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

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Quindarious Monday's plan was in motion. The four-star safety from Atlanta was going to give Clemson a verbal commitment on July 21.

Tuesday's visit to Auburn changed everything and helped the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Monday remember why Auburn was his longtime leader. He committed to Auburn on Tuesday during his visit.

"I've always loved Auburn," Monday told AL.com Wednesday. "It's one of the schools I really liked. Sitting down, when I went to the visit and talked to (defensive coordinator) Coach (Kevin) Steele, he changed my commitment and everything, with how Auburn was and how they run their defense. I feel like when I'm at Auburn, I'm at home. I feel like I can get down there and fit right in.

"I was going to commit to Clemson on the 21st. Auburn changed my mind."

There was no magic touch, Monday said. The visit and his relationship with Steele and the rest of the coaching staff just reinforced why Monday long had Auburn on top.

"They're going to tell you what you need to hear and what's really going on," Monday said. "I like how they kept it real like that."

Monday is Auburn's eighth pledge and its first true safety commit for this class. Cordova athlete Kolbi Fuqua could start out on defense, though.

"I fit right in with the defense," Monday said. "Coach Steele told me he hasn't had a safety that can do everything like I can."

A few more notes on Monday:

- His nickname is "Smoke," and here's how he got it: "When I was little, I used to run all the time. I was real fast, so my granddad started calling me 'Smoke.'"
- Monday says he is 100 percent committed to Auburn and plans to sign and graduate in December but also is still open to other visits.
- Monday changed his last name from Hale last year to have the same last name as his father.

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