The Auburn Tigers are aiming for a bounce-back season after a disappointing 5-7 record in 2024 left them out of bowl contention. However, their recruiting efforts hit a snag on Wednesday when 2026 safety Xavier Lherisse committed to Oregon over Auburn, Notre Dame, and Alabama, as reported by On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Lherisse, a highly sought-after four-star prospect from Melbourne, Florida, chose the Ducks despite interest from a long list of powerhouse programs, including Florida State, Miami, Georgia, LSU, Penn State, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
Standing at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Lherisse is ranked as the No. 27 safety in the 2026 class by the On3 Industry Rankings. Auburn had hosted him for two unofficial visits and had an official visit scheduled for May 30, but the Tigers ultimately fell short in their pursuit. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, Auburn had a 26.9% chance of landing him.
Lherisse would have been a significant addition to Auburn’s 2026 recruiting class, which already includes commitments from four-star edge rusher Hezekiah Harris, four-star receivers Devin Carter and Denairius Gray, four-star linebackers Shadarius Toodle and JaMichael Garrett, and three-star safety Wayne Henry. His commitment to Oregon leaves Auburn to focus on other targets as they continue building for the future.
The Tigers are entering the third year of the Hugh Freeze era in 2025. Freeze led the team to a bowl game in his first season, finishing 6-6 before falling to Maryland in the Music City Bowl. However, Auburn narrowly missed bowl eligibility in 2024 after a 28-14 loss to Alabama in their final regular-season game. With Freeze at the helm, the Tigers are looking to turn the corner and return to postseason success in the upcoming season.
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