Newly named Auburn head football coach Alex Golesh had little time to prepare before National Signing Day took place on Wednesday.
But the Tigers made a few splashes with a handful of late flips, moving them up to No. 35 nationally, per 247Sports’ recruiting rankings. Per AuburnUndercover’s Nathan King, Auburn rose to that spot after starting the day off ranked No. 93.
Auburn signed 15 high schoolers and one junior college prospect. Fourteen of the 16 newcomers will enroll in January and participate in spring practices.
The class is made up of six players from the state of Alabama, four from Florida and two from Mississippi. There is one each from Tennessee, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Germany.
Auburn can continue to sign players until Friday. It can also add players on February 4, which is another National Signing Day. The transfer portal will open on January 2, and Auburn can add players through it.
Here is a look at the Tigers’ 2026 recruiting class:
Adam Balogoun-Ali
LB, 6-2, 215
Palm Beach, FL / Cardinal Newman HS
Balogoun-Ali He recorded 94 tackles as a senior and was a two-time South Florida Sun-Sentinel first-team selection. An Under Armour and Rivals MVP, he was rated the No. 1 inside linebacker in the country and earned four stars from ESPN and the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings. He finished as the No. 20 player in Florida and No. 142 in the ESPN 300, and was a multi-sport athlete, competing in basketball and track.
Tavian Branch
DL, 6-3, 300
Taylor/ PA / Riverside HS
Committing to Penn State in September, Branch signed with the Tigers on Thursday, the second day of the Early National Signing Day period.
He served as team captain and was a two-time All-State pick during his four-year starting career. As a senior, he recorded 61 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks, while also blocking three field goals, helping his team to an 8-3 record. Rivals rated him a three-star prospect, ranking him No. 11 in Pennsylvania, while 247Sports placed him No. 15 in the state. During his junior season, he totaled 65 tackles, 25 TFL and 10.5 sacks. ESPN graded him as a three-star prospect, ranking him No. 22 in Pennsylvania and No. 79 nationally among defensive tackles.
DJ Broughton
TE, 6-5, 225
Mobile, AL / Mary G. Montgomery HS
Broughton was a flip from USF, following Golesh to the Plains. He finished his high school career with 751 receiving yards on 46 receptions and 11 touchdowns. He recorded 32 catches for 497 yards and seven scores as a senior. A Mississippi–Alabama All-Star Game selection, he also played baseball and basketball. He was rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN, ranking as high as No. 23 in Alabama and No. 43 nationally among tight ends across the three services.
Rhys Brush
QB, 6-2, 187
Tampa, FL / Armwood HS
A Signing Day flip from USF out of Armwood High in Florida, Brush holds school records for career passing yards and passing touchdowns, and set the single-season touchdown mark as a junior. He finished that year with more than 2,500 passing yards and 37 touchdowns while adding 110 rushing yards. He helped lead Armwood to three district titles, a region championship, and an undefeated regular season that ended in the regional finals of Florida’s 6A playoffs. He also starred in baseball. A three-star prospect by 247Sports, he ranks No. 151 in Florida. Rivals lists him as a three-star recruit and No. 87 in the state, while ESPN also rates him as a three-star prospect.
Wayne Henry
S, 5-10, 160
Baltimore, MD / St. Frances Academy
Continuing the pipeline from ST. Frances Academy in Maryland to Auburn, Henry was selected for the Polynesian Bowl after recording 60 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups and a forced fumble while helping his team earn a No. 1 national ranking. He is rated as a three-star prospect.
Mykall Lundy-Foster
OL, 6-4, 320
Tallahassee, FL / Chiles HS
Lundy-Foster marked another flip for Golesh from USF. He served as a team captain and was a two-year starter at Chiles, while also competing in track and field. He earned three-star ratings from ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports, ranking No. 130, No. 143 and No. 144 in Florida, respectively.
Parker Pritchett
OL, 6-5, 310
Fort Mitchell, AL / G.W. Carver (Ga.) HS
Pritchett committed to Auburn in April under the previous regime and stuck with his pledge. ESPN rates him as a four-star prospect, ranking No. 39 in Georgia and the No. 40 offensive tackle in the country. He is a three-star prospect according to both 247Sports and Rivals, listed as high as No. 55 nationally at his position. He earned invitations to the 2024 Super 7 Macon Touchdown Club and the 2024 Rising Senior Bowl, and helped lead his team to the 2024 Class AA Georgia state championship. He also competed in track.
DeShawn Spencer
WR, 5-11, 165
Mobile, AL / Saraland HS
Spencer flipped his commitment from Duke the day before Signing Day after Kodi Burns and Golesh took over on the Plains. He posted 76 receptions for 1,385 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, adding 444 rushing yards and five more scores. A selection for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, he was also named an Alabama Class 6A Player of the Week and helped his team win three straight region titles. As a junior, he recorded 54 catches for 1,220 yards and 16 touchdowns and earned all-region honors.
