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re: 2018 Football Recruiting Thread -- Final OP Update Edition
Posted on 4/18/17 at 5:51 am to TigerPaw1
Posted on 4/18/17 at 5:51 am to TigerPaw1
quote:
Williams is entering just his second year as an FBS assistant coach, but he already knows the golden rule of recruiting trips, especially once you step foot inside a prospect's house during the contact period between the end of the regular season and signing day.
"Rule No. 1 is you can't go to a house -- if they offer you food, you got to eat it," Williams said. "You got to eat it, so I don't care if they're cooking whatever. You may not know what it is on that dish, but you better eat it."
None of Auburn's assistant coaches would divulge the worst meals they've had on the road, out of respect for the families of their players and others they have recruited, but many of them have enjoyed some memorable meals on their recruiting excursions.
For Williams, it was the odd pairing of steak and spaghetti that he described as "awesome." The personal favorite for Burns during a recruiting visit was when once prospect's family whipped up some barbecue shrimp.
"That was like second to none," he said. "It's probably one of the best things I've ever had."
"Rule No. 1 is... if they offer you food, you got to eat it" -- Travis Williams
Entering his 27th year as a college coach, Hand has had his share of good meals on the road. His personal favorite was last summer, when after the team's satellite camp in Miami, the convoy of coaches went to Joe's Stone Crab (one of the premier restaurants in Miami) on South Beach -- and defensive coordinator Kevin Steele "was kind enough" to pick up the tab.
Hand, the Tigers' second-year offensive line coach, has a reputation as a foodie; he appeared on an episode of Food Network's competitive cooking show "Chopped" in 2014 when he was an assistant at Penn State, and he is known for preparing epic feasts for his linemen when hosting them at his home.
It can be, at times, intimidating for a recruit's family.
"The moms always say... 'Oh, Coach, you're coming, so we got to make sure the food is good," Hand said. "I just say, 'Do what you do, and it's going to be awesome."
While he tries to take the pressure off families, when Hand is on the road he likes to take a more hands-on approach when he's visiting with recruits. Hand always offers to help out in the kitchen; it's a good way, he says, "to score some brownie points with moms or grandmoms."
The best intentions can sometimes backfire, however.
One time on a recruiting trip in South Florida, Hand was visiting a prospect of Caribbean background and went into the kitchen to check out what the recruit's mother was preparing for dinner that night. He lifted up the top off a pan as he asked what was cooking in it, and before the mother could respond, the steam from the Caribbean-spiced dish blasted Hand in the face.
"The steam that came out of that pan was like pepper spray," he said. "It hit me in the face and I almost choked out. It was a fish dish; it was very spicy, but it was delicious. The steam that came out hit me in the grill, and she was like, 'oh no, don't do that yet.' I was like oh, boom. I got pepper-sprayed."
Others on the staff aren't as adventurous as Hand or as gung-ho about the food, but they still understand the need to take one for the team -- though not necessarily in the same sense that Hand did that one night in south Florida. Anything for that coveted commitment, after all.
"This sounds bad and I hope these mothers of some of our players don't take it bad but I like my mom and my wife's cooking," Horton said. "I appreciate other people cooking but hey, I'm partial to my people. As you can tell, we don't go hungry on the road but I'm partial to my mama and wife's cooking.
"There's some, and I'm kind of a picky eater, there's some that you got to kind of pick around a little bit. It is what it is and you do what you have to for the team."
1
Posted on 4/18/17 at 5:51 am to TigerPaw1
quote:
Not every memory on the recruiting trail is a fun one. For every "best meal ever" and "big bass" reeled in, there's the occasional nightmare scenario.
For Burns, one of the worst days of his life was also one of his all-time favorite recruiting memories.
Last year, while traveling from Chicago to New Orleans, Burns' luggage was left behind in Chicago. That was just the beginning for the Tigers' wide receivers coach.
When he arrived in New Orleans, the airline told him his luggage would arrive at the airport on a later flight and be there by 6:30 p.m. He returned at that time after spending his day recruiting the area only to find out his luggage still hadn't arrived. This time he was told it would be there by 11:30.
Midnight struck, and Burns' luggage finally reached its destination at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The problem for Burns, however, was that he was scheduled to be in Pensacola, Fla., the next morning.
"I get those bags, I drive to Mobile just to try to stay the night," Burns said. "This time, it's 2:30 a.m., I hit a hotel, no rooms. I hit another hotel, no rooms. I hit about five hotels, no rooms."
Turns out, there was a big conference in Mobile that week, and vacancies were hard to come by. Flustered, Burns decided to hop back in his car and drive the additional hour through Florida's panhandle to Pensacola.
