The spring recruiting window is already gaining unprecedented hype, with a number of talents jumping ship to the schools of their choice, and nationally ranked No. 27 offensive lineman Darius Gray is no exception to these swaps. His recruitment saga has been a rollercoaster ride with six official visits piled up in June. Schools, including Virginia Tech, Clemson, Tennessee, LSU, Penn State, and South Carolina, didn’t miss out on securing a single official visit for each from the Richmond (Virginia) St. Christopher’s star. Ohio State and Michigan are currently vying for their turn but it seems they might have to wait till September to test their fate.

Meanwhile, Auburn Tigers and Hugh Freeze are heavily sliding into the shortlist and seem to be in a prime position to land the 6’3″ 285 lb standout OL.

Auburn Tigers is getting amped up in Darius Gray’s recruitment race

Finally, the Tigers managed to earn an official visit with Darius Gray. The No. 2 IOL in the recruiting class of 2026 and the No. 2 recruit out of Virginia has always been a key target for Auburn football. Breaking down the potential of Darius Gray for Freeze and the Tigers, insider Darrell Dapprich noted: ”He would be obviously the highest-rated offensive lineman if Auburn was to get him in this upcoming class. He’s the Crown Jewel, the one that Auburn wants. I love how Auburn’s broadening.” Dapprich explained Hugh Freeze’s minute recruiting excellence, “It’s not only they going after offensive linemen in significant quantities, they are going all across the country… They’re not being confined to a particular region.”

“This kid it’s a 6 ft 3′ 285 interior offensive lineman obviously we probably have to put some weight on it, but man, he’s got all the big schools coming after him and would definitely be he’s very highly ranked as you mentioned five stars in most places,’‘ the guest of the Locked on Auburn podcast added. His blend of size, unique athleticism, and premium technique has made him a top tier in his rank. Gray initially committed to some other school before taking it to Knoxville, Tennessee, after one official visit. Tennessee Volunteers‘ coaching staff, including Josh Heupel, seemed to have greatly impacted the 4-star recruit’s headspace, triggering a quick decision.

However, right now, the ball is not only on the Vols’ court. “His official visits look to be Tennessee, Auburn, LSU Penn State, and South Carolina The official visit date for Auburn appears to be June 10th a lot of folks kind of saying hey South Carolina might be the early lean but with all these official visits – you know – I’m never going to count this coaching staff out,” podcast host Zack Blackerby kept the door open for some other high octane schools to make rounds as long as anything doesn’t get inked on pen and paper.

Hugh Freeze has some solid competitors to breathe at his neck

Hugh Freeze is indeed leaving no stone unturned to swoop the key target of his 2026 offensive room, but the path won’t be easy. On3’s Steve Wiltfong recently predicted that the South Carolina Gamecocks would land Darius Gray, with the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine giving them a 90% chance of gaining his commitment. Offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley has been instrumental in Gray’s recruitment. However, as Auburn gets into the role, it’s a palpable heartbreak for the Gamecocks HC Shane Beamer. Things are similar in the north as well, as UNC Tar Heels head coach and former NFL GOAT Bill Belichick also had his eyes on the super-talented OL in the house.

The Gamecocks have already landed another 2026 offensive lineman prospect, Anthony Baxter. The addition of Gray will give them a robust edge on the offense. Clemson also stands out as one of the strongest contenders in the five-star OL’s dramatic recruitment race. They extended an early offer to him back in the summer of last year. After receiving the scholarship, Gray was visibly overwhelmed and didn’t shy away from sharing his feelings.

“That means everything. To be hand-picked means a lot to me. It just reminds me that working hard gets me where I dreamed of being,” Gray noted. It will be riveting to see where the highly demanded IOL finally finds his next collegiate home, ending his long-standing search.