One of the biggest questions surrounding Alex Golesh’s hiring as Auburn’s new football head coach this past offseason was whether he could truly recruit at the same level as SEC heavyweights like Kirby Smart, Steve Sarkisian, and Lane Kiffin.
That question has not yet been fully answered with a clear yes, but the 41 year old Golesh is already showing he is willing to compete, landing another major commitment on Monday from 4 star defensive back Chance Gilbert, who chose Auburn over Georgia and other programs.
Chance Gilbert has built a relationship with Champ Anthony
“I really love the environment when it comes to Auburn,” Gilbert said. “That’s the number one thing that stood out.”
Out of East Coweta High School in Sharpsburg, Georgia, Gilbert is ranked as the number 8 cornerback in the country. According to Rivals analyst Charles Power, he is “a versatile defensive back with a well rounded combination of athleticism, ball skills, and overall coordination.”
At 5 foot 11.5 inches and 175 pounds, he brings the speed and long stride length needed to stay with wide receivers in coverage.
Although he plays both cornerback and safety in high school, Gilbert has been told Auburn views him primarily as a safety. During his visits to Auburn, he has spent time with safeties coach Tim Banks as well as current Tigers safety Champ Anthony.
“Being around the coaches and the players really stood out for me, especially Champ,” Gilbert said. “He’s definitely a guy I’ve been around. He’s been speaking about God. I love players like that. He’s the first person out of all the visits I’ve been to who actually spoke about stuff like that.”
“Like I said, the players. Being around the players is what stood out. I mean, the campus is beautiful. Outside of the campus, all the restaurants around, really beautiful. I love stuff like that. That’s where I’m from. Coming from Senoia, Georgia, they remind me a lot of it.”
“Obviously, the goal is to come in and compete for championships,” Gilbert said. “Auburn is a place that has everything it takes to win titles, and that’s definitely something I want to be part of.”
“I want to be in a program where winning big games and competing for SEC championships is the standard,” he added. “That’s what I’m looking for at the next level.”
“Just talking with the coaches and seeing the direction they’re building, I can see myself being part of something special,” Gilbert said. “I want to help bring championships back to Auburn.”
Gilbert becomes Auburn’s 16th commitment in the 2027 recruiting class, helping the Tigers climb to 16th nationally in the recruiting rankings, according to 247Sports.
