Elijah Haven isn’t just another name on a recruiting board - he’s a 6-foot-5, five-star quarterback and the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports. And while Auburn may have been playing catch-up in his recruitment, the Tigers took a big step forward during his visit this past weekend.
Haven made the trip to the Plains for Auburn’s junior day, and it wasn’t his first time on campus. He’d been there last summer under the previous coaching staff, but this time felt different. With new offensive coordinator Alex Golesh and quarterbacks coach Joel Gordon now in place - both recently arriving from USF - the tone of the visit shifted from casual interest to serious evaluation.
This wasn’t a sightseeing tour. This was a business trip.
“They 100 percent helped their case,” Haven said after the visit. “Me and my family already thought highly of the program. Getting to know this new staff is definitely going to help them out for sure.”
That’s a strong endorsement from one of the most coveted signal-callers in the country. And it speaks volumes about how quickly Golesh and Gordon have made an impression. Since arriving at Auburn, Gordon in particular has zeroed in on Haven as a top priority, and that focus is starting to pay off.
For a player of Haven’s caliber - with his size, arm talent, and football IQ - relationships matter. And right now, Auburn’s new staff is making the kind of early connection that can shift the trajectory of a recruitment. Haven left the visit with plans to return in the spring, and while there’s still a long road ahead, the Tigers have officially put themselves in the mix.
Auburn may have started a step behind, but they’re sprinting to close the gap - and Elijah Haven is paying attention.