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

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It might help but you know recruiting well enough to know these package deals almost never end up happening. I think Jackson is pretty sold on UGA regardless of what Fields does.

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4-star OT William Barnes, Opopka (Fla.): Barnes hasn’t publicly visited Auburn as he suggested he might in the spring. Barnes has been trending toward his home-state Florida Gators for a while. North Carolina is seen as a dark horse. The big offensive tackle is, by my estimation, the Tigers’ top tackle target in the class, but until the Tigers get him on campus, I expect him to be a Gator.

4-star WR Tommy Bush, Clemens (Texas): Bush’s second stop of his southeast-wide tour went to Auburn. He has received some graphic edit love from the Tigers since he left, and Bush sent that out on social media. The thing to watch with Bush: Does he visit again? If he visits again, I’ve been told Auburn has a legitimate chance. For now, it’ll be a waiting game as Bush narrows down his list in July.

5-star QB Matthew Corral, Long Beach Poly (Calif.): Since Corral de-committed from USC recently, he has become one of the hottest commodities on the recruiting trail. He told reporters at the Opening that Auburn has, in fact, reached out to him. It’s important to note that most schools considering Corral are also looking at Justin Fields, so Corral will likely wait until Fields’ decision to announce. Auburn plans to take two quarterbacks, so if the Tigers miss on Fields, Corral could be the next move.

5-star Justin Fields QB, Harrison (Ga.): There is no question Fields is the top target remaining for Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Florida State, USC, Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU and any other program who feels like it has a shot at the stud dual-threat quarterback. In Auburn’s case, the Tigers feel like they’re in great shape for Fields, but Georgia and Florida State are viewed as the biggest competition. Fields will likely announce sooner rather than later.

4-star TE Luke Ford, Carterville (Ill.): Ford de-committed from Arkansas and immediately became a top want for several programs across the southeast. He recently visited Alabama and Auburn. He called Alabama his leader after that visit, but said Auburn made him slightly reconsider after his trip to the Plains. Gus Malzahn gave the Ford family a personal tour around Auburn on his visit, and that’s going to make a major impression going forward.

4-star OT Richard Gouraige, Cambridge (Fla.): Gouraige’s interest in Auburn appears to have waned in recent months. When he visited earlier in the spring, he said he’d be interested in visiting a week later. That didn’t end up happening, and he hasn’t been back since. That says Florida and Clemson have had slightly more pull on him than the Tigers. Gouraige is up there with Barnes for the Tigers’ top tackle target in the class.

4-star OG Trey Hill, Houston County (Ga.): Hill continues to visit Auburn. That has to be a good sign for the Tigers despite the widespread public belief he’s a Georgia lock. Hill attended for Big Cat Weekend with his father and left saying Auburn was as in as good of shape as anyone for his services. Ultimately, Georgia is the most likely team to beat, but in the case of a Justin Fields commitment, Hill could be one of those influenced targets.

4-star WR Kearis Jackson, Peach County (Ga.): Like Hill, Jackson visited Auburn for Big Cat Weekend. His commitment to a schools could be somewhat liked to two prospects — Hill and Fields. The Tigers sent a graphic edit to the three of them with all three dressed in Auburn jerseys together. I think it’s quite possible the trio ends up at the same program, though Georgia is the most likely destination for the entire group. If Fields were to pick the Tigers, however, it could cause a massive shift.

4-star OG Tank Jenkins, Park Crossing (Ala.): Jenkins visited Auburn a couple weeks ago with his high school teammate Cam Taylor. It’s been tough to read Jenkins throughout this process. He claims the Tigers are recruiting him as hard as anyone else, but he doesn’t seem tied down to the idea of staying in-state for college. Still, it seems like it would be tough for the Tigers to miss out on Jenkins if they give him the full-court press recruitment. Missouri, Oklahoma and others are the biggest threat.

4-star RB Harold Joiner, Mountain Brook (Ala.): Joiner will be a hot topic over this weekend and throughout the rest of the summer. He has come out and said LSU and Georgia are no longer in consideration because of those schools taking a few running backs in the last week. Strangely, he spoke publicly about his new interest in…Michigan State (?). With all that said, I put in a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction to Auburn — the first one — because I don’t see the Tigers missing on him now that he appears within their grasp.

