Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers secured a significant commitment on Wednesday. A  highly-rated offensive lineman standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 285 pounds, declared his commitment to Auburn on X, the social media platform formerly referred to as Twitter.

Smith’s decision to commit to the Tigers comes after receiving numerous offers from various programs. Auburn was the first SEC team to extend an offer to Smith in September 2023, followed by nine other SEC programs and numerous non-SEC schools.

Throughout the recruitment process, Auburn, Florida State, and Mississippi State were the primary contenders for Smith’s commitment. However, ultimately, the Mobile native opted to stay in-state and commit to the Tigers. This decision underscores Freeze and Auburn’s emphasis on winning recruiting battles within their home state.

Freeze emphasized the importance of starting recruiting efforts at home, acknowledging that while the roster can’t be filled solely with local talent, winning battles in Alabama is a priority for the program. Auburn saw success in recruiting within the state during the 2024 cycle, and Freeze hopes to continue this trend in the coming years.

Smith, who plays offensive tackle at Williamson High School in Mobile, is ranked as the 23rd offensive tackle in the 2025 recruiting class and the 16th overall prospect in Alabama, according to 247Sports.

With Smith’s commitment, Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class now includes 10 pledges, with three of them being offensive linemen: Tavaris Dice, Spencer Dowland, and Tai Buster.