Kodi The Recruiter

[ellitor 33,092]

 

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Kodi Burns, the recruiter, receives rave reviews from top Auburn targets in pivotal recruiting cycle

AUBURN, Ala. — At 28 years old, Kodi Burns is younger than the average college football coach.

Burns has made a fast rise up the coaching ranks since finishing up his Auburn playing career in 2010. Since 2012, Burns has taken the fast track from Arkansas State grad assistant to Auburn wide receivers coach. He’s one of only five position coaches across the SEC under 30 years old, which should be applauded, not criticized.

That’s not always the case.

In his first recruiting cycle as receivers coach, Auburn hauled in two wide receivers — Noah Igbinoghene and JaTarvious Whitlow. Both are impressive talents, but their recruiting rankings didn’t make Tigers’ fans celebrate the way they would’ve with potential additions like Henry Ruggs or Nico Collins.

Burns has heard the critics. He’s ready to quiet them during the 2018 recruiting cycle.

“I think that obviously the year before we signed a big-time class with Nate Craig, Kyle Davis, Eli Stove, Marquis McClain. So really the urgency of a recruiting class that year wasn’t that high per se as it will be this year because you’ve always got to have some separation in there,” Burns said. “But I’m pleased with the type of men that we got and the type of players that we got.”

He knows the 2018 class will be a big one for the receiver position. He knows he will be judged on his performance in this cycle. That drives him.

Auburn wide receivers coach Kodi Burns (Benjamin Wolk/SEC Country)

But Burns doesn’t feel pressure to succeed on the recruiting trail because he knows the groundwork he set for the 2018 class when he started the job. The Tigers have a long list of high-priority receiver targets — Justyn Ross, Seth Williams, Matthew Hill, Jacob Copeland, Kearis Jackson and Marquez Ezzard, to name a few — who all are high on Auburn.

That’s Burns, the recruiter, in action.

His work isn’t complete. There aren’t any commitments yet, though there certainly are a few on the verge. And that’s where most of the criticism comes in. The “outside world,” as Burns referred to it, doesn’t have any hard proof of what he can do as a recruiter yet, so he knows the onus is on him to show it.

Burns finds solace knowing that, just because he’s newer to an SEC position coach role, he has found recruiting gems at all of his previous stops — including his time as an Auburn grad assistant in 2013.

“Obviously what a lot of people don’t realize is that even as a graduate assistant you do recruit — you just don’t go on the road and recruit. So I’ve been doing this now about six years and I’ve been a part of a lot of recruiting classes,” Burns said. “But it’s always good to go off on your own, get your own room and actually sign some guys, which I’ve done for now three years.”

The baffling thing about Burns’ recruiting criticism: Much of it suggests it’s because he’s too young to succeed, which is somewhat backwards logic — at least if you take recruits’ opinions into account.

Burns is able to connect with 18-year-old prospects in a way that most older position coaches are less capable of doing. He has experienced the Auburn lifestyle as a wide receiver. Only seven seasons ago, he was playing in a national championship game. Recruits identify with that, and Burns uses it to his advantage on the recruiting trail.

“I just think that really being able to relate to these guys is the positive. Being a younger guy that gets it, that’s not that far removed. That understands that hey, I know what you’re going through I know what you’re feeling,” Burns said. “Just the relationship aspect that I can relate to them on a different level than most guys can, I think is a really positive thing.”

Want proof of that strengthened relationship? Just ask Auburn’s top wide receiver targets.

That’s what SEC Country did last Sunday at the Nike Opening camp in Atlanta. Five of Auburn’s most high-profile wide receiver targets were asked their opinion on Burns’ youth and how it affects their impression of Auburn.

Predictably, they all issued 5-star reviews.

4-star WR Seth Williams, Paul W. Bryant (Ala.)

“We’re real good. We talk and text every chance we get. He talks with my dad and mom all the time, too. He’s cool. He understands where you’re coming from. I mean, he just played in the national championship against Oregon, so he’s real cool and understands you. He’s young like you. He came through Auburn. He knows it.”

4-star WR Justyn Ross, Central (Ala.)

“We’re very close. We talk almost every day. Not just football, but life. Since he’s younger, I connect with him a lot more because he understands everything that’s going on with me in my life. That’s a big thing.”

4-star WR Jacob Copeland, Escambia (Fla.)

“It’s always good talking with Coach Burns. He’s a cool dude, man. He speaks it real to me, how everything would be set up if I were to come to Auburn. Him being a young guy, it’s easier to relate to, and that makes all the difference.”

4-star WR Matthew Hill, Brookwood (Ga.)

“He’s a young guy. He just left the NCAA football-wise, playing at the next level, so he knows what he’s talking about. He gets it from my perspective. It helps because I like to have a good relationship with the coach. Because he’s younger, I know it can definitely be a stronger relationship.”

4-star WR Kearis Jackson, Peach County (Ga.)

“It’s like a big brother-little brother thing because he’s so young. He treats me like I’m his younger brother, and he’s always giving me good advice. It’s easier to identify with. You get some real-deal things about recruiting because — him actually going to Auburn recently, winning a national championship, that means a lot. It helps show me how things are actually going to be in college.”

 

 

[LKEEL75 2,566]

I just got done reading this article.  I think this falls in line with exactly what I heard on the radio today.  It is speculation until he proves it.  The same goes for our passing game and our DL.  Until they actually throw to a TE and until the DL actually fills the shoes of those who left, I will be in a wait and see state.  Don't get me wrong.  I am not downing CKB.  I am just saying that we need to see results to prove his words.

