Big Cat Weekend 2011

[AU alum 2]

When is it? Who is coming?

[RunInRed 16,487]

Targeting last weekend of May (Memorial Day Weekend). No confirmed list but possible attendees...

- Kwon Alexander, LB

- Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

- Travis Blanks, S

- Beniquez Brown, RB

- Jonathan Bullard, DE

- Shane Callahan, OT

- Ty Darlington, OG

- James Deloach, DE

- Jordan Diamond, OT

- Jordan Diggs, S

- Stefon Diggs, WR

- Trae Elston, S

- Eddie Goldman, DT

- Mark Harrell, OT

- Josh Holsey, CB

- K'Hadree Hooker, DT

- Jordan Jenkins, DE

- Will Johnson, TE

- Jarontay Jones, DE

- Dillion Lee, LB

- Kenno Loyal, RB

- Keith Marshall, RB

- Justin Meredith, TE

- Patrick Miller, OT

- Javierre Mitchell, LB

- Tyler Nero, DT

- Ricky Parks, TE

- Caleb Peterson, OT

- Justin Shanks, DT

- Geno Smith, CB

- Jonathan Taylor, DT

- Justin Thomas, ATH

- Channing Ward, DE

- Jordan Watkins, DT

- Jaquay Williams, WR

- TJ Yeldon, RB

I would also assume Michael Flint, Darrion Hutcherson, Cassonova McKinzey and Zeke Pike would be there. Any other guesses?

[AU alum 2]

Thanks!

[AU Jack 0]

It would be interesting to see the effectiveness of these weekeneds. Wonder if Stat might be able to get his hands on the previous player list and see how many of them sign a LOI. (hint).

[Mikey 16,728]

It would be interesting to see the effectiveness of these weekeneds. Wonder if Stat might be able to get his hands on the previous player list and see how many of them sign a LOI. (hint).

Well, there was Seastrunk, Ray Drew and so forth, if you are interested in swings and misses.

There have been some attendees that signed with Auburn. I think one big thing it does is get Auburn's name in the thoughts of top recruits everywhere, which is a good thing. Whether any given prospect was swayed to Auburn by BCW would be hard to tell.

[RunInRed 16,487]

In the inaugural year (BCW1 - 2009), AU hosted approximately 25 of the nation's top prospects and signed 10 of them (Shon Coleman, Jessel Curry, Antonio Goodwin, Jake Holland, Eric Mack, Jonathan Mincy, LaDarius Owens, Trovon Reed, Jeremy Richardson and Jawara White).

Last year (BCWII - 2010), AU hosted approximately 30 and signed 14 of them (Reese Dismukes, Kiehl Frazier, Erique Florence, Kris Frost, Brandon Fulse, Keymiya Harrell, Chris Landrum, Jabrian Niles, Thomas O'Reilly, Greg Robinson, Jonathan Rose, Anthony Swain, Jermaine Whitehead and Gabe Wright).

[Tigermike 3,053]

In the inaugural year (BCW1 - 2009), AU hosted approximately 25 of the nation's top prospects and signed 10 of them (Shon Coleman, Jessel Curry, Antonio Goodwin, Jake Holland, Eric Mack, Jonathan Mincy, LaDarius Owens, Trovon Reed, Jeremy Richardson and Jawara White).

Last year (BCWII - 2010), AU hosted approximately 30 and signed 14 of them (Reese Dismukes, Kiehl Frazier, Erique Florence, Kris Frost, Brandon Fulse, Keymiya Harrell, Chris Landrum, Jabrian Niles, Thomas O'Reilly, Greg Robinson, Jonathan Rose, Anthony Swain, Jermaine Whitehead and Gabe Wright).

That's a pretty good success percentage.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

In the inaugural year (BCW1 - 2009), AU hosted approximately 25 of the nation's top prospects and signed 10 of them (Shon Coleman, Jessel Curry, Antonio Goodwin, Jake Holland, Eric Mack, Jonathan Mincy, LaDarius Owens, Trovon Reed, Jeremy Richardson and Jawara White).

