re: 2018 Football Recruiting Thread -- Final OP Update Edition

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4-star WR Seth Williams, Paul W. Bryant (Ala.)

- Williams said his visit to Auburn — an overnight stay — was his first recruiting visit of the summer, but he has plans to make others before the season begins, though he declined to say specifically where he’d visit.
- Auburn will receive an official visit, likely for a game.
- Williams said his relationship with Kodi Burns is one of Auburn’s biggest selling points. Burns has told him how badly Auburn wants a tall, physical receiver, which is exactly what Williams brings.
- He said Auburn, Ole Miss and Alabama are the three schools recruiting him the hardest right now.
- What keeps bring him back to Auburn? “Probably just how the coaches, they’re real. They’re not going to hide anything from you. They’re family. Every time I come here, it feels like family. You just can’t get past that.”

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Stay tuned

That’s all for now.

Don’t fret about the lack of public commitments. Auburn is in great position for several of its top targets, and the athletic complex has had a buzz about it the last couple of days.

Andres Fox hasn’t left yet, so there could be some details to add about the 3-star defensive end. Asa Martin didn’t speak with reporters, but you can check out the latest on him from earlier in the week.

The big target to watch going forward: Michael Harris. He’s staying overnight and won’t talk to reporters until Sunday. Auburn has supreme confidence on this one, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see an announcement in the near future.

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Quanderrius Robinson has enjoyed quite the week. First, Auburn football offers him Friday after watching a private workout on campus. And on Saturday, Robinson, a future recruiting gem in the Class of 2020, was scheduled to work out for Alabama football.

Could this be another #WarEagle and #RollTide recruiting competition at Jackson-Olin?

"(Alabama) is already texting me, making sure he can (still) come workout with them," said Tim Vakakes, Robinson's high school coach at Jackson-Olin. "Word travels fast."

Robinson will play free safety this fall at Jackson-Olin, a Birmingham City School which enjoyed a resurgence last season (8-3), reaching the playoffs for the first time since the 1999 season. Robinson was a backup on the team, playing outside linebacker behind Montez Coleman and learning from fellow linebacker TD Moultry, now at Auburn.

Now it's time for Robinson to shine on Friday nights. Vakakes said Robinson was moved to defensive back because of necessity, but expects him to end his prep career at linebacker.

"He doesn't have a list of favorites," Vakakes said. "He doesn't have a favorite college team. He's just very new to all of this. This was his first visit to a college campus. Everything is real new, so he's very bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Smiling and just enjoying the process. But his process hasn't even started yet.

"He's got to make some football plays. He has no film. But it doesn't take (colleges) long to see potential. When you're 6-4 and 200 pounds and can move like him, that's definitely potential."

Jackson-Olin, seven seasons removed from a winless season, has enjoyed back-to-back high-profile recruits. Alabama and Auburn fought long and hard over Moultry, and defensive end Coynis Miller, who this fall will be a senior, can pick his SEC school of choice.

And now, Robinson could join the list.

"Everybody is absolutely in love with the kid because of the way he handles himself," Vakakes said. "I hope that he sees that gets you somewhere; shaking hands with a firm handshake, looking in their eyes. Being humble. Being the hardest worker.

"(At Jackson-Olin), we've had to slow him down in the weight room because he works so dag-on hard. So I'm hoping all that, and the work ethic he learn from T.D. will rub off on his him and his teammates."

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Alabama leads for 2019 four-star defensive end King Mwikuta but Auburn is "always in the mix."

The LaGrange, Ga. native visited Tuscaloosa on Friday and Auburn on Saturday and while the Crimson Tide are still in the lead, things could change.

"(Alabama) still stand (as the leader) but like I said, Auburn always in the mix," he said. "I ain't going to name out no number right now, but Auburn always in the mix."

Mwikuta said the upcoming season, after which he plans to make his commitment, is going to play a big role in his decision.

"I can say one thing, it's going to be this season," he said. "If this season (Auburn) show me the things that I'm looking for, not only just winning the championship, but just showing me what can they do also like on and off the field. I'll be looking forward to (that) and then I'll be making my decision around that time."

Mwikuta said he's "real close" to committing to a school, but at the same time is not going to announce his decision until December at the earlier, if not for a year.

"I'm trying to wait till signing day but I'm itching," he said. "So I want to go ahead and make that decision soon. Maybe this time next year or either this coming December."

The 6-foot-4, 232-pound defensive end enjoyed his trip to the Plains and met with Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, defensive line coach Rodney Garner and linebackers coach Travis Williams.

