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

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Chad Simmons breaks down four-star linebacker Owen Pappoe and his commitment to the Tigers.

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Owen Pappoe to Auburn

Why it’s big for the Tigers: Pappoe is the type of prospect that can have an instant impact at the next level and quickly becomes the crown jewel of Auburn's class alongside the nation’s top quarterback, Bo Nix. Pappoe has been a national name on the recruiting circuit since he was in the eighth grade and for long stretches during his recruitment, both Tennessee and Georgia seemed to have the upper hand. The fact that the Tigers were able to reach into the Atlanta-area and nab Poppoe shows just how much muscle the staff has in the Peach State.

Why it hurts for others: Many Georgia fans saw Pappoe as the heir apparent to recent first-round draft pick and All-American linebacker Roquan Smith so not landing Pappoe is a blow. What makes it hurt even worse is the fact that Georgia seemed to have a decent lead for him earlier in the year only to have Auburn make up ground and eventually land his commitment. Expect Georgia to keep fighting here, especially considering that the first signing period is still more than seven months away. As far as Tennessee, the Vols made a strong late push and were once Pappoe’s dream school, but the new staff had a lot of ground to make up and not much time to do it. Texas, LSU and Penn State were also involved with Pappoe but shouldn’t feel bad about losing out on him to the Tigers.

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Owen Pappoe took official visits to LSU, Penn State and Texas in the month of April, but the real battle for the No. 21-ranked prospect in the country was between the Auburn Tigers and the in-state Georgia Bulldogs.

Many on the outside following Pappoe's recruitment felt he was a strong Georgia lean for months and some even called him a lock to stay home with the Bulldogs, but on Tuesday evening, the four-star linebacker out of Loganville (Ga.) Grayson announced that he is headed for the Plains.

Why did Pappoe commit to the Tigers?

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RIVALS REACTION: Is this over? Pappoe confirmed he plans to take his final two official visits between now and December's Early Signing Period. He said Auburn will receive one and he is unsure of the other. You can expect Georgia will try hard to get that one. This commitment is huge for Auburn. The Tigers have some real momentum and they are likely not done in Georgia. As a player, Pappoe is a freak athlete who will be a sideline to sideline player on the next level. He is strong, explosive and he has great instincts on the second level. He has a chance to be a real difference maker early in his career.

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Auburn has landed the centerpiece of its 2019 recruiting class.

Five-star linebacker Owen Pappoe, the nation's eighth-ranked recruit, announced his commitment to the Tigers on Tuesday evening during a ceremony in Atlanta. Pappoe is the sixth commit of the class for Auburn, which has landed commitments in consecutive days after adding four-star cornerback Jaylin Simpson on Monday morning.

The 6-foot, 209-pound Pappoe chose Auburn over Tennessee and Georgia, providing the Tigers with an enormous win on the recruiting trail over one of their biggest rivals -- and a team that has been on a roll recruiting-wise under head coach Kirby Smart. It also gave the Tigers some positive news after missing out on Pappoe's Grayson High (Loganville, Ga.) teammate, four-star offensive tackle Wanya Morris, who committed to Tennessee shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday.

"It's just a place, every time I go there, it feels like home," said Pappoe, who added that he felt Auburn was the right choice two months ago while on a visit. "My family loves it over there every time they come."

Pappoe is rated as the No. 1 outside linebacker in the 2019 class, and he's regarded as the second-best player in the state of Georgia, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, behind only five-star wide receiver Jadon Haselwood, who is committed to the Bulldogs.

His commitment boosted Auburn's 2019 class from No. 25 to No. 19 in the nation in the 247Sports team rankings.

The addition of Pappoe, who set an all-time Nike The Opening regional SPARQ testing score last month with a 147.12, provides Auburn with its third defensive commitment of the 2019 class, joining Simpson and three-star cornerback Cordale Flott. Pappoe is the first linebacker in the class for Auburn.

Pappoe's decision to commit to Auburn also gives the Tigers their third-highest rated recruit of the 247Sports Composite era, which goes back to 2000. His 0.9946 overall composite rating is behind only former Auburn defensive lineman Byron Cowart (0.9968) and linebacker Tray Blackmon (0.9956). Cowart, a member of Auburn's 2015 class, never panned out once he arrived on the Plains and left the program early last season before transferring to Maryland this spring. Blackmon, meanwhile, was a Freshman All-American in 2006 after redshirting his first season but battled injuries and suspensions the remainder of his career.

The Tigers are hopeful that Pappoe, who was first offered a scholarship by Auburn in 2015 while he was an eighth-grader and Will Muschamp was the program's defensive coordinator, will pan out better than each of those two, and belief within the program is that the Grayson High product can be a difference maker on defense from Day 1.

"They let me know that I'm welcome there," Pappoe said, "and I know that I can come in as a freshman and make a big impact."

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Anyone know who he would be able to personally convince to also sign with us?

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We get 4*s every year & occassional 5s. Not seeing the struggles you speak of.

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3* Boobie Whitlow

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