The 2025 recruiting cycle is beginning its final stretch, but there is still plenty of time for Auburn to build its strongest class under Hugh FreezeIt’s the clock.
One of the top targets Auburn continues to pursue is five-star quarterback Julian Lewis, a USC commit. Lewis announced his commitment to the Lincoln Riley program last fall. However, Auburn is the closest program to Lewis, which makes the Carrollton, Georgia native think long and hard about his choices.
In a recent episode of The Five Star FlexOn3’s Philip Dukes shared information about Lewis’ position with USC as well as the Trojans’ biggest threats: Auburn and Colorado. Dukes thinks USC remains a strong presence, but Auburn is the more attractive program for Lewis for two reasons: personnel and location.
Dukes cites Auburn’s distance of 90 miles from Lewis’ hometown compared to Los Angeles, which is more than 2,100 miles away.
“The proximity to home, being able to get to (Interstate) 85 and being back in the area … there are a lot of things that Auburn presents,” Dukes said.
The other factor is Auburn’s recent track record in recruiting valuable pieces to surround Lewis. Auburn’s last receiving cycle was historic, and the Tigers added 11 offensive linemen between 2023 and 2025, which is the best stretch for the unit in some time. Having a solid supporting cast could be enough for Lewis to consider a move.
“Can they continue to recruit, continue to stack up on the offensive line to prove they can protect Juju, and how do they finish with these other key receivers?” Dukes added.
Lewis visited Colorado last weekend, where the university and city made many stops. A restaurant in Boulder even named a burger after Lewis during his official visit. Lewis’ recruitment will continue to provide an incredible experience for everyone involved before he officially signs in December, but Dukes is convinced that Auburn and Colorado will be USC’s biggest threats yet.
“If I had to break it all in half, I wouldn’t lean on any of these schools at all,” Dukes said. “What I think is Colorado really gave the Lewis family a lot to think about this weekend. I think Auburn is going to continue to push, and I think USC — as long as he’s committed to USC, I think you can never count them out, and I would still say they’re the leader, because that’s where he’s committed. .”
Lewis is the No. 1 overall recruit in 2025, according to ESPN and Rivals, and is a top-five quarterback in the 247Sports and On3 rankings.
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