He rolled into town at about 3:45 a.m., only to be turned away at the first hotel he tried because there were no rooms. By the third hotel he tried, at 4 a.m., the front desk employee told him he would have a chance to find a room across the street. When he walked across the street, the front door to the hotel wouldn't open since it was so late and he didn't have a key. Making matters worse, there was no one sitting at the front desk to let him in.
"I knock on the door, nobody comes," Burns said. "I knock on the door again, nobody comes. About ten minutes later I'm calling, I hear the phone ringing, nobody comes. So, I just sit down on the bench outside, and I'm like this -- this is probably one of the worst days in my life."
Feeling defeated after a long day of travel issues, Burns decided to sit down on the bench outside the hotel. Ten minutes passed before a hotel employee finally came outside and asked Burns if he wanted a room. He got three hours of sleep that night before hitting the recruiting trail again in the morning.
"Looking back on it now, those are the times that you laugh at, definitely fun," Burns said. "That's part of recruiting. It's a grind all the time, and you just kind of have to embrace it."
Until the next season within the season rolls around and it's time to embrace that one, too.
Posted on 4/18/17 at 7:45 am to TigerPaw1
That's a funny story he will laugh at but it seems a little off
Whoever coordinates travel fricked up by not changing travel plans and getting /checking on hotel room
We don't have a booster who can lodge him for a night? I know quite a few who'd have a stroke from excitement if they got asked
Whoever coordinates travel fricked up by not changing travel plans and getting /checking on hotel room
We don't have a booster who can lodge him for a night? I know quite a few who'd have a stroke from excitement if they got asked
This post was edited on 4/18/17 at 7:46 am
Posted on 4/19/17 at 5:25 am to GenesChin
Tannor: Auburn coaches are 'cool guys to hang around with' (247)
quote:
Buck target Caleb Tannor of Miller Grove High has been a regular at Auburn of late. For those keeping score at home, the 6-feet-3, 225-pound defender has visited the Tigers three times since late March. During his most recent to the school, Tannor stayed the night two weekends ago. He met with coaches after A-Day. He played video games in the office of assistant coach Travis Williams. He then spent the evening getting to know current members of the team. "What stands out is probably their facility," Tannor said. Not only that, but Tannor is extremely high on Williams and Rodney Garner, Auburn's defensive line coach. Those two are his primary recruiters. "Cool guys to hang around with," Tannor said. "They keep it real. They're not going to tell you a lie. They're not going to tell you something fake." AuburnUndercover.com caught up with Tannor on Monday. Here's a quick interview with him. For our subscribers, here are some VIP nuggets about Tannor's recruitment.
Posted on 4/19/17 at 5:28 am to TigerPaw1
VIP update on 2019 Clay Webb from Bama side. Web says despite his numerous other offers he really likes AU/Bama so far and has them at even on his list. Visited them last Friday and says "it's gonna be real hard to turn them down". He has a good relationship with Bama OL coach Brent Key. Also sounds like Saban is playing a major role in his recruitment. He sat down with Webb on his visit then came out to see his wrestling match. Plans to visit UGA for spring game (I think that's a win for us). Wants to announce his senior season
Posted on 4/19/17 at 5:29 am to TigerPaw1
KN says 4* RB Asa Martin plans to be at Big Cat Weekend
Posted on 4/19/17 at 5:32 am to TigerPaw1
KN has VIP update on 4* RB Asa Martin. He still has Florida #1 but the lead isn't that big on AU. Martin says both are really good programs and his commitment could go either way. He wants to announce before his senior season. Before A-Day visit the Gators had a clear lead but AU has built some momentum after visit. Says big thing is Coach Lindsey got to talk with his mom and they are building a relationship which he says hasn't been there so far in his recruitment but he thinks is really important.
