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2019 4* Grad Transfer OG/C Parker Braun Commits to Texas


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Parker Braun explains his rationale for transferring

Parker Braun gave ample consideration to completing his career with Georgia Tech. It was not an easy conclusion for the Yellow Jackets’ All-ACC guard to leave as a grad transfer. But, in his determination, it was the best choice for a variety of reasons.

“I’ve got tremendous respect for all of (the new coaches), and I do believe that they can have a lot of success in the future, especially coach (Geoff) Collins and coach (Brent) Key and all those guys,” Braun told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I think they really know what they’re doing. But when it came down to it, I think because of grad school and various other factors, it just wasn’t the best fit for me personally.”

Braun’s decision to leave after three seasons – the past two of which earned him All-ACC honors – and in the wake of Collins’ hire came to light Jan. 25. He has taken an unofficial visit to Florida (with his younger brother Joshua, a rising high school senior from Live Oak, Fla.) and has an official visit planned for Texas for March 1. Braun said that “we’re still trying to work out something with Ohio State.”

While Braun said that Florida “seemed like a really good match,” he isn’t in a rush. He isn’t to the point where he would call Florida, Texas and Ohio State “finalists.” In fact, he said he was setting up an unofficial visit to Auburn.

“So it’s still completely up in the air, really,” he said.

When asked to explain his decision, grad school was the first reason that Braun gave. Braun has been serious about his education, three times earning academic All-ACC honors. He’ll graduate in May with a degree in literature, media and communication. He wanted to pursue a master’s in a liberal-arts field, and his choices at Tech were not to his liking. Braun said he’d like to study anthropology and has an idea of becoming a community-college professor when his football career is complete.

Transferring “opens a lot more doors as far as that goes,” he said.

The football side of the decision hinged on a variety of considerations, including not playing in coach Paul Johnson’s option offense, going through a transition to an all-new coaching staff, the opportunity to test himself in a different setting and preparing for the NFL.

“It’s hard for everybody when coaches change like this, regardless of the program,” Braun said. “But when you compound that on the fact of a whole new offensive system, a whole new coaching staff – not just the head coach, but everybody – it’s different.”

Transferring also “was an opportunity to play on a different team and test myself and my limits and see how good of a player I can be,” he said. “It’s also an opportunity to get more film against an entirely different schedule.”

He didn’t take lightly Tech’s switch away from the option, saying it was the reason he came to Tech. His father had played in an option offense at Army, as had his older brother Trey at Tech and he in high school.

Braun does not particularly enjoy the recruiting game, but has appreciated the attention from some of college football’s elite.

“Especially for a player who has kind of always doubted his abilities, it’s a little bit validating,” he said, “but it brings a whole new set of challenges up to the plate.”

Braun, 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, said he needs to gain strength and weight to play in a pro-style offense. (Braun is working out at Tech by himself at the Campus Recreation Center, slinging weights with the student body.) Braun said he’s also considering a switch to center, which may help his NFL prospects. Guards are typically bigger than centers.

Braun said that he’ll make his decision based on the schools’ grad-school programs, strength programs and fit with coaching staff and team.

“As I keep meeting people and talking to coaches and current players and stuff, just seeing what the best fit is – those are really the big three that’ll sort of come into play,” he said.

 

@homersapien

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9 minutes ago, Sizzle said:

Neither of those cities are the largest cities in the southeast. Most mainstream? Yeah but not biggest 

If I recall correctly, Jacksonville, Florida, is the largest city by land area in the country. However, by population, particularly metropolitan population, there's not one bigger than Miami or Atlanta. Metro population was what I was getting at, considering these are the most likely places to find such establishments as strip joints.

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6 minutes ago, ellitor said:

If he's looking for a liberal arts graduate study, I'm not sure how interested he would be in Auburn, but by responsibilities on the O-line, I can't imagine a much better fit for him. would be great to get him to come in at center to give Brahms (and whomever else might be gearing up for C) an extra year to develop.

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1 hour ago, shabby said:

after all the doom and gloom around Auburn recruiting of linemen I'm thrilled to see the staff make addressing this area a priority and seemingly a reality.  Good job. The work of coach dilly I imagine?

Honestly this should’ve been a priority from the beginning . Gus is hell bent on running the ball lol so you would think...

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10 minutes ago, Rednilla said:

would be great to get him to come in at center to give Brahms (and whomever else might be gearing up for C) an extra year to develop.

tumblr_inline_nubqdtgESd1rx79o4_500.gif

 

4 hours ago, ellitor said:

or C giving Brahms & the other young Cs another year to develop

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1 hour ago, ellitor said:

tumblr_inline_nubqdtgESd1rx79o4_500.gif

 

Not nice to put a gif of your wife up, E! :poke:

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11 hours ago, Sizzle said:

Neither of those cities are the largest cities in the southeast. Most mainstream? Yeah but not biggest 

If you're literally just looking at the population of the city, Jacksonville is the biggest. But the Atlanta and Miami metros are much larger than any others in the SE unless you consider DC as being in the SE.

