Elite Alabama Prep Defensive Lineman Talks Auburn and His Recruiting Plans

The Tigers want the nation's top defensive line class

CARROLTON, Ga. - Auburn is building a tremendous defensive line class but there's still work to be done.

Thus far in the 2025 recruiting class, Hugh Freeze and his staff have four defensive linemen committed, with another that could play defensive or offensive line. What the Tigers need would be more edge defenders to possibly land the nation's best defensive line class.

It just so happens that one of the nation's top defensive end recruits resides near Birmingham. The recruit would be Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson edge Jared Smith. Rivals' #48 recruit in the country, here's what the 6-foot-6 and 235-pound defender said about his recruitment.

"Everybody," Smith said when asked who's recruiting him the hardest. "Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, everybody."

As for Auburn specifically, Smith defines what Auburn is pitching to him.

"You can make it a special place on the Plains. Just the atmosphere, and the change in culture there."

As for a coach he has a great relationship with, it was a somewhat surprising answer.

As for Bama, same question for Smith.

"It's kind of the same pitch for me. Coach (Freddie) Roach, he's just telling me to come. Same as always really."

"South Carolina, Sterling Lucas. Just connected a bond with him. (Defensive end) Dylan Stewart, a lot of those guys (at South Carolina)."

As of Feb. 18, Smith has one school he's set to visit officially.

"I have Georgia planned for an official (visit). That's about it."

There's a really long way to go with Smith's recruitment. Let's see how often Auburn can get him down for an unofficial visit this spring and go from there.