ellitor 33,039 Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 8/17/20 Chat Added 8/1/20 Chat Added 7/24/20 Chat Added 7/20/20 Chat Added 6/29/20 Chat added 6/21/20 Chat added 6/14/20 chat added 6/8/20 chat added 5/20/20 chat added 5/16/20 chat added 5/6/20 chat added 4/27/20 chat added 4/21/20 chat added 4/17/20 chat added Quote Auburn football recruiting chat recap 4/9/19 By Keith Niebuhr Apr 9, 7:09 PM Q: Who could the next few players to commit be? KN: I've been talking to some people with knowledge of what's going on and they aren't sure anyone is really close to committing. Here's the issue with Auburn. As much as any school out there, the visits to the campus are huge. You see it all the time -- recruits say something like "I had no idea it was like this" or "It surprised me." Well, right now, Auburn isn't getting the bumps it usually gets this time of year off the visits. I know other programs will make the same argument, but this time of year is typically when AU recruiting goes into overdrive -- between the spring game up past Big Cat Weekend. Believe it or not, Auburn still hopes to have a Big Cat Weekend .... in June. I don't know man. Not sure that's going to be possible. But we'll see. Now, there are guys Auburn could probably land if the Tigers wanted to push for them. But that's now how Auburn operates. The Tigers always start at the top and work their way down. They don't settle for guys in April. You do that in February -- or not at all. Could everything that's going change or alter that? For now, it just doesn't seem like any of Auburn's top guys are close to pulling the trigger. Not what you want to hear, but that's how I see it. Q: Which position do you expect Auburn to recruit really well this year? KN: Everything is just up in the air right now. -But obviously having Armoni Goodwin already on board at RB puts Auburn in a great spot at that position. They want to take 1 more. -I also feel like Auburn is going to get one of its big QB targets -- D. Davis, Kaidon Salter or even Kyron Drones. Like what I'm hearing about that position. -I'm comfortable with AU at tight end. Lot of really good options. -Safety looks good. -Not hearing much chatter about WR recruitng. Only taking 1 or 2 so that's the good news. But does AU lead for anyone? Doesn't seem like it on the surface anyway. Maybe has the best shot with Christian Leary of Orlando. Slot guy. -Auburn's a top contender for OT targets Caleb Johnson and Dylan Fairchild. Really need to land one of them. Get both and I think everyone would be happy. Don't think we'll know much about the rest of the OL recruiting until visits are back on. But I'll be honest -- this area continues to concern -- and the lack of visits aren't helping. -With DL recruiting, you've got Lee Hunter but nobody else yet. If you get ends Dyland Brooks and Jeremiah Williams than wow. One of them would still be acceptable. But if you miss them both, then all of sudden you're scrambling a bit. -At LB, Auburn is a big contender for its 2 big tagets -- Barrett Carter and Smael Mondon. If it misses with one or both, there seem to be some good options. Supposedly the Raheim Sanders kid in Florida is REALLY high on AU. -Not loving where AU sits at corner. But DB coach Wesley McGriff works quietly. You don't hear much and then, boom, he's landing someone. So not pushing any panic buttons yet. Q: Keith if you had to pick a leader with both offensive tackles, Caleb Johnson and Dylan Fairchild, who do you think leads? KN: For Caleb, probably /AU right now. But Steve Wiltfong tells me that Notre Dame could be a real threat. Family moved to Florida from Indiana. For Dylan, I don't know. Certainly top 2 or 3. He's bonding really well with the staff. Same for S. Carolina ... Vols are there. Then you have Georgia. Georgia has loaded up on the OL the past few cycles so early PT probably would be harder there. But I think he told me his dad is a big Dawgs fan. If he picks Georgia ... then he just really wants to go there. He has said he wants to play early. So that and relationships give AU a shot. Q: Keith with us likely to take up to 4 or 5 OL in this class, who are some other prospects we should be aware besides Fairchild and Johnson? KN: OT Amarius Mims: 5-star, but Auburn is sitting no better than third in my opinion. OT Tommy Brockermeyer: 5-star, but Auburn is probably in third right now. He will officially visit, though. OT: Matthew Wykoff: A contender and he had plans to visit; will try to reschedule. OT: Cole Carson: OT in Texas that Auburn seems to really like. OG: Jared Wilson: Former UGA commti wants to visit. Just a few to keep track of ... I think more names will pop up every week. Q: Keith, between Dematrius Davis, Kaidon Salter, and Kyron Drones who do think is the coaches preference at this time for QB1 spot in the class? KN: Best guess: Davis Think they could live with any of the three, however. Q: Five-star receiver Jacorey Brooks (of Florida), does Auburn have a real shot with him? KN: I believe so but we'll know more if/when he visits again. Auburn always seems to get someone down that way. Supposedly, he's pretty high on Auburn and plans to check ou the campus once the NCAA allows on-campus visits to re-start. Bama, FSU, Miami and maybe UF are the others to watch. Q: Is Auburn likely to take a true "big back" in this class? Someone 6'+, 220lbs+?? KN: I think there is a possibilty, yes. But it's not urgent. The game has changed some -- and honestly, Tank Bigsby, DJ Williams and Mark-Antony Richards are not small guys by any stretch. Right now, there's nobody that I know of who's 6-2/230 --- no THAT kind of big back. More like this ... Q: What's the feeling right now on 5-star safety target James Williams of Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage? KN: Auburn has always felt like it was in it and he was planning on attending Big. Cat Weekend again. But the truth is, Georgia is in the driver's seat at this time. I think some on the AU staff like him better than others. Big-time talent. Might grow out of the safety position, though. Q: Keith do you know where we stand with receiver Ketron Jackson or tight end Michael Trigg? KN: Don't have much intel on Ketron Jackson other than that he seems to talk up Auburn. With Trigg, I think the in-state Gators are out. They already have two tight ends. From what I'm hearing, Florida State is right in there. Apparently he and his father like Auburn a good bit. I have heard his dad likes how much Auburn offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chad Morris uses the tight end. Those look like two to watch for sure right now. He's a really nice prospect with a lot of athleticism. Q: Every time I read about our offensive line recruiting I want to bang my head into a wall. It's like we learn nothing from year to year. Oh and Micah Morris just committed to Georgia. You know, like every other elite OL we've ever recruited. KN: It very well might end up being solid this year ... but since some of these targets haven't visited yet, it's too early to say. Landing Johnson and Fairchild would be huge obviously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKEEL75 2,566 Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 Well that's overly encouraging Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddc 13,194 Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 That was a roller coaster ride! I was up and down, but the upside is we’re still in it for some big recruits on oline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,039 Posted April 20, 2020 Author Share Posted April 20, 2020 Quote Football recruiting chat recap By Keith Niebuhr Apr 17, 8:42 AM Q: Any update on the QB board? Also, who do you think we have the best shot at landing right now? KN: The top targets continue to, by my estimation, be: -Dematrius Davis, Texas: Four-star Virginia Tech commit who at this time we expect to officially visit. Auburn has a real shot. Same with Miami. -Kaidon Salter, Texas: Four-star recruit visited Auburn in March and plans to officially visit. The Tigers are very high on him -- and vice versa. We think Auburn probably is among his top two or three schools at this time. Who's the main competition? Still trying to find that out. -Kyron Drones, Texas: Three-star recruit who plans to officially visit. Has yet to visit Auburn, but told us last month the Tigers probalby were his leader. Auburn is talking to other guys as well, including Texas 4-star commit Jalen Milroe. It's possible he could visit. Things can and will change ... .but this is who we're tracking right now. The main guys anyway. Q: How hard is Auburn pushing for Christian Leary? KN: Before I answer that, let me remind everyone who Christian Leary is. He's a 4-star slot receiver from Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater. Auburn is very much in the picture and is pushing really hard. The Tigers would love to have him in the class. At the same time, Leary is giving Auburn a strong look, too. The Tigers were in on him early and that has helped. But now, other programs have made big moves -- namely Ohio State, Oklahoma and Alabama. Georgia even recently offered. So now, the competition has gotten fierce and this could go in any number of directions. He told me last week he plans to officially visit Auburn. Q: Any elite DT targets? KN: A few good ones, sure. Elite? That's subjective ... Here are two who come to mind (remember, Auburn has 4-star Lee Hunter already committed. May only need one more tackle in the 2021 class). -Katron Evans of Virginia: Auburn recently offered this 4-star prospect. He could visit. -Marquis Robinson of Milton (Fla.): He's a 4-star recruit who has visited the Tigers a bunch the past couple of years. Auburn is a top contender. Florida State certainly has to be considered one of the favorites also. One DT that Auburn doesn't seem to be recruiting very hard at the moment is in-state prospect Anquin Barnes. The Tigers are pursuing others with more energy. Q: As far as AU recruiting is concerned, anything to look forward to at this time or will it just be a big holding pattern until kids can visit ... KN: I wish I would have seen this question before 3-star offensive tackle J’Marion Gooch of Tennessee committed tonight (Thursday). That's a player we hear the in-state Vols wanted pretty badly. Jason and I were working on getting everything prepared on that one for a few hours. I think Auburn is starting to really push hard for some guys. One of them is 4-star running back Cody Brown of Parkview (Ga.). We hear Gus Malzahn had a long, productive chat with him earlier this week. Tennessee is a player there for sure, but it sounds like Auburn is turning up the heat. Watch out for the Tigers here. They've got a shot. He has visited Auburn a bunch so not having on-campus visits right now probably isn't a big deal for him. Q: Carter- Where do we sit? Seemed like we were heavily involved, then a lot of pup and clemson chatter and CB the last week or so. Are we still heaheavily in the mix? 2) Fairchild - I expect the pursuit of him to heavily pick up. In your opinion, Do we lead? Is he an OT or G? 3) Has the ship sailed with Byrd? KN: 1. Auburn is very much a player with 4-star linebacker Barrett Carter of Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett, along with Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia. Clemson is trending up. Auburn has been pretty steady with him the whole time. 2. Four-star offensive tackle Dylan Fairchild has really blown up of late. He's now a top-50 recruit in the 247Sports rankings. Georgia got in the mix with an offer in March. South Carolina is very much in it. Tennessee, too. But Auburn is a real factor here and clearly one of the favorites. He already had visited the Tigers twice before that Bulldogs offer came. Also helping Auburn is this: He wants to play early -- and the Tigers need tackles more than most. 3. I've not heard much lately with regards to Auburn's pursuit of 4-star offensive tackle Savion Byrd of Texas. Q: Would Auburn take Caleb Johnson, Garner Langlo, and Dylan Fairchild to go along with Gooch in this class? Langlo looks like Braden Smith. KN: For those who don't know, those are all offensive lineman. Gooch committed to Auburn on Thursday. The other three are Tiger targets. To answer your question, my best guess is this: Maybe. Because all four of these guys look like they could play either tackle or guard. These are really big kids. Usually what happens is a player will gravitate toward the spot that gets him on the field first once he gets to college. So my gut tells me Auburn might be happy to get all four -- if that is possible. Q: Keith if Barrett Carter commits to Clemson as currently projected, which two LBs do you think Auburn lands in this years class? KN: I don't believe that one is over. Auburn is still very much in it for Barrett Carter. VERY much in it. But should that happen, the guys to watch in my opinion are Smael Mondon of Georgia, Xavian Sorey of Florida, Raheim Sanders of Florida, Timar Rogers of Florida and Ian Jackson of Prattville High in Alabama. Auburn is in the mix with a bunch of guys. Sanders is only a 3-star kid ... but Oklahoma offered like a day or two after Auburn did. He's really athletic. Q: Feelings on where McKinstry is leaning right now? Seems to be a lot of confidence from Bama side. How many OL you think AU takes this year? KN: Because Ga'Quincy McKinstry, a 5-star corner from Pinson Valley (Ala.), does not say much, it's really hard to know. Feels like Alabama, Auburn and Clemson are the three to watch. And, he has visited Auburn a bunch. But I just haven't heard much chatter on the Auburn side of late. Not sure what that means. I don't have a number for you on the second question. Not an exact one. Schools don't exactly share that info ... they don't want it out. That said, it seems like Auburn will take four or five total. Remember, the Tigers just had a huge haul in the last cycle. This could change, of course, if there is any attrition down the road. Also, we may be about to see an NCAA rule that allows kids to transfer without having to sit out a year -- that could shake things up fast. Q: Any latest news on our DB board Keith? KN: A bunch of new offers have gone out lately and that would seem to indicate the board is shifting. Four-star safety Kamren Kinchens of Miami (Fla.) Northwestern is someone to watch, for sure. Looks like this could be an Auburn-LSU battle. Might be an Auburn-Clemson-Georgia fight for 4-star corner Nyland Green of Covington (Ga.) Newton. Auburn definitley seems to be in it with 3-star corner Kamari Lassiter of Tuscaloosa. Those are some of the guys I'm tracking. It's so weird trying to follow this without visits to help. Q: Does Cody Brown have a time table that you know of for a commitment? Could be potentially be on commitment watch? KN: Brown, a 4-star running back from Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview, really dislikes doing interviews -- so he doesn't do them very often. Because of that, it's hard to know for sure. I've heard two things here. 1. It could happen at any moment and he, in fact, may have been close to doing something earlier in the year; 2. He may wait until the fall or beyond. Which do I believe? I just think like many of these young men he probably goes back and forth in his head. That's what makes recruiting so unpredictable. By the way, last running back at Parkview that liked Auburn a lot that I can recall was Chris Carson back in the 2013 class. He wanted in ... but Auburn passed. He's now starting for the Seahawks and had 1,230 yards last season. He went JUCO in high school but AU was his dream school. Not sure his grade situation back then. Q: Anybody in particular being targeted for the BUCK position? KN: Dylan Brooks is one. The 5-star from Roanoke (Ala.) Handley is listed at 6-feet-5, 220 pounds but we've heard he weighed in a lot less than that late last fall. So while he's tall, he may not grow into a strong-side end. Not every kid is built to put on 75 pounds. Auburn, LSU and Tennessee are the schools to watch there. Jeremiah Williams of Birmingham (Ala.) Ramsay is another. Really good 4-star recruit who grew up a Tigers fan. But him being in Birmingham means Alabama certainly will be in the mix. In fact, as of right now I'd say it comes down to those two. There is some optimism in Auburn, for sure. Yes, Auburn would take both of these guys. Neither is a sure thing. It's possible Auburn could go 2-0 here .... or 0-2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLoofus 35,182 Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 15 hours ago, ellitor said: Before I answer that, let me remind everyone who Christian Leary is. He's a 4-star slot receiver from Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater. Auburn is very much in the picture and is pushing really hard. The Tigers would love to have him in the class. At the same time, Leary is giving Auburn a strong look, too. The Tigers were in on him early and that has helped. But now, other programs have made big moves -- namely Ohio State, Oklahoma and Alabama. Georgia even recently offered. So now, the competition has gotten fierce and this could go in any number of directions. He told me last week he plans to officially visit Auburn. Man. That would be a big dub for the staff if we landed this guy over those schools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
augolf1716 21,058 Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 1 hour ago, McLoofus said: Man. That would be a big dub for the staff if we landed this guy over those schools. He's a stud Edgewater has been on a good run the last few years. School is only 15 minutes from me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLoofus 35,182 Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 51 minutes ago, augolf1716 said: He's a stud Edgewater has been on a good run the last few years. School is only 15 minutes from me Use your Chandler Cox strategy this time and not your Martez Ivey strategy, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
augolf1716 21,058 Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 12 minutes ago, McLoofus said: Use your Chandler Cox strategy this time and not your Martez Ivey strategy, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLoofus 35,182 Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 12 minutes ago, augolf1716 said: Maaaaan, how much fun would it be to have a few beers with Stevie. That whole cast. We just started season 5 last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird 60,291 Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 4 hours ago, augolf1716 said: He's a stud Edgewater has been on a good run the last few years. School is only 15 minutes from me You must be right next door. I mean really, how far can you actually go on a hoveround in 15 minutes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
augolf1716 21,058 Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 33 minutes ago, bigbird said: You must be right next door. I mean really, how far can you actually go on a hoveround in 15 minutes Nope I use a Hoverboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird 60,291 Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 1 hour ago, augolf1716 said: Nope I use a Hoverboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aublaise 199 Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 5 hours ago, bigbird said: is that Bruce? It looks staged. Looks like he has a square pad under his shirt cushion the impact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,039 Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 10 hours ago, aublaise said: is that Bruce? No. Just a random gif. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,039 Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 I think Keith is having recruiting chats out of sheer boredom. Here's another one... Quote Auburn football recruiting chat recap 4/21/20 By Keith Niebuhr 18 hours ago Q: What is the likelihood that Coach Bruce Pearl adds to his class this year? A: This is a football-related chat .... however, one way or another it seems pretty likely the Tigers will add to the basketball. Have four on board now. Could grab a couple more. If 5-star power-forward Greg Brown doesn't pick Auburn, then I think you certainly have to look at forward Dylan Cardwell. To me, that would be someone to watch. Q: Any thoughts who could be next to commit Keith? Or we won’t have an idea until visits start back up? A: So hard to know ... the commitment late last week of 3-star offensive tackle J'Marion Gooch of Tennessee pretty much came out of the blue. I know it certainly did to the Vols, who many thought led that recruitment. Having visits back on certainly would help, but as we've seen commitments have been happening all over the country even with with on-campus visits suspended. Those who started recruiting the 2021 class very early are seeing it pay dividends now. For Auburn, though, you have to consider the Tigers have a new offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and secondary coach. And, they didn't have a lot of time to get recruits on campus before things go shut down. For Chad Morris and Jack Bicknell, getting some of the bigger targets to town will be crucial. But who am I watching now? Although he isn't doing many if any interviews, we continue to hear Auburn is pushing hard for 4-star running back Cody Brown of Parkview High just east of Atlanta. Terrific player and Gus Malzahn is very active here. Q: Keith what’s your best guess on what ultimately happens with the three offensive linemen from Ocala? Any chance we sign all three? A: From what I've heard Auburn is in a good spot with one of them -- 4-star tackle Caleb Johnson. However, Notre Dame is a big factor here as well. Of the other two, the one to watch probably is tackle Garner Langlo. All indications are that offer from Auburn last week was a really big deal to him. That he was actually wearing an Auburn t-shirt when Malzahn called to offer him is telling. The Tigers absolutely will be a factor here. Ocala is actually not a super small town. But Langlo is from about 30 miles away and commutes in every day. He is a small-town kid and really liked the small-town feel when he visited Auburn with Johnson earlier this year. Center Jake Slaughter from the same team is an FSU commit. Let's see if Auburn gets him back on campus with the other two. Q: Keith, how many OL are we taking this year? Thanks. A: I don't have a firm number yet, but since Auburn just signed five in the 2020 class and added a graduate transfer (Brandon Council) who has two seasons left to play, five is my best guess. Probably three tackles and two inside guys. Again, just a guess. Q: How would you rank the position of need this recruiting cycle for Gus? A: 1. Offensive line: Crucial -- as always. But specifically since it hasn't been a recruiting strength for the Tigers in recent years. 2. Quarterback: The Tigers absolutely need not only quality depth at this position but someone capable of challenging for the starting spot whenever Bo Nix departs. There's a chance Nix may only play two more seasons at Auburn. The Tigers have to prepare for that -- just in case. 3. Defensive line: A lot of good and valuable players up front will need to be replaced over the next couple of years. 4. Secondary: You just can't have enough good defensive backs in this day and age. Q: Who recruits the Mobile/ Baldwin County, AL area? Any interesting prospects of note down that way? A: I believe that continues to be defensive coordinator Kevin Steele's area. The top 2021 there of note is 4-star defensive tackle commit Lee Hunter of Eight Mile Blount -- who committed to Auburn last December. The main 2022 target probably is 4-star linebacker Robert Woodyard of Mobile Williamson. It's early, but Auburn is a little behind with him. I don't think he has even visited the Tigers yet. In the 20221 class, you also have 4-star Alabama linebacker commit Deontae Lawson. Auburn, at last check, still was recruiting him. Four-star offensive guard Lucas Taylor of Mobile St. Paul's Episcopal is another 2022 of note. He's a big Auburn target already. There always is plenty of talent in that area and the next two cycles are no different. Q: We are usually at about fifteen before the season starts. We are not going to get there in the next month or so but who would you think are the five most likely commits before fall practice begins? A: Absolutely, positively no way to give you any type of educated guess on five guys right now. Nobody has taken a visit in over a month. You have three new assistants on the staff. A whole bunch of new offers have gone out. We don't know when on-campus visits will even re-start. But ... These might be some guys to watch: Quarterback Dematrius Davis: If the 4-star Virginia Tech commit from Texas visitis Auburn (and we expect him to do so), there is some optimism the Tigers could flip him. Offensive tackle Caleb Johnson: Looks like an Auburn-Notre Dame battle. Once he gets in officials to each, we might have a clearer picture. Offensive tackle Garner Langlo: If Auburn gets Johnson (his teammate), it seems like the Tigers also would have a real shot with Langlo. Running back Cody Brown: If the Tigers keep pushing, could he make the move? It's possible. Could also be another surprise .... Just saying. Q: How big of a factor is playing hoops and football for Koolaid (5-star cornerback Ga'Quincy McKinstry)? How does the scholarship work for that? Hes on scholarship for