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Auburn HC Hugh Freeze, new OC Derrick Nix visit 2025 4-star RB Akylin Dear

hunterby:Hunter Shelton•01/23/24•

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Akylin Dear Alabama Crimson Tide
Class of 2025 RB and Alabama commit Akylin Dear. (Photo by Chad Simmons/On3)

With Derrick Nix officially Auburn’s new offensive coordinator, the Tigers have yet another Mississippi connection on the recruiting trail.

Nix is reuniting with Hugh Freeze after the pair worked together at Ole Miss. The pair is wasting no time, as they’re already gunning for one of the best 2025 prospects in the Magnolia State. Nix and Freeze made their way to Quitman, Miss. on Tuesday to visit four-star running back Akylin Dear.

Auburn is looking to get properly in the mix for the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder — who has already made three visits to Oxford. Dear also told Gators Online’s Corey Bender last fall that the Rebels were amongst his top three, along with Florida and Alabama.

Dear is the No. 148 overall prospect and No. 10 RB in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 4 player in Mississippi.

Freeze, Auburn looking to dip back into Mississippi

Freeze brought in just one prospect from his home state in the 2024 cycle — but it was a big one. Picayune (Miss.) Memorial four-star EDGE Jamonta Waller flipped to the Tigers from Florida in November. He’s the No. 2 player in the state and the No. 112 recruit overall.

“Florida is a great school, but Auburn never stopped recruiting me,” Waller told On3. “Coach Freeze stayed on contact, he reached out and always let me know he wanted me on his side.”

“The connection with the staff played a big role in my decision,” he added. “Coach Garrett and coach Freeze being from Mississippi and always letting me know them Mississippi boys are different. That went a long way with me.”

The Tigers are on pace to finish the 2024 cycle with a top-10 class in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings — and Freeze and Co. are already off to a hot start in the 2025 class. The junior corps already features eight commits and checks in at No. 7 in the nation and No. 3 in the SEC.

Thomasville (Ga.) Thomas County Central four-star safety Kendarius Reddick leads the way as the No. 73 recruit and No. 7 safety in the On3 Industry Ranking. Auburn’s top six pledges are all on the defensive side of the ball, including Saraland (Ala.) four-star defensive lineman Antonio Coleman, Highland Home (Ala.) four-star EDGE Jakaleb Faulk and Birmingham (Ala.) Parker four-star DL Jourdin Crawford.