Four-star USC CB commit Shamar Arnoux admires Auburn defense despite 17-7 loss to Vanderbilt

Four-star cornerback Shamar Arnoux from Carrollton High School in Georgia is one of the prized recruits in USC's 2025 class, but he is still talking with other schools. Hugh Freeze's Auburn hosted him on Saturday for the Vanderbilt game.

Though the Tigers fell to the Commodores 17-7, bringing their season record to 3-6 and 1-5 in the Southeastern Conference, Arnoux left impressed with the program's defensive performance.

“I like their defense. I like what they’re building around their defense," Arnoux told On3.

Auburn’s defense held Vanderbilt to just 227 total yards and limited quarterback Diego Pavia to nine completions on 22 attempts, marking Pavia’s lowest completion percentage this season.

Shamar Arnoux also visited Auburn for the game against Arkansas on Sept. 21, which the Tigers lost 24-14. Given these back-to-back visits, the Tigers remain a suitor to flip him from USC.

Speaking with On3 in August, Arnoux raved about his bonding with Auburn coaches, saying:

"I have some great relationships at Auburn. Coach Crime (Wesley McGriff) and other coaches are great and we just have real relationships."

Wesley also made his way to Carrollton's 48-26 win over Parker on Sept. 20 to watch Shamar Arnoux. Arnoux was initially committed to Tennessee but decommitted in February, and Miami is also heavily in the race for him now besides Auburn.

Which USC commits are in the flip rumor besides Shamar Arnoux?

Three-star USC running back commit Duane Morris visited Tennessee this past weekend and witnessed the Volunteers upset Alabama in a thrilling 24-17 game. The electric atmosphere and Tennessee’s phenomenal win could have a lasting impression on Morris. According to On3's Recruiting Prediction Machine, Tennessee now holds a 93.4% chance to flip Morris from USC.

Five-star quarterback commit Julian Lewis, a high school teammate of top defensive recruit Shamar Arnoux, has been linked with a potential flip to Colorado for some time. Besides Lewis, the Buffaloes are also working to flip four-star offensive tackle commit Carde Smith.

USC’s challenges extend beyond Morris and Lewis. In a now-deleted post, Kaycee Crawford, mother of USC freshman defensive end Kameryn Fountain, voiced her frustration with the program’s struggles.

She hinted at the recruiting fallout, referencing three potential decommitments due to concerns over USC’s offensive line and inconsistent quarterback play. Crawford’s comments reveal a perception among some families and recruits that USC lacks stability in key areas.

The Trojans' 2025 recruiting class has already seen several top prospects decommit, including four-star safety Anquon Fegans, five-star edge rusher Isaiah Gibson, five-star plus+ defensive lineman Justus Terry, four-star safety Hylton Stubbs and four-star cornerback Jett White.