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re: 2019 Football Recruiting Thread - Auburn Goes 4/7 & Land Brothers
Posted on 8/16/18 at 8:14 pm to TigerPaw1
Posted on 8/16/18 at 8:14 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
4-star LB Trezmen Marshall
My Crystal Ball projection: Auburn
LEAVE IT: Georgia is fighting hard to hold onto the commitment of 4-star linebacker Trezmen Marshall of Homerville (Ga.) Clinch County. Early in the summer, Auburn was trending up but then Georgia got him on campus for a few days and that slowed any momentum the Tigers had. This probably is an Auburn-Georgia battle even though Marshall has visited FSU a few times. Marshall doesn't seem to be as high on the Seminoles as some originally thought. Our intel suggests if anyone can flip him from Georgia it would be Auburn. But ... it probably will not be an easy thing to do. In fact, as of today I project him to stick with the Bulldogs. But look for Auburn to keep pushing and for him to continue visiting. If he doesn't visit again, then you'll know it's over. If he does visit, maybe the Tigers will have a shot.
1
Posted on 8/16/18 at 8:14 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
4-star LB Mohamoud Diabate
My Crystal Ball projection: Florida
LOVE IT: I currently project the Auburn High standout, one of the top recruits in Alabama, to the Gators. Florida has recruited him for a long time and seems to have the edge entering next week's commitment announcement. Alabama also is in the mix. Texas A&M seems to be recruiting others harder and has faded. Then, you have Auburn. The Tigers didn't offer him until this summer and that really put them in a hole here. How much has Auburn pushed? That's not known. But we do know the Gators have made him a priority recruit for awhile and that program's confidence level is high at this time.
Boooo
Posted on 8/16/18 at 8:15 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
5-star OL-C Clay Webb
My Crystal Ball projection: Alabama
LEAVE IT: This pick has been on Alabama for awhile, but my confidence level in that projection has dropped a fair amount. Could he still land with the Tide? Absolutely. Don't ever count out the Tide. But do we think it's a sure thing? No. In Athens, Ga., the Bulldogs are said to like their chances. In Auburn, the Tigers are more optimistic than they once were not too long ago. Auburn's interactions with Webb have picked up of late and they again expect him to attend multiple games in Auburn this fall. Last year, he was at Jordan-Hare Stadium for four games. Auburn offensive line coach J.B. Grimes, who returned to the program in January, offered Webb when Webb was a ninth-grader. Webb has said Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has recruited him harder than any head coach. Will these relationships pay off? It's too soon to know and Webb certainly doesn't ever tip his hand.
Interesting....
Posted on 8/16/18 at 8:15 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
4-star RB Derrian Brown
My Crystal Ball projection: Texas
LOVE IT: Brown, a 4-star back from Buford (Ga.), grew up a huge Auburn fan and if the Tigers had recruited him hard it's conceivable to think he'd commit to them. But Auburn has made other backs a higher priority and that opened the door for others, namely Texas and Penn State. Brown told me Wednesday the Longhorns have emerged as his clear favorite and he could potentially make a commitment as early as next week -- even though he has yet to visit that school. He plans to make his first trip there in September. Penn State is his No. 2, but the margin between the schools is large. This looks like a Texas run-away.
Good player but I'm ok with us passing
Posted on 8/16/18 at 8:15 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
4-star CB Kaiir Elam
My Crystal Ball projection: Florida
LIKE IT: At one time, Auburn appeared to be a strong contender for the 4-star corner from south Florida. But now, both sides seem to have gone in other directions. Auburn is likely to land Zion Puckett at cornerback and has a crowded corners board. Meantime, Elam is flirting more with programs such as Florida, Georgia and FSU. At this time, many continue to see the Gators as being the team to beat. Additionally, we're told the confidence level in Gainesville remains fairly high. We've heard nothing of late about Elam possibly taking an official visit to Auburn.
