Early names to track for the 2020 class

[ellitor 33,062]

By Keith

 

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Robby Ashford

Robby Ashford, QB, Hoover (Ala.): Ashford is extremely high on Auburn. But he also likes Georgia and it probably will come down to those two schools. Also a factor in this equation: His desire to play college baseball. Auburn leads in the 247Sports Crystal Ball but it appears as though the Bulldogs have some momentum. He wants to have a commit decision this spring.

 

Demarkcus Bowman

Demarkcus Bowman, RB, Lakeland: One of new running backs coach Cadillac Williams' first stops as an Auburn assistant was to see this 5-star back in Florida last month. Bowman told us in January he hoped to visit the Tigers in the near future. Right now, Williams and Auburn have some work to do. Florida, Alabama and Georgia are the teams to watch. His school has sent numerous players to the Gators. That Williams went to see Bowman on Day 1 on the road tells you what the Tigers think of him.

Tank Bigsby

Tank Bigsby, RB, Hogansville (Ga.) Callaway: Auburn, Georgia and South Carolina are the main players here at this time and the Gamecocks appear to be trending up the most. Some think they're recruiting him the hardest. Bigsby is coming off a monster junior season and has a few friends who will play for Auburn, including offensive line teammate Keiondre Jones. Said Bigsby recently of Auburn: “They’re just different. The atmosphere is different. You can tell when a coach is being real and stuff. I like when coaches have been through what we’ve been through. They know how we want to play as true freshmen. Most of the new coaches they’ve got there, they’ve played and been where we’ve been.”

 

Lawrance Toafili

Lawrance Toafili, RB, Pinellas Park (Fla.): Not long after Williams visited Bowman, he was in Tampa Bay to check on this 4-star recruit. Florida State, Michigan and Ohio State are some of the other schools involved early in this recruitment. FSU leads in the 247Sports Crystal Ball, but Toafili says he's open. Is there interest from him in Auburn? “Yeah, for sure,” Toafili sid. “They’re trying to get me to come up soon, whenever I can. I’m trying to make that happen. I’ve got to talk to my mom and figure it out.”

 

Roydell Williams

Roydell Williams, RB, Hueytown (Ala.): Cadillac Williams stopped by the Alabama commit's school last month. When Williams chose the Tide in November, Auburn was the runner-up. The Tigers, though, plan to keep recruiting him. Is he flippable? Time will tell. It won't be easy. But Auburn certainly will work to get him back on campus. How he bonds with Williams will determine if the Tigers have any shot. Our best guess is, he sticks with the Tide.

Kobe Pryor

Kobe Pryor, RB, Cedartown (Ga.): Auburn offered Pryor on Feb. 2 and has emerged as the team to beat. Williams visited Pryor's school last month and the two have hit it off. Look for Pryor to visit the Tigers again soon. It wouldn't be a surprise if Pryor is a 4-star at some point. Attention in him is soaring.

 

 

Eddie Williams

E.J. Williams, WR, Phenix City (Ala.) Central: Auburn had long been the favorite to land the lanky receiver from down the road, but now Clemson seems to have emerged as the team to beat. That he's former teammates with Clemson star receiver Justyn Ross isn't hurting Clemson. Williams visited Auburn in early February. He continues to think highly of the Tigers and the staff. But with anyone and everyone heavily pursuing him, his recruitment doesn't look like it will end anytime soon.

J.J. Evans

J.J. Evans, WR, Montevallo (Ala.): Evans came within 30 yards of the state of Alabama's all-time receiving record for a season with 1,706 in 2018. Auburn was among his first big offers, but other major programs have since followed. Alabama and Clemson are two of the programs that are showing major interest. LSU is another to watch. He should be back on campus at Auburn in the near future.

Alex Adams

Alex Adams, WR, Magnolia (Miss.) South Pike: He committed to Mississippi State on Feb. 14. Four days, later Auburn offered. Now, he plans to visit the Tigers on March 2. That would be his first trip to the school. “Yes, I have interest in Auburn,” Adams said. “A lot of interest in the program.”

Tate Ratledge

Tate Ratledge, OT, Rome (Ga.) Darlington School: To become a factor, Auburn really has some work to do here. Ratledge is a major target for most of the elite programs in the South -- and beyond. While he has visited Auburn before, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee look like the teams to watch at this time. It's an uphill climb at the moment. He's visiting Georgia this weekend.

