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si.com

Auburn Tigers Set for Visit from 4-Star Utah Quarterback

Scott Kennedy

2–3 minutes

The Auburn Tigers are hosting one of the nation's top class of 2026 quarterback prospects this weekend according to a report from 247Sports' Blair Angulo.

Helaman Casuga is a 6'1 and 200-pound signal caller from Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah. He is rated the No. 4 quarterback in the country by ESPN and No. 6 by Rivals.

"The four-star from Draper (Utah) Corner Canyon is at Clemson currently and will follow it up with unofficial visits to Auburn (June 9) and Alabama (June 10) as he continues to showcase his skills for college coaches," wrote Angulo on 247Sports.

Helaman Casuga Sophomore Highlights

Greg Biggins is a California-based national recruiting analyst for 247Sports who has seen plenty of Casuga. He is a big fan of the Utah quarterback.

"Natural thrower, strong mechanically with a quick release," wrote Biggins of Casuga. "Can get the ball down the field on a rope and is very good extending plays and making something happen when the pocket breaks down. At 6-0, 200 pounds, size may be a concern for some but Casuga throws it well enough and has the athleticism to compensate and will play at the high Power 4 level."

Not that they aren't interested in signing a quarterback in this recruiting cycle, but staggering top quarterbacks makes sense. Auburn signed Walker White out of Little Rock, Ark. this year, and he was considered the nation's fifth-best quarterback prospect last cycle by 247Sports.

Recruiting analyst Brian Smith thinks White can be an impact player for the Tigers.

"If White went out to an Atlanta Falcons practice and wore a helmet as he ran onto the field, nobody would question if he belonged out there from a physical point of view," wrote Smith on Auburn Daily. "Arm strength is obvious for anyone who watches him throw bullets during an Auburn practice. White also has good mobility and makes quality throws on the run. On occasion, he will rip off a big run as well."

With a year of separation between White and a 2026 quarterback like Casuga, Auburn can stack the pipeline at the game's most important position.

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Revisiting and reranking Auburns 2021 recruiting class

Nathan King

14–17 minutes

Revisiting and re-ranking Auburn's 2021 recruiting class

In the spirit of recruiting season, we'll revisit the Tigers' recent recruiting hauls to see how they held up and delivered at Auburn — and elsewhere

Recruiting season is about to kick into high gear at Auburn, on the heels of a resurgent 2024 class, the first full recruiting cycle under Hugh Freeze.

And the Tigers have high hopes for their 2025 class, as Freeze believes if the program continue recruiting at a top-10, potentially top-5 level, it can acquire the baseline of talent necessary to return to the upper echelon of the SEC and get back on the road to championship contention.

But what about Auburn's recent recruiting hauls? Getting top prospects is one thing — which Auburn struggled to do during the Harsin era — but development and proper progression on the college level are almost equally as important. Of course, those aspects of a player's football journey become a bit easier when the roster is littered with 4- and 5-star recruits. 

In the spirit of recruiting season, we'll be revisiting the Tigers' recent recruiting hauls to see how they held up and delivered at Auburn — and elsewhere.

Starting with the 2021 class and, well, almost everyone left. Transition classes are always tough to manage, and that was certainly the case going from Gus Malzahn to Harsin. But not only did the quality of recruits dip in 2021, resulting in the No. 18 class in the country, but Auburn was unable to hang on to almost all of them, so player development became essentially nonexistent. 

Three years later, let's break down where each player is in their football career and re-rank Auburn's 2021 recruiting haul as a whole. Before we get rolling, here's a refresher on how the Tigers' signees ranked as members of the class. It's important to note that a player's recruiting stature and general expectations from the high-school or JUCO level will factor into our re-rankings. 

1. DT Lee Hunter

2. EDGE Dylan Brooks

3. QB Dematrius Davis

4. S Ahmari Harvey

5. WR Tar'Varish Dawson

6. OT Colby Smith

7. WR Hal Presley

8. DT Tobechi Okoli

9. DT Marquis Robinson

10. RB Jarquez Hunter

11. DT Ian Mathews

12. TE Landen King

13. OL Garner Langlo

14. CB Ro Torrence

15. LB Joko Willis

16. CB Kamal Hadden

17. CB A.D. Diamond

18. Cayden Bridges

18. DT MARQUIS ROBINSON

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 59 DL

Auburn stats: 2 tkls

Schools: Auburn (2021-22), Jones College (2023)

Player grade: D+

Once rated a composite 4-star recruit, Robinson had a number of SEC offers and Power Five offers before committing to Auburn and former position coach Rodney Garner. Robinson hit the portal after one year with the Tigers, then withdrew after missing spring practice, appearing in only two games in 2022. After Freeze was hired, Robinson transferred again, as he was set to be on his third D-line coach in as many years. Despite being rated as a solid transfer prospect on the market, Robinson went the JUCO route, and is in the portal again with two years of eligibility left.

17. OL GARNER LANGLO

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 49 OT

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2021-22), App State (2024-pres.)

Player grade: D+

It's tough to evaluate Langlo's progression as a player, considering he retired from football last preseason and spent the year at Auburn away from the sport. He then decided to put the cleats back on, entering the transfer portal this spring and committing to App State. Nicknamed "Hulk" by some Auburn fans for his impressive stature, Langlo has still yet to appear in a game at the college level.

16. S CAYDEN BRIDGES

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 175 S

Auburn stats: 19 tkls, 1 PBU

Schools: Auburn (2021-22)

Player grade: C-

The lowest-rated recruit Auburn signed in 2021, Bridges made a name for himself during the 2022 season, and then proceeded to remain in the mix for the starting safety job under the new coaching staff in spring practice. Less than two weeks before fall camp began, though, Bridges was removed from Auburn's roster for undisclosed reasons. There are no signs on social media or elsewhere that he found another program for the 2023 season, nor has he continued his career since.

Joko Willis (Greg McWilliams, 247Sports)

15. LB JOKO WILLIS

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 5 JUCO LB

Auburn stats: 4 tkls

Schools: Auburn (2021-22), Nebraska-Kearney (2023)

Player grade: C-

Willis, a nimble linebacker who also moonlighted in a pass-rushing role for the Tigers, had some exciting practice moments for the program before transferring about a week after Freeze was hired. Willis went to the Division-II level and started for a season, and now he's back on the market as an uncommitted grad transfer. Willis' career hasn't yielded any high-level production, but it's worth noting Willis, a former Kentucky commit before flipping to Auburn, was the fourth-lowest rated player in the Tigers' 2021 class.

14. CB A.D. DIAMOND

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 126 CB

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2021-22), UAB (2023)

Player grade: C-

It didn't come as a massive surprise that the No. 126 cornerback prospect didn't crack the Tigers' secondary rotation, and he was part of the fall 2022 transfer exodus before Harsin was fired. However, Diamond was able to remain on the FBS level and in his home state, committing to UAB, where he had six tackles and an interception last season. Diamond entered the portal after the season, though, and has not committed to a new program.

13. DE TOBECHI OKOLI

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 53 DL

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2021-22), Iowa State (2023)

Player grade: C-

An impressive athlete at 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, Okoli gave Auburn's new coaching staff a chance and went through last year's spring practices, then decided to hit the portal. He was able to find a nice landing spot in the Big 12, where he saw his first college playing time, appearing in three games and registering three tackles and two QB hurries. However, Okoli no longer appears on the Cyclones' roster, and there are no indications via social media that he has committed elsewhere.

12. DE IAN MATHEWS

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 84 DL

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2021), Missouri (2022-23), Georgia State (2024)

Player grade: C

Aside from top signee Lee Hunter, Auburn's recruiting along the defensive line left a lot to be desired in this class, but Mathews has been able to remain on the FBS level after departing the Tigers after just one season. Mathews did not appear in any games at Missouri, either, before he decided to hit the portal again, landing at Georgia State under new head coach Dell McGee this cycle.

11. OT COLBY SMITH

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 27 OT

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2021-22), Troy (2023-pres.)

Player grade: C

Part of the success of Auburn offensive line coach Jake Thornton since arriving on campus has been his ability to rebuild the room's numbers and keep several previous signees from transferring. Smith, however, was a blue-chip prospect that opted to leave, and his transfer decision made a lot of sense when he joined former Auburn O-line analyst Joe Bernardi at Troy. Smith started one game at guard last season and appeared in six more, but when Bernardi was not retained by new head coach Gerard Parker, Smith appeared to exit the program, as he does not appear on Troy's 2024 roster.

Dylan Brooks (Adam Bow, Getty)

10. EDGE DYLAN BROOKS

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 8 EDGE

Auburn stats: 6 tkls, 1 TFL

Schools: Auburn (2021-22), Kansas (2023)

Player grade: C

At one point a massive recruiting flip for Harsin and his staff from Tennessee, Brooks' transfer left Auburn gasping for depth at its pass-rusher spot, though Freeze and his coaches were able to sign App State transfer Jalen McLeod to lead the position group. After flirting with the possibility of joining his former Auburn position coach Roc Bellantoni at FAU, Brooks transferred to Kansas, where he had a minor role last season and is hoped to develop into a bigger piece for the Jayhawks' defense moving forward.

