Kail Ellis did not want to wait another year. He’s ready to leave now.

Ellis of Cass (Ga.) stated on Saturday that he would reclassify from the 2026 recruiting cycle to the 2025 recruiting cycle. Ellis committed to Auburn on November 30, 2023, and has remained committed since then.

“I’m just ready!!,” Ellis exclaimed. “It is as easy as that. Ready to be a Tiger.”

Ellis, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 285 pounds, is ranked No. 291 in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, No. 23 as an interior offensive lineman, and No. 31 in Georgia for the 2026 recruiting cycle. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 21 interior offensive lineman and Georgia’s No. 31 player. Now that he’s in the 2025 class, he’ll get a new ranking.

Ellis intends to make his official visit to Auburn the weekend of the Texas A&M game and sign on December 4th. He’ll graduate from Cass in the spring and attend Auburn the following summer.

“Auburn, myself and my family feel like it gives me the best opportunity to achieve what I’m trying to achieve,” Ellis remarked. “On top of that, with the current 2025 class of linemen and Deuce (Knight) coming, I can’t wait to be his center! God has gifted me with a wonderful opportunity to play this game, so why not come in early, learn from the veterans, and work my buttocks out to compete for a position? After consulting with Coach (Jake) Thornton and Coach (Hugh) Freeze, we believe this is the proper decision to make.”

With the signing of Ellis, Auburn now has 26 commitments for the 2025 class, sitting third in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings. Ellis, who has been recruited as a center, joins 4-star offensive tackles Tavaris Dice and Broderick Shull, as well as 3-star offensive lineman Jacobe Ward, Tai Buster, and Spencer Dowland, in the 2025 class. Auburn is still pursuing 5-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola and 3-star offensive lineman Nelson McGuire, as Jake Thornton seeks to fill his roster with youthful talent.

Ellis has been a regular on campus since committing in November of last year, including a private workout in June and attending every home game this season. He’s eager for the future to begin today.

“Excited is an understatement,” Ellis explained. “I’m eager to be a part of the Auburn culture and to have the opportunity to develop early. Again, God has blessed me much, and knowing that I will be a part of this select class of 2025 is quite amazing. This 2025 class is different!”

Auburn’s 2026 class now has five commitments, including Hezekiah Harris, JaMichael Garrett, Shadarius Toodle, Denairius Gray, and Wayne Henry. Ellis’ reclassification drops the class from No. 2 in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings to No. 6.

Next season, Auburn center Connor Lew will be a junior and in his third season as a starter for the Tigers. Ellis will have the option to redshirt and shadow him during his first season on the Plains.

Auburn ready to ‘look inward’ in season’s first bye week

Auburn’s first off week comes at a critical time in what has been a challenging season, as the Tigers sit at 2-4 following a 31-13 loss to rival Georgia. Head coach Hugh Freeze expressed his disappointment after the game, acknowledging that the season has not gone as planned.

The bye week is essential for recovery, especially as several players are dealing with injuries. Defensive end Keldric Faulk left the Georgia game twice due to injury but reassured fans that he was fine afterward. Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith also appeared to pick up a minor injury but was similarly optimistic postgame. Despite Auburn’s struggles, the bye week will serve as an opportunity for players to rest and recover, especially as cornerbacks Champ Anthony and Tyler Scott, along with tight end Brandon Frazier, remain out for the season.

Faulk emphasized the importance of treating the bye week as a chance to prepare both physically and mentally for the next game against Missouri, stating that the team will focus on recovery while also getting a head start on their preparation.

Auburn’s season has been difficult, with a 2-4 record and a challenging path to bowl eligibility, requiring at least one win in the remaining three road games. The team hopes to turn things around in the second half of the season after this much-needed rest.

Auburn’s struggles this season have been particularly frustrating due to the number of self-inflicted errors in games where the Tigers felt they had opportunities to win, aside from the expected difficulties against Georgia. Running back Jarquez Hunter voiced his frustration, saying, “We could be undefeated right now, but it’s just the little things we mess up ourselves.” This sentiment reflects the team’s belief that their talent is not being fully realized due to turnovers and mistakes.

Head coach Hugh Freeze has echoed this concern, expressing disappointment in the team’s lack of fight late in the game against Georgia and vowing to work relentlessly to instill more competitiveness. Linebacker Dorian Mausi Jr. also emphasized that the team must look inward, demanding more from each other to improve results.

Following their bye week, Auburn faces two critical road games against Missouri and Kentucky. These matchups will be pivotal for the Tigers as they look to turn their season around and begin capitalizing on their potential.