Hugh Freeze hasn’t exactly lit up SEC scoreboards in his first two years at Auburn, but when it comes to flipping the scoreboard in recruiting battles, he’s making as much noise as anybody. Despite the Tigers’ modest win totals, Freeze has stacked back-to-back top 10 recruiting classes, flexing his muscle as one of the premier closers. And now, he’s at it again—pushing his way into a major five-star commitment from a historic Big Ten program, stirring the pot and refusing to back down. Freeze has built a reputation for thriving in these heavyweight recruiting battles, and his latest pursuit proves he’s as relentless as ever.

The name sending shockwaves through recruiting circles? Zion Elee. The Maryland Terrapins’ crown jewel of the 2026 class, the five-star edge rusher, stands atop the rankings as the No. 1 overall prospect. A game-wrecker who could anchor a defense for years. Elee has made it clear more than once that he’s all in on Maryland, but according to On3’s Chad Simmons, Freeze and Auburn are very much still lurking.

Simmons put it plainly: “I mean, they’re going to try; there’s no doubt about that. They’re going to go all in, continue to recruit Zion. Look there’s still communication going on. To what extent, hard to know on what you hear but we do know that he’ll answer their call or he’ll call them back, and there is communication going on between that Auburn staff and Zion Elee.”

There’s more than just phone calls keeping the Tigers alive in this race. The Auburn pipeline is already strong with players from Elee’s circle. Simmons added, “We also know that he has a teammate, you know, committed there right now. We had three teammates signed with Auburn in 2025. There’s a lot of connections and comfortability there for Zion at Auburn.” That kind of familiarity matters. These recruiting battles often come down to relationships, trust, and environment—and Hugh Freeze has made sure Auburn checks all the boxes.

Simmons also hinted that despite Elee’s public commitment, the door might not be fully closed yet: “All I’m hearing right now is even though Zion is saying that, like you said double down locked in with Maryland, may not take visits, I’m hearing that Auburn still expects him to take that official visit to Auburn, as some other schools do too. And then we’ll see what happens in the next five or six months as the season plays out and signing day approaches.”

Maryland keeping Elee locked down is about more than just star power. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Zion Elee is a rare blend of length, explosiveness, and raw strength off the edge, the kind of talent that instantly changes a defensive identity. His offers weren’t limited to mid-tier programs either. Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and a host of others were clawing at the door before he made his pledge. Back in February, Elee tried to slam the door shut by telling On3’s Hayes Fawcett, “I’m home, no need to explore.” Anyone who knows how recruiting works knows verbal commitments are about as solid as sand until pen meets paper.

Still, Hugh Freeze is built for these moments. He’s a veteran of the recruiting wars, someone who’s never been afraid to jump into five-star dogfights deep in enemy territory. His persistence, combined with Auburn’s growing comfort factor for Elee, gives the Tigers a fighter’s chance. “As long as they just have their foot in the door, that’s all Auburn fans need in April.” And with official visits still looming and the natural chaos of a college football season ahead, there’s a long way to go before the ink dries.

Hugh Freeze is turning up the heat; Auburn O-Line recruiting is getting serious

There’s a lot bubbling on The Plains right now, and while Auburn’s pulled in some serious firepower on the defensive side—five-star Malik Autry and four-star edge Jared Smith in the 2025 class—the real focus now is flipping the switch on the offensive line. Still, any buzz around potential position switches doesn’t seem like it’s about plugging gaps. Auburn is being methodical here, not desperate.

Sure, Auburn only has one O-line commit for the 2026 class so far—three-star Parker Pritchett—but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Hugh Freeze has his eyes on a wave of talent, with nine offensive line recruits lined up for official visits this summer. That’s a lot of beef coming through campus. One name to know? T-Ron Richardson. Auburn just became the first SEC school to offer the three-star Virginia standout. That’s Freeze planting the flag early.

Now, let’s talk pressure. Freeze is heading into Year 3 with expectations mounting. He’s shown he can recruit, but the folks down in Auburn want to see it turn into wins—like now. That said, the 2026 class is sitting at No. 20 nationally, and that’s a strong sign the Freeze machine is still humming.