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re: 2018 Football Recruiting Thread -- Final OP Update Edition
Posted on 11/22/17 at 2:59 pm to rbWarEagle
Posted on 11/22/17 at 2:59 pm to rbWarEagle
Catching up on SECCountry articles
Examining how Auburn expects to round out 2018 class at wide receiver (SECCountry)
Examining how Auburn expects to round out 2018 class at wide receiver (SECCountry)
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AUBURN, Ala. — There is a growing sense of confidence with Auburn recruiting wide receivers.
The Tigers already have two committed in 4-star Matthew Hill and 3-star Shedrick Jackson. Those two chose Auburn over the summer before the Tigers flaunted their new-look passing game. That passing game has gotten multiple wide receivers involved this season. In fact, seven different players have more than 150 receiving yards. The same number of pass-catchers have hauled in touchdown passes.
Recruits are taking notice.
“It means a lot because before they were mainly running the ball. They’ve started passing more. They’re surprising everybody,” Hill said after the Georgia game.
The play-calling makes it much more conceivable for the Tigers to round up strong Class of 2018 at wide receiver.
With two already committed, the plan all along has been to take three in the class. But as Auburn assesses its wide receiver recruiting board, that number has a chance to stretch to four based on who decides they want to play for Auburn.
Here are the names to follow: Anthony Schwartz, Seth Williams, Justyn Ross, Marquez Ezzard and Ja’Marr Chase — all 4-star prospects. At worst, I expect Auburn to take one of those five wide receivers. But there’s a world where I can envision the Tigers taking two or three.
Two is the most realistic number at this time.
I received some information over the weekend that Schwartz is actually the prospect the Tigers feel the best about right now. He’s shown extra interest in Auburn since visiting a few weeks ago, while Florida — the other team in contention — is dealing with a coaching search. Schwartz showed some Twitter interest Sunday about the possibility of Chip Kelly going to Florida, so that’s something to watch.
But for the time being, and for the first time this cycle, I’ll have Schwartz in my projected class on offense.
So that leaves Williams, Ross, Ezzard and Chase. It’d be nearly impossible to say no to any of them.
Where does Auburn stand with all four?
Ezzard recently de-committed from Florida State. He’s always had a close coaching relationship with Kodi Burns (who deserves a lot of credit this recruiting cycle). It’s unknown where things stand at this time, but think of Ezzard as a backup plan to the other three, especially Ross and Williams. Chase was going to visit for the Georgia game, which would’ve been a big pickup for the Tigers, but he suffered a season-ending injury in his Friday game before the visit and didn’t make the trip.
So, realistically, I look at Ross and Williams as the most likely candidates for the spot. Ross visited Clemson over the weekend, and those Tigers are going to be tough to top. Ross loves Clemson — the visits, the coaches and the commits — so Auburn’s one saving grace will be that, potentially, Ross would like to stay closer to home so his mother and grandmother can watch him play more conveniently. For right now, however, that feels unlikely. Maybe Auburn’s chances will rise as National Signing Day approaches.
That leaves Williams, who has been in my mock class for a few months now. He has been a tough one to read because of his lack of visits. Alabama, Florida State and Auburn have all been the three teams to keep an eye on throughout. Because of various reasons, all three have had confidence at points in time during his recruitment. For now, Auburn feels great about the position it’s in with Williams.
So, for now, let’s say Auburn adds Williams and Schwartz to Hill and Jackson. My November class projection later Monday will reflect that.
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Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:02 pm to TigerPaw1
Auburn recruiting: Predicting the Tigers’ signing class on offense (SECCountry)
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Auburn finds itself in a position with more to gain in the Class of 2018 than any other program.
A month ago, the Tigers were left for dead. They slipped down the Top 25 rankings, Gus Malzahn and his staff were told to take a hike and recruiting promise looked bleak with the cloud of uncertainty rising. Then Auburn topped No. 1 Georgia and now has No. 1 Alabama ahead. If the Tigers can win that one, they’ll be the hot team on the market heading into the December signing period.
As of now, the Tigers sit at No. 14 nationally in 247Sports’ composite rankings, but they’re in a position to crack the top 10 if a few recruiting battles fall their way. Here is SEC Country’s latest projected class on offense.
* — indicates current commitment
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:04 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
QB: Joey Gatewood*
Analysis: I was given reason to believe over the weekend that it’s Jarren Williams, Emory Jones or nothing for Auburn when it comes to adding a second quarterback. Could that narrative change if the Tigers were to miss on both? Perhaps they could circle back on a guy such as A.J. Curry. Williams is trending toward Miami and may not even visit Auburn this weekend anymore. Jones is still committed to Ohio State and Alabama may be the more likely candidate to flip him. In the end, I expect Auburn to ride with Joey Gatewood, who is cruising through the Florida state playoffs.
