Alabama Legend Rips Hugh Freeze to Shreds Amid Auburn’s Recruiting Struggles

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 1:14 PM ET

Former Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron has never been shy about expressing his opinions, especially when it comes to Auburn football. On a recent episode of "The Dynasty" podcast, McCarron didn't hold back when discussing Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze and the Tigers’ ongoing recruiting struggles.

“Well, I'll just start by saying this. Hugh Freeze is full of (expletive)," McCarron bluntly stated.

Auburn's recent recruiting issues have become impossible to ignore, especially given the program’s high expectations. In 2024, the Tigers had the No. 10 recruiting class and followed that up with the No. 8 class in 2025, according to 247Sports.

Unfortunately, Auburn has barely made a mark in its 2026 class, securing just eight commitments and is ranked 78th.

Meanwhile, their archrival Alabama continues to thrive, as they've secured several top-rated five-star recruits in recent weeks, which only increases the pressure on Freeze.

McCarron further elaborated on Freeze’s situation, saying, “I think Hugh Freeze is trying to do whatever he can to save face. He's starting to feel pressure at Auburn. I think not going into his third year, not having the success that the alumni, the boosters, everybody donating a lot of money thought that he would have by this point."

Freeze recently made headlines by suggesting that Auburn was playing by the rules, implying that other schools were not following the same standards in their recruiting practices. But McCarron clearly sees that statement differently, pointing out that it's more about Freeze scrambling for excuses than making legitimate complaints.

"I think he's trying to figure out and scramble on why they are not successful," McCarron said. "I played golf with somebody that's really connected at Auburn and he was even talking about it from a sense of supposedly they had $50 million leading up to this year in their collective that they were wanting to go out and get athletes, and they're pissed on the fact that it hasn't been successful like they thought it would be."

As Auburn enters the 2025 season, expectations are mounting. Freeze was brought in specifically to help Auburn compete directly against Alabama and other SEC powerhouses. Yet Freeze and the Tigers finished with a 5-7 record in 2024 and is 5-11 against the SEC in his two seasons at Auburn.

Entering his third year, patience among fans and boosters is wearing thin. A mediocre recruiting cycle and subpar on-field performance could quickly push Freeze from the hot seat to the unemployment line.

McCarron's pointed critique underscores the tense reality Freeze faces: The excuses are running out, and it's time for Auburn to either turn potential into results or prepare for yet another coaching change.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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