 

Bryn Tucker

Bryn Tucker, OT, Knoxville Catholic (Tenn.): The 247Sports Crystal Ball favors Tennessee, but there are some who don't see him landing there. We expect Tucker to visit the Tigers in the near future. Auburn was in on him fairly early and hopes that pays off with him making his way there a few more times. Clemson is another program to watch. Tucker most recently visited Auburn last fall. “It’s awesome,” he said. “I went to watch them play LSU last year. The atmosphere was amazing. Huge student section. It’s just awesome.”

Javion Cohen

Javion Cohen, OT, Phenix City (Ala.) Central: Cohen does not yet hold an Auburn offer but the Tigers are giving him a good look. He visited them Feb. 2 and thinks an offer could come during his team's spring practice period. Cohen was among the top players on a team that just easily won the Class 7A state championship in Alabama last December. His stock seems to be rising. If Auburn offers, it would be a huge factor.

Trey Zimmerman

Trey Zimmerman, OT, Roswell (Ga): Zimmerman has emerged as a big Tigers target of late. He visited Auburn in January with family and left home with a Tigers offer. Look for him to return this spring. With Auburn needing tackles in 2020, Zimmerman absolutely will be someone to closely track.

 

Chris Mayo

Chris Mayo, OT/OG, Hightstown (N.J.) The Peddie School: Auburn appears to be a significant factor for the New Jersey standout and he already has visited the Tigers twice. The first trip came during the summer in 2018. Then, he returned last season for a game at Jordan-Hare Stadium -- and he was impressed by the experience. This would seem to illustrate that his interest in the Tigers is strong. He hopes to return in the near future and it's possible the Tigers could get an official visit. 

Jalen Rivers

Jalen Rivers, OT, Orange Park (Fla.) Oakleaf: Rivers recently released a top five and did not have Auburn in it while Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Miami and Miami made the list. That said, the 4-star recruit plans to visit Auburn on March 2. Clemson also appears to be in the mix. This one probably is a long way from over.

Joshua Braun

Joshua Braun, OT, Live Oak (Fla.) Suwannee: The 4-star recruit is being heavily pursued by Auburn, which stopped by his school this winter. According to Braun's father, Joshua is likely to visit the Tigers during spring practice so he can get a closer look at the Tigers. Meantime, Auburn also is recruiting his older brother, Parker. He's a grad transfer guard/center from Georgia Tech.

 

Miller Merriweather-Lewis

Miller Merriweather-Lewis, OG, Ocala (Fla.) Vanguard: LSU is the overwhelming favorite (he has gone on record calling the Bayou Bengals his top school at the moment) in the 247Sports Crystal Ball, but Auburn does appear to be a contender for the 4-star recruit. He last visited Auburn on Feb. 2 and apparently things went well. That was his second known trip to Auburn.

Marlon Martinez

Marlon Martinez, OT/OG, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas: Auburn recently offered and the Tigers now are a strong contender to get an official visit. There are no Crystal Ball picks for Martinez at this time and it sounds like he may be fairly open. “I’m very interested in Auburn,” Martinez said. “I like that they’re close to home and the way they’ve been showing love. I feel like that could be a viable option.”

Bradley Ashmore

Bradley Ashmore, OT, Neptune Beach (Fla.) Fletcher: Ashmore is a longtime Vanderbilt commit, but Auburn recently offered (along with some other schools) and he now is thinking about taking some visits. While he said he is solid to the Commodores he added he is keeping an open mind. Ashmore's stock is on the rise. Auburn would love to get him on campus.

 

Xavier Hill

Xavier Hill, OG, Olive Branch (Miss.); Auburn offered this week but so have many other SEC programs, including Alabama. Mississippi State is the Crystal Ball favorite. According to Hill, he hopes to visit the Tigers soon. “I plan on visiting sometime in the next two or three weeks,” Hill told Auburn Undercover. “I’d say my interest level (in Auburn) is medium right now,” Hill said. “I just started learning about them today, really.”

Broderick Jones

Broderick Jones, OT, Lithonia (Ga.): The 5-star recruit made a surprise visit to Auburn in January with multiple family members. Can the Tigers get him back on campus? Right now, Auburn is pitching hard the fact the Tigers will lose both projected starting tackles after the 2019 season. Will that be enough for Auburn to become a real factor in this recruitment? We don't know yet.

