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

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If we were to throw the word need around in Auburn recruiting, offensive line would be the place to start.

The Tigers only took three offensive linemen in the 2017 class. None of them — Calvin Ashley, Nick Brahms and Austin Troxell — saw time as true freshmen, though they’re all expected to have promising sophomore opportunity. In the early signing period, Kam Stutts and Jalil Irvin were the only linemen to ink with the 2018 class.

Auburn has work to do on that front in January.

With Stutts and Irvin as interior linemen, it would make sense to add another interior guy plus a pair of tackles, or even three if scholarship spots allowed it. Trey Hill was the clear-cut No. 1 offensive guard option for the Tigers leading up to the early signing period. That plan was stymied by Georgia, and it forced Auburn to re-assess what it wants to do at offensive guard.

To me, the easy option at guard is Tank Jenkins.

It’s been a back-and-forth recruitment for the big man from Montgomery, Ala.

He is receiving love from Oklahoma, Louisville and Ole Miss, as well. But Jenkins has always seemed like a prospect that would end up in the Tigers’ class. My sources have said the Tigers have wavered on Jenkins at times. But the fact of the matter is Jenkins has the physical ability to dominate at the college level. With the need along the offensive line, it seems like the right match.

The offensive tackle conversation is a slightly more complicated. There are more options, but less certainties.

Nicholas Petit-Frere, William Barnes, Richard Gouraige, Dylan Wonnum and Jalen Goss are the prime five to monitor right now. But again, if Auburn is only able to hit on one of that group, don’t rule out the possibility for the Tigers to find another diamond-in-the-rough type they’ve kept warm throughout the recruiting process.

With that said, I think the Tigers sit in solid position for Gouraige, Wonnum and Goss. Barnes could be one the Tigers steal away late with the final official visit. As for Petit-Frere, he’s a tough read. But if Auburn manages to get him on campus, anything can happen and the Tigers couldn’t be ruled out given their immediate need at tackle.

If Auburn can haul in Jenkins and a tandem of Gouraige-Wonnum-Barnes-Goss, it may not be necessary to go the grad transfer route. However, Auburn’s success and attempt to hit the grad-transfer market on the offensive line next year might be an indication of how the Tigers plan to work going forward.

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Auburn landed a cornerstone commitment on Wednesday when 4-star quarterback Bo Nix joined the Class of 2019.

The Pinson Valley (Ala.) signal caller chose Auburn over Ohio State and Clemson via another iconic AL.com commitment video. Nix’s commitment moved the Tigers up 22 spots in the 247Sports composite team rankings — to No. 17.

Here are five things you should know about Auburn’s newest commit:

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2. Bo Nix joins another in-state standout in Auburn’s 2019 class.

Nix wasn’t the first to join the class.

Hoover (Ala.) wide receiver George Pickens will be a nice target for Nix at Auburn. Pickens has been committed to Auburn since last spring. He joined his high school wide receiver teammate Shedrick Jackson, who committed within a few weeks of one another last summer.

The one-two combo of Nix and Pickens gets Auburn’s offensive recruiting off to a fast start for 2019.

Nix’s stats in 2017 (with midseason injury): 196-of-307 passing for 2,872 yards, 36 passing touchdowns and 4 rushing touchdowns.

Pickens’ stats in 2018: 47 catches, 754 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns, 18 returns, 289 return yards and 2 return touchdowns.

That’s a lethal combination to kick off the 2019 class.

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4. Bo Nix always wanted to build the class around him.

This was always the time Nix wanted to close down his recruitment.

“Probably between the seasons this year and next year,” he told SEC Country previously. “I want to have a good experience with the recruitment and have fun. I’m not going to push anything too soon. But it’s obviously extremely important to get in soon enough to build around me. I’m just trying to have a good relationship with guys in this class.”

Nix hinted at the Future 50 last week in Orlando, Fla., that his decision process was coming to an end.

He isn’t the first to joint the class — that distinction goes to Pickens — but he’s No. 2. It’s early enough in the recruiting process that Nix will be the face of the class for the rest of the cycle.

Nix can end up as the top-ranked prospect in the state for 2019, so this is a big momentum piece for the Tigers.

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With the College Football Playoff complete, it’s time for every program in the country to turn its full attention to recruiting.

