Elite Mississippi WR Drops Auburn in his Group of Finalists

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jordan Merritt | Last updated Jun 25, 2025 2:05 PM ET

The state of Mississippi has some top talent in the 2026 class, several of them wide receivers. One of those is Jase Mathews, a four-star wide receiver. He has revealed his five finalists, and one of those is the Auburn Tigers, per Billy Embody of On3.

Matthews is also considering the Ole Miss Rebels, the Colorado Buffaloes, the LSU Tigers, and the Texas A&M Aggies. The No. 10-ranked wide receiver spoke to On3 regarding his decision-making process, and his words reveal why he is taking his time to consider where his home is in college.

"One of the hardest decisions I'll ever make in my whole life," said Matthews.

Matthews is ranked the No. 4 player in the state of Mississippi, with three of the top six players as wide receivers. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound pass catcher is a top 100 player, ranked No. 77 in the On3 Industry Rankings. Ole Miss looks to be favored early, but Auburn also is in with a shot.

Head coach Hugh Freeze could use a win after experiencing some disappointment with the 2026 recruiting class. The Tigers have lost two commits, with Shadarius Toodle flipping to the Georgia Bulldogs and then, 24 hours later, wide receiver Devin Carter doing the same, heading to the Florida State Seminoles. Mike Norvell's team also landed a commit over Auburn in four-star tight end Xavier Tiller.

Jase Matthews is unlikely to be the boost Freeze will get, as he is not set to announce his decision anytime soon. However, the Tigers are in the race.

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

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