Great take on AU's recruiting

[WAR-MATT 2]

Great read.

Folks --

Several people called or sent e-mail messages asking my thoughts about the Auburn football recruiting class and if gloom-and-doom is just around the corner.

Some sports guys have a blog . I don't since I don't know what that is or how to do one . so I have to stick to the old e-mail method. So, for whatever it's worth (likely very little) here are my thoughts about the questions that were asked today.

The questions and answers are in the Attachment with this message. The attachment is long ... actually took the time to answer the five questions that I was asked today ... so I apologize in advance for the length. If you don't have several minutes to read it ... or if you don't really care about football recruiting ... just delete it or put it away for later.

And, a disclaimer . I have not officially talked to anybody with the football staff, so I have no inside information. These are just my observations.

-- Lyn

Question - Why was Auburn so unsuccessful in recruiting this year?

Answer - I'm not sure that they were unsuccessful. For sure, Alabama got the vast majority of top-ranked recruits in Alabama, so from that Auburn perspective, it's not good. But the most important question is, did it meet Auburn's needs? With Cox graduating and Field transferring, QB depth was needed. Auburn brings in a

top junior college transfer, along with the top QB in Alabama and in Georgia, where Deron Furr's team went undefeated and won the state title. No running backs needed . Tate, Lester, Fannin, Tristan Davis return . but they signed the top RB in Alabama, along with the country's #4 fullback, according to Rivals, plus 4-star McCalebb, who could also be a RB. Auburn returns two tight ends and signed two more. There was virtually no need at offensive line with nine of the top 10 returning, including two Freshmen All-Americans. But,

Auburn still signed arguably the top OL in the country, Jermaine Johnson. Wide receiver? Returning next season - Smith, Hawthorne, Billings, Dunn, Slaughter, Zachery (who am I leaving out?). But they still signed at least three more, including possibly the fastest group ever signed in any Auburn class. On the defensive side, Auburn needs defensive line depth . returning quality is definitely no problem. So, they signed four at DL including 5-star Raven Gray, plus Savage and Henderson, two outstanding in-state guys. It would have been good to get more linebackers, but if you can, watch film on LB Spencer Pybus from Dothan. He is only ranked 2-stars, but after watching him, you'll wonder why. Auburn signed four guys listed at DB, plus a couple of guys called "athletes" that could play DB. There was no need for kickers since the entire kicking team last season were freshmen and two of them made second-team Freshman All-American. So, could this recruiting class have been higher ranked . absolutely. Did Auburn get beat on several outstanding players . for sure. Did Auburn meet its needs with good players? Looks that way to me.

Question - Why is Auburn's class ranked so low? Doesn't that prove how bad

the class is?

Answer - Ranked low depends on what you're comparing it with. For sure, if you compare it to Alabama's class, it will be low since they are in the Top 3 of every recruiting service. But, take an objective look at the class rankings. The numbers below are from Rivals since we (Lindy's) partner with them on editorial and marketing things.

Rankings of SEC Teams (with national ranking)

1. Alabama (#1)

2. Florida (#3)

3. Georgia (#6)

4. LSU (#11)

5. Auburn (#20)

6. South Carolina (#22)

7. Mississippi (#24)

8. Tennessee (#36)

9. Arkansas (#37)

10. Mississippi State (#45)

11. Kentucky (#57)

12. Vanderbilt (#89)

So, among SEC teams, Auburn is fifth. And, Auburn is in the Top 20, which represents the top 10% of all teams nationally. Don't just compare to Alabama and Florida. Compare to other traditional national powers . Tennessee ranked #36 was able to get only 18 signees, none ranked 5-star and only 15 ranked 3-star or above (by comparison, Auburn signed two 5-stars and 22 ranked 3-star or above) . Penn State ranked # 42

signed only 14 players, none 5-star . West Virginia followed up its great season with the #44 class, none 5-star . Nebraska ranked #30, Wisconsin ranked #41, Georgia Tech #49.

So, is Auburn's class really that poorly ranked? Maybe you will think so if you insult yourself by listening to Finebaum and similar things. You know what they say . Perception is reality. The anti-Auburn media will do its best to create the perception that Auburn's football program is about to collapse because Alabama got good high school players. You can buy into that if you want to, but perception is NOT always reality.

Question - Why did Auburn get beat on so many players this year?

Answer - Auburn faced the perfect storm of recruiting challenges. First, the defensive coordinator leaves just a few weeks before signing day when relationships had been solidified. Several players listed that as a primary reason. Second, the offense coordinator changed in late December bringing a new system. Again, relationships had been built and at least two indicated that the change to the spread was important in their change. Third, the Tuberville-to-Arkansas/Texas A&M non-controversy, which the media did its best to foster in order to hurt Auburn recruiting. It was used against Auburn by other coaches. Fourth, the power of what Alabama has to sell this year. Here's the pitch . Come here and you can play quickly. Our team has lost 13 games the past two years and has a losing SEC record over the past five years. Surely, you can beat out some of these guys. We used to have tradition before you were born and you can be a part of bringing it back. We are getting great media coverage, so you'll be on television and in print a lot. Come and be a part of something great, bringing back a program. Or would you rather go to Auburn or LSU or Georgia or Florida where they are already loaded with quality depth and you won't get to play as often or as soon? Now, if somebody can't sell that to players, they need to quit their jobs. Surely, if you pay somebody $4 million and he loses six games, including to Louisiana-Monroe, you should expect him to be able to succeed with that sales pitch. If you couldn't sell that this year, when would you ever be able to sell it?

So, there were a lot of factors working against Auburn. There is a difference in an "excuse" and a "reason." There's still no "excuse" for losing so many head-to-head considerations with Alabama, and losing several

last minute defections to other schools, but it does give some "reasons" that contributed.

Question - Does this mean Alabama will start dominating on the field, too?

Answer - It hasn't happened in the last 25 years, so why should it happen soon? From Auburn's perspective, look back at the first answer for the returning quality depth for next season. Auburn still has Coach

Tuberville and the core staff that has been with him since the beginning at Auburn. The schedule turns in Auburn's favor with LSU, Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas at home, plus Bama in Tuscaloosa where they've never won.From Alabama's perspective, they return fewer players than Auburn, which could be a good thing since they are 13-13 in the last two seasons. They play on the road at LSU, Georgia and Tennessee. Do we think any of those teams are going to roll over and play dead because Alabama recruited good high school players? They open against Clemson, which also signed a great recruiting class. If you watched Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and watched Alabama in the Independence Bowl, do you really think Clemson should lose that game?

In the long run, if Alabama continues to dominate in-state recruiting like this year and Auburn again loses defections of good players at the last minute, it could make a big enough impact that the balance of power could turn. Auburn coaches need to realize the recruiting threat posed by this renewed Alabama situation and not let this happen again to this magnitude. Alabama will probably finally start winning a few against Tennessee, LSU and Auburn . they are 4-20 against those three teams this decade . but I don't think it will happen consistently for a while, if it happens.

Question - Are you losing confidence in Coach Tuberville and his staff?

Answer - No. I think this Auburn staff is the best in the SEC in evaluating talent, then getting the most of it when it gets on the field. How many under-ranked all-stars have been at Auburn during Tuberville's highly

successful time at Auburn? It has been a common thing. I think they put a high priority on getting players that really want to come to Auburn, not arm-twisting players that are stringing Auburn out. I trust that this staff will continue to put a high priority on good behavior and citizenship. I don't think Auburn will have many players arrested in bars or in fights or have our team captains arrested in the middle of highways. And, if that does happen, I'm proud that based on past history, the consequences will be swift and firm and made public, even if it is your best linebacker and you're getting ready to play a national championship contender. I'm glad that the coaches are willing to take a chance on guys that may not be the greatest students in high school, giving them a chance to prepare elsewhere and then come to Auburn . and that when players do enroll at Auburn, they demand satisfactory academics and have consequences if that fails. I'm glad that our coaches won't lie to players, virtually guaranteeing them freshmen playing time in order to sway their decision. I'm glad that this coaching staff conducts itself in a way that makes Auburn proud and requires that same thing from its players. Let other coaching staffs be investigated for improper recruiting contacts. Let other coaching staffs have to continually apologize for the actions of their players. I'll take what Auburn people get from their coaching staff any day. Until I see evidence to the contrary, I see no reason to begin doubting the Auburn coaching staff's judgment about players and their relationship with

them.

[AU alum 2]

Good article!

[OldNewby 27]

Thanks for posting this article. Makes a lot of sense.

[TigerEyes1914 1]

Auburn weathered the 'perfect storm of recruiting challenges' and still managed the #20 class in the country. People (including some fans) are underestimating who we have become in the world of college football.

[An Auburn Fan 0]

good article indeed!!

[HarpyTrain 1]

Outstanding!

[TigerEyes1914 1]

We're been here before!