AU a top contender for 4-star DE

Tigers' early efforts with lifelong fan could pay off

AUBURN | Defensive end Ryan Johnson would have a good chance of winning his share of 1-on-1 match-ups on the field against five-star offensive tackle recruit Calvin Ashley.

Winning a cake-eating contest against Ashley, who stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 310 pounds, is a different story.

“I didn’t have a chance,” Johnson, from St. Paul’s in Mobile, said. “I almost threw-up. Calvin ate his in like two bites.”

The contest was one of many things Johnson, Ashley and at least 30 other top recruits did Saturday at Auburn’s BIG CAT. It was a day of interaction, games, bonding and building relationships.

Johnson, his parents and cousin all attended the event.

“It was a great day,” Johnson said. “We got to be with the coaches and players a lot. It was an overall great family atmosphere. My mom, dad and cousin got to experience it and just being here with them made it a great day, being able to spend time with them and the coaches was a lot of fun.”

Johnson spent a lot of time with Rodney Garner. The two have developed a good relationship since Auburn was the first school to offer Johnson. Garner relayed his high expectations to Johnson should the defensive end choose Auburn.

“He likes that I’m versatile,” Johnson said. “He wants me to play multiple positions and thinks I can impact the defense a lot and play alongside Marlon (Davidson) and the other great players at Auburn. I can tell that he is making me a priority. They are stressing that they want me and I’m loving it.”

Johnson, who grew up an Auburn fan, doesn’t list a leader among the many schools that have offered. He does, however, have a top group.

“Auburn is in there with Notre Dame, Stanford, of course Alabama, and some others,” Johnson said. “Auburn was the first school to believe in me and having a relationship with them for such a long time holds a lot of weight.”

Johnson, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 235 pounds, plