Alabama and Auburn 2025 Recruiting: Rivalry Snapshot
Alabama and Auburn both finished in the top 10 of On3's final 2025 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings: Alabama at No. 3 and Auburn at No. 8.
Final 2025 Class Snapshot
On3's final Industry Team Recruiting Rankings placed Alabama at No. 3 with 21 commits and Auburn at No. 8 with 26 commits. That is a legitimate rivalry recruiting story: Alabama finished ahead nationally, but Auburn also landed a top-10 class.
The rankings compare the classes at the end of the recruiting cycle. Playing time, transfers and future Iron Bowl results depended on what happened after signing day.
Alabama's Class
Alabama's official signing release listed 21 additions, with Keelon Russell at quarterback and high-end signees across the offensive line, defensive backfield and front seven. On3 highlighted Russell, Michael Carroll, Jackson Lloyd, Akylin Dear, Dijon Lee, Justin Hill and others in its final summary.
The class also mattered because it was Kalen DeBoer's first full recruiting cycle at Alabama. A top-three finish did not mean Alabama avoided every roster question, but it did show that the program's recruiting infrastructure remained nationally competitive after Nick Saban's retirement.
Auburn's Class
On3's final summary listed Auburn at No. 8 and named Deuce Knight as the class's top commit, with Alvin Henderson, Broderick Shull, Jared Smith, Malik Autry, Anquon Fegans, Eric Winters and Antonio Coleman among the notable names.
Auburn's official signing page also confirms the class had recognizable high-school names across quarterback, running back, defensive line and the secondary. The key point is not that Auburn overtook Alabama nationally; it is that Auburn had a top-10 class during a period when it badly needed talent accumulation.
Iron Bowl Lens
Recruiting changes future roster options at quarterback, line of scrimmage, receiver and defensive back. Alabama signed a top-three national class while Auburn signed a top-10 class.
Alabama's class had Russell and offensive-line pieces, while Auburn's had Knight, Henderson and defensive front talent. Their impact depended on playing time, roster retention and game production.