2011 recruiting on a similar path as '10

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Justin Hokanson of AuburnSports.com has an excellent analysis posted of our recruiting class at this point in time this year vs. last year. And better yet, it's a free article. Here are some highlights...

At the end of July in 2009, Auburn had 12 verbal commitments, including three four-star prospects. Three of those three-star commitments would later get bumped up in the Rivals rankings, two becoming four-star prospects, and one becoming an elite five-star prospect.

The buzz of Big Cat Weekend and the number of quality prospects already committed had Auburn fans on a new found high of excitement and it culminated in the nation's No. 4 class.

So as July of 2010 comes to an end, the Tigers are sitting on 12 verbal commitments once again, identical to last year. Auburn also has two four-star commitments thus far, only one off their pace of last year.

The question is, will the 2011 class continue to rival the 2010 class?

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This time last season, Auburn already had a comfortable lead for Little Rock Christian (Ark.) five-star running back Michael Dyer, who later committed to Auburn in November. The Tigers also had themselves positioned in great shape with two other top backs in the country, Byrnes (S.C.) five-star running back Marcus Lattimore and Temple (Tex.) five-star running back Lache Seastrunk. Lattimore and Seastrunk ultimately decided to play elsewhere, but Auburn made it known it would recruit the best in the country that weren't afraid of competition.

Fast forward to this year where Auburn is right in the thick of it with some of the best backs 2011 has to offer. Manatee (Fla.) four-star running back Mike Blakely, Dr. Phillips (Fla.) four-star running back Dee Hart, Edwardsville (Ill.) four-star athlete Rodney Coe, Jefferson County (Fla.) three-star running back DeVondrick Nealy, and Lincoln (Fla.) three-star running back Javorius Allen all have Auburn among their favorites as the summer comes to an end.

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The 2011 class isn't any different so far as the Tigers are right in the thick of it with some of the nation's elite prospects.

The Tigers already have a commitment from the nation's No. 2 dual-threat quarterback, Shiloh Christian (Ark.) signal caller Kiehl Frazier, and the nation's No. 3 center prospect in Spanish Fort's (Ala.) Reese Dismukes.

Leeds (Ala.) four-star cornerback Jonathan Rose is set to make his decision Sunday. Auburn remains the heavy favorite to land the talented cornerback with Auburn bloodlines' commitment, and the Tigers may not be done attracting top talent at the corner position. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) four-star cornerback Marcus Roberson also lists the Auburn atop his list, and may be nearing a decision as his high school season closes in. Valley (Ala.) four-star safety Erique Florence is one of the nation's best safeties, and Auburn remains the team to beat for Florence as well.

A trio of that caliber could give the Tigers the top defensive back class in the country.

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Will Auburn finish with back-to-back top-five recruiting classes? It's very possible, but the foundation has to be built first. Just like last year at this time, names such as Newton, Gayden, and Lemonier seemed like long shots, if shots at all, for Auburn, and there are certainly more to come in 2011.

Read the entire article here...