip him and will get him on campus the weekend before the signing period. He’s another to keep an eye on for an official visit to The Plains over the next few weekends.

4-star TE Jelani Thurman
School: Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 119
Status: Committed to Ohio State

The Skinny: Thurman has been at what seems like every Auburn home game this year, and the Tigers’ previous staff made no bones about their interest in flipping him away from the Buckeyes. Hiring an offensive-minded head coach like Freeze surely doesn’t hurt, and he has some connections already on the roster — namely DB commit Terrance Love.

4-star OT Bo Hughley
School: Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 106
Status: Committed to Georgia

The Skinny: Hughley is a high school teammate of Thurman’s who has also been on The Plains a number of times this fall. LSU and Nebraska have also been making runs at him, but the four-star mauler has strong ties to the Auburn program and briefly flirted with a flip late this summer. He’s yet another who could take a second official visit here in the final days before the signing period.

4-star EDGE Rueben Bain
School: Miami (Fla.) Central
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 83
On3 RPM: Miami 61.1%, Auburn 33.9%, Alabama 1.4%

The Skinny: Among uncommitted prospects not named James Smith and Qua Russaw, Bain is as big of a target as there is for the new Auburn staff. The Tigers have immediate playing time available for him as a freshman, but they’ll have to fend off hometown Miami and Alabama, who have each made him a top priority along their defensive fronts. Bain took an official visit to Auburn in June and has a strong relationship with assistant Roc Bellantoni.

4-star LB Stanquan Clark
School: Miami (Fla.) Central
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 344
Status: Committed to Louisville

The Skinny: Along with Bain, the Tigers have another flip target in mind from Miami (Fla.) Central with Clark, one of the nation’s most athletic linebackers. He recently called the Tigers one of his “top schools” after his official visit earlier this month. He’s allowed to take another and likely will, especially now that Auburn has his high school teammate, Keyone Jenkins, in their class as well.