4-star OT Nick Brooks is discreet about his recruitment. He may have committed to Steve Sarkisian and Texas back in August over other programs, including SEC rivals. But he’s still open to other choices as signing day looks closer. And among all other programs, Auburn emerges as a potential threat to Brooks’ commitment to Texas. 

Auburnlive Recruiting reporter Jeffrey Lee joined Josh Newberg in a new YouTube episode on On3 Recruits on November 5 to drop some intel on Nick Brooks. According to Lee, Auburn has something for the Grayson high school standout that Texas doesn’t. He said, “Auburn has consistently communicated with him since early in the spring. He committed to Texas but what Auburn has there with Nick Brooks is Kenyatta Watson.” 

When it comes to ties with Grayson HS, there’s a familiar face in the Auburn coaching staff who is none other than Director of Recruiting Research and Strategy Kenyatta Watson. He served as the director of football operations and recruiting for Grayson from 2014-2018. His presence at the high school was notable in that he helped over 100 football student-athletes earn collegiate scholarships.

Auburn has been struggling all season, so signing this talent, who is the nation’s No. 22 OT and No. 281 overall player of the 2025 class, would be a huge win. However, Lee has also mentioned that Nick Brooks wants to stay off the radar in his recruitment. He cited an example of when the elite OT told reporters he wasn’t visiting Auburn but he did anyway. Auburn may have blown their big chance in their last 17-7 conference defeat against Vanderbilt, but hopefully they don’t lose their influence over prospective players. 

Auburn is thriving in the 2025 recruiting class 

One interesting thing about Auburn football is their position in the 2025 recruiting class. The Tigers are among the top-ranking No. 5 in the class with 27 commits, including 5-star QB Deuce Knight, 16 4-star players, and 10 3-star players. The shocker, however, is that their achievement isn’t going hand in hand with their performance.

Auburn is currently among the worst-performing teams in the SEC so far in 2024, ranking 12th with a dismal 3-6 record after their last conference game loss. It’s no wonder Alabama writer Ronald Evans has concerns about his ability to retain the commitments of the 2025 and 2026 classes. It’s Auburn’s fourth consecutive losing season! HC Hugh Freeze may need to keep a check on the committed players too while also hunting for commitment flips. Three more games on their schedule, including two ranked opponents. We’ll see what goes down for Auburn in the next few weeks.