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Summer Enrollees- Profiles


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What Auburn's summer enrollees can bring to the table

3 hours ago
 

Best potential landing spots for coveted WR transfer Jordan Addison

Buzz is aplenty for the transfer portal this time of year, and for good reason. In Auburn’s case, now that the May 1 entry deadline has passed, Bryan Harsin has a clear picture of what type of talent is available to attempt to pluck in order to fill certain gaps heading into the fall.

But the Tigers will also receive reinforcements from the high-school level soon. The program’s late enrollees from the 2022 class are set to arrive on campus later this month and in early June for summer workouts.

“We still have several guys that haven't been on campus that are going to be part of our program,” Harsin said this week. “So really, by June or middle June, you hope you're at full strength with your team, and you can see everybody, where they fit, where they're at, watch them develop, get into August, get everybody the reps they need, figure out what your team's going to look like going into the season, make your decisions on the depth chart, then get guys ready to play."

The newest Tigers will start with "voluntary" training, then begin to work on their bodies with strength and conditioning coach Jeff Pitman and his aides, while also developing a rapport with their new teammates in player-led practices.

Combined with the transfer additions — of which Auburn has already reeled in some much-needed help at wide receiver, in the form of Miami’s Dazalin Worsham as the team’s first post-spring transfer commitment — here’s a refresher course on the Tigers' eight summer-enrollee freshmen and what they could bring to the roster.

 

RB DAMARI ALSTON

 

 

9801630.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320

2022 position ranking: No. 32 RB

Auburn Undercover’s take: Midway through spring practice, Auburn had only one scholarship running back in Tank Bigsby — before former Hewitt-Trussville standout Sean Jackson was promoted from walk-on status. Sophomore Jarquez Hunterwill be healthy for the fall, but there’s no solidified No. 3 running back for the Tigers at the moment. Alston’s blend of tough, in-line rushing, combined with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, will likely allow him to slide into Shaun Shivers’ role from last season — and keep Auburn from needing to grab a tailback from the transfer ranks.

 

WR CAMDEN BROWN

 

10776712.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)

2022 position ranking: No. 65 WR

Auburn Undercover’s take: Harsin this week highlighted wide receiver, defensive line and a couple spots in the secondary as positions of need in the transfer portal, so a high-level freshman contributor at those spots will be welcomed, too. Brown is viewed by many as a possible sleeper in the Tigers’ 2022 class, with plenty of athleticism at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. Besides tight end transplant Landen King, there aren’t a bevy of red-zone targets for Auburn’s passing game at the moment; Brown could find a niche there if he’s able to play-make on the outside this fall.

247Sports scouting report: A big-framed wide receiver that produced as a senior at one of the more storied programs in South Florida. Aces the eye test with lean, muscular build. Looks to be over 6-foot-3 and could eventually play at 215 pounds or more. Seems to be the most comfortable at this stage in his development working the deeper parts of the field. Adjusts well once the ball is in the air and will elevate over defenders in order to make a grab. Also isn’t afraid to layout for a pass and get his jersey a little dirty. Shouldn’t be viewed as a burner, but does a nice job of firing out of his stance and chewing up yardage as he looks to get vertical. Has the size to be a rather effective blocker at the next level, but will need to keep adding strength. Could also eventually find some more wiggle and will need to keep progressing as a route runner in hopes of consistently creating separation against much quicker college defensive backs. Figures to settle in as an outside receiver for a Power 5 program. Skillset suggests that he can be a multi-year starter with the right mindset. Likely to excel in more of a pro-style attack that asks its wideouts to master the higher numbers on the route tree.”

 

 

WR OMARI KELLY

 

9888864.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Jason Caldwell / Inside The Auburn Tigers)

2022 position ranking: No. 18 ATH

Auburn Undercover’s take: The highest-rated of Auburn’s three freshman receivers in the 2022 class, Kelly, who was also coveted by Alabama and UCF, is more of an explosive game-breaker than a possession receiver. And explosion was exactly what Harsin harped on in the spring, preaching its importance for his offense moving forward — and demanding much more of it. At 6-foot-1, Kelly’s inside receiver spot will be a bit more crowded than Brown’s this fall, but the four-star prospect still has plenty of athletic tools to make his mark if given the chance. And if not, he’ll serve as a key depth piece in a room that desperately needed some.

 

 

DT ENYCE SLEDGE

 

10789638.jpeg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Jason Caldwell / Inside the Auburn Tigers)

2022 position ranking: No. 119 DL

Auburn Undercover’s take: The lowest-rated recruit of the non-specialists in Auburn’s 2022 class, Sledge is a project player for Jimmy Brumbaugh along the defensive front. At Neville High School in Monroe, Louisiana, he was capable of blowing up offensive lines with his size and strength (6-foot-4 and 305 pounds). At Auburn, he can play nose tackle behind Jayson Jones, Marquis Burks and Jeffrey M'ba. With Marquis Robinson withdrawing from the portal, D-line depth isn’t as dire as it seemed a couple months ago.

 

LB ROBERT WOODYARD

 

10307760.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)

2022 position ranking: No. 13 ILB

Auburn Undercover’s take: A flip from Alabama during the December signing period, Woodyard is Auburn’s top-rated recruit in the class, sitting inside the top 150 at No. 141 in the class. With more than 220 tackles between his junior and senior seasons at Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama, Woodyard now has an opportunity to immediately contribute in a linebacker room that doesn’t have much in the way of proven commodities, besides senior Owen Pappoe. A trio of third-year players hope to have their breakout seasons, and the Tigers added an experienced transfer, but Woodyard certainly possesses the talent to outshine them all, if all goes according to plan.

 

 

CB KEIONTE SCOTT

 

10536344.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Snow College Athletics)

2022 position ranking: No. 1 CB (JUCO)

Auburn Undercover’s take: From Snow College in Utah, Scott finished as the No. 3 overall player from the JUCO ranks in the 2022 class. Considering it didn’t take long down the depth chart this spring for walk-ons to get involved at cornerback, Scott’s experience should be an immediate factor at the position. With redshirt freshman A.D. Diamond and Oregon transfer D.J. Jamesthe backups behind Auburn’s main cornerback duo, Scott — with standout ball skills and one-on-one coverage ability on the outside — could certainly work his way into a spot in the main rotation.

247Sports scouting report: A seasoned cornerback with quick feet, loose hips and strong instincts. Makes it extremely difficult for wide receivers to shake him as he embraces hand-to-hand combat and understands how to put himself in position to make plays at the catch point. Has experience lining up on the outside, but competitive nature and compact frame suggests that his future is likely on the inside as he will fight through blockers to make a tackle in run support. Has also proven to be rather effective on the blitz. Made a difference on both sides of the ball as a senior in high school, but was lightly recruited. Ended up quickly emerging as an impact player for one of the nation’s top junior college programs. Described by his coaches and those around him as a hard worker and the type of prospect that wants to get better every day. Will need to adjust to the speed of FBS football, but should challenge for playing time right away and eventually emerge as a starter in a Power 5 conference.”

 

 

DB AUSTIN AUSBERRY

 

Austin Ausberry (Parker Thune, 247Sports)

2022 position ranking: No. 22 CB

Auburn Undercover’s take: Ausberry was a major recruiting win for Auburn over LSU, which was in his backyard in Baton Rouge. The name of the game here is speed and athleticism; Ausberry played all over the field at the high-school level, including wide receiver. He’s listed as a cornerback on Auburn’s signee roster, but secondary coach Zac Etheridge and the Tigers’ defensive staff project that he could help at essentially every spot in the defensive backfield. Much of this fall for Ausberry will be about finding where he fits best. After that, there’s no reason to think the rangy, 6-foot-1 defender can’t provide immediate assistance — considering Auburn had five defensive backs transfer out since the end of the 2021 regular season.

 

 

K ALEX MCPHERSON

 

10877734.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)

2022 position ranking: No. 1 K

Auburn Undercover’s take: In terms of immediate need, McPherson now becomes one of Auburn’s most important freshmen. Fifth-year senior Anders Carlson has progressed well in the offseason in recovering from his knee injury last season, but he’s still not expected to be ready for Week 1. McPherson, an Under Armour All-American who owns the state’s high-school record with a 61-yard field goal, should be implemented as the Tigers’ top placekicker on Day 1 of preseason camp, seeing as he’s entering a room with only walk-ons available at the moment.

 

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