Even thought the expectation was sky high going into the weekend at Auburn, its recruiting yield during Saturday's Big Cat event became the singular storyline in the college football recruiting world despite many top programs hosting star-studded events to wrap up the month.
The new additions featured a little bit of everything for Hugh Freeze and company, splashing in the class of 2025 and especially the class of 2026, where the haul featured many of the state's best.
It may have hit an apex in the evening, when Saraland (Ala.) High School defensive tackle and Rivals250 member Antonio Coleman flipped from Alabama to the Tigers for the second time this year. That news created a stir on social media to the point the Tigers staff joined the fun and took a jab at the rivals Crimson Tide in using their public recruiting slogan against them.
All five additions to Auburn are blue-chip recruits on Rivals, as Coleman was joined by defensive back Blake Woodby in the rising-senior class. Among the juniors, lengthy edge Hezekiah Harris kicked off the festivities with a morning pledge. Fellow top 100 recruit and linebacker Shadarius Toodle followed shortly thereafter and another south Alabama native in Jamichael Garrett would jump in as well.
The moves helped Auburn climb in the Rivals team rankings in each cycle, with the 2025 group vaulting from No. 18 to No. 12. All of the junior additions made an even bigger splash in the rankings department, as AU now sits as the top-ranked recruiting class in 2026.
Rivals takes a closer look at each defender who joined the commitment list.
Class of 2025
2023 stats: 74 tackles (30 for loss), 6 sacks
Coleman is a modern interior defensive line prospect in that he can occupy blockers and play the run as one would expect in the SEC, but he specializes in pushing the pocket and penetrating against interior linemen at closer to 275 pounds instead of 300-plus as was more coveted yesteryear. His snap quickness off of the football combines with great leverage and quickness to put pressure on centers and guards -- all with the shortest path to the ball carrier. Throw in a strong motor and enough athleticism and pure strength to play outside in certain situations, and there is a reason both Auburn and Alabama continue to play willing to take Coleman's commitments no matter how many times he may change his mind.
A former Ohio State commitment, Woodby is not only one of the fastest defensive backs in the 2025 cycle, he is among the most experienced. He also has strong competition on his resume having competed well, and even on offense, at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore over the years. Relative to college, the sub 4.4 prospect projects as a cornerback or nickel thanks to not only the pure speed, but the savvy and relative physicality he brings to the table on top of it. Woodby is also fairly filled out, with good length relative to his height (6-foot-1 wingspan at Rivals Camp Charlotte). As the technique continues to match the raw explosiveness, we could see him making an impact in multiple phases in the SEC before all is said and done.
Class of 2026
2023 stats: 87 tackles (26.5 for loss), 9.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception
A varsity starter since his freshman campaign, Garrett is the type of 'backer that fills up the stat sheet regardless of assignment. He is already comfortable both on the edge and in space, where his twitch helps to bend the edge as a rusher or win the angle as a sideline-to-sideline player. There is also a maturity and awareness to the new Tiger's game, as he can play the passing lanes or sit in underneath zones with patience relative to his role, at least until the ball is released. Thereafter, Garrett is a big play waiting to happen, with the type of short-area explosiveness to turn the ball over on contact. As his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame continues to develop over the next two years, it will be interesting to see just where on the defense his SEC career will begin.
Armed with ideal edge size and the athleticism to match as a pass-rusher, Harris was one of the top targets for Freeze and company regardless of position for a reason. He can win in variety of ways against a blocker, able to use the stride and speed to win around the corner as well as with his length and extension while working downhill or inside. Harris will continue to fill out in the coming years, but he has progressed with his hands and overall technique enough to warrant an edge projection despite a frame and build that can easily be seen inside at the next level. As the bulk comes in, it will enhance his overall power -- already a strength in his game -- as well as the leverage and pad level elements of his game given the immense height.
One of the more physically imposing linebackers in the 2026 class, and the tape backs up the look -- and then some. Toodle is a three-down 'backer with the type of range and speed to work well in coverage, but he is at his best while working downhill with the chance to finish through the ball carrier. Great instincts, vision and trigger are each enhanced by his experience at running back, so the pop comes clean with leverage and force simultaneously. The college-ready build with two years of prep ball to play could push Toodle to the edge on third downs eventually, and he already has experience there dating back to his younger days. There just aren't many better overall athletes in the class than one of the newest Tigers, who will profile as a true blue-chipper regardless of final position projection.
