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I've read a number of places that he's still growing. He's already a big kid at WR. If he's running even close to that fast and growing, he's Marquis McClain at worst, a toolsy, big-bodied, raw talent that will need development. I'd be excited to have him. I think we're aiming for four WRs (again based on reports), and not many of our targets look like Shedrick in terms of size/speed combination. He fits so in hoping he's part of the class.

Oh well, gracious, that's definitely not the modern era. But if that's the small cut of time we're observing, this isn't close. At all. The best RB we've put in the NFL in that time is Ben Tate (one season of 1000 yards from scrimmage, one other year 900+ total yards).

As for the RB discussion, I liked Teague's film the best. Pierce is up there as well. I think Asa Martin has a high ceiling, but he's also the kind of back that can get lost in the shuffle because he might not be outstanding at any one thing. I could see him not being our speed option (with guys like Stove, Iggy, Kam Martin, and Shivers on campus). I could see him not being our lead back (with Malik Miller and Devan Barrett already). Martin is good enough that he's not an "okay I'll take him." He's a guy you get excited about, but I would be more excited with Teague or Pierce.

Can we go back to the part where @McLoofus argued that Lacy was not a bust one breath and then said Auburn had no "meaningful" RBs in the modern other than Cam? We're crediting Eddie Lacy (Offensive ROY, 1 Pro Bowl, 1100+ yards twice, 4000+ yards from scrimmage) and discounting Cadillac Williams (Offensive ROY, 1100+ yards once, 1000 total yards two other seasons, 5000+ yards from scrimmage)? We're saying Mark Ingram (1 Pro Bowl, 1000+ yards rushing once, 1000+ total yards two other seasons, 5000+ yards from scrimmage) isn't a bust but saying Ronnie Brown (1 Pro Bowl, 1000 yards rushing once, 1000+ total yards two other seasons, 7000+ yards from scrimmage) isn't a meaningful RB in the modern era? That doesn't even touch Stephen Davis (if that's the modern era for kids now) or Rudi Johnson. Davis and Alexander posted similar career numbers with higher peaks for Alexander. Both had for seasons above 1300 yards rushing; both had three Pro Bowl seasons. Alexander was better, but they're comparable. People forget how good Rudi was. Three seasons with 1300+ yards but only one Pro Bowl. The gap between him and Davis is really only about longevity. I'd say anyone running in the 2000s is a "modern era" back, and Auburn has had as many or more successes with fewer busts than Bama. That's without even getting into the question of whether Brandon Jacobs counts or not.

Williams is back near his freshman weight, which is funny to me. He spent years gaining, and the way the game is played now, he's better off where he started. I think Davis is too heavy as well, unless it really didn't cost him a step. Time will tell on that one. If he's a step slower, we're going to see Tre take over at MLB with D. Williams and Atkinson as the primary OLBs. Tre can play all three spots. Two names with good movement (I think) are Nick Ruffin (up) and Malik Miller (down). Both of those guys will see a lot of PT, and both of them had movements that should help. Ruffin can flip between Safety spots, but he needed to little size to improve in the box. Miller shedding weight just tells me he's serious about sharing the workload this year with Pettway and Kerryon. I also personally like Jamel Dean up to 215. He can move at that weight. I'd love to see him healthy and work him into the Safety/Nickel rotation. He has the body and skill set to give us depth behind our top three Safeties (Matthews, Roberts, and Ruffin) and Dinson at Nickel. That would alleviate a LOT of depth concern if Dean is ready to play. Last one, Hastings and Ryan Davis are just little guys that will stay little. I know what that's like. When I was at Auburn, my roommate tried to help me pack on weight. I drank a shakes or horrible protein drinks with breakfast and lunch and finished everyday with two PB sandwiches. Did that with my normal workout routine (back then... no longer) and gained 2 pounds in three months, which was probably all water weight. Some folks just cannot add weight. Those two seem like they fit that bill.

I'm confused. Fields is committed to Elite 11 that weekend, right? If so, their chances at the title are pretty much shot anyway.

Plus, I'll just say it. His nickname is fantastic. But seriously, a CB with his length or a Safety with his coverage skills... that's a top of the board prospect.

It's some balance between stats and preference of the watcher. Like you cannot make an argument that James Joseph (who I loved) is number two on the list. He never put up the numbers, but once you hit some threshold, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Like I said, Cadillac is the guy for me. I loved knowing he would take 40 carries if need be. I loved his herky-jerky movements when he was trying to set up a juke. I loved the breakaway speed, and I loved his versatility as a pass catcher out of the backfield and as a punt returner. He was just a Dude. I think I watched in person for every game Cadillac played. I believe that's right. Same for Ronnie, and I missed one for Rudi (so you can peg my years in school!!). I didn't get to experience James Brooks, but in videos, that guy was electric.