The dead period ends Thursday, which means the remaining unsigned or uncommitted targets will be hit with full force as they’re able to visit college campuses and coaching staffs are able to visit them. Auburn will host its first set of official visitors beginning Friday, and it’s expected to be a busy weekend. I’ll have an updated list on Friday, but we can take an early look at who is expected in town.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see more names added to this list:

4-star offensive tackle Dylan Wonnum
4-star running back Harold Joiner
4-star defensive tackle Coynis Miller
4-star running back Shaun Shivers
4-star wide receiver Anthony Schwartz
3-star offensive lineman Jalil Irvin
3-star athlete Cam Taylor
3-star cornerback Roger McCreary

There are a couple takeaways from that list that make for entertaining weekend storylines.

Wonnum is the first of three elite offensive tackles — William Barnes and Richard Gouraige are the others — who will take an official visit in January. He might be the least likely of the bunch to choose Auburn. Then again, he’s the only one of the three who has outright called the Tigers his leader during the recruiting process. He’s close friends with Irvin, who also will visit despite signing already.

What’s the deal with Harold Joiner? That’s the question coming into this one. He recruitment has had its fair share of twists and turns, but Auburn has remained a constant. As Auburn assesses whether to take a third running back, Joiner will be the first to be evaluated on an official visit. Kavosiey Smoke will come later in the month.

Auburn has to figure out something at cornerback if it misses on all of its top-rated targets. Taylor and McCreary are two of the more likely in-state possibilities. The staff will get its eyes on both of them early this month. Taylor hasn’t been offered, but McCreary picked up an offer more than a month ago.

And lastly, the Tigers’ primary goal will be to find certainty that Schwartz and Miller are locked in once and for all, even though they won’t be permitted to sign until Feb. 7.

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What Auburn will be up against for Justyn Ross

There are several prospects Auburn hopes to reel in by National Signing Day.

Justyn Ross, however, stands head and shoulders above the rest on that list.

The No. 1 prospect in Alabama per the 247Sports composite rarely leaves the state. And so far in January, he has just two visits set up — to the in-state schools. Alabama is on Jan. 19 and Auburn is Jan. 26. Ross already took his official visit to Clemson which, for part of his process, has been the perceived favorite for his services.

Ross hasn’t ever labeled a public leader himself, but he acknowledged why the belief is out there that Clemson is his favorite.

“I see it all the time. That’s not the case. People just say it because I’ve said Clemson is the best visit I’ve been on. That’s not the case, though. It was the best environment I’ve ever been in for a game. They have a nice environment up there,” Ross said. “[Clemson’s NFL draft reputation at receiver], it affects me a lot because as a receiver, as a player period, you’re going to want to go to the league. As I’ve seen Coach (Jeff) Scott, he develops players to go to the league. That helps Clemson out a lot.”

But Auburn and Alabama won’t go away quietly.

The Tigers have four wide receivers already in the 2018 class — Shedrick Jackson, Seth Williams, Matthew Hill and Anthony Schwartz. Ross is the clear-cut No. 1 the Tigers want to join them, though Ja’Marr Chase will take an official visit this month, too.

Alabama has been on the outside looking in, but the Crimson Tide have a new selling point. The number of true freshmen who took over in the national championship game give prospects new hope of early playing opportunities in Tuscaloosa.

Crimson Tide have improved in Ross’ mind throughout the season and he will certainly keep an eye on them.

“We talk almost like every week. Just that they have the new OC [Brian Daboll] and are throwing the ball around a lot more. They don’t have a receiver of my size. That’s it really,” Ross said. “I feel like they’ve gotten a lot better since they’ve gotten Coach Daboll. I feel like they’ve been throwing the ball around a lot more.”

Florida is a program that could work its way in for an official visit: “It’s a possibility,” Ross said. But don’t expect it. Ross won’t narrow it down further than Auburn, Alabama and Clemson, but those have been the three constants from start to finish.

Now it’s time for Ross to weigh the pros and cons.

At Clemson, he has something new. He has a quarterback relationship with Trevor Lawrence. It’s the place where he’s most enjoyed the environment. And there’s the receiver draft history. At Alabama, he can go to the defending national champions and join his close high school friend — Markail Benton who gives the Tide a rave review. He can add a wide receiver dimension to an offense losing Calvin Ridley. At Auburn, he can stay close to home. He can join an offense inspired the throw the ball more with new, incoming talent.

Ross will rely on his family for those decisions. His mother and grandma will let Ross choose his own destination, even if they have their own preferences.

“It’ll be just sitting down and talking to my family about it,” Ross said. “Grandma wants me anywhere in the state of Alabama. My mom, she likes Clemson a lot. Really, she likes all the schools, but at the end of the day, I’ll have to pick one. We haven’t really talked about it. If [my grandma] were to say that to me, I’d just ask her why. I’d have to measure out the reasons between her and my mom.”

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That other guy who we converted from another position whom everyone talks so highly about

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3) Malik Miller

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