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Eli Lederman, ESPN writer
Four-star quarterback Deuc Knight, ESPN’s No. 2 running back in the 2025 cycle, backed away from his pledge from Notre Dame to Auburn on Wednesday night, cementing Hugh Freeze’s quest to reach the nation’s top class while dealing another blow to the Irish’s recruiting efforts. .
Knight, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound linebacker from Lucedale, Mississippi, is ESPN’s No. 76 player in the 2025 class and lands with the Tigers at the end of a long-rumored courtship. Knight was initially committed to Notre Dame since September 2023, and is now the fifth-highest-rated member of Auburn’s 2025 class.
After making multiple visits to Auburn over the summer and in the early weeks of the regular season, Knight is now the 15th ESPN 300 player committed to the Tigers in 2025. He is the program’s seventh top 100 addition since June 1, following the likes of him. From cornerback Blake Woodby (No. 22 in the ESPN 300), defensive end Jared Smith (No. 28), safety Anquon Fegans (No. 36) and Alabama athlete Flip Derrick Smith (No. 38). Auburn’s 2025 class was No. 4 in ESPN’s latest team rankings before Knight’s pledge, and the Tigers will now compete with Ohio State, Alabama and Georgia for the nation’s No. 1 class if the program can retain this group of players through the start of the early signing period in 4 December.
News about Knight’s potential face has been emerging since late summer, and his decommitment represents another blow to Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman’s 2025 class after the Irish lost four-star safety Evan Taylor, another top-100 commit, to Michigan over the summer. Because of Knight’s heart, the Irish are expected to pursue the 2025 quarterback in the final months of the cycle.
Knight completed 53.2% of his passes for 2,047 yards and 17 touchdowns at George County (Mississippi) High School last fall. Adding 494 rushing yards and 11 rushing scores his junior season, Knight led George County to a 2-3 start this fall.
Auburn visits No. 5 Georgia in Week 6 while Freeman and the Irish depart on Saturday.
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