It was a week of heightened anticipation for the Auburn football program as all attention focused on the quarterback position. Head coach Hugh Freeze eventually announced that redshirt freshman Hank Brown would be starting over Payton Thorne in the game against the New Mexico Lobos.
Coming off a tough loss to Cal on their home field, the Tigers were eager to move past that defeat with a new QB1, and fans were excited to see Brown’s debut in the starting role.
The weekend held additional excitement beyond the game itself. Earlier, 4-star linebacker Elijah Melendez revealed his commitment to Auburn. Hailing from Kissimmee, Florida, Melendez is ranked as the #17 linebacker for the class of 2025 and the #23 recruit from Florida.
Melendez had initially committed to the Miami Hurricanes in December 2023, but Auburn’s persistent recruitment efforts paid off. After decommitting from Miami at the end of August, he chose Auburn on Saturday, announcing his decision before the game against New Mexico. His visit to Auburn and the relationship he developed with defensive coordinator DJ Durkin were key factors in his choice.
Melendez expressed his enthusiasm for Auburn, noting that the program felt like a family and that he was excited about the opportunity to play in the SEC and develop under Coach Durkin. Despite some defensive struggles, he was impressed with Brown’s performance and the team’s win, and confirmed that he has closed his recruitment and will not be visiting other schools.
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