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

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What I think Auburn should do: Auburn has aced the quarterback recruiting market the last three cycles, including the 2019 class.

The double-dip of sophomore Stidham and freshman Willis in the 2017 class set up Auburn nicely with long-term consistency at the position. Gatewood and Nix now file in behind that in the 2018 class and 2019 class. Malzahn and Chip Lindsey (and Rhett Lashlee) have pieced together a sustainable future at the quarterback position going into the 2020s.

There is one lingering reality.

When Stidham leaves — whether that be after 2018 or 2019 — Auburn will open up one of the most competitive quarterback competitions in the country. Willis will have the time-in-the-system advantage. Gatewood will have every athletic edge imaginable. Nix has been groomed by an Auburn quarterback to be an Auburn quarterback. Plus, assuming Lindsey is still coordinator, Nix will have the benefit of being the first coordinator primarily recruited by Lindsey from start to finish.

Because of that competition, there are multiple scenarios that end with any one of those three taking his quarterback career elsewhere. Based on what I know from covering them, all three of Willis, Gatewood and Nix are the types of guys to thrive on competition. That doesn’t preclude the potential of one transferring in the future given the nature of the college football quarterback market.

To protect itself from a potentially thinned depth chart following that competition, it’d be wise for the Tigers to do thorough evaluations on 2019 quarterbacks throughout the 2018 season. Stidham’s pending NFL decision likely will dictate how much Auburn pushes for any other 2019 quarterbacks.

Of the three 2019 quarterbacks listed above, none have been offered. Parrish and Martin visited Auburn for junior day. Shrader threw for the staff at a summer camp in July 2017 and impressed, but at that time, the Tigers knew Nix was their guy and weren’t — and still aren’t — decided on any other additions.

If they were to take another quarterback, it likely would resemble the Willis recruitment. Auburn will evaluate prospects carefully during the 2018 season and find a hidden gem late in the cycle.

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4. Running backs coach Tim Horton

Tim Horton deserves more love than he receives.

The Auburn running backs coach recently got some of that love from Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson during an appearance on The Cube Show with Cole Cubelic. Horton doesn’t get the credit he deserves for Auburn’s consistent trend of 1,000-yard rushers. He also rarely earns enough recognition for his role as a recruiter.

We’ll take care of that here.

Horton played a primary or secondary role in adding all three 2018 running backs — Asa Martin, Shaun Shivers and Harold Joiner. Horton’s long-standing relationship with Joiner helped secure the versatile athlete late in the cycle. He also played a key part in securing Australian punter Arryn Siposs, which Tigers fans will be thankful for in 2018.

Horton’s ability to help snag Martin will be the defining move in the 2018 class.

He also played a key role in the Bo Nix recruitment. Even though that’s 2019, it’s worth mentioning here.

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2. Linebackers coach Travis Williams

Even when he’s not recruiting his own position, Travis Williams is helping the Tigers from a recruiting standpoint.

Williams locked up the two linebackers he wanted in this class — Zakoby McClain and Michael Harris — but he didn’t stop there. With a lessened need for immediate linebacker help, Williams was tasked with finding prospects from his recruiting territories and getting them to Auburn, even if he wasn’t going to be their position coach.

That happened with prospects such as Matthew Hill, Quindarious Monday, Christian Tutt, Richard Jibunor, Roger McCreary and Josh Marsh. Yes, Williams is an ace recruiter at his own position, which will show itself in full form during the 2019 cycle, but he’s done a complete job of helping other position groups.

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Why Bo Nix compares his commitment to Justin Fields

It’s a different feeling for Bo Nix when he steps on Auburn’s campus these days.

The 4-star quarterback commit from Pinson, Ala., has been on the Plains his entire childhood. As the son of a former Tigers quarterback, Nix has been in and around the Auburn athletic complex throughout his life. It wasn’t until the last few years that, thanks to the pressures of the recruiting world, he felt a weight on him during those trip to Auburn.

With his January commitment, Nix said he feels like a new man when he’s at Auburn.

“It’s a big difference. It’s a bunch of relief. I don’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing or something like that. People could blow it out of proportion because you think it meant something else. It’s really good to know that I’m coming here and can start building relationships with some of the guys who are going be in the same class,” Nix said. “It was great. It was a great feeling, a dream come true, really.”

Now, his focus has turned from recruit to recruiter.

Nix attended Auburn’s junior day at the beginning of February and already had assumed his new role. The rising senior quarterback keyed in on whomever Auburn coaches recommended. A lot of that focused on 5-star running back target Noah Cain from IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). He also spent a lot of time with fellow Auburn commit George Pickens, a future receiver target for Nix.

That recruiting responsibility is the big reason why Nix, the top dual-threat quarterback in 2019, decided to end his recruitment early — citing the No. 1 dual-threat prospect in the 2018 class.

“A lot because the class is usually centered around the quarterback. Like Justin Fields at Georgia, he committed and got a whole bunch of guys after him. That’s what I want to do here and build a big class around me,” Nix said. “I just wanted to go ahead and get it over with to focus on football and school. Really, like you said, go ahead and get it over with and start looking at other guys to join the class with me.”

If Nix can scratch the surface of what Fields did for Georgia, the Tigers are in line for a top 2019 class.

Simply by landing Nix, Auburn set itself up nicely for a solid class.

Nix ranks as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the country and the No. 75 overall prospect nationally. He and Pickens represent a strong foundation for the 2019 class, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey deserves credit for his ability to secure the legacy quarterback after a coordinator change mid-recruitment.

“[It was a] big deal,” Nix said. “He did a great job after Coach [Rhett] Lashlee left. Coach Lashlee laid a great foundation then coach Lindsey came in and finished it off. Coach Horton did a great job from the start. He started it in eighth grade, all the way up until this year now that I’m committed.”

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AUBURN | Four-star linebacker Donte Starks visited Auburn for Junior Day Feb. 2. It was Starks’ first visit to Auburn, but he had an idea of what to expect before he arrived.

Auburn linebackers coach Travis Williams made sure of it.

“He said it was going to be a good vibe and he was going to treat you like family,” Starks said.

Williams didn’t lie.

“That’s what it was,” Starks said. “It was great. I liked the vibe. I felt like it was home.”

Starks spent a lot of time with Williams during the visit. He also met and spoke with Auburn senior linebacker Deshaun Davis. Getting a player’s perspective was important for Starks.

“It’s very important,” Starks said. “I learned a lot from (Davis). He’s a smart guy. He knows everything.”

Starks left the visit with Auburn and in-state LSU atop his early list of favorites. He plans to return to Auburn in the fall to attend his first game inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“They’re in-between at the top,” Starks said of Auburn and LSU. “I like the vibe (at Auburn) and they treat you like family. At LSU, the same thing. They pretty much they showed a vibe and treated me like family.”

Family is important to Starks and his mother will be an important part in his college decision. Starks isn’t opposed to leaving Louisiana for college. His mother, however, isn’t a fan. At least not yet.

“It really doesn’t matter (to me),” Starks said. “But my mom wants me to stay close.”

Rivals ranks Starks, who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 210 pounds, the No. 7 inside linebacker in the 2019 class and No. 12 overall player in Louisiana.

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BAMA aren't gonna sign them all

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Moms don't always win Louisiana kids. See Landon Collins. Also to get Starks we have to get him on campus early & often like we did w/ Trovon Reed & G-Rob in 2010.

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Absolutely agree that more he visits the better our chances. Just right now, I don't see him leaving LA. Hopefully LSU crashes & burns in 2018 so we can pluck a few away

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