Alabama, Auburn pushing hard to flip Georgia 4-star LB commit Demarcus Riddick

Clanton (Ala.) Chilton County four-star linebacker Demarcus Riddick committed to Georgia back in November over a boatload of other offers, including in-state Alabama and Auburn.

Since then, the Tigers have fired head coach Bryan Harsin and brought in Hugh Freeze, whose staff has made flipping Riddick a top priority.

But the Crimson Tide haven’t given any ground either. Riddick visited both in-state schools this spring, and he’ll be at Auburn this weekend for an official visit and Alabama next weekend for one there. Riddick took an official visit to Georgia this past weekend, but momentum is pointing toward one of the two programs in Yellowhammer State flipping him, according to BamaOnLine insider Tim Watts.

“Georgia did a good job and offered him early, got him committed pretty quick and he was there this weekend for his official visit,” Watts said on the On3 Roundtable earlier this week. “But Alabama is in it heavily, Auburn is in it to some degree as far as I know right now. I know there’s some optimism around Auburn. But I think in this stage, he’s probably more likely of the two to flip to somebody.

… I know the parents were thinking stay a little bit closer to home. He’s from Chilton Country, so obviously Alabama and Auburn are close to home.

Earlier this week, Riddick told AuburnLive that he plans to take official visits to all three of the schools and then will make a final decision on July 26, his mother’s birthday.

“I would say it’s kind of hard to say right now,” Riddick said. “Juggling with Georgia, Alabama, and Auburn it’s kind of tough to say who is where. As of right now, all three schools, that’s my top three right there.

… “I took the one to Georgia this past weekend, then I take my Alabama one next weekend. I’ll probably take one more OV, but I don’t know where yet. After that, I’ll make my final decision July 26, my mom’s birthday. It will be my final decision and I’ll be done with it.”

Riddick is the No. 38 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranks as the nation’s No. 3 linebacker and the No. 5 recruit in the state of Alabama.

As a junior in 2022, he had 109 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 11 hurries and seven sacks along with three interceptions.