9. WR TAR'VARISH DAWSON

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 13 ATH

Auburn stats: 2 rec, 30 yds

Schools: Auburn (2021-22), Colorado (2023)

Player grade: C

"Chick" Dawson looked to be a breakout candidate for Auburn's offense, but his playing time in 2022 wasn't what it was expected to be. He was one of the final transfer exits before Harsin's firing, and he proceeded to land with Deion Sanders at Colorado. Dawson had all 124 of his yards and a touchdown last September before disappearing from the Buffs' rotation the rest of the season, then he was dismissed from the Colorado program in February. Dawson has shared a number of FBS offers but has yet to commit to a new program.

8. QB DEMATRIUS DAVIS

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 22 QB

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2021), Alabama State (2022-23), UTSA (2024-pres.)

Player grade: B-

Auburn's QB of the future once upon a time, Davis found himself in the backseat of the competition after 2022 spring practices. The winningest quarterback in Texas high school football history landed down the road at Alabama State, where he started nine games in 2022, and played in only five games last season before an injury. UTSA had a major void at quarterback with longtime starter Frank Harris out of eligibility, so the Roadrunners added Davis out of the portal earlier this offseason. Davis' expectations may have been lofty out of high school, but he's brought himself into a couple advantageous situations for playing time, and now some added exposure back at the FBS level.

7. CB AHMARI HARVEY

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 17 S

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2021), Georgia Tech (2022-pres.)

Player grade: B+

Moving from safety to corner with the Yellow Jackets, Harvey bided his time at Georgia Tech for a year before settling into a role in the secondary in 2023, appearing in every game, including five starts, 32 tackles and three picks. Georgia Tech had a surprisingly successful Year 1 under Brent Key, and Harvey is projected as a full-time starter with a chance to make a big impact for his defense moving forward.

(Tim Warner, Getty)

6. WR HAL PRESLEY

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 51 WR

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2021), Baylor (2021-pres.)

Player grade: B+

A long and athletic prospect from Texas, Presley spent less than a month on Auburn's campus, transferring out shortly after summer workouts began ahead of the 2021 season. Citing homesickness, he landed at Baylor, where he's caught 50 passes for 620 yards and four touchdowns over the past three seasons. Maybe there wouldn't have been a role for Presley in the Tigers' 2024 receiving corps, but Auburn has spent the past couple years searching for playmakers out wide, and Presley has had consistent growth at the position. He quickly made a heel turn out of high school but certainly appears to have made the right decision.

5. WR LANDEN KING

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 40 TE

Auburn stats: 6 rec, 83 yds, TD

Schools: Auburn (2021-22), Utah (2023-pres.)

Player grade: A-

An Auburn fan favorite after he caught an Iron Bowl touchdown in overtime as a freshman, King was an exciting piece for the Tigers' passing game. But his role was minor in his sophomore season in 2022, and King opted to sit out and redshirt the rest of the year before ultimately transferring. Switching full time to receiver, he landed at Utah, where he caught three touchdowns last season and looks to be a fixture in the Utes' offense moving forward.

4. DT LEE HUNTER

247Sports ranking: 4-star, No. 15 DL

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2021), UCF (2022-pres.)

Player grade: A-

Reuniting with Gus Malzahn, who recruited him at Auburn before being fired, Hunter was the top-rated overall player in the Tigers' recruiting class out of the Mobile, Alabama, area. At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, he looked to be primed for a role with the Tigers before heading to UCF, where he started every game last season, racking up a whopping 69 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. Hunter's size and productivity could have him on draft boards next year with another solid season in the Big 12, and Auburn spent the past few months searching in the portal for players like him.

3. CB RO TORRENCE

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 4 JUCO CB

Auburn stats: 5 tkls

Schools: Auburn (2021), Arizona State (2022-23)

Player grade: A-

Auburn was excited about the potential for Torrence to contribute within the secondary moving forward, but he opted to transfer after a sparing role in his first season with the program. For his final two years of eligibility, Torrence took his talents to the Pac-12 at Arizona State, where he proceeded to start 21 games, en route to an NFL Combine invite in February. The Bessemmer, Alabama, native became an undrafted free agent and was quickly signed by the Seahawks.

