5-star LB Demarcus Riddick flips from Georgia to Auburn: 'Auburn is where I felt most at home'

Clanton (Ala.) Chilton County School five-star linebacker Demarcus Riddick had no idea that his feelings about Georgia would change after he committed to the Bulldogs last November. Then Alabama and Auburn got into the mix and Riddick’s feelings started to change.

Calling it one of the toughest decisions he’s ever made, Riddick remained committed to the Bulldogs but kept his options open. He took visits to all three schools and began to get a better feel for how each made him feel.

While Georgia felt the most at home following his commitment, a new school took that spot once Riddick began taking more visits. That school ended up being Auburn. Riddick announced his decision to flip his pledge from Georgia to the Tigers Wednesday afternoon.

“Alabama is an amazing school, but Auburn is where I feel I need to be at,” Riddick told On3. It’s a big family there and the feeling when I am at Auburn is great. There’s something different about Auburn for me. I have that feeling there.

…I could have stayed with Georgia, I could have chosen Alabama, but Auburn is where I felt most at home. That was the most important thing for me.”

Riddick believes he can be a part of something special at Auburn

Comfortability played a major factor in Riddick’s final decision. No two coaches made him feel more comfortable than Hugh Freeze and Auburn linebackers coach Josh Aldridge.

Not only did they make him feel comfortable, they also pitched to Riddick that he could be a key contributor in helping the Tigers get back to the top of the college football landscape.

That vision is one that clicked with Riddick.

“At Auburn, I can go be a part of something really special,” said Riddick, the No. 31 player in the 2024 class. “Alabama is stacked, Georgia has won back-to-back national championships and they are the best in the country but at Auburn, I can go in and help change the program. That always stood out to me and Auburn is building something and I want to be a part of that.

…Everyone is about winning but it’s not all about winning right now for me. I might could do that at Georgia or Alabama. At Auburn, I can feel at home, play early, work hard and get to the next level while helping the program get back to winning more games.”