Auburn offers EMCC athlete

Auburn signed quarterback John Franklin III out of East Mississippi Community College in 2016, and hopes to do the same with athlete Isaiah Patrick in 2017.

The Tigers’ offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Rhett Lashlee offered Patrick on Wednesday.

“It was very exciting for me,” Patrick said. “Coach Lashlee told me he wanted me. He likes that I’m an athlete and that he would use me in the slot and also running the ball.”

Patrick, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 180 pounds, played running back and receiver as a freshman at EMCC. He rushed for 483 yards and seven touchdowns on just 69 carries (7.0 yards per rush), and had 16 receptions for 252 yards (28.0 avg.) and four scores. Patrick also had two opportunities to return kickoffs. He returned one 37 yards and the other 100 yards for a touchdown.

“The idea of being able to do all of that at Auburn is very exciting to me,” Patrick said. “That’s what I would like to do, use my abilities to play any skill position on offense or special teams they need me.”

Patrick didn’t sign with a college after graduating from Florence, Miss. in 2015. He instead took the same route as his older brother, Camion Patrick, who attended EMCC, visited Auburn and later signed with Indiana.

The offer from Auburn was Patrick’s first, but he’s receiving interest from Mississippi State, Florida State, Alabama, Southern Miss, LSU and UAB, among others.

“I’m keeping my options open,” Patrick said. “I’m going to take all of my visits, and Auburn definitely will be one of my options.”

Patrick is scheduled to graduate from EMCC in December.