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Posted on 3/20/17 at 12:24 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
quote:
Rivals had him a 5* QB in 2007.
Gotcha so maybe the comparison isn't as solid as I thought
Posted on 3/20/17 at 12:54 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
VERSATILE FUTURE If Auburn quarterback commitment Joey Gatewood doesn’t work out as a quarterback, he could certainly be a massive and athletic tight end. Gatewood had a good day throwing the ball, so it’s not like he’s regressing, but splitting time in high school and concerns about his development have been the topic of discussion for some. While I think quarterback is his future, it will be hard for me to find a better looking kid on the hoof when scouting tight ends this spring.
THat doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 1:24 pm to AUtigR24
Gatewood is 2018 recruit. In theory his first season of play as a starter would be 2021 if Stidham stays 2 years and Woody works out. Plenty of time for him to play next year in HS and then come along.
BTW just typing that makes me feel old.
BTW just typing that makes me feel old.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 2:37 pm to TigerPaw1
I mean it isn't an awful comparison when we are looking at the physical tools of both, but Cam was a much more accomplished passer than Gatewood is. Sky is the limit for him, but he has a long way to go to develop as a passer.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 2:54 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
He needs time and good coaching. If we give em both I think he can be a monster in our offense. Neither one of those are guarantees tho
Problem for him might be Bo Nix. He's going to enter AU a 4 year high school starter playing in an RPO system. He's gonna be real hard to beat out in a few years if he comes to AU. Gatewood's senior year will be very interesting. Do his coaches allow him to become the guy? Or do they continue to use him as a do it all with a few QB snaps each game
Problem for him might be Bo Nix. He's going to enter AU a 4 year high school starter playing in an RPO system. He's gonna be real hard to beat out in a few years if he comes to AU. Gatewood's senior year will be very interesting. Do his coaches allow him to become the guy? Or do they continue to use him as a do it all with a few QB snaps each game
Posted on 3/20/17 at 3:07 pm to TigerPaw1
Can I say that I am a little skittish at giving Gus too may options with a player.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 3:31 pm to JRoweMDN
quote:
Gatewood is 2018 recruit. In theory his first season of play as a starter would be 2021
He should never start for us if the offense goes the way Chip wants it to go.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 3:38 pm to AUtigR24
Stidham > Willis > Nix is gonna be the path for the foreseeable future
Posted on 3/20/17 at 5:08 pm to TheSandman
Stidham > Willis > Nix is gonna be the path for the foreseeable future,,,
mmmm...you don't see Barrett in this mix over the next 3-5 years?
mmmm...you don't see Barrett in this mix over the next 3-5 years?
Posted on 3/20/17 at 5:51 pm to AuSteeler
Let's not count our chickens before they hatch. Woody is quite confident also. We just don't know who will be our QB.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 6:31 pm to AUtigR24
quote:
THat doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies.
It does in that if he doesn't work out at QB, he'd be an excellent TE. It would be dumb to offer him as TE though. That's just asking for him to look elsewhere. I hope that we continue to give our QB inspiring athletes a shot, and if they don't pan out, let them see for themselves that they're not going to work out at QB.
I really think that Gatewood not starting his junior year is overblown though. He's got the skills to be special and if Stidham works out, we won't need him right off the bat anyway.
This post was edited on 3/20/17 at 6:35 pm
Posted on 3/20/17 at 6:45 pm to AuSteeler
Would love to be wrong as long as it's a benefit, haha, but I've never been high on him.
But I've been saying Willis is the truth since he committed
But I've been saying Willis is the truth since he committed
Posted on 3/20/17 at 7:14 pm to TheSandman
Elite receiver Jacob Copeland has strong bond with Auburn assistant (AL.com)
quote:
Auburn had success with Florida panhandle receivers two years ago, signing Eli Stove and Marquis McClain.
The Tigers are right in the thick of things with another elite receiver in the area for this year's class in Jacob Copeland from Pensacola.
The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Copeland is ranked as the No. 45 prospect nationally and No. 9 receiver recruit per the 247Sports composite. He's the No. 10 prospect in Florida.
Copeland said Sunday at the New Orleans Opening Regional that Auburn was one of his top schools along with Miami, Clemson, Florida and North Carolina.
The biggest reason is receivers coach Kodi Burns.
"Kodi Burns, he played there," Copeland said. "It's not all about football with him. He's always asking me about school. He's like a big brother or father figure. He always wants me to stay focused. Everything will always be good with me and him, no matter where I go to school."
Copeland caught 29 passes for 516 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 215 yards and three touchdowns for Pine Forest (Fla.) last season, but recently transferred to Escambia High School for his senior year.
Copeland said Auburn likes him as a slot receiver.
"Coach Burns, he wants me to succeed everywhere I go," Copeland said. "That's why I can relate to him. He said it doesn't matter if you go to Auburn, I want you to succeed. You've got a skillset that can make you money.
"I'm trying to see the big picture degree-wise. I love the game, but this is a decision for a lifetime."
Copeland said he has been to Auburn "three or four times" and hopes to visit for the spring game on April 9.
He'll have a different offense to look at with new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey running the show and former Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham in a battle for the starting job.
"I'm trying to check and see how their offense is now that they have Coach Lindsey," Copeland said. "I want to see what they are going to look like passing-wise.
"That's one of the things that I'm trying to see, how (Stidham is) going to do, check them out and see how they're going to pass the ball around."
Copeland said he plans to make his commitment at the Under Armour All-American Game, which will be sometime around the start of the new year.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 7:16 pm to TigerPaw1
Auburn in the mix for Louisiana lineman Cameron Wire (AL.com)
quote:
After picking up an offer from Auburn last month, Cameron Wire is planning his second trip to the Plains.
"I love (Auburn offensive line) Coach (Herb) Hand and his o-line coaching techniques," Wire told AL.com's Drew Champlin last weekend at Nike's The Opening Regional camp in New Orleans. "He said I can come in (and play) as a freshman."
Auburn offered Wire Feb. 17, and he said the news made him "very excited." He plans on attending an upcoming Junior Day on campus and possibly the A-Day spring scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium April 8.
The 6-foot-6, 270-pound offensive tackle at East Ascension in Gonzalez, La., has only been to Auburn once for a camp during his sophomore year.
"It got me a whole lot better," he said. "Coach Hand is a really great coach."
According to his 247Sports profile, Wire has received 30 total offers. In addition to Auburn, he said Baylor, Texas, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Oregon and Arizona are standing out. He plans on revealing his top contenders this summer and making a commitment before the his senior football season begins.
What is he looking for in a school?
"Where I can come in and have a big impact my freshman year and potentially get better throughout the year and potentially go to the draft," he said.
Auburn picked up its first offensive line commitment of the 2018 recruiting cycle March 8 when four-star guard Jalil Irvin gave his pledge to the Tigers. The Tigers signed three 2017 offensive linemen in February -- tackles Calvin Ashley and Austin Troxell and guard Nick Brahms.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 7:21 pm to TigerPaw1
Fast-rising in-state defensive standout Andres Fox restructures top 3 to include Auburn rival (SECCountry)
Sounds like we still lead with Fox. I am still skeptical we pull him but it does sound like being the first real offer meant a lot similar to Jalyn Armour-Davis. Wonder if Bama's pickiness coming back to bite them some here. Won't matter unless they actually do follow through and sign with AU but definitely interesting early storyline
quote:
Andres Fox restructures top list
On the first of the month, Andres Fox chopped down the list of schools recruiting him. The 6-foot-5 defensive end from Mobile (Ala.) released a list of six schools that included Auburn, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Florida and Southern Cal.
He hinted others were still recruiting him, but that he wanted to begin to focus solely on the aforementioned six.
Then LSU, who hadn’t recruited Fox much, emerged as another contender. Fox took a day trip to Baton Rouge, which earned him an offer.
It also realigned Fox’s top list of schools, something for Auburn — a potential favorite — to keep an eye on.
“LSU was a little late, but they’re in there … They’re in the top 3 with Alabama and Auburn,” Fox told SEC Country’s Sam Spiegelman at the Nike Opening camp in New Orleans.
Fox isn’t likely to leave the state of Alabama.
The Tigers and the Crimson Tide are both chasing the pass rusher. He’s near the top of both teams’ recruiting boards. Auburn became the first to initiate serious contact, and that relationship has only grown since the end of the 2016 season when communication started picking up with regularity.
But the LSU visit made those Tigers a new factor for Auburn to worry about.
“I just talked with Coach O (Ed Orgeron) and (defensive line coach) Pete Jenkins. They introduced me to the whole staff,” Fox said. “He showed me that he works with a lot of great players. I feel like he’d make me a first rounder.”
Aside from that wrinkle in the top group, everything else remains the same for Fox.
Auburn and Alabama are still the most likely destinations. In fact, according to multiple sources close to Fox’s recruitment, Auburn is in the safest place because of how long it’s recruited him. That first-in-the-boat relationship has given the Tigers a slight edge over even the Crimson Tide, who Fox grew up rooting for.
Fox admits as much.
“They’re the first ones. They watched me play after the state championship when I played in their stadium, too, and we started building a great relationship,” Fox said.
Fox remains one of the more underrated prospects in the nation, but his offer sheet — and the efforts of the recruiting schools — show he’s one of the hottest defensive end commodities in the Southeast.
Timaje Porter explains change of plans
It was set to be a big Friday for Auburn defensive tackle target Timaje Porter. The big day remains near, just not as close as originally planned.
Porter opted to push back his commitment date — which was set for March 24 — after his weekend visit to Baton Rouge, which conveniently matched up with his trip for the Nike Opening camp in New Orleans. Porter originally planned to choose between Auburn and LSU. That decision hasn’t changed, but he wants more time to make that choice.
“Really just the visit opened my eyes that there’s more out there than what the schools look like. It’s a process. I feel like I need to get more acquainted with both schools,” Porter told Spiegelman. “I’ll still make my decision more sooner than later. If it’s not the spring, it’ll still be the summer.”
Porter received an offer from LSU over the weekend. That capped off a successful visit with head coach Ed Oregeron and defensive line coach Pete Jenkins.
All in all, he enjoyed the trip to Louisiana.
“It was perfect, everything about it. Have you tasted LSU food? I don’t know what they do to their food, but it’s different than Alabama, man,” Porter said. “But time with Coach O and Pete Jenkins went real well.”
Sounds like we still lead with Fox. I am still skeptical we pull him but it does sound like being the first real offer meant a lot similar to Jalyn Armour-Davis. Wonder if Bama's pickiness coming back to bite them some here. Won't matter unless they actually do follow through and sign with AU but definitely interesting early storyline
Posted on 3/20/17 at 7:24 pm to TigerPaw1
Nigerian linebacker Richard Jibunor narrows in on favorites with Auburn in safe position (SECCountry)
Awesome article. Makes me want to land this kid anymore. How crazy is it that two kids that knew each other in Nigeria might end up playing college football in America together?
quote:
Richard Jibunor tries to call his mother at least once a day.
Sometimes it takes some schedule-bending — with the time difference between Athens, Ga., and Nigeria — but it’s a necessary piece of daily therapy for Jibunor. He calls to catch up on school, family, church, life and, of course, Jibunor’s blossoming recruitment.
“I talk to her every day. The time difference here is about six hours. I get to call her a few times when school is out. Over the weekend we spend three hours on the phone just goofing around,” Jibunor said. “I left her at such a young age, and she’s not getting phone calls of me in trouble. She’s getting calls of good news and what the future has, so the whole recruiting process is a good thing. It’s a good feeling.”