Confidence level: 70 percent
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:04 pm to TigerPaw1
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RB: Asa Martin*, Shaun Shivers*
Analysis: Asa Martin and Shaun Shivers are both solidly committed to Auburn. As much as Alabama and others may push for Martin, his commitment to the Tigers won’t change as long as this coaching staff is in place. There are a few other running back targets to watch. For instance, LSU commit Tae Provens visited for the Georgia game and will be back for the Alabama game, but Auburn is still trying to decide if it likes him more as a running back or a cornerback. For that reason, I expect the running back class to stay where it’s at.
Confidence level: 90 percent
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:05 pm to TigerPaw1
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WR: Matthew Hill*, Shedrick Jackson*, Seth Williams, Anthony Schwartz
Analysis: I wrote about the wide receiver group at length for the inaugural Recruiting Question of the Day earlier on Monday. Auburn doesn’t have any concerns about holding on to Matthew Hill and Shedrick Jackson, nor should it. Now the question comes: Will Auburn take one or two more wide receivers? If it’s two, I think the most likely scenario for right now is Seth Williams and Anthony Schwartz. Somewhat surprisingly, I had a source say, of all the wide receiver targets, Auburn feels most confident with Schwartz right now. That’s why he makes his way into my class projection for the first time.
Confidence level: 55 percent
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:06 pm to TigerPaw1
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TE: Nobody at this time
Analysis: Auburn received some unwelcome news Sunday night when top tight end target Michael Parker announced he received an offer from Alabama. The Tigers forced the Crimson Tide’s hand on this one, as Parker was likely set to commit to Auburn at some point this week. Auburn will have to go a different direction. Tyneil Hopper has visited three times this season with his entire family, so he’s someone to monitor. There are a few JUCO options who will be tracked down the stretch. But Auburn feels good about John Samuel Shenker, who they’ll add next year, plus the Tigers won’t lose any of their scholarship tight ends. It might make more sense to leave the tight end position vacant to allow for more openings at other position groups.
Confidence level: 40 percent
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:07 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
OL: Kameron Stutts*, Jalil Irvin*, Trey Hill, Jerome Carvin
Analysis: Kameron Stutts and Jalil Irvin are already committed on the interior. It looks like Auburn is going to take one more inside guy. In a perfect world, that’s Trey Hill, and it looks like he’s trending that way. It’s impossible to count out Georgia, of course, but Auburn feels good, which is a big reason why the Tigers plan on pumping the brakes on Tank Jenkins. The bigger question will be at tackle with Badara Traore and Dylan Wonnum appearing to be long shots for now. Enter a name who hasn’t appeared in a class projection since the spring — Jerome Carvin. A source told me Auburn has fallen in love with his senior film. This likely will be a battle with Tennessee and Mississippi State, so the Tigers like their chances. He’ll officially visit for the Iron Bowl, which, to my knowledge, will be his first visit since the spring game.
Confidence level: 65 perecent
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:08 pm to TigerPaw1
Top 2020 target Kobe Hudson, teammate of commit Andy Boykin, talks potential tag team in Auburn (SECCountry)
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Top 2020 target Kobe Hudson talks Auburn
For any Auburn home game or big recruiting event, there are four names Tigers fan can expect to see over the next two years: King Mwikuta, Joko Willis, Andy Boykin and Kobe Hudson.
Those four prospects play for Troup County High in LaGrange, Ga. They’re all ball players.
Mwikuta has been a major focus in the 2019 class. It’s going to be difficult to pick him away from Alabama, but if anyone can do it, it’s Travis Williams and Rodney Garner. Willis is the other 2019 prospect, a linebacker, who visited over the weekend and likely will be heavily involved with Auburn when that recruiting class hits full swing.
In 2020, there will be Boykin and Hudson. Boykin already committed to the Tigers on Tuesday morning, and he’s been a fixture at Auburn home games this season. Hudson might end up being the top athlete in the class based on how he’s performed early in his career.
SEC Country caught up with Hudson after the Louisiana-Monroe game. Boykin’s decision could be some positive foreshadowing for the Tigers based on what Hudson said about how the Tigers are recruiting all of them.
“They want all of us,” Hudson said. “We tell each other it would be pretty tough [in a good way] if we all came here.”
Hudson has visited Auburn (three times), Alabama and Georgia so far this season. Those will be the programs involved for Hudson, just as those will probably be the main programs in it until the end for all four Troup County prospects. Hudson, who will be one of the best receivers in 2020, keeps a close eye on all the offenses.
He’s noticed major improvements with Auburn throughout the season.
“They’re starting to show some more plays. We know they’re capable of making plays. The receivers have started making plays toward the end of the season,” Hudson said. “I got to talk with Gus Malzahn. We just talked about my game and how he really wants me up here and stuff. I love it.”
