Five-star linebacker has committed to play for the Auburn Tigers.
It was a week filled with anticipation for Auburn football, as all attention was on the quarterback situation. Head coach Hugh Freeze ultimately announced that redshirt freshman Hank Brown would start over Payton Thorne in the upcoming game against the New Mexico Lobos.
The Tigers were eager to move past a tough loss to Cal, and fans were excited to see Brown make his first start for Auburn.
However, the weekend excitement extended beyond just the game. Earlier in the day, 4-star linebacker Elijah Melendez from Kissimmee, Florida, committed to the Tigers. Melendez, ranked as the #17 linebacker in the 2025 class and the #23 player in Florida, had previously pledged to Miami in December 2023. Auburn continued its pursuit, and Melendez decommitted from Miami in late August before committing to Auburn ahead of their game against New Mexico.
Melendez’s decision was heavily influenced by his relationship with Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin.
“It really feels like family here, and I wanted to play in the SEC,” Melendez told Auburn Rivals. “I feel like I have a great opportunity to develop and make it to the NFL at Auburn under Coach Durkin.”
Although the defense faced some challenges, Melendez was impressed by Brown’s debut and Auburn’s win. When asked about potential visits to other schools, he confirmed that his recruitment is now closed.
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