AuburnSports.com - FREE: AuburnSports.com's Big Cat Rewind

June 3, 2009

Jeffrey Lee
AuburnSports.com Publisher

Auburn hosted 21 of its top 2010 targets on unofficial visits for the first Big Cat Weekend, held this past Friday through Sunday. The recruits came from as far away as Connecticut, Texas and Louisiana to take part in the event. And they weren't just any recruits. The majority of visitors are considered some of the best, if not the best, at their positions in the country by Rivals.com.

The Tigers didn't land any public commitments from the weekend, but appear to have made huge moves for most of recruits in attendance.

We take a look back at some of the highlights from the weekend in AuburnSports.com's Big Cat Rewind:

Big Cat leads to big leads

Several of the visitors entered the weekend with Auburn at the top of their lists. Following Big Cat, even more claimed the Tigers had the lead. Of the 17 uncommitted recruits in the group, Auburn appears to be the team to beat for at least 10 of them.

Springville (Ala.) four-star receiver Jeremy Richardson and his offensive line teammate Chase Hughes had Auburn No. 1 on their lists. The trip only solidified the Tigers at the top for both. The same can be said for five-star running back Marcus Lattimore of Byrnes High in Duncan, S.C., junior college defensive end Ken Adams, Pelham (Ala.) linebacker Nigel Terrell and defensive back Deion Belue of Deshler in Tuscumbia, Ala.

Since leaving Auburn, Lattimore, the No. 2 running back in the 2010 class according to Rivals, claimed eight schools were all even. However, the Tigers were the team to beat before his visit, and are still considered that now.

Auburn also appears to have made a move to the top of the list for five other top targets including two in-state linebackers. Jawara White of Charles Henderson in Troy and LaDarius Owens of Jess Lanier in Bessemer both look to be leaning towards the Tigers. Four-star offensive lineman Eric Mack, the No. 6 offensive guard in the country, named Auburn his leader.

The Tigers also appear to be the team to beat for the No. 1 running back in the country, Temple (Texas) High five-star Lache Seastrunk. He's yet to name any leaders, but Auburn is currently tops on his list. Greenville (Ala.) defensive tackle Kenneth Carter will likely choose between Auburn and Alabama. After his Big Cat visit, the Tigers may have an early edge for him, too.

AU makes big moves for others

Although not all visitors left the Plains with the Tigers considered the team to beat, Auburn made big impressions on each. Thibodaux (La.) four-star Trovon Reed, ranked the No. 2 receiver in the country, is now heavily considering Auburn. In-state LSU is expected to be the toughest competition, but Auburn has certainly caught his attention and look to be, at the least, the No. 1 out-of-state school on his list.

Four-star Khairi Fortt, ranked the No. 2 outside linebacker, made the trip from his hometown of Stamford, Conn. Fortt hadn't mentioned Auburn among his leaders before the visit, but Big Cat likely changed that.

Two Georgia prospects who visited and now are looking harder at the Tigers are Buford linebacker Jessel Curry and Tank Sessions, a defensive end out of Decatur. Curry is currently committed to West Virginia, but his visit to Auburn has him strongly considering changing that. Sessions plans to attend a Georgia camp this weekend where he hopes to pick up an offer from the in-state Bulldogs. Should he succeed, odds are he'll commit. If not, Auburn appears to be a strong No. 2.

Auburn also made strides with defensive tackle Damien Jacobs, four-star cornerback Ryan Ayers and junior college defensive back Dquan Menzie. Jacobs continues to be high on Florida State and Menzie likes Southern Miss, but Auburn isn't out of it for either. Ayers was impressed on his trip and will likely return in the fall.

Commitments lend helping hand

Three of Auburn's four commitments in its 2010 class were on-hand for Big Cat Weekend. Pelham (Ala.) linebacker Jake Holland, receiver Shaun Kitchens of Banneker in College Park, Ga. and offensive lineman Shon Coleman of Olive Branch (Miss.) High all made the trip.

Holland and Kitchens were actively recruiting for Auburn over the weekend. The two hung out with the other recruits and developed relationships that could prove valuable down the road for the Tigers. Coleman committed to Auburn in April, but said he'd continue to consider other schools. Big Cat all but solidified his pledge.

Big Cat a big success

Auburn may not have secured any public commitments from the weekend, but the Tigers managed to continue its recruiting momentum.

