The early signing period is less than 24 hours away, as new Auburn head coach Alex Golesh is trying to lock down a solid class less than a week after being hired to lead the program.
As of Tuesday evening, there are 11 players committed to Auburn, but that number could easily change before the end of the signing period. One player, in-state tight end Damarcus Broughton Jr., has already flipped from USF to Auburn since Golesh was hired.
Auburn announced on Tuesday that defensive coordinator and former interim head coach DJ Durkin will remain on staff, a move that could help the Tigers’ recruiting efforts.
With that said, here are five of the most important commits for Auburn to retain and sign during the early signing period.
Jaquez Wilkes, 4-star LB
As of Tuesday evening, Wilkes is the highest-ranked Auburn commit, according to 247Sports. He made his pledge to the Tigers in July and is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 67 overall player in the country.
A native of Wadley, Alabama, Wilkes has been a standout player at Wadley High School, leading the program to a state title last year and to a state championship game appearance this Thursday.
He plays linebacker and running back at Wadley, but is being recruited by Auburn to be a linebacker. Durkin has been Wilkes’ primary recruiter, and him staying at Auburn puts the Tigers in a good position to keep Wilkes.
Jase Mathews, 4-star WR
Going into the early signing period, Mathews is one of just two wide receivers committed to Auburn, making him an even more important player for the Tigers to hold on to.
On top of that, Mathews is one of the top wide receivers in the class of 2026. A native of Leakesville, Mississippi, he’s ranked by 247Sports as the 11th-best receiver in the country, and is also being pursued by LSU and Texas A&M.
He’s not expected to sign until Friday, according to reports from 247 and Rivals, which means Auburn will have to work a little longer to keep him in the class.
Wilson Zierer, 4-star OL
Zierer, a four-star prospect from Rabun Gap, Georgia, is the only offensive tackle currently committed to the Tigers. That alone makes him an important player to sign in the next three days.
He’s ranked by 247Sports as the No. 315 overall player in the 2026 class, and the 31st-best offensive tackle. Zierer is one of just two offensive linemen in the class after Nikau Hepi’s decommitment, joining three-star interior lineman Parker Pritchett.
Golesh is reportedly bringing USF offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick with him to Auburn, which could potentially affect Zierer’s recruitment. Whether or not it ultimately does will become clearer this week.
Shadarius Toodle, 4-star LB
Toodle recommitted to Auburn in October, after initially committing to the Tigers in July 2024 and flipping to Georgia in June 2025.
As a linebacker being recruited by Durkin, his signature seems like a relatively safe bet with Durkin staying at Auburn. His brother, Shadrick, is also currently committed to Auburn as a transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
He’s one of three linebackers currently committed, joining Wilkes and Adam Balogoun-Ali. Playing high school football at Cottage Hill Christian Academy in Mobile, Toodle is ranked by the 247Sports composite as the No. 248 overall player in the country and the 13th-best linebacker.
DeShawn Spencer, 3-star WR
The most recent player to commit to Auburn, Spencer seems likely to sign given the timing of his pledge.
The three-star receiver out of Saraland High School flipped to Auburn from Duke, where he had been committed since July 4. Spencer is ranked by the 247Sports composite as the No. 717 overall player in the country and the 103rd-best wide receiver.
Expected to sign on Wednesday and play in the 6A state title game on Friday, Spencer has 84 receptions for 1,584 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. He has also rushed for 458 yards and five touchdowns on 48 carries.