Forgot all about this dude
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:46 pm to TigerPaw1
Alright catching up on a ton of Rivals articles from this week
Mind of Mike: Thoughts on movers and shakers in Rivals100 (Rivals)
Mind of Mike: Thoughts on movers and shakers in Rivals100 (Rivals)
quote:
The Mind of Mike is a scary place. Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell shares his thoughts on the big movers and shakers in the updated Rivals100 for 2019 released today.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:47 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
The No. 1 debate, plus five-star QBs
Derek Stingley Jr. as our No. 1 was quite the debate, especially after he went one-on-one with Theo Wease at the Rivals100 Five Star Challenge presented by adidas and elsewhere. Yes, Wease won more reps, but keep in mind that one-on-ones give a huge advantage to the wide receiver and Stingley wasn’t burnt at all.
The question came down to this – how special is Stingley at cornerback versus Wease at wide receiver compared to current and past classes. The LSU commitment held onto the No. 1 spot because he’s just a bit rarer at his position than Wease. The debate between Wease and Georgia commitment Jadon Haselwood as the No. 1 wide receiver was also intense and Wease won out because he’s just a bit more sudden. Each has great size, good hands, are competitive and have excellent body control but Wease plays a little faster on the field. These debates will rage on throughout our final two ranking updates in December and January.
The quarterback position is an interesting one this year. At first, I wasn’t sure if there was a five-star quarterback in the mix. It looked like a weak year depth-wise and at the top. Yes there was some talent, but five-star talent? That was another issue.
But after breaking down Bo Nix and Spencer Rattler some more, I led the charge to make both five-stars this time around. Nix has always impressed me, but the way he dominated the Five-Star Challenge, the confidence he has in his arm and his other attributes made me think we’d be missing out if we didn’t pull the trigger this time around. And the same can be said for Rattler, who probably has an even higher ceiling. The bottom line is that both have adequate arm strength, can extend a play and feature solid accuracy.
We went from having zero five-star quarterbacks in this class to having two but that’s where it ends. I’m not sure if I see another quarterback with that five-star potential in 2019. So who I like better? For some reason I think Nix will be the guy. It’s a gut feeling.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:48 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
Breaking down the eight new five-stars
WR George Pickens – This kid could end up being the No. 1 wide receiver before all is said and done and could push for No. 1 overall, that’s how high his ceiling is. He’s big, strong and has great potential in the red zone.
ATH Trey Palmer – I made the big push for Palmer to be a five-star because he’s going to be an absolute star in college whether he plays offense or defense. He is equally impressive on either side of the ball and is such a quick twitch kid that he will dominate at one position or another.
QB Spencer Rattler – I mentioned a few things I like about Rattler above and he can dominate at the next level. He can move, he can throw on the run or from the pocket and he has great downfield vision. He could be very, very good.
WR Trejan Bridges – Bridges' ball skills are off the charts. He reminds me a bit of Odell Beckham Jr. in that department as he can make any catch possible and bails out the quarterback with great body control and adjustments on poorly thrown footballs. Oklahoma fans will love him.
LB Owen Pappoe – Despite the size concerns, this is one of the best pure athletes you’ll see at the high school level at linebacker. He can make plays in the backfield, can run plays down to the outside and he’s excellent in coverage. Once he adds more weight and strength, watch out.
QB Bo Nix – I like Nix and his confidence, arm strength and ability to extend the play. He plays with a lot of guts and has the mental makeup to be a good one down the road. He could be very, very good if he adds a few things to his repertoire, including consistency.
CB Erick Young – I love his combination of size, power and quickness. He could end up as a safety or start his career that way, but in the end he has the potential to be a great lock-down cornerback with size and ball skills.
OT Evan Neal – This was a questionable one, but the work he has put in to reshape his body and add quickness and agility is impressive and we liked him a lot even when he carried some bad weight. He has one of the highest ceilings in this class.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:52 pm to TigerPaw1
Rivals Ranking Week: Which RB should be ranked higher? (Rivals)
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Countless debates go into each Rivals rankings update and one particular topic we are spotlighting in today's Rival Views is which running back should be ranked higher - Noah Cain or John Emery.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:53 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
KRUEGER’S VIEW: NOAH CAIN
Before anything is said about Noah Cain’s ranking or ability, the biggest thing that he has to deal with that Emery doesn’t is playing alongside Trey Sanders at IMG Academy, who is very clearly the best running back in the country. If Cain was the only running back there, the perception about him would be different, but I know that part of the reason that the move to IMG was attractive to him in the first place was that he wouldn’t get ‘run into the ground’ during his high school career.
