Big Cat Visitor Thread (June 2nd)

[WFE12 9,191]

Finally Booth arrived! Cam is there also!!!!!! Dang I wish I was there.

[AidiAU 1,270]

11 minutes ago, WFE12 said:

Finally Booth arrived! Cam is there also!!!!!! Dang I wish I was there.

I saw Carlton Davis is in AU. I was wondering which former players come in for the weekend. 

[ClaytonAU 4,606]

Cam Newton is a real OG

[ellitor 33,077]

1 hour ago, AidiAU said:

I know OP is HUGE for us, but I follow a lot of our recruits on social and I seriously think this is the first year where many of them have been super vocal (at least online) for AU. So refreshing

When @GwillMac6 Comes back online I’m sure he’ll be able to tell you about a few more the past couple of years. He posts about that stuff quite a bit.

[RunInRed 16,370]

 

[RunInRed 16,370]

 

[RunInRed 16,370]

 

[JFDTiger80 790]

Have to say I really want Cain and Booth on that list. Bout time we had another big time highly recruited back and since  Booth has showed a lot of interest in us we t would be hard to swallow to not have him in the family. 

[AUpreacherman22 3,883]

2 hours ago, ClaytonAU said:

Cam Newton is a real OG

I know the dark side could round up about 30 NFL players to rub elbows for a big recruiting weekend, but I don’t think all of them combined have the impact that Cam Newton has!  He has star power + marketability + a very infectious personality.  I’m SO glad he’s one of us.  Easily the most influential AU sports alum since Bo Jackson!

[AUpreacherman22 3,883]

43 minutes ago, RunInRed said:

 

31 total, 9 of which are top 10 at their position!  Very nice!

I know these are Rivals #s, but there are 3 composite 5*s, right? (OP, JH, and AB) with 2 or 3 others very close.  

[WFE12 9,191]

3 hours ago, AidiAU said:

I saw Carlton Davis is in AU. I was wondering which former players come in for the weekend. 

Cam, Carlos Rodgers, Chris Davis, and Montravious Adams

[RunInRed 16,370]

 

[ellitor 33,077]

Free from Keith...

3* Tye Edwards being recruited at RB. AU loves him. Obviously think he's underrated
3* Kenny Logan at safety.

[RunInRed 16,370]

 

[RunInRed 16,370]

 

[RunInRed 16,370]

 

[McLoofus 35,182]

10 minutes ago, ellitor said:

3* Tye Edwards being recruited at RB. AU loves him. Obviously think he's underrated

Harold Joiner fan club members take notice...

[ellitor 33,077]

I didn't post it earlier but Keith has a real time thread w/ 90% of the content free including this gem...

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4-star RB Noah Cain confirmed what we've been reporting -- AU is a much bigger factor than people think. Says there is a real chance the Tigers will get an official visit.

He is staying the night and will meet with Gus Malzahn on Sunday before heading home.

AU trending in the right direction.

 

 

[ellitor 33,077]

1 minute ago, McLoofus said:

Harold Joiner fan club members take notice...

Will create a thread on him sometime tonight.

[RunInRed 16,370]

 

[ellitor 33,077]

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5-star WR Jadon Haselwood had a good visit he says ... AU will get an official. Says he feels real comfortable here.

Haselwood told me he thinks UGA is starting to get concerned.

 

 

[McLoofus 35,182]

Is it wrong that Haselwood and Marshall have become my 2 biggest wants? No reason. It's just, like, you know, whatever...

[ellitor 33,077]

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UGA LB commit Trezmen Marshall is staying the night -- again.

 

[ellitor 33,077]

 

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Recruiting insider: Notes, intel from Big Cat Weekend at Auburn

5-star LB Owen Pappoe, Loganville, Ga.