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2 hours ago, McLoofus said:

If you're literally just looking at the population of the city, Jacksonville is the biggest. But the Atlanta and Miami metros are much larger than any others in the SE unless you consider DC as being in the SE.

DC definitely isn't SE!

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13 hours ago, alexava said:

We need this dude badly. 

Yeah, I was just thinking how important a good OL signee has become to the program at this point. 

Usually it's a skill player everyone thinks will make a big difference.  For us, it's an offensive lineman. If Gus is to succeed, we've got to get to the point where we are reloading linemen instead of desperately hoping for Jucos and transfers to fill the gap..

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1 hour ago, homersapien said:

Yeah, I was just thinking how important a good OL signee has become to the program at this point. 

Usually it's a skill player everyone thinks will make a big difference.  For us, it's an offensive lineman. If Gus is to succeed, we've got to get to the point where we are reloading linemen instead of desperately hoping for Jucos and transfers to fill the gap..

I haven’t even seen any video clips nor do I remember seeing any tech games the past couple years. But to graduate anywhere much less gtech in three years with two to play,all conference guard with aspirations to play center..... we couldn’t have drawn up a resume to better fit our biggest individual need going into next season. Short of an actual genie in a bottle, this is our chance to really improve our offense. 

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19 minutes ago, alexava said:

I haven’t even seen any video clips nor do I remember seeing any tech games the past couple years. But to graduate anywhere much less gtech in three years with two to play,all conference guard with aspirations to play center..... we couldn’t have drawn up a resume to better fit our biggest individual need going into next season. Short of an actual genie in a bottle, this is our chance to really improve our offense. 

Just made me think. How cool would have an EASports NCAA game have been to have a transfer portal to replace guys going to the NFL or transferring? Pretty cool IMO.

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30 minutes ago, ellitor said:

Just made me think. How cool would have an EASports NCAA game have been to have a transfer portal to replace guys going to the NFL or transferring? Pretty cool IMO.

 

giphy.gif

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Getting him will definitely help our chances with signing his younger brother in the 2020 class. It seems like brother acts have done well at Auburn over the years whether they are on the team together or separated by some years.  One brother act that I forgot to mention the other day on a post was Marlon Davidson and Ken Carter who was a solid DL some years ago.

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31 minutes ago, ellitor said:

Just made me think. How cool would have an EASports NCAA game have been to have a transfer portal to replace guys going to the NFL or transferring? Pretty cool IMO.

You and my son would get along great in that he has every NFL video game known to mankind and plays these just about everyday after a hard day's work f0r USAA Insurance in San Antonio.

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28 minutes ago, War to the Eagle said:

No mention of AU.

@War to the Eagle Look again...

19 hours ago, ellitor said:

While Braun said that Florida “seemed like a really good match,” he isn’t in a rush. He isn’t to the point where he would call Florida, Texas and Ohio State “finalists.” In fact, he said he was setting up an unofficial visit to Auburn. 

“So it’s still completely up in the air, really,” he said.

 

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Assuming he does an unofficial visit we need to be ready to answer any questions he has.  Because he is looking at Grad program and not just football we should have some academic people involved in his recruitment. Also because of his size and what we saw at center position at Auburn last year we should be ready to sell our need for a center of his caliber.  It has to be a two pronged recruitment Academics and need at Center. No coach should say if you come you will be our starting center but a player of his caliber looking at center position at Auburn last year would believe he would be starter. He has been through recruiting and I believe if you tried to sell him a bill of goods by saying you will be starting center it would turn him off.

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20 minutes ago, AuburnNTexas said:

I believe if you tried to sell him a bill of goods by saying you will be starting center it would turn him off.

Wouldn't be selling him a bit of goods. It's calling a spade a spade given how things are for us now at the position. As long as he can snap the ball & call adjustments he would easily be our Center. Being an All Conference OL & graduating in GT in 3 years triple majoring he will already put in more than the necessary work.

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4 hours ago, ellitor said:

Just made me think. How cool would have an EASports NCAA game have been to have a transfer portal to replace guys going to the NFL or transferring? Pretty cool IMO.

Man, I miss that game so much! 

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2 hours ago, ellitor said:

Wouldn't be selling him a bit of goods. It's calling a spade a spade given how things are for us now at the position. As long as he can snap the ball & call adjustments he would easily be our Center. Being an All Conference OL & graduating in GT in 3 years triple majoring he will already put in more than the necessary work.

Hell that' nothing I had three majors at Auburn.........playing two sports

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2 hours ago, AuburnNTexas said:

No coach should say if you come you will be our starting center

I would not only say it, but put it in writing.  Until he's injured or someone just steps up and beats him out I would tell him it's his job to lose.

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19 minutes ago, augolf1716 said:

Hell that' nothing I had three majors at Auburn.........playing two sports

Major hangovers

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56 minutes ago, oracle79 said:

I would not only say it, but put it in writing.  Until he's injured or someone just steps up and beats him out I would tell him it's his job to lose.

Hell, If there was ever a time for a bagman, now is that time

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