re: 2019 Football Recruiting Thread - Auburn Goes 4/7 & Land Brothers

quote:

---

More official visit intel on Calvin Anderson

Check out the full interview and conversation with Rice grad transfer offensive tackle Calvin Anderson right here.

Auburn is in a battle for the 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive tackle who has started 36-straight games at left tackle for Rice. Texas and Michigan also have also hosted Anderson on official visits. Oklahoma, TCU and Texas A&M are the other three outside-looking-in programs who hope to earn one of Anderson’s last two official visits.

There were many details to digest from the Anderson story above — official visit details, timeline of decision, family’s preferences, etc. — but from talking with sources, here are a few more quick-hitter details on this recruitment.

---

quote:

---

That staying-home factor isn’t as big of a deal as some may think. Anderson is making an NFL decision with his next move, and wherever that is, it’ll only be for 7 months. Being nearby family in Austin, Texas, won’t be as big of a deal as it would be for a high school senior. After all, a year from now, Anderson could be drafted to any one of 32 destinations across the country.

---

quote:

---

Jarrett Stidham will be a factor. Stidham was out of town for Anderson’s visit, but he’s been texting with Anderson in recent weeks. The Texas connection will certainly help the Tigers as they try to pick a top left tackle option from the Longhorns’ grasp.

---

quote:

---

While many 2018 football prospects were signing their letter of intent on February 7, National Signing Day, John Plumlee was busy talking to Nick Saban over the phone.

In between calls to 2018 targets, Saban offered the 6-foot, 190 pound junior out of Hattiesburg (Miss.) Oak Grove. A few days later, Alabama's rival, Auburn offered Plumlee too.

The funny thing is. They offered him to play different positions.

On Friday, Plumlee visited Auburn and before leaving, the Tigers offered him as a wide receiver. That was a first.

"I met with coach Gus Malzahn and coach [Chip] Lindsey before I left and they offered me," said Plumlee. "They know I play quarterback, but they told me that they see something special in me as a wide receiver. They think I can be like Ryan Davis is for them now and that is how they see me."

The offer did not really surprise Plumlee too much. He had been in regular contact with coach Lindsey, so he had the idea in the back of his mind that Auburn may be close to offering.

It was the detail of the offer that caught him off guard.

"Them offering as a wide receiver definitely surprised me. I mean, I am open to it, but I was not expecting it. Auburn is a great school, the campus is beautiful and if I had to pick a position, I would pick quarterback, but I am open to this.

"I still like Auburn and I do have interest in them. We will just see how it all plays out."

When Alabama offered, they went with more of a traditional approach — they offered Plumlee as a quarterback.

Burton Burns is the are recruiter for Plumlee, so those two spoke on the phone first before Burns passed the phone to Saban.

"At first, me and coach Saban talks about Alabama and we talked about the school, then he told me that I have the opportunity to come to Alabama and he offered me," said Plumlee.

"This one was more of a surprise than the Auburn offer. I did not expect this one at all. It was pretty exciting."

One of the best in Mississippi has ties to Tuscaloosa too. Plumlee's sister goes to school at Alabama, so he has been to a football game and he has been around the campus.

"It is nice over there. I was at the Mercer game last season and Alabama is just a great program. Getting that offer was a big surprise, so it is a great feeling."

If you think Auburn offering Plumlee is funny. How about in-state school, Mississippi State, the Bulldogs have offered him as a defensive back. They did at first any way, but they have started to talk about quarterback some too now.

It tells you what type of athlete Plumlee is. Or does it?

He is also a baseball star and he has been offered by Mississippi State and Southern Miss to play both sports on the next level. Plumlee said his position preference is quarterback, but with his love of baseball, that could change that.

"I feel like if I played quarterback in college, then it would be very hard for me to play baseball too," said Plumlee. "That is something I will have to think about. If I play another position, then it would be a little easier to play two sports in my mind.

"I think that will be something I really have to think about when I make my decision."