football and doesn't count against the numbers for hoops? TIA A: I really get the feeling it's not a huge factor. He's a good basketball player. He's a REALLY good football player. His future is in the latter. If you play football, you count against the football numbers. I keep hearing there in growing confidence in Tuscaloosa here. Bot overall, there's not a ton of chatter about this recruitment. He's keeping things close to the vest. Q: So is Jacorey Brooks and Christian Leary the only two receivers we are pushing for hard? A: Who said that? It seems Auburn is recruiting those two hard -- along with some others. But several new receiver offers have gone out of late, which would indicate the board may be shifting. Also, I do believe Auburn will continue to recruit Tennessee commit Roc Taylor of Oxford, Ala. This is one position where on-campus visits will be crucial. Brooks plans to visit once visits return, whenever that is. Sounds like Miami may have some confidence there. Leary says Auburn will get an official. But I don't get the feeling Auburn leads for him, either. That said, he continues to talk up the Tigers. My gut says this is one position where fans will have to be patient for some answers this cycle. The good news is, Auburn only needs one or two guys. Q: What are your thoughts about the new OT prospect Rod Orr? SEC quality? Why are we so late to the party in making an evaluation? A: Big kid. Really smart. Really personable. Says he'd camp at Auburn for an offer -- so that tells you his ego isn't too big. To me, he's SEC quality. He has SEC offers. He also has an offer from Oregon -- and Ducks coach (Mario Cristobal) is a noted O-Line guy. I don't think Auburn is late to any party here just yet. Just doing things at its own pace. The Tigers have a commitment from one tackle in J’Marion Gooch. They're also very much in it with three other tackles -- Dylan Fairchild, Caleb Johnson and Garner Langlo. Might actually be either the team to beat or in the top 2 for all three. Then you have 5-star Amarius Mims, who has visited three times -- twice this year. I could be wrong, but it feels like Auburn is in a good spot at tackle right now. Still think they keep a close watch on Orr. Q: I assume the staff is still in wait-and-see mode on Big Cat weekend? A: I believe this is correct. Of course, it could always take place later in the summer -- provided on-campus visits return anytime soon. Q: What are Auburn's chances with offensive tackle Dylan Fairchild? I know we were his leader or up high on his list at one point, and then he took a visit to UGA prior to the pandemic and things have obviously been quiet since. Also do you see him as more of a guard or tackle at the college level? A: Feels like there are four teams to watch: Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. The Gamecocks got in on him fairly early and he seems to have a good connection to the staff. Auburn offered earlier this year and he already has visited the Tigers twice. Auburn is a major player here, and certainly has a legitimate chance of landing him. He wants to play early in college and given Auburn's need at tackle, there is a path for that to happen. Georgia certainly is in the mix but one wonders if that program's exceptional recruiting at OT the past few years could hinder it here he since he's trying to get on the field soon. I don't have an answer to that. He has played tackle in high school and wants to play tackle in college. That's what teams are telling him he'll play. He probably could line up at either spot, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,039 Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 Quote Auburn football recruiting chat recap By Keith Niebuhr 17 hours ago Q: If you had to include one of AU's many TE targets on your Ten Most Wanted list, who would it be? I saw Trigg was on your list of others to watch. A: It's such a tough call, I probably couldn't pick one. That position is wide open right now. I know the Tigers definitely want one guy in this class. Some of the main targets I'm watching are: Michael Trigg of Florida: He's a 4-star recruit who visited Auburn earlier this year and he seems to like the Tigers a good bit. Florida State certainly is another program to watch in his recruitment -- maybe even the team to beat. Lake McRee of Texas: He plays at Lake Travis High in Austin. Tigers offensive coordinator Chad Morris once was head coach there so that's a nice connection to have. Once on-campus recruiting resumes, I think he's likely to visit the Tigers. Terrance Ferguson of Colorado: He caught a ton of passes in 2019 and the Tigers offered him pretty early. Auburn is a contender but he has many of the top programs in college football chasing him. I don't think we'll have a clear picture at this position until recruits can start visiting again. Auburn seems to be recruiting nationally here. Q: If we can get Cody Brown commitment, do you think we’ll be finished at the RB position? I know we’ve ramped up the recruitment of him lately. A: Yes, I think Auburn would be done at running back for the 2021 class if it can land Brown, the 4-star back from the Atlanta area. No need to take more than two in my humble opinion -- especially when you consider the Tigers have two talented 2022 backs in their own backyard -- Emmanuel Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. They might even lead for both of those prospects right now. The question is, can Auburn get Brown on board? It certainly won't be easy. Yes, the Tigers apparently are pushing fairly hard for him at this time. And yes, we hear head coach Gus Malzahn is actively involved in this recruitment. But Tennessee has emerged as a real threat here. It should be a good battle for Brown, who has 3,000-plus rushing yards over the past two seasons. Q: Is it sort of a race to see who commits first at QB between Kadon Salter, Dematrius Davis and Kyron Drones? Or are they sort of waiting to see where the other commits to? A: I haven't heard definitively one way or another, but my best guess is Auburn would be happy with either one of Kaidon Salter or Dematrius Davis. I do think they like Kyron Drones a lot but it seems the Tigers are recruiting the other two a little harder at the moment. Salter is likely going to announce his decision May 10. He visited the Tigers in March. Davis, a Virginia Tech commit, visited Auburn last summer but might need to step foot on campus again to know if Auburn is where he wants to be. Drones has never before visited the Tigers. It's doubtful Davis or Drones will have a chance to visit Auburn before Salter's commit date. So ... basically, all eyes on are Salter right now and this looks like a true Auburn-Tennessee battle. As of now, some think the Vols may hold a slight edge, but it probably could still go either way. Q: I do not understand why we have recruited and continue to recruit so many TEs? I know it’s a key position in Chad Morris offense but it’s only one position? I do not think I can ever remember having so many on the roster and yet we still are recruiting more. Also several were rated high. It just does not make much since to me... A: First of all, Auburn uses the tight end a lot. Again ... a lot. Many people only look at the pass-catching aspect. Not sure why that is, but that what some do. Look, even when Auburn hasn't thrown the ball to these players, they have been extremely valuable to the offense. There are two-tight end sets. You have short-yardage plays (several each game). They line up attached to the line. They line up out wide. They are used as blocking backs. And now, you will have the added dimension of them being heavily involved in the passing game. Because Auburn uses these players a variety of ways, you have to have options. Few players in college football can do all of the skills we just mentioned at a very high level. Some do certain things well. Some do other things well. And, you can't just have one pass-catching option now with Chad Morris running the offense. What if he gets hurt? You need two or three that can run and catch. Auburn's tight end room has improved more than any other on the team over the past couple years. My guess is, you'll see if start to really pay off soon. Q: With the success the last 3 years in the nfl draft at the defensive back positions do we see a boost in DB recruiting? I’m not really complaining about our DB’s as they are but 5 star corners and safeties don’t typically come to AU. A: It might .... but I would say when it comes to secondary recruiting