Last year (BCWII - 2010), AU hosted approximately 30 and signed 14 of them (Reese Dismukes, Kiehl Frazier, Erique Florence, Kris Frost, Brandon Fulse, Keymiya Harrell, Chris Landrum, Jabrian Niles, Thomas O'Reilly, Greg Robinson, Jonathan Rose, Anthony Swain, Jermaine Whitehead and Gabe Wright).

That's a pretty good success percentage.

Lots of attrition in that 2009 group though.

[TitanTiger 20,510]

In the inaugural year (BCW1 - 2009), AU hosted approximately 25 of the nation's top prospects and signed 10 of them (Shon Coleman, Jessel Curry, Antonio Goodwin, Jake Holland, Eric Mack, Jonathan Mincy, LaDarius Owens, Trovon Reed, Jeremy Richardson and Jawara White).

Last year (BCWII - 2010), AU hosted approximately 30 and signed 14 of them (Reese Dismukes, Kiehl Frazier, Erique Florence, Kris Frost, Brandon Fulse, Keymiya Harrell, Chris Landrum, Jabrian Niles, Thomas O'Reilly, Greg Robinson, Jonathan Rose, Anthony Swain, Jermaine Whitehead and Gabe Wright).

That's a pretty good success percentage.

Lots of attrition in that 2009 group though.

Huh? Goodwin and Richardson, sure. Jessel is still with the team and so is Shon. None of the others have had any issues at all.

[MDM4AU 336]

In the inaugural year (BCW1 - 2009), AU hosted approximately 25 of the nation's top prospects and signed 10 of them (Shon Coleman, Jessel Curry, Antonio Goodwin, Jake Holland, Eric Mack, Jonathan Mincy, LaDarius Owens, Trovon Reed, Jeremy Richardson and Jawara White).

Last year (BCWII - 2010), AU hosted approximately 30 and signed 14 of them (Reese Dismukes, Kiehl Frazier, Erique Florence, Kris Frost, Brandon Fulse, Keymiya Harrell, Chris Landrum, Jabrian Niles, Thomas O'Reilly, Greg Robinson, Jonathan Rose, Anthony Swain, Jermaine Whitehead and Gabe Wright).

That's a pretty good success percentage.

Lots of attrition in that 2009 group though.

Huh? Goodwin and Richardson, sure. Jessel is still with the team and so is Shon. None of the others have had any issues at all.

Until you posted this, for some reason I was of the same opinion as PT.

[mcgufcm 4,107]

Coleman is still with the team, but both he and White are major question marks on the health side. Also, Curry is still with the team, but there seems little chance that he'll be a contributing member of the team this season. That said, it seems like fairly normal attrition to me. You tend to lose guys early rather than late in their career.

[McWeagle 4]

Cross referencing the Rivals 100:

Targeting last weekend of May (Memorial Day Weekend). No confirmed list but possible attendees...

#77- Kwon Alexander, LB

#1- Dorial Green-Beckham, WR 5*

#27- Travis Blanks, S

- Beniquez Brown, RB

#16- Jonathan Bullard, DE 5*

- Ty Darlington, OG

- James Deloach, DE

- Jordan Diamond, OT

#8- Stefon Diggs 5*

- Trae Elston, S

#4- Eddie Goldman, DT 5*

- Josh Holsey, CB

- K'Hadree Hooker, DT

#56- Jordan Jenkins, DE

- Will Johnson, TE

- Jarontay Jones, DE *Is he different than Jarron Jones, DE rated at 67?

- Dillion Lee, LB

- Kenno Loyal, RB

#55- Keith Marshall, RB

- Justin Meredith, TE

- Patrick Miller, OT

- Javierre Mitchell, LB

- Tyler Nero, DT

#92- Ricky Parks, TE

- Caleb Peterson, OT

- Justin Shanks, DT

#47- Geno Smith, CB

#36- Jonathan Taylor, DT

- Channing Ward, DE

#94- Jaquay Williams, WR

#58- TJ Yeldon, RB

I would also assume Michael Flint, Darrion Hutcherson, Cassonova McKinzey and Zeke Pike would be there. Any other guesses?

