MONTGOMERY — Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze spoke to a significant number of high school coaches at the 18th annual Alabama Football Coaches Association Convention in Montgomery on Friday.
Recently hired coordinators Philip Montgomery and Ron Roberts were in attendance, too, along with other assistants such as new wide receivers coach and former Auburn player Marcus Davis.
“Our success starts and ends right here with those guys in that room,” Freeze said, referring to the high school coaches. “I told them that and I believe that. I think we’ve got to win 50% of our battles in this state, and it starts with those guys in the room and us having great relationships with them. It’s vital.”
QB SITUATION:Why Hugh Freeze said he wonders if Auburn football’s 2023 quarterback is already on campus
SPRING PRACTICE:Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze reveals start date for spring practice
Freeze was hired in November and has been building his staff since, with Davis being hired Dec. 29 to round out the position coaches. The Tigers have added 32 players since Freeze arrived to the Plains – 18 high school prospects during the early period, two from junior college and an additional 12 via the transfer portal.
With the class of 2023 all but done − national signing day is Feb. 1, but Auburn has only one commitment – four-star running back Jeremiah Cobb − not officially signed, the attention shifts toward next year. The Tigers will host a number of recruits, mainly in the class of 2024, for Junior Day on Saturday.
“We’re making up ground, and I think this weekend will be another step for that,” Freeze said. “We’ve got some good players on campus and we’ve got to get in the game with them. When you get (them) on campus I think that’s a good sign that you’re getting in the game.”
Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.