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:09 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
About Hudson’s teammate who committed
The Troup County contingent got its commitments underway when Andy Boykin chose Auburn on Tuesday. He told the staff after the Georgia game that he wanted in the class, but he was going to wait a few days to go public with it. He finally made that publicly known Tuesday.
It’s 2020, so the immediate thought is how far away that seems, but that’s the sophomore class. Boykin has been one of the best defensive lineman among that age group.
I had an Auburn-side source raving about Boykin’s sophomore tape a few weeks before the Georgia game. It made sense the Tigers liked his game considering how regularly Boykin was on the Plains. He didn’t make it for the Louisiana-Monroe game, which was odd considering his other three teammates were there, but that was the first home game of the season Boykin missed.
He’s been one of the the most present prospects in any recruiting class this season.
Boykin is up to 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds. He’ll likely bulk up, so it’s possible he winds up inside. For now, when the new rankings come out, I expect Boykin to be one of the most highly-rated strongside defensive ends in the nation.
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:10 pm to TigerPaw1
Auburn recruiting: Predicting the Tigers’ signing class on defense (SECCountry)
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SEC Country outlined the most recent offensive projection for Auburn’s Class of 2018 on Monday. Check it out here.
With 12 commitments in that group, it allows for 13 prospects on the defensive side. Eight of those guys are already committed — unchanged below — so there are five additions (approximately) to be made at defensive line, linebacker and defensive back.
Auburn’s class has the potential to go a variety of ways depending on how things play out against Alabama and possibly the SEC Championship Game.
Here’s the most likely class projection at this time:
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:12 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
DL: Daquan Newkirk*, Coynis Miller*, Richard Jibunor, Kayode Oladele, Andres Fox
Analysis: Two are already committed with Daquan Newkirk and Coynis Miller, and don’t expect that to change. Rodney Garner would like to add as many bodies as possible on the defensive line, and five might be the magic number in this recruiting class.
So who are the other three the Tigers add? Richard Jibunor has been on decision watch for months, but that’s on major high alert right now. He’s felt like a lock for the whole recruiting cycle. Kayode Oladele will be at the Iron Bowl and likely the week after. His decision is coming in December, and Auburn will probably receive good news there. Andres Fox is the big mystery — since Alabama has confidence here, too — but Auburn feels like they reeled this one in a while ago. That’s an impressive five for a recruiting class pitched as being a down year for defensive linemen.
Confidence level: 80 percent
Would love this DL class. All are guys (except Newkirk) that probably need some seasoning but AU isn't gonna need any of em to be ready to go day 1. Get them in the system and developing so after 2018 season when we lose a lot of our current group the next wave is ready
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:12 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
LB: Michael Harris*, Zakoby McClain
Analysis: This would be a pair of lightning rods at linebacker that would fit in nicely with Travis Williams’ group. Michael Harris has been committed since the summer. You won’t find many, if any, linebackers in the 2018 class who give more on any given down than Harris. He’s sideline to sideline all the time. His energy will fit right in with Auburn.
Zakoby McClain offers a similar skill set from south Georgia. McClain is a down-the-line option after attempts on Quay Walker, Channing Tindall and JJ Peterson, but I don’t expect those efforts to be fruitful. McClain is a great prospect to lean back on, and that’s why he landed back in the SEC Country projection after a couple-month hiatus.
Confidence level: 70 percent
Interesting Wolk doesn't seem to think AU is gonna flip Walker
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:13 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
DB: Quindarious Monday*, Kolbi Fuqua*, Josh Marsh*, Jamien Sherwood*, Christian Tutt*, Cam Taylor
Analysis: The safety group, more or less, is set. Quindarious Monday, Kolbi Fuqua, Josh Marsh and Jamien Sherwood bring a diverse skill set and fill a huge need for the Tigers at safety. I don’t expect anyone to de-commit even though several programs are pushing for Monday and Sherwood.
Christian Tutt provided the first cornerback commitment of the 2018 class for the Tigers. It’s possible the Tigers try to land another elite corner, but for right now, I think they go in a different direction. Cam Taylor is a prospect I’ve written a lot about this cycle who plays quarterback for Park Crossing in Montgomery, Ala. As signing day approaches, I think Auburn will look to add Taylor as a nickel-corner-safety combo to add even further versatility to the defensive back class.
Confidence level: 65 percent
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:16 pm to TigerPaw1
Wolk's projected class would have total score of 257.25 which would put AU in the 10-14 range
Posted on 11/22/17 at 3:17 pm to TigerPaw1
Australian punter Arryn Siposs breaks down Auburn interest, introduction to American football (SECCountry)
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Australian punter’s offer puts him on fast track to Auburn
Arryn Siposs’ recruitment won’t be like many others, and that’s because Arryn Siposs isn’t like other recruits.
