re: 2023 Recruiting

Dukes wrote a post about how Auburn is recruiting so here's a rundown:

— What Auburn Does Well: Evaluating players as evidenced by them identifying Brock Glenn before he became a 4*

— Getting recruits on campus and letting Auburn sell itself.

— Exhibits strong "board discipline" and sticks to it's board even when highly ranked players want to commit. They'd rather take a lower ranked player that fits what they want to do rather than take a high ranked player that doesn't.

— Hiring off field staff such as Ruzic and Reed.


— Keeps it real and won't tell recruits that need development that they'll be a starter unless they feel they will be and preaches big on competition and getting better daily.

— They answer tough questions that parents and recruits have about February since other schools have been using that against them for negative recruiting and has made recruits feel more comfortable by being open and honest.

— They're reactive to feedback to some concerns brought by the media and others and those who cover Auburn have noticed a change. The most noticable being the increased focus on juniors in regards to BCW and getting an early start could pay big dividends in the next recruiting cycle.

Things Auburn can work on:

— NIL. The time it took for Auburn's NIL to take off has hurt them in comparison to other schools who've had theirs up and running for months, but Auburn's will make sure they're doing things the right way.

— Recruiting from the top. Harsin and Schmedding have been doing a good job recruiting, but if they want to compete for big time recruits they're going to have to match the intensity of other head coaches and coordinators. Dukes says adjustments are Harsin's strong suit and thinks it'll get better.

— Recruiting using a team based approach instead of silos. Last year's biggest success towards ESD was position recruiters and area recruiters teaming up to seal the deal. If Auburn does this earlier in the cycle he thinks it'll have a big impact.

— having consistent communication with coaches of high ranked players or players they're after if Auburn can nail the weekly check ins with those coaches it'll make a big difference.

Making visits better without losing tradition. Auburn can add some things to the OV to enhance it, like the example Dukes gave was Michigan State HC Mel Tucker opens his mansion up to recruits and parents and gets to know them better and has a live DJ and karaoke party, and he's heard Kirby does something similar.

If Auburn builds a fun experience that recruits know about beforehand then Auburn can further capitalize on the OV experience.

Quotes on recruiting: " They are closer than what people think, without February they would be in a better spot. It's just always some drama down there." - Rival Staffer

"Coach Harsin ain't nothing like they try to make him out to be, he treated me and my folks well."- 2023 recruit considering Auburn

"It was cool at Auburn, it just wasn't much to do once we left the facility." - 2023 recruit following an OV.

"We didn't spend hardly any time talking about NIL." -2023 recruit following an official visit

"If Auburn gets that building rocking with the right kids in the building, Jordan-Hare is like an ace recruiter in itself." - Rival Staffer

"I ask kids, What can you get at Auburn that you can't get here, then I ask what can you get here that you can't get at Auburn?"

- Rival staffer

"I'm not a high maintenance dude so I love what Auburn is selling. This is football not no beauty pageant." - 2023 recruit

"Coach Harsin loves ball, he gave me some pointers I'm going to run with this season, I need to get at him more often." - HS coach of a 2023 target

The nice comments are worthless without the commitments. We’re attracting some top guys so it’s not like they’re totally lost. But there’s a clear disconnect somewhere. I don’t know if it’s NIL, Harsin’s job security, or lackluster results last season.

I don’t think the comments are complete bullshite, though. And I’ll catch heat on this but it looks to me like the staff learned a lot from year 1 to year 2. That said, Auburn can’t survive as a learn-on-the-job program. And we needed those lessons to translate to results now. Auburn isn’t Kentucky. We needed Harsin to be where we’re at now last year year.

I’m a patient guy and I like Harsin and I want him to succeed. And I’m generally positive overall. But our known board of recruits has been decimated this summer. And NIL is shifting commitments earlier than ever. We’re not just on the outside looking in — we’re still trying to find a parking spot

Lolz

We need all the marketing we can get at this point. Spread that messaging all over the damn place.

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We’re attracting some top guys so it’s not like they’re totally lost. But there’s a clear disconnect somewhere

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I agree some of the position coaches appear to be doing a good job recruiting and getting guys on campus for the head coach to close on. That’s my take. I respect honesty and being up front from anyone but the job is to get players on the team. Every coach knows you have to as Coach G used to call it “de-recruit” them after they are on the team.

Even the beat writers are starting to swing to well we are gonna take a small class of like 17 and really hit the portal hard at the end of the season and that’s why the new guy is here to find talent before they hit the portal. What a crock of shite.

I think you mean ACT of 4. You can’t have brain activity at an IQ of 4. I think the brain stem itself is higher then 4.

Health and drivers Ed teacher lol. Cushy job

I gotcha. Yeah he had his struggles for sure

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Both of those years were epic failures, especially in retrospect - and yet the program showed remarkable success just two years later despite them (SEC West champs in 2000, BCS champs in 2010).

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Agreed. Unfortunately I think the underwhelming classes are what prevented a continuation of success.