Cadillac is my easy answer. it's purely personal and subjective. I was in school when he was going crazy. Therefore, he's my guy. But honestly, it would be Fullwood and Cadillac at 2/3 in my view. Fullwood was a beast. No denying that and the numbers reflect the memories of his play. Cadillac had something that very few have. He was a true workhorse but maintained his ability to hit a home run. He pieced together some of the best games I've ever watched. 2001 UGA was a tour de force. 2004 Ole Miss is little remembered (because they weren't very good), but Cadillac was everything, had something like 250 all purpose yards. Jason was bad that night, and the offense was stuck in the mud. He pulled us out. Love that guy.

Beasley was great. Two time All Pro FB. He was a dude.

That's fair except that I actually think Kerryon is big enough to handle 20 carries a game. He gets nicked up, but it's not for a lack of size. I was speaking more in terms of skill set than ability to handle lots of carries.

I guess I'm a little confused about the hand-wringing on Joey's "window" to play QB at Auburn. He was never going to start as a true freshman. That was never going to happen. So whether Stidham and/or White return next year or not, I have zero expectation of a true freshman taking live bullets for us under Center (or... behind Center since we never line up under Center... you know what I meant!). His window starts in 2019, and probably doesn't really start until 2020. I mean, but for a few instances where our hand was forced by injury (Sean White) or inheriting a roster without options (Jason Campbell), Auburn rarely ever starts even a redshirt freshman at that position. Most teams don't. I know. There are Tebows and Manziels out there, but most teams don't start true or redshirt freshmen. That means 2020 is really the first time you'd generally think he's an option to take the reins. There is time to develop him, and I've seen nothing in our recruiting that makes me think his window has been affected. He was always going to have to compete with talented players for the job. Hopefully, he's competing against Willis and Nix and one other guy we sign this year. That'll be a good group with a diverse set of skills. No one has any idea who the best QB in that (undefined) group will be two full seasons from now. As far as progression goes, I'd expect it to look something like this: 2017 - Stidham/White/Willis 2018 - Stidham or White/Willis/Gatewood or other signee 2019 - Willis or Gatewood or other signee/Nix 2020 - Same except it'll be open season for all four.

I'm of the opinion that both of those guys should be takes. Worm is a change of pace or slot guy. He's not going to see 15 carries a game. By my estimation, you want/need a mix of skill sets in the backfield. This is simplifying it, but Teague is more like Pettway/Miller; Martin is more like Johnson/Martin/Barrett. Worm is like none of those guys. Given that we're losing two traditional backs, my preference would be replacing them. I get roster management, but personally, if both guys want to be at Auburn, I believe it's a mistake to turn one of them away.

Amen.

I don't think I want DTs "like Ole Miss" but can I sign up for a DT like Robert Nkemdiche? I'm fully on board with crazy athlete who was once a DE but now dominates at DT. If that's Newkirk, great!

WDE, I'm certain Auburn was hoping for that, but if I were in the kid's shoes, I wouldn't be interested in committing right now.

I would if I were in his shoes. It's not like he's a lifelong AU fanboy. He's a foreigner getting courted by the world's highest paid used car salesmen, and he's trying to figure out the best situation for himself over the next four years + the best way to maximize his chance at an education/professional career. I'd be all about taking my time and letting people love on me for a few months.

Nope. I think everyone should just back off because he's not as athletic as they thought. We'll stay on him, but I think they should back off.

@ellitor I know what you were alluding to, but to be fair, if Gus was micromanaging the offense in 2014, you have to tip your cap to him. That was a really, really freaking good offense. The offense essentially had one game where it no showed all season but dropped 40+ on four SEC teams, including LSU and Bama. If that's the result of micromanaging, I'm pro micromanaging. If the result looks like 2015 and 2016, I'm against micromanaging.

He does look like a goober. That's a true statement.

Now, Rodney, go land Jarez Parks too and make all the ridiculous, uninformed haters keep eating their words!!!

Exactly what I was thinking. He'll have to get in shape, but he certainly looks the part of a nose guard.

That would hurt. We fell out of the Parks race in part because he was a HARD Bama lean. If they back away from him and land Bryant, they effectively cost us two recruits at the same position.

It is possible that Webb wanted a guarantee that he'd be the guy. That's speculation though.

@GwillMac6 I'd also point out that Webb threw it 620 times in 2016 alone. White/Johnson/Franklin had 581 attempts in 2015 and 2016 combined. Different offenses, different stats. I'd also note, Sean White, even factoring in his ugly games while playing injured, had a higher passer rating in 2016 than Davis Webb. For a basketball comparison, Webb put up great numbers on the surface, but he was really a volume shooter, not an efficient one. Still, the point remains White + Webb would've produced a much different (and likely better) season than White + Johnson/Franklin/Cox