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

Posted on 5/27/17 at 7:30 am to
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/27/17 at 7:30 am to
Top defensive target Andres Fox plans to visit for Big Cat Weekend with mother (SECCountry)
quote:

Mobile (Ala.) DE plans to visit Auburn

Count key Auburn target Andres Fox among those who will attend Auburn for Big Cat Weekend on June 3.

A 3-star defensive end out of Mobile Christian (Ala.), Fox has dealt with his Auburn-Alabama-LSU decision for a while. Fox told SEC Country on Thursday night that he plans to make the trip for Auburn’s big recruiting event, which will be — by my count — his third visit to the Plains since National Signing Day.

Earlier this spring, Fox said he’s “definitely” been to Auburn more than anywhere else, and that continues to be the case.

This visit, especially, is a crucial one. Fox is someone who would like to choose before the start of his senior season, and it wouldn’t surprise me if that timetable was pushed up even further. He has told SEC Country before that he’s had moments where he had an urge to commit to Auburn. He said his two closest recruiting relationships are with Rodney Garner and Travis Williams.

But there has always been a pivotal hang-up.

“I’m just waiting for family stuff to get ready,” Fox said earlier in the spring. “I think they like Alabama.”

To make one thing abundantly clear: Fox’s parents aren’t going to push him one direction or another. He doesn’t hide the fact they’re Alabama fans, and even he grew up a supporter of the Crimson Tide. But Fox is a year young for his grade, and the family is being strategic, cautious and meticulous with its decision-making and evaluation process. Neither of his parents made every trip with him, so there are a few key visits remaining.

That’s why Fox won’t be the only person Auburn needs to pitch during Big Cat Weekend.

His mother will attend as well. When SEC Country spoke with Fox and Mobile Christian coach Ronnie Cottrell, the conversation came up about what Fox’s mother prioritizes from the student-athlete college experience.

“I’ve sat in on meetings with his family. They’re not going to force him to go anywhere. They aren’t trying to pressure him to Alabama or anywhere. I admire the way they’re doing it. They’re very organized in how they’re doing it,” Cottrell said. “Now his mom, she’s about education, period.”

If we get his mom on board next weekend, I think he commits at BCW but sounds like we have some work to do there. Everyone keeps saying parents aren't pushing him to Bama but I keep hearing/reading how he wants to go to AU but hasn't gotten sign off from family. We will see what happens
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/27/17 at 7:30 am to
quote:

Top CB’s delayed decision positive news for Auburn

False alarm.

Jalyn Armour-Davis, the top defensive player in the state of Alabama, decided not to disclose his decision on Friday as he planned. A 4-star cornerback, Armour-Davis posted a message on Twitter that told coaches, fans and reporters that he will delay his commitment to take care of other matters.

“I would like to postpone my decision and focus on other areas and finish school strong,” Armour-Davis wrote.

There was no indication why Armour-Davis elected to change his decision date.

With that said, it’s likely positive news for Auburn. Alabama appeared to have made a late, defining move with Armour-Davis to make him change his decision to the beginning of the summer. The Crimson Tide had overtaken both Auburn and Florida State, both of whom had long been considered the likeliest places for Armour-Davis to land.

If Armour-Davis plans to take more visits — which he said he would earlier in the month before this week’s unexpected switch — Auburn would be wise to work him into the Big Cat Weekend lineup. Alabama’s late push will force Auburn to find some kind of momentum for a prospect the Tigers have been recruiting since he was a freshman at St. Paul’s Episcopal (Mobile. Ala.).
This post was edited on 5/27/17 at 7:32 am
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/27/17 at 7:32 am to
quote:

What Class of 2017 RB news means for Auburn

The positive news on the Armour-Davis front didn’t trickle over to Alaric Williams.

Williams’ academic situation was a topic of conversation throughout last fall and this spring. A 4-star running back, Williams remained optimistic that he’d reach the ACT and GPA thresholds needed to qualify to play football for Auburn — a school he’d grown up hoping to play for.

On Thursday night, he confirmed what many had forecast for a while: Williams will have to attend junior college to reach the Division I ranks.

He will attend Garden City (Kan.) Community College in hopes of re-signing with the Tigers, if they still plan to recruit him.

Williams posted a long, heartfelt message that should be a lesson to the future football recruits out there.

Williams wrote:

“I appreciate the Auburn staff and family for believing in me and giving me a chance. I would also like to give a message to young recruits who are being highly recruited. School is something you do not play with and I wish I would’ve realized that from the day I started high school. There is a lot of hype that comes with recruiting but never let the hype take you off the path you’ve always dreamed. In this time of JUCO, I will strive to be a student-athlete. Thank you Auburn and I will be back.”

He received an outpouring of support from coaches, fans, fellow recruits and some of his teammates who were expecting to join Williams on campus in two days. Noah Igbinoghene, who was set to be Williams’ roommate, responded with a particularly warm message.

This won’t be the last you hear of Alaric Williams.

But what does it mean for Auburn’s running backs depth chart?

