"At the end of the day it’s always been Auburn": Five-star DL reaffirms his commitment to the Tigers

Five-star defensive lineman Malik Autry committed to Auburn last year, but he has taken official visits to multiple programs this season, including USC, Florida, Ohio State and UCF. These trips sparked rumors about his potential flip, but he reaffirmed his commitment to the Tigers.

"I have been committed for so long, visited so many schools, but at the end of the day it’s always been Auburn,” Autry told Auburn Live. “Going to other schools made me realize what I wanted, you know."

Excluding Auburn's 43-41 four-overtime win over Texas A&M on Saturday, the Tigers were having a lackluster season with back-to-back losses. But Autry wants to take inspiration from his journey with Opelika High School in Alabama.

Autry reflected on his school's progress during his high school career, where the program improved from a 5-5 record in his sophomore year to a 9-3 campaign with a second-round playoff appearance in his senior season. This urged him to stay loyal to his Auburn commitment.

Autry also praised Auburn’s coaching staff for their willingness to give players early opportunities to prove themselves.

"It’s been great, just seeing all those guys having fun, win or loss," Autry told Rivals. "You see guys like Malik Blocton getting out there and playing early. Even the older guys watching Malik play over them, they’re still happy, encouraging him and watching him grow, watching him flourish."

Autry was the first commitment for Auburn in the 2025 class, which has 27 commitments. This cycle lost the commitments of multiple prospects, including Spencer Dowland, Dante Core, Tyler Lockhart, Kendarius Reddick, Carde Smith, Antonio Coleman, Hollis Davidson and Kalen Edwards.

Malik Autry credits Auburn DL coach for his continued interest

Malik Autry’s steadfast commitment to Auburn stems from his enduring relationship with defensive tackles coach Vontrell King-Williams.

"He’s the guy that I was always talking to, the guy that I was always communicating with," Autry told Rivals. "After Jeremy Garrett left, they promoted Vontrell, something I didn’t think they were gonna do, it was almost like God laid it out for me."

Having someone in his corner who has supported him for three years played a big role in making his decision to stay committed.

Malik Autry has picked up scholarship offers from 20 programs, but his commitment to Auburn will remain. The early signing period of the 2025 class is less than two weeks away, and Autry is expected to suit up for the Tigers in the upcoming season.