Auburn’s 2027 class just got a lot more interesting, and Marquis Evans is a big reason why.
The four-star edge rusher from Birmingham committed to the Tigers on July 1, joining three-star safety James Branch as Auburn’s only July additions so far. And while Branch entered the picture as the No. 35 player at his position and a top-20 recruit in Alabama, Evans is the one who has surged in the latest Rivals update.
Evans has climbed to No. 29 among edge rushers and No. 13 in the state. Even more eye-catching, he went from unranked nationally to No. 183 in Rivals’ latest recruiting rankings.
That kind of rise only sharpens the view of what Auburn landed when Evans picked the Tigers over Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee and others at the start of the month. He was already a major commitment for Alex Golesh’s staff. Now, with scouts and analysts taking another look, the buzz around his ceiling is only growing.
And there’s still more runway left. Evans still has his senior season ahead of him, which gives him another full year to keep climbing. Based on this latest jump, another significant rise before he arrives on campus would not be a surprise.
For Auburn, the timing matters. The Tigers recently lost their top two edge rushers, Keldric Faulk and Keyron Crawford, to the NFL Draft, and Ole Miss transfer Da’Shawn Womack is currently being used as a stopgap, even if he is a highly talented one.
That makes Evans part of a bigger picture on the edge for Auburn’s 2027 class. He joins four-star James Pace and three-star Rion Jackson, both of whom committed in June, as part of the group that looks like the future of the Tigers’ defense.
There’s plenty of work still ahead, especially with Faulk’s recent first-round selection and Womack expected to produce this season. But Auburn’s 2027 edge group has the kind of upside that can change the conversation quickly, and Evans’ ranking jump is the latest sign of that.
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