Here’s what it looks like heading into the 2017 season:

Kamryn Pettway
Kerryon Johnson
Malik Miller
Kam Martin
Devan Barrett

Here’s what it could look like in the 2018 season:

Malik Miller
Kam Martin
Devan Barrett

That’s puts a premium on running back recruiting in the 2018 class now. Shaun Shivers is already committed in the class, but I expect Auburn will use him in a multi-purpose role that includes standard handoffs, jet sweeps, screen passes and slot receiver plays.

As Auburn searches for its feature backs in this class, the four names to narrow in on are Master Teague III, Asa Martin, Harold Joiner and Tae Provens. Other prospects could surface through summer camps or judgments Gus Malzahn, Chip Lindsey and Tim Horton made during the spring evaluation period.

Teague and Martin are clear-cut feature running back quality, and if Auburn could find a way to convince both to sign with the Tigers, that would be a game-changer. Joiner adds versatility and the ability to play wide receiver, basically making him the 6-foot-3 version of Shivers. Provens hasn’t been recruited by the Tigers much lately, but he could be the guy Auburn goes after with a couple of other misses.

Provens has been mostly recruited by Tennessee and Louisville, but he has dreamed of playing for the Tigers, so Auburn would be in a position to make a late push with him.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/27/17 at 7:32 am to
quote:

Three quick-hitter notes on three key prospects

Coynis Miller,, a 4-star defensive tackle, might make his decision sooner rather than later, he announced on Thursday. That’s a fairly ambiguous suggestion, however, considering Miller has said he might even wait until National Signing Day unless he chose to enroll early, in which case he’d do it near the end of his football season. His response when asked to clarify the timeframe: “Probably before the season.” Auburn, Alabama, LSU and a few out-of-state programs continue to be the teams to watch.

Matthew Hill,, a 4-star wide receiver, released a top 5 of Auburn, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and LSU. Not all of the programs are recruiting Hill at the same position, as he discussed at the Nike Opening regional earlier in the year. Auburn wants him at wide receiver. Several schools project him as a defensive back. In my opinion, he has the ability to do both at an all-SEC level, which is where it looks like he’ll play his college ball.

John Campbell, a 4-star offensive tackle, placed Auburn among his top 10 schools, joining Alabama, Florida, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Ohio State, Ole Miss, UCLA, Tennessee and Oregon. Florida and Miami have trended for a while, but his list indicates Campbell isn’t shying away from broadening his horizons. He hasn’t visited Auburn since junior day, but that will likely change this summer.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 8:45 am to
KN had a recruiting insider up earlier this week. Here's summary

- Hand was at Apopka High School's spring game Thursday which is home to 4* OT William Barnes & 3* OG Ed Montilus. It sounds like we not really recruiting Montilus much anymore which makes sense considering we already have 2 OGs on board. KN says UF the leader for Barnes but AU in his top group and they should get a visit this summer. FWIW of our OT targets I think this kid's the best of the bunch so would love for us to somehow steal him from the Gators

- AU offered unrated OT Doug Johnson this past week. He's 6'6" 325 lbs but KN makes it sound like he's a backup option right now. If we don't make up ground on Barnes/Gouraige/Petite-Frere/Wonnum then we will probably push for this kid

- Sounds like 4* WR Matthew Hill is trying real hard to get to BCW next weekend even though he is supposedly supposed to be at an Under Armour camp in Maryland. It sounds like if he makes the trip we might get a commitment

- 3* DT John Mincey got an AU offer this week and then a day later UGA offered. He claimed he would commit to UGA when he got an offer and told UGA 247 that he plans on committing on his trip to Athens this fall. KN tho says AU expects him to visit. Sounds like a lot of teams are searching for DT options. Really down year at that position
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:07 am to
Top targets Auburn needs to get on campus soon (247)
quote:

The NCAA evaluation period ends in a few days, but with Big Cat Weekend (June 3) right around the corner and the summer camp season beginning in June there is no time for the Auburn staff to ease up when it comes to recruiting.

The Tigers have six commitments, meaning approximately 17 or 18 spots are left to fill.

In other words, there is lots of work left to do. And, the best place to do that work often is right at home. Home, of course, being in Auburn.

Once the high school year ends, that's when many prospect take the bulk of their visits.

Although one could argue every visit is significant, here is a rundown of 13 important recruits we think Auburn needs to get on campus in the near future. The reasons vary as to why these visits are vital.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:07 am to
quote:

Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB: This one is obvious. Armour-Davis was set to announce Friday, but delayed his decision. It still could come in the near future. With Alabama trending, it's crucial Auburn gets him back on campus soon to see if it can recapture some momentum. A visit could help Davis bond more with new secondary coach.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:08 am to
quote:

Asa Martin, RB: For a long time, Florida looked to be in good shape. But then Auburn started pushing and a recent visit really gave the Tigers a boost. But then, a new team entered the mix: Alabama. With the Tide showing more and more interest, that has altered things. With that in mind, it's important for Auburn to get Martin back on campus -- and probably multiple times -- this summer as he's expected to announce a decision in August at this time. He's expected to attend Big Cat Weekend on June 3.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:08 am to
quote:

