Following Saturday night’s 27-24 loss to No. 8 Alabama, Auburn first-year head coach Hugh Freeze said, it’s a lot of hurt in that locker room, and it stinks. Our kids gave themselves a chance to win the Iron Bowl tonight, and it’s going to stick with us for a while.”
Freeze plans on being on the winning end of this rivalry ballgame as soon as next year, excited to build the Tigers program back into a powerhouse in the process. He aims on doing it with as many of the recruits inside Jordan-Hare Stadium that want to come be part of something special.
And there were a lot of recruits taking in one of the best atmospheres college football can possibly offer.
“This crowd was unreal,” Katy (Texas) High Top247 offensive tackle Coen Echols said. A verbal to Texas A&M, Echols has was excited to get back to The Plains and see this historic game. “I’ve never experienced anything like it. Coach Freeze is taking Auburn places and it’s happening sooner than you think.”
Auburn is currently sitting on 247Sports No. 17 ranked 2024 recruiting class, and they’re to close strong with guys like five-star receiver Cameron Coleman.
“Environment was crazy,” Foley (Ala.) High five-star receiver commit Perry Thompson said. “Just know if we land these two other recruits (Coleman and Ryan Williams) it’s game over for everybody!
Freeze and company are also posited well early in the 2025 cycle for several blue-chippers.
“Environment gave me chills,” Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton tight end Ryan Ghea said. He gave Freeze his verbal on Nov. 12 over a national offer list. “Coach Freeze is one play away from shocking Georgia and Alabama, plus the recruiting class he is building is going to elevate the Auburn program to an elite level.”
“The environment was amazing,” Birmingham (Ala.) Parker five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord said. “They had high energy throughout the whole game.”
Offord added the relationship with all the coaches is really catching his eye. Others gushed about the experience as well.
“I loved everything about the game today,” Elba (Ala.) High Top24 running back Alvin Henderson said. “The fans, the environment and everything. But one thing for sure that I know, Auburn is on top! They are coming I’m telling you. What Coach Freeze is about to do is something that’s about to be special! Everyone that’s on the staff knows exactly what Coach Freeze’s mindset is and it’s about to be big and blow up.”
“The environment was crazy and the performance was amazing,” Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson Top247 safety Anquon Fegans said. “And the performance says that the potential in the program is going up very highly under Coach Freeze and his staff!”
“The environment was wild once again,” Enterprise (Ala.) High Top247 linebacker Eric Winters said. “Probably the loudest it’s been all year. This says a lot about Coach Freeze and his staff. They were one play away from beating the best coach ever in college football history, and Coach Freeze hasn’t even been there a year.”
“Man the environment was crazy,” Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes Top247 offensive tackle Tavaris Dice said. “The guys competed well. That’s what made it a good game. The performance is getting better as they compete with all of the top teams. When Coach Freeze gets the program with more younger power and chemistry, they’re going to be scary in the next few years. And you can tell this is a younger team so just wait until these coaches get their hands on an older team with more talent and chemistry.”
There were some elite 2026 prospects in the stands as well.
“Very exciting game from start to finish,” Huntsville (Ala.) Jemison Top247 edge Hezekiah Harris said. He is 247Sports’ No. 1 pass rusher in the country. “Both teams played well, Bama just made one more play. Once Freeze get the players in they’ll be a force.”
Stay tuned to 247Sports and Auburn Undercover as more reaction comes in.
