Auburn Kev 1,653 Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 1 on 1 with Auburn OL commit Avery Jernigan By Keith Niebuhr 9 hours ago BLACKSHEAR, GEORGIA — If there is one Auburn commit who truly seems to bleed orange and blue, it might be 4-star guard Avery Jernigan of Pierce County High. Not only has he given his verbal to the Tigers, but he has stopped visiting other schools (even though they haven't stopped recruiting him). Additionally, he’s working behind the scenes to help Auburn grow the 2020 recruiting class. Meantime, Jernigan’s stock seems to have risen after a strong camp season. He turned heads and that ultimately should help his ranking with the various recruiting sites. Right now, Jernigan is the No. 13 guard and No. 26 overall recruit in Georgia for 247Sports. And, he's a 4-star prospect for us. In the industry generated 247Sports Composite, which also factors in a player's ESPN and Rivals ratings, he's slightly below that. Jernigan, though, doesn't seem too concerned about his ranking. The small-town south Georgia product is about as easy going as they get off the field. Every time we've been around him, he's had a smile on his face. On the field, though, Jernigan is a different guy and his video shows someone who seems to play with a chip. Earlier this week, Auburn Undercover caught up with Jernigan at his school, which isn't too far north of the famed Okefenokee Swamp, to talk about a range of subjects. AUBURN UNDERCOVER: What’s your relationship like with Auburn offensive line coach J.B. Grimes, who we should point out stopped by your school Tuesday? Are you two close? What kind of guy is he? What's his personality like? In sum, what do you think of him? JERNIGAN: I would say our relationship has definitely grown a lot more since I committed back in February. He is a good guy. In a system that’s got kind of some crooked people or people who don’t necessarily stand for their values, Coach Grimes -- and the same thing with all the coaches at Auburn -- they are good, strong men who stand with their values. AUBURN UNDERCOVER: You told us before the A-Day game in April that you were about to shift roles and start to become more of a recruiter for Auburn. Has that happened and how active have you been recruiting this spring? JERNIGAN: Pretty active. One guy I’ve been talking to a lot is (3-star offensive lineman) Javion Cohen (of Phenix City Central High in Alabama). And, then we had (quarterbac) Chayil Garnett commit at the spring game. I’ve been pretty active recruiting, trying to get guys, getting on Twitter and just kind of getting out there. AUBURN UNDERCOVER: You've obviously had several private conversations with Cohen, who has emerged as a big Auburn offensive tackle target in the past few weeks. Without giving away too much of what you know — Cohen, after all, has to know he has some privacy when talking to other recruits — what do you think of Auburn’s chances with him? JERNIGAN: I think they’re good. He really likes it at Auburn. He’s still looking at maybe Georgia Tech and South Carolina also. He was committed to South Carolina at one time. But I think he likes us a lot. AUBURN UNDERCOVER: You’ve said many times you’re recruitment is shut down, that's you're done with other schools and locked in with Gus Malzahn's Auburn Tiger. Why did you feel comfortable doing that? What made you say, 'it's over?" After all, other schools still want you and would welcome you to visit. JERNIGAN: Last year when I went over there to Auburn, from the first time I was over there I knew it. I waited a little while to commit but when I did commit I knew I was 100 percent so I just went ahead and shut it down. AUBURN UNDERCOVER: You obviously want Auburn to do well in 2019. That goes without saying. But does what they do on the field this year mean anything? For argument’s sake, let’s play worse case scenario here. What if Auburn goes 4-8 and other people start to grab at you? Would anything the Tigers do on the field this upcoming season impact your recruitment? JERNIGAN: I’m an Auburn Tiger. That wouldn’t have anything to do with it, no sir AUBURN UNDERCOVER: You've visited the Tigers a lot lately. In fact, you went out and watched Auburn practice this spring a few times. That’s one of the benefits of being a recruit — you get to do things the media and fans can't. Every fan wants to know, who looked good to you -- specifically on the offensive line, which obviously was not a strength for the Tigers and J.B. Grimes during the previous season. JERNIGAN: On the offensive line, Marquel Harrell and Prince Tega Wanogho both looked really, really good this spring. AUBURN UNDERCOVER: Auburn has so much speed on the defensive side of the football and you’re an early enrollee. That means that only nine months from now you’re going to be practicing against those guys in the spring of 2020. So what do you think about the younger guys you saw on that defense you’ll be facing? JERNIGAN: It’s one of the best defenses in the SEC in my opinion. So it's going to be a change. They're fast, strong. That’s why you go … to be able to play against SEC-level competition. AUBURN UNDERCOVER: Tell us a little bit about your parents. Did either play college sports? Where are they from? JERNIGAN: My dad played at Valdosta State as an offensive lineman. He’s from here in Blackshear. And my mom is from about 10 minutes down the road in Waycross. AUBURN UNDERCOVER: Anybody else in your family play college football besides your dad? JERNIGAN: I had an uncle play at West Point. Defensive back. I had an uncle play at Liberty. He was a tight end. Now, I have a cousin at Ole Miss. AUBURN UNDERCOVER: Right now, you’re in that 6-feet-3, 300-pound range. But since we first started seeing you a year ago you seem to have gotten rid of some baby fat and transformed your body a little bit. Is that an accurate assessment? What has been the key for you to doing that? JERNIGAN: Yes. I think I put on a little too much weight (last year) a little too fast. And now, I’ve kind of worked to tone that weight. Instead of putting it on, I’ve started turning the fat into muscle. AUBURN UNDERCOVER: Usually after a player arrives at Auburn, we see a huge change in their body after about six months. A lot of that is weight training but a lot of it is diet. Have you already starting cutting out the fast foods, sodas and things of that nature? We know you offensive linemen like to eat -- and eat a lot -- so where do you stand diet wise? JERNIGAN: I’ve started making slow steps (smiling). It’s a tough thing. But especially being an early enrollee it’s about time to start getting all that stuff adjusted I would say. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerbrotha12 2,362 Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 2020 is the big year we will need to get through in terms of offensive linemen. I'm hoping that 2019 can be a grooming year for Jones, Bell, and Osborne. Buskey and Stutts should factor into 2020 as well as Troxell if he makes it back and can still play. Maybe Jernigan can be another Ryan Pugh/Reese Dismukes and start right away. Here's hoping... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLoofus 35,182 Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 2 minutes ago, tigerbrotha12 said: 2020 is the big year we will need to get through in terms of offensive linemen. I'm hoping that 2019 can be a grooming year for Jones, Bell, and Osborne. Buskey and Stutts should factor into 2020 as well as Troxell if he makes it back and can still play. Maybe Jernigan can be another Ryan Pugh/Reese Dismukes and start right away. Here's hoping... Don't forget about Brahms. I'd hope he can get a lot of reps backing up Kim this year and be ready to start next year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerbrotha12 2,362 Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 3 minutes ago, McLoofus said: Don't forget about Brahms. I'd hope he can get a lot of reps backing up Kim this year and be ready to start next year. I know a lot of things have to go right, and these guys have to actually perform well, but it really seems like we may make it through 2020 without a complete drop-off. Again, all these guys mentioned are unproven and don't have much experience, but there's talent there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird 60,292 Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 3 hours ago, tigerbrotha12 said: I'm hoping that 2019 can be a grooming year for Jones, Bell, and Osborne. Buskey and Stutts should factor into 2020 as well as Troxell if he makes it back and can still play. Buskey is the only tackle you have listed. They're trying Hamm, but haven't heard anything more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey 16,467 Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 16 hours ago, bigbird said: Buskey is the only tackle you have listed. They're trying Hamm, but haven't heard anything more. 2019 3* OT JustinOsborne Commits to AU!!! ellitor posted a topic in AU Recruiting Forum Update 6/24: Committed to AU Update 6/19: Decommitted from TCU after OV to AU 15+ major conference offers including AU, TCU, Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Okie St., Ole Miss, SMU, & Texas... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird 60,292 Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 3 minutes ago, Mikey said: 2019 3* OT JustinOsborne Commits to AU!!! ellitor posted a topic in AU Recruiting Forum Update 6/24: Committed to AU Update 6/19: Decommitted from TCU after OV to AU 15+ major conference offers including AU, TCU, Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Okie St., Ole Miss, SMU, & Texas... Man, you're a glutton... 