The state of Alabama’s recruiting battle has not been much of a battle over the last decade between Alabama and Auburn. Recently retired Crimson Tide head coach has reigned supreme over the state, as well as nationally throughout his 17-year tenure.
Even before retirement however, commitments that in the past would have gone Alabama’s way are already turning the way of Auburn under head coach Hugh Freeze, who enters his second season on the plains in 2024.
After having to make much of his roster work out of the transfer portal in 2023, Freeze has upped his game starting with the 2024 class.
The highlight of this class is wide receiver Cam Coleman, who is the fourth ranked player nationally according to www.on3.com ‘s 2024 player recruitment rankings. Coleman is one of the top wide receiver prospects to ever sign with the Tigers, and player for high school powerhouse, Central High School right down the road from Auburn in Phenix City, Alabama.
Wide receiver Perry Thompson joined Coleman in the class as another in-state recruit out of Foley, Alabama. Thompson ranks 55th nationally according to www.on3.com .
To pair with the two stud wide-outs, Freeze signed four-star quarterback Walker White who is a gunslinger at quarterback, ranking as the 12th quarterback nationally according to www.on3.com .
Beyond these two of the biggest signings in the 2024 class, Freeze has the Tigers sitting at eighth nationally according to www.on3.com. This is a far cry from where the Tigers have been in recent years.
The class currently sits as the second-best recruiting class since 2017 for the Tigers. And it took Hugh Freeze one calendar year to put it together, which is scary for the competition in years to come.
Although uncommitted, Saraland, Alabama wide receiver prospect Ryan Williams decommitted from the Crimson Tide immediately after Saban announced his retirement. Before committing to the Tide, the Tigers were said to be on his short list. Williams reclassified from the 2025 class a month ago. At the time, he was ranked as the top prospect in the country. Since, he’s only fallen to 12th according to www.on3.com. If the Tigers can add Williams to make it a trio, the Tigers will take their already lethal line of recruiting to another level.
With his history of success turning around programs like Ole Miss and Liberty, combined with his ability to recruit, watch out for Freeze and the Tigers to make a seismic shift not only to the state of Alabama, but the entire SEC for 2024 and beyond.