Alabama ATH Commit and 4-Star Linebacker Leaning Towards Auburn After Official Visits.

In today’s Auburn Tigers News, Alabama commit Derick Smith and 4-star linebacker Christian Jones had excellent experiences on the Plains.

Since head coach Hugh Freeze’s arrival, Auburn’s football program has become more competitive in recruiting, particularly against in-state rival Alabama. This cycle, the Tigers are striving to flip multiple Tide commits.

4-star ATH Derick Smith, committed to Alabama as a safety but recruited by Auburn as a wide receiver, visited the Plains this weekend. It was his first trip to Auburn since committing to Alabama, and he spent quality time with his potential position coach, Marcus Davis.

“The visit went really well,” Smith told Auburn Rivals. “I spent the whole weekend with Coach (Marcus) Davis. I think everything he does is really good. I feel like he can develop me to another level.”

Smith plans to make his final decision on signing day after the 2024 regular season, choosing between the Iron Bowl rivals.

Meanwhile, 4-star linebacker Christian Jones visited Auburn for the first time over the weekend, switching his plans from USC to the Plains. Ranked as the #20 linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class and the #1 recruit out of Nebraska, Jones was inspired by Auburn co-defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, who previously recruited him at Texas A&M and shares the same hometown as Jones’ high school coach. The hospitality on the Plains left a strong impression on him.

“I would just say I felt a really good culture here,” Jones told Auburn Rivals. “Everyone is connected, like a big family. I felt that, it was a good, big family.”

Jones is still set to visit Nebraska and Oklahoma and is focusing on his high school season this fall before making a decision.