Jalen St. John

Jalen St. John, OG, St. Louis (Mo.) Trinity Catholic: Auburn missed on one TC target when 2019 guard/tackle Ira Henry signed with FSU. Now, the Tigers want his former teammate. St. John told GoVols247 that Tennessee, Auburn, Kansas State, Illinois and Iowa State are the five schools he’s strongly considering at the moment among his dozen offers.

 

Arik Gilbert

Arik Gilbert, TE, Marietta (Ga.): Gilbert is the No. 1 recruit in the state of Georgia for 2020. Tight ends coach Larry Porter has been extremely active in this recruitment. Gilbert has visited the Tigers before but it's not yet known if they can be a factor. Georgia and Tennessee are among the schools receiving the most buzz.

Jeremiah Pegues

Jeremiah Pegues, TE, Pxford (Miss.): Pegues made his first trip to Auburn on Feb. 2 and said afterward the Tigers have a chance to be a real factor in his recruitment. According to our sources, he has emerged as a major Auburn priority in a state where the Tigers made some serious headway during the 2019 recruiting cycle. Pegues hopes to return to Auburn for a spring practice.

Kendall Karr

Kendall Karr, TE, Cramerton (N.C.) Stuart W. Cramer: Karr, the No. 21 recruit in North Carolina, visited Auburn for the first time in early February. He's probably one of the Tigers' top three tight end targets. In-state North Carolina certainly is another program very much in the mix.

 

Will Anderson

Will Anderson, DE, Hampton (Ga.) Dutchtown: Auburn and FSU are two of the teams to watch for the 3-star end who has been heavily pursued by the Tigers for more than a year. He is set to go to Mississippi State on Feb. 23, Tennessee on March 9 and Florida on March 16. It is not yet known when he'll be back at Auburn.

Myles Murphy

Myles Murphy, DE, Powder Springs (Ga.) Hillgrove: Murphy arguably is Auburn's top defensive target and the Tigers have recruited him for a couple years. But while he has visited them numerous times, the buzz right now seems to be mostly about Georgia. Meantime, Alabama and Clemson also are very much in the mix and can't be taken lightly. It is likely Murphy visits Auburn again this spring.

Andy Boykin

Andy Boykin, DT, LaGrange (Ga.) Troup County: The 4-star recruit committed to Auburn in 2017 then de-committed from the Tigers in 2018. What's in store for 2019? Right now, things are fairly quiet on his front. Auburn probably still is recruiting him, but we don't know if the foot is on the gas or not. “I am really just taking my time and looking around, Alabama is a team I really like with Miami, Oklahoma, with Georgia and Auburn still in the mix,” Boykin told 247Sports' Rusty Mansell last week. There's no telling which direction this could go in moving forward.

 

McKinnley Jackson

McKinnley Jackson, DT, Lucedale (Miss.) George County: The 5-star recruit has visited Auburn multiple times and area recruiter Marcus Woodson appears to have the Tigers in the hunt. In fact, don't be surprised if he visits Auburn again this spring. Right now, though, there appears to be more buzz about LSU than anyone else. That said, you can bet Alabama and the in-state schools also will be a factor.

Zykeivous Walker

Zykeivous Walker, DE/LB, Ellaville (Ga.) Schley County: Walker is one of the most physically impressive recruits in the South for 2020 and he's a major Auburn target. Tigers defensive line coach Rodney Garner made at least one known stop to see Walker in January. Auburn is very much a contender and Walker did attend a game at Jordan-Hare Stadium last season. Right now, though, Georgia has a big lead in the 247Sports Crystal Ball.

Quandarrius Robinson

Quandarrius Robinson, DE, Birmingham (Ala.) Jackson-Olin: The 4-star recruit committed to Auburn last summer but then backed away from that pledge earlier this year. Most likely, it'll come down to Auburn and Alabama. A source with knowledge of this recruitment thinks the Tigers may still lead. Others aren't so sure. In any event, it should be an interesting recruitment to follow. Robinson already has visited both schools mutliple times this year alone. Two former teammates play for the Tigers.

 

Phillip Webb

Phillip Webb, LB, Sugar Hill (Ga.) Lanier: Right now, two programs stand out. One of them is national champ Clemson. The other is Auburn. Webb grew up an Auburn fan and his father attended school there (with Garner). But this one is too close to call. Also, other schools such as Alabama and Notre Dame are involved for the 4-star recruit. It wouldn't be a shock if Webb signed with Auburn but it's also far from being a slam dunk.