Siposs is a 24-year-old punter who trains with Prokick Australia, a program that specializes is matching Australian kickers and punters with college scholarships in the United State. So far, Prokick Australia has sent more than 50 kickers to the United States to maximize kicking and punting scholarships at the Division I level.
Siposs is next in line.
Prokick Australia tweeted out Tuesday that Siposs had received a punting scholarship from Auburn. SEC Country chatted with Siposs briefly on Wednesday afternoon (at least it was afternoon in the Central Time Zone).
What we found out is just how different the recruitment is for an Australian punter. He won’t be taking multiple visits. Siposs won’t hang around for 20 scholarship offers. No, the Prokick Australia program emphasizes finding the one scholarship that fits the prospect’s athletic and academic needs and running with it.
That’s what Siposs plans to do.
“Prokick speaks to schools they think are the best fit for each individual. Their focus was Auburn, and I’ve been lucky enough to have them interested in me and offer me a scholarship,” Siposs said. “I found out about the offer from my coaches here in Australia who runs Prokick Australia. After I found out through him, I had a couple of the coaches from Auburn speak to me and were very excited.”
Siposs hasn’t ever seen Auburn before, aside from a few pamphlets and photos.
Several members of Prokick Australia visited Auburn and other programs in July, including Nathan Chapman, the coach who helped orchestrate Siposs’ scholarship with the Tigers. Siposs wasn’t in that group, but he heard the reactions from a few people who all had rave reviews of the SEC campus.
Siposs is eager to see it for himself. He’ll visit soon before enrolling in August 2018.
“I’ll be over in a couple of weeks to see the college,” Siposs said. “From what I have seen and heard, it’s an amazing place. I can’t wait to see it.”
Siposs’ introduction to American football, at least as a player himself, has been relatively recent. He’s always been fascinated by American sports — not just football — so the sports are familiar. But he didn’t pick up the punting part of the game until recently when another athletic career wrapped up.
When he was 17 years old, Siposs was drafted 75th by the St. Kilda Saints overall in the Australian Football League, the premier Australian Rules Football league. Siposs had a 5-year career in that, but has now turned his attention to American football.
“I played Australian Rules Football since I was 5 and was lucky enough to have a good kick on me. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite last as long as I hoped for, so I thought I’d speak to Prokick about giving punting a go,” Siposs said. “I first heard of punting when I got a letter about giving it a go before I got drafted [to the AFL]. At 17, my goal was to play AFL, but I always had punting in the back of my mind. I enjoy watching American sports, so I’ve always followed it.”
At this point, don’t consider Siposs a commitment, but it’s likely to happen at some point, perhaps after his initial visit to campus. Auburn only has eight or nine spots to fill in the Class of 2018, so scholarships are at a premium right now for the Tigers. With that said, Siposs appears set on enrolling at Auburn in August 2018, and that’s what I expect to happen.
The punter of the future isn’t your average punter.
Posted on 11/22/17 at 4:49 pm to TigerPaw1
4* OT Richard Gouraige is visiting for the Iron Bowl
Posted on 11/22/17 at 9:08 pm to TigerPaw1
Everyone's favorite sleepy recruit Zakoby McClain will be at game Saturday
Posted on 11/22/17 at 10:57 pm to TigerPaw1
Siposs highlight film: throw another shrimp on the barbie
Check out the boomer at 22 secs
Check out the boomer at 22 secs
Posted on 11/23/17 at 1:22 am to SlimCharles140
I dont know who Id be more surprised in actually visiting us, Zakoby or Elvis. The kid is a baller, and he will mature, take him.
Gouriage, Paw were we not working on this kid for a while before he committed to Florida? Guess the shakeup has him looking around. He sure is ranked pretty high.
Gouriage, Paw were we not working on this kid for a while before he committed to Florida? Guess the shakeup has him looking around. He sure is ranked pretty high.
Posted on 11/23/17 at 6:44 am to trinidadtiger
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I dont know who Id be more surprised in actually visiting us, Zakoby or Elvis. The kid is a baller, and he will mature, take him.
I am huge McClain fan when it comes to what he does on the field. T-WILL is to as he told Harris before the season he wanted Harris & McClain. Problem is McClain is a struggle to recruit. Not sure what his personal life is like but clear needs someone close to him to help him through this recruitment process. Hopefully he makes the trip & I would still love for him to end up in this class
quote:
Gouriage, Paw were we not working on this kid for a while before he committed to Florida? Guess the shakeup has him looking around. He sure is ranked pretty high.
We have been hard after Gouraige all cycle but only got one visit. He narrowed it down to Clemson & UF. Gators won because of distance
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