Auburn just landed a big-time in-state playmaker - and this one comes with a little extra juice.
DeShawn Spencer, the dynamic wide receiver from Saraland (Ala.), has flipped his commitment from Duke to Auburn, deciding to stay home and suit up for the Tigers. It’s a win not just on the recruiting trail, but one that could pay dividends on the field sooner rather than later.
Spencer’s recruitment with Auburn had been building throughout the season, and it all came to a head during Iron Bowl weekend. He was in the building for one of college football’s most electric rivalries, and that’s when it clicked - this was where he wanted to be.
Coaching changes? Didn’t matter.
The energy, the atmosphere, the connection with the players - it all felt right. So when Auburn brought in Alex Golesh as head coach, a name Spencer was already familiar with from a previous official visit, it only locked things in further.
“Yeah it was great,” Spencer said. “Not only the staff, but the players.
I’m real locked in with the players. I’ve got a great foundation with those guys.
Most of them I played in high school or played with them in high school. I love it.
I’m excited.”
That player-to-player bond isn’t something you can fake - and it clearly meant something to Spencer. His belief in the new coaching direction under Golesh is just as strong.
“100 percent, there’s no doubt in my mind,” Spencer added. “I definitely got a good feeling he can turn the whole thing around.”
Spencer brings serious juice to the wide receiver room. At 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, he’s not the biggest target, but he’s explosive - and the numbers back that up.
As a junior, Spencer reeled in 54 catches for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns after transitioning from running back to wideout. That switch turned out to be a game-changer.
And this season? He’s taken it to another level: 76 catches, 1,385 yards, 20 touchdowns through the air, plus over 400 rushing yards and five more scores on the ground.
That’s versatility, production, and big-play ability all in one package.
He’s currently ranked No. 716 overall and the No. 103 wide receiver in the 2026 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. Within Alabama, he’s the No. 23 player. 247Sports’ own rankings slot him at No. 101 among receivers and No. 27 in the state - but rankings aside, the tape and the stat sheet speak volumes.
Auburn wide receivers coach Marcus Davis deserves a ton of credit here. He led the Tigers’ efforts from the jump.
But there’s another name worth noting: Kodi Burns. He originally recruited Spencer while at USF, and now, he’s back in the mix - this time at Auburn - helping to bring Spencer into the fold.
“The coaching staff definitely plays a part,” Spencer said. “But when you’re picking a college you’ve got to really like the school for the school.
It’s in-state and it’s great. It’s not too far from my parents.
It’s so special to me. Being able to put on for my home state, that’s like a dream that I had ever since I was a little kid.
Being able to actually live out that dream, I can’t take it for granted.”
There’s also a full-circle element here that makes this story even more compelling. Burns, now back at Auburn, started his coaching career on The Plains. For Spencer, being part of what feels like a new era under familiar faces is something he’s embracing.
“It’s huge because Coach Burns coached here early on in his career,” Spencer said. “It’s kind of him going back to where his feet were and I’m excited to be a part of that new foundation he’s building here. It’s great.”
Before he officially puts on the Auburn uniform, Spencer’s got one more high school game to play - and it’s a big one. Saraland is headed to Birmingham to play for the 6A state championship. One more chance to put his stamp on a stellar high school career.
And as for what Auburn fans can expect?
“Hey, y’all are getting a dog and I’m ready to work,” Spencer said.
That’s the kind of mentality that fits right in on The Plains. Auburn just added a homegrown weapon with serious upside, and if Spencer’s high school trajectory is any indication, he’s only getting started.