It was a multi-pronged effort with three head coaches, but the early work is done on Auburn’s 2023 recruiting class. Hugh Freeze made his mark, adding 18 players so far with a handful of high-profile flips.
Overall, it went better than most expected. Per the 247Sports Composite team rankings, the Tigers produced the No. 19 class overall and eighth in the Southeastern Conference. And while Freeze admitted there’s still room for growth in the transfer portal, most of the signees were confirmed on Wednesday.
Here is the future of Auburn football.
OFFENSE
The quarterback: Hank Brown
Lipscomb (Tenn.), 3-star
No. 69 QB
Hugh Freeze never offers a quarterback he hasn’t assessed in person. Good thing he’s watched Brown, a former Liberty commit, extensively.
The skill positions: Daquavious Sorey
Chipley (Fla.), 4-star
No. 477 nationally, No. 63 WR
The Tigers only added one pass-catcher to start the signing period but made it count with Sorey who’s a playmaker and should be able to get involved in the offense in multiple ways.
Rivaldo Fairweather
FIU, 4-star
Fairweather’s addition to the class was finalized on Thursday, giving Freeze a 6-foot-5 threat in the passing game.
The offensive linemen: Clay Wedin
Carrollwood Day (Fla.), 4-star
No. 411 nationally, No. 28 IOL
At 6-foot-6, 295-pounds, Wedin can use his size and agility to clear the way for Auburn’s ball carriers.
Bradyn Joiner
Auburn, 3-star
No. 471 nationally, No. 33 IOL
The first commit of the class held his commitment all year and was an avid recruit for the Tigers. Now, the former two-way trench player provides the line with depth.
Connor Lew
Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.), 3-star
No. 514 nationally, No. 38 IOL
Freeze identified the 6-foot-3, 280-pound Lew as one of the best high school centers in the country. Lew was a part of the Tigers’ seven flips.
Izavion Miller
Southwest Mississippi Community College, 3-star
No. 11 JUCO, No. 4 OT
Tapped as a possible early starter by Freeze, Miller is a 6-foot-5, 320-pound people-mover.
Tyler Johnson
Natchitoches Central (La.), 3-star
No. 688 nationally, No. 53 OT
A former Texas Tech pledge, Johnson has “sleeper” potential if he can pair technique with his 6-foot-6, 300-pound frame.
DEFENSE
The secondary: Kayin Lee
Cedar Grove (Ga.), 4-star
No. 209 nationally, No. 25 CB
The Tigers had two signing day steals, adding Lee from Ohio State in the afternoon. Lee can be a lockdown cornerback.
Sylvester Smith
Munford, 4-star
No. 222 nationally, No. 17 S
Part of Freeze’s job will be to rebuild relationships in Alabama. He took a step forward with that by acquiring Smith, a hard-nosed tackler.
Terrance Love
Langston Hughes (Ga.), 4-star
No. 275 nationally, No. 24 S
Love recorded 69 tackles and three interceptions while helping his high school team to an undefeated season and state title in the Peach State’s Class 6A.
Colton Hood
Eagles Landing Christian (Ga.), 3-star
No. 530 nationally, No. 54 CB
A Tigers legacy, Hood flipped from Michigan State as part of the Tigers’ pre-signing day rush.
JC Hart
Loachapoka, 3-star
No. 677 nationally, No. 68 CB
Hart figures to be a special teams contributor early with his speed and at cornerback with his ball skills.
The defensive linemen: Keldric Faulk
Highland Home, 4-star
No. 81 nationally, No. 10 DL
The story of the day for Auburn, Faulk has a high motor and the ability to become an SEC star. He’s the Tigers’ lone top-100 prospect.
Darron Reed
Carver (Ga.), 4-star
No. 190 nationally, No. 26 DL
The best signee under interim head coach Cadillac Williams, Reed is a 6-foot-4, 270-pound force that figures to come off the edge for Freeze and co.
Wilky Denaud
John Carrol (Fla.), 4-star
No. 398 nationally, No. 48 DL
Arguably the best name in Auburn or Alabama’s signing class, Denaud has the length to be a factor in the run and pass defense.
Brenton Williams
Opelika, 3-star
No. 778 nationally, No. 73 edge
A big-bodied rusher at 6-foot-4, 245-pounds, Williams is another in-state win.
Quientrail Jamison-Travis
Iowa Western Community College, 3-star
No. 31 JUCO, No. 5 DL
A byproduct of new position coach Jeremy Garrett’s recruiting efforts, Auburn hopes Jamison-Travis can be a second-impact lineman in as many years a la Jeffrey M’ba.
Stephen Johnson
Whitewater (Ga.), 3-star
No. 149 DL
A former Arkansas commit, Johnson is a 6-foot-3, 320-pounder that was one of two SEC flips in one day for Freeze.
Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com
