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

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I wouldn't go that far.

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So even Auburn’s already-committed backup plan has a potential of falling through. Here are the other quarterback names to watch, if Stidham were to say no to Auburn.

3-star ATH Kadarius Toney, Blount (Ala.): Yet another athlete who could be a quarterback or could play elsewhere. Toney has put up some impressive numbers as a quarterback in high school, but the Florida commit might end up at another position. Can Auburn flip? It’ll take some work. Malzahn and Lashlee attended a game two weeks ago, and that contact likely will pick up dramatically.

3-star ATH Malik Cunningham, Park Crossing (Ala.): Or were Lashlee and Malzahn in attendance to see Cunningham? That’s the million-dollar question. When Lashlee and Malzahn went to Blount-Park Crossing two weeks ago, Toney seemed to be the logical target. But Cunningham — a Louisville commit — has improved according to Auburn’s evaluations, and he could be another prospect to watch in case of a Stidham miss.

3-star QB Bubba Thompson, McGill-Toolen (Ala.): Notably, Thompson already has committed to Auburn once during this recruiting cycle, though it was to play baseball. He backed off that commitment at the end of last week, confirming his hope to play football and baseball at the next level. Thompson, a pro-style quarterback, doesn’t hold an offer from Auburn. He holds SEC offers from Tennessee and Ole Miss, though those systems seem like better fits for his skill set. Still, an Auburn offer could persuade him to reaffirm his decision to join the Tigers. Keep an eye out for future evaluations from Lashlee and Malzahn.

4-star QB Kellen Mond, IMG Academy (Fla.): This is the easy first choice, especially if Stidham picks A&M. The question is whether Mond, a Texas A&M commit, is really flip-able. Mond and his family might have some frustrations with a Stidham addition, but it seems like it would be a simple sell for the Aggies to tell Mond the program is his after Stidham has an NFL-worthy 2017 (all speculation, of course, but a good sell for recruiting purposes). Mond chose between Auburn and A&M originally, so that could be entertained again considering the circumstances.

4-star QB Lowell Narcisse, St. James (La.): Here’s another flip conversation. At this point in the recruiting process, at quarterback, it’s generally either JUCO or flip. That’s the route Auburn seems to be taking. Narcisse, an LSU commit, will fit into what Ed Orgeron said he wants to do offensively, but there is some competition at the top of the LSU quarterback class. Once again, if Stidham spurns Auburn, I’d expect the staff to try to change Narcisse’s mind. Many believed he would pick Auburn originally.

That isn’t a complete list. It can’t be because most of those players already are committed elsewhere. If all of them fall through, then Auburn will have to look somewhere else. There is no question the Tigers need to find an alternative, and Malzahn acknowledged as much post-Iron Bowl when he said the staff would take a look at the position’s depth and plan accordingly.

Remember, though: This is all a worst-case scenario. Stidham is clearly option No. 1. The backup plans will begin after he makes his decision, which could be soon.

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L's to UGA and Bama. There is no QB on the roster that can beat those two ATM

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We certainly don't need another project ath QB. Those don't work, and they can never convert to another position.

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FYI. There is a Texas A&M fan on the SECRB saying their sites have stated Kevin Sumlin hasn't been in much contact with Jarrett Stidham. That bodes well for Auburn at this point. He's on his 3rd visit, I believe, and will decide soon.

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