[kingfish 73]

I would also assume ... Zeke Pike would be there...

He apparently is a very pro-active recruiter for us and has said we are going to have the number one recruiting class in the country ... I think we can count on his being in Auburn.

[RunInRed 16,487]

Jordan Diggs update (premium)...

Florida four-star safety says schools still even, may visit Auburn for Big Cat weekend. http://bit.ly/jZtHY8

@JHokanson

[RunInRed 16,487]

Its gonnna br crazy!!!//@gcfootball: #GC’s Stefon Diggs is on the very exclusive guest list for #Auburns Big Cat Weekend

@SmithGeno4

[RunInRed 16,487]

Zeke Pike's facebook status...

Heading to Auburn tomorrow for "Big Cat" day!!!!! Building the #1 Recruiting Class in the country... and a BIG War Eagle to the best Fans in the countryyyyy!!!!"

[RunInRed 16,487]

Auburn bringing in players from across the nation for Big Cat III recruiting weekend

Charles Goldberg

AUBURN, Alabama -- Curtis Luper said Big Cat Weekend was invented during a brainstorming session with his fellow Auburn coaches.

"We asked, 'What can we do to be different?'" he recalled.

Coining a catchy phrase, inviting big-time football recruits to campus for a special weekend and staging an event where bonding is more important than running the 40 has paid off for the Tigers.

Auburn has 26 Big Cat alums on its roster after two years, and hopes to add more from Big Cat III, an event for which some players will begin arriving tonight.

The last two Big Cats have helped Auburn finish in the Top 3 in recruiting nationally, at least according to some recruiting websites, the last two years.

Luper, Auburn's running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, said Big Cat is different than most recruiting weekends.

"The recruits get an opportunity to bond like none other because at most places they're running, they're jumping, they're doing some type of agility and physical activity. There is none of that here," Luper said. "There is essentially no football. We use it as an opportunity for recruits to get to know one another, our players, our coaches. For us, it's just a big family reunion."

Auburn expects approximately 35 players, although that number could grow, from familiar Auburn recruiting grounds such as Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The Tigers are also welcoming players from Maryland, Minnesota, Colorado and Ohio.

Recruits from at least 12 states are expected. Among some of the headliners are athlete Stefon Diggs from Olney, Md., athlete/wide receiver Brian Kimbrow from Memphis, quarterback Zeke Pike, an Auburn commitment from Fort Mitchell, Ky., and Daphne's T.J. Yeldon, considered the No. 1 running back in the state.

Other high-profile players expected to visit include receiver Jaquay Williams from Tyrone, Ga., wide receiver Ricardo Louis from Miami Beach, receiver Cordarrelle Patterson from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, tight end Ricky Parks from Hogansville, Ga., tight end Justin Meredith from Anderson, S.C., offensive lineman Shane Callahan from Parker, Colo., defensive lineman Tyler Nero from Atmore, defensive lineman Justin Shanks from Prattville, linebacker Cassanova McKinzy, an Auburn commitment from Birmingham, defensive back Geno Smith from Atlanta, defensive back Travis Blanks from Tallahassee, and athlete Darrion Hutcherson, an Auburn commitment from Dadeville.

Luper said the bonding during Big Cat is important, and a case in point involves Trovon Reed, who had committed to the Tigers in November 2009.

"It helps in January when a guy like Trovon Reed can call an Eric Mack and say, 'Come on, let's go to Auburn.' They have a relationship that dates back to Big Cat," Luper said.

Both signed with the Tigers after that. They, and the other 24 Big Cat alums, make up the majority of what will be this season's freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores.

"That's tangible evidence that Big Cat works," Luper said.

**We'll be back later today with a list of likely visitors. Also, check back Saturday and Sunday for reports on the recruiting weekend Saturday and Sunday.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/05/auburn_bringing_in_players_fro.html

[RunInRed 16,487]

It looks like a finalized list is starting to emerge. Andy Bitter has the run down...

