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

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What has defensive tackle Derrick Brown, a former teamamte of Tyler Taylor's, told the 4-star linebacker from Lanier High about his Auburn experience thus far?

"He told me that it's like one of the best decisions he has ever made," Taylor said. "And that the coaches really take care of you."

Brown, a former 5-star recruit, signed with Auburn last February. The Tigers hope Taylor will follow him 12 months later.

But it won't be easy.

Right now, Auburn and Okalahoma essentially are his co-leaders with LSU next. He's officially visiting the Bayou Bengals this weekend and Auburn the next.

Auburn has three linebackers commited and would like to add a fourth. It appears as though Tylor is the top target at the moment.

According to Taylor, he is etremely close both with Auburn linebackers coach Travis Williams and his Sooners' counterpart, Tim Kish.

"They've been consistent with their recruiting," Taylor said. "I really like them."

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Worst-case scenario

This Auburn class would finish with a score of 254.91. In the last three classes, that’s equivalent to 13th, 14th and 14th in the team rankings. Reminder: don’t think of a worst-case scenario as a terrible concept. Worst-case scenario simply means missing on some of the top targets at key positions and finding a way to maximize a class uniquely.

It’s also intended to give a gauge of the furthest Auburn can realistically plummet with a underperformance in the January recruiting cycle.

Here are the five that wouldn’t necessarily boost Auburn’s class rankings:

- Jordan Tucker
- Marlon Williams
- Chase Lasater
- Thomas Johnston
- Poutasi Poutasi

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Best-case scenario

This Auburn class would receive a composite score of 271.13. It would require some surprises, but that hasn’t stopped the Tigers from making recruiting splashes in the past during the Malzahn era. In the last three classes, that score would be equivalent to 9th, 11th and 12th.

That’s not substantially better, but it’s better. The list doesn’t include Henry Ruggs, who would give the class a significant boost. But he seems too distant from Auburn to realistically consider. The same goes for Solomon.

Here are the five that would give Auburn its best chance at a high-ranked class:

- Tyler Taylor
- Devon Hunter
- Markaviest Bryant
- Ryan Johnson
- Kai-Leon Herbert

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** Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and running backs coach Tim Horton visited Scottsboro High, home of 2019 star quarterback Bo Nix.

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** The Malzahn/Horton duo also visited Madison Academy, home of Auburn commit Austin Troxell.

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Alec Jackson | 3-star DE | Commit

Jackson committed to Auburn on Christmas Day over Florida, Ole Miss and USC. He is the only commitment expected on Auburn's campus this weekend.

Jackson (6-5, 270) is Auburn's lone defensive line commitment in the 2017 recruiting cycle.

Poutasi Poutasi | 3-star OG | Target

The Las Vegas lineman holds offers from Central Florida, Louisville and Nevada and could add another from the Tigers this weekend. According to 247Sports, Poutasi has spoken with Auburn offensive line coach Herb Hand multiple times but has yet to meet him.

"I would love to play for him someday," he said. "He's telling me they need another guard. I think they have one spot left and he's recruiting a lot of guys for that one spot. Hopefully, I get it."

Thomas Johnston | 3-star LB | Target

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Spanish Fort star is the Alabama high school record holder for career tackles with 675.

This will be official visit No. 3 for Johnston, who was at Arkansas Oct. 14 and Iowa Dec. 3. After Auburn he intends to take official visits to Arizona State and Ole Miss. His older brother, former Alabama Mr. Football Tyler Johnston, is at UAB.

Kai-Leon Herbert | 4-star OT | Target

According to 247Sports, Herbert will also take an official visit to Auburn this weekend.

The four-star prospect committed to Michigan in July, but Florida has made a strong push down the stretch. It's unclear at this time whether Auburn is a legitimate contender for his signature, but this visit should clear some of that up

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Greg Brown has hit the ground running as Auburn's newest staff member.

Auburn hired Brown away from Missouri last week to be the new defensive backs coach for the Tigers. The NCAA contact period ended Wednesday, and Brown was on the recruiting trail by Friday. He visited Muscle Shoals to spend time with Jordyn Peters, who committed to the Tigers in August 2016.

Brown was joined by Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, and Peters tweeted out a picture of them with his mother to give fans their first look at Brown in Auburn gear.

"It was great for me to finally meet coach in person," Peters told AL.com. "He's a really great guy from what I've seen so far and will be a guy I'll love to play for."

Brown, who has coached the sport for 36 years including 15 in the NFL, worked with Steele at Alabama in 2013. He succeeds Wesley McGriff, who was hired by Ole Miss as defensive coordinator last month.

"His reputation for what he has been able to do with previous DBs is just a bonus. The visit went great just being able to see how him and Coach Steele interacted with my family."

Peters (6-2, 185) is a three-star prospect and the nation's No. 87 safety in the 247Sports Composite. He plans to take his official visit to Auburn Jan. 20, and will "most likely" take a visit Jan. 27 to Louisville or Virginia Tech.

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- Chase Lasater

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- Thomas Johnston

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Auburn has offered 4-star offensive tackle T.J. Moore of Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek, he Tweeted on Saturday.

The 6-feet-5.5, 290-pound Moore is the No. 30 tackle in the 247Sports Composite. He's also a Florida commit.

Moore committed to the Gators on Christmas Day. He will officially visit Florida on Jan. 27.

It appears he has no official visits scheduled next weekend.

We'll share more information as it becomes available.

Auburn has three offensive linemen committed and would like to add a fourth to the 2017 recruiting class.

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