Plumlee does not plan to make that any time soon. Florida is showing some interest, Ole Miss and North Carolina have him on their radar, so he is going to sit back, see who offers, take visits and take his time with the recruiting process.

He is open to all schools at this time.

---

quote:

---

MIAMI — Aaron McLaughlin made the trek from Buford (Ga.) to Miami over the weekend to compete in the Rivals 3-stripe camp series presented by adidas and he walked away with MVP honors at his position.

McLaughlin is a 2021 quarterback that is drawing national attention already as a recruit and he really shined Sunday. He showed why Florida State is one of many schools that have offered him. The Seminoles have actually offered twice.

Jimbo Fisher offered first last summer, but recently, new head coach Willie Taggart re-offered the talented signal caller.

"Florida State was by the school in January and they recently told me that I have an offer from the new staff," said McLaughlin. "I knew new offensive coordinator, coach Walt Bell when he was at Maryland and he offered me when he was there too, so I have known him for a while.

"He is a good guy to talk to and he told me I have that offer from Florida State."

McLaughlin will return to Tallahassee, but there is no date set yet. He has watched them play, he has been on the campus before the Seminoles have his interest early on.

"I am definitely interested in Florida State. They have good history with quarterbacks, they have a lot of tradition and they have nice facilities too.

"I am interested in talking coach Bell more and learning more about them. They just signed Anthony Grant from Buford too, so I know he likes them, so I will be looking more into them."

Florida State is clearly a school on McLaughlin's radar and he now has 18 offers. He took visits to Alabama and Auburn for games in 2017 and he said he would like to add offers from those schools along with Georgia and some others, but he is thankful for each of the 18 he has.

"It is just humbling and a real blessing from God each time I get an offer," said McLaughlin. "It has picked up some and I have gotten some new offers recently, but it is all a blessing."

With the recruiting process going at a fast pace for McLaughlin, he is not ruling out an early decision. He has no favorites right now and commitment has not really crossed his mind yet, but with the early offers in, numerous trips to schools in the books and relationships being developed, he said an early decision is a possibility.

"I will end up committing when I feel like I know I want to go to that school. I am not sure when that will be. I am not rushing it, but I am also not saying that I won't commit early.

"It will just be that feeling that I get when I find that school. It could happen at any time."

---

quote:

---

The signing period that began on Feb. 7 is technically still open, but almost all of the decisions regarding class of 2018 prospects have been settled. So now let's take a look ahead to the top prospects, strengths, weaknesses, and major storylines for the class of 2019 – with a focus on the state of Florida.

---

quote:

---

Strengths of the class

It’s not a shock to see the wide receiver position be the strength of the 2019 class in the Sunshine State. Both Frank Ladson and Jeremiah Payton look to have five-star potential and are already national recruits. John Dunmore is another talented target in Florida this cycle who has several top programs chasing his pledge. We are sure more elite receivers will continue to pop up on the radar as this cycle progresses as well.

---

quote:

---

Which area do you need to win in 2019 to win the state?

With Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy being such a powerhouse, taking care of that school as well as the surrounding Tampa area is what is needed to win the state. Five-star Nolan Smith, potential five-star Trey Sanders, four-stars Noah Cain, Deyavie Hammond, Evan Neal, Jaquaze Sorrells, Keon Zipperer, William Putnam, Lloyd Summerall are in that west central part of the state. All are top priorities for several college programs in the 2019 recruiting cycle.

---

quote:

---

Notable players already committed

DE Noland Smith - Georgia

CB Akeem Dent - Florida State

S Keontra Smith - Kentucky

WR Brieon Fuller - Miami

DE Mike Morris - Florida State

S Brendan Gant - Alabama

OL Wardrick Wilson - Florida

LB Charles Thomas - Michigan

CB Te’Cory Couch - Tennessee

OT Justin Osborne - TCU

RB Marcus Crowley - Miami

OT Renato Brown - Miami

---