Hugh Freeze is back in the SEC. The new head coach at Auburn has signed some impressive recruits throughout his career. Take a look at the 10 highest ranked recruits Freeze has signed during his coaching career.

*****

FREEZE TO AUBURN: Freeze is worth the risk | Five recruiting trends | Top prospects he should target | What will Freeze do in his SEC encore?

CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals100

TRANSFER PORTAL: Stories/coverage | Message board

*****

The top overall recruit in the 2013 class, Nkemdiche was a dominant presence on the defensive front and entertained offers from all over the country. Clemson was a very strong contender early in the process but faded as time went on. Nkemdiche's recruitment turned into an battle between LSU and Ole Miss. He ended up picking Ole Miss due in large part to his family preferring he follow his brother, Denzel, to Oxford. Nkemdiche was picked 29th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

The Louisiana native finished his high school career at IMG Academy in Florida. He committed to Arizona early in the recruiting process but decommitted and opted for the Rebels instead of LSU. Patterson only ended up playing in ten games at Ole Miss before he transferred to Michigan once Ole Miss was hit with sanctions following Freeze's resignation.

Texas A&M picked up Little's commitment early in the recruiting process but he decommitted ahead of his senior year. Auburn, LSU, Georgia, and Alabama got official visits during the fall but he committed to Ole Miss in December. Little took his official visit to Oxford in January and signed with the Rebels on National Signing Day. The Carolina Panthers drafted Little in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Freeze reached up to Illinois to recruit Treadwell. The five-star receiver's former teammate, Anthony Standifer, signed with Ole Miss in the preceding recruiting class. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were also finalists for Treadwell but Ole Miss was a heavy favorite throughout the recruiting process. He committed to the Rebels in January of his senior year.

Ole Miss signing Tunsil was a bit of an upset at the time. Alabama and Georgia were viewed by most as the favorites heading into Signing Day 2013 but a last minute official visit to Oxford sealed the deal. Tunsil was the third five-star to pick Ole Miss in the 2013 class. Despite the gas mask incident minutes before the 2016 NFL Draft began, the Miami Dolphins picked Tunsil 13th overall.

Jones grew up a fan of Alabama and ended up committing to the Crimson Tide in July before his senior season. However, during that summer he also took visits to Ole Miss, Georgia and LSU. Jones ended up flipping to Ole Miss just a few weeks after his Alabama commitment.

Ward was one of Freeze's earliest wins on the recruiting trail. The Mississippi native narrowed his choices down Alabama, Mississippi State and the Rebels but LSU and Auburn were also in the mix. Ward announced his commitment to Ole Miss in early January of his senior year, choosing to follow his brother, Taurus Ward, to Oxford.

Brown was from Mississippi State's backyard and ended up choosing Ole Miss. That win for Freeze was even bigger considering Brown also took official visits to Alabama and Cal in January. Brown committed to Ole Miss on Signing Day 2016 and was picked by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Lodge was heavily pursued by Texas A&M and Texas but eventually signed with Ole Miss. During the process he took official visits to USC, LSU, Texas A&M and Ole Miss. Texas was also in the mix but Lodge eventually picked the Rebels on Signing Day.

Metcalf was committed to Ole Miss for about two and a half years before Signing Day. Alabama and Cal made runs at trying to flip him but his commitment held and he ended up having a standout career for the Rebels. Metcalf was picked by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.