Kevin Steele, Wesley McGriff and now Al Pogue don't seem to be overly concerned about stars. Auburn missed on 5-star Nigel Warrior and people moaned. Auburn then offered Daniel Thomas to take that spot on signing day and he had a better college career than Warrior. Jeremiah Dinson was a 3-star. Roger McCreary was a 3-star. Noah Igbinoghene was signed to play receiver, switched to cornerback after a year and was developed into a first-rounder. So while it could help Auburn that defensive backs keep getting drafted, it might be something that won't show up in the rankings. At days' end, Steele is going to recruit guys HE likes .... not who 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN says he should like. Q: Keith when Pat Dye was Auburn’s Coach it was not unusual if we out-recruited Alabama, Georgia, Clemson etc. And this occurred sometimes even when Tommy Tuberville wasour coach. Now I can’t even remember when the last time we finished ahead of any of these teams. Any thoughts on when this could change? A: Win more and have more guys drafted. Other than that, I have no earthy clue how to answer that ... such an open-ended question. Certainly not something that could be figured out by me .... If I could figure it out, than surely others could. Really wouldn't begin to know how to answer this. I cover individual recruitments. I'm not in staff meetings at Auburn. So I don't know how everything is done there -- or at the other schools you mentioned. So really, no way I could begin to answer something like this if we're just being honest. Clemson being ranked ahead of Auburn is a relatively new thing. That program signed an elite quarterback Deshan Watson) when Chad Morris was offensive coordinator and jumped to the next level. Then, its overall recruiting went up a notch. High-level QB. Won a lot of games. Far better facilities than Auburn (and newer). Favorable schedule conducive to winning. Won head-to-heads with SEC schools (see Auburn and Alabama) in high-profile games. It all adds up. Q: Are we taking two QBs this year? A: At least at this time, that seems unlikely. One big reason I feel this way is because the 2022 quarterback class is very good. It might be the best one we've seen in a few years. There are lots of really good quarterbacks in that class. Take two this year and you can probably rule out getting a high-level prospect in 2022. Now, if you have attrition on the current roster, than you might have to take two. But I don’t think that would be ideal. Q: With J’Marion Gooch on board, and you saying the Tigers may even be the favorite for Garner Langlo — could you see offensive line coach Jack Bicknell and Co. taking four tackles? Dylan Fairchild, Gooch, Langlo and Caleb Johnson would be a nice haul. A: It's possible .... but it you got all four I think each may be cross-trained to play both tackle and guard. They're all big, physical kids. Maybe you would cross-train them, then let the cream rise at tackle. A lot of linemen really don't care where you put them. At the end of the day, most of those guys just want to play. As for Gooch, though ... I don't think that recruitment is over. Sounds like Tennessee will continue to heavily recruit him. I think that's one Auburn will have to keep close track of. Q: You thoughts on the impact the new O-Line coach (Bicknell) has had on recruits? I know everything is virtual right now, but does he seem to have a good grasp on the recruiting effort needed for his position? A: I'm sure he knows what he's doing. But I also believe J.B. Grimes knew what he was doing. I do think Bicknell might have a little more freedom about who to offer than Grimes had. In the past, Gus Malzahn oversaw a lot of that. But it's Morris' offense now. There isn't much I'm certain of, but this I am -- it's far too soon to know what Bicknell's impact is or will be. You said it yourself, everything is "virtual" right now. He got to Auburn early in the year and has only been on campus along with a few offensive line targets a few times. He also only had a short time to get on the road and recruit. We would have learned a great deal more this spring. At spring practice in Auburn, recruits could have come and watched him coach. In May, he would have been able to visit their schools and watch them practice. Just know way to know right now what his full impact will be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,039 Posted May 7, 2020 Author Share Posted May 7, 2020 Quote Auburn football recruiting chat 5/6/20 recap By Keith Niebuhr 16 minutes ago QB target Dematrius Davis. (Photo: Brian Perroni, 247Sports) Q: Does Davis help us with any other Texas recruits? A: Should Auburn land 4-star quarterback Dematrius Davis -- and my pick currently is on the Tigers -- I do think it will help Gus Malzahn's program a great deal with some other prospects in Texas, primarily in the metro-Houston area. Davis not only is a terrific player who has won two state titles, he is very popular with other players. A few to watch on his own team are: -Offensive tackle/guard Jaeden Roberts: He's the No. 24 recruit in Texas for the industry generated 247Sports Composite. -Receiver Shadrach Banks: Four-star Texas A&M commit. -Cornerback Denver Harris: A top-50 national recruit in the 2022 class. There are no sure things in recruiting, but if Davis becomes a Tiger, I really think Auburn will become a factor with these three players. Q: Keith, it seems like the past few recruiting cycles we have taken quite a few taller physical receivers with some smaller receivers sprinkled in there. This recruiting cycle are they targeting more of the smaller speedy receivers over taller ones? A: Auburn may only take two receivers this class. So what I think you might see is one of each -- a big guy and a smaller guy. But if the best two guys are both tall, maybe you go that way. Maybe it becomes a best-available type of deal. Ideally, though, I think the Tigers want one of each. Q: Are we pushing hard for Jeremiah Williams? And who could be on commit watch? A: Absolutely Auburn is pushing for Jeremiah Williams, the 4-star buck from Birmingham (Ala.) Ramsay. The Tigers are working on him very hard and it'll probably come down to Auburn and Alabama. I sort of like Auburn at this time, but it probably could go either way. As far as commit watch goes, obviously you now have to keep an eye on quarterback Dematrius Davis -- but also 3-star offensive tackle Garner Langlo of Ocala (Fla.) Trinity Catholic. Of course, as we all know the Tigers always are good for a few surprises each year. Q: Are we pushing for Kinchens hard? And what about McKinstry? I assume he doesn’t do many interviews and I never seem to hear anything about auburn chances with him even being close friends with Nix. A: 1. I do think Auburn is recruiting 4-star safety Kamren Kinchens of Miami (Fla.) Northwestern fairly hard. The last time I checked, it felt like Auburn and LSU were two teams to watch but south Florida recruitments sometimes can go in different directions than what you think. I suspect he'll visit Auburn again. 2. As for 5-star cornerback Ga'Quincy McKinstry, Jason Caldwell of Auburn247 just had an interview with him two or three weeks ago I believe. We're not going to blow up kids' phones and call them every weeks. That's not how we operate. They need their space. And we try to respect that. Definitely think the Tigers are being strongly considered but there is far more chatter about Alabama these days. LSU and Georgia might also be in the mix. In his interviews, he's pretty careful not to say too much. So I don't think anyone has their arms completely around his recruitment. Q: Thoughts on Dylan Fairchild & Caleb Johnson? Seems AU is trending in wrong direction on both right now but also seems like they're waiting for visits before deciding. A: I still think Auburn has a legitimate chance with both of these 4-star offensive tackles. Fairchild is getting ready to release his list of top schools and the Tigers will make it. They're clearly up near the top. Auburn offered early and got him on campus twice before on-campus recruiting was suspended. He likes this program. I really see Georgia as the biggest threat. The path to playing early probably is better at Auburn, but it may ultimately just come down to where he feels more comfortable. With Johnson, we think it's now an Auburn-Notre Dame battle. His family has Indiana roots and if his Irish official visit goes well, that program could get him. But Auburn is right there and also will get an official visit. If