To help her son escape religious crisis, Jibunor’s mother found Athens Christian School through a foreign exchange program when he was 14 years old. He left before his freshman year of high school and hasn’t been able to return to see his parents or younger brother.
Much has changed since then.
Jibunor has become a high-priority target for all the top schools in the Southeast. Recruitment for this 6-foot-4, 206-pound linebacker kicked off the summer between his freshman and sophomore years — before he’d ever played a competitive down of football — when he started his camp tour.
In short order, Jibunor launched to the top of recruiting boards for Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and others. He can rep 285 pounds on bench press with ease and feels slighted when a 40-yard dash time only shows a 4.5 or 4.6 on his first run. Now a 3-star prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings, Jibunor is a linebacker coach’s dream.
Two coaches, in particular, stick out the most to Jibunor when he talks about his process.
“I have a very close relationship with coach T-Will (Auburn LB coach Travis Williams). Coach Jeremy Pruitt from Alabama. Those two guys, I’m in a really good relationship with them so far,” Jibunor said. “Everybody is telling me how much they love me. Alabama checks on me a lot. Auburn checks on me a lot.”
Jibunor is the No. 728 overall prospect in the nation in the 247 rankings, but that’s a deceiving number.
He hasn’t been evaluated as long as many other prospects. The better sign of Jibunor’s ability is the clout of the specific programs — Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, etc. — that covet him. Jibunor is impressed with the pitch from all the schools, but he knows it’s time to start narrowing his options. He wants to have a final decision before his senior season.
He’s starting to get a better idea of his favorites — with Auburn near the top.
“I’m really hoping to make my decision. I’m trying to get my recruitment over. It’s a lot. I’m really hoping to make my commitment before my senior year,” Jibunor said. “I feel like I’m getting to the point where I’m figuring out one of the schools I might land, but I haven’t really decided where yet. I just have a few schools where I really feel a lot of love from and really like the campus.”
Relationship with Auburn coaches stands out
Jibunor will return to the Plains this week for his second unofficial visit of the month. He visited for Auburn’s junior day on March 4. He’ll have more personalized time with Williams and the rest of Auburn’s staff when he comes back.
The Tigers have already started to establish themselves as the perceived leaders, even though Jibunor doesn’t want to name any specific schol at this time.
“I know I like Auburn a lot. Anytime I step on a campus, I always feel great, but especially at Auburn,” Jibunor said. “Every time I step to Auburn, I feel like a champion. I feel like that’s the place for me. I still have to take my time, but for now I really like Auburn.”
Unlike most places, Auburn recruits Jibunor with more than just a position coach. Sure, Williams leads the charge for the Tigers, but he’s not the only one. In fact, plenty of the Auburn coaches have tried to, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, lure Jibunor away from the linebacker position.
Defensive line coach Rodney Garner was one of the first to try it. Jibunor came to Auburn for a camp more than a year ago and all of the coaches were blown away by his raw athletic ability. Garner wanted to test Jibunor’s skill set as a pass rusher.
“Coach Garner took me to defensive ends to go up against some big offensive linemen who are now big recruits in the nation. I went against them with no moves or anything. But it was fun, and I did pretty good. Since then, coach Garner has always told me he wants me to play defensive end,” Jibunor said.
Auburn coaches talked with Jibunor about safety, linebacker, Buck defensive end, even tight end and wide receiver. But Jibunor knows linebacker or pass rusher is his calling, which is why he regularly studies the tape of his NFL idol Von Miller.
Because of his position, Williams is the primary recruiter for Jibunor, as has been the case with most linebackers for the past two seasons. With his family still in Nigeria, Jibunor regularly searches for father figures and role models in his daily life, so that he can replicate that behavior to younger players at Athens Christian.
