Auburn just pried a four-star wide receiver away from Penn State. And for a program trying to find its footing under a new head coach, that kind of win matters.
Deshawn Hall, a 2027 recruit out of Alabama, committed to the Tigers on Tuesday. The decision came down to Auburn and Penn State, but Hall chose to stay close to home. He’s from the state, and he made it clear that played a role.
“It just hit different being able to do it in yo hometown surrounded with your people,” Hall told Rivals.
Hall had offers from Tennessee and Florida, plus serious interest from Clemson. But Auburn locked him up. According to On3, he’s the top-ranked wide receiver in Alabama for his class. That’s not nothing.
So how did Auburn pull this off? Two names come up a lot in Hall’s breakdown: wide receivers coach Kodi Burns and assistant Parker Carmichael. Hall said he’s tight with both. “Me and Kodi Burns are really cool,” Hall said. “I feel like we’ll have a great relationship going forward. Also, the assistant coach, too, Coach Parker. He’s real cool, too.”
The New Staff is Making Moves
Alex Golesh took over at Auburn after Hugh Freeze was let go. Golesh came from South Florida, where he built a reputation for developing talent. Hall seems to buy what Golesh is selling.
“His energy, he keeps it real with the players and he isn’t going to sugarcoat nothing,” Hall said. “He’s going to let you know how it is, and that’s really what a player needs.”
Hall also visited campus recently and came away impressed. “I’ve really grown to love it (at Auburn),” he said. “The new staff is doing a great job with me. I like them a lot.”
For Auburn, landing a receiver like Hall isn’t just about depth. It’s about signaling that the program can still recruit against SEC competition and beyond. Penn State has been building momentum on the trail, so beating them head-to-head matters. The Tigers open the 2026 season on September 5 against Baylor. That non-conference game will be an early test for Golesh and his new-look roster.
Leave a Comment