Auburn Jack/DL Keldric Faulk named to 20 impactful SEC freshman list
Keldric Faulk, a former 4-star recruit from Highland Home (Ala.) has made On3’s Matt Zenitz’s 20 freshmen to watch list.
Faulk was one of the big December flips for Tigers’ coach Hugh Freeze as he had just taken over the program. Faulk was committed to Florida State since June and decided to flip to the Tigers on signing day.
Now, Faulk has been noticed by both Zenitz and by 247sports as a freshman who is ready to make an impact.
Faulk was the No. 64 overall player in the country, the No. 10 defensive lineman, and the No. 9 player in the state of Alabama according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
Listed at 6-foot-6 288 pounds, Faulk is expected to split time between the Jack/Outside linebacker position and the defensive line–most notably at the 5-technique with a hand on the ground.
Freeze is impressed
Several coaches and players have notated Faulk’s appearance and work ethic during his time so far at Auburn. Freeze spoke highly of him recently.
“I love Keldric,” Freeze said during the spring. “I love his attitude, I love the way he comes to work. … He and Connor Lew and Kayin Lee really stood out as three freshmen that we think in the ’23 class we’ll look back on and say, ‘Man, we got us three really good ones.’ Number one, (Faulk) is a great human being. He doesn’t know anything yet about the college game and all that. He’s raw in some ways. But he’s very talented, and I love the way he went about his business the whole spring.”
Defensive coaches rave about Faulk
Auburn defensive coordinator Ron Roberts also joined in on the praise for Faulk.
“I think he’s grown quite a bit, I think we really started on practice six to really start seeing his ability go up,” Roberts said during the spring. “There’s so much hesitation, what do I do, what am I doing, how am I playing this, how am I playing that. Which is normal and kind of expected. He really is a guy who should be going to his high school prom right now. I think he’s done an outstanding job and shown the ability to be a heck of a football player for us.”
Jeremy Garrett, Auburn defensive line coach, has been excited about Faulk since signing him in December. He sees a high ceiling and quick success for Faulk.
“A young Jack, I’m going to tell you–Keldric Faulk is going to be it,” Garrett said. “He’s going to be it. Really excited about the way he rushes and the way he’s progressed since he got here. He’s going to be good. He’s rare, and he’s so unassuming. Like, I don’t think he realizes how good he can actually be. He has come in and worked. He’s not listening to anybody tell him how good he is or anything like that. He’s coming in and studying, he’s working hard, he’s trying to learn. He is out there early walking through techniques. I just think the kid is going to be special and has a bright future as he keeps progressing.”