Cameron Riley

Cameron Riley, LB, Evergreen (Ala.) Hillcrest: Auburn and Mississippi State stand out at the moment with Auburn surging of late after Riley visited the Tigers on Feb. 2. “It was a great visit,” Riley said. “The best one I’ve had. I got a chance to actually tour around the campus. They showed me the dorms and all that. The best part was getting to know the coaching staff, spending time with them, building a relationship.” The Bulldogs, though, have made this one interesting by prioritizing the 6-feet-3.5, 210-pound Riley. 

Rodney Groce

Rodney Groce, LB, Pleasant Grove (Ala.): Auburn is the team to beat for the 3-star backer, who the Tigers offered Feb. 2 when he visited them. Ole Miss is another team in the mix. Groce has talked about possibly committing sooner rather than later. If the Tigers push, they might be hard to beat.

 

Desmond Tisdol

Desmond Tisdol, LB, Rochelle (Ga.) Wilcox County: Thus far, Auburn, South Carolina and Purdue are the teams to watch. But Tisdol's stock is on the rise and we expect other programs to offer and start to push this spring. Tisdol will visit Auburn for the first time this weekend. Thus far, he has clicked well with Tigers linebackers coach Travis Williams. Auburn could sign up to four backers in 2020. Tisdol would play inside for the Tigers.

Sidney Williams

Sidney Williams, CB, Mobile (Ala.) Vigor: Auburn leads by a large margin for the 3-star in-state prospect but Tennessee and LSU also are in the mix. Alabama and Clemson have not offered. If they do, they'd be contenders. Right now, though, the Tigers appear to be in a good spot. Williams and his father visited Auburn earlier this month and that visit gave the Tigers a big boost.

Henry Gray

Henry Gray, CB, Miami (Fla.) Central: Gray released a top eight a few days ago and it included Auburn. Right now, though, most of the chatter seems to be about Clemson, Miami and Ohio State. If Auburn can get him on campus this spring, we'll know his interest in the Tigers is serious.

Dominick Hill

Dominick Hill, CB, Orlando (Fla.) Jones: Hill made his first visit to Auburn in early February and came away impressed. Alabama, Florida, FSU and Georgia are some of the other schools he claims offers from right now. Hill is a big corner. Georgia could be a team to watch in this recruitment.

Damarcus Beckwith

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Damarcus Beckwith, ATH, Florence (Ala.): Auburn offered the emerging in-state recruit in January. Michigan, Nebraska and South Carolina are among his other offers. He could play anything from quarterback or receiver to safety or linebacker. A lot may depend on how much he grows. Look for his offer list to keep growing -- and for Auburn to get him on campus this spring.

 

 

[doc4aday 1,887]

It sounds like we are in really good shape with getting some LBs in this class. I like the group of OTs available and hope we can land our share of them.  This is the area of greatest need and the possibility of early playing time could really help with getting some the better ones to commit to us. I would not be surprised if we sign 4 OTs and 4 LBs. Time will tell the story of this saga no doubt.

We need to crack the top 10 of the recruiting classes for 2020 to keep up with the other SEC teams that are loading up such as bammer, LSu, Uga, UF, TAMU is so forth.

[ellitor 33,062]

9 minutes ago, doc4aday said:

I would not be surprised if we sign 4 OTs

possible but 3 may be more likely.

10 minutes ago, doc4aday said:

and 4 LBs

3-4 is the number being looked at.

[doc4aday 1,887]

15 hours ago, ellitor said:

possible but 3 may be more likely.

3-4 is the number being looked at.

It might be too early to tell yet, but of the list of the OTs we are recruiting, which 3-4 are the ones we have the best chance of signing?

[ellitor 33,062]

1 hour ago, doc4aday said:

which 3-4 are the ones we have the best chance of signing?

 Well we have one committed in the juco and Zimmerman seems the most likely. After that it’s hard to say. 

[doc4aday 1,887]

On 2/21/2019 at 3:12 PM, ellitor said:

 Well we have one committed in the juco and Zimmerman seems the most likely. After that it’s hard to say. 

Hey Ellitor! I hope all is well with you. I have noticed that Eric Shaw has us as one of, if not, his top choice. What is your take on him?

 

WDE & Thanks!

Max's brother Wilburforce! 

[ellitor 33,062]

11 minutes ago, doc4aday said:

I have noticed that Eric Shaw has us as one of, if not, his top choice. What is your take on him

 All I know is the staff is recruiting him as an OLB