Justyn Ross, WR: Ross has visited Auburn more than 10 times, so why is getting him back there soon so important? Two reasons. 1. His mother, an important person in this recruitment, just returned after serving overseas for a lengthy period. 2. There is lots of chatter Alabama has emerged as the favorite. He is expected to be back at Auburn on June 3 for Big Cat Weekend.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:08 am to
quote:

Coynis Miller, DT: With Auburn battling Alabama (and possibly others), the Tigers need to get Miller on campus every chance they can. He'll be there June 3 for Big Cat Weekend.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:09 am to
quote:

Master Teague, RB: Teague has named his final three of Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee, though a Clemson or Ohio State offer could shake things up. With Georgia trending and the level of confidence being high in Athens, Ga., now would be a good time for the Tigers to get Teague back on campus for the third time this year.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:09 am to
quote:

Richard Jibunor, OLB/Buck: Jibunor hasn't visited the Tigers since earlier this year, but is extremely high on Auburn, which might be the team to beat. But with Jibunor expected to camp at both Alabama and Georgia in early June, a return trip to Auburn is much needed to keep the Tigers in his head with other programs in hot pursuit. He'll be at Auburn on June 3.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:09 am to
quote:

Michael Harris, LB: A top linebacker target for the Tigers, Harris is really high on Ohio State and will visit the Buckeyes in mid-June for the first time. Auburn would love to give him something to think about before making that trip. The Tigers are his No. 2 right now. Harris has visited Auburn twice this year and will return June 3 for Big Cat Weekend.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:09 am to
quote:

Richard Gouraige, OT: Florida leads, but Auburn remains very much in the picture. But the 4-star recruit has only visited the Tigers once. He loved it there, so getting him back would be big. With Florida being about two hours from home, it is much easier for the Gators to get him on campus. If he returns to Auburn (and he says he will), that would be significant. But the Tigers will have to hit a homerun.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:10 am to
quote:

Quindarious Monday, S: Auburn is the clear favorite. Not that long ago, it looked like a commitment could come soon. But now Monday has told reporters he may hold off. Can Auburn change that? He's expected to be back at Auburn on June 3 for Big Cat Weekend. With the Tigers badly needing top safeties in the 2018 class you can bet they'll be pushing hard for a commitment that day.

Want this kid to pull the trigger next weekend. Need some good news
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:10 am to
quote:

Justin Fields, QB: Right now, everything with Fields, a 5-star Penn State commit, is being kept quiet by his camp. Most of the people we've talked to think it's highly possible he'll flip. If so, Auburn is a top contender (Also watch for Florida). With a final decision likely to be made this summer, the Tigers certainly would love to get him back on campus so he can continue to build a relationship with offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Chip Lindsey.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:11 am to
quote:

JJ Peterson, LB: Peterson is the No. 1 outside backer in the 247Sports Composite. Right now, Alabama leads but Auburn is No. 2. There has been some chatter he could commit this summer. Although Peterson denied it, it's still possible. If he does, that would favor the Tide. That's why it is vital Auburn gets him back in town again soon. On his first visit to the school, which was this spring, the Tigers made a huge move. Might another visit have the same result? He's likey to attend Big Cat Weekend on June 3.
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:12 am to
quote:

Anthony Schwartz, WR: Schwartz, the fastest recruit in the country, visited Auburn earlier this year but Florida continues to be the team to beat. That said, the Tigers are a contender. If he visits again, you'd have to think Auburn has a realistic shot.

Honestly I would be ok with not landing this kid. Would rather land any of Williams/Copeland/Ezzard/Jackson over him
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:12 am to
quote:

Matthew Hill, WR: With Auburn seemingly in a good spot and Hill telling us a decision could come in the near future, this means any visit now is significant. South Carolina is pushing, but Hill potentially could attend Big Cat Weekend on June 3. If he does, that would be huge for the Tigers.

Lets get Shedrick Jackson, Quindarious Monday and Matthew Hill to pull the trigger next week and get some momentum back in recruiting
Posted by TigerPaw1
Chattanooga, TN
Member since Apr 2011
16979 posts
Posted on 5/28/17 at 9:18 am to
KN had VIP update on 4* WR Matthew Hill. He recently released a top 5 of AU, Bama, LSU, UF & SCAR. KN says that it's probably more of a AU/SCAR battle though. Hill has said he could be close to a decision as well. Apparently the staff is confident in where they stand with HIll. AU likes his speed and ability to stretch teams deep vertically. He talks most often with Kodi Burns and Travis Williams. Apparently he's gotten real close with Burns and if HIll does commit would be Burns's highest rated commit to date. He is hoping to visit AU with his family this weekend before heading off to a camp.

It really sounds like he is getting ready to commit to AU. If we can get him on campus next weekend I think he pulls the trigger. If you haven't watched his highlights I recommend checking them out. Dude is fast and also play safety where he is pretty physical
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