the Tigers land his teammate, 4-star tackle Garner Langlo, that could help. Florida offered Johnson this week. That might add another team to the mix. We'll find out in the coming weeks. Q: Who are some names to watch as far as DB recruiting? A: Some of the guys we’re tracking …. -Cornerback Ga'Quincy McKinstry of Alabama. -Cornerback Nyland Green of Georgia. -Cornerback Markevious Brown of Florida. -Cornerback Kamari Lassiter of Alabama. - Cornerback Daniel Edwards of Florida. -Safety Kamren Kinchens of Florida. -Corner/receiver Tar'varish Dawson of Florida. -Safety Terrion Arnold of Florida Who will Auburn get from that group? Not sure -- maybe none of them. Hard to know. The Tigers lead for Edwards, but I don't think they're quite ready to take his commitment yet. In the mix with all of them. But probably won't know more on many until campus visits resume. Q: Any idea on if or when Big Cat Weekend will be held? It usually gives us a boost in recruiting. A: No. It obviously can't be in June since campus is closed. It all depends on when things open back up. The Tigers would certainly love to host this event if at all possible. Q: How solid do you think 4-star defensive tackle Lee Hunter is right now to Auburn? A: As I read your question, I immediately thought to myself, 'Who knows?" and then kind of chuckled. But his coach keeps telling me Lee, the 4-star defensive tackle, is solid to Auburn. I know for a fact he has gotten a lot of attention in recent weeks from Gus Malzahn and the rest of the staff. Everyone who meets Lee likes him. He's outgoing and incredibly friendly. No ego at all -- and I'm sure Jason will back me up on that,. But I think he likes attention. That's okay -- so do most teenagers. I know Lee likes Auburn a lot. But my gut says he's going to make Auburn work to keep him. Supposedly, Alabama is pushing hard right now. Q: In your opinion...who is the better QB: Dematrius Davis or Kaidon Salter? A: Dematrius Davis is 37-2 as a starter and has two state titles against the toughest competition in Texas. Salfter is a very promising prospect (*and a really high IQ kid also), but I don't think you can overlook what Davis has done. I was talking to a college coach recently and he said his staff always looks for guys that are winners. Both of these quarterbacks fit that mold. But Davis has been doing it longer. Maybe slight edge to Davis. I think the Vols will be happy with Salter, though, and they should be. More important is what Chad Morris and Auburn think than what I think. I believe Davis has been their guy for a few months. Q: In your opinion do you know of any prospects that you think may be under the radar (for example Roc Taylor) that we may not have our eyes on yet? I know that without camps this is probably a lot harder to get information on. But in my opinion nothing is better than a good underdog that becomes a success story and a great player. A: Honestly, no. Once I know Auburn is recruiting someone, I usually write about them pretty quickly. Guys always pop up here and there, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLoofus 35,182 Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 Davis looks a little thicker in that photo than I imagined. I guess his WR friend committed to Va Tech doesn't look to be following him here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,039 Posted May 7, 2020 Author Share Posted May 7, 2020 35 minutes ago, McLoofus said: I guess his WR friend committed to Va Tech doesn't look to be following him here. Not sure. He's looking to decommit from VT but not sure AU would take him. We're only taking 1-2 WRs & this cat is a borderline 4*. The more interesting fall out if Davis picks AU is we become a factor with 3 of his North Shore teammates who are 4*s.WR Shadrach Banks (Texas A&M), OG Jaeden Roberts, & 2022 CB Denver Harris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddc 13,194 Posted May 8, 2020 Share Posted May 8, 2020 Interesting read! First of all, Auburn uses the tight end a lot. Again ... a lot. Many people only look at the pass-catching aspect. Not sure why that is, but that what some do. Look, even when Auburn hasn't thrown the ball to these players, they have been extremelyvaluable to the offense. There are two-tight end sets. You have short-yardage plays (several each game). They line up attached to the line. They line up out wide. They are used as blocking backs. And now, you will have the added dimension of them being heavily involved in the passing game. Because Auburn uses these players a variety of ways, you have to have options. Few players in college football can do all of the skills we just mentioned at a very high level. Some do certain things well. Some do other things well. And, you can't just have one pass-catching option now with Chad Morris running the offense. What if he gets hurt? You need two or three that can run and catch. Auburn's tight end room has improved more than any other on the team over the past couple years. My guess is, you'll see if start to really pay off soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellitor 33,039 Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Quote Auburn football recruiting chat recap 5/16 By Keith Niebuhr 6 hours ago QB target Dematrius Davis. (Photo: Brian Perroni, 247Sports) On-campus and off-campus recruiting visits are off for the time being, but recruiting truly never stops. Not even as the nation battles the current coronavirus scare. That was evident Friday when Auburn landed three commitments in the span of four hours. It had been a full month since the most recent pledge before the floodgates opened as Tar'varish Dawson, Caleb Johnson and Garner Langlo all jumped in the boat. Now, the Tigers have seven verbals for the 2021 class and the No. 28 overall ranking (No. 6 in the SEC). FULL LIST HERE Q: How are Auburns chances with Kamren Kinchens? A: Kamren Kinchens is a 4-star safety from Miami (Fla.) Northwestern, for those who don't know. He visited Auburn earlier this year and that visit really seems to have gone well. Auburn is in it -- I just don't know exactly where he sits on the board. He could be high on it -- I just don't know at this time. Last week, he told InsideTheU (our Miami site) he plans to focus on five schools moving forward: Miami, LSU, Auburn, Texas A&M and Nebraska. "I feel like these schools have separated themselves enough that I could drop five and let people know that this is where my decision is headed," Kinchens told InsideTheU on Monday. "I haven't really set any official visits up, but I know where my mindset is with some. Three officials will probably be LSU, Auburn and Texas A&M. I don't know about Nebraska. UM, I don't know if it's a place that I have to take an official visit to. If I don't take one, that doesn't mean that they are out of the race, it's just that I can visit UM anytime, you know?" It feels like Auburn, LSU and Miami are the three to watch at this time. He's not expectefd to make a decision until the fall Q: Whats happening with Double 😧 released his top 3 a day before he announces? is he joking? A: This is regarding 4-star quarterback target Dematrius Davis of Houston (Texas) North Shore. When a recruit is one day away from announcing, I often can't just get them on the phone and even if I could, I wouldn't be able to always relay to everyone what is going on in the head of a teenager. I'm not a mind-reader. What I can tell you is I expect him -- at this time -- to announce Sunday morning around 10 CT. I've heard it could be on television but I don't know that for sure just yet. Auburn continues to like its chances. From what I'm told, the Tigers knew in advance the exact day he was de-committing from Virginia Tech -- and also knew a few days ago Davis was announcing Sunday. So someone is keeping the staff in the loop, which is a good sign one would think. People have referred to an Instagram post ... I don't know if it was Davis who made it or not. But it says there's a top thee of Virginia Tech, LSU and Texas A&M. Well, from what I'm told the Hokies would be extremely surprised if Davis picked them. Of the other two, one of them isn't really recruiting him and the other has a 4-star quarterback already committed (actually, they both do.). When you combine all of that with the fact Auburn likes where it sits, I'm keeping my pick on Auburn. Could things change? It's recruiting, so of course ... Q: Which of Auburn's commits/targets have a good chance to get a bump in the rankings? A: I'm probably less involved here than