Auburn 'probably at the top' for TE

AUBURN | Auburn could be closing in on a commitment at one of its biggest remaining needs.

Tight end Matt Alaimo from St. Joseph’s in Montvale, N.J., left his official visit very high on the Tigers.

“Auburn is probably at my top right now,” Alaimo said. “I haven’t seen anyone else yet. I’m really impressed by it though.”

Alaimo, 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, has an official visit set up to Texas A&M next weekend. He said the Aggies have some work to do to surpass this past weekend in Auburn.

“I really don’t know. It’s pretty impressive. It would take a lot,” he said.

Alaimo is also still talking with coaches from UCLA and Oregon. He doesn’t have a timetable for a decision but is unlikely to wait until Signing Day.

“When I feel like it’s the right time to decide I’ll probably do it,” he said.

Alaimo, who is rated a three-star and the nation’s No. 29 tight end by Rivals, said Auburn’s coaches really stressed their need for an impact tight end in this class.

Tiger tight ends have combined for three receptions in the last three years.

“They pressed it a lot actually,” Alaimo said. “He just showed us a powerpoint of all of the players they have coming back. I would have a good shot to play early here. That’s what I really like about it here too that I probably won’t get at any other school.”

Overall, Alaimo gave high marks to his first-ever trip to Auburn.

“The visit was great. I really love the campus,” he said. “Obviously we went to see Coach’s house. He said he likes to have his players over and stuff like that. I had never been fishing before and I went fishing in his backyard. That was pretty fun. I really liked going out with the players. It’s a really good family atmosphere here. That’s what I really like about it.”

Alaimo said he’s expecting several Auburn coaches including Gus Malzahn and Larry Porter to visit him Wednesday.