Auburn trending for 2025 4-star EDGE Jakaleb Faulk

Decision day is here for Highland Home (Ala.) four-star EDGE Jakaleb Faulk. The 2025 prospect is set to announce his commitment at 7 p.m. ET on Monday night, choosing between bitter in-state rivals, Alabama and Auburn.

There’s a clear favorite in the eyes of the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), however. Following a new pick logged by Auburn Live recruiting insider Jeffrey Lee, it’s the Tigers that appear to have the edge over the Crimson Tide. Lee’s pick was placed with a 70% confidence level, as he joins fellow Auburn Live cohort Cole Pinkston as insiders to pick Auburn.

With the new RPM pick, Auburn now has a 91.8% chance to lock down the commitment of Faulk. Alabama now sits with less than a 1% chance. Clemson, Florida and Georgia also made Faulk’s top five, but he told Auburn Live “I was looking at all five, but I decided it’s really down to Auburn and Alabama. That’s what I summed it up to.”

Faulk has taken four unofficial visits to Auburn, including a recent trip at the end of July for Big Cat weekend. It was his fourth visit in the span of five months. Alabama has received a pair of visits, including a June trip to Tuscaloosa.

The 6-foot-3.5, 225-pounder is the No. 151 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 14 EDGE and No. 11 player in Alabama.

Auburn looking to bring second Faulk brother to the Plains

Jakaleb’s brother, Keldric Faulk, was a major highlight for the Tigers’ 2023 class. Ranked as the No. 64 overall prospect in the cycle, the four-star defensive lineman — who flipped to AU from Florida State — was the highest-ranked player in what was the No. 17 class in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking.

“Keldric flipped his commitment to the Tigers and is now expected to contribute this season as a true freshman defensive lineman. The two brothers are close and could reunite at Auburn,” Lee wrote. “And I think they will.”

Linebackers coach Josh Aldridge and secondary coach Zac Etheridge are leading Auburn’s recruitment of Jakaleb Faulk and appear to be close to landing the Yellowhammer State product. Faulk would be the Tigers’ second commit in the 2025 cycle, joining Opelika (Ala.) three-star DL Malik Autry, who pledged in February.

“Auburn, I love what Coach (Hugh) Freeze is doing,” Faulk said. “Coach (Josh) Aldridge has been like a big brother to me. He calls me and talks to me for a good 10 minutes. There are great people at Auburn and it has a great environment. I love it there.”

Auburn is on the brink of a top-10 class in the 2024 cycle, currently checking in at No. 14. There are 16 total commits in the class, highlighted by a pair of five-star flips in Foley (Ala.) wide receiver Perry Thompson and Clanton (Ala.) Chilton County linebacker Demarcus Riddick, the No. 30 and 32 overall recruits in the cycle.