The quarterback landscape for the future is already starting to shift, and Auburn has made a significant move in the pursuit of one of the nation’s most promising signal-callers. As spring football ramps up and recruiting boards start to take shape, the Tigers have positioned themselves firmly in the hunt for 2027 four-star quarterback. Hailing from Chandler, Arizona, he has narrowed his choices to four schools—Auburn, Oregon, Miami, and Penn State—and the Plains program is very much in the conversation. For a team entering a new era and aiming to establish its identity at quarterback, this is far from a routine recruiting battle; landing Mencl could define the program’s trajectory for years to come.
Mencl’s connection to Auburn became particularly evident after a January visit, where he spent substantial time with the new coaching staff. According to Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong, what stood out most about the trip was a sense of comfort and familiarity. In the intense, high-stakes world of major college recruiting, that feeling can be decisive. “It was a family feel,” Mencl told Rivals. “I enjoyed my time there. I was in a meeting with OC Joel Gordon for an hour, then we went to lunch, came back for another two hours, and it felt like only 15 minutes had passed. He’s someone super easy to learn from. Coach Alex Golesh is a great person, and I had really good conversations with him.”
Such comments are significant. While recruits often reference facilities or fan support, when a quarterback highlights connection, communication, and ease, it signals trust and alignment with the coaching staff—an essential foundation for any program hoping to develop a franchise signal-caller. Auburn appears to be cultivating exactly that kind of relationship early on.
Should Mencl ultimately join Auburn’s 2027 signing class, he will enter a quarterback room poised for intense competition. USF transfer Byrum Brown is expected to lead the 2026 offense in what could be his final collegiate season. After that, the 2027 quarterback battle promises to be fierce, featuring Oregon State transfer Tristan Ti’a, USF transfer Locklan Hewlett, and true freshman Rhys Brush. Mencl’s addition would elevate the room into a true proving ground for the team’s next leader under center.
Physically, Mencl checks all the boxes that elite programs look for—standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 205 pounds—and his recruiting rankings underscore the hype. Rivals currently lists him as the No. 19 quarterback nationally and the fifth-highest-rated player in Arizona for the 2027 class, firmly placing him among the top prospects at his position this early in the cycle.
With spring practice underway and national recruiting momentum building, Auburn has established itself as a serious contender for one of the country’s top quarterbacks. The pressing question now is whether the “family feel” Mencl experienced in January will be enough to convince this prized West Coast prospect to bring his talents to the Plains, potentially shaping the future of Auburn football for years to come.