4-star DE Azeez Ojulari, Marietta (Ga.): Ojulari has visited the Tigers since the start of the year, but he’s also been unable to make it on occasions that he said he would. Auburn is likely playing behind Georgia and Alabama right now for Ojulari — others could emerge — but the Tigers can remain patient. If the two rival schools look elsewhere on the D-line, Auburn could swoop in to snag Ojulari late.

4-star OLB JJ Peterson, Colquitt County (Ga.): Peterson seems like an Alabama lock. With that said, there is only one program who has a true shot at making him reconsider the Crimson Tide. Peterson’s best college coach relationship is with Auburn linebackers coach Travis Williams. Williams’ impact has made Peterson stay patient with his decision, but it still seems unlikely the Tigers can out-duel the Tide.

5-star WR Justyn Ross, Central (Ala.): Ross isn’t in a rush to decide, but when he does, there will be four programs to watch: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and Florida State. The two in-state schools have often been called the favorites by people not named Justyn Ross. Ross claims he hasn’t narrowed in on any leaders in that bunch. Still, this will likely come down to an Alabama-Auburn battle and both sides feel positive about their chances of landing the No. 1 prospect in the state.

4-star WR Anthony Schwartz, American Heritage (Fla.): Schwartz is lightning fast. By the numbers, he’s one of the fastest — if not the fastest — high school sprinters in the entire nation. That track speed has several programs fighting for him. Florida is a clear leader, but Auburn checks in at No. 2. The Tigers surprised him when he visited for the A-Day spring game, and if he were to return, they’d have a chance to do it again.

4-star OLB Channing Tindall, Spring Valley (S.C.): Travis Williams’ hometown connection could come in handy. Tindall goes to the same high school Williams graduated from in South Carolina. That has helped the Tigers work their way into the No. 2 spot behind South Carolina, and Tindall very much believes some programs could leapfrog his home-state institution. Another team to watch, however, is Georgia. Tindall grew up a fan of the Bulldogs, so if they make a major push, it could be tough to top.

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-Wanted to commit to tOSU but Urb said no 5* no want
-Down to AU/UGA & it's close
-tOSU becomes favorite if they want him later
-T-Will is his favorite coach & he likes Steele's D Scheme
-wants to silently commit soon in early July & try to keep it quiet
-his HS coach is pushing him & a couple others to commit soon so recruiting is not a distraction in the season
-Harris goes back & forth between AU & UGA

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Not a fan of HS coach pressuring kid to commit. If he wants to wait on Ohio State then he should do that. Better than committing now and then OHST comes later and says we will take you and he decommits

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The Opening finals is a premier event in the recruiting world. Nike puts on the showcase and invites around 150 of the nation's top prospects based on their film and how they performed at regional combines if they chose to attend.

AL.com is at the event, which begins today in Beaverton, Ore., with the Elite 11 portion. The event lasts through Monday.

The goal is to see these prospects in action and report what they are saying about Alabama and Auburn.

Quarterbacks, receivers and tight ends are participating Thursday and Friday. The rest of the group will join them Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

It looks like ESPN is not covering this year's event for TV. Bookmark this AL.com page for complete The Opening coverage.

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QUARTERBACKS

The nation's No. 1 overall prospect is Trevor Lawrence from Cartersville, Ga., but he is a solid Clemson commit. No. 3 overall prospect Justin Fields from Kennesaw, Ga., visited Alabama and Auburn recently. Alabama is also after a trio of California quarterbacks in Matt Corral, Tanner McKee and Jack Tuttle (Utah commit)

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WIDE RECEIVER

Ross is the top in-state target that Alabama and Auburn are battling for. Track star Anthony Schwartz (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) has Alabama and Auburn offers. Medford, Ore., four-star Chase Cota just put Alabama in his top seven. Antelope Valley, Calif., four-star Devon Williams recently visited Alabama. He is the nation's top athlete. Fort Valley, Ga., four-star Kearis Jackson is coveted by Alabama and Auburn. Texas four-star Tommy Bush recently visited Alabama and Auburn. Xavier Williams is committed to Alabama.

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