Auburn’s effort to generate early momentum in the 2027 recruiting cycle appears to be facing its first significant hurdle. After investing months of heavy communication, campus visits, and relationship-building, the Tigers are no longer viewed as the frontrunner for one of their most important targets. Instead, the tide seems to be turning in favor of an SEC rival, with growing indications that Auburn may be losing ground in the race for a highly coveted four-star running back just as the recruitment reaches a pivotal stage.
For head coach Alex Golesh, this development comes at a delicate time. He was brought in to stabilize and re-energize the program after a disappointing 2025 campaign that ended at 5-7 and triggered major changes within the coaching staff. The offseason has been centered around reshaping the culture, restoring confidence, and, most importantly, stacking recruiting wins that can accelerate the rebuild. Securing elite offensive talent has been a top objective as Golesh looks to implement his vision on that side of the ball. However, with one of Auburn’s premier targets now trending elsewhere, the Tigers could be staring at an early recruiting setback that tests the resilience of this new regime.
That prospect is Jayden Miles, a dynamic 6-foot-2, 200-pound running back out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Ranked as the No. 13 running back and No. 215 overall player nationally in the 2027 class according to Rivals Industry Rankings, Miles has drawn attention from powerhouse programs across the country — and LSU is now widely viewed as the favorite to land him.
Miles has previously acknowledged Auburn as one of the programs recruiting him the hardest, and he even made an unofficial visit to the Plains late last fall. The mutual interest sparked optimism among Tigers fans that Golesh and his staff could pull off a statement win early in the cycle. However, recent expert projections indicate LSU has surged ahead in the race.
Recruiting analyst Shea Dixon logged a prediction favoring the Tigers of Baton Rouge, and his track record adds weight to the projection. With a strong accuracy rate on past commitments, the forecast suggests Auburn may be facing a tough reality in this high-stakes SEC recruiting showdown.
While the battle is not officially over until pen meets paper, losing Miles would mark a frustrating early miss for Auburn’s 2027 class. Golesh and his staff will now have to regroup quickly, whether that means making a late push to flip momentum or shifting focus to other high-profile targets to keep the rebuild on track.