Hours after losing Devin Carter, Hugh Freeze suffers another blow as 4-star TE ditches Auburn for Florida State

Florida State flipped another blue-chip prospect from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) on Sunday, landing four-star tight end Xavier Tiller of Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Georgia). Tiller committed on Monday, choosing FSU over Hugh Freeze’s Auburn and Alabama.According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett:

“Four-Star TE Xavier Tiller has committed to Florida State, he tells me for @on3recruits. The 6’5 225 TE from Fairburn, GA chose the Seminoles over Alabama & Auburn. ‘I’m home! Go Noles!’”

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The 6-5, 225-pound Tiller committed to Texas A&M before decommitting in February. He cited early playing time and strong relationships in Tallahassee as key factors, per reports. FSU coaches, including Gus Malzahn and Randy Thomsen, pitched a versatile role that included flex sets and in-line blocking.

Tiller’s pledge comes hours after Auburn lost four-star wide receiver Devin Carter. He’s the ninth new commitment for Florida State in June, continuing the Seminoles’ momentum on the trail.

Devin Carter flips from Hugh Freeze's Auburn back to Florida State

Devin Carter flipped his commitment from Auburn to Florida State on Monday, per On3’s Hayes Fawcett. It’s Carter’s third switch: he originally committed to FSU, flipped to Auburn on Jan. 11, and has now returned to the Seminoles.

The move came one week after Carter took an official visit to Auburn and publicly stated he was “locked in” and felt the program was “home,” citing support from wide receivers coach Marcus Davis and coach Freeze. Florida State never let up, and its persistence won out.

Carter’s decommitment drops Auburn’s 2026 class to No. 62 nationally, with five pledges. It was the second major loss for Freeze in two days.

Auburn’s 2025 schedule opens on the road and includes three Power Four opponents in the first five weeks.

Aug. 30: at Baylor

Sept. 6: Ball State

Sept. 13: South Alabama

Sept. 20: at Oklahoma

Sept. 27: at Texas A&M

Oct. 4: Open week

Also Read: "Nail in the Coffin for Hugh Freeze" - CFB fans react as 4-star WR Devin Carter flips from Auburn to Florida State

About the author

Mohammad Asif Ansari is a journalist covering college football and basketball at Sportskeeda. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Technology and brings four years of experience as an NFL and EdTech writer.

While acknowledging the dominance of professional leagues like the NBA and NFL, Asif is drawn to the raw energy and unpredictability of college sports, particularly football and basketball.

Jalen Hurts stands out as Asif's all-time favorite college player, celebrated for his remarkable success on the football field and impressive leadership skills.

In his reporting, Asif seeks to capture the essence of college athletics, delving into the human stories behind the game. From the trials and triumphs of student-athletes to the strategic genius of coaches like Nick Saban, he strives to paint a vivid picture of the college sports landscape.

Asif ensures that his reporting is both informative and ethically sound, meticulously verifying sources and facts to provide readers with reliable and trustworthy content.

When not writing, Asif practices basic MMA, hones his biking skills and expands his language proficiency in Urdu and Arabic.

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Edited by Chaitanya Prakash