Auburn football landed nine of Alabama’s top-20 recruits from the 2025 cycle. As summer visits heat up, Hugh Freeze and his staff will aim to replicate last year’s success.
Out of the nine players signed from Alabama’s top 20, seven of those ranked in the state’s top 10 rankings. Defensive lineman Malik Autry, EDGE Jared Smith, Safety Anquon Fegans, and Safety Eric Winters were among Auburn’s haul in 2025, with Auburn missing out on No. 6 Zion Grady (Ohio State) and No. 1 Na’eem Offord (Oregon).
Early in the 2026 cycle, Auburn has two commitments from in-state players and is in good standing with several others. Successful visits and aggressive recruiting over the next several months will be vital for Auburn to replicate its success with in-state talent in 2026.
Here is a look at the top-20 recruits from Alabama in the 2026 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports, and where Auburn stands with each one.
No. 20 Jamarrion Gordon (three-star Safety, Jackson High School)
Gordon is a part of a loaded roster at Jackson High School that also features Auburn targets QB Landon Duckworth and RB Ezavier Crowell. 247Sports does not list a favorite to land Gordon currently, but he has scheduled official visits to Oklahoma State, North Carolina, Ole Miss, and Florida. Auburn appears not to be on Gordon’s radar.
No. 19 Ja’Michael Jones (three-star RB, Pike Road High School)
Jones is among the nation’s best running backs, ranking as high as No. 36 nationally. He recently committed to Ole Miss, but Auburn is still in the running according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, which gives the Tigers a 26.9% chance to land him despite his Ole Miss pledge.
No. 18 Keenan Britt (three-star LB, Oxford High School)
Britt, the brother of former Auburn linebacker KJ Britt, announced his pledge to South Carolina last August, choosing the Gamecocks over Auburn and Oregon. He has picked up several more offers since committing to South Carolina, and he is scheduled to visit Florida officially later this month. Time will tell, but it appears that Britt is locked in with Shane Beamer and South Carolina.
No. 17 Kamhariyan Johnson (three-star EDGE, Muscle Shoals High School)
Alabama locked up Muscle Shoals product Kamhariyan Johnson on April 12, winning a recruiting battle with Auburn, Ole Miss, Clemson, and Miami. However, it appears that Auburn is not out of the race for Johnson as he plans to visit the Plains officially on June 10. He will also visit Clemson, Alabama, USC, and Miami over the summer.
No. 16 ArMari Towns (three-star TE, Southside-Selma High School)
Auburn signed former Southside receivers Derick and Erick Smith to their 2025 recruiting class, but has not had the same success with their high school teammate ArMari Towns, who committed to Purdue in April. Purdue is Towns’ best offer to this point in his recruitment, with programs such as Memphis, Troy, Arizona, and South Alabama also showing interest.
No. 15 Dylan Cope (three-star WR, Hewitt-Trussville High School)
Cope, who led the Huskies in receiving last year with 504 yards and five touchdowns on 40 catches, has racked up several offers this calendar year, with Georgia and Ole Miss being the most notable. Auburn has not extended an offer to Cope this year, but it could change as we inch closer to signing day.
No. 14 Corey Barber (three-star WR, Spain Park High School)
Auburn was one of the first Power Four programs to extend an offer to Barber in January. Since then, programs such as Mississippi State, Miami, Ole Miss, and Georgia have reached out to the talented receiver. It appears early on that Tennessee is gaining ground following a visit to Rocky Top in March and with a scheduled official visit in June.
No. 13 Jonah Winston (three-star WR, Hoover High School)
The brother of former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has racked up several offers from programs including UAB, Georgia State, Memphis, and Georgia Southern. In a January interview with On3, Winston shared that Auburn, along with Florida State, UCF, and Ole Miss, were recruiting Winston the hardest. Could Auburn win the Winston sweepstakes?