• Pappoe started his interview, unprompted, saying the players he thinks the Tigers will land. Those three names (big ones, too): offensive guard Keiondre Jones, cornerback Andrew Booth and defensive lineman Colby Wooden. He said the vibe he’s getting from those three signals imminent commitments to the Tigers.
• After thinking about it, he wanted to bring up Georgia linebacker commit Trezmen Marshall who, as Pappoe aptly pointed out, made his second visit in three weeks to Auburn. This would’ve sounded crazy two months ago, but the chances of Marshall-to-Auburn is much higher than the chances of Pappoe-to-Georgia.

5-star WR Jadon Haselwood, Ellenwood, Ga. (Georgia)

• This was Haselwood’s third visit to Auburn this spring. He didn’t downplay the importance of that. Haselwood came to Big Cat Weekend with several family members — cousins, mother, siblings — because he wanted to experience the whole trip with his family. As he put it, family is what Big Cat Weekend is all about.
• He doesn’t have a date set, but Haselwood will take an official visit to Auburn in the fall.
• Haselwood made some interesting comments about his recruitment. He no-commented a question about where his recruitment stood. He said Auburn is definitely giving him something to think about. And he said he thinks Georgia is “concerned” about Auburn’s presence in his recruitment.
• He has a strong relationship with a few Auburn commits — Owen Pappoe, George Pickens and Bo Nix. They aren’t pressuring him, just like he isn’t pressuring them to Georgia, but those friendships matter to him. Haselwood said Pickens and Nix, his 7-on-7 teammates, are on him the hardest.

4-star OLB Derick Hall, Gulfport, Miss.

• Standing at the top for Hall: Auburn and Mississippi State. Hall said the gap isn’t huge between those programs and schools such as LSU, Florida State, Tennessee and Ole Miss, but Auburn and Mississippi State are the clear leaders.
• Hall hopes to make a summertime decision, but he’s open waiting into the fall if need be. He’ll sign and graduate in December. The official visit dates are being set up right now, but he plans to take his OV to Auburn for the LSU game in the fall.
• Hall is an after-football thinker. He’s an honor student who will enroll early and wants to major in engineering. That’s why he thinks Auburn is such a great fit for him. He said the Tigers talk to him more about the non-football side of things — Big Cat Weekend being a perfect example — more than any other program recruiting him.
• Maybe more than any other recruitment, this is a testament to the work done by new defensive backs coach Marcus Woodson. Auburn was well aware of many of the Mississippi prospects before Woodson’s arrival. That wasn’t the case for Hall who had a relationship with Woodson but not Auburn. That can’t be said anymore. The Tigers are a fixture in his recruitment and will be until the end.

4-star DE Jaren Handy, Meridian, Miss.

• Handy had a slightly different visit than most. He and his family came up on Thursday and stayed through the Big Cat Weekend festivities, so he got much more time with Auburn coaches than most. Handy preached how important it was for him to make a multi-day trip after the in-and-out visit last time.
• He said spent a lot of time with defensive lineman Marlon Davidson who he referred to as his “big brother.” When he wasn’t spending time with Davidson or Moore, Handy was with defensive line coach Rodney Garner.
• Handy raves about the way Garner treats his players. The word he uses to describe it: “real.” Garner hasn’t told Handy he’s going to come in and play right away. He hasn’t given him the typical recruiting pitches he hears from other schools. Garner is a no-nonsense guy as an on-field coach and that carries over to recruiting. Handy said he knows when Garner tells him something, it’s how he really feels and not something he’s saying simply to satisfy a recruit.
• Handy called Auburn his top school after the first visit he took this spring. He doesn’t want to name leaders after visits anymore, but he made it clear the Tigers are firmly a part of the top group.
• He wouldn’t say 10 out of 10, like Moore, but Handy said it’s “most likely” he and his close friend from Mississippi play together.

3-star DL Colby Wooden, Lawrenceville, Ga.

