BREAKING: Auburn Tigers Flip 4-Star LB Shadarius Toodle Back from Georgia
In a dramatic recruiting saga that has captured the attention of the SEC, the Auburn Tigers have successfully flipped four-star linebacker Shadarius Toodle back from archrival Georgia—a move that has temporarily silenced critics of Hugh Freeze’s recruiting operation .
**The Flip That Keeps on Flipping**
Toodle, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound linebacker from Mobile, Alabama, originally committed to Auburn in July 2024 before flipping to Georgia on June 22, 2025 . His decision to leave for Athens sent shockwaves through the Auburn fanbase, particularly given his accompanying message: “If you want to be the best, why not play with the best? Georgia is home” .
But Hugh Freeze and his staff refused to give up. They continued recruiting Toodle relentlessly, even after he shifted his pledge to one of Auburn’s most hated rivals. The persistence paid off when Toodle visited Auburn for the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry game against Georgia in October 2025. Despite the Tigers’ disappointing 20-10 loss, the atmosphere of Jordan-Hare Stadium and the relationships he had built reminded Toodle why he originally chose Auburn .
“Home is where my heart is and my love for Auburn never faded,” Toodle told On3 after announcing his flip back to the Tigers .
**Why Toodle Chose Auburn—Again**
Toodle’s decision came down to relationships and fit. He has visited Auburn more than any other school, racking up 11 total visits to the Plains . During his recruitment, he developed deep connections with the coaching staff who, in his words, “rolled out the red carpet to try and keep me” .
The flip was also about opportunity. Georgia had pitched Toodle as a versatile defender similar to Jalon Walker—a player who can line up both outside and inside . But Auburn’s vision for him, combined with the comfort of staying close to his Mobile home and the family atmosphere Freeze has cultivated, ultimately won out.
**What Toodle Brings to Auburn**
According to the On3 industry rankings, Toodle is the No. 13 linebacker in the 2026 class, the No. 244 overall prospect nationally, and the No. 13 player from Alabama . He sits as the fifth-highest-rated commit in Auburn’s 2026 class, behind only five-star safety Bralan Womack, five-star wide receiver Jase Mathews, four-star linebacker/edge rusher Jaquez Wilkes, and four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone .
**A Roller Coaster Recruiting Cycle**
Toodle’s flip back to Auburn was desperately needed news for a program that had endured a brutal summer on the recruiting trail. Before his return, the Tigers had suffered a string of decommitments from blue-chip prospects :
– **Denairius Gray**, a four-star wide receiver who was Auburn’s first 2026 commit (pledging in January 2024), flipped to Kentucky in June 2025
– **Devin Carter**, a four-star receiver, flipped to Florida State
– **JaMichael Garrett**, a four-star linebacker, simply left the class
– **Hezekiah Harris**, a top-150 edge rusher and the third-highest-rated commit in the class, flipped to Tennessee in August 2025
At one point, Auburn’s 2026 class had dropped to No. 60 nationally, and Freeze himself admitted to reporters, “It is hard to sit there and feel great about it” .
The Toodle flip in October helped stabilize the class, bringing Auburn to 13 commits and moving the Tigers up to No. 36 in 247Sports’ team recruiting rankings .
**The Bigger Picture: Freeze Fighting for His Job**
While Toodle’s commitment is a significant recruiting victory, it comes against a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding Hugh Freeze’s future at Auburn. The Tigers opened conference play 0-3 for the third consecutive season in 2025, and Freeze holds a 5-14 record against SEC opponents as head coach . Auburn has not produced a first-round NFL Draft pick since 2020—a drought the program hopes defensive star Keldric Faulk will snap in the 2026 draft .
If Freeze is fired, recruiting experts anticipate a potential mass exodus of players from both the current roster and the 2026 class . Toodle himself could become a flip target once again if the coaching situation in Auburn becomes unstable.
**Looking Ahead**
For now, Toodle is locked in with the Tigers—again. His commitment, combined with the recent addition of four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone (who flipped from Penn State), gives Auburn fans reason for optimism . The class still features elite talent, and Freeze is banking that a strong 2026 season will allow him to hold onto these commitments and build on the momentum.
As Toodle told On3 after his flip: “Home is where my heart is and my love for Auburn never faded.” For a program that has endured as much disappointment as success in recent years, hearing those words from a top in-state recruit is a victory worth celebrating—even if the ultimate test is whether Freeze can keep him there for good.