No. 12 Shadarius Toodle (Four-star LB, Cottage Hill Christian Academy)
Toodle committed to Auburn way before 2026 recruiting was on the clock, doing so in July of 2024. Several schools, such as Baylor, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, continue to recruit Toodle hard, but he remains a solid Auburn pledge heading into the heart of May.
No. 11 Dylan Purter (four-star CB, Booker T. Washington High School)
Auburn found success by recruiting nearby Booker T. Washington High School two years ago when it landed Joe Phillips. However, it appears out of the running for its top 2026 recruit, cornerback Dylan Purter. Purter committed to LSU in March, and he has scheduled official visits to Vanderbilt, Kentucky, LSU, and Tulane this summer.
No. 10 Keeyun Chapman (four-star WR, Jackson High School)
Chapman is not the first Jackson High star on this list (nor is he the last). He is receiving plenty of Power Four interest due to his 6-4, 195-pound frame and his speed. Chapman backed off his pledge to UCF last December and has since racked up offers from USC, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina.
No. 9 Marquez Daniel (four-star WR, Booker T. Washington High School)
Daniel remains uncommitted, but Auburn may have a chance to close the deal this summer. The Tuskegee native will officially visit Auburn on June 6 before scouting out the Florida Gators on June 13. He will be a name to keep an eye on as the summer progresses.
No. 8 Hezekiah Harris (four-star EDGE, Mae Jemison High School)
Harris is Auburn’s top commit at this point in the cycle and has been one of Auburn’s longest tenured commits by announcing his pledge last July. Tennessee and Florida remain Auburn’s biggest competitors for Harris as the summer begins.
No. 7 Ezavier Crowell (four-star RB, Jackson High School)
Crowell recently announced that he will no longer announce his commitment on Dec. 31 this year, which could mean he plans to announce his college home sooner. Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas join Auburn in the pursuit of Crowell.
No. 6 Jaquez Wilkes (four-star EDGE, Wadley High School)
Wilkes is a player who can play multiple positions, which is why many of the nation’s top programs are showing interest. He holds offers from Alabama, North Carolina, Missouri, and Georgia to name a few, but Auburn is the only program to schedule an official visit with him; it will take place on May 30.
No. 5 Zyan Gibson (four-star CB, Gadsden City High School)
Gibson has been a loyal Alabama pledge since December of last year, and has not scheduled a visit with Auburn despite the Tigers being a program that offered him early on.
No. 4 Vodney Cleveland (four-star DL, Parker High School)
There are very few recruits who top Cleveland on Auburn’s recruiting board, and will have a chance to close the deal on May 16 when Auburn hosts Cleveland for an official visit. Florida is the only other program to schedule a visit with Cleveland, which could create a close race ahead of summer.
No. 3 Landon Duckworth (four-star QB, Jackson High School)
Duckworth will visit Auburn the same day as Cleveland, which could turn into a busy, yet entertaining day on the recruiting trail. However, Auburn will have a tougher time with Duckworth as Ole Miss, Florida State, and South Carolina also show heavy interest. Ole Miss is the favorite to sign Duckworth, with South Carolina close behind.
No. 2 Anthony Jones (four-star EDGE, St. Paul’s Episcopal)
Jones remains uncommitted, but he is Auburn’s to lose. 247Sports’ Tom Loy of 247Sports has submitted a crystal ball prediction for Auburn to land Jones, but it will possibly take an official visit to secure the deal. At the time of this post, Jones has not scheduled a visit to Auburn.
No. 1 Cedarian Morgan (four-star WR, Benjamin Russell High School)
The last wide receiver Auburn signed from Benjamin Russell worked out, and Hugh Freeze is looking to keep the trend alive. Malcolm Simmons was Auburn’s third-leading receiver last season with 451 yards and three touchdowns on 40 catches, and is poised to have another strong season on the Plains. 247Sports gives Auburn the edge to land Morgan with a 67% forecast, with Alabama next in line at 33%.
