re: 2017 Football Recruiting Thread ["N$D Bryant" Edition]

How Auburn received 3 unexpected commitments on National Signing Day (SECCountry)

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Then, on Tuesday, he received a personal call from another school and coach who had been recruiting him as long as all the others. It was Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele who, along with Wesley McGriff, was one of Whitlow’s only points of contact on the Auburn staff. The Tigers wanted him to play defense originally and — despite Auburn’s Power 5 status — Whitlow thinks of himself as an NFL offensive player. He figured, with his talent, he didn’t need the SEC publicity to make his mark.

But Steele had two special guests alongside him: Gus Malzahn and Chip Lindsey. Those two, the offensive minds, had a new message.

“I’ve been wanting to go to Auburn always. But when they said defense, I was like, ‘I don’t know if I want to do that.’ When they got the new offensive coordinator, he watched my film and was like, ‘I want to have you,'” Whitlow said. “When he said he wanted me for receiver, where I wanted to go to play anyways, I was like, ‘That’s it. I’m going to Auburn.'”

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In hindsight, it’s hard to tell which Auburn push was more surprising. The Tigers first worked their way from outside the top 6 to an official visit. Then they were able to change Bryant’s mind with one customized weekend on the Plains.

That official visit couldn’t have been more successful. Kevin Steele and Rodney Garner showed personalized attention to Bryant rarely seen on an official visit, especially ones that close to National Signing Day. It wasn’t a time to give Bryant red-carpet treatment and beg him to join the program. They simply threw on film and told him what he’d do for the Tigers.

The student-of-the-game approach hit Bryant in a way it wouldn’t hit other recruits. That’s the brilliance of Steele and Garner, proving yet again that Auburn defensive line closing in recruiting should never be a concern.

“Coach Steele is a genius. A straight genius. And, oh, Coach Garner. I love Coach G. I don’t know what it is about him, he’s almost like a third father to me. I really love Coach G and I could say millions of words about Coach G, but he’s just a great coach,” Bryant said. “The way he’s going to develop me, the way he’s going to love me, the way he’s going to teach me — it’s all there.”

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Let one thing be clear: Auburn really wanted Tyrone Truesdell.

The Tigers just really wanted it to be quiet. Truesdell took his official visit to Auburn the last weekend of the cycle once Florida believed it might run out of defensive line spots in its 2017 class. After his official visit to Auburn, Truesdell left with a two-team possibility.

“Auburn or Florida, pretty much,” Truesdell said.

The truth is, at the time, Truesdell didn’t know if that was the reality.

Truesdell had — for whatever reason — been the odd-man-out on several different recruiting boards. He knew it, which is why his communication picked up to the point he considered a commitment to Florida if all other Power 5 programs decided not to take him. Until the wee hours before Signing Day, that looked like it might happen.

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we have signed one pass rusher in 3 years.

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We've signed 7 DEs and 3 of those are pass rush "specialists"

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You are acting as if UGA fired Richt to get Smart. Those were two separate decisions

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Thank you.

Who here knows about @MarkJennings55 ?
What's his scoop?

He is a film evaluator/ insider. Does recruiting podcasts as a guest on AL.com for both Auburn and Alabama. From his last podcast:
- He has a strong dislike for subscription sites....He has a ratings system of his own and has Auburn as number 16 in the nation. (Cognitive Dissonance engaged)
-He isn't a sunshine pumper regarding the expectations regarding our recruits...Said that Truesdale(sp) reminded him of Albert Means lol.
- Compared Markaviest Bryant to Tim Williams but needs to put on some weight.
-He had a ton of praise for Jatarvious Whitlow. A lot.

I seen Whitlow play his last High school football game, he's is very athletic and was the best athelete on the field but was a prima Dona who does the like contact and literally quit on his team and left them game middle of the 4th qtr and abandon his team. So all the athletic ability in the world without heart,desire or effort is worthless

Bro, please go to rehab. That post was brutal.

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1. I am suspicious of anyone that uses a lot of caps.

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As am I. Almost tweeted him about it today. I'll follow him so I guess we will see.

He said he wouldn't give out his formula for our 16th recruiting class rating because he knew the subscription sites would steal it.
On the podcasts with Dave Champlin of AL.com though, he doesn't seem like a tinfoil weirdo at all.

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Who here knows about @MarkJennings55 ? 
What's his scoop? 

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Very weird dude. Haven't figured out if on those podcasts he's purposefully being odd or if that's just who he is. Pretty sure he's just a guy that likes football and so watches tons of high school kids film when he's not working. Not sure he's exactly a reliable source for info

Some recent tweets

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JAREZ PARKS MAY NOT BE MAN ENOUGH FOR BIGTIME FOOTBALL

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LATE DRAMA DIDNT WORK FOR DEVONTA SMITH BECAUSE ORGERON IS A BUM

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LUGINBILL WILL START LOOKING AT 2018 PROSPECTS IN JUNE. MEANWHILE I AM ALREADY ON MOST 2019 AND SOME 2020 PROSPECTS

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He doesn't like anything about Luginbilll for whatever reason. There is nothing wrong with the podcasts though. No different than a Neibuhr podcast imo. Speaking of neibuhr, I don't even think he is close to being the gospel, so I'm obviously not advocating for this dude's reliability. Just saying he might be worth a cheap follow.

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Well they do 2 different things. Jennings is a supposed talent evaluator. He gives out ratings and scouting reports. KN on other hand is a recruiting reporter who just gives info on what AU is doing and what recruits are thinking. Sometimes gives opinion on plays but always says don't take that too seriously

What I meant about Jennings being odd is I am not sure if he is being satirical or serious on podcasts. He talks constantly about all film he's breaking down and always does "you know who he reminds me of?" Then mentions some past player like he's trying to stump the other guy. I just can't tell if he serious or not for the most part

Don't have a problem with the podcast. Offers a different point of view and I often listen I just am skeptical on how legitimate the guy is and his Twitter account doesn't help