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

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43 Auburn Total: 6 5: 0 4: 2 3: 4 Avg: 89.06 108.90?

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You probably should not take recruiting so seriously

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Nothing like getting it done Auburn coaches. Nice job so far

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43 Auburn Total: 6 5: 0 4: 2 3: 4 Avg: 89.06 108.90?

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Nothing like getting it done Auburn coaches. Nice job so far

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Just seems to be trending away from AU at this time. May need to impress him this fall.

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Anyone I wanna be

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Safety target explains his Auburn trend

Top prospects from the state of Florida — at least ones being recruited by the three major in-state programs — rarely leave the state. The litany of in-state talent matches up with the litany of in-state options, and that’s where most of the best players in the Sunshine State land.

But every year, Auburn finds a way to dip into Florida to snag a recruit.

Jamien Sherwood might be the best option this cycle. The 3-star safety from Jensen Beach (Fla.) has drawn interest from Florida State, Miami and Florida. He’s also picked up recruiting intrigue from Ole Miss, Oregon, North Carolina, Nebraska and others.

But it’s Auburn who has received two visits from Sherwood so far in 2017 despite the eight-hour trek.

“I mean it’s just whoever recruits me harder and where I feel most comfortable at. My mom was saying how Auburn is only eight hours from my house,” Sherwood said. “It’s far, but it’s not that far.”

Distance likely won’t be a factor when Sherwood makes his decision, which is a positive sign for the Tigers.

Sherwood most recently visited Auburn for Big Cat Weekend. His visit prior to that was junior day. So every time the safety target has been on campus, it’s been with dozens of other top recruits. Sometimes that can be helpful. Sometimes that can be a deterrent.

In this case, Sherwood — normally quite introverted — busted out some personality.

“After my first visit, coach (Greg) Brown was telling me about Big Cat Weekend. At first I thought it was an actual camp or competition. He told me no that it was just fun and games. I was already in the area to go to Alabama and Ole Miss and was like, ‘Why not stop by?’ I’m glad I did,” Sherwood said. “I got to meet other kids. Normally I don’t talk, but I opened up, made some new friends. We just had a fun time with pie-eating contests, races on the golf carts. It was an amazing time.”

In terms of friend-making, I wrote earlier in the week about some defensive back bonds formed at the event.

Safety target Joe Foucha made it a point to grab the phone numbers of Sherwood and cornerback Juanyeh Thomas. The trio in the secondary has been in contact since Big Cat Weekend. Recruit collaboration tends to work out in the chasing program’s favor.

For Sherwood, Big Cat Weekend allowed him a chance to show his mom what Auburn offers, too. After returning from Alabama and Ole Miss, Sherwood wanted her to see the Plains, since the pit stop in Auburn. His first visit was with high school coaches, but he was glad his mom got a chance to see how the Tigers operate.

She was sold.

“They talked to my mom most of the day about how they’d take care of me. She loves it. They were just telling her how, if I were to come here, she wouldn’t have to worry because I’d be in good hands. She’s big on that. I like that too,” Sherwood said. “They say they’re not going to let us fail. They’re going to be on us. You can just tell they’re all good people. They’re not putting on acts. I talk to them behind closed doors too, so I know they’re real good people.”

Sherwood will consider the aforementioned schools and perhaps a few more. He wants to have a decision made by the fall before the football season starts. But he also doesn’t want to rush and potentially risk a de-commitment. If he isn’t certain when summer ends, Sherwood said he’ll release a top 6 or 7 and wait until after the football season or the December signing day to commit.

Sherwood will be an early enrollee.

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We do now

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BRADENTON, Fla. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is catching some shade underneath a cabana after his 7-on-7 team, led by 5-star QB Justin Fields, has notched a 31-8 win in its third game of the NFA7v7 national championship Sunday.

A reporter approaches Newton and requests an interview about Fields, the nation’s No. 1 dual-threat passer from Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Ga. Newton politely declines to talk, but does make this declaration:

“Justin Fields is the best recruit in the country. Write that down.”

That’s quite a compliment from the 2015 NFL MVP and No. 1 overall draft pick in 2011 . Like Fields, Newton is from the Atlanta area and was a 5-star QB prospect 10 years ago.

Newton played two seasons with the Florida Gators before joining Auburn as a junior college transfer. The Tigers won the 2010 national championship behind Newton’s Heisman Trophy campaign.

“Growing up when he was at Auburn, he’s kind of who I modeled my game after,” Fields said. “So it’s definitely great learning from him.”

In a state loaded with elite quarterbacks, being the handpicked signal caller of Newton’s 7-on-7 team is a testament to the transformation Fields has made in the past year.

After all, he hasn’t always been the nation’s most talked-about prospect.

“I think it was before spring last year, I just wanted an offer from Mercer,” Fields said with a laugh. “So I’ve definitely come a long way.”

Fields now holds more than 40 scholarship offers, but Mercer doesn’t have much of shot. He’s being pursued by several powerhouse schools and big-name coaches who want him to be their quarterback of the future.

Fields believes he can be a program-changing player in college, but the Elite 11 finalist hasn’t always felt that way.

“No, I’m going to be honest,” Fields said. “I probably didn’t feel that way last year. I guess, I didn’t know I was this good. I feel like sometimes I doubt myself when I shouldn’t. God’s blessed me with a great gift.”


That gift was on display Sunday, as Fields picked apart several secondaries with his downfield vision and pin-point accuracy. He threw eight touchdown passes through the first three games with zero interceptions.

The pressure and expectations of being a high-profile quarterback doesn’t bother Fields, nor does the recruiting process.

“You just have to embrace it,” Fields said. “All the talk, you can’t let it get to your head. You just have to keep working, just how I was when I didn’t have any offers. So that’s just how I take it.”

“I don’t really text a lot of coaches, so it’s not really [weighing] that heavily on my life. It’s not really that big of a deal. I’m just taking things slow right now. It’s not that stressful.”

Justin Fields is ranked the nation’s No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and No. 3 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite. (Chris Kirschner/SEC Country)
Fields said Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Georgia are the main schools he’s focused on. He added that Alabama, North Carolina and Ole Miss are still involved a little bit.

“Georgia and Florida, those two are probably [recruiting] the hardest. Florida State, too,” said Fields, who will visit UF this week after recent trips to Georgia, Auburn and FSU.

Fields reiterated that he’s not sure when he’ll make a commitment, but he hopes to do so before his senior season. His determining factors are academics, relationships with coaches and their track record of player development.

Newton has advised Fields on his decision-making process.

“I honestly do not know where I’m going to go,” Fields said. “Cam tells me just do what’s best for me. All these colleges, they want you to come help them. But really, just find the best fit for you.”

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