Over the weekend, the Auburn Tigers, led by coach Hugh Freeze, secured a significant recruit. Four-star safety Eric Winters from Enterprise, Ala., committed during his official visit to the plains.
“Auburn feels like home,” Winters told Chad Simmons of On3. “After discussing it with my mom, I realized Auburn is the right place for me. While I was considering Georgia recently, Auburn stood out to me about two weeks ago. Coach Freeze’s vision for the team, how they plan to utilize me, and the comfort of staying close to home all played a role in my decision.” Winters, standing at 6’2” and weighing 195 pounds, is ranked No. 129 overall in the On3 rankings and holds the No. 15 spot among safeties and No. 4 in Alabama for the 2025 cycle. Before committing to Auburn, he was also being courted by the Georgia Bulldogs, Miami Hurricanes, and Ole Miss Rebels.
247Sports holds Winters in even higher regard, ranking him as the No. 5 safety nationally and the No. 53 prospect overall in the country.
Charles Kelly was appointed Auburn’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach in January. He is enthusiastic about coaching a talented athlete like Winters starting in 2025. Despite his strong inclination towards Auburn, this commitment is significant as it adds depth to Auburn’s secondary, crucial as the SEC transitions from a run-first to a pass-first league.
This commitment solidifies the defensive focus of Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class, with Winters joining DL Malik Autry, Edge Jakaleb Faulk, and LB Taylor Lockhart at the forefront of the Tigers’ recruitment efforts.
With this addition, Auburn rises to No. 8 in the On3 recruiting rankings for 2025 and No. 6 according to 247Sports, placing them at No. 5 within the SEC.