$7million former Auburn Tigers quarterback linked to the just

The first day of the 2024 Early Signing Day was Wednesday, and head coach Hugh Freeze was overjoyed with his new class.

Twenty-four players have officially signed with the Tigers, with 19 coming from high school, three from the transfer site, and two from junior college.

“Obviously, I’m excited about this class,” Freeze remarked. “I’m just thrilled with the effort, and I truly believe that the young men we’ve signed and the families from which they come, I adore these kids.” Individually, I adore them. I believe they are sincere. I believe they want to help a program reestablish itself as one of the country’s elite programs, and I believe they like working on it.

A major portion of Auburn’s class that signed on Wednesday came from high school, a strategy designed by Freeze and his staff. Auburn signed 20 athletes from the transfer portal last offseason.

While the Tigers will undoubtedly add more after Wednesday, they now have three portal commitments. In a departure from previous season, Freeze does not appear to be particularly reliant on the gateway this season.

“We focused on the high school class,” explained Freeze. “… I’m not sure if that’s the best way, but I wanted them to feel important. So, we didn’t chase hard and portal on everyone that could play, and there were many, because we were really committed to making sure our high school class felt like they were the priority of us building the actual rebuild here at Auburn.”

While the Tigers will undoubtedly add more after Wednesday, they now have three portal commitments. In a departure from previous season, Freeze does not appear to be particularly reliant on the gateway this season.

“We focused on the high school class,” explained Freeze. “… I’m not sure if that’s the best way, but I wanted them to feel important. So, we didn’t chase hard and portal on everyone that could play, and there were many, because we were really committed to making sure our high school class felt like they were the priority of us building the actual rebuild here at Auburn.”

Earlier this week, Freeze openly confirmed his support for 2023 starting quarterback Payton Thorne, saying, “If we get the right pieces around him and Holden (Geriner), I think our quarterback room is going to be fine next year.” And with the addition of two of Auburn’s highest-rated commitments running routes for him next season, Thorne’s work could be a lot easier in 2024.

Furthermore, Auburn has two other top-200 wide receivers coming in, with Malcolm Simmons from Benjamin Russell High School and Bryce Cain from Baker High School both signing with Auburn on Wednesday, making Auburn’s wide receiver commits all in-state.

Commits are remaining in the state.

“And then you move to where it was no secret, we needed to get some difference makers at the receiver position,” he said. “And to land two of the top ten players in the country in Perry and Cam, as well as two more who I believe are sleepers… Now they’ll have to be thrown into the deep end of the pool and swim really rapidly, but I believe they’re capable.”

Freeze compared this incoming receiver class to the 2013 class he signed at Ole Miss, when coach brought in 5-star receiver Laquon Treadwell, who left Ole Miss as the program leader in career receptions and eighth in receiving yards.

While wide receivers were the obvious need for Auburn, Freeze was as pleased with the linebacker class he and linebacker coach Josh Aldridge signed.

The class is headlined by three linebackers ranked in the top 150 by 247Sports, with Demarcus Riddick placing first, just ahead of Jamonta Waller and Joseph Phillips.

At the time of their commitments, each of those three signees was a big recruiting win for Freeze. Riddick, the country’s No. 55 player, switched from Georgia to Auburn in July. In November, Waller switched from SEC foe Florida to Auburn, and Phillips’ summer committment to Auburn won Freeze a win against Georgia.