Auburn football’s haul in the past two recruiting cycles and transfer portal windows has sparked a new confidence around the plains.

In ESPN’s recent list of college football’s top 2025 newcomer classes, the Tigers ranked third trailing behind Oregon and LSU.

Over the offseason, Auburn brought in the No. 1 player in the transfer portal signing wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr.

The Tigers signed a total of 21 transfers headlined by Jackson Arnold, Raion Strader, Xavier Chaplin, Mason Murphy, Caleb Wheatland, Dallas Walker IV, and Chris Murray.

Auburn’s sixth-ranked recruiting class in 2025 was the second straight top-10 class under Auburn coach Hugh Freeze.

Despite not having a winning season in the last four years, Freeze believes the offseason moves the Tigers made will change that pattern.

“You have to have top-10 recruiting classes in this league to form an elite roster,” Freeze said back in April. “I felt like we could do that at Auburn, and we have in the two recruiting classes we’ve had. And the roster, therefore, looks different.”

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected].