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

quote:

---

4* LB Zakoby McClain posted on the twitter that he will be committing tomorrow

If what TigePaw said is true, looks like it will most likely be to Auburn.

---

quote:

---

Normally this space will be reserved for fans and readers who direct Auburn recruiting questions toward me. We’ll make an exception for Asa Martin.

The Tigers running back commit has been one of the more vocal leaders in the 2018 class. He is recruiter as much as recruit. So last week, when Richard Jibunor and Seth Williams committed on the same day — giving Auburn even more buzz than it already had — Martin asked the all-important question to his fellow Class of 2018 class members as spots dwindle in Auburn’s class.

WHO NEXT?

There are several candidates for prospects who are on the verge of a decision. Trey Hill claims he could decide any time between now and Dec. 20, with no specific timetable in mind. The same can be said for Jerome Carvin. Kayode Oladele has a Dec. 12 decision coming for his birthday. Beyond that, there’s a long list of recruits who could jump on board sooner rather than later at the prospect of spots filling up, and that’s the blessed recruiting position the Tigers have found themselves in.

One prospect, in particular, left the Iron Bowl feeling much closer to committing that previously believed.

“I’m making it soon,” 4-star linebacker Zakoby McClain said after the game.

McClain has had a back-and-forth recruitment.

There were points in the summer when I thought he was destined to choose Auburn, but he’d hesitate. He would consider another program, or back out of a visit to the Plains. At one point this fall, it seemed like he was moments from taking a visit to LSU and committing there. That visit — and commitment, obviously — never happened. That’s when West Virginia picked up a visit and got in it.

Those are the three programs who will be involved when McClain makes his decision “soon,” which he described as a month or sooner. My sources are leaning on the side of sooner — much sooner.

There’s a high probability McClain will have a decision by the end of this week, just a few days after visiting Auburn and getting a lot of personal time with linebackers coach Travis Williams before and after the game. My understanding is those conversations were very frank, but they ended with both sides feeling great about the other.

“We talked a lot. He was talking about how I like the schools [recruiting me] and what I want to do [with my recruitment] and what I like about [Auburn],” McClain said. “I loved it.”

If we’re keeping count, McClain — who doesn’t take many visits — has been to Auburn twice, West Virginia once and LSU zero times. Not sure if that’s enough data for a “follow the visits” approach, but the timing fits.

I have been able to confirm that McClain is back in the very good graces of the Auburn coaching staff. They love his speed, which coincidentally (or not), is what he said he enjoys about the Tigers’ defense: “They play fast,” he said after the visit.

The real speed could be the quickness with which McClain moves through the back stages of this process. He hasn’t been taken visits and his recruitment has been somewhat of a mystery after pushing back a prior commitment date. He made my class projection in May, June, July, August and September. McClain took a hiatus from the mock class in October when he was replaced with Alabama commit Quay Walker, but he returned last week in my November projection.

He seems set on shutting down his recruitment. Auburn’s buzz, his recent visit and the fact he’s already set up a Dec. 10 official visit — which will likely be after he makes a college decision — should give the Tigers a lot of hope they’ll add their second linebacker in the near future.

---

quote:

---

5 WRs is a lot, and Gus is a sucker for talent versus need.

Also seems to be the most volatile position (or was with DCraig), so if you can get that kind of quality depth then I’m fine with it

---

quote:

---

Zakoby

---

quote:

---

Top WR calls Iron Bowl ‘best Auburn game’ he’s attended

Few prospects have been at Auburn more the last two years than Justyn Ross. He’s one of the most familiar faces on the Plains for college football Saturdays. Ross knows the Jordan-Hare environment as well or better than any other prospect in the Class of 2018.

Even the laid-back Ross left the stadium Saturday in awe of the performance and atmosphere.

“Oh, it was great,” he said. “It was probably the best Auburn game I’ve been to.”

That’s saying something for someone who has been to so many, but it’s also an indication of the progression the Tigers have made over the last two seasons.

Auburn has always been considered a serious contender for Ross because of the proximity to his home in Phenix City. But he’s grown quite fond of Clemson on his unofficial visits to the program, as well as his official visit there earlier this month. Clemson’s wide-open passing game that gets multiple wide receivers involved has been the major draw for Ross.

As he’s watched Auburn’s season, Ross has seen some serious development in that regard on the Plains.

“I believe they can pass. Auburn, they’ve been rolling this year,” Ross said. “I don’t want to say they don’t trust their receivers, but they don’t have that big, deep-threat receiver. They can get stuff up under the defense, but I don’t think they can go over the top as much.”

Hence his patience because — in addition to Seth Williams — Ross feels like he can be that option for Auburn.

While others, myself included, have labeled Clemson as Ross’ destination, Ross has suggested all along that his three main schools can all get involved. He’s already taken an official visit to Clemson. Ross confirmed over the weekend that he’ll only take two more official visits, to Auburn and Alabama.

So, in Ross’ mind, nothing has changed. He doesn’t have a leader, and the two in-state schools still have a shot.

“I don’t know for sure. I can’t tell you [who is leading] because I don’t know. But Auburn, they’re in it,” he said.

It’s still a National Signing Day decision for Ross.

Does that create an issue when it comes to spots left in the class? My sources are telling me no. While the Tigers feel great about the three they already have, and it’s possible Schwartz jumps in the class sooner than expected, Auburn would be willing to take a fifth receiver on National Signing Day as long as that wide receiver is Ross.

I’m assuming all three programs have Ross in the must-take category come signing day — regardless of how the rest of their classes shake out.

---