Morgan will visit Auburn on June 13 and will announce his commitment on July 2.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: How Auburn is faring with Alabama’s top-20 2026 football recruits
Auburn football landed nine of Alabama’s top-20 recruits from the 2025 cycle. As summer visits heat up, Hugh Freeze and his staff will aim to replicate last year’s success.
Out of the nine players signed from Alabama’s top 20, seven of those ranked in the state’s top 10 rankings. Defensive lineman Malik Autry, EDGE Jared Smith, Safety Anquon Fegans, and Safety Eric Winters were among Auburn’s haul in 2025, with Auburn missing out on No. 6 Zion Grady (Ohio State) and No. 1 Na’eem Offord (Oregon).
Early in the 2026 cycle, Auburn has two commitments from in-state players and is in good standing with several others. Successful visits and aggressive recruiting over the next several months will be vital for Auburn to replicate its success with in-state talent in 2026.
Here is a look at the top-20 recruits from Alabama in the 2026 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports, and where Auburn stands with each one.
No. 20 Jamarrion Gordon (three-star Safety, Jackson High School)
Gordon is a part of a loaded roster at Jackson High School that also features Auburn targets QB Landon Duckworth and RB Ezavier Crowell. 247Sports does not list a favorite to land Gordon currently, but he has scheduled official visits to Oklahoma State, North Carolina, Ole Miss, and Florida. Auburn appears not to be on Gordon’s radar.
No. 19 Ja’Michael Jones (three-star RB, Pike Road High School)
Jones is among the nation’s best running backs, ranking as high as No. 36 nationally. He recently committed to Ole Miss, but Auburn is still in the running according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, which gives the Tigers a 26.9% chance to land him despite his Ole Miss pledge.
No. 18 Keenan Britt (three-star LB, Oxford High School)
Britt, the brother of former Auburn linebacker KJ Britt, announced his pledge to South Carolina last August, choosing the Gamecocks over Auburn and Oregon. He has picked up several more offers since committing to South Carolina, and he is scheduled to visit Florida officially later this month. Time will tell, but it appears that Britt is locked in with Shane Beamer and South Carolina.
No. 17 Kamhariyan Johnson (three-star EDGE, Muscle Shoals High School)
Alabama locked up Muscle Shoals product Kamhariyan Johnson on April 12, winning a recruiting battle with Auburn, Ole Miss, Clemson, and Miami. However, it appears that Auburn is not out of the race for Johnson as he plans to visit the Plains officially on June 10. He will also visit Clemson, Alabama, USC, and Miami over the summer.
No. 16 ArMari Towns (three-star TE, Southside-Selma High School)
Auburn signed former Southside receivers Derick and Erick Smith to their 2025 recruiting class, but has not had the same success with their high school teammate ArMari Towns, who committed to Purdue in April. Purdue is Towns’ best offer to this point in his recruitment, with programs such as Memphis, Troy, Arizona, and South Alabama also showing interest.
No. 15 Dylan Cope (three-star WR, Hewitt-Trussville High School)
Cope, who led the Huskies in receiving last year with 504 yards and five touchdowns on 40 catches, has racked up several offers this calendar year, with Georgia and Ole Miss being the most notable. Auburn has not extended an offer to Cope this year, but it could change as we inch closer to signing day.
No. 14 Corey Barber (three-star WR, Spain Park High School)
Auburn was one of the first Power Four programs to extend an offer to Barber in January. Since then, programs such as Mississippi State, Miami, Ole Miss, and Georgia have reached out to the talented receiver. It appears early on that Tennessee is gaining ground following a visit to Rocky Top in March and with a scheduled official visit in June.
No. 13 Jonah Winston (three-star WR, Hoover High School)
The brother of former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has racked up several offers from programs including UAB, Georgia State, Memphis, and Georgia Southern. In a January interview with On3, Winston shared that Auburn, along with Florida State, UCF, and Ole Miss, were recruiting Winston the hardest. Could Auburn win the Winston sweepstakes?
