It was a week filled with anticipation for Auburn football. All attention was focused on the quarterbacks until head coach Hugh Freeze revealed that redshirt freshman Hank Brown would start over Payton Thorne against the New Mexico Lobos.
Following a tough loss to Cal, the Tigers were eager to move on, and fans were excited to witness Brown’s first start in Auburn’s colors.
But the game wasn’t the only highlight of the weekend. Earlier that day, 4-star linebacker Elijah Melendez announced his commitment to Auburn. Hailing from Kissimmee, Florida, Melendez is ranked as the #17 linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class and the #23 recruit in Florida.
Melendez had initially committed to the Miami Hurricanes in December 2023, but Auburn persisted in their recruitment efforts. These efforts paid off when Melendez decommitted in late August and pledged to Auburn on Saturday, making his announcement before the game against New Mexico.
The key to Melendez’s decision was the strong bond he developed with Auburn’s defensive coordinator, DJ Durkin.
“Feels like family here, and I wanted to play in the SEC,” Melendez told Auburn Rivals. “I believe Auburn and Coach Durkin can help me develop and get to the NFL.”
Despite defensive challenges, Melendez was impressed by Hank Brown’s debut and Auburn’s victory. When asked if he would consider visiting other schools, Melendez confirmed that his recruitment was officially closed.
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