[WarEagle1983 2,185]

14 minutes ago, lkeel75 said:

I just got done reading this article.  I think this falls in line with exactly what I heard on the radio today.  It is speculation until he proves it.  The same goes for our passing game and our DL.  Until they actually throw to a TE and until the DL actually fills the shoes of those who left, I will be in a wait and see state.  Don't get me wrong.  I am not downing CKB.  I am just saying that we need to see results to prove his words.

Good 1st comment to set the tone for this discussion. I agree 100%. I'm not handing out any grades until we see some games played. 

[GwillMac6 20,671]

Compliments are for closers. 

[AuburnNTexas 7,142]

Like others have said the proof is in the results. That said to have every recruit speak highly of him after so many on this board have been negative is very refreshing.  I am hoping he will prove that he has grown and will become a solid recruiter.

[Gowebb11 9,319]

4 hours ago, ellitor said:

“I think that obviously the year before we signed a big-time class with Nate Craig, Kyle Davis, Eli Stove, Marquis McClain. So really the urgency of a recruiting class that year wasn’t that high per se as it will be this year because you’ve always got to have some separation in there,” Burns said. “But I’m pleased with the type of men that we got and the type of players that we got.”

I'm a big fan of Kodi and this whole staff. I'm impressed by the comments recruits are making. But I don't care for his comment about the sense of urgency not being as high because we signed a big class last year. I hope I'm taking it out of context. To become a consistent championship contender, the sense of urgency has to be every year at every position. The one word most commonly cited by recruits for the nations top recruiters: Relentless. WDE

[GwillMac6 20,671]

24 minutes ago, Gowebb11 said:

I'm a big fan of Kodi and this whole staff. I'm impressed by the comments recruits are making. But I don't care for his comment about the sense of urgency not being as high because we signed a big class last year. I hope I'm taking it out of context. To become a consistent championship contender, the sense of urgency has to be every year at every position. The one word most commonly cited by recruits for the nations top recruiters: Relentless. WDE

SPOT THE HECK ON!

[Mikey 16,580]

20 hours ago, Gowebb11 said:

I'm a big fan of Kodi and this whole staff. I'm impressed by the comments recruits are making. But I don't care for his comment about the sense of urgency not being as high because we signed a big class last year. I hope I'm taking it out of context. To become a consistent championship contender, the sense of urgency has to be every year at every position. The one word most commonly cited by recruits for the nations top recruiters: Relentless. WDE

We signed one very good WR. Anybody that watched Iggy in the AL/MS game knows that. The '15 class had five LB's so we only took one in '16. The practice of following a big group with a very small one is not unprecedented.

Then there's the fact that we've used 24 of our 25 slots and are on the verge of giving slot #25 to a transfer lineman, OL or DL to be determined. So, it's like fishing with a bag limit of 25. Which signee should we have thrown back in order to get another WR? Which two should have been thrown back in order to sign two more WR?

It looks to me like Kodi is doing just fine recruiting.

[DAG 33,981]

26 minutes ago, Mikey said:

We signed one very good WR. Anybody that watched Iggy in the AL/MS game knows that. The '15 class had five LB's so we only took one in '16. The practice of following a big group with a very small one is not unprecedented.

Then there's the fact that we've used 24 of our 25 slots and are on the verge of giving slot #25 to a transfer lineman, OL or DL to be determined. So, it's like fishing with a bag limit of 25. Which signee should we have thrown back in order to get another WR? Which two should have been thrown back in order to sign two more WR?

It looks to me like Kodi is doing just fine recruiting.

 

 

You are just arguing for the sake of it. I am assuming the poster is saying he hopes Kodi doesn't become lackadaisical in recruiting just because there isn't a high priority in his position. Example: You might've got a 100 on a previous exam and now you are in very good standing on that subject. Does this mean you should have a lack of urgency to study for the next exam, even though there are other subjects that you may need to give priority to?

[WarDamnEagleWDE 12,737]

39 minutes ago, Mikey said:

We signed one very good WR. Anybody that watched Iggy in the AL/MS game knows that. The '15 class had five LB's so we only took one in '16. The practice of following a big group with a very small one is not unprecedented.

Then there's the fact that we've used 24 of our 25 slots and are on the verge of giving slot #25 to a transfer lineman, OL or DL to be determined. So, it's like fishing with a bag limit of 25. Which signee should we have thrown back in order to get another WR? Which two should have been thrown back in order to sign two more WR?

It looks to me like Kodi is doing just fine recruiting.

Kodi's recruits more than just WR's. FWIW. 

[WarDamnEagleWDE 12,737]

On 3/29/2017 at 0:38 PM, ellitor said:

 

 

Did they really put a quote from Seth Williams in that article? Wow, I'd left that one out of the article. 

[Gowebb11 9,319]

43 minutes ago, Mikey said:

We signed one very good WR. Anybody that watched Iggy in the AL/MS game knows that. The '15 class had five LB's so we only took one in '16. The practice of following a big group with a very small one is not unprecedented.

Then there's the fact that we've used 24 of our 25 slots and are on the verge of giving slot #25 to a transfer lineman, OL or DL to be determined. So, it's like fishing with a bag limit of 25. Which signee should we have thrown back in order to get another WR? Which two should have been thrown back in order to sign two more WR?

It looks to me like Kodi is doing just fine recruiting.

Please note I qualified my comments by acknowledging I may be taking them out of context. My point is that whether you have room to sign 1 or 10, a sense of urgency has to be there every year at every position.  WDE

[ellitor 33,092]

14 minutes ago, WarDamnEagleWDE said:

Did they really put a quote from Seth Williams in that article? Wow, I'd left that one out of the article. 

Keith has wrote a couple articles about him too. Apparently we are recruiting him the hardest right now.

[WarDamnEagleWDE 12,737]

Also FWIW, Copeland does like him some Kodi. Likes the way Kodi is straight up with him about everything.