Hugh Freeze shares recruiting pitch at Auburn
The Hugh Freeze era has begun at Auburn, but before he’s worried about winning games for the Tigers on Saturdays next season, his main focus will be on recruiting. The Tigers are fresh off of a 5-7 season, their worst since 2012, but Freeze is looking to turn things around for the program in his first season, as he explained on SEC Network Wednesday what his recruiting pitch to prospects has been amidst National Signing Day.
“We’re using that they can come in and start building a resume right now at a premiere program in the country,” Freeze said. “This is a program that has played for two national championships in the last 12 years, there’s only four other schools that can say that. It’s not like it’s far removed from that level of excellence in college football.”
Auburn has no shortage of history, as they’re one of the most storied football programs in the nation. But it takes a lot more than just a strong past to get pen to paper on signing day, especially in the new age of college football and the relevance of the transfer portal.
The Tigers 2023 signing class is currently ranked No. 16 nation and No. 7 in the SEC, which came as somewhat of a surprise to Freeze.
“Quite frankly, I was kind of shocked that we couldn’t pull a couple more that wanted to do that, I think we were too late to the game but that’s a huge part of the vision for some of these upper echelon players that we’re trying to sign right now. Come right now, get on the field and you can be part of the resurgence of this great, proud program. I think the ones that did will be very, very glad they did,” Freeze said.
Freeze did get a late start to recruiting this offseason, named Auburn’s head coach on November 29 and tasked with filling out his coaching staff along with recruiting among the high school and transfer portal ranks. Freeze did secure a commitment and signing out of four-star edge Keldric Faulk who headlines his first signing class ranked the No. 90 player in the nation according to On3 Consensus.
Auburn’s first signing class under Freeze surely has some room for improvement, but he has a master plan and vision for the program regarding recruiting moving forward.
“The vision for me has always been about developing the whole person. That’s the player, the academic piece and the life after football piece. I think I do something unique with that, and I don’t want to share everything, but I have plans for every single one and it’s individualized,” Freeze said.