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

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4-star OT signee Jalil Irvin, Stone Mountain, Ga.

- Jalil Irvin already signed with the Tigers during the early signing period, so his official visit was more of a formality than anything. You can see it in Irvin’s face when you talk with him that he can’t wait to get on campus and officially start his college career at Auburn. Seeing fellow class members enroll early only reinforced that feeling.
- Much of Irvin’s work on campus this weekend was as a recruiter. One of his close friends Dylan Wonnum was on his official visit, as well. Wonnum’s family and Irvin’s family know one another from growing up in the Stephenson school district. Those two spent a lot of time with one another on this trip. Irvin feels like Auburn is in better shape for Wonnum than many think, but he knows South Carolina and Tennessee are real threats.
- Irvin has made the mutual decision with Auburn to pursue a college career as a center. There’s an open competition there right now, and Irvin will be a part of it leading up to the 2018 season. Irvin’s primary high school focus has been at offensive guard, but he’s eager for the opportunity to play with the ball in his hand.

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3-star DB Roger McCreary, Mobile, Ala.

- Roger McCreary said he came close to committing during his official visit to Auburn. But, after talking it over with his mother, it makes sense to wait until he takes his official visits to Alabama and Tennessee before making a decision. Still, McCreary had a big smile come across his face when initially asked about his visit. -
Without hesitation, he said Auburn was his new No. 1.
- McCreary will officially visit Alabama next weekend and Tennessee the weekend after that. He doesn’t expect to wait until National Signing Day. After McCreary takes his Tennessee official visit, he thinks he’ll be ready to make a decision.
- McCreary spent a lot of time with a trio of coaches — Kevin Steele, Greg Brown and Marcus Woodson. They made it clear to him they want him, but they aren’t going to pressure him to make his commitment. Since his recruitment took off recently, the Auburn staff told him they completely understand his desire to wait.

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4-star WR commit Anthony Schwartz, Plantation, Fla.

- This was Anthony Schwartz’s first visit to Auburn since commitment, and he threw out an ear-to-ear smile and the word “home” in his first interview. Schwartz left this official visit more convinced than ever that he made the right college choice when he announced it on ESPN2 a few weeks ago.
- Schwartz said he’d been feeling Auburn was the school of choice since visiting for the Iron Bowl. He told coaches on an in-home visit shortly after the Iron Bowl that he would commit to the Tigers at the Under Armour All-America Game.
- Speak of that all-star game, Schwartz was fleeced by other Auburn commits throughout the week at that game. Joey Gatewood, Quindarious Monday, Matthew Hill and Coynis Miller were in his ear throughout the week and made it too tough of a decision to pass up.
- There will be a lot of this throughout the spring, but Schwartz and Shaun Shivers had a funny back-and-forth about this upcoming track season. The two of them will compete against each other regularly the next couple months in the south Florida track circuit.
- Schwartz doesn’t think he’ll take any more visit. He said before his commitment that he might take official visits to both of the schools in consideration — Auburn and Florida — but it doesn’t look like the Gators will receive an official visit at this time.

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3-star OT signee Kam Stutts, Killen, Ala.

- Kam Stutts was one of the early signees who took his official visit this weekend. He already knows what he’s getting from Auburn and nothing is changing on that front, so this weekend was more just an opportunity to explore the academic side.
- Stutts is also an active recruiter in this class. He spent some time with Harold Joiner and Dylan Wonnum who were the two recruits Stutts keyed in on during this official visit weekend.
- The most intriguing things on Stutts have nothing to do with his visit, though. He didn’t enroll early because he still has some unfinished athletic business at the high school level. Stutts is playing for his high school basketball team that is currently 17-0. He also has hopes to repeat as a state champion in the shot put.

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3-star ATH Nathaniel Watson, Maplesville, Ala.

- Nathaniel Watson said he’s still committed to Mississippi State, but he’s considering two other programs — Auburn and Ole Miss. Mississippi State hasn’t been clear about whether it wants Watson as a wide receiver or safety. Auburn continues to recruit him at both positions. Ole Miss wants him to play wide receiver.
- While Auburn looks at him as a tight end/receiver and safety/linebacker, it’s worth noting most of the attention Watson got during his visit was from the defensive staff. Kevin Steele & Co. have always had interest in Watson. With that said, Watson made it clear it’s still his preference to play on the offensive side of the ball.
- Watson doesn’t expect his recruitment go all the way to National Signing Day. Once he gets through the Ole Miss visit in a couple weeks — and has a few more conversations with Auburn and Mississippi State coaches — Watson expects to come to a final decision.

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4-star OT Dylan Wonnum, Tucker, Ga.

- Wonnum declined interviews following his visit. That isn’t necessarily surprising, but I’ll try to find more information on him. South Carolina has been considered the team to beat for much of the process, mainly because his brother, D.J., is on the Gamecocks.
- Two recruits gave their input on Wonnum after their visits. Irvin and Wonnum have grown up friends. Harris plays on the same high school team as Wonnum. Both of them are taking a sense of optimism, but not supreme confidence, when it comes to the 4-star offensive tackle.
- Wonnum will take visits to South Carolina and Tennessee, too. The Gamecocks are the one to watch.

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