A new freshman class is ready to step up and fill the spots left by departing seniors, and the Auburn Tigers could be in for a good ride. Elite 2026 defensive lineman Vodney Cleveland has re-entered the recruiting scene.
After decommitting from Alabama in December, he recently caught attention following his visit to the Tigers’ camp, amid widespread interest.
4-Star DL Vodney Cleveland Visits Auburn Amid Fierce Recruiting Battle
Vodney Cleveland, a four-star DL from Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, is in the spotlight after decommitting from Alabama in December. He has officially narrowed his college choices to six schools: Auburn, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Miami, and North Carolina.
Among these, Auburn is getting an early shot at making an impression. He recently visited the Tigers during “Big Cat Weekend,” which marked the first of his five official visits scheduled over the coming weeks. During his time on campus, he watched Auburn’s scrimmage and met with defensive tackles coach Vontrell King-Williams.
As expected, the Tigers aren’t taking the four-star defensive talent’s visit lightly. The coaching staff began preparing for Cleveland’s visit days in advance. Defensive coordinator DJ Durkin even made a trip to Parker High School earlier in the week to meet him in person.
The Tigers made Cleveland a top priority, and it shows. He later posted photos of himself in Auburn gear on social media with the caption “WDE??”
WDE??🦅❗️ pic.twitter.com/doNPcb31My
— Vodney Cleveland (@Vodney_Clev) May 18, 2025
After decommitting from Alabama, Cleveland will carefully weigh each program. He’ll consider the atmosphere, player development, and post-college opportunities. The Tigers hope to check all those boxes and convince him to stay close to home.
Fans are certainly doing their part. Many have flooded social media with excitement following the high school superstar’s visit. One fan wrote, “War d*** Vodney! Come home to Auburn!” Another CFB fan chimed in, “War Eagle 🦅 commit to Auburn!” A third user added, “Yes! Come on home.”
However, there’s a catch. Despite growing up a Tigers fan, Cleveland says Florida and Texas are currently leading the race for his commitment. He has visited Florida twice in three weeks, showing serious interest in the Gators.
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The final decision remains uncertain, but with official visits still lined up, the next few weeks will be critical in determining where Cleveland plays at the next level. All eyes are now focused on the result of this fierce recruiting battle.
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