How each member of Auburn’s squad was ranked as a recruit
How every player on Auburn’s roster ranked as recruits
In the spirit of Big Cat Weekend, let’s take a look at how every player on Auburn’s current roster was ranked during their recruiting days
Nathan King
NATHAN KING
116 mins
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As Hugh Freeze and his staff work toward securing an elite class for 2025, the annual Big Cat Weekend in just a few days will serve as a significant benchmark, bringing some of the nation’s top talent to the Plains.
But on the team’s current roster, most of the Tigers’ top talent has been thanks to Freeze and his staff, since his arrival as the head coach. Only 16 scholarship players remain from the Bryan Harsin or Gus Malzahn eras, and Freeze has churned his roster with improved talent, as evidenced when breaking down the team by their recruiting rankings: eight of the top 10, 18 of the top 20 and 26 of the top 30 prospects on the team were signed with Freeze as the coach.
In the spirit of what should be a massive recruiting weekend for Auburn, we’ll take a look at how every player on the Tigers’ 2024 roster ranked during their days as a high-school prospect — or on the JUCO level, if applicable. For this exercise, we’re only looking at scholarship players, and ratings will be pulled from the 247Sports Composite.
76. OL Jaden Muskrat (.7935, 2-star)
75. OT Dillon Wade (.8053, 3-star)
74. Ronan Chambers (.8085, 3-star)
73. TE Rivaldo Fairweather (.8093, 3-star)
72. JACK Jalen McLeod (.8336, 3-star)
71. K Alex McPherson (.8378, 3-star)
70. Robert Lewis (.8444, 3-star)
69. QB Hank Brown (.8489, 3-star)
68. LB Fan’Najae Gotay (.8530, 3-star)
(Kyle Okita, 247Sports)
67. QB Payton Thorne (.8544, 3-star)
66. Dorian Mausi Jr. (.8574, 3-star)
65. Keyron Crawford (.8607, 3-star)
64. DT Trill Carter (.8619, 3-star)
63. DT Gage Keys (.8641, 3-star)
62. RB Jarquez Hunter (.8647, 3-star)
61. S Caleb Wooden (.8663, 3-star)
60. LB Austin Keys (.8663, 3-star)
59. Seth Wilfred (.8672, 3-star)
T-58 OG. Jeremiah Wright (.8676, 3-star)
(Wesley Hitt, Getty)
T-58. TE Luke Deal (.8676, 3-star)
56. S Champ Anthony (.8678, 3-star)
55. DT Quientrail Jamison-Travis (.8681, 3-star)
54. DT Philip Blidi (.8700, 3-star)
53. CB JC Hart (.8761, 3-star)
52. OG Tate Johnson (.8784, 3-star)
51. S CJ Johnson (.8786, 3-star)
50. Kaleb Harris (.8794, 3-star)
49. OT Tyler Johnson (.8808, 3-star)
48. LB DJ Barber: (.8850, 3-star)
T-47. S Laquan Robinson (.8853, 3-star)
(Auburn Athletics)
T-47. OL Dylan Senda (.8853, 3-star)
45. C Bradyn Joiner (.8854, 3-star)
44. OT Izavion Miller (.8886, 3-star)
43. WR Camden Brown (.8889, 3-star)
42. OG Clay Wedin (.8891, 3-star)
41. OL Connor Lew (.8903, 4-star)
40. DT Isaiah Raikes (.8912, 4-star)
39. S Kensley Louidor-Faustin (.8917, 4-star)
(Austin Perryman / Auburn Athletics)
38. TE Micah Riley (.8922, 4-star)
37. WR Sam Jackson V (.8926, 4-star)
36. DT Malik Blocton: (.8933, 4-star)
35. TE Brandon Frazier (.8934, 4-star)
34. DT Jayson Jones (.8964, 4-star)
33. CB A’Mon Lane-Ganus (.8967, 4-star)
32. RB Damari Alston (.8995, 4-star)
31. CB Keionte Scott (.9000, 4-star)
30. S Tyler Scott (.9001, 4-star)
29. OL E.J. Harris (.9008, 4-star)
(Zach Bland / Auburn Athletics)
28. LB Eugene Asante (.9031, 4-star)
27. S Jahquez Robinson (.9041, 4-star)
26. DT T.J. Lindsey (.9043, 4-star)
25. QB Holden Geriner (.9060, 4-star)
24. S Terrance Love (.9081, 4-star)
23. CB Jay Crawford: (.9147, 4-star)
T-22. S Sylvester Smith (.9156, 4-star)
T-22. TE Rico Walker (.9156, 4-star)
20. WR Malcolm Simmons (.9166, 4-star)
(Ken Murray, Getty)
19. WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (.9198, 4-star)
18. WR Bryce Cain (.9237, 4-star)
17. OL DeAndre Carter (.9255, 4-star)
16. S Jerrin Thompson (.9256, 4-star)
15. DT Darron Reed Jr. (.9267, 4-star)
14. RB Jeremiah Cobb (.9326, 4-star)
13. CB Antonio Kite (.9337, 4-star)
12. CB Kayin Lee (.9386, 4-star)
11. EDGE Joseph Phillips (.9405, 4-star)
10. LB ROBERT WOODYARD JR. (.9425, 4-STAR)
(Austin Perryman / Auburn Athletics)
The top-rated recruit in Auburn’s 2022 class, Woodyard got his feet wet on special teams as a true freshman but still maintained a redshirt. The former Alabama commit spent a good portion of his first offseason with the program recovering from the season-ending knee injury he suffered as a senior at Williamson High School in Mobile, but he was still able to earn scout team player of the year honors by the 2022 coaching staff. Last season, Woodyard appeared in three games on defense and did not record a stat.
