4-star TE visits Auburn

AUBURN | Tyneil Hopper, a four-star tight end recruit from Roswell, Ga., visited Auburn on Monday.

Hopper, who is ranked the No. 8 tight end in the 2018 class, toured the Tigers’ campus and facilities and met with several coaches.

“It went really good. I enjoyed it,” Hopper said. “Auburn is a nice place.”

Hopper spoke with Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and new tight ends coach Larry Porter. The three coaches each made it known they have high interest in Hopper.

“Coach Lindsey told me more about himself, where he is from, how he’d been at Auburn before and also how I could be a good fit in the offense,” Hopper said. “Coach Malzahn said he watched my film and really liked what he saw. He said he thinks I could be a great player for them.”

Porter does, too. The Tigers’ newest assistant, who joined the staff last week after being at North Carolina, already has a relationship with Hopper.

“I got to know him when he was at North Carolina,” Hopper said of Porter. “He’s a really cool guy. He’s very straight forward. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. I can see why he’s a great recruiter because he asked me about Auburn, what I think about Auburn and if I could see myself at Auburn. He asked things that would help him from a coach’s standpoint.”

Hopper confirmed to Porter that the interest is mutual.

“Auburn is one of the schools that I really like right now,” Hopper said. “I will be visiting them again during the spring and again for a game.”

Hopper also could return to visit his friend and former high school teammate, Auburn quarterback Malik Willis.

“I ate lunch with Malik (Monday),” Hopper said. “We are good friends. He actually threw me the ball to me last year more than my old quarterback.”

Willis and Hopper connected last season 18 times for 214 yards and three touchdowns. The two could reunite in college.

“They want me to come back so they can show me more of how they will use the tight end in the new offense,” Hopper said. “I’ll probably go back one weekend and hang with Malik.”

Rivals ranks Hopper, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 225 pounds, No. 209 in the Rivals250 and the No. 19 player in Georgia.