Dante Core initially committed to play college football at Auburn in May but switched his commitment to Ole Miss on Monday after witnessing the Rebels’ victory over the Georgia Bulldogs over the weekend.
Auburn fans quickly sought to rationalize the change as beneficial for their program.
Core, a three-star defensive back from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, has received 20 scholarship offers from various schools, including East Carolina, Arkansas State, LSU, and Tennessee. Although Auburn secured his commitment during an unofficial visit, Lane Kiffin and his staff brought him to campus shortly after. As Auburn’s performance declined early in the season, Ole Miss continued to encourage Core to rethink his decision, with the Party in the ‘Sip on Saturday being a pivotal factor in his choice.
Less than 72 hours after storming the field in Oxford, Core decommitted from Auburn, leading to positive news for Ole Miss shortly after. To soften the impact of what might be the first of several commitments lost in the coming weeks, Auburn fans pointed to their program’s average star rating for the Class of 2025. Since Core is a three-star recruit, his departure arguably improved that statistic, suggesting that, in a roundabout way, Auburn’s recruiting class benefited from his switch to an SEC West rival.
This is indeed how some Tigers fans perceive the situation, which may seem illogical. In reaction to this explanation, Core simply responded with one word. There’s nothing more to clarify: Dante Core prefers Ole Miss over Auburn. Anyone at Auburn who interprets this change as a positive is merely trying to cope with the disappointment.
