Auburn, Hugh Freeze working on 2025 QBs, plus OL commit visiting elsewhere, a kicker to know and more

Auburn football has gotten off to a solid start to its 2025 recruiting class. The Tigers recently added their second and third commitments in four-star outside linebacker Jakaleb Faulk and three-star offensive lineman Spencer Dowland.

Faulk and Dowland joined three-star defensive lineman Malik Autry in the class, a group currently ranked No. 10 in the country.

Auburn also is in the mix to add four-star tight end Ethan Barbour, who announces his decision on Friday. Barbour will choose one of his finalists (Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Ohio State, South Carolina) at 11:15 a.m. CT.

The Tigers made Barbour a priority in the ’25 class and got him on campus a couple times, including last weekend for the Samford game. However, it appears it won’t be enough to get him out of state. Barbour, from Alpharetta, Ga., likely commits to Georgia today.

Class of ’25 QB recruiting taking shape

Class of 2025 four-star quarterback Deuce Knight committed to Notre Dame last week. Knight, who is from George County (Miss.), committed to the Irish over several early offers, including Auburn.

Yes, Auburn had offered, but I don’t think he was a priority for the Tigers. The buzz around him had slowed considerably leading up to his announcement.

And there are a couple of reasons why. Their names are George MacIntyre and Ryan Montgomery. Hugh Freeze and Philip Montgomery have identified these two as the top junior quarterbacks on the Tigers’ board. They are heavily recruiting both.

MacIntyre, who is from Brentwood Academy in Nashville, Tenn., is the No. 13 overall recruit in ’25, per the On3 Industry Ranking. He also ranks the No. 2 quarterback in the country behind only Bryce Underwood. Montgomery, from Findlay, Ohio, is ranked the No. 17 quarterback in ’25.

Freeze working hard on top 2 QBs

Quarterbacks typically are one of the first positions/recruits in a class to make their commitments. They want to be done with their recruitments. Colleges want them in early to help fill up and fill out the class. Their recruiting timeline ends earlier than others. For that reason, Auburn is still behind on the QBs in ’25, but working to get caught up.

Freeze has been very hands-on when recruiting these guys. He’s called MacIntyre and Montgomery each week since Aug. 1, the first day coaches could contact juniors.

Auburn has a lot of ground to make up on MacIntyre. He’s visited Alabama, Tennessee and LSU several times. He was at Alabama again for the Texas game and will be at LSU this weekend for the night game against Arkansas. He has yet to visit Auburn, although he plans to do so in November for the Iron Bowl.

Montgomery, like MacIntyre, has not visited Auburn. Freeze, however, is pushing hard to get him on campus next weekend for the Georgia game. The Tigers were not in Montgomery’s top five in August, but Freeze’s efforts have possibly moved Auburn into the top three with Florida and South Carolina. Whether or not Montgomery visits next weekend will be telling in Auburn’s chances moving forward.

Auburn OL commit visiting Texas next weekend

Auburn offensive line commitment DeAndre Carter joined the Tigers class three weeks ago. He already had planned to take an official visit to Texas next weekend and he still plans to. Obviously, it isn’t ideal for commits to take official visits to other schools. However, it’s going to happen. Good thing for Auburn is Carter is fresh off his commitment. He chose the Tigers over Texas the first time after already having visited Texas in January.

Auburn’s Jake Thornton and Ben Aigamuau both remain in steady communication with Carter and his parents. And Carter and his parents have told the two coaches all the right things. They have assured the Tigers there is no need to worry. However, it’s recruiting. You always worry.

Quick-hitters

++ With the road game at Texas A&M on Saturday, not many coaches (if any) will be on the road Friday night. It’s all hands on deck for the early morning kickoff.

++ Speaking of the A&M game, two of Auburn’s top targets will be in attendance. Five-star wide receiver Cam Coleman and four-star offensive lineman Coen Echols, both A&M commitments, are planning to attend the game on unofficial visits. Coleman is expected to be in Auburn next weekend for the Georgia game. Echols still plans to visit Auburn for a game, but has not set a date.

++ Junior college safety Laquan Robinson will be on campus next weekend for an official visit. It’ll be his first time back in Auburn since his high school days at Greenville (Ala.). The following week (after the Georgia game), Auburn will make an evaluation visit to see Robinson.

++ Auburn has a bye following the Georgia game and before the LSU game. It’ll be needed, for sure. Auburn will take full advantage of the off week to not only prepare for LSU, but make eval visits. Auburn coaches will be very active on the road the first two weeks of October.

++ A recruit who visited last weekend and has remained under the radar a bit is Auburn (Ala.) kicker Towns McGough. You might want to get familiar with him.

McGough, ranked by Kohl’s Kicking Academy as the No. 3 kicker in the country, has an offer from Auburn. It’s actually a preferred walk-on (PWO) offer, but there is NIL in place to cover his tuition. Auburn absolutely wants this kid in its class and right now it appears very likely.

The Tigers have been heavily recruiting him since his standout performance at a summer camp. Auburn wants a kicker in the class. It wants McGough, and it’s easy to see why…

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