In the long run, Cain’s success as a player at the next level will have less to do with his natural ability – of which he has plenty – and more to do with picking the right program and system for him.
Between Cain and Emery, I don’t think either is the ‘burstiest’ back in the class, but where Cain is the more effective runner is his quickness through gaps at the line and overall better run power. When either back gets a head of steam, they’re both tough to stop in-stride. But Cain looks to have the more powerful run base and when he leans into a move, even winning the leverage battle with him is a 50-50 proposition as to whether or not a tackle will be made.
Cain will do well in a power running offense that lets him pick his gap and muscle through. As a pass-catcher, Cain is a strong receiver but probably won’t be split out or lined up in the slot a whole bunch. Cain is more of a complete running back than he’s probably given credit for, but with his size and power, he gets the edge as one of the top runners in the country.
Hmmmm wonder where he could find an offense like that....
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:54 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
SIMMONS' VIEW: JOHN EMERY
Each time I see John Emery in person, I leave more impressed. He is one of the most complete running backs in this class. I saw him as a freshman and he was impressive then, but to see how he has grown and produced the last couple of years has put him in this discussion.
He has great size, speed, vision, balance and hands. There is not much he cannot do. He had a strong summer and he has continued to ascend. I will see him again early in September, so he will again have his chance to make his case as one of the best in the country. He was known for speed early in his high school career, but he has filled out his frame, added strength and blossomed into one of the premier prospects in the country. He is committed to Georgia and he will make that running back room that much stronger in 2019.
Georgia looks like a perfect fit for his style of play. Emery is a bigger back with size to play in the SEC and he should excel between the hedges.
FWIW I would pick Emery over Cain
I still want Cain tho
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:54 pm to TigerPaw1
Rivals Rankings Week: Five programs that should be pleased (Rivals)
quote:
The Rivals.com updated rankings for the Class of 2019 continued Wednesday with the debut of the new Rivals250. The updated rankings saw plenty of new players move into the rankings and several others make moves up and down the charts. With the full list now on display, we examine five college teams that should be feeling pretty good about how the new rankings shook out.
This post was edited on 8/16/18 at 9:55 pm
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:55 pm to TigerPaw1
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AUBURN
It’s hard to argue that any fan base should be more pleased about the new rankings, because the Tigers saw three of their commitments make the move to five-star status. The group is highlighted by five-star wide receiver George Pickens, who is now the No. 12 player in the country. He’s followed by linebacker commit Owen Pappoe (No. 26) and quarterback commit Bo Nix (No. 27).
But it’s not just the five-stars that give the Tigers reason to celebrate. Defensive end commit Jaren Handy comes in at No. 129, while offensive line commitment Keiondre Jones comes in at No. 143, making a move up seven spots from the last rankings update. Several major Tigers targets are also in the 250, including uncommitted athlete Zion Puckett, who moved up 119 spots to No. 114 overall.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:56 pm to TigerPaw1
Making the Case: Three who could jump into the next Rivals100 (Rivals)
quote:
The updated Rivals100 for the class of 2019 was revealed Tuesday and there are several players who are on the cusp of that list that could find themselves breaking through with big seasons. There are two rankings cycles left for the following players to earn a spot in the final Rivals100. Rivals analysts make the case for three players to keep an eye on.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:57 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
Zion Puckett
One to keep an eye on is Griffin (Ga.) Spalding's Zion Puckett. He is set to commit to Alabama, Auburn or Tennessee in the near future, and it is easy to see why he is coveted by a trio of SEC programs. Some schools love his speed on the outside at wide receiver, while others think he could be a future cornerback that plays on Sunday.
