The Auburn football team was filled with anticipation during the past week. Throughout the week, all eyes were on the quarterbacks until head coach Hugh Freeze declared that redshirt freshman Hank Brown would start against the New Mexico Lobos instead of Payton Thorne.
Fans were excited to watch Brown make his starting debut in orange and blue as the Tigers looked to put their tough home loss to Cal behind them and move on to a new quarterback.
However, the excitement of the weekend extended beyond the game. Elijah Melendez, a 4-star linebacker, declared his commitment to the Tigers earlier in the day. Melendez, a native of Kissimmee, Florida, is listed as the #23 prospect out of the Sunshine State and the #17 linebacker in the recruiting class of 2025.
Melendez decommitted at the end of August and committed to Auburn football on Saturday. The Tigers persisted in their recruitment efforts despite Melendez’s initial promise to the in-state Miami Hurricanes in December 2023. This past weekend, he paid a visit to the Plains and made his vow known before the game against New Mexico began.
The linebacker’s bond with Auburn defensive coach DJ Durkin has been the deciding element in his recruitment.
Melendez stated, “Really feels like family here and I wanted to play in the SEC,” according to Auburn Rivals. “I feel like I got a real good shot at getting developed and getting to the NFL from Auburn and playing with Coach Durkin.”
Melendez was pleased with the team’s victory and quarterback Hank Brown’s debut in Jordan-Hare Stadium, even with the defensive issues. In response to a question about his future plans, Melendez said that he is officially done recruiting.
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