Auburn 'feels like home' for 4-star JUCO OT
AUBURN | Four-star junior college offensive tackle Badara Traore spent the weekend in Auburn on an official visit. It was the first of at least four official visits he plans to take.
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And Auburn set the visit bar high for the others.
“Auburn blew me away,” Traore said. “It was great. I really enjoyed myself. I love it here. I definitely could see myself coming here for the next 2-3 years of my career.”
Traore, a sophomore at ASA College in New York, arrived in Auburn on Friday and stayed until Sunday. It was his first trip to Auburn, but may not be his last.
“It feels like home,” Traore said. “It’s a family atmosphere. People were saying ‘hello’ and ‘War Eagle!’ to me while walking down the street. Everyone is here for one cause and that’s for the players, and I appreciate that.”
Traore’s player host during the visit was offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. The two have at least one thing in common: their family backgrounds began in Africa. Wanogho is from Nigera; Traore’s parents are from West Africa.
“He’s a good dude,” Traore said of Wanogho Jr. “We talked about a lot of stuff, the similarities we have and where we come from. He’s a good man, a good player. I enjoyed myself with him.”
Traore also enjoyed the time he spent with Auburn offensive line coach Herb Hand. The two have developed a bond since Herb began recruiting Traore a year ago.
“I spent time with him the past two nights,” Traore said. “He’s a good man. We went out to eat and had a good time, and he sat down and showed me the depth chart and how much he needs me. I appreciate him for doing that for me. I see where I stand with him.”
Traore like what he saw from Hand, not only Auburn’s depth chart, but it’s offense under new coordinator Chip Lindsey.
“The same plays we run at my JC, they run here,” Traore said. “The plays are worded differently, but everything else is the same, the same concept, same schemes. That’s probably one of the biggest reasons I came down here is because their offense is the same. I’m excited.”
Traore doesn’t plan to announce his college decision before taking other visits. Dates have not been set, but three schools are: LSU, Oklahoma and Ole Miss.
“The other visits will be coming soon,” Traore said. “LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and I’ll pick one more school later on. I’ll take my visits and sit down with my parents and family and see what the best school is for me.”
Traore, who played high school ball at Magnino High School in Cambridge, Mass., is scheduled to graduate from ASA in December with three years to play two.
