Auburn’s recruiting board took another hit on Tuesday, with On3’s Steve Wiltfong logging an official prediction for Alabama to flip three-star wide receiver Cedrick Simmons away from the Tigers.
That would be a painful turn for Auburn, especially after the program already watched four-star running back Kingston Miles leave the class last month when he flipped from Auburn to Missouri. Losing Simmons would add another bruise in the battle to keep top in-state talent home.
Simmons, who is ranked as the 39th-best athlete in the 2027 class and the 24th-best player in Alabama, committed to Auburn on June 23, just one day after Miles made his move to Missouri. He’s listed as a three-star wide receiver, but his production at Southside High School suggests a player who has outperformed that label. Last season, he piled up more than 2,000 receiving yards, averaged 20.7 yards per catch, and scored a touchdown on one of every five receptions.
For Auburn, the concern goes beyond the ranking next to Simmons’ name. The Tigers are already thin at wide receiver, and the three 2027 commits currently lined up for the room are important pieces if that depth issue is going to be solved long term.
There is at least some reason for Auburn to keep fighting here. Wiltfong’s prediction carries just a 60% confidence level, leaving the door open for the Tigers to hold onto Simmons despite what the report describes as continued pressure from Kalen DeBoer and Alabama.
The timing also matters. Auburn was rolling in June on the recruiting trail, but July has brought a slowdown, and the Tigers’ class has slipped from the top 10 to No. 11 without losing any recruits during that stretch.
That makes every commitment count even more. Auburn is expected to lean on five USF transfers and returner Bryce Cain to handle most of the receiving load in 2026, and if the Tigers keep losing ground in recruiting, they could be forced back into the transfer portal after the 2026 season to patch up the position group.
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The timing matters, too, because Auburn is already looking ahead to a 2026 opener that should bring early national attention. The Tigers will start the season Sept. 5 against Baylor in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta, a stage that should give these new Nike faces an immediate chance to be part of the programs next big introduction. [Read more 🡒]
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Auburns Future Backfield Looks Even Scarier After Latest RB Ranking
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For Auburn, the appeal goes beyond one standout recruit. Johnson-Cook is part of a backfield class that is shaping up to be loaded, giving the Tigers a chance to stockpile talent at a position that can change the direction of an offense fast. If the early rankings are any indication, Auburn may not just be adding depth in 2027, but building a group that could make the backfield one of the programs most intriguing strengths. [Read more 🡒]