Posted on 4/19/17 at 5:40 am to TigerPaw1
Also a VIP update on 4* S Myles Mason. So apparently Mason is cousin's with 2017 signee Jordyn Peters. Apparently they met for first time on recruiting trip last year and have stared getting closer. They worked out together this week. They have talked some about being teammates at next level and both like idea of it. Mason has a top 5 and claims they are all even: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State & LSU. Though AU/Bama are recruiting him the hardest. He wants to commit this summer but only if he feels confident in decision. He speak a lot with Rodney Garner his area recruiter and his talks with DB coach Greg Brown have amped up. Brown's message is we are losing a bunch of DBs after this year so there will be clear opportunity to get on field early. Mason plans to be back for Big Cat Weekend
I am honestly starting to think we might get this kid. I still think Bama is team to beat but sounds like we have made up some serious ground. The Peters angle could be interesting
I am honestly starting to think we might get this kid. I still think Bama is team to beat but sounds like we have made up some serious ground. The Peters angle could be interesting
Posted on 4/19/17 at 6:09 am to TigerPaw1
KN also put up a recruiting insider late last night:
- Martin said what KN expected he would yesterday saying Florida leads but AU is a close 2nd. He was close to committing to Florida before A-Day visit but now it's too close for him to pull the trigger either way. The big part for AU is getting his mom on board and sounds like she starting to warm up to AU. He will be back for Big Cat Weekend. KN says if he still has UF ahead after that visit probably a pretty big sign that Tigers aren't catching Gators, so we will see
- 2019 QB Bo Nix still claims he is open to everyone despite being an AU legacy. He's trying to put aside his youth fandom of Auburn and make best decision for himself. KN thinks he's still a year or so away from making a commitment. A big plus besides NIx's fandom is AU's system under Lindsey, it's similar to what he will run in high school and he thinks he fits well. An important note for AU is even though he couldn't make it to A-Day the rest of his family was there. KN still thinks he lands at AU
- 2019 OT Pierce Quick is a top target for AU and has nice things to say about the Tigers but his family is all bammers and KN thinks he's a lock to the Tide. Personally I think he commits to Bama this weekend at spring game
- 4* DT Coynis Miiller is AU's clear top DT target. This is a battle though and not just an instate one. Miller really likes LSU and Florida could be a player as well along with Clemson. Someone close to Miller told KN that he thinks LSU is a bigger player than people realize and it's clear he's not a lock to stay instate. Expect this recruitment to take awhile as he wants to use all 5 official visits and is in no hurry to make decision. KN says he's actually adding more teams than really narrowing things down right now. Good news for AU is he still considers our offer his first big offer and KN still thinks it will come down to AU or Bama.
- KN says AU is making some progress on 4* S Myles Mason. The question though is where does Mason sit on Auburn & Alabama's board. That could play a major factor. AU coaching staff plans to visit his school soon and Mason plans to be back on campus for Big Cat Weekend. KN thinks if Bama pushes they probably get em but not very clear right now. Mason hopes to announce this summer
- It sounds like LSU is team to beat for 4* RB Harold Joiner. The main reason is they are selling him hard on just being a RB which he wants. Both AU & Bama are recruiting him as an athlete. KN says he sounded almost lukewarm on the instate teams. He said for AU he is concerned about OL. Honestly it sounds like he's bought everything Oregeron has sold so will be interesting to see if on field results change his mind. Texas is a darkhorse team as Joiner plans to visit them and A&M soon.
- AU is recruiting 4* WR Seth Williams the hardest and he says he is closest to Kodi Burns. Williams high school coach says he has been impressed with how Burns has recruited Williams and thinks it could play a factor. However, Bama is starting to ramp up their recruitment and Bama campus on 15 minutes away. He was much closer though with previous Bama coaches so sounds like AU has capitalized on that opportunity. Still this will be a hard battle for AU to win, it could though come down to who wants him more
- Martin said what KN expected he would yesterday saying Florida leads but AU is a close 2nd. He was close to committing to Florida before A-Day visit but now it's too close for him to pull the trigger either way. The big part for AU is getting his mom on board and sounds like she starting to warm up to AU. He will be back for Big Cat Weekend. KN says if he still has UF ahead after that visit probably a pretty big sign that Tigers aren't catching Gators, so we will see
- 2019 QB Bo Nix still claims he is open to everyone despite being an AU legacy. He's trying to put aside his youth fandom of Auburn and make best decision for himself. KN thinks he's still a year or so away from making a commitment. A big plus besides NIx's fandom is AU's system under Lindsey, it's similar to what he will run in high school and he thinks he fits well. An important note for AU is even though he couldn't make it to A-Day the rest of his family was there. KN still thinks he lands at AU
- 2019 OT Pierce Quick is a top target for AU and has nice things to say about the Tigers but his family is all bammers and KN thinks he's a lock to the Tide. Personally I think he commits to Bama this weekend at spring game
- 4* DT Coynis Miiller is AU's clear top DT target. This is a battle though and not just an instate one. Miller really likes LSU and Florida could be a player as well along with Clemson. Someone close to Miller told KN that he thinks LSU is a bigger player than people realize and it's clear he's not a lock to stay instate. Expect this recruitment to take awhile as he wants to use all 5 official visits and is in no hurry to make decision. KN says he's actually adding more teams than really narrowing things down right now. Good news for AU is he still considers our offer his first big offer and KN still thinks it will come down to AU or Bama.
