Hugh Freeze on transfer portal bidding wars: ‘Don’t feel comfortable’

Every coach and program has to have a philosophy about how they’re going to go about this new era in college athletics, whether in regards to the transfer portal, NIL, or both. For example, those are all things that at times can make Auburn’s Hugh Freeze uneasy.

Freeze spoke about his own approach to those aspects during ‘McElroy and Cubelic In The Morning’ on Wednesday. He said that none of the coaches can know if they’re going about it in the best way possible. Still, when it comes to him, the idea of name, image, and likeness offers versus other schools in order to earn the commitment of key transfers is something that doesn’t sit right, especially in comparison to good, old-fashioned recruiting.

“Yeah. It’s a challenge to know if your way is the right way,” said Freeze.

“I just don’t feel comfortable with some of the bidding wars for some of the top guys in the portal,” Freeze admitted. “Not that we’re not very fair. It’s just I want to build the whole roster and try to do it with guys that fit, somewhat, your culture.”

Freeze understands that that’s not the most popular take and may not necessarily even be the correct. However, being able to build a connection with players from the very start of their collegiate careers rather than bidding for ones from other schools is what he feels best about.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. If you look at what we did in the signing period in December, we really stayed strong to high school kids. We took very few portal kids in December. I don’t know that that’s right, I mean, but I feel more comfortable,” explained Freeze. “That’s what I’ve always done. I recruit, we have a relationship. I know him, I know his family. You hope that those relationships really cause a kid to develop with you through the process of all that comes with college football now.”

“Is that a realistic expectation that all these Top-24 guys we stay strong to? Now they’re going to get the calls in December from whoever. Will our relationship stand the test of those times? I don’t know the answer to that,” Freeze said. “I do agree with what you said and that’s what I was kind of saying.”

For reference, Auburn brought in the No. 8 overall recruiting class in the country with 22 signees. That’s per On3’s 2024 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings. It includes the No. 4 overall player, No. 2 WR, and top prospect out of Alabama in Cam Coleman. He comes in along with 11 other four-star talents from the cycle.

As for the portal, the Tigers added 14 transfers this offseason for the No. 11 class in the nation. That’s according to On3’s 2024 Team Transfer Portal Rankings. One of their most recent addition was the most significant in WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith from Penn State. He’s the highest-rated as the No. 62 overall transfer and No. 10 WR in On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players. DE Philip Blidi (Indiana), WR Robert Lewis (Georgia State), and S Jerrin Thompson (Texas) also rated in the Top-250.

The resources down on The Plains are doing what the program feels is capable enough. That’s why Freeze is now focusing more on the players who actually want to be in their building rather than ones that just hope to cash in.

“I think our collective is very fair. But, if that is the only purpose in a kid’s decision, I feel uncomfortable about that, going that route,” said Freeze.