Auburn football is facing a tough recruiting stretch, and head coach Hugh Freeze is not holding back about the challenges.
As other programs ramp up their spending on NIL deals, Auburn is struggling to keep pace. Recent decommitments and missed targets have dropped the Tigers to the bottom of the SEC in the 2026 recruiting class rankings, raising questions about the program’s approach and future.
Auburn HC Hugh Freeze Points to NIL Funding Gap as Recruiting Setbacks Continue
Hugh Freeze has been vocal about the impact of NIL on Auburn’s recruiting efforts, saying the program’s limited NIL budget puts it at a disadvantage.
According to 247Sports, Auburn’s 2026 recruiting class is ranked 89th nationally and last in the SEC as of July 2025. The Tigers have just six commits, trailing every other conference school, with none of the others having fewer than nine.
The situation has worsened with a series of decommitments. Four-star prospects Denarius Gray and Shadarius Toodle both withdrew their pledges this week. Meanwhile, five-star targets Earnest Rankins and Cederian Morgan chose Florida State and Alabama, respectively, after previously listing Auburn among their finalists.
Freeze has pointed to Auburn’s NIL resources as a key reason for missing out on top recruits.
“We’re going by what we believe is the accurate interpretation of [the House v. NCAA settlement],” Freeze told On3’s Justin Hokanson. “It’s not really to our advantage right now.” He added that other programs “might not be operating the way Auburn is.”
Hugh Freeze on NIL…
“You want to make sure you are operating with what the House settlement says. We’re going by what we believe is the accurate interpretation of it. It’s not really to our advantage right now…”
…saying others might not be operating the way Auburn is.
— Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) July 2, 2025
With the recruiting landscape changing, Freeze said Auburn has shifted its NIL strategy. Instead of focusing on landing new recruits, the program is now prioritizing retaining players already on the roster.
“Retaining the roster does affect the way you approach recruiting, and that’s new,” Freeze said during the AMBUSH caravan in Alexander City. “You were gonna sign some kids and figure out the numbers on the back end, but you can’t do that when you have to be under the revenue sharing cap.”
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The third-year coach also acknowledged the challenges that come with the current system. He said, “If my understanding is correct, with everything we’ve heard, the penalties for going over the cap are not fun. You have to manage that.”
Freeze noted that it is difficult to justify adding new players at positions like quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive line when few are leaving. Last season, Freeze posted a 5-7 record at Auburn.
