Hugh Freeze hasn’t exactly transformed Auburn’s offense into a powerhouse during his first two seasons, but when it comes to recruiting, he’s among the best. Even without major win totals, Freeze has assembled back-to-back top 10 recruiting classes, showing his strength as a top recruiter. Now, he’s once again making noise by aggressively pursuing a major five-star recruit from a Big Ten powerhouse, proving he’s still relentless when it comes to high-stakes recruiting battles.
The recruit in question? Zion Elee. The five-star edge rusher is the crown jewel of Maryland’s 2026 class and currently ranks as the No. 1 overall prospect. Elee has publicly affirmed his commitment to Maryland several times, but according to On3’s Chad Simmons, Auburn remains firmly in the picture.
BREAKING: Five-Star Maryland EDGE commit Zion Elee has shut down his Recruitment & cancelled his OV’s, he tells me for @on3recruits
The No. 1 Recruit in the ‘26 Class was set to take visits to Ohio St, Auburn, Penn St, Texas A&M, & South Carolina
“I’m home, no need to explore.”… pic.twitter.com/k3h2cze7vA
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) February 21, 2025
Simmons made it clear that Auburn isn’t giving up: “They’re going to try; that’s for sure. They’ll stay all in and keep recruiting Zion. There’s still communication between Elee and the Auburn staff. It’s hard to gauge exactly how strong it is, but there’s definitely contact—Elee still answers their calls or returns them.”
Beyond just conversations, Auburn’s pipeline to Elee’s inner circle is strong. Simmons pointed out that Elee has a teammate currently committed to Auburn and that three other teammates signed with the Tigers for the 2025 class. That familiarity could play a key role. In recruiting, relationships, trust, and comfort often matter just as much as anything else, and Freeze has worked to ensure Auburn offers all of that.
Even though Elee has reiterated that he’s firmly committed to Maryland and suggested he may not take further visits, Simmons mentioned that Auburn still expects him to visit officially. Other schools are also hopeful. With several months still to go before signing day, plenty can change.
Elee’s value goes beyond his five-star ranking. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he possesses a rare mix of length, explosiveness, and strength, making him the type of defensive player who can transform a team’s identity. His commitment was highly contested, with schools like Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, and Notre Dame all pushing hard before he chose Maryland. Back in February, Elee tried to close the door on his recruitment, saying, “I’m home, no need to explore,” but verbal commitments often don’t fully lock in until signing day.
Freeze, a seasoned veteran of the recruiting scene, thrives in these types of battles. His persistence, combined with the comfort Auburn offers, gives the Tigers a legitimate shot. As long as Auburn stays in contact and keeps Elee engaged, they’ll remain a threat. With official visits looming and a full football season to play out, there’s still a long way to go before anything is finalized.
Meanwhile, Auburn’s recruiting momentum isn’t limited to defense. Although the Tigers have already secured commitments from top defensive talents like five-star Malik Autry and four-star Jared Smith for 2025, they’re now turning their attention to bolstering the offensive line.
So far, Auburn has only one offensive line commitment for 2026—three-star Parker Pritchett—but that doesn’t tell the full story. Freeze has a large group of offensive line recruits scheduled for official visits this summer, nine in total. Among them is T-Ron Richardson, a standout from Virginia, who recently received his first SEC offer from Auburn, showing Freeze’s proactive approach to recruiting key positions early.
As Freeze heads into his third year at Auburn, expectations are rising. Fans are eager to see recruiting success translate into wins on the field. Despite the pressure, Auburn’s 2026 class currently ranks No. 20 nationally, a promising sign that Freeze’s recruiting machine is still going strong.