Interesting notes about Auburn recruiting (2006-2008)

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Here are some interesting notes regarding Auburn recruiting. I broke down the following numbers, based on recruiting from 2006-2008 and 2009-2010.

The following numbers are based on Scouts recruiting rankings.

2006-2008:

* From 2006-2008, Auburn signed a total of 81 players. Of those 81 players, 31 had a rating of at least 4-stars (38.3 percent).

* Auburn signed 14 offensive linemen with an average rating of 3.28. Seven of the 14 linemen signed were 4-stars or better and 5 went onto be major contributors.

* Auburn signed 6 quarterbacks with an average rating of 3.5. This included 2 QB’s with a rating of 4-stars or better and both finished their playing careers at Auburn (Neil Caudle and Kodi Burns).

* Auburn signed 7 runningbacks with an average rating of 3.43. This included four 4-star backs of which 3 became major contributors.

* Auburn signed 5 tightends with an average rating of 2.8. Of the five tightends signed, none made a major impact or was a starter at the TE position. There wer no 4-star rated players at this position recruited from 2006-2008.

* Auburn signed 9 wide-receivers with an average rating of 3.22, including 4 players rated at 4-stars or better. Of the four 4-star receivers signed, 3 of them washed out.

* Auburn signed 1 place-kicker with a 3-star rating (Wes Byrum).

In total, of the 17 offensive players signed during 2006-2008 rated as 4-stars or better, 6 of them washed out for one reason or another, never making an impact. Offensive line recruitment was solid in terms of attrition with 10 of 14 seeing playing time as starters or significant backups. The QB position was okay with one starter and a possible second starter in 2011 in Barrett Trotter. 5 of the 7 RB’s signed ended up making an impact during their careers. Only 5 of the 9 receivers became contributors and none of the 5 TE’s signed became contributors at their position.

Now onto defensive recruiting from 2006-2008.

* Auburn signed 18 defensive linemen with an average rating of 3.28. Of the 18 signed, 7 had a rating of at least 4-stars. Of the 7 linemen with at least 4-stars, 5 washed out. In fact, 13 of the 18 DL signed from 2006-2008 washed out, failing to even make the playing rotation. The five remaining DL were Zach Clayton, Antoine Carter, Derrick Lykes and Mike Goggans. The horrible attrition at DL is why the 2011 team are in the situation they are now.

* Auburn signed 10 linebackers from 2006-2008, with an average rating of 3.3. Of the 10 signed, 4 had a rating of 4-stars. Only 2 of those 4 became major contributors. In fact, 7 of the 10 LB’s signed washed out, which is why Auburn was hurting for talent and depth at LB, when Chizik arrived in 2009.

* Auburn signed 7 safeties with an average rating of 3.0. Of the 7 signed, 2 had a 4-star rating and only 1 of the 2 became a major contributor.

* Auburn signed 4 cornerbacks with an average rating of 3.0. Only 1 was a 4-star recruit and he washed out.

* Auburn signed 1 punter, who was rated as a 2-star player (Ryan Shoemaker).

In total, Auburn signed 14 defensive players rated as a 4-star or better. Only 5 of the 14 became a major contributor. Of the 81 players signed between 2006-2008, 41 basically washed out, making virtually no contribution on the field. This basically meant an attrition rate of over 50 percent from 3 recruiting classes. Coach Chizik’s staff had to overcome major deficits in talent and depth, which makes winning the BCS National Championship even more special. Credit should go out to the players that made it from the 2006-2008 recruiting classes, because they played a major role in winning all 14 in 2011. Including this year’s incoming 2011 class, Auburn is still one more recruiting class from overcoming the attrition from the 2007 and 2008 classes. The good news is that 84 percent of the scholarship roster will be Chizik recruits, when the 2011 season starts. At the most, there will only be 4 Tuberville recruits on the roster, when the 2012 season starts, making the transition in coaching near completed.

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