31st ranked guard by 247. It doesn't matter what they played in HS. If it did, then the 9th ranked SDE of 2015 wouldn't be our starting LT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey 16,467 Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 22 hours ago, bigbird said: Man, you're a glutton... 31st ranked guard by 247. It doesn't matter what they played in HS. If it did, then the 9th ranked SDE of 2015 wouldn't be our starting LT. So 247 calls him a guard, our recruiting thread calls him a tackle, Rivals calls him OL. Since he was "recruited as" a tackle at AU any reasonable person would assume he'll start at OT. As to Prince Tega being moved, lots of people get moved. Jackson and Iggy are two more on the current team that have been moved. So what? They started their Auburn careers at the positions they were expected to play when recruited. Unless there's some hard evidence that Osborne has already been moved to guard, he's a tackle until moved. Hey! Maybe he's a "swing man", capable of playing both spots. If so, then, if as is whined about in some quarters we're short on tackles, guess where he'll be placed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird 60,292 Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 1 hour ago, Mikey said: So 247 calls him a guard, our recruiting thread calls him a tackle, Rivals calls him OL. Since he was "recruited as" a tackle at AU any reasonable person would assume he'll start at OT. As to Prince Tega being moved, lots of people get moved. Jackson and Iggy are two more on the current team that have been moved. So what? They started their Auburn careers at the positions they were expected to play when recruited. Unless there's some hard evidence that Osborne has already been moved to guard, he's a tackle until moved. Hey! Maybe he's a "swing man", capable of playing both spots. If so, then, if as is whined about in some quarters we're short on tackles, guess where he'll be placed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarDamnEagleWDE 12,737 Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 22 hours ago, Mikey said: So 247 calls him a guard, our recruiting thread calls him a tackle, Rivals calls him OL. Since he was "recruited as" a tackle at AU any reasonable person would assume he'll start at OT. As to Prince Tega being moved, lots of people get moved. Jackson and Iggy are two more on the current team that have been moved. So what? They started their Auburn careers at the positions they were expected to play when recruited. Unless there's some hard evidence that Osborne has already been moved to guard, he's a tackle until moved. Hey! Maybe he's a "swing man", capable of playing both spots. If so, then, if as is whined about in some quarters we're short on tackles, guess where he'll be placed? He was recruited to AU as a guard who might get a shot at tackle if needed. Looks like he will get a shot at tackle. But was recruited to be the next Bradon Smith by this staff. AU really didn't want to move him outside. Kid could be a mauler on the inside. Love the reasonable person comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey 16,467 Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 24 minutes ago, WarDamnEagleWDE said: He was recruited to AU as a guard who might get a shot at tackle if needed. The 2019 recruiting thread on this forum lists him as an OT. If you can't believe homefolks, who can you believe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird 60,292 Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 2 hours ago, Mikey said: The 2019 recruiting thread on this forum lists him as an OT. If you can't believe homefolks, who can you believe? I don't know, maybe the coaches or the paid recruiting experts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aujeff11 6,243 Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 9 minutes ago, bigbird said: I don't know, maybe the coaches or the paid recruiting experts. I choose to believe those people too. 🤫 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLoofus 35,182 Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 3 hours ago, Mikey said: The 2019 recruiting thread on this forum lists him as an OT. If you can't believe homefolks, who can you believe? Homefolks Roster I could knock out 3 more of these off the top of my head. Besides... aren't you arguing with homefolks? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeek 16,525 Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 Yes, he's now a 3* and is an OG as far as we're considered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey 16,467 Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 20 hours ago, McLoofus said: Homefolks Roster I could knock out 3 more of these off the top of my head. Besides... aren't you arguing with homefolks? That link to the roster was quite inane. Osborne isn't even on that roster. Prince Tega has nothing to do with what position Osborne was recruited to play. What's your fixation on Tega and why not start your own thread about him? Osborne's position is the subject of the recent discussion here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey 16,467 Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 21 hours ago, bigbird said: I don't know, maybe the coaches or the paid recruiting experts. He's listed on our recruiting thread as an OT, on Rivals as an OL. As to coaches, I haven't seen them comment one way or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey 16,467 Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 18 hours ago, Zeek said: Yes, he's now a 3* and is an OG as far as we're considered This is the first I've heard that we consider Osborne to be an OG. Is there a source other than those who delight in saying we didn't recruit any tackles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird 60,292 Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 7 minutes ago, Mikey said: This is the first I've heard that we consider Osborne to be an OG. Is there a source other than those who delight in saying we didn't recruit any tackles? Try the 247 link I posted previously for you. I've told you in December he was a projected as a Guard. I've told you he is a guard many times since then. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey 16,467 Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 10 minutes ago, bigbird said: Try the 247 link I posted previously for you. I've told you in December he was a projected as a Guard. I've told you he is a guard many times since then. I saw the 247 link when you first posted it, and responded with a Rivals link that says "OL" and our recruiting link that says "OT". You've told me? I'm sorry, but since your game is "OMG we didn't recruit any tackles" I'll have to have better than that. That's no better than me saying K. Jones will be moved to tackle. Most of these guys start where they are recruited to play (see the over-mentioned Tega) and then get moved if necessary. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cole256 16,959 Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 The fact that if no other position, we have showed that you can get to the NFL playing for us and we have an incredible need and a clear path to early playing time at a big time school against big time opponents in a big time conference. Where you absolutely have a stage and we don't have guys fighting to come play for us is so disappointing.....we shouldnt ever be in a desperate spot for running backs and o line. It's like we're a gun shop that need bullets.....why? We didn't anticipate the need to order? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLoofus 35,182 Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 7 hours ago, Mikey said: That link to the roster was quite inane. Osborne isn't even on that roster. Prince Tega has nothing to do with what position Osborne was recruited to play. What's your fixation on Tega and why not start your own thread about him? Osborne's position is the subject of the recent discussion here. You're right, Prince Tega has nothing to do with the position Osborne will play, because Prince Tega is an offensive tackle. You nailed that one! Clown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,039 Posted May 18, 2019 Author Share Posted May 18, 2019 6 hours ago, bigbird said: Try the 247 link I posted previously for you. I've told you in December he was a projected as a Guard. I've told you he is a guard many times since then. Just a FTR. All AU recruiting reporters are still saying Grimes likes him as an OT all the way. Now since Gus makes the actual position calls on O it may mean nothing but still thought I'd share. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey 16,467 Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 6 hours ago, McLoofus said: You're right, Prince Tega has nothing to do with the position Osborne will play, because Prince Tega is an offensive tackle. You nailed that one! Clown. I very much did nail it. The question being discussed is where Osborne will play. You posting a link to a roster that doesn't even show Osborne on it as proof that he won't play tackle is a real hoot! I think your coach should have yelled at you "get your head in the game", because your head certainly wasn't in this game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird 60,292 Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 6 hours ago, ellitor said: Just a FTR. All AU recruiting reporters are still saying Grimes likes him as an OT all the way. Now since Gus makes the actual position calls on O it may mean nothing but still thought I'd share. Just a FTR, the coaches recruited and anticipated him as a guard. He has 35 1/2" which will allow him a chance to play tackle, but he is a guard.for any other SEC team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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