A month after creating national buzz with the Tiger Prowl, Auburn again grabbed headlines both regionally and nationally thanks to the innovative recruiting tactics of the new coaching staff. Newspapers, talk-radio shows, Internet message boards, sports columnists and sports blogs were all buzzing about Big Cat Weekend this week.

Recruiting coordinator Curtis Luper, assistant head coach Trooper Taylor, secondary coach Tommy Thigpen, along with the other members of Gene Chizik's staff, have brought a new attitude to the Plains when it comes to recruiting.

The group doesn't appear to be done for the summer, either. In addition to camps that begin this weekend, Auburn will host several other top targets on unofficial visits over the next two months.

The coaches are also planning another big recruiting event in July, although details have yet to be disclosed.

Big Cat Superlatives

BEST OUTCOME: Auburn team to beat for top two backs.
Although Seastrunk has yet to formally name Auburn his leader, and Lattimore now says all of his eight finalists are equal, there's no doubting the Tigers are clearly the team to beat for both. Signing the No. 1 running back in the country is one thing. Signing the No. 1 and No. 2 running backs, two of the top three overall recruits in the country who are both five-star prospects, is something else. Right now, Auburn has a very good shot of doing that.

BIGGEST IN-STATE MOVE: Owens feeling Auburn after Big Cat.
Owens came into the visit fairly neutral when naming favorites. After a weekend spent in Auburn with other recruits including Holland, who he has built a good relationship with, the Tigers have moved to the top of his list. Owens' uncle, James Owens, was the first black scholarship football player at Auburn. At this point, Owens appears headed to follow in his uncle's footsteps.

BIGGEST OUT-OF-STATE MOVE: Auburn claims lead for No. 6 guard.
Mack, being recruited to Auburn as a tackle, arrived on the Plains Saturday afternoon and stayed through Sunday. He was making his second trip after a very successful visit in April. The big lineman, as he was the first time, was highly impressed with Auburn, as was his mom, who was there with him. The four-star Mack left with the Tigers as his No. 1 school.

BIGGEST IMPRESSION: Visit makes AU contender for No. 2 OLB.
Fortt, one of the top overall recruits in the nation, stayed the entire weekend in Auburn. He's planning on going into aviation in college and checked out Auburn's program Friday. He also participated in the competitions Saturday and developed a good relationship with the Tiger coaches, as did his father. Auburn may not be considered the team to beat, but the Tigers certainly made a favorable impression on the top target. He loved the campus, the college town atmosphere and the family atmosphere of Auburn and its coaches.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHT: Saturday night at Toomer's Corner.
Hundreds of Auburn fans gathered at Toomer's Corner Saturday night for a summertime rolling of the traditional tree. Eight recruits were still in town including Seastrunk, Lattimore, Mack, Fortt, Reed, Owens, Jacobs and Curry. The group drew praises from the Tiger faithful gathered at the tree. Their presence resulted in chants and cheers. All of the prospects had rave reviews about the night.

MOST LIKELY TO COMMIT: Three in-state standouts getting close?
Richardson, White and Terrell could all be getting close to making a decision. Richardson has had Auburn at the top of his list since the spring and following Big Cat, could be ready to end his recruitment soon. White nearly committed to the Tigers over the weekend and said he "may have already made" his decision. That's good news for Auburn, but will he make it public? Terrell was believed to be on the brink of committing to the Tigers a few weeks ago, but has held off from doing so. A good visit this past weekend could result in a summertime decision. Hughes is also a possibility.

BEST QUOTES: Recruits had plenty to say about Big Cat.

Mack following his visit: "It was the best experience I've had this year. I really enjoyed myself there."
Lattimore's thoughts on playing with Seastrunk in college: "If we do go to the same school, it would be Auburn."
Owens on Tigers after visit: "I don't have a favorite, but Auburn is showing me a lot right now."
White on his commitment: "I may have already made one. You never know."
Fortt on his first visit to Auburn: "It went really good. Everything did. Auburn made a great impression on me. They definitely moved up my list."
Curry on his WVU commitment after Big Cat: "I'm kind-of committed. I'm still visiting other colleges and my visit to Auburn was wonderful."
Reed on him and Seastrunk playing together in college: "It's going to happen."
Seastrunk to AuburnSports.com Saturday night: "What's up Nick Saban? ? Just wait 'til we get here."

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