Auburn has Top-25 class after landing first 5-star commitment this cycle

At long last, Auburn has its five-star commitment in the 2026 cycle. After plenty of swings and misses with top targets this spring and summer, the Tigers closed the deal and landed a pledge from Brandon (Miss.) Hartfield Academy five-star safety Bralan Womack on Thursday night.

The No. 21 overall prospect and No. 3 safety in the nation, Womack chose Auburn over Florida, Texas A&M and Ohio State. Now the class jewel for head coach Hugh Freeze, his commitment helps the Tigers take a massive leap in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Auburn jumped 15 spots from No. 37 to No. 22 in the team rankings, leaping the likes of Michigan State, Iowa, Arkansas, Texas Tech, Illinois, BYU and SMU. While still a ways away from their third top-10 class in a row, Freeze and Co. took a big step forward by landing the Magnolia State star.

“It was very tough—I thought about it and prayed about it a lot,” Womack told Rivals’ Chad Simmons. “In the end, I followed my heart. Auburn valued me as a person. They made me and my family feel welcome, and it feels like home every time I’m there.”

The class still features just 13 total commits, so flip season will be crucial for the Tigers this fall.

Finally, recruiting momentum for Auburn

Auburn now has four top-100 overall prospects in their 2026 class. Of those four, three have joined the fold since late July.

The Tigers were long considered the favorite for Wadley (Ala.) four-star EDGE Jaquez Wilkes and he made the call on July 21. He’s the top in-state recruit in the class, checking in as the No. 6 player in Alabama and the No. 14 EDGE overall.

Leakesville (Miss.) Greene County four-star wide receiver Jase Mathews heavily considered Ole Miss, LSU and Texas A&M, but it was Auburn that again snatched the momentum in the lead-up to his Aug. 8 decision. The relationship with receivers coach Marcus Davis helped lead Mathews, Rivals’ No. 17 overall prospect and No. 2 WR, to The Plains.

“Coach Davis is a young coach, and we’ve built a really close connection — not even just about football,” Mathews told Rivals’ Chad Simmons. “I’ve met his family. He’s a reasonable, understanding guy who I know can help me grow on and off the field. He is a coach I fully trust.”

Huntsville (Ala.) Jemison four-star EDGE Hezekiah Harris committed last July, and despite a wave of decommitments in the Auburn class earlier this year, he’s remained solid as other SEC programs continue to push. He’s now the No. 99 recruit and No. 15 EDGE in the nation.

Nazareth (Pa.) four-star athlete Peyton Falzone flipped from Penn State at the end of June and is the Tigers’ quarterback this cycle. Rabun Gap (Ga.) Nacoochee four-star offensive tackle Wilson Zierer, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) Cardinal Newman four-star linebacker Adam Balogoun-Ali and Atlanta Midtown three-star athlete Kentrell White are among the other additions to the class this summer.