Four-star quarterback appears to be deciding between North Carolina and Auburn, and with his official visit set for later this month, Auburn’s coaching staff made a trip to Georgia to check in on him.
Head coach Hugh Freeze has made strides in bringing talent to Auburn during his first two seasons, but finding the right quarterback has remained a challenge. After two years of relying on Payton Thorne, Freeze now has a more promising quarterback room featuring Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold and 2025 four-star Deuce Knight. Even so, he’s actively working to build more depth, especially with pressure mounting in what could be a make-or-break season.
Standing at 6-foot-5, Burgess is a top target for Auburn’s 2026 recruiting class. Over the weekend, offensive coordinator Derrick Nix and quarterbacks coach Kent Austin traveled to Loganville, Georgia, to visit him.
As he weighs his options between Auburn and North Carolina ahead of summer visits, Burgess brings an impressive résumé. In his first year as a starter, he led Grayson High School to a Georgia state title, throwing 23 touchdowns against just four interceptions. That performance earned him a spot as the 28th-ranked quarterback in the 2026 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Freeze is still looking to secure a quarterback commit for 2026. With only three QBs currently on the roster and after narrowly missing out on Troy transfer Matthew Caldwell—who chose Texas—Auburn remains in need of reinforcements under center.
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While Freeze has secured back-to-back top 10 recruiting classes, the 2026 class has started slowly, with just seven commitments and a No. 24 national ranking. After two disappointing seasons, Freeze’s job security is in question, which could impact recruiting momentum.
Securing a commitment from Burgess—especially over Bill Belichick and UNC—would be a strong statement about Auburn’s future at quarterback and the program’s overall direction.
Though currently rated a three-star, Burgess has the size and dual-threat skill set to rise in the rankings as he enters his senior season.
