The Auburn Tigers finally flipped highly-rated four-star quarterback Deuce Knight from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this week, securing the headliner of their 2025 recruiting class well before national signing day. This made headlines.
The move had been talked about for some time, but Knight finally announced the move to Auburn, quashing those rumors and giving the Tigers their only quarterback for the 2025 selection.
Knight currently stands at the forefront of this cycle's top-three class, and the Tigers are looking to push toward the No. 1 overall class in 2025 with a number of major additions still remaining.
How did we get here, and what kind of player is this four-star quarterback?
Recruitment of knights
Knight, who boasts 25 scholarship offers, received his first offer from Auburn University in January 2023 and Notre Dame University in March 2023, just as recruiting was starting to ramp up.
Ahead of his junior season, both schools are part of the spotlight as the four-star quarterback visited Notre Dame in late summer and ultimately committed to the Fighting Irish in September 2023. It seemed to be.
Knight provided an elite quarterback commitment in the 2025 class after Notre Dame acquired four-star CJ Carr in the 2024 class, solidifying his future at the position.
But the buzz about Auburn never waned, and Knight never shied away from his ties to the school. The quarterback took a number of unofficial visits to Auburn to start the season, finally taking an official visit to the Tigers last weekend.
Shortly after, the four-star player pulled the trigger on his decision, decommitting from Notre Dame and verbally committing to Auburn, making it a big recruiting move for head coach Hugh Freeze.
What kind of player is Deuce Knight?
Knight is one of the hottest quarterback prospects in the Class of 2025, earning consensus four-star status from many recruiting sites.
Knight is one of the nation's top two-way options, standing at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds with the ability to step up on any play. Knight, a left-handed quarterback, is an elite athlete and has a high ceiling if he can continue to grow physically while honing his skills as a quarterback.
George County's quarterback got off to a strong start to the season, scoring five touchdowns in Week 2 with an effective performance in the blowout win over East Central. While recent injuries have held him back, he's showing signs of potential to take him this far. Mass recruitment is already taking place in 2024.
He is coming off a 2023 season in which he threw for 2,047 yards, 17 touchdowns and two interceptions through the air, while also contributing nearly 500 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
What’s next for Auburn?
Knight's commitment is a huge win for Hugh Freeze's staff as they secure a top player in the most important position in football.
Auburn, currently ranked No. 3 in the nation, is far from done and is looking to either move some players or make open commitments to move up to the top.
One name that has come up is five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham, another Mississippi State recruit who is considered the top player in the state and is currently committed to the University of Alabama.
But Auburn has other goals as well, with five-star offensive lineman Andrew Babalola remaining as one of the top unsigned players in the class, and the Tigers appear to be firmly in the mix. Knight's commitment will likely help improve their team. The effort to get some of these top players.
Four-star running back Ousmane Kromer's decision is expected to be made this weekend, with the Tigers also a finalist and looking for a new running back in the 2025 class.
Overall, despite the current record, Auburn is poised for future success, and the class of 2025 could lead the way thanks to Deuce Knight's significant contributions.