I've ever been. So I couldn't really tell you with any certainly. But perhaps offensive tackle commit Garner Langlo could be one to watch. Right now, he's an 86 with us (mid 3-star), and he's under 300 pounds I believe. In recent years, the rankings seem to be more kind to lean linemen than super heavy ones. I think the belief among some is that it's easier to build with muscle than to shed bad weight. So perhaps keep an eye on him over the next six or seven months. Q: Does Auburn still plan on taking two RBs this class? A: I think Auburn would like to take two backs, but I'm not certain it's set in stone. Maybe Auburn waits to see how the season goes. There are many unknown variables. What happens if Tank Bigsby shines as a true freshman? Is there attrition? Does anyone get hurt? Lot to be determined. Auburn absolutely is not is any rush to take verbals -- especially if it's not sold on someone. There was no spring evaluation period, so some teams that are taking guys just to take guys may get stuck with people who would have fallen down the boards after further evaluations. A team's board has major movement every spring. Plus, a lot of kids committing now will still take visits in the fall to other schools. It could get crazy. Bottom line, if you can get someone you love now, take him if you can. Otherwise, riding it out isn't a bad plan. Q: While I don’t think Auburn is going to miss on double D, who would be options if for some reason Auburn didn’t land him? A: Probably kick the tires on guys already committed elsewhere. Circle back to Kyron Drones and Jalen Milroe. Evaluate Bubba Chandler and Cam'Ron Ransom. But let's cross that bridge if Auburn gets to it. Q: Any WRs to keep an eye on? A: Well, for starters ... Auburn plans to give new 4-star athlete commit Tar'varish Dawson of Florida a look at both receiver and defensive back. Hard to know if Auburn leads for anyone else. Maybe not just yet. Not to beat a dead horse, but with receiver I've been preaching that people may have to be patient here. I could see new names emerging deep into the season. Not a big issue. Just signed four of them. Malcolm Johnson from the DC area is one to watch. Alabama is in it. I think Georgia might be too. Oklahoma. Penn State. But he seems to like Auburn a lot and plans to visit. He's one of the fastest recruits in the country and the fact Auburn has Anthony Schwartz is something he likes. In the end, I think Auburn adds two receivers. Q: Does this tweet from Kool-Aid (5-star corner Ga'Quincy McKinstry) potentially have anything to do with recruiting? A: I don't know, but he Tweeted a few days ago his top five was coming Sunday. Some people think it's now down to Auburn, Alabama and LSU. Will be interesting to see who else makes the cut. From what we hear, Auburn is the one pushing the two-sport thing the hardest. Q: Do you think we make the safety Harvey’s top 3? Also who do you feel good about other than DD? A: 1. You're referring to 4-star safety Ahmari Harvey of Tallahassee, Fla. It's possible, but I haven't heard much about him. Supposedly, Florida, Florida State and maybe LSU are the three to watch. Really good player -- if Auburn can get into his top group, that would be big. He Tweeted yesterday he has a top three coming soon for those wondering why we got a question about him. 2. I don't have enough intel to feel great about anyone really. Everyone has to understand, I'm used to meeting recruits and their families in Auburn -- and I also go on the road and talk to kids and their coaches a lot. Right now, I can't do any of that. Harder to get a true feel for things over the phone. Having to work overtime on that. I do know Auburn likes where it sits with some guys right now and two that come to mind are buck Jeremiah Williams and defensive tackle Marquis Robinson. Wouldn't say they are slam dunks by any stretch, though. Alabama apparently also think it could get Williams. Supposedly there are some others, too, with which Auburn likes where it sits. There seems to be some feeling at Auburn the Tigers could have 11 or 12 total commits by July, from what I'm hearing. We'll see. Q: Is there more chatter with McKinstry and Auburn now than a few weeks ago? With his Auburn tweet from a few days ago I am seeing his name pop up more A: There does seem to be a little more chatter regarding Auburn and 5-star defensive back Ga'Quincy McKinstry of Pinson Valley (Ala.) of late. But again, many still see Alabama as the team to beat. Then, you have LSU, which also recruits the secondary at a high level, also battling hard. Again, Auburn is really said to be pushing the two-sport thing hard. Harder than anyone. At least, that's what we've been told. Apparently, he's listening. Will that be enough? That's really hard to know. One person I know who talks to the Auburn staff said recently they'd put Auburn's chances here in the 30-40 percent range. Q: Are we still in it for Mondon Keith? And Leary? I haven’t heard much about them lately A: 1. Smael Mondon, 5-star linebacker from Georgia: Not only is Auburn in it, if anyone is capable of beating Georgia for this coveted recruit, it's probably the Tigers. And linebackers coach Travis Williams is a big reason why. Multiple sources tell us Williams has been been able to really connect with Mondon on a personal level. Wouldn't be a shock if Auburn pulled this off. Won't be easy, though. 2. Re: 4-star receiver Christian Leary of Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater. He's announcing in early June. Zero buzz with Auburn right now. It's all about Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. That said, he did recently have a virtual visit with tthe Tigers. Honestly, not loving Auburn's chances. Q: Wow so you saying we could possibly pull the upset with Mondon? I see he has all UGA CB’s A: I'm saying it's possible. Didn't say it was likely or inevitable. Let's be clear -- Georgia is the favorite. I don't think there is any doubt about that. Q: Linebacker Barrett Carter just screams Owen Oappoe to me. I'm sure the staff is trying to show him the playing time as a freshman and hopefully his progression coming to this year A: Clemson trending big. 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ellitor 33,039 Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 Quote Auburn football recruiting chat recap 5/20 By Keith Niebuhr 20 hours ago QB target Dematrius Davis. (Photo: Brian Perroni, 247Sports) Q: We recruiting 5-star defensive tackle Leonard Taylor of Florida? A: Not really. Q: Who’s the number one running back on our board? A: Going to be completely honest here. I have no idea. Not sure Auburn does either at this point. Auburn already has its No. 1 target -- Armoni Goodwin of Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) -- committed. The Tigers don't have to take two backs, but would like to. One reason for that is possible attrition on the current roster. You have to prepare for things like that. Alton McCaskill of Texas seems to be someone the Tigers like. Oklahoma State got in on him real early and definitley is a team to watch there. McCaskill has told me a couple times he wants to visit the Tigers. In-state back Jaylin White does not hold a Tigers offer, but they're tracking him. He's one to watch. Only 14 backs claim Auburn offers. Eight of them are committed. Of the other six, it's not known how hard Auburn is recruiting each. One of them told me recently he hadn't from the Tigers in some time. I could be wrong here, but it seems like Auburn is being patient here, having Goodwin already on board. Q: Over/under 3 players signed from Texas? A: That's a tough question. I'll just guess and say "over." ... A lot may depend on if the Tigers land tight end target Lake McCree of Austin's Lake Travis (the school where Chad Morris once was head coach). He's supposed to have a decision in the next week or two and Auburn is a big contender. If Auburn gets him, that gives the Tigers two from Texas with a long way to go -- and a lot of targets there to recruit. You'd have to like their chances of hitting the over at that point. Q: Also curious what DE prospects Auburn is prioritizing? I know Williams is listed as an end but he's probably a Buck at AU. Any guys worth monitoring outside him & Dylan Brooks? A: Those two (Jeremiah Williams and Dylan Brooks) are main guys at the buck, yes. The biggest targets probably. But also keep an eye on Jimmori Robinson of Monroe College (N.Y.). The Tigers like him a lot. The question is, do you take a junior college kid this early? If you