Elite Auburn Target Announces Finalists and Commitment Date

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Grant Bricker | Last updated Jul 20, 2025 5:25 PM ET

Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze would love a recruiting win after the rough stretch he has had lately.

Some of the team's recent losses include the flips of four-star linebacker Shadarius Toodle to the Georgia Bulldogs and four-star receiver Denairius Gray to the Kentucky Wildcats. Toodle had been pledged to Auburn since July of 2024, and Gray had been committed since January of 2024.

On3's Hayes Fawcett reported Saturday that four-star edge rusher Jaquez Wilkes had Auburn, the Alabama Crimson Tide, Miami Hurricanes, Texas A&M Aggies and Florida State Seminoles as finalists.

The recruit plans to commit to one of them on Monday.

Wilkes is the No. 15 edge rusher in the On3 Industry Rankings for the 2026 class. The Wadley, Alabama, native is also the No. 2 edge from his home state.

The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine is leaning heavily towards Auburn, with the Tigers given a 97.9% chance to add to their class.

If Auburn does land Wilkes, it would be the second edge rusher from the 2026 class to commit to the Tigers, alongside four-star prospect Hezekiah Harris. '

The Tigers' class is also led by four-star athlete Peyton Falzone, four-star linebacker Adam Balogoun-Ali and three-star athlete Kentrell White.

Auburn has visited with Wilkes more than any other school that has recruited him. The Tigers have six visits with him and were one of his two official visits, hosting him on May 30. Wilkes also took an official visit with Texas A&M on June 13.

Landing the recruit would be a rare win for Freeze and the Tigers, given how brutal the last couple of months have been.

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

More must-reads: