Sam Sollie grew up around Auburn long before he became part of its future.
By the time the Gadsden City junior quarterback was born, the Tigers were still nine months from launching the undefeated run that ended with a national championship season in 2010. Sollie was too young to remember that team led by Cam Newton, but Auburn was already part of his world well before his commitment on Aug. 8.
When he pledged to the Tigers, Sollie reached for the fight song in his announcement, saying in part, “ever to conquer, never to yield.”
That connection runs deep.
“I grew up going to games, looking at all the players like celebrities and rolling Toomer’s Corner,” Sollie said. “My mom and a bunch of my family members went to Auburn, so this is a dream come true for me.”
Now a Fast Riser in AL.com’s Best in Bama, the weekly ranking of the state’s top high school football prospects regardless of classification or graduating class, Sollie is also putting together a strong season at Gadsden City after a rough start.
The Titans opened 1-3, but they’ve since ripped off four straight wins and have been piling up points along the way, scoring 58, 49, 44 and 34 in those victories.
Last week against Huntsville, led by Best in Bama mainstay Joey Fleming, Sollie went 17 of 25 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. That pushed his season totals to 103 completions on 161 attempts for 1,711 yards, with a 19-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
“We started off pretty slow, but our team chemistry has really gotten better every week,” said Sollie, who is in his second season at Gadsden City after transferring from Westbrook Christian. “Our team bond is really strong now.”
His Auburn moment on the recruiting trail came last spring, and it unfolded fast.
“Alabama came in that morning and offered me,” Sollie said. “Then Auburn came that same afternoon and offered.
It was a surreal moment and a dream come true. My whole family was super happy.
They would have been happy with me going anywhere, but that one was definitely special.”
At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Sollie has already become the first recruit in Alex Golesh’s 2028 class. He’s also taken on some recruiting work of his own, pointing Auburn toward offensive linemen Fleming and Mae Jemison’s Samuel Bailey as targets.
Sollie plans to graduate early in December 2027, but for now his attention stays on Gadsden City’s finish. The Titans close the regular season with Class 6A, Region 4 games against Buckhorn and Bob Jones.
“We’ve just got to keep working. That what I plan to do,” Sollie said.
In Other News...
Auburn Faces A Brutal SEC Test With Plenty To Prove
Auburn heads into its annual rivalry trip to Athens with a chance to measure itself against the standard in the SEC, and the timing could hardly be tougher. Georgia is ranked No. 1 and is looking to keep its long run of success in the series rolling, while Auburn is trying to find out how much progress it has really made against one of the leagues most demanding opponents.
Kirby Smart and Alex Golesh both spent time this week addressing the matchup and where their teams stand, underscoring the contrast between Georgias steady dominance and Auburns need to prove it can handle the moment. With the Bulldogs chasing a 10th straight win in the rivalry, a result that would tie a series record, Auburns trip is about more than bragging rights. It is another pressure point in a season that will be judged by how it responds in games like this. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Signee's Eligibility Fight Could Decide If He Ever Plays
Auburns incoming backcourt picture has picked up an unexpected legal wrinkle, with signee Mantas Rubtaviius turning to the courts in an effort to secure his place on the roster. The former professional player filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a temporary restraining order and injunction so he can suit up for Auburn in the 2026-27 season, putting his future in the program on hold while the eligibility question gets sorted out.
At the center of the dispute is new NCAA guidance that takes a closer look at players with professional experience, something Rubtaviius argues does not line up with earlier eligibility rulings. Auburn has backed his right to seek clarity, but for now the program is waiting on a court hearing set for Oct. 16, a date that could go a long way toward determining whether one of its signees ever makes it to campus in uniform. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn's Offense Has One Clear Problem Before Georgia
Auburns offense is heading into the Georgia game with a few issues that are hard to ignore, and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon put them front and center this week. The biggest one is quarterback Byrum Browns interceptions, but it does not stop there. Gordon also pointed to the offense taking too long to adjust during games and a run of pre-snap penalties that has repeatedly put the Tigers behind schedule.
Those problems matter even more with No. 1 Georgia on deck, because Auburn will need cleaner football just to stay in striking distance. Gordons message was simple: Brown has to make better decisions, the staff has to react faster, and the offense has to play with more discipline if it wants a realistic chance to compete. The challenge now is whether Auburn can tighten those areas in time for a matchup that will punish every mistake. [Read more 🡒]