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

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Going into his junior year, Pinson Valley quarterback Bo Nix's posture and demeanor resemble his father and coach, Auburn legacy Patrick Nix.

But to assume that the younger Nix will follow in his father's footsteps is far from a foregone conclusion.

Along with Auburn, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Nix, one of the nation's top prospects in the 2019 class, has offers from powerhouses Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, Tennessee, LSU, Florida State and others.

"I would think so (that they feel like they have a shot)," said Patrick, a quarterback at Auburn from 1992-95. "They're all wearing us out calling and everything else."

Patrick Nix was the hero of the 1993 Iron Bowl, coming on at quarterback for an injured Stan White and leading the Tigers to a 22-14 comeback win over Alabama and preserving the Tigers' unbeaten season. He started the next two seasons and his college coaching stops include Miami and Georgia Tech. In fact, Bo was born in Arkadelphia, Ark., early in Patrick's coaching career at Henderson State.

Patrick was hired as Pinson Valley's head coach earlier this year after a four-year run at Scottsboro. Bo became the starter midway through his eighth-grade season in 2014 and got settled in at Pinson Valley in early March.

Since then, Bo has spent his time building up friendships with the rest of the team and throwing with receivers whenever time allows.

Last week was a busy one, though. Patrick, Bo and younger son Caleb, who will be a quarterback for Rudd Middle School as an eighth grader this fall, traveled to Georgia, Clemson, Alabama and Auburn.

"You'll be hearing about him in about three years," Bo interjected. "He's bigger than I was when I was his age. I think I'm more athletic. He's a big guy for seventh grade."

Bo participated in two combines, earning quarterback MVP honors at the Atlanta Opening Regional in an event that featured class of 2018 quarterbacks who are committed to Ohio State, Texas A&M and Wake Forest. The next week, he earned an invitation to the Future 50 Underclassmen Showcase while at the Under Armour regional in Atlanta.

Here's what Nix had to say about his trips, which started with Georgia on March 25.

Georgia: "I liked their coaching staff. They've got a really good coaching staff. I like their offensive coordinator. Their facilities are really nice. Obviously, they're always going to put out really good players with you, being in that Georgia area, they've got a bunch of players to choose from."

Clemson: "They recently got the new gigantic fieldhouse. I got to see that in person for the first time. It's pretty incredible, definitely the best in the country. They have a great coaching staff down there. (Head) Coach (Dabo) Swinney knows how to do it and does it right and I respect that. Coach (Brandon) Streeter, the quarterbacks coach, is a top-notch guy and overall, I like what they do with the offense."

Alabama: "I went there when I was in eighth grade to visit, but finally got to go over there again. It was great to see their fieldhouse again and I got to see their weight room and see what they work with and their coaching staff. It's a top-notch program. Each year, they contend for a national championship and SEC championship, so they know what they are doing."

Auburn: "Just continued to grow my relationship with (offensive coordinator) Coach (Chip) Lindsey and (head) Coach (Gus) Malzahn and all the coaches, and I got to watch practice. I always enjoy watching practice because I get a feel for how they practice and how they play and the things they do. I got to watch the offense and see how I'd fit in their offense, and grow my relationship with the coaches."

Nix has known Lindsey since Lindsey was the offensive coordinator at Southern Miss. Patrick had the same message for all the coaches who may have wondered if it's a sure thing Bo will go to Auburn.

"I told them all that I had my experience at Auburn and it was great," Patrick Nix said. "Wherever he goes, I want him to have the same type of experience I had, whether it's Auburn or who knows where. I want him to have his own place, his own experience. I want it to be a good fit for him."

But don't expect Patrick Nix to don apparel of an Auburn rival if Bo chooses to go there.

"I can't," Patrick said, with a quick smile. "He might. It doesn't mean I won't cheer for him, but at the same time, I won't necessarily have to wear certain articles of clothing. That'll be something he has to decide. He knows I'll support him in whatever he does."

Meanwhile, Bo Nix is enjoying the experience. He may visit Ohio State this summer, but hasn't set a date yet for that or any other upcoming trip.

"(Coaches) treat me like a normal kid, which I enjoy and really like and appreciate that," Bo said. "I'm obviously not like my dad. I have a lot of qualities from my dad, but we're different. They treat me like I'm Bo Nix and want me to come for who I am and not because of my name."

Bo Nix is ranked as the nation's No. 86 prospect and how he's listed by the recruiting services probably defines more of who he is than anything. 247Sports lists Nix as a dual-threat quarterback, ESPN a pocket passer, Rivals.com as a pro-style quarterback and Scout.com doesn't have a designation.