• Wooden said Auburn is high on his list, which quite frankly is stating the obvious. He’s taking an overnight visit and is one of the three players 5-star LB Owen Pappoe said he thinks is trending toward Auburn. Wooden wouldn’t say those words exactly, but he smirked when asked about Pappoe’s comments.
• In Wooden’s own words: “I absolutely love it here.”
• Wooden said Pappoe is in his ear constantly about joining the Auburn family. Interestingly, he said junior defensive tackle Derrick Brown has also spoken to him regularly — and at Big Cat Weekend — about committing to Auburn.
• Wooden called 5-star cornerback Andrew Booth “his brother” and that they talk from time-to-time about playing together at the next level. The two are a part of the Archer (Ga.) defense that will be one of the most dominant in the state of Georgia this fall.
• He plans narrow his process down soon. Auburn and Clemson are the two to watch. Wooden expects to make a commitment decision in August so he can focus on football. He won’t likely take any visits, unofficial or official, after making his commitment.

4-star DL Charles Moore, Louisville, Miss. (Miss. State)

• This is a return trip for the Mississippi State commit whose father recently moved to Opelika for work. That has given Moore multiple opportunities to visit Auburn, and that’s going to continue.
• Moore remains committed to Mississippi State, but he admits Auburn has pulled neck-and-neck with the Bulldogs. He likely won’t change anything with his commitment until after his senior season — as close to signing day as possible — but there’s no denying Auburn is as much of a factor here as Mississippi State.
• Moore gave a little insight into his growing interest in Auburn. During his ACL injury last year, defensive line coach Rodney Garner was one of the coaches who stuck with him most throughout the healing process. Garner made a major impression on him during that trying time.
• He has a close relationship with fellow Mississippi defensive linemen Jaren Handy (more on him below). Moore had this to say when asked if they want to play together at the next level: “If I come to Auburn, it’s a 10 out of 10 chance you’ll see Jaren beside me.”

3-star DL Jamond Gordon, Meridian, Miss.

• This was Gordon’s first visit to Auburn since de-committing from Ole Miss. Many viewed the Tigers as the primary reason why he de-committed from the Rebels. Gordon wouldn’t go so far as to say that, but Auburn is clearly a factor here.
• He doesn’t have a return date set, but Gordon knows he’ll be back on the Plains as soon as possible.
• Gordon said Big Cat Weekend stood out to him from other visits based on the ability to build relationships with one another. He called it a different kind of event than other visits, and that’s a positive.
• Gordon doesn’t have a new decision-making timeline after his Ole Miss de-commitment. He’s going to take his time with the rest of the process.
• Rodney Garner is open to the idea of Gordon playing defensive end or defensive tackle.

4-star DL Khris Bogle, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

• Bogle has been in regular contact with defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and area recruiter Larry Porter. They offered recently, and Bogle knew he wanted to come visit. He chose this weekend because of the family atmosphere, but also the fact Noah Cain and Andrew Booth were visiting. Those three are friends.
• Auburn is recruiting Bogle to play the Buck, he said. Bogle said he has mixed reactions about that because he plays with his hand down for his high school team. Still, he likes what Steele has been telling him about that position. He wants to learn a little more about it on his next visit.
• About that, Bogle said there’s a “100 percent” chance he makes it back for another Auburn visit.
• The other schools Bogle has interest in are Tennessee, Florida, Miami, Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State and Penn State. His high school coaches want him to commit in July before his season starts, but if he doesn’t do it then, Bogle plans to wait until National Signing Day.

4-star RB Kenny McIntosh, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

• McIntosh doesn’t have a top schools right now, but there are a few programs sticking out to him. Auburn, Oklahoma, Alabama and Miami are the four he mentioned right off the bat. He visited Alabama before Auburn and will go to Georgia next. McIntosh said Georgia could add itself to the mix after his trip there Sunday.
• McIntosh made his first visit, but he had a good idea of what to expect. He knows Shaun Shivers — who he calls “Worm” — and Shivers has sold Auburn well. Shivers told him how easy it is to fit in with coaches and players. McIntosh agreed with Shivers’ assessment after his first visit.
• Despite the distance from home, McIntosh isn’t worried about that as it pertains to Auburn.
• Area recruiter Larry Porter already had a prior relationship with McIntosh’s father, which has helped streamline the communication. That bond between McIntosh and Porter played a key role in getting him up on a visit.
• McIntosh expects to take one of his official visits to Auburn in the fall.

