Versatile 2026 lineman Ben Boulware added a 10th offer to his list Thursday.
Auburn offensive line coach Jake Thornton called.
Eight schools that have offered Boulware are recruiting him as a defensive lineman, while Auburn is the second program to offer him as an offensive lineman.
“I mean, I’m just happy,” Boulware said. “I feel really blessed that I have the opportunity to play at the next level. The offer, I’m glad to have it. Everyone talks about all the other stuff like that, but I just see it as an opportunity, because you never know what can happen.”
Thursday was his first time talking with Thornton, but already, Boulware got a sense of who he is as a person and a coach.
“He seems like a great guy,” Boulware said. “Definitely knows what he’s talking about, and definitely wants what’s best for the program. They told me how they produce their guys and stuff like that, and just how they’re always ready to work.”
With visits to South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, NC State, Tennessee, East Carolina, Florida State and Virginia Tech already in the books, Boulware is looking to get to Auburn in the spring for a visit. What will he be looking at while on a visit?
“The way Coach Thornton coaches,” Boulware said. “The way team chemistry, team bond is. You know, just like the little things. Nothing like too crazy.”
AUBURN | No. 1 Auburn ended the second week of conference play tied with No. 21 Ole Miss as the only two teams with a 4-0 record.
What’s it going to take to win the SEC?
In the last 10 seasons, the champion finished with 15 or more wins seven times.
The exceptions include Texas A&M and Kentucky tying for the title in 2016 with 13-5 records, and the same for Auburn and Tennessee in 2018. The Volunteers won it all last year with a 14-4 record.
On the other end, Alabama had 16-2 records in 2023 and 21, as did LSU in 2019 and Kentucky in 2017. The Wildcats were 18-0 in 2015.
With nine conference teams ranked in the Top 25 and 11 currently projected to be in the NCAA Tournament, it’s reasonable to expect 15 wins to be enough to win the league this year and perhaps 14 or 13 gets the job done.
It’d be surprising if Auburn or another team finishes with 16 or more wins. Just ask Bruce Pearl.
“Matchups are going to matter,” said Pearl. “We’re going to lose games. But we can’t let a loss affect us the next time out. We’ve got to be beat instead of beating ourselves.”
The Tigers schedule is tough throughout but the finish will be especially challenging. AU’s last four games are Ole Miss at home, at No. 8 Kentucky and No. 11 Texas A&M and home against No. 4 Alabama.
With a bye next week, AU will play the final 13 games of the regular season without a break.
Auburn plays at No. 23 Georgia Saturday at noon on SEC Network.
When this year’s season came to an end, so did the Auburn career for Jarquez Hunter.
This time next year, Damari Alston will experience the same.
Heading into the 2026 season, the room is set to consist of Jeremiah Cobb, UConn transfer Durell Robinson and 2025 signee Alvin Henderson, with the potential to add 2025 prospect Omar Mabson as well.
However, Auburn will still be looking to sign a running back or two in the 2026 class to compete in the room. Who are the candidates? Let’s take a look at six running backs in the 2026 class that Auburn could look to sign.
Derrek Cooper — Hollywood, Fla.
One of the best athletes in the country, Auburn is recruiting Cooper both at running back and at safety. There are a couple of reasons for Auburn to remain optimistic here. He’s teammates with Auburn wide receiver commit Denairius Gray and his position coach at Chaminade Madonna is former Auburn running back Shaun Shivers.
Cooper, along with Gray and Shivers, all made the trip to the Plains back in October, where Cooper described it as a “surreal” experience. Georgia, Florida State, Florida, Miami and Ohio State are all considered the biggest contenders and Auburn will get him back on campus Jan. 25 for the junior day.
Carsyn Baker — Fairburn, Ga.
Baker was a frequent visitor last year to Auburn, visiting for Big Cat Weekend and two home games. He’ll be at Georgia this weekend for its junior day, as the Bulldogs have jumped straight into the top group of schools for Baker after offering him in December.
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze and running backs coach Derrick Nix went to visit Baker at his school earlier this month and he plans to visit for the junior day.
Jae Lamar — Moultrie, Ga.
Going from unranked to one of the top 100 players in his Rivals250 debut this past December, Lamar picked up an Auburn offer last October, after visiting a month prior for the Arkansas game. He’ll be back on campus soon, visiting for the Tigers’ junior day on Jan. 25, with a visit to Tennessee also in store for the running back.
Jonaz Walton — Carrollton, Ga.
One of several visitors to Auburn during Big Cat Weekend last July, Walton also visited for Auburn’s home opener against Alabama A&M. The Tigers are one of several SEC programs Walton is taking a close look at, with Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama also considered in play.
Amari Clemons — Marianna, Fla.
Clemons made multiple visits to Auburn last calendar year, one in the summer and most recently for the Tigers’ home finale against Texas A&M. He likes what Derrick Nix is about, not just as a coach but as a person.
Florida State, which is just an hour from his hometown, hosted him in December and the Seminoles will be one to watch, along with South Carolina.
Ja’Michael Jones — Pike Road, Ala.
Even without a recent visit to Auburn, the Tigers sit relatively high for Jones, alongside Ole Miss and Alabama. He also visited Ohio State last fall, while having a productive junior year with over 1,400 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns for Pike Road.
