4-star safety Eric Winters announces top five schools

Enterprise (Ala.) four-star safety Eric Winters holds offers from more than 20 schools. Going forward, he plans to focus on five of them. 

Winters has announced Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Miami and Tennessee as his top schools. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound defensive back has visited the Tigers around 10 times, the Gators twice, the Bulldogs between five and six times, the Hurricanes once and the Volunteers twice. 

“It will be about where I am most comfortable and where I feel like I can maximize my potential,” Winters told On3. “What is also important is what a school tells me I can be in the program.” 

Auburn hosted the talented defender on an unofficial visit last weekend. He plans to visit Georgia this weekend, followed by Miami on the weekend of April 20. 

Winters wants to commit sooner than later

Winters has built strong relationships with coaches at each of his finalists. They include Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze, Florida secondary coach Will Harris, Georgia co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Travaris Robinson, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and Tennessee linebackers coach William Inge. 

The No. 4 player in Alabama has already set official visits with the Bulldogs (June 7-9) and the Hurricanes (June 21-23) and is working to lock in two more officials with the Gators and Volunteers. He also plans to take an official visit to the Tigers, but wants to do it during the season. 

Winters will go to the program who can help him maximize his potential and grow into the best person he can be on and off the field. When Winters gets that “gut feeling,” he will know that one of his top schools has gone in front of the others.

“I’m looking for somebody to really separate themselves,” said Winters, the No. 97 overall prospect and No. 9 safety in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. “Honestly, I want to commit as quickly as I can, even sometime before I start spring ball. But if not, I’ll take my OVs, weigh my options, name the pros and cons of each school and make a decision from there.” 

Winters discusses his interest in Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Miami and Tennessee

Auburn: “Coach Freeze, he’s really impressed me a lot since I’ve met him. He’s a family guy and he preaches about the importance of family. Those guys are pretty persuasive and I’ve built really good relationships with them. I’ve been going there since I was a freshman and since I’ve been on campus this spring, there’s been a change in the atmosphere. Everybody there just wants to play football.” 

Florida: “When hanging around coach Harris, he gives you those vibes that he’s a guy that you would like to go to work with every day and he makes your day easier. Florida has a rich history of doing things the right way and they’re trying to get back to the top and where they were.” 

Georgia: “As a defensive player, how could you not want to play for coach Kirby Smart, coach Glenn Schumann and all those guys? Now, they have coaches like T-Rob who’s done it at the highest level. He’s been at Alabama and South Carolina and he’s coached a lot of really good guys. They put a lot of guys in the league.” 

Miami: “My mom plays a big part in my life and she’s been on all the visits with me. Those guys really got her out of her shell and made her feel comfortable. Those are the type of guys that as a parent, you’re like, ‘Okay, I can send my kid off to them and he will come off a better man, a better person and better off overall in life.’” 

Tennessee: “I’ve been around those guys and they give you that vibe. Those are the type of guys you want to go to work with every day and the type of guys you want to be around for the next three-to-four years. Coach Josh Heupel, he’s a really good guy who sets the energy.”