- KN says AU is making some progress on 4* S Myles Mason. The question though is where does Mason sit on Auburn & Alabama's board. That could play a major factor. AU coaching staff plans to visit his school soon and Mason plans to be back on campus for Big Cat Weekend. KN thinks if Bama pushes they probably get em but not very clear right now. Mason hopes to announce this summer
- It sounds like LSU is team to beat for 4* RB Harold Joiner. The main reason is they are selling him hard on just being a RB which he wants. Both AU & Bama are recruiting him as an athlete. KN says he sounded almost lukewarm on the instate teams. He said for AU he is concerned about OL. Honestly it sounds like he's bought everything Oregeron has sold so will be interesting to see if on field results change his mind. Texas is a darkhorse team as Joiner plans to visit them and A&M soon.
- AU is recruiting 4* WR Seth Williams the hardest and he says he is closest to Kodi Burns. Williams high school coach says he has been impressed with how Burns has recruited Williams and thinks it could play a factor. However, Bama is starting to ramp up their recruitment and Bama campus on 15 minutes away. He was much closer though with previous Bama coaches so sounds like AU has capitalized on that opportunity. Still this will be a hard battle for AU to win, it could though come down to who wants him more
Posted on 4/19/17 at 8:14 am to TigerPaw1
quote:
2019 QB Bo Nix still claims he is open to everyone despite being an AU legacy. He's trying to put aside his youth fandom of Auburn and make best decision for himself. KN thinks he's still a year or so away from making a commitment. A big plus besides NIx's fandom is AU's system under Lindsey, it's similar to what he will run in high school and he thinks he fits well. An important note for AU is even though he couldn't make it to A-Day the rest of his family was there. KN still thinks he lands at AU
I have tempered my emotions over the years with recruiting but if we lose on Bo Nix - I will be the Krakatoa of melt.
Posted on 4/19/17 at 8:49 am to Rhymenoceros
quote:
I have tempered my emotions over the years with recruiting but if we lose on Bo Nix - I will be the Krakatoa of melt.
If we "lose" Bo Nix, it won't be through any fault of AU. Kid is obviously getting the full court press, even as a legacy.
Just one day, it'd be nice to see an Auburn legacy say "Got the Auburn offer I was expecting... all done now."
Posted on 4/19/17 at 9:07 am to beatbammer
quote:
Just one day, it'd be nice to see an Auburn legacy say "Got the Auburn offer I was expecting... all done now."
I'd love that too, but there are a lot of kids in similar situations who wait until the ending
For example, there was that 5* LB Bama legacy who didn't wrap it up until the ending
Posted on 4/19/17 at 9:08 am to TigerPaw1
quote:
He said for AU he is concerned about OL
Our OL class last year was pretty nasty.
Posted on 4/19/17 at 9:24 am to beatbammer
quote:
If we "lose" Bo Nix, it won't be through any fault of AU. Kid is obviously getting the full court press, even as a legacy
I hear ya - he'll have his pick of colleges. But even without him being legacy, we check a helluva lot of boxes for him. Legacy should be the tipping factor. Just don't understand why our legacies seem to want to blaze their own trails more often than not.
Posted on 4/19/17 at 9:50 am to RandySavage
quote:
Our OL class last year was pretty nasty.
That OL comment screams negative recruiting. Our OL wasn't really a problem last year for RBs and we haven't seen this OL yet in real action
Seems like after kids visit LSU these days they have a specific negative reason for AU. Bryant's was he wasn't our top Buck target because we got Moultry. Taylor all of a sudden wants PT over everything else. Need to beat Orgeron in the Bayou this year
Posted on 4/19/17 at 11:08 am to TigerPaw1
quote:Nooooo, Coach O wouldn't negative recruit
That OL comment screams negative recruiting. Our OL wasn't really a problem last year for RBs and we haven't seen this OL yet in real action
quote:We're due for a victory down there
Need to beat Orgeron in the Bayou this year
Posted on 4/19/17 at 11:50 am to The Nino
We've been due for a long time. Ready to shed this curse
Posted on 4/19/17 at 1:07 pm to GenesChin
KN reporting 4* LB JJ Peterson is planning to visit AU today
Posted on 4/19/17 at 1:50 pm to TigerPaw1
Is he stopping in for gas en route to Tuscaloosa?
Posted on 4/20/17 at 10:14 am to RandySavage
quote:
Is he stopping in for gas en route to Tuscaloosa?
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