Deuce Knight On Monday night’s Tiger Talk radio show, Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze addressed a question from a fan named Bobby about his recruiting strategy, particularly with the Tigers embarking on a five-game homestand to kick off the 2024 season.
Freeze responded by emphasizing the importance of showcasing a high-quality program. “Show them a good product,” Freeze said, noting that Auburn’s passionate fan base plays a significant role in this. Since Auburn’s season opener against Alabama A&M, Freeze has been vocal about the exceptional support from the student section and the broader fan community.
Freeze mentioned that he had a “really good group” of recruits present for the season opener, including four-star quarterback prospect Deuce Knight, whom the Tigers are actively working to persuade away from his commitment to Notre Dame.
While enhancing Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class is crucial, Freeze also highlighted the importance of retaining the current commitments. He emphasized the need to maintain focus on securing the class, which he believes could be among the top three or five in the nation.
Currently, Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 5 nationally by 247Sports, boasting 23 commitments. This follows a strong 2024 class ranked eighth. For Freeze, retaining the current class and finishing strong on signing day is critical for the program’s success.
In his Tiger Talk segment, Freeze drew a comparison to Kentucky Fried Chicken, saying, “I tell all the recruits and their parents all the time, it’s not like Kentucky Fried Chicken where they hide the recipe. The recipe is pretty simple for playing for the SEC Championship game and getting to the playoffs.” He stressed that consistently landing top-five recruiting classes is key to achieving sustained success, citing the trend among teams that regularly compete at the highest levels.
Spotted 👀: 4-star QB prospect Deuce Knight is in attendance for Auburn’s season-opener vs Alabama A&M.
Knight is currently committed to Notre Dame. pic.twitter.com/IMOsMoBUZ7
— Auburn Tigers | AL.com (@aldotcomTigers) August 31, 2024
Freeze pointed out that of the last 12 national champions, only one—last year’s Michigan Wolverines—had an average recruiting class outside the top eight. The rest of the champions had consistently top-five classes. “The others, they’ve all had top-five classes and we’ve had one,” Freeze noted. He added that while Auburn may not yet be on par with the elite teams, adding one or two more top-five classes would significantly enhance their roster and improve their chances of competing for championships.