Before the star-studded 2024 class, Burton was Auburn’s best receiver recruit on the roster since Kobe Hudson in 2020. Burton transferred in from Ohio State after signing with the Buckeyes as 247Sports’ No. 71 overall prospect in the 2022 class. The Texas native is the top returning wide receiver on Auburn’s roster in terms of production, with 226 yards.
8. QB WALKER WHITE (.9497, 4-STAR)
(Jake Crandall, USA TODAY Sports)
Auburn’s best QB signee since Bo Nix, White should find himself in a redshirt role this fall, considering Freeze admitted the Little Rock, Arkansas, product will be No. 4 in line in terms of reps in preseason camp. White’s physical tools are obviously expected to carry him into a major role in his college career, and after Thorne is gone, the No. 5 QB recruit in the class will contend for the starting job.
Many of Freeze’s best signees have been flips from other Power Four programs, and that’s the case with Waller, who was committed to Florida until last November. An ultra-athletic presence off the edge, Waller was present for spring practice with the Tigers, and may immediately fill into a rotational role in 2024. If both Jalen McLeod and Keyron Crawford are gone in 2025, though, Waller should be positioned as a starting-caliber player for Auburn’s defensive front.
The No. 79 overall recruit in the 2020 class, Walker was a massive recruiting win over the likes of Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The 6-foot-4, 304-pound defensive lineman has the look of one of Auburn’s recently dominant players at the position, and he showed flashes early in his career before lacking production for the better part of two seasons. But the 2023 campaign breathed some life back into Walker’s role on the team, as he logged 21 tackles and two sacks.
Auburn flipped Faulk — a top-75 overall recruit from Highland Home, Alabama — from Florida State on signing day, making the 6-foot-5, 290-pound defensive end the No. 1 signee in the Tigers’ 2023 class. Faulk then had to step into a starting role as a true freshman, after the injury to Mosiah Nasili-Kite. After posting 35 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, Faulk figures to be the most important piece of Auburn’s defensive line in 2024 — and he’s also solidified himself as one of the most important leaders on the team following his SEC Media Days selection, becoming the youngest player in program history to represent Auburn at the event.
The former Georgia commit got the ball rolling for Freeze’s 2023 recruiting efforts when Riddick flipped from the Bulldogs as a fringe 5-star recruit. Now embedded within DJ Durkin’s defense, Riddick figures to be rangy, athletic option for the Tigers at linebacker moving forward. That may not be the 2024 season, though, considering Auburn has a foursome of veterans at the position — all former transfers.
(Austin Perryman / Auburn Athletics)
Like Waller, Williams was on his way to Florida before a signing-day flip, as Auburn fended off Ohio State for the services of the nation’s No. 5 edge rusher. Williams’ versatility and athleticism make him an intriguing piece of the Tigers’ defensive front this fall, as he’s expected to contribute both as a defensive end and an outside linebacker. With Williams, Waller and Faulk — plus other young pieces on the D-line like TJ Lindsey and Malik Blocton — Auburn has bolstered its talent level along the line of scrimmage for seasons to come.
The original 5-star receiver and previous gem of Auburn’s 2024 class was Thompson, who flipped from Alabama at last year’s Big Cat Weekend. Cam Coleman obviously draws a ton of attention, and rightfully so, but Thompson is an elite prospect himself, as Auburn’s No. 3-rated receiver signee in the modern era, behind only Coleman and Ben Obomanu. Whether Thompson gets up to speed quickly in fall camp could determine just how high Auburn’s ceiling is at receiver this season, if both he and Coleman are ready to roll in the SEC right away.
The shining achievement of Freeze’s Auburn tenure thus far may also be the team’s best receiver this season. Coleman has all the tools to be an NFL wideout within Auburn’s offense, as the top-rated offensive signee in program history wasted no time showing his elite playmaking ability in spring practice. The signing of Coleman signaled the Tigers are now able to land top, home-grown talent under Freeze and his staff. There aren’t going to be many freshmen in college football — nor in recent memory at Auburn