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BREAKING: 4-star DB Eric Winters, a top-65 recruit, commits to Auburn

Jeffrey Leeby:Jeffrey Lee•06/15/24•

JLeeAULive

Eric Winters
(Photo: Jeffrey Lee, Auburn Live)

Four-star defensive back Eric Winters has committed to Auburn.

Winters, who attends Enterprise (Ala.) High School), announced his decision Saturday on social media. He chose Auburn over Georgia, Miami, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss and USC, among others.

A big reason for Winters choosing Auburn is new safeties coach Charles Kelly.

“(Kelly) has a good history and he puts a bunch of people in the league,” Winters said. “It seems like he knows what he’s doing. I feel like I can trust him with my future and he can develop me into the player I want to be.

“I mean talking to Coach Kelly, he’s coached people who look like me and has put people in the league that look like me and things like that. It’s really all a blessing to have someone who knows what to do and has had people like me. Guys like Derwin James.”

Freeze, Durkin had roles in Winter committing to Auburn

Kelly isn’t the only reason. Hugh Freeze and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin also played pivotal roles in Winters choosing Auburn.

“Coach Durkin has coached guys like Jabrill Peppers who are so multiple and versatile,” he said. “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.” 

Winters made his commitment while on an official visit to Auburn. He also took official visits to Miami and Georgia.

From recruit to recruiter

Winters is listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. The On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, ranks him the No. 8 safety in the country. Winters also ranks the No. 65 overall recruit in the class and No. 5 in Alabama.

Auburn now has commitments from three of the top 8 overall recruits in Alabama and is the presumed leader for a fourth (safety Anquon Fegans).

Winters is Auburn’s 15th commitment and the highest-ranked recruit in the Tigers’ 2025 recruiting class. He now is working to get others to join him.

“I am already working guys,” he told On3’s Chad Simmons. “It starts with my teammate Zion Grady. I am going after Alvin Henderson, Julian Lewis, KJ Lacey and some others.

“Coach Freeze has this group of defensive players in Alabama he wants called the ‘Super 7’. Guys like Jared Smith, Anquon Fegans, Na’eem Offord and Zion are guys that haven’t committed yet. I will be on all of those guys.”

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