4-star Alabama commit enjoys weekend visit with Auburn football

The Auburn football coaching staff made a solid impression on 4-star linebacker Duke Johnson, a current Alabama commit.

The Auburn football coaching staff made a solid impression on 4-star linebacker Duke Johnson, a current Alabama commit

Over the weekend, Auburn’s football program welcomed some highly regarded recruits to campus, including one who had previously committed to in-state rival Alabama. Darrell “Duke” Johnson, a 4-star linebacker, had pledged to the Tide in March but visited the Auburn Tigers as part of his official visit. Hailing from Eastman, Georgia, Johnson is ranked as the fourth best linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class and holds the ninth spot among prospects from Georgia.

During his visit, he had a detailed discussion in the film room with Auburn’s defensive coordinator, DJ Durkin. Johnson expressed his belief that he would fit well with the Tigers and has the chance to see early playing time, emphasizing his compatibility with the team’s scheme and his ability to make an impact.

This visit marked Johnson’s final stop of the summer, and the only other school he is considering aside from Alabama is UCF. He intends to graduate in December and plans to make his final decision in October or November. Auburn is also actively pursuing other players who are committed to Alabama. For instance, 4-star ATH Derick Smith recently visited Auburn and has developed strong connections with the team’s wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator.

He is deciding between Alabama and Auburn, but is waiting to observe how the Tigers perform in the upcoming season. The Tigers are also making a concerted effort to sway defensive lineman Antonio Coleman, who had initially committed to Alabama, briefly switched to Auburn, and eventually reverted to his commitment to Alabama. Like Smith, Coleman intends to take his time to decide on his future college destination throughout the fall.