Auburn leaps into top 10 of On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings after flipping Alabama commit

After flipping Selma (Ala.) Southside four-star athlete Derick Smith away from Alabama, Auburn moved to No. 8 in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings — jumping four schools on the way. The Tigers weren’t done, though.

Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson four-star safety Anquon Fegans joined the class on Monday evening, spurning Clemson, Georgia and LSU for the in-state school. His addition bumped AU up two more spots, giving Hugh Freeze and Co. the No. 6 class in the nation.

Smith is the nation’s No. 52 overall prospect, No. 3 athlete and No. 3 recruit from Alabama in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Fegans checks in at No. 57 overall and No. 5 at his position.

Smith initially pledged to Alabama on March 11, but flipped to the Iron Bowl rival during Big Cat Weekend — Auburn’s annual recruiting cookout which also featured a number of 2026 commitments. Fegans was also in attendance for the Big Cat festivities.

“Auburn has been in the there, for real, for real,” Smith told Auburn Live after his OV. “I plan on coming back for Big Cat (July 27). I like the atmosphere makes you want to come to Auburn.”

The pair now headline Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class and are two of four On3 Industry top-100 prospects in the mix for the Tigers. A do-it-all athlete, Smith has racked up over 4,000 yards through the air and over 2,000 yards on the ground through three seasons at Southside. He’s accumulated over 50 touchdowns and has also tallied 268 tackles and a whopping 21 interceptions as a defensive back.

Auburn Class Breakdown

While it’s been a cold summer for Auburn’s arch-rivals in Tuscaloosa, the Tigers are heating up on the trail at the right time. Hugh Freeze and Co. have added 11 other commitments to their board since May and look to be trending for more coming in the next few days.

Along with Winters, four-star defensive lineman Malik Autry is one of two top-100 prospects in Auburn’s class right now. They’re joined by fellow four-stars Jakaleb Faulk, Broderick Shull, Tavaris Dice, Jourdin Crawford, Devin Williams and Donovan Starr. The latest to join the fold at the end of June and early July include blue-chip running back Alvin Henderson, cornerback Blake Woodby and defensive lineman Antonio Coleman, who re-flipped back to Auburn after previously flipping to Alabama in March.