Williams is prime example No. 1, Jibunor said. His take on Auburn’s linebacker coach is a must-read.
“Trying to be a better man and working hard to become better, I see T-Will as a symbol of hard work,” Jibunor said. “For his size, to play at the college level and do what he did and have the ability to go pro. That’s an example of hard work. That’s not something that’s common for someone that size. He worked hard. When he tells you things, he’s not telling you what he thinks. He tells you what he knows.”
Special home feeling
People who visit Auburn like to talk about the family environment.
For Jibunor, it’s not literal, but it makes sense why it feels that way. There’s the connection with coaches, but it’s more than that. Jibunor doesn’t get to see much of his native Nigeria. He reconnects with the culture through music, which is what he listens to most during workouts and before games.
But there still isn’t much Nigeria in his daily life.
When he visits Auburn, that changes thanks to a familiar face — Prince Tega Wanogho.
Jibunor knew the Auburn offensive lineman before either left Nigeria, and he got to know Wanogho better once it became clear both would pursue college football. Jibunor relishes having that friendship on the Plains, which gives him a comfort with Auburn he doesn’t share many other places.
“Going to Auburn, I needed a place where I had a strong relationship with coaches and knew people. With Auburn, Tega has been there. They treat him well and everything. I went to the camp, and coaches told me how great Tega was doing. It was awesome because everything he was telling me was the same as what Tega was telling me, so I knew it was real,” Jibunor said. “He tells me everything that goes on. He’s someone who is like a big brother for me. It’s been years. We’ve known each other for a long time.”
Awesome article. Makes me want to land this kid anymore. How crazy is it that two kids that knew each other in Nigeria might end up playing college football in America together?
Posted on 3/20/17 at 7:26 pm to TigerPaw1
Luke Stampini on 247 has VIP article on 4* WR Jacob Copeland that has much of same info from other articles. Basically his relationship with Kodi Burns is one of the main reasons he's interested in AU along with fact he likes where program is headed. Has top group of Clemson, Florida, Auburn, North Carolina and Miami.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 7:35 pm to TigerPaw1
KN has article on some instate guys that are on AU's radar but don't have offers yet
4* DT Alfred Thomas
- AU plans on only taking 2 DTs this cycle and the top 2 targest are Breiden Fehoko and Coynis Miller. Also Daquan Newkirk could slide inside and play DT as well so AU is being picky at the DT spot. AU has told him to come to A-Day and come to a camp this summer. It sounds like if he does get AU offer he will commit
3* LB Le'Dedric Jackson
- Teammate of Alfred Thomas with 17 offers including LSU, Ole Miss and Southern Miss. AU has told him they plan on coming to evaluate him over the spring/summer. Enjoyed his recent visit and is really hoping for offer. Has a top group of LSU, Tennessee & Missouri who have all offered
3* DE Kelvin Stokes
- Doesn't have many offers at this time but lots of teams keeping an eye on him including AU. Tigers told him they likes his size and athleticism combo and plan to come visit him this spring. AU plans on taking 2 DEs this year with one possibly being a LB for the Buck spot (Richard Jibunor). Not clear if Stokes is a Buck or SDE target
So in a perfect world we sign a DL class of Breiden Fehoko (Texas Tech transfer), Coynis Miller, Andres Fox (Buck) & Daquan Newkirk with Richard Jibunor signing as an athlete able to player either Buck, DE or LB as well. If any of the DTs fall through Alfred Thomas probably becomes a target. Could also play SDE too. I imagine a lot will have to change for the other 2 to get offers but we will see
4* DT Alfred Thomas
- AU plans on only taking 2 DTs this cycle and the top 2 targest are Breiden Fehoko and Coynis Miller. Also Daquan Newkirk could slide inside and play DT as well so AU is being picky at the DT spot. AU has told him to come to A-Day and come to a camp this summer. It sounds like if he does get AU offer he will commit
