6-foot-4 Four-Star Deals Heavy Blow to Auburn By Choosing SEC Rival

Auburn faces another loss?

6-foot-4 Four-Star Deals Heavy Blow to Auburn By Choosing SEC Rival originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Auburn Tigers appear to be struggling to assemble a decent 2026 recruiting class. To add insult to injury, they'll take another blow as four-star defensive lineman, Valdin Sone, has announced his commitment to old SEC rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs.

The 6-foot-4 DL out of Blue Ridge School, Dyke, Virginia, chose the Bulldogs over the Florida Gators, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the Auburn Tigers. He noted that the Tigers came in late in the race, but he formed a good relationship with the recruiting staff and saw himself playing early.

But despite that chance, he said he went with the Bulldogs because of their defensive first culture and the development Coach Kirby Smart has showcased for the players at his position.

Hugh FreezeBrian Smith-Auburn Daily

Tigers have not locked in even one defensive lineman commitment for the 2026 class. They have been in the running before, but they're far recreating the success of the 2025 class, where Coach Hugh Freeze was able to bag 4 four-star defensive linemen.

One could also argue that because they have such a strong defensive front right now, the Tigers aren't going all in for future recruits. However, given the overall situation they are facing in the recruiting class right now, any failure will cause more worry.

Coach Freeze and his recruiting staff have left a lot to be desired in this cycle. They were in the race for three more key DLs from the 2026 class: Vodney Cleveland, Nolan Wilson, and Tyson Bacon. All three of them were four-star recruits. Bagging even two athletes from them could have changed their trajectory.

But the Tigers lost all three recruits.

For 6-foot-3 Cleveland, who comes from Parker High School, the Tigers fumbled him, and he ended up going to the Texas Longhorns. Then there was Wilson, who also had Auburn in his shortlist, but then chose the Crimson Tide.

With Bacon, the Tigers tried their hardest to flip his pledge, and he did decommit from Tennessee, but only to commit to the Miami Hurricanes. Coach Freeze and his staff have faced one defeat after another in the recruiting battles.

Their on-field display will have to be so good that they use that momentum in the transfer portal and recruiting cycle next year.

Related: Hugh Freeze Breaks Silence on Backlash for his Golfing

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.

Category: General Sports