2. CB KAMAL HADDEN 

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 6 JUCO CB

Auburn stats: N/A

Schools: Auburn (2021), Tennessee (2021-23)

Player grade: A-

Auburn took two JUCO cornerbacks in this class, and both have NFL opportunities heading into 2024. Hadden, after an impressive start to his 2023 season, had shoulder surgery and missed the rest of the year for Tennessee, but was still drafted in the sixth round in April by the Chiefs. Transferring out from Auburn after only a few months on campus back in the spring of 2021, Hadden made 15 starts with the Vols and logged six interceptions and 12 pass breakups.

Jarquez Hunter (Wesley Hitt, Getty)

1. RB JARQUEZ HUNTER

247Sports ranking: 3-star, No. 40 RB

Auburn stats: 2,170 rushing yards, 17 TDs

Schools: Auburn (2021-pres.)

Player grade: A

Yeah, there's no question about this one. Sure, Hunter's recruitment started to blow up late, with interest from in-state programs Ole Miss and Mississippi State, but the fact that a 3-star recruit stuck through the Harsin era and has a chance to exit the Plains with more than 3,000 career yards definitely puts him atop our list here. Hunter can likely parlay his success on the Plains into an NFL draft selection next spring, which carries some weight. But the fact that he is the only player from the class still on Auburn's roster — and he's blossomed, to boot — makes the rising senior running back our No. 1 player from the Tigers' 2021 recruiting haul, after he's been an important contributor to the offense since arriving on campus.

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al.com

Auburn wins the commitment of 4-star cornerback Donovan Starr

Updated: Jun. 06, 2024, 2:55 p.m.|Published: Jun. 06, 2024, 2:55 p.m.

~2 minutes

Fresh off his first visit to The Plains, 4-star cornerback Donovan Starr has committed to Auburn, he announced in a post to social media Thursday.

“I just got that feeling, it felt like home and when you know you know,” Starr wrote in his announcement.

Starr, who took an official visit to Auburn on June 4, ranks as 27th cornerback in the class of 2025 and the sixth-best prospect in the state of Tennessee — regardless of position — according to 247Sports.

Prior to Thursday’s commitment, Starr had also recently visited Tennessee and Clemson.

In addition to Auburn, 31 other programs have extended offers to Starr, including Florida, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss and others.

In joining committing to the Tigers, Auburn’s ninth-ranked 2025 recruiting class has swelled to 12 commits. Starr joins the class with fellow 4-star cornerback Devin Williams and 3-star cornerback Dante Core.

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lets bring back the debates.

 

 

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[ArgoEagle 2,052]

1 hour ago, aubiefifty said:

 

It better be our whole DLine or we are in trouble.

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1 hour ago, ArgoEagle said:

It better be our whole DLine or we are in trouble.

to be honest i am just a fan but i think we have outstanding coaches and better players in a lot of areas. i believe if thorneplays better this year we do better. he dang sure cannot complain about the line or receivers anymore. now i am he assumed that in his mind because leaders do not bash their players. check back with me for further insights as i am here every single day unless i am mad or sick.

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i will check back tomorrow boys. steroids have me so wound up i cannot sleep. thus the early posting.

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ESPN breaks down Auburn’s quarterback situation heading into the 2024 season

Taylor Jones

Fri, June 7, 2024 at 2:00 PM CDT·1 min read

Auburn’s offense is all but entirely revamped heading into the 2024 season. However, its biggest concern remains at the quarterback position.

ESPN released its FBS quarterback tiers list this week where Auburn falls in Tier 13, subtitled “Year II, Part II.” ESPN describes the tier as a list of transfer quarterbacks who need to take a step forward as they enter their second season at their respective programs. Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, and Houston join Auburn in this tier.

Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne will get another shot to lead the Tigers’ offense this season after experiencing a challenging debut season on the Plains by passing for 1,755 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also threw 11 interceptions and completed just 61% of his passes. Three other quarterbacks saw action last season in addition to Thorne. The trio of Holden Geriner, Robby Ashford, and Hank Brown combined to pass for 354 yards and two touchdowns.

ESPN shares a disheartening stat regarding Auburn’s 2023 passing numbers, which sparks the need for improvement.

In Hugh Freeze’s 11-year career as a head coach, last year marked the lowest total of passing yards, passing touchdowns, yards per dropback and completions of 20 yards or more by his QBs.

Geriner returns as a backup to Thorne, while Brown and true freshman Walker White look to compete for snaps as well. The pressure will be tight for Thorne, as he looks to progress with a new group of receivers to pass to.

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__

Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire