Auburn's 2024 linebacker class is tops in the country

Hugh Freeze is getting elite talent at almost every position.

Steve Simpson | Aug 21, 2023

Auburn's 2024 linebacker class is tops in the country /

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Rivals national recruiting coordinator Adam Gorney has released his breakdown of the 2024 recruiting cycle by position. The leader at the linebacker position is Auburn and for good reason.

Does Auburn have the best Linebacker group in 2024?!@adamgorney spotlights our new linebacker in the recent rankings release:https://t.co/RTVGZyyvWU pic.twitter.com/VpSNScQMZl
— Rivals (@Rivals) August 18, 2023

The Tiger's trio of four-star linebackers Demarcus Riddick, DeAngelo Barber, and Joseph Phillips are indeed a special group. According to 24/7 Sports, Riddick has a 95 rating, Phillips a 92 and Barber is at 87. That's an average rating of 92.3 for at that position.

Riddick's flip from Georgia to Auburn last month was a huge recruiting win for Coach Hugh Freeze and LB Coach Josh Aldridge. Likewise, Phillips's commitment was another head-to-head battle with the Bulldogs where the Tigers came out on top. Barber meanwhile, chose the Tigers over offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Freeze and company will probably take one more linebacker in this cycle. Bradley Shaw, another four-star out of Hoover is the most likely target. Shaw is a 6' 1' 216-pound recruit with a 94 rating and is currently uncommitted. He also holds offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Notre Dame among many others.

Auburn kicks off the 2023 season on September 2, against UMass.