No. 12 Shadarius Toodle (Four-star LB, Cottage Hill Christian Academy)
Toodle committed to Auburn way before 2026 recruiting was on the clock, doing so in July of 2024. Several schools, such as Baylor, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, continue to recruit Toodle hard, but he remains a solid Auburn pledge heading into the heart of May.
No. 11 Dylan Purter (four-star CB, Booker T. Washington High School)
Auburn found success by recruiting nearby Booker T. Washington High School two years ago when it landed Joe Phillips. However, it appears out of the running for its top 2026 recruit, cornerback Dylan Purter. Purter committed to LSU in March, and he has scheduled official visits to Vanderbilt, Kentucky, LSU, and Tulane this summer.
No. 10 Keeyun Chapman (four-star WR, Jackson High School)
Chapman is not the first Jackson High star on this list (nor is he the last). He is receiving plenty of Power Four interest due to his 6-4, 195-pound frame and his speed. Chapman backed off his pledge to UCF last December and has since racked up offers from USC, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina.
No. 9 Marquez Daniel (four-star WR, Booker T. Washington High School)
Daniel remains uncommitted, but Auburn may have a chance to close the deal this summer. The Tuskegee native will officially visit Auburn on June 6 before scouting out the Florida Gators on June 13. He will be a name to keep an eye on as the summer progresses.
No. 8 Hezekiah Harris (four-star EDGE, Mae Jemison High School)
Harris is Auburn’s top commit at this point in the cycle and has been one of Auburn’s longest tenured commits by announcing his pledge last July. Tennessee and Florida remain Auburn’s biggest competitors for Harris as the summer begins.
No. 7 Ezavier Crowell (four-star RB, Jackson High School)
Crowell recently announced that he will no longer announce his commitment on Dec. 31 this year, which could mean he plans to announce his college home sooner. Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas join Auburn in the pursuit of Crowell.
No. 6 Jaquez Wilkes (four-star EDGE, Wadley High School)
Wilkes is a player who can play multiple positions, which is why many of the nation’s top programs are showing interest. He holds offers from Alabama, North Carolina, Missouri, and Georgia to name a few, but Auburn is the only program to schedule an official visit with him; it will take place on May 30.
No. 5 Zyan Gibson (four-star CB, Gadsden City High School)
Gibson has been a loyal Alabama pledge since December of last year, and has not scheduled a visit with Auburn despite the Tigers being a program that offered him early on.
No. 4 Vodney Cleveland (four-star DL, Parker High School)
There are very few recruits who top Cleveland on Auburn’s recruiting board, and will have a chance to close the deal on May 16 when Auburn hosts Cleveland for an official visit. Florida is the only other program to schedule a visit with Cleveland, which could create a close race ahead of summer.
No. 3 Landon Duckworth (four-star QB, Jackson High School)
Duckworth will visit Auburn the same day as Cleveland, which could turn into a busy, yet entertaining day on the recruiting trail. However, Auburn will have a tougher time with Duckworth as Ole Miss, Florida State, and South Carolina also show heavy interest. Ole Miss is the favorite to sign Duckworth, with South Carolina close behind.
No. 2 Anthony Jones (four-star EDGE, St. Paul’s Episcopal)
Jones remains uncommitted, but he is Auburn’s to lose. 247Sports’ Tom Loy of 247Sports has submitted a crystal ball prediction for Auburn to land Jones, but it will possibly take an official visit to secure the deal. At the time of this post, Jones has not scheduled a visit to Auburn.
No. 1 Cedarian Morgan (four-star WR, Benjamin Russell High School)
The last wide receiver Auburn signed from Benjamin Russell worked out, and Hugh Freeze is looking to keep the trend alive. Malcolm Simmons was Auburn’s third-leading receiver last season with 451 yards and three touchdowns on 40 catches, and is poised to have another strong season on the Plains. 247Sports gives Auburn the edge to land Morgan with a 67% forecast, with Alabama next in line at 33%.
Morgan will visit Auburn on June 13 and will announce his commitment on July 2.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: How Auburn is faring with Alabama’s top-20 2026 football recruits
