Alex Golesh’s push into the 2028 recruiting cycle has already put Auburn in the middle of a heavyweight battle for one of the nation’s premier offensive line prospects.
The target is Joey Fleming, a Huntsville, Alabama native who sits atop the rankings as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the class and the best in-class player from the state. He’s a true five-star, and he could become exactly the kind of answer Auburn needs up front after a rocky stretch around the offensive line.
But landing Fleming won’t be simple. Auburn is fighting Alabama for his commitment, which gives the chase a fittingly sharp edge: the state’s top two programs going head-to-head for the state’s top prospect. Right now, Rivals’ Recruiting Prediction Machine gives Alabama the slight advantage at 21%, with Auburn close behind at 19%.
That race matters even more because of where Auburn stands coming out of Golesh’s first months on the job. The Tigers’ offensive line has drawn plenty of concern, and those questions have only grown louder as Golesh has tried to steady the unit. Auburn had to replace six 2025 starters before his first season, a quick reset for one of the most important groups on the field.
Golesh has already offered a few memorable lines about that process. At one point, he asked for prayers for the unit in an early press conference.
He later said his prayers had been answered. Then, at SEC Media Days, he was even more blunt, saying the group had made him “want to rip [his] hair out” at times.
That’s why Fleming would mean more than just another big recruiting win. He could help reshape Auburn’s future on the line - and maybe help Golesh’s hair, too.
Auburn will have to beat Alabama to do it, though, and the Crimson Tide have already shown they can land talent the Tigers want, having pulled Cedrick Simmons out of Auburn’s 2027 class.
In Other News...
Auburns New Backfield Has One Early Concern Fans Cant Ignore
Alex Golesh has made it clear from the start that Auburns offense is going to lean on tempo and the run game, and the new backfield mix is built to match that vision. The Tigers added Nykahi Davenport, Tae Meadows and Baylor transfer Bryson Washington to give the offense more depth and more options behind the returning pieces, a move that fits the kind of physical, up-tempo identity Golesh wants to establish.
Washington, though, is still the name to watch as camp unfolds. Golesh said the transfer has made progress, but the staff is still working to get him fully ready for the demands of the offense, which leaves Auburn with an early evaluation point in a backfield that otherwise looks deep enough to keep the competition moving. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Most Fragile Position Suddenly Feels Far More Important
Auburns special teams setup is getting a fresh look for 2026 under new coordinator Jacob Bronowski, and the unit has a different feel than it did a year ago. The Tigers still have some stability in place with kicker Alex McPherson, punter Hudson Kaak and kick returner Pleasant, but the operation also has a new starting long snapper in Powell, a transfer from Miami (Ohio), which makes the whole kicking game feel a little more interconnected than usual.
The biggest open question sits at punt returner, where the job is up for grabs after Malcolm Simmons transferred out. For a team that knows how quickly one shaky snap, hold or return can change field position, that competition matters more than it might on the surface, especially with Bronowski trying to settle the group before the 2026 season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Faces A Recruiting Showdown For An In-State Quarterback Target
Auburns quarterback recruiting board has another in-state name worth tracking, as Gadsden City High Schools Sam Sollie has set a verbal commitment date for Aug. 8. The Class of 2028 prospect has spent the offseason looking at a handful of SEC programs, with Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State and Tennessee all in the mix, and Rivals already projects him as a future SEC passer.
For Auburn, the interest is especially notable because the Tigers have hosted Sollie more than any other finalist, giving them a strong foothold in a race that still has several heavyweight programs involved. The 3-star quarterback has the kind of profile that tends to draw late attention once the calendar turns toward a decision, and his choice will say plenty about how the early battles for elite Alabama talent are shaping up. [Read more 🡒]