Alex Golesh hasn’t wasted any time making waves in Auburn - and he’s already caught the attention of one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 recruiting class.
Israel Abrams, a 4-star signal caller out of Montini Catholic in Lombard, Illinois, made the trip down to the Plains for Junior Day and came away impressed. The 6-foot-4, 180-pounder, ranked as the No. 3 quarterback and No. 44 overall prospect in his class, got a firsthand look at what Golesh and his new staff are building. And by all accounts, they made quite the impression.
“Overall, it was a pretty good experience,” Abrams said. “Just getting out here and meeting all the coaching staff, spending time with the coaches, just going over ball and stuff.
They were very welcoming. You could tell they wanted me here.
They care for me. You can tell that … It was a good time.
One-hundred percent, I’ll definitely be coming back soon.”
That’s the kind of feedback you want to hear if you’re Auburn - especially from a quarterback of Abrams' caliber. Long considered a strong Iowa State lean, Abrams’ recruitment opened up again after Matt Campbell left Ames to take over at Penn State. Now, with no commitment in place and a fresh look at Auburn, the Tigers are firmly in the mix.
And make no mistake: Auburn’s quarterback future is wide open.
Since Golesh took over the program, the Tigers’ QB room has undergone a full reset. Deuce Knight, Ashton Daniels, and Jackson Arnold - all gone via the transfer portal.
In their place, Golesh brought in a new crop of talent, headlined by Byrum Brown and Locklan Hewlett, both of whom followed him from USF. Add in Oregon State transfer Tristan T’ia and 3-star high school signee Rhys Brush, and you’ve got a completely reshaped depth chart.
Brown enters 2026 as the presumed starter, and for good reason. He’s coming off a monster season at USF, where he threw for over 3,100 yards and 28 touchdowns, while also adding 14 scores on the ground.
He’s got the tools to run Golesh’s up-tempo offense right away. But beyond 2026?
That’s where things get interesting.
Knight, a former 5-star recruit, was expected to compete for the starting job this year. But his transfer to Ole Miss left a void in Auburn’s long-term quarterback plans. That’s where someone like Abrams could come in - and why his visit carries so much weight.
Landing Abrams wouldn’t just be a recruiting win - it would be a statement. A signal that Golesh can bring in elite talent, even in the ultra-competitive world of SEC quarterback recruiting. The kind of move that not only stabilizes the future of the position, but gives Auburn a potential star to build around in the post-Brown era.
Abrams plans to return for an official visit this summer. If the Tigers can keep building that relationship and show him a clear path to the field, they could be in prime position to land one of the best arms in the 2027 class.
For now, the ball is in Auburn’s court - and Golesh has a chance to make his first major recruiting splash at the most important position on the field.