Auburn’s push for Karlos May reaches the finish line Saturday, but the Tigers are no longer the clear favorite they once looked like.
The four-star Alabama defensive lineman is set to announce his college choice at 3 p.m. ET on July 18, and his list has been trimmed to Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, and Florida State.
For a while, Auburn looked like the program to beat. That changed as Georgia moved back into the lead and Ohio State picked up real momentum after May’s official visit.
That doesn’t mean Auburn is out of the picture completely. DJ Durkin and Vontrell King-Williams have already put together a strong defensive front in this class, with Donivan Moore, Nate Kamba, James Pace, Rion Jackson, and most recently Marquis' MJ' Evans all in the fold. Even with May trending elsewhere, the Tigers have built enough inside to keep this recruitment from becoming a make-or-break swing.
Still, landing May would be a major addition. He is regarded as a high 4-star defender and the fifth-best player in Alabama, and he would bring even more value to a class that already has some serious defensive line traction. He could also join Evans, another Birmingham player, if Auburn can pull off the upset.
The race has been shaped heavily by NIL, and May has made that clear throughout the process. Georgia was first named as his leader, then Auburn briefly surged after his official visit, and soon after that he said the Bulldogs were back on top. With Ohio State still firmly involved, this one has stayed fluid all the way to decision day.
Even if Auburn doesn’t land him on Saturday, this might not be the end of the story. A future flip remains in play.
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