The Auburn football program experienced a week of high anticipation. All eyes were on the quarterbacks as head coach Hugh Freeze revealed that redshirt freshman Hank Brown would be starting over Payton Thorne against the New Mexico Lobos.
Following a tough home loss to Cal, the Tigers were eager to move past that defeat with a new starting quarterback, and fans were excited for Brown’s debut in the team’s orange and blue.
But the excitement didn’t end with the game. Earlier that day, 4-star linebacker Elijah Melendez committed to Auburn. Hailing from Kissimmee, Florida, Melendez is ranked as the #17 linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class and the #23 recruit from Florida.
Initially committed to the Miami Hurricanes in December 2023, Melendez decommitted in late August after ongoing recruitment by Auburn and chose to join Coach Freeze’s team. He made his commitment public just before the kickoff against New Mexico after visiting Auburn.
The key factor in Melendez’s decision was his relationship with Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin. Melendez mentioned, “It really feels like family here and I wanted to play in the SEC. I believe Auburn offers a great chance for development and a path to the NFL, especially with Coach Durkin,” according to Auburn Rivals.
Despite concerns on defense, Melendez was impressed by Hank Brown’s performance and the team’s victory. When asked about visiting other schools, Melendez confirmed that his recruitment process is now closed.
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