Auburn Recruiting Recap: Where They Stand
Since the Wednesday evening announcement of Tommy Tuberville's resignation as Auburn's head football coach, seven recruits have decommitted from the Tigers.
Batesville (Miss.) South Panola DB David Conner, who had been on the fence with his Auburn commitment for weeks, was the first to go. Conner announced his decision hours after Tuberville's resignation Wednesday.
Mobile (Ala.) Williamson DL Terrance Coleman, nephew to current Auburn DE Antonio Coleman, Dothan (Ala.) Northview junior ATH B.J. Chitty and Avon (Ind.) four-star DE Montez Robinson all followed suit the same day.
Thursday wasn't any better for Auburn. Cross City (Fla.) Dixie County four-star RB Rodney Scott reopened his recruitment, as did Garden City (Kan.) JUCO four-star WR Cameron Kenney. Atlanta (Ga.) Douglass LB Jonathan Atchison switched his commitment from Auburn to Alabama.
So far, the Tigers have managed to get only one back. Kenney, after talking to Auburn assistant Terry Price, recommitted to the Tigers Friday. The Tigers now have 21 commitments in the 2009 class. They had 26 Wednesday morning.
The remaining 21 commitments said they either planned to stay with Auburn, or at least wait and see who the Tigers' new head coach will be before making a decision.
Fort Meade (Md.) Meade four-star QB Raymond Cotton and Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter four-star TE Philip Lutzenkirchen are among the ones taking the wait-and-see approach.
JUCO/Prep School commits solid
With the return of Kenney, Auburn appears to be in very good standing with each of its junior college and prep school commitments.
The Tigers have commitments out of the junior college ranks from Kenney, Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln DL Nick Fairley and Perkinston (Miss.) Gulf Coast LB Eltoro Freeman. Fairley and Freeman have said they are solid to the Tigers and plan to enroll on the Plains in January.
Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military (Prep) four-star RB Onterrio McCalebb said he is also solid to Auburn and will enroll in the spring.
Kenney, the former Dacula (Ga.) standout, is the lone JUCO commit waiting to see who is hired, but also said he'd likely sign with the Tigers. Kenney is projected as a May graduate.
Committed to Auburn
High school recruits who have not wavered on their commitment to Auburn and don't appear likely to include Meadville (Miss.) Franklin County ATH Jamie Collins, Prichard (Ala.) Blount LB Jonathan Evans, Odenville (Ala.) St. Clair County DE/LB Donald Ford, Bessemer (Ala.) Academy LB Harris Gaston, Hampton (Ga.) Lovejoy OL Andre Harris, Bessemer (Ala.) Jess Lanier WR Brandon Heavens, Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview RB Brandon Jacobs, Hollywood (Fla.) South Broward OL Steven Jacques, Mobile (Ala.) Williamson WR LaVoyd James, Frisco (Texas) Centennial OL Aaron Moore, Leesburg (Ga.) OL Tyler Knight, Greenville (Miss.) St. Joseph's RB LaDarius Perkins, Greenville (Ala.) DL Jamontay Pilson, Leesville (La.) ATH Travante Stallworth and Fort Valley (Ga.) Peach County DB Reggie Taylor.
The majority have said they may take other visits, but would likely stay committed to Auburn.
Assistants making difference
Although Tuberville resigned Wednesday, the majority of his assistants agreed to stay on until a new coach is hired and help recruit for Auburn. In addition to Price, James Willis, Don Dunn, Eddie Gran, Greg Knox and Steve Ensminger are all helping recruit in some capacity.
Willis' conversation with Cotton Thursday helped keep the top quarterback recruit committed. Price got Kenney back in the fold Friday, and Gran helped secure Jermaine Johnson, a top 2008 signee who plans to enroll in January. Dunn, Knox and Ensminger have all made calls or visits to recruits in an effort to keep them committed.
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