Puckett does not get out and do too many camps, but he does play 7-on-7. He was one of the most talked about performers week in and week out the last couple of months. He is back to being 100 percent healthy after missing much or his sophomore year, and he has full confidence. Puckett is a true athlete who could be a star on either side of the ball. He really made a strong impression over the spring and summer on those that saw him. We expect a big senior season. -- Chad Simmons, Rivals.com Southeast analyst
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:57 pm to TigerPaw1
New Rivals250 released: Analysts discuss toughest decisions (Rivals)
quote:
The new Rivals250 for the 2019 class has been released and as is the case with any new ranking, it arrives with plenty of debate and discussion. Here, the Rivals.com analysts discuss the toughest decisions of the latest version of the Rivals250.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:58 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
1. Who did you personally go to bat for in the meetings that you think will make you look smart down the road?
Rob Cassidy (Southeast/Florida): I pushed to make Evan Neal a five-star because of how his body-type projects to the NFL. Neal isn’t a polished lineman just yet. I get that, but he’s dropping his bad weight at a rapid pace and looks like a different prospect than he did a year ago. The bottom line is that massive, 6-foot-7 linemen that move like Neal are rare. He’s the type of player that could become a dominant force once he gets into a college conditioning program.
Mike Farrell (National): I pushed for a lot of five-stars including Trey Palmer, Trejan Bridges and the two quarterbacks, but linebacker Nick Henrich is a guy I stood on the table for and someone I think will make us look smart in the end. I love his instincts, how physical he is on the field and he’s a sure tackler. I think he will diagnose plays well at the next level and be a tackling machine.
Adam Friedman (Mid-Atlantic): I spoke up when it was time to slot Clemson commit Sheridan Jones. A longer cornerback with discipline and toughness, Jones does a great job of anticipating routes and baiting quarterbacks into bad throws. It is because of this that I think he should have a lot of success at Clemson, especially when it comes to creating turnovers.
Adam Gorney (National/West): One player who has five-star potential in the West region is Folsom, Calif., receiver Joseph Ngata, who has some of the best junior season film for any player at his position in the country. The only thing is I haven’t yet seen him in person. That will change early in the season when Folsom comes to play West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade. I’ve seen a lot of the receivers ahead of him in camps or 7on7 events and Ngata might be right up there with the best in the country. The Clemson commit has phenomenal size, strong hands, excellent speed and he has special ability to catch passes with cornerbacks hanging all over him.
Josh Helmholdt (Midwest): I spent most of my time at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge watching the linemen, during which my appreciation for Oklahoma offensive tackle commit Stacey Wilkins grew. I was already a Wilkins fan after seeing him at the Dallas Rivals Camp earlier in the year. He is not close to a finished product, but he has one of the highest potential ceilings of all the offensive linemen in this class. As someone else noted in our meetings, if Oklahoma can turn Orlando Brown Jr. into an All-American, imagine what it will do with Wilkins.
Nick Krueger (Texas): There weren’t a lot of players that I got involved in arguing for or against, but one guy that I wanted to make sure stayed in the Rivals250 is running back Titus Swen. He only has a couple of offers, but I have just seen him be too good in the times that I’ve watched him play for him to be excluded. Physically, he’s built as well and is as explosive as any back in the class but seems to have just kept his head low on the recruiting front and doesn’t have other teammates that attract a lot of programs to take a look at his school.
Chad Simmons (Southeast): It wasn't just me, but one I definitely was ready to be aggressive on was George Pickens. I have seen him probably three or four times over the spring and summer, and he clearly made a strong case to be a five-star. He impressed me enough the first time early in the spring to move into the Rivals100 last update, but after seeing him a couple more times, it was clear that he is one of the best playmakers in the country. Woody Wommack is another who liked him a lot, so it wasn't just me. Pickens is a young man who has really proved himself and I see him being a star on the next level.
Woody Wommack (Southeast): This won't come as a surprise to anyone who has read some of the other content that has come out this week, but George Pickens was the player I really went to bat for this time around. I had a chance to spend two days watching him at the IMG 7-on-7 National Championships and I really came away as impressed with him as I have been with any other prospect in this class. Luckily for Auburn fans, the Rivals.com analyst team didn't put up much of a fight on this one and Chad Simmons, who covers the state of Alabama for us, was also in Pickens' corner. That made it an easy decision to move him up to five-star status.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 9:59 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
2. Who might we have too high in the Rivals250?
Rob Cassidy (Southeast/Florida): Jadon Haselwood is a great player, but I’m not sure he’s the No. 3 player in the country. At his best, Haselwood is a hyper-elite prospect, but I’m not sure he’s shown the consistency on Friday nights or in camps to be in the top five. He’s a no-doubt Rivals100 prospect, but I would have him a bit lower than he currently sits. Then again, that might be splitting hairs.