do, you run the risk of scaring off the high school guys. In any case, those are three guys right there and I'm sure there are others. I'm told Auburn plans to recruit Brooks all the way to the end -- and there is some optimism the Tigers can flip him. Supposedly, he is good friends with Auburn's new quarterback commit. That can't hurt. Q: Does it seem like Auburn is trending for Mondon and/or McKinstry? A: Not to me. In it with both? Yes. Trending? Not sure about that. With 5-star linebacker Smael Mondon, Georgia is the favorite with Auburn, Florida and Tennessee also battling. At this time, it really seems like it'll be Georgia or Auburn. He'd like to announce a decision in June, but he also wants to take some more visits. So it's no sure thing he'll commit that month. His relationship with linebackers coach Travis Williams gives Auburn a fighting chance. With 5-star defensive back Ga'Quincy McKinstry, its feels like an Auburn-Alabama-LSU race. Most of the buzz is with the Tide but Auburn is working the two-sport angle hard and he seems to be intrigued. To me, there's "trending" and "trending up." -- Two different things. -Trending -- probably leading -Trending up -- Moving in the right direction. With these two recruits, Auburn probably fits more into this category than the other. Q: Keith in your opinion of our OL targets left on our board what is your predictions on who we land in this class: A: Not sure I have one ... You guys should know me by now, I don't just throw stuff against the wall. I'm pretty measured. Or, if you will, wimpy. If kids aren't close to making a decision and/or have mutliple visits to make, they probably aren't sure where they're going. And if they're not sure, then in no way could I be. With three offensive line commitments on the board, Auburn may only take two more, possibly three. Of all the remaining targets, I guess the most interesting one is probably 4-star tackle Dylan Fairchild of Georgia. Almost everyone we've talked to thinks it will come down to Auburn and Georgia. The Bulldogs have the lead in the 247Spoprts Cyrstal Ball, but Fairchild insists he isn't doing anything until he take more visits. He has said he wants to play early and that is something that could work in Auburn's advtange. COULD. If we're being objective here (and we always need to be), the Tigers have more of a need at tackle than Georgia, which has loaded up of late. But Fairchild also an in-state recruit for Georgia and at least one person in his family is a big Dawgs fan. They certainly could land him. It should be a great fight between these two schools. Other than that, I can't say Auburn leads for anyone at this time. That may change next week or next month. Q: Who appear to be our top WR targets? I know there's been a lot of speculation as of late, especially with Dematrius Davis' commitment, but I was hoping for some clarity. A: Some guys to watch would be: -Four-star recruit Christian Leary of Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater. A slot receiver who will announce a decision June 6, he likes Auburn a lot, but Alabama and Oklahoma might be the favorites. -Four-star recruit Shadrach Banks of Houston (Texas) North Shore. He's committed to Texas A&M and the Aggies think he's solid. But he is very close with Auburn quarterback commit/current teammate Dematrius Davis. The Tigers might have a better shot here than people think. -Four-star recruit Malcolm Johnson Jr. of St. Stephen's & St. Agnes (Md.): One of the fastest recruits in the country. I think Auburn probably gets an official visit. Alabama and Oklahoma are two others to watch. -Three-star recruit Latrell Neville of Missouri City (Texas) Hightower: Virginia Tech commit who Auburn would like to flip -- and may have a chance to do so. Q: Are we looking at Raheim Sanders solely as a LB or giving him a look at offense as well? A: I think he's a linebacker target all the way. Auburn really is just keeping him warm right now it seems. He put out a top five last night and the Tigers weren't on it. But behind the scenes, we continue to hear Auburn would have a great shot if it pushes. What's the holdup? Well, the Tigers may only take one linebacker in the 2021 class. Two -- if it's two elite guys. In another words, Auburn is being selective here and shooting for the stars. That's why so much energy is being put into 5-star backer Smael Mondon. Q: I've heard Auburn is in the running and has a real shot at Kendrick Blackshire… Yes/No, thoughts? A: Haven't heard his name come up. Doesn't mean things couldn't be happening behind the scenes, though. Right now, the Crystal Ball favors Alabama. Heavily. Will let you know if I learn anything new. Q: How are things looking with Xavian Sorey? Would like to land him. He is from my old neck of the woods? A: Sorey is the 5-star linebacker who attends Graceville High in the Florida panhandle for those who didn't know ... I think Auburn quietly is a factor here. For some time, many thought Alabama was trending. But now, there's some chatter that Georgia and Florida might be the front-runners. Meantime, I was told this week the Tigers think they're in this one, too. There's a lot of mystery to Sorey's recruitment. He doesn't do many interviews and sort of lives off the beaten path. But what I can tell you is he has visited Auburn three times and does seem to have a good relationship with the staff. I wouldn't rule out any of the schools I mentioned. I do seem to hear more about Georgia than the others, for whatever that's worth. Q: I got 2-1 odds that auburn gets a top class this year. Did I make a bad bet? I mean I risk 100 and my friend risks 200. if we get top 5 I win 200. A: Top 5 is awfully hard to crack. Q: Do you see these virtual visits being something that sticks in the future? Just curious if staff feels there has been things learned during this weird time that could be continue to be used moving forward. I know nothing beats getting kids on campus but I could see where doing these type of virtual visits might help convince kids further away it's worth a trip? A: Absolutely. Especially is you see Auburn continue to recruit places such as south Florida and Texas hard. Not always easy to get those kids on campus because of the distance. So the virtual visit is a great way to give them a feel for what Auburn looks like. It doesn't give you everything, but it certainly can be a great opening step. Q: Who are our DT prospects and are we leading on any? A: Right now, 4-star tackle Marquis Robinson of Milton (Fla.) probably is the one to watch. He has visited the Tiges a bunch and is really close with the staff. With Auburn already having 4-star tackle Lee Hunter committed, the Tigers may only take one more tackle. Overall, I think four or five is the number of defensive linemen that will be in the 2021 class. Q: Does auburn have any virtual visits set up? A: I'm sure. But I don't get a list. They're doing them all the time. But I honestly don't text 100 kids each day to ask. I usually find out when I'm interviewing someone. Q: Any Juco prospects on tap? A: I think buck/end Jimmori Robinson and end/tackle Nick Evans -- both of Monroe College in New York -- are the two to watch right now. But again, I don't think you take junior college guys this early unless you have no choice. By taking them early, you can scare off your top high school targets. 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Beaker 2,457 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 Graceville and Milton, FL? Who has heard of these backwater programs? Oh, I have. I am from the redneck riviera and know of them both as they were in our district. Reggie Slack (a QB way back Lance Bailey walked on at Auburn, for all you Lance Bailey fans), is from Milton and I think FSU had a high profile RB from Milton when we routinely played FSU during the 80's, but I don't recall his name. It would be great to get a couple of blue collar players from the panhandle. They tend to work out. Great update and thanks for the post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburn4ever 1,266 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 Yeah thanks for the update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TuscaloosaTiger 273 Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 RB Neal Anderson was from Graceville, FL. Played at UF in the 1980's and then for the Chicago Bears. He was a very good running back on some very good UF teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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