Auburn Tigers football is getting renewed attention after landing 2027 quarterback recruit Gary Chatman Jr., a player whose viral throwing videos have spread widely across football social media. The excitement comes at a time when Auburn is trying to recover from several disappointing seasons, having failed to post a winning record since 2020.
Chatman committed to Auburn on May 9 after reopening his recruitment following a previous pledge to Wake Forest Demon Deacons football. He plays for Brookwood High School in Georgia and is viewed as one of the more intriguing young quarterbacks in the 2027 class because of his arm strength and mobility. Viral clips of his training sessions drew praise online, including from football influencer Dov Kleiman, who described Chatman as having a “cannon” for an arm and a “picture-perfect spiral.”
In his first season as a starter in 2025, Chatman threw for 1,494 yards with 12 touchdowns and 4 interceptions while also adding 418 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns. Coaches reportedly like his fit in new head coach Alex Golesh’s offense because he can extend plays and push the ball downfield.
Golesh himself is one of the major storylines around Auburn right now. After success with South Florida Bulls football, he was hired to revive Auburn’s program and bring a faster offensive style along with stronger recruiting momentum. Auburn fans have responded positively to recent recruiting wins after concerns about decommitments earlier in the offseason.
Chatman also told reporters and fans that he considers his recruitment finished, saying he is “all Auburn” and does not plan to take additional visits. That statement gave Auburn supporters confidence that the Tigers may finally be stabilizing their future quarterback pipeline.
