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

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Anthony Schwartz

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Cornerback commit readies for Auburn after OSU-Tennessee push

A Wednesday night in-home film session with Auburn defensive backs coach Greg Brown helped 4-star cornerback Christian Tutt realize he’d made the right decision.

Tutt committed to Auburn shortly after his official visit for the Georgia game. He cited early playing time and proximity to home as the primary reasons. Still, last-minute pushes from a pair of programs — Ohio State and Tennessee — had him thinking.

But Brown went to the Tutt household Wednesday and broke down why Tutt needs to suit up for the Auburn Tigers.

“Coach Brown was actually right here [Wednesday]. We were watching film and stuff, he was showing me where I was going to fit in this defense,” Tutt told SEC Country. “We watched some schemes, some snag, some of the concepts they do. They’re just trying to get me prepared, getting in tune, for when I get there.”

Tutt will be at Auburn in short order.

He confirmed to SEC Country on Wednesday he plans to move in this weekend along with a few other commits. Tutt and others will be on campus for bowl practices, so he’ll move in before he can sign next week. Any pushes from Ohio State and Tennessee have been nixed.

“Me and a couple of guys, we’re supposed to be actually going up Saturday and moving in so we can practice during bowl week. We can’t play or anything, but they want us to come up and practice during bowl week. So that’s what we’ll do,” Tutt said. “I’m ready to get all of this behind me. All this recruiting, it’s been hectic. I’m just ready to get out there with the guys and build relationships and all that.”

The Tigers had to fight until the end.

Ohio State had been around since the beginning. Urban Meyer & Co. visited Tutt during the in-home period, and he stayed in contact with former a Nebraska defensive backs coach — Tutt’s closest player-coach relationship — who was entertaining potential job opportunities elsewhere, including Ohio State, but that never came to fruition.

Tennessee also entered the mix when Jeremy Pruitt took the coaching job. Pruitt stayed in regular communication with Tutt’s father over the last few weeks.

Ultimately, Auburn was able to win out.

“Just those two, Ohio State and Tennessee. I’m still committed to Auburn. But they just stayed after me, because I haven’t signed those papers yet. So they’re still on me. They’re still recruiting me,” Tutt said.

In the end, Tutt’s reasoning for sticking with Auburn remained the same as when he committed.

Brown made the message clear that, especially if Carlton Davis leaves for the NFL, the Tigers will have a hole to fill at cornerback. He feels Tutt has the ability to step in to fill that void, and that’s what Tutt intends to do.

“The message I got from him was that there was a need for corners right now. He told me that this was the most perfect opportunity for me, because I’m the only corner committed, and I’m the only one coming in December,” Tutt said. “He doesn’t even know who is going to replace Carlton. So that’s why he said, ‘This is the perfect opportunity for you to come in and establish yourself and come and start.’ The whole front seven, they’re not going anywhere. They just need a little help in the back end. That’s why I’m trying to come in and compete for that starting job.”

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Auburn still monitoring in-state legacy Nathaniel Watson

The Tigers have a few of the best pass-catchers at the Alabama-Mississippi all-star game already in the class — wide receiver commits Seth Williams and Shedrick Jackson.

When it’s all said and done, they might not be the only prospects in the showcase who suit up for Auburn. Obviously 4-star wide receiver target Justyn Ross will be a top target for Auburn, Alabama and Clemson leading up to National Signing Day.

But there’s another in-state prospect to keep an eye on: 3-star athlete Nathaniel Watson, a Mississippi State commit.

Watson’s great uncle, Tommie Agee, and cousin, Harold Morrow, played for the Tigers. It’s not out of the question for Watson to do the same, but it’ll take a couple of dominoes to fall first.

Auburn is evaluating Watson as a potential tight end option.

The Tigers would like to take a tight end after missing on Alabama commit Michael Parker. They’re still in the game for 4-star tight end Luke Ford who will decide in January between Auburn and Georgia. If Auburn were to miss on Ford, Watson would likely be the go-to backup option.

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