boomstick

Picked up another JUCO commitment yesterday, this one a catcher, Matt Scheffler from Washington.

The two I believe were most concerned about are Garrett Wade and Blake Rivera. Wade has been projected anywhere between 100-145. Rivera has been projected around the top 200. From most indications, it will take quite a bit of money to get Wade away from Auburn. For Rivera, I’m pretty concerned that he won’t be able to pass on the money. Having played two years somewhere, he may want to go ahead and start getting paid as opposed to waiting another year.

We have another commit to add to the list. Rankin Woley, JUCO 2B at CVCC, was a former LSU player who transferred to CVCC in the fall. Had a great year at CVCC. http://www.acccathletics.com/sports/bsb/2017-18/teams/chattahoocheevalleycommunitycollege?view=lineup&r=0&pos=

I saw that and got a good chuckle. The best player in the state who is a LHP and they can’t put even a left-handed player photo up.

We also added a commitment from Kyle Gray, a JUCO LHP from Texas. I believe Bailey Horn has been injured all year, and this might be a backup plan for Horn. http://www.buccaneersports.com/sports/bsb/2017-18/bios/gray_kyle_wro6

Garrett Wade was named the Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year yesterday. http://www.waaytv.com/content/news/Hartselles-Garrett-Wade-named-Gatorade-Alabama-Player-of-the-Year-484015141.html

This is the most recent Perfect Game list. It includes a few names that Auburn didn't announce in November as part of this high school signing class and doesn't include a few known JUCO names. From what I can tell, the names not on the list that Auburn announced are: LHP Brooks Fuller (Auburn HS, son of former Auburn player/assistant coach Mark Fuller), RHP Blake Rivera (Central PC, JUCO Wallace-Dothan), and LHP Bailey Horn (McClennan College, JUCO in Texas). Troy Bearden and Will Morrison are the two HS players listed as commits by PG that Auburn didn't announce as signees, although Bearden's travel team's website shows him as a commitment also and Morrison recently committed March 2nd. This class is currently ranked 29th by Perfect Game. Nat Rank Name Drafted/Signed Pos Ht Wt B T High School Hometown St 67 Garrett Wade LHP 6-2 190 L L Hartselle Hartselle AL 91 Ryan Bliss SS 5-9 165 R R Troup County Lagrange GA 131 Devin Warner SS 6-2 205 S R Cartersville Euharlee GA 418 Troy Bearden 1B 6-2 225 R R Next Level Academy Trussvile AL 492 Will Morrison RHP 6-2 180 R R Cullman Cullman AL 500 Richard Fitts RHP 6-3 185 R R Helena Helena AL 500 Brody Moore SS 6-1 170 R R Oneonta Altoona AL 500 Ed Johnson SS 6-1 150 R R Hewitt-Trussville Trussville AL 500 Carson Skipper LHP 6-1 180 L L Hewitt-Trussville Trussville AL 500 Dawson Sweatt LHP 6-2 180 R L Starrs Mill Fayetteville GA 500 Kason Howell OF 6-0 180 S R Liberty Christian Lantana TX 500 Jarret Eaton 2B 5-9 150 L R St. Paul's Episcopal Mobile AL

I'm just worried about having room for him period. He'd be a game-changer at punter, but he has to get cleared, which apparently isn't the easiest thing in the world with all the paperwork required, and we have to have a spot for him. A guy who can kick with both the hang time and distance he offers would be a significant weapon.

That makes sense. I couldn't remember if the GTs were handled differently. Who is the 8th? I have: Joey Gatewood Asa Martin Shedrick Jackson Josh Marsh Dequan Newkirk Jamien Sherwood Christian Tutt

Anybody have an idea of how may we can take in this class with the early enrollees? By my count, we will have 17 open scholarships with seniors leaving and the two available from last year. We have a few players that will leave for the draft, and I believe we have 7 players planning on enrolling early.

Montgomery just decommitted, per twitter.

Thanks for the response. I hope you're right, but given our issues recruiting and developing HS QBs, I can see why some would worry that him not getting all the reps as QB for the last two seasons could affect his in-game development. Can't wait to get him on campus and see what Chip can do with him during the spring. Kid is loaded with talent and potential.

Not really sure. You'd hate to see his athletic ability sit on the bench, but if he's going to be a QB in the SEC, I'd want him being around and taking as many reps as possible for the first couple of years of his career, even if he isn't playing. If there's a way to get all that mental and physical QB work while still playing another position as a FR, then I'm all for it.

@ChaddScottIs Joey still going to split reps with another QB this year? Is there any concern about his in-game development by not being the full time QB? It sounds like his private coach believes in him, and he's performed well on the camp circuit. Just curious if sharing that role is concerning to anyone close to him? Really hoping that we can hold onto Gatewood and bring in Fields as well. I think both of them are great prospects.

Great read @StatTiger. I think downfield passing is the most crucial improvement for the offense this season and where I think Stidham can have his biggest impact. If we can have those numbers fall in or around that top 5 group, we're going to have a fun season.

I saw one about 2018-2019 but didn't see anything that looked as official as this thread. No big deal. Just didn't want to start one or duplicate another.

@ellitor you think we could get a new thread for the 2018 class? I know of at least one commitment, Kason Howell out of Texas.

I guess the caveat to that statement is "if he doesn't have a QB he trusts." With Cam and Nick (and to an extent Chris Todd), he never seemed worried about dialing up whatever was necessary to get a first down. With QBs he didn't trust, we seemed to play more ball-control, possession offense with fewer passes thus fewer chances for QB mistakes in the passing game.

@StatTiger how do these stats look Power 5 vs non-Power 5 schools? In the first stat you posted, is that 76% of the 33 games it covers against a majority of tougher or weaker competition? My concern recently with Gus has been he's ok opening up the offense against weaker teams while playing more conservatively against stronger competition. My perception is he believes he can win even with a mistake or two against a lesser team but is overly concerned with QB mistakes against equal or stronger opponents.

Looks like all but three of the signees are enrolled in classes. Venter, Gentry, and Owen don't appear to be enrolled yet.

I noticed that four pitchers that are on the current roster aren't mentioned anywhere in that article. Trevor Hillhouse, Welby Malczewski, Grant Warner, and Joe Gahm aren't listed with the pitching group. Seeing as we probably have to reduce the roster size down, I'm interested in knowing if their omission was a sign that those players won't return.

You sure it was Goff or Gaspard? Gaspard has been mentioned as a candidate. Haven't seen or heard Goff's name.

Based on some lists I've seen today, it doesn't seem like he's an option at the moment. That obviously could change in the next few days.