Ole Miss Pushing to Flip Five-Star Auburn Tigers Commit Amid Hugh Freeze Firing

The Auburn Tigers have relieved head coach Hugh Freeze of his duties as the decision-maker amid the program's 4-5 start to the 2025 season.

After a Week 10 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, Freeze and Co. fell to 1-4 in Southeastern Conference play with the Auburn administration electing to make a change in leadership.

Auburn joins the growing list of SEC schools that are in need of a head coach alongside the LSU Tigers, Florida Gators, and Arkansas Razorbacks.

With Freeze out, the Ole Miss Rebels will look to pounce on the program's 2026 Recruiting Class - specifically one five-star wide receiver.

Leakesville (Miss.) Greene County five-star wide receiver Jase Mathews remains a priority target for Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels despite revealing a commitment to Auburn in August.

Ole Miss Rebels Football: Jase Mathews. — Courtesy of Jase Mathews' Instagram.

The No. 1 rated wideout in the 2026 Recruiting Cycle pledged to Auburn over the likes of the Ole Miss Rebels, LSU Tigers and Texas A&M Aggies down the stretch in his process.

“Auburn is just a place I want to be,” Mathews told Rivals. “I feel like I can thrive there in all areas of life—mentally, physically, and spiritually. The coaches made me feel like I was already part of the team. It is just right when I am there.” '

Tigers wide receivers coach Marcus Davis made the right moves that ultimately sealed the deal for Mathews with their relationship paving the way for him to make a decision.

“Coach Davis is a young coach, and we’ve built a really close connection — not even just about football. I’ve met his family. He’s a reasonable, understanding guy who I know can help me grow on and off the field. He is a coach I fully trust," Mathews told Rivals.

“Coach Freeze is one of the few head coaches who personally recruited me. We’ve had a lot of conversations. He’s laid-back and real. That relationship built up over time to a really strong one.”

Ole Miss and LSU have emerged as two programs to keep tabs on in pursuit of the Auburn commit as the Early Signing Period in December nears.

Ole Miss Rebels Baseball: Jase Mathews. — Courtesy of Jase Mathews' X/Twitter: @mathews_jase.

247Sports' David Johnson recently logged a prediction in favor of the Ole Miss Rebels successfully flipping the prized wide receiver as his process heats up down the stretch.

Ole Miss recently hired ex-Rebel Donte Moncrief to the staff where he's quickly provided a boost to the program's recruiting department.

Moncrief, who finished his career in Oxford in 2013, spent seven seasons in the National Football League where he's now made his return to the program.

Across his time with the Ole Miss Rebels, Moncrief caught 156 passes for 2,371 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Now, with Moncrief on staff, the program is looking to get over the finish line for Mathews as the Rebels look to sway him away from his Auburn Tigers pledge with Freeze now out as the decision-maker.

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