The Auburn Tigers are aiming for a bounce-back season after finishing 5-7 and missing out on a bowl game. However, they received disappointing recruiting news on Wednesday.
According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, 2026 safety Xavier Lherisse has committed to Oregon, choosing the Ducks over Auburn, Notre Dame, and Alabama.
Lherisse, a highly sought-after prospect, also received offers from top programs including Florida State, Miami, Georgia, LSU, Penn State, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. The Melbourne, Florida native, who plays at Eau Gallie High School, stands at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds.
Auburn had been in strong contention, with the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine giving the Tigers a 26.9% chance to land him. Lherisse, a four-star prospect ranked as the No. 27 safety in the 2026 class by On3 Industry Rankings, had already made two unofficial visits to Auburn and had an official visit scheduled for May 30.
The Tigers have six commitments for the 2026 class, including another safety, three-star Wayne Henry. If Lherisse had chosen Auburn, he would have joined a class that includes four-star edge rusher Hezekiah Harris, four-star receivers Devin Carter and Denairius Gray, and four-star linebackers Shadarius Toodle and JaMichael Garrett.
Auburn is heading into year three under head coach Hugh Freeze. In 2023, Freeze led the Tigers to a 6-6 regular season record and a Music City Bowl appearance, where they lost to Maryland 31-13. In 2024, Auburn came close to a bowl berth but fell short after losing the season finale to Alabama 28-14.
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