Mike Farrell (National): Five-star Evan Neal is a guy I worry about a bit because when a player struggles with weight issues like he has, it can come back to bite them. He’s re-shaped his body and added speed and agility, but is this short-term dedication or is the way it will be moving forward. His ceiling is very high, but he worries me a bit as a five-star.
Adam Friedman (Mid-Atlantic): As has been stated before, this class as a whole isn't as good as the previous few. I worry about the quarterbacks in this class. They are pretty good and should be considered no-brainers for the Rivals100 but I'm not sure they are five-star caliber just yet. The season and the all-star games should help sort this out.
Adam Gorney (National/West): Matthew Pola-Mao hardly played in his junior season and when he did it was mainly on the offensive line. When I went to see his Phoenix (Ariz.) Mountain Pointe team during his sophomore year early in the season, Pola-Mao was out with an injury. And now it’s my understanding after transferring to Chandler, Ariz., Pola-Mao will miss a decent portion of his senior season due to state rules. At some point, Pola-Mao has to deliver the goods on the field. He’s rated as the eighth-best defensive tackle in the country and No. 159 overall. That’s mainly based on potential and hype early in his high school career. To stay at that high level, the four-star has to get on the field and dominate late in his senior season.
Josh Helmholdt (Midwest): I'm going to say Bo Nix here because I have scouted him the most, but Spencer Rattler could be interchanged here as well. I'm just not convinced we have a five-star quarterback in 2019. There are a lot of nice passers in this class, but I do not see one on the tier of Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields or J.T. Daniels.
Nick Krueger (Texas): Clemson commit Jaelyn Lay has all the ingredients that make me think that he’s a great tight end recruit: He’s tall, athletic, and had results in his one-on-one reps against defenders in the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by adidas. However, in watching him play, something still doesn’t grab me about his game. At the Five-Star Challenge, he was making catches it seems in spite of not being able to create much separation or being asked to push himself physically. I don’t think that he’s a certain miss at where he’s ranked; I just think the potential for him to be overrated is a real possibility.
Chad Simmons (Southeast): Florida commit Tyron Hopper had a great spring and summer in front of the Rivals.com team, and he shot up to No. 111 overall. He is definitely a Rivals250 talent, but 111, that could be a little high. He had numerous strong performances in shorts and a t-shirt, but he is still learning how to play the linebacker position. I love his athleticism, length and ball skills, so we will see how he does in full pads this season. There is no doubt he stood out each time he was on the stage to be evaluated in recent months.
Woody Wommack (Southeast): I continue to think that we are too high on Brian Williams at No. 35. Having seen him play last fall, I just didn't see him as one fo the best safties in the country. However, Williams has impressed other analysts in the camp setting so I was overruled on this one. I will be seeing him play again next month so we'll see if he can carry that improved play into Friday nights.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 10:00 pm to TigerPaw1
Take Two: Will Pickens wind up as No. 1 WR in 2019 class? (Rivals)
quote:
Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and an expert from the Rivals.com network.
Posted on 8/16/18 at 10:00 pm to TigerPaw1
quote:
THE STORYLINE
George Pickens is a new five-star, moving all the way up to No. 12 nationally and third at the receiver position behind Oklahoma commit Theo Wease and Georgia pledge Jadon Haselwood.
Pickens, who’s committed to Auburn, has excellent size at 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds. He looked good in limited action this offseason but did not do as many national events as Wease and Haselwood, so it could take some time to determine which prospect is the best receiver in the class.
Wease is super talented, ranked second overall in the 2019 class and looked the part at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by adidas this summer, where he beat top-ranked Derek Stingley, Jr., in a few one-on-one reps.
Haselwood has been dominant all offseason including at the Five-Star Challenge and the adidas National Championships, where he was arguably the best player at the entire event. Wease, Haselwood, Pickens and Oklahoma commit Trejan Bridges are the five-star receivers in this class at a loaded position.
After all is said and done, will Pickens move to No. 1 at receiver?
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