Hugh Freeze explains mindset of staying on recruits committed to other schools

Coaches across the country have been vocal about recruits making last-second commitment flips from offers sent by last-second bidders — and none more so than Auburn‘s Hugh Freeze.

Freeze wasn’t shy about giving a first-hand account on what it was like to lose one of his top guys, but even more so about hanging on to the guys that kept their word through signing day.

“I think relationships are always key,” Freeze said of maintaining his recruits during an appearance on the SEC Network on Wednesday. “I know there are other factors in this day and time but I think probably for a head coach, I don’t know that — I certainly don’t claim to be better than others but I do think I’m probably as consistent, if not more consistent in being active in a certain group of kids’ recruitment. I can’t do it for everybody but I’m really involved in that, along with key staff members.

“Hopefully over the course of time, if you pick a certain number — 24 guys or something — if you can just win out on 10-12 of those guys that are difference makers, then you’ve got to get in some of those battles and win a few to be competitive with the elite in this conference. I think that’s represented and you need to be around that top 10 every year, if not a little higher, to truthfully get this done.”

It’s worth pointing out the fact that Freeze was able to flip Cam Coleman, a Five-Star+ Plus prospect and a top wide receiver in this year’s cycle, from Texas A&M to The Plains, not to mention also securing the flip of four-star DL Amaris Williams from Florida as well.

Instead, the issue Freeze is trying to tackle isn’t the continuing of a recruitment post commitment — instead, “last night efforts,” from some of the nation’s top programs ruined months worth of relationship building that Freeze had worked for with a chunk of change and a few sponsorships. That’s his issue.

“I made a concerted effort this year to really try to build this through the high school recruiting,” Freeze continued. “I don’t know that that’s the right answer but certainly that’s my intent right now.”

Of course, the age of NIL and the transfer portal is all about committing to the program that you believe can market you the best.

Whether more of a balance between the portal and high school recruiting is needed remains to be seen — but at the end of the day, Freeze is going to do what he thinks will benefit his team the most and improve them from their 6-6 finish to the regular season in year one.