He plans to visit Auburn for "every home game if I can" this fall.

As of now, Auburn is looking at Mwikuta as a Buck but he would prefer to be a strong-side end in college.

"They say Buck but I'd rather prefer to put my hand in the dirt," Mwikuta said. "Just for me by my standpoint just looking and doing stuff into what I'm doing. It don't matter. Say I come here, (I'll say) 'Coach you want to put me in the 4i (technique), I'll play anything.' It don't matter to me."

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AUBURN, Ala. — Caleb Tannor knows one thing for certain. He’ll announce his commitment on Monday.

The 4-star defensive end from Miller Grove High (Ga.) took part in Auburn’s summer cookout festivities Saturday. Tannor his been down to two schools — Georgia and Auburn — for a few weeks.

On Monday, he will decide.

“I’m very, very close,” Tannor said. “It’s been a good visit. It’s a good time for me to finalize my decision.”

As of Saturday afternoon, Tannor said he wasn’t completely sure who he would choose.

The Tigers will have one more night and day to sell him. Tannor is staying in Auburn overnight to spend extra time with Auburn commit Quindarious Monday and Tigers lean Michael Harris. Georgia has been the perceived favorite for a while, but Auburn snagging the final visit — an overnight one, at that — gives the Tigers much more hope than before the weekend.

Tannor said the battle between the Bulldogs and the Tigers is tight.

“Great facilities, great coaches. It’s a real good connection. It feels just like that at Georgia (too), and that’s what’s making that race so close. Great coaching. Both of them are providing the same things for me, so we’re just gonna have to see,” Tannor said. “I have one more day to decide, though. Sunday, we’re going to go to church, hopefully make the right decision. … Right now, I couldn’t even tell you.”

Auburn made sure Tannor knew his priority in the Tigers’ class.

Kevin Steele and Rodney Garner spent time with Tannor to show him his fit in the Tigers’ defense. At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Tannor said he’d most likely play the Buck position for Auburn. At Georgia, it would be more of an outside linebacker role, similar to Bulldogs linebacker Lorenzo Carter.

Tannor made this trip with his mother, two brothers and youngest sister. Both places are giving the family a commit-able feeling.

“That’s just how I feel. That’s home for me. If I choose Georgia, that’s home for me,” Tannor said.

Tannor said he plans to take visits to both schools this fall regardless of his Monday commitment. He won’t be an early enrollee.

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AUBURN | Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.) offensive tackle Jalen Goss has an offer from Auburn.

Goss, a former Florida commitment, earned the offer after an impressive performance at Auburn’s half-day camp on Friday.

“I was surprised, real happy,” Goss said. “Auburn is a school I like.”

Goss, who is 6-foot-6 and 252 pounds, worked with Auburn offensive line coach Herb Hand during the camp. Hand and Gus Malzahn informed Goss of the offer.

“Coach Hand is a nice guy, a good coach and I like his enthusiasm,” Goss said. “He talked about me putting on weight, that he’d like me to get here and get up to 295.”

Goss is considering the offer. He’s currently considering Auburn, Oregon and Mississippi State, among others, but does not list a leader.

Goss will return to Auburn before making a commitment.

“I’ll be back for a game in the fall,” Goss said.

Goss doesn’t plan to make another commitment anytime soon. He intends to take his official visits and make an informed decision in late fall.

“Probably at the end of the football season,” Goss said.

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AUBURN | Caleb Tannor will make his commitment on Monday.

The four-star outside linebacker will announce his decision on Twitter, and it will be to either Auburn or Georgia.

“I’m very, very close,” Tannor said.

Tannor, who is from Miller Grove in Lithonia, Ga., made his announcement plans while visiting Auburn on Saturday. He was one of approximately 20 recruits on the Tigers’ campus for the annual cookout. Tannor brought his mother and two brothers along with him Saturday in Auburn.

“It was a good visit, a good time for me to finalize my decision,” Tannor said. “To be honest, I don’t know, yet, but I have one more day to decide.”

Tannor will spend Sunday mulling over his two final options.

“Auburn has great facilities, great coaches,” Tannor said. “I have a really good connection. It’s the same with Georgia. That’s why it’s a neck-and-neck race.”

Tannor projects to play the Buck position at Auburn and the outside linebacker spot at Georgia. His commitment on Monday won’t necessarily end his recruitment.

“I will still be taking visits,” Tannor said.

Tannor, who is 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, is ranked by Rivals as the No. 21 outside linebacker in the 2018 class and No. 30 overall player in Georgia.

Tannor has not set a time for his announcement on Monday.

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