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

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He has gotten a ton of heat for no reason IMO. Kids will listen to a former 5* who knows how the game is played.

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Pleasant Grove's Myles Mason thought he had his top schools narrowed down to three - Alabama, Auburn and Florida State.

But a recent visit and offer from LSU made him take a step back. Mason, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound four-star athlete who is being recruited at receiver and safety, isn't in a rush to make a commitment.

Mason now has a top five of Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Clemson and LSU.

He was an Alabama fan growing up, but realizes his college decision is more about business. Alabama and Florida State are recruiting Mason as an athlete, while LSU, Clemson and Auburn like Mason, a starter since his freshman year, in the secondary.

A starter since his freshman year at Pleasant Grove, Mason is undecided on where he wants to play in college, but says he's leaning toward safety.

"He is very athletic," Pleasant Grove coach Jim Elgin said. "He runs very well. His agility and ball skills are very good. He has a good football IQ. He gets it. He brings a lot of different things to the table. You've got kids who are big and fast who can do certain things. Myles has the ability to do a lot of different things.

"Some of them are definitely looking at him as a defensive back, but he can play receiver and be a slot guy. At times he's been our running back and at times he's been our quarterback."

Mason said he's spending this spring building relationships with coaches and making visits. He has been to Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and LSU, and will go to Auburn's spring game on April 8.

LSU is the most recent offer.

"I went up there for a Junior Day," Mason said. "They looked at my highlight tape and said they were very interested and offered me. I loved their campus, coaches and really loved their DB (defensive back) coach, Coach (Corey) Raymond, and their history with DBs."

Here's the low-down on how Mason feels about his other top schools. He'll also visit Georgia soon, so that could expand his recruitment more.

Alabama: Mason said that departed assistant Mario Cristobal was recruiting him harder before he left for Oregon, but he's building a relationship with new area recruiter Brent Key. Mason has been to Alabama numerous times and will continue to visit Alabama.

Auburn: Area recruiter Rodney Garner is recruiting Mason pretty hard, he said. "They say they're really interested in me. They think I'm a good fit for them."

Florida State: Mason said he felt like home on a trip to FSU. "Their coaches and their food was great. I loved the seafood."

Clemson: "I liked it. Their football and their campus is top notch. The head coach (Dabo Swinney), I like him. He's a real down-to-earth guy."

Mason said all the schools are even. The schools that recruit him as an athlete say they'll let him make a choice on where he wants to start his career out.

Mason is looking at a summer commitment, but will extend that timeline if he's not ready to make a decision yet.

"Since I got the offer from LSU, it kind of opened up some things," Mason said. "(I'm looking for) a place where I can have the biggest impact early on, and a place that can develop me for the next level on and off the field, and a place where I feel at home."

Mason had 84 tackles last year on defense, and didn't come off the field much on either side of the ball.

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Cal grad transfer Aaron Cochran is taking an official visit to Auburn Friday through Sunday, AL.com has confirmed. 247Sports was first to report the news.

The 6-foot-8, 350-pound offensive tackle from Atwater, Calif., will be eligibly to play immediately this fall as a grad transfer. He has narrowed his choices to Auburn, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech according to ESPN's Jake Trotter. Cochran had three offensive line coaches in four years at Cal including Brandon Jones, who is now at Texas Tech.

Auburn two offensive tackles in the 2017 recruiting cycle -- five-star prospect Calvin Ashley and four-star Austin Troxell.

Cochran was a three-star prospect and the nation's No. 39 offensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite when he signed with California in 2013. After a redshirt he appeared 28 games for the Bears with 16 starts before announcing his intentions to transfer last month.

Ten of Cochran's starts came last season at left tackle as Cochran helped Cal's offense rank fourth nationally in passing offense, No. 10 in total offense, No. 22 in scoring offense and No. 23 in sacks allowed.

Cochran is the second grad transfer to take an official visit to the Plains this month. Former Texas Tech defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko visited March 5.

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QUARTERBACKS

Bo Nix, Pinson, Ala. -- Auburn offered the son of former Tigers quarterback Patrick Nix last June. He is a 2019 prospect.

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WIDE RECEIVERS

Justyn Ross, Phenix City, Ala. -- Ross is ranked as the No. 1 overall player in Alabama by the 247Sports Composite. He will begin narrowing down his list of offers this summer.

Seth Williams, Cottondale, Ala. -- Williams is right in Alabama's back yard, but Auburn is in the mix.

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DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Ka'Darian Hill, Eufaula, Ala. -- Auburn was the first SEC school to offer Hill.

Brenton Cox Jr., Stockbridge, Ga. -- Georgia is considered the front-runner for the four-star prospect.

Coynis Miller, Birmingham, Ala. -- Miller is a top target of both Auburn and Alabama. He is the former teammate of 2017 Auburn signee T.D. Moultry.

D'Andre Litaker, Murfreesboro, Tenn. -- Auburn is in the mix, but Tennessee might be tough to beat.

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DEFENSIVE BACKS

Myles Sims, Atlanta, Ga. -- Sims holds more than 30 offers, and Auburn was the first.

Juanyeh Thomas, Niceville, Fla. -- Thomas is the former teammate of Auburn sophomore receiver Eli Stove. He holds offers from Auburn, Florida A&M, Georgia Tech, South Alabama, Southern Miss and UCF.

Otis Reese, Leesburg, Ga. -- Reese is committed to Michigan, but Auburn offered in February.

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