Last year, Nix completed 55.2 percent of his passes for 1,737 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions last season. He ran for 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns on 130 carries and was a finalist for Class 5A Back of the Year while leading Scottsboro to a 12-1 record.

He was listed at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds last year and has added an inch and 15 pounds since then, and believes he's not done growing.

"He can think, he can make decisions, he can throw any throw, he can throw from all different platforms," Patrick Nix said. "He's not a pocket passer. He's not a dual-threat quarterback. He's both. He can do both with anybody in the country. That is what is so unique and what so many people like about him. He's not one or the other. He's got all the boxes checked off."

The two have gotten past the hard part of the quarterback playing for his father, the coach. Patrick was coached by his dad. He said he set expectations for Bo as an eighth-grader that he'd normally give to a senior. Bo, who calls Patrick "Dad" on the field, met those and has gotten better.

"We've had our days, that's for sure," Bo Nix said. "I think we're over that now because I think at the beginning, I was hard-headed, but I've learned."

These days, quarterbacks are making earlier college decisions. Bo Nix isn't going to rush.

"I know I want to wait for a while," Bo said. "Right now, I'm just trying to be a high school football player and let the recruitment come to me. I have to make a decision sometime, but it's not going to be anytime soon."

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Coynis Miller, DL, Birmingham - The Jackson-Olin product recently spent three nights in Auburn and went to a practice in Tuscaloosa. His high school teammate T.D. Moultry signed with Auburn.

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Justyn Ross, WR, Phenix City - Ross, a 6-foot-5 receiver, is now a 5-star recruit in the composite rankings and ranked as the No. 22 recruit overall.

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Joey Gatewood, QB, Jacksonville, Fla., - Auburn's longtime quarterback commit for this class will be back and still seems very solid to the Tigers.

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Harold Joiner, RB, Mountain Brook - The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Joiner said he'd "probably" be at Auburn after getting an Alabama offer earlier this week.

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Nathaniel Watson, ATH, Maplesville - The Class 1A standout could play tight end, linebacker or defensive end at the next level. Auburn is his leader.

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Pierce Quick, OL, Trussville, Ala. - Quick is a four-star tackle in the class of 2019.

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Patrick Nix was the hero of the 1993 Iron Bowl, coming on at quarterback for an injured Stan White and leading the Tigers to a 22-14 comeback win

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-Day is finally here.

After weeks of quarterback questions, Auburn will take to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday to give a small taste of what to expect from the Tigers this fall. But the day might have even bigger implications on Auburn recruiting. The Tigers will host two dozen highly-touted prospects, many of whom could be on the verge of commitments.

There will undoubtedly be much more recruiting content to come from A-Day, but here’s a look at visitors Auburn will host on Saturday.

5-star WR Justyn Ross, Central (Ala.)
4-star QB commit Joey Gatewood, Bartram Trail (Fla.)
4-star OL commit Jalil Irvin, Stephenson (Ga.)
4-star WR Matthew Hill, Brookwood (Ga.)
4-star RB Harold Joiner, Mountain Brook (Ala.)
4-star RB Asa Martin, Austin (Ala.)
4-star safety Myles Mason, Pleasant Grove (Ala.)
4-star DT Coynis Miller, Jackson-Olin (Ala.)
4-star ATH Nate Watson, Maplesville School (Ala.)
4-star OLB Quin Williams, Morgan County (Ga.)
4-star 2019 OL Clay Webb, Oxford (Ala.)
4-star 2019 OT Pierce Quick, Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.)
4-star 2019 ILB Ja’Len Sims, Fultondale (Ala.)
4-star 2019 OLB King Mwituka, Troup County (Ga.)
3-star ATH Kolbi Fuqua, Cordova School (Ala.)
3-star CB Jaycee Horn, Alpharetta (Ga)
3-star RB Tae Provens, Madison County (Ala.)
3-star WR Anthony Schwartz, American Heritage (Fla.)
3-star safety Jamien Sherwood, Jensen Beach (Fla.)
3-star OL Kameron Stutts, Brooks School (Ala.)
3-star OLB Jacquez Jones, Hillcrest (Ala.)
3-star WDE Trey Laing, Tallahassee Leon (Fla.)
Unranked ATH Reggie Thompson, Opp (Ala.)
Unranked 2019 WR Quinton Torbor, Destrehan (La.)
Unranked 2019 RB Tony Amerson, St. James (Ala.)
Unranked 2019 RB Tyler Goodson, North Gwinnett (Ga.)
Unranked 2020 ATH Quitman Kincaid, West Port (Fla.)

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