Auburn Tigers Flip 4-Star LB Shadarius Toodle Back from Georgia
In a significant recruiting victory for head coach Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers, four-star linebacker Shadarius Toodle has flipped his commitment back to Auburn, this time from the Georgia Bulldogs . The Mobile, Alabama native originally pledged to the Tigers in July 2024 before flipping to Georgia on June 22, but Freeze and his staff continued recruiting Toodle hard even after he shifted his allegiance to one of Auburn’s most hated rivals .
**Why Toodle Chose Auburn**
Toodle was on campus this past weekend for the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry against Georgia, the school to which he was formerly committed. Despite the Tigers’ disappointing 20-10 loss, Auburn’s environment and the atmosphere of Jordan-Hare Stadium reminded Toodle why he chose the Tigers to begin with .
“Home is where my heart is and my love for Auburn never faded,” Toodle told On3 after announcing his flip .
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound linebacker has visited the Plains more than any other school by a significant margin, racking up a total of 11 visits to Auburn—the most recent being the Georgia and Ball State games .
**Recruiting Profile and Rankings**
According to On3, Toodle is ranked as the No. 13 linebacker in the 2026 class and the No. 244 overall prospect nationally . He is also listed as the No. 13 player from the state of Alabama . The Rivals industry rankings place Toodle as the fifth-highest-rated commit in Auburn’s 2026 class, behind five-star safety Bralan Womack, five-star wide receiver Jase Mathews, four-star linebacker/edge rusher Jaquez Wilkes, and four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone .
Scouts praise Toodle’s size, athleticism, and physicality at the linebacker position. With offers from nearly 40 FBS programs and invitations to All-American games, he has been considered a top 250 overall recruit in the country for nearly two years .
**Class Impact and Coach Freeze’s Future**
With Toodle’s commitment, the Tigers now boast 13 commits in their 2026 class and have ascended to No. 36 in 247Sports’ team recruiting rankings . However, Auburn’s class still ranks toward the bottom of the SEC at No. 12 .
The victory on the recruiting trail comes amid significant pressure on Freeze’s job security. Auburn has opened conference play 0-3 for the third consecutive season, and Freeze holds a 5-14 record against SEC opponents as head coach of the Tigers . If Freeze is fired in the coming weeks, recruiting experts anticipate a potential mass exodus of players from both the current roster and the 2026 class .
Toodle is expected to have the opportunity to learn from breakout defensive star Xavier Atkins before potentially stepping onto the field as a true freshman in 2026 . His commitment gives Auburn a much-needed boost as the program navigates a critical stretch that will determine Freeze’s future on the Plains .
