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

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I meant Tenn. I had UGA on the brain from the gameday thread but seriously how is Butch still getting that much talent. What is he selling these kids?

4* Brant Lawless
4* Greg Emerson
4* Dandre Litaker

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Any chance we can get another look from a guy like Jacob Copeland or Pierce (or are we done at RB with Martin)?

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I know we have potential issues of our own right now but say we finish strong and win three of these last four or whatever...

Any chance we can get another look from a guy like Jacob Copeland or Pierce (or are we done at RB with Martin)? Maybe one of those OL?

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That's good. Only gives us a better shot at Roas and Williams.

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4-star WR Anthony Schwartz, Plantation, Fla.

Last month, Anthony Schwartz told SEC Country his college decision was down to Auburn and Florida. Those were the two schools he liked the most — and felt liked him the most. Since then, he’s stated his intention to consider Houston, as well, potentially on just a track scholarship to learn from the great Carl Lewis.

But, in a weird way, this news could have an adverse effect on Auburn’s chances with Schwartz. Part of Florida’s problem with Schwartz is that the Gators are out of wide receiver room in their 2018 class. It’s always been possible for guys like Jacob Copeland and JaMarr Chase to flip to other programs, but that possibility increases dramatically now. If that were to happen, the new coaching staff would need to work quickly to find high-level receivers interested in the Gators.

Schwartz would top that list, as far as uncommitted prospects go.

With that said, if the new coaching staff wanted taller, more physical wide receivers, this could prove to be a benefit for Auburn. Kodi Burns and Schwartz have perhaps the 4-star wide receiver’s strongest coaching relationship. As the Tigers search for their third — and potentially fourth — wide receiver in the 2018 class, their push for Schwartz will rev up now that Florida looks as vulnerable as ever for a prospect who once seemed guaranteed to land in Gainesville.

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3-star OLB David Reese, Vero Beach, Fla. (UF commit)

David Reese isn’t a name that has been mentioned in this space often. To my knowledge, he doesn’t hold an Auburn offer, and he hasn’t publicly indicated his displeasure with the McElwain departure yet. But there’s a key reason Reese is a part of this conversation, and it goes back to Jibunor.

Jibunor has a few guys in the recruiting process that he considers close friends. Reese might very well be atop the list. In fact, Jibunor’s primary reason for taking his only Florida visit was at the request of Reese, who told him he’d love Gainesville. Reese was right.

Likewise, Jibunor told Reese he’d like Auburn, but Reese has yet to make that visit to the Plains, and there’s no telling he ever will. But if there ever were an opening, it’s now.

Auburn remains in search for at least one more linebacker in the class. Quay Walker tops the wish list, but flipping prospects from Alabama isn’t an easy task, nor a common occurrence. Auburn will be in search of alternative plans, which will include testing the waters with guys like Channing Tindall and others, but also passing out offers to uncommitted prospects such as La’Dedric Jackson or trying to dip into the committed pool of other programs.

Reese would be an interesting place to start, but that would require a lot of communication in a short order when there hasn’t been much up to this point. Travis Williams will be a busy man these next few months.

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Others prospects of note

- Auburn commit Jamien Sherwood has been flirting with Florida since committing to Auburn. He’s visited Gainesville at least two times for games. Sherwood always stated the Tigers shouldn’t worry too much about those visits, and this announcement will only enrich that stance. All Auburn needs to do, as it pertains to Sherwood, is keep its own coaching staff in place.

- Auburn commits Coynis Miller and Asa Martin both chose the Tigers despite showing strong interest in Florida. Both even had experiences strong enough they said they would’ve felt comfortable committing to the Gators at times. This news helps eliminate any potential flip scares for both.

- Florida commit Divaad Wilson has entertained a few schools, including South Carolina, while being committed to Florida. He retweeted something that indicated he’s still firmly committed to the Gators, but he reported an Auburn offer last week (same day his teammate Rashad Wildgoose claimed one, as well). As Auburn searches for its cornerbacks in the class, Wilson is a name to watch.

- Florida commit Jacob Copeland once had Auburn high on his list, but communication plummeted. If Copeland were to flip somewhere, and it appears likely it would be to Alabama. In a way, that would help Auburn because Alabama’s wide receiver spots would start to fill up for guys like Seth Williams and Justyn Ross.

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