3* LB Le'Dedric Jackson
- Teammate of Alfred Thomas with 17 offers including LSU, Ole Miss and Southern Miss. AU has told him they plan on coming to evaluate him over the spring/summer. Enjoyed his recent visit and is really hoping for offer. Has a top group of LSU, Tennessee & Missouri who have all offered
3* DE Kelvin Stokes
- Doesn't have many offers at this time but lots of teams keeping an eye on him including AU. Tigers told him they likes his size and athleticism combo and plan to come visit him this spring. AU plans on taking 2 DEs this year with one possibly being a LB for the Buck spot (Richard Jibunor). Not clear if Stokes is a Buck or SDE target
So in a perfect world we sign a DL class of Breiden Fehoko (Texas Tech transfer), Coynis Miller, Andres Fox (Buck) & Daquan Newkirk with Richard Jibunor signing as an athlete able to player either Buck, DE or LB as well. If any of the DTs fall through Alfred Thomas probably becomes a target. Could also play SDE too. I imagine a lot will have to change for the other 2 to get offers but we will see
Posted on 3/20/17 at 7:39 pm to TigerPaw1
Camp Chatter: What players were saying at Rivals 3 Stripe Orlando (Rivals)
Finally some Gatewood love
quote:
Every week, the Rivals analysts get to hand out their awards during the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp Series presented by adidas. This weekend, we let the players have their say on who they thought were tops at each position. Here's what they had to say.
quote:
ON THE BEST QUARTERBACK
"Joey Gatewood was throwing pretty well today. That's all I've seen so far." -- Amari Gainer, 4-star LB, Tallahassee (Fla.) Chiles
"I was catching a lot from Joe Milton. He was pretty good." -- Donnovan Moorer, 2020 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy WR
“Best quarterback is Michael Penix. The ball is always on point and he never underthrows you. If he misses, he always misses long.” -– Devondric Miller, Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby WR
“Joe Milton is really tall and he has a really strong arm and he’s really athletic,” -- Josiah Johnson, Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles QB
“Joey Gatewood. I like his arm and his vision and his arm placement.” -- Lorenzo Lingard, 5-star RB, Orange City (Fla.) University
“Joey Gatewood was good at putting it there. We talked before I ran my routes and he did a good job of adjusting based on the coverage.” – Justin Watkins, 4-star ATH, Ocala (Fla.) Vanguard
Finally some Gatewood love
quote:
ON THE BEST WIDE RECEIVER
"My boy Justin Watkins was the best wide receiver. He's very athletic and creates a lot of separation. That makes it easy for me." -- Joey Gatewood, 4-star QB, Jacksonville (Fla.) Bartram Trail
“First of all, Justin Watkins. I like throwing to all these guys but Watkins is the No. 1 guy. Donnovan Moorer was the best [underclassman] receiver. He's only a freshman and really little but he's good." -- Michael Penix, Jr. 3-star QB, Tampa Bay (Fla.) Tech
“Leonard Manuel is big and he has crazy speed. He was the best guy out here. He had the best routes by far.” -- Bryan Gagg, 2019 Sarasota, Fla. QB
“George Webb was very, very fast. I just threw the ball and he was able to get under it. I think he’s a Jacksonville guy, too, like me so it was fun throwing it to him.” -- Johnson
quote:
ON THE BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
"The best offensive lineman was William Barnes. He's just a great athlete. Me and him play the same position during the regular season but he's physical, athletic, and has good footwork." -- Devin Hayes, Orlando (Fla.) Jones DE
“Nick Lewis is a big dude, man. He was good. He’s huge and he moved alright.” – Willie Lane, Winter Haven, Fla. DE
“William Barnes was the best one I went against. He has long arms and quick feet so it’s hard to get around the edge on him, so I had to use different types of moves to get by him inside.” – Dennis Briggs, 3-star DE, Kissimmee (Fla.) Gateway
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