Shadarius Toodle
LB, 6-3, 235
Mobile, AL / Cottage Hill Christian Academy
Committing to Auburn in July of 2024, Toodle backed off his pledge and committed to Georgia before flipping back to the Tigers in October. He finished his high school career with 492 tackles, eight interceptions and 12 sacks, earning first-team All-State honors twice and three all-region selections. A six-time Optimist Club Player of the Week and a Bryant Bank Player of the Week, he was also selected for the Adidas All-American Bowl. A multi-sport athlete who played basketball and ran track, he is a consensus four-star prospect. 247Sports ranked him the No. 13 player in Alabama and the No. 13 linebacker nationally, while Rivals also listed him as the No. 13 player in the state. ESPN rated him No. 184 in the ESPN 300, No. 8 in Alabama and the No. 3 inside linebacker in the country.
Shadrick Toodle, Jr.
S, 6-4, 210
Mobile, AL / Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
Spending one season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Shadrick joined his brother in the Tigers class after recording 26 tackles, one interception and five pass breakups during his career at MGCCC. He helped the team to a 9-2 record in 2025 and back-to-back South Division titles. A three-star prospect and first-team All-MACCC South selection, he previously played at Cottage Hill High School in Mobile, where he was also a basketball standout.
Travis Wakefield
LS, 6-2, 210
Nashville, TN / Lipscomb Academy
Wakefield signed with the Tigers as a preferred walk-on after committing in July. He arrives as one of the nation’s top specialists, rated a five-star long snapper by Kohl’s and the No. 7 snapper nationally. He earned a three-star grade and No. 3 national ranking from 247Sports, along with All-American and All-State honors. A 2022 TSSAA state champion and Mr. Lipscomb Academy award winner, he was also recognized as a three-star prospect by Rivals.
Chris Wells
DL, 6-3, 225
Petal, MS / Petal HS
Flipping from South Alabama on Signing Day, Wells finished his senior season with 39 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks while adding two forced fumbles. A three-star prospect, he is ranked No. 56 in Mississippi by 247Sports, No. 44 by Rivals and No. 49 by ESPN. As a junior, he recorded 42 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Corey Wells
DL, 6-5, 330
Petal, MS / Petal HS
A Signing Day flip from Texas after it was announced that defensive coordinator DJ Durkin and defensive line coach Vontrell-King Williams were staying on the Plains, Corey comes to the Plains as a highly-touted defensive line prospect.
He recorded 36 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two sacks during his senior season and was named to the Clarion-Ledger’s Dandy Dozen. As a junior, he finished with 21 tackles and three tackles for loss in 10 games. He also competed in the shot put. A four-star prospect, he is ranked No. 7 in Mississippi and No. 26 among defensive linemen nationally by 247Sports, with a No. 190 overall rating. Rivals also rates him four stars, ranking him No. 11 in Mississippi, No. 32 among defensive linemen and No. 278 nationally. ESPN lists him as a four-star prospect, No. 200 overall, No. 10 in Mississippi and No. 14 at defensive tackle.
Jaquez Wilkes
LB, 6-4, 245
Wadley, AL / Wadley HS
Auburn’s highest-rated signee, Wilkes helped lead his team to the 2024 Class 1A state title and served as team captain. He was named 2024 AHSAA Super 7 Championship MVP and tied state records for most rushing attempts, rushing touchdowns and points scored. He earned 2024 All-State First Team, All-Region MVP, and All-County Player of the Year honors, as well as 2024 MaxPreps Junior All-American recognition.
As a junior, he was All-Region, All-State First Team and co-County Player of the Year, and as a sophomore, he earned All-State Second Team honors. Over his high school career, he rushed for more than 5,000 yards with 60 touchdowns, totaled 287 tackles and 16 sacks, and also competed in basketball, baseball and track. A four-star prospect, 247Sports ranks him No. 5 in Alabama, No. 6 among linebackers nationally and No. 67 overall. Rivals also rates him four stars, ranking him No. 5 in Alabama, No. 15 nationally among edge players and No. 104 overall, while ESPN lists him as a four-star, No. 6 in Alabama and No. 132 overall.
Brian Williams, Jr.
WR, 6-4, 190
Orlando, FL / The First Academy
Flipping his commitment from Alabama the day before Signing Day, Williams Jr. finished his high school career with 34 receptions for 555 yards and seven touchdowns. He played his junior season at Lake Mary High School, helping the team to a 12-3 record and a trip to the Class 7A state finals, catching 23 passes for 359 yards and five touchdowns that season. He also competed in track and field, qualifying for state and winning his district in the long jump. A three-star prospect, ESPN ranked him No. 107 in Florida, Rivals listed him No. 64 in the state and No. 81 among receivers nationally, while 247Sports ranked him No. 111 in Florida.
Wilson Zierer
OL, 6-6, 295
Munich, Germany / Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
The younger brother of former Auburn offensive lineman Kilian Zierer, Wilson served as team captain and helped lead his team to the 2024 NCISAA state title. A four-star prospect according to 247Sports, he was ranked No. 38 in Georgia, No. 315 nationally, and No. 31 among offensive tackles. Rivals also rated him four stars, placing him No. 39 in Georgia, No. 290 nationally, and No. 26 at his position. ESPN gave him a four-star rating as well, ranking him No. 44 in Georgia and No. 42 among offensive tackles nationally.
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