Elite DL Aiden Harris visited by Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze

Coaches continue to make their way around the country to visit top recruits in the 2026 class. On Monday, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze visited Weddington (N.C.) High School to see elite defensive lineman Aiden Harris.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Harris is the nation’s No. 30 overall prospect in the 2026 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is the No. 1 DL in the class and the No. 5 recruit from the state of North Carolina.

Harris visited the Plains in November and came away impressed by the atmosphere.

“The environment, it is beautiful,” Harris told Auburn Live. “I told my mom when I first got here, I was like, ‘This really might be the place.’ And she was like, ‘Well, we’re going to talk about it and let them know by Wednesday.’

“They always have been like top 3, top 2. I always have kept it on the low. I didn’t want to put that out there. But now that I’m here, I don’t really have no shame of it.”

War eagles?? 🦅 @CoachHughFreeze pic.twitter.com/3pom4Z8fzk

— Aiden Harris (@Aidenharris58) January 27, 2025

Coming off of the No. 6 recruiting class in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings for the 2025 cycle, the Tigers are off to a heck of a fast start with the 2026 class as well. Auburn ranks No. 3 in the nation behind its six commits.

Douglasville (Ga.) Douglas County wide receiver Devin Carter is a top-50 prospect while Huntsville (Ala.) Jemison EDGE Hezekiah Harris sits at No. 54. Also pledged to the Tigers are top-100 linebacker Shadarius Toodle, four-star LB JaMichael Garrett, four-star WR Denairius Gray and three-star safety Wayne Henry.