Five-stars

WR Stefon Diggs, Olney, Md.

OL D.J. Humphries, Charlotte, N.C.

Four-stars

LB Kwon Alexander, Oxford, Ala.

OL Vadal Alexander, Buford, Ga.

CB Travis Blanks, Tallahassee, Fla.

OL Shane Callahan, Parker, Col.

OL Kyle Dodson, Cleveland, Ohio

CB Joshua Holsey, Fairburn, Ga. (2012 Auburn commit)

CB Cyrus Jones, Baltimore, Md.

ATH Brian Kimbrow, Memphis, Tenn.

WR Ricardo Louis, Miami, Fla.

LB Cassanova McKinzy, Birmingham, Ala. (2012 Auburn commit)

TE Justin Meredith, Anderson, S.C.

OL Patrick Miller, West Palm Beach, Fla.

LB Javierre Mitchell, Leeds, Ala.

TE Ricky Parks, Hogansville, Ga.

QB Zeke Pike, Edgewood, Ky. (2012 Auburn commit)

RB Jovon Robinson, Memphis, Tenn.

DL Justin Shanks, Prattville, Ala.

CB Geno Smith, Atlanta, Ga.

TE Kent Taylor, Land O’Lakes, Fla.

WR JaQuay Williams, Franklin, Ga.

RB T.J. Yeldon, Daphne, Ala.

Three-stars

FB Beniquez Brown, Florence, Ala.

ATH Darrion Hutcherson, Dadeville, Ala. ( 2012 Auburn commit)

OL Caleb Peterson, Auburn, Ala.

Not rated

OL Michael Flint, Oxford, Ala. (2012 Auburn commit)

CB T.J. Gurley, Cairo, Ga.

TE Will Johnson, Osseo, Minn.

DL Tyler Nero, Atmore, Ala.

DE JaMichael Winston, Mobile, Ala.

Junior College

DE Denico Autry, Scooba, Miss.

WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Coffeyville, Kan.

Future classes

ATH Evan Berry, Fairburn, Ga. (2014)

ATH Elliott Berry, Fairburn, Ga. (2014)

RB Jordan Huff, Mobile, Ala. (2013)

DL Dee Liner, Muscle Shoals, Ala. (2013)

DL Henry Poggi, Baltimore, Md. (2013)

LB Tre’ Williams, Mobile, Ala. (2014)

Read more: http://www.wareagleextra.com/2011/05/27/big-cat-weekend-iii-with-a-vengeance/#ixzz1NZWTdEhM

That's one heckuva group. I'm loving it.

[Duder 238]

Zeke Pike's facebook status...

Heading to Auburn tomorrow for "Big Cat" day!!!!! Building the #1 Recruiting Class in the country... and a BIG War Eagle to the best Fans in the countryyyyy!!!!"

Loving this kids attitude

[RunInRed 16,487]

Prospects from 13 states will be in Auburn this weekend for Big Cat III. Quite a reach, impact for what some called a gimmick at inception.

...

How's 21 four-stars and a pair of five-stars in Auburn for one weekend sound?

@JHokanson

[McWeagle 4]

JaQuay Williams announcing Saturday?

Sandy Creek WR JaQuay Williams will pick among Ohio State, Auburn, LSU, Alabama, and Tennessee on Saturday.

Is he going to be announcing from Auburn?

[AU Jack 0]

Sweet

[ShocksMyBrain 9,368]

JaQuay Williams announcing Saturday?

Sandy Creek WR JaQuay Williams will pick among Ohio State, Auburn, LSU, Alabama, and Tennessee on Saturday.

Is he going to be announcing from Auburn?

Read somewhere that they're not allowed to do so from campus...

Also heard that it'll most likely be Auburn.

[subterranean_jack 112]

What happened to DL Eddie Goldston?

[RunInRed 16,487]

What happened to DL Eddie Goldston?

Game time decision. Still could be added to the list...