Hugh Freeze is seeking serious redemption after a challenging two-year stretch that resulted in an 11-14 record and no bowl victories. This performance has brought him close to the brink of a significant decline. The $20.3 million safety net may not be sufficient if the Tigers continue to underperform. The 2025 season must see Auburn improving their conference record if Freeze wants to enter 2026 as the Tigers’ head coach. However, despite uncertainty over his future, the head coach must plan for the future.

Currently, Freeze and the Tigers have secured seven commitments from the class of 2026, propelling them to the No. 13 spot nationally, just behind the powerhouse Texas Longhorns. However, they are eager to add more talent to their roster. Zion Elee, a five-star EDGE prospect in the class of 2026, appears to be their next target.

Elee committed to the Terps in December of 2024 as the No. 1 edge rusher in the class and the No. 2 athlete out of the state of Maryland. Before his commitment, however, he was widely projected to go to Auburn. However, that didn’t turn out to be the case. Coach Mike Locksley and his staff convinced him way too early to craft a master plan. They are again in a good spot to land the kid is reassessing his commitments with the Terps.

“Well, at first I thought maybe Boston College was making a push. But yeah, that was all about Auburn and the relationships that he’s built with Auburn,” Freeze divulged his secret motive as it is during a conversation with ON3’s Josh Newberg. “I know several coaches went up to Maryland to see him, to see Gyra Edwards, to see Wayne Henry. Auburn made a huge presence there at St. Francis Academy, led by DJ Durkin.

From where does the buzz stem? Well, Elee posted an Eagle on his X account, which fans took as a ‘War Eagle’ for Auburn. The Tigers will also get an official visit from Elee before he ‘closes his recruitment.’ Elee has confirmed his firm stance on Maryland over and over. Is there a chance that he can change his mind? Well, Coach Freeze likes to keep his fingers crossed.

“DJ Durkin was up there, Rock Valenton was up there, Control King Williams, they’ve had a very big footprint up there with St Francis Academy,” Newberg highlighted the strong ties between his high school and the Tigers. “I know Zion. You know he locked it down, or he ended his recruitment. I never fell for it; I don’t know that Auburn never expected him to visit. I think Auburn has always expected him to hold on to that official visit.” 

Terrapins will, however, fight until the end. NIL will play a pivot in his last call. Since he’s a rare breed in his spot, expect teams to throw bags at him. So, it will be a tough call for Freeze to stay relevant in the scene. But they are pushing hard, once and for all.

Auburn is leaving no stone unturned to dish Maryland a heartbreak

Freeze has already gained a commitment from an edge rusher in the class of 2026 in the form of four-star EDGE Hezekiah Harris. But the thought of adding Elee, an elite edge rusher with a stupendous record at both his junior and sophomore years at two different high schools, kind of keeps him lurking for a shot.

In his junior year at St. Frances, Elee amassed 56 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 7 pass breakups, and 3 forced fumbles. The highly touted defender capped off his school stint with Joppatowne High School, where he racked up 64 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks.

ON3’s Chad Simmons broke down their background activities: “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.”

Don’t be shell-shocked if Elee follows in the footsteps of his teammates who have already made it to the Tigers camp pretty soon. An official visit can make or break the deal, nonetheless!