Top 2024 recruiting battles to watch between Alabama and Auburn

It’s no secret that Alabama has controlled the Iron Bowl rivalry — both on the field and the recruiting trail — in recent years. While Auburn muddled along under Bryan Harsin, Nick Saban has accumulated two No. 1 recruiting classes in the past three years.

Enter Hugh Freeze, one of the few coaches to get the better of Saban in both regards dating back to his time at Ole Miss. The new Tigers head man closed the 2023 cycle strong, moving Auburn within spitting distance of a top-15 class after taking over one that ranked in the 50s nationally.

2024 is the first chance for the two coaches to really go head-to-head on the trail, and they’re going to do exactly that. Here are five recruitments to watch that both programs are expected to be heavily involved in.

4-star LB Sterling Dixon
School: Mobile (Ala.) Christian
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 246

Dixon committed to the Crimson Tide back in early December 2022, but his recruitment is far from over. He visited Auburn once already in January and is expected to return there this spring. The Tigers were among his top schools before Freeze was fired, and his staff has only turned up the heat on the elite linebacker.

4-star WR Perry Thompson
School: Foley (Ala.)
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 52

Thompson is another current Alabama commit, pledging to the Tide back in June. But that was before his recruitment really blew up — and before the Tigers got involved. He has also been to Auburn since his commitment and is expected to return again at least one more time, if not more. Thompson is the kind of instant impact recruit that could signal a shift in this rivalry going forward.

4-star WR Cam Coleman
School: Phenix City (Ala.) Central
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 250

Coleman, another four-star wideout, claims offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia State, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and West Virginia. And as an in-state kid, the Crimson Tide and Tigers are already high on his list. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder isn’t in any rush to make a decision, but it would come as a surprise if Alabama and Auburn don’t factor in heavily until the end.

4-star ATH Daniel Hill
School: Meridian (Miss.)
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 162

The Tide have largely owned the state of Alabama for Saban’s tenure, but they’ve also reeled in plenty of elite prospects from Mississippi — and they’re hoping Hill is the next. The four-star athlete is a Mississippi State legacy, but both programs from Alabama are hotly in pursuit. Saban and Co. might have a slight advantage though early on because of Hill’s father.

“Just going to be real: My dad wants me to go to Alabama,” Hill told BamaInsider. “He’s an Alabama fan. He said when he was coming out of high school, he should’ve gone to Alabama… my mom said wherever fits me best, that’s where I need to go.”

LB D’Angelo Barber
School: Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville
On3 Consensus Ranking: N/A

Barber isn’t currently ranked in the On3 Consensus, but don’t expect that to remain that way for long. Auburn extended him an offer in late January, joining Alabama, Mississippi State, UCF, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma and Ole Miss.

He’s already been on campus for a pair of games at Auburn under the previous staff and told AuburnLive they are on of three schools recruiting him hardest right now. “As of right now, in terms of recruiting the hardest it’s UCF, Arkansas and Auburn because those are the three schools I talk to the most,” he said.

Barber was offered by the Crimson Tide a few weeks before, and they immediately shot to the top of his list. He recorded 115 total tackles, including nine for loss. He also had four fumble recoveries, a couple of sacks, and an interception returned for a touchdown.