Auburn Facing Stiff Recruiting Competition For Elite RB Recruit

Regardless of which schools come after this priority recruit for Auburn, the Tigers must win the battle.

Even before a 2024 recruiting class that did not include a running back, Alvin Henderson has been a priority for the Auburn coaching staff. Now that Auburn did not sign a running back in the prior class, Henderson coming from the southern part of Alabama, and being an elite player, there's no question Auburn needs to land him. Here's how he performed last season.

According to Max Preps, the Elba (Ala.) High School standout is coming off a junior campaign with 3,523 yards and 61 touchdowns on the ground. Henderson also came away from the 2023 season with 5 receptions, 124 yards, and 1 touchdown.

Auburn had been trending for Rivals #25 recruit in the class of 2025. While there's no reason to believe Hugh Freeze and his staff have not continued to be a frontrunner, there have been several head coaches and top assistants who stopped by Elba High School to recruit him.

The race has gone into high gear.

Coaches like Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and Miami's Mario Cristobal are just two of several that stopped in to see Henderson. As a point to the latter coach, Henderson visited the University of Miami on Jan. 27. 

The Canes are definitely in the race for Henderson as he also took an unofficial visit to Miami during this past season. Now several other teams are truly coming after him.

On Feb. 1 alone, Henderson's X timeline shows him with coaches like Kiffin from the Rebels, a photo with Ole Miss running backs coach Kevin Smith, plus running backs coach Norval McKenzie from Georgia Tech.

On Jan. 31, it was Alabama's Kalen DeBoer and some of his assistants visiting Henderson, along with Georgia head man Kirby Smart stopping by with running backs coach Dell McGee on the same day.

Henderson has proven to be incredibly talented so it's not shocking that teams are doing their best to sign him, but there's also the fact that Auburn no longer has running backs coach Cadillac Williams on the staff; he was close with the talented running back.

Fortunately for Auburn, newly hired offensive coordinator and running backs coach Derrick Nix is making an impact as well. He was just in Elba to see Henderson on the basketball court. The following photo is from Feb. 1.