As temperatures rise across the Plains, so does the intensity of Auburn football’s recruiting efforts. With the NCAA dead period beginning on June 23, prospects from across the nation are locking in official and unofficial visits through the remainder of May and into June.
This past weekend, Auburn hosted elite 5-star defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Wright for an official visit. Hailing from Buford, Georgia, Perry-Wright is ranked No. 32 nationally and is the No. 2 defensive lineman in the 2026 class. He also holds the No. 5 spot among recruits in Georgia.
Per his 247Sports profile, Perry-Wright recorded 57 tackles and nine sacks last season and earned selections to both the Polynesian Bowl and the Navy All-American Bowl.
Though he’s been to Auburn before, Perry-Wright described this visit as his most thorough yet. He appreciated the opportunity to delve deeper into the program and continue building his relationship with defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, a long-standing presence in his recruitment.
“I saw them this spring; they came twice,” Perry-Wright told Auburn Rivals. “I’ve been meeting with them since then. I’ve known Coach Durkin for about three years—first at Texas A\&M, now at Auburn—so that connection really matters.”
Auburn was just the first stop on Perry-Wright’s summer tour of official visits. He’s scheduled to visit Clemson on May 30, Miami on June 6, Texas on June 13, and Texas A\&M on June 20. While he hasn’t set a commitment date, he believes Durkin’s defensive system would be a strong fit for his skill set.
“As they say, the proof is in the pudding,” he said. “Look at all the players—Walter Nolan and the entire Texas A\&M defensive line that just moved on—they all thrived under his system. Now, you’re seeing new talent emerge at Auburn too.”