4-star RB Noah Cain, Bradenton, Fla.

• Auburn isn’t always mentioned by others when it comes to Cain. He set the record straight: “Auburn is definitely a big school in my recruitment. I talk with somebody from the staff every day. They make me a priority. They make me feel at home. I really can see myself here.”
• Cain kept using the word “genuine” to describe Auburn and its coaches. He said that’s how his mom and dad feel, too, which is why both of them have made return trip to the Plains. It’s an interesting word choice given the fact he said he plans to decipher each school from the next by how genuine he feels they are.
• Cain said one of Auburn’s big sales pitches is coming to Auburn to help dethrone Alabama. He smiled at the notion, saying the talk of the entire country is to beat Alabama and there would be no better place to do that than at Auburn.
• He will cut his list down to a top 5 before the start of his senior season, take his official visits in the fall and make his commitment decision after his senior season.

4-star OG Kingsley Eguakun, Jacksonville, Fla. (Miami)

• This was the second visit this spring for the Miami offensive guard commit. His tune changed slightly from the last visit to this one. Eguakun sounded much more open to the idea of Auburn than the last time, which should be fairly obvious since he returned.
• In fact, Eguakun said Auburn is in it and will take an official visit during the season. He said it’s somewhere he could see himself playing.
• There are only two schools Eguakun is still considering: Auburn and Miami. The Hurricanes have the edge because he’s committed there, and that isn’t changing anytime soon. But Eguakun said the Tigers are giving him “something to think about.”
• My take here: Eguakun will sign with Miami, but Auburn is making it interesting.

3-star DT LeDarrius Cox, Mobile, Ala. (Tennessee)

• The Tennessee commit landed an offer from Auburn at Big Cat Weekend. Kevin Steele, his area recruiter, gave him to him midway through the event. Cox’s smile talking about receiving the in-state offer told the story.
• Cox made it clear he’s still committed to Tennessee, but he’s keeping his options open. That isn’t exclusive to Auburn, but the Tigers made an impression.

4-star LB King Mwikuta, Lagrange, Ga. (Alabama)

• The Alabama commit, who has been recruited by Auburn since middle school, made it back to Auburn for the first time this spring. He was accompanied by a high school coach and his 2020 teammate Kobe Hudson. Mwikuta was one of the biggest surprise visitors on the day.
• With that said, don’t expect Mwikuta to sign anywhere other than Alabama. He has been open with Auburn coaches that his recruitment is virtually shut down. Mwikuta said the relationship between himself and Auburn remains strong, and he’s too good of a player for the Tigers to give up on even though they know chances are slim.
• If Mwikuta does take fall official visits, Auburn isn’t likely to receive one. Alabama, Miami and TCU (family member plays there) are the schools he will consider visiting officially.

4-star 2020 WR Kobe Hudson, Lagrange, Ga. (Auburn)

• Hudson said little has changed since committing to Auburn. Other schools stay in contact with him, but he’s made it clear Auburn is where he wants to be.
• He said, despite what Mwikuta says about his recruitment, he won’t give up recruiting him. “Every day, whenever I can,” is how Hudson describes the the regularity of his recruiting pitches to his Troup County (Ga.) teammates.
• Hudson has developed a friendship with 2019 wide receiver commit George Pickens. He said he talked with Pickens a lot during the visit and that the two were talking about how they needed to make sure more elite wide receivers followed their lead.
• He’s also taken on an ownership role recruiting for the 2020 class. Here are the names Hudson mentioned as guys he communicates with weekly: Leonard Manuel, Jermaine Burton and Javon Baker. Those three guys, plus Hudson, make up some of the best 2020 talent in the country at the wide receiver position.

 

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[corchjay 5,311]

Hearing from a buddy.  High school coach that talks with a staff member that Booth and Marshall are kind of blow away by the coaches this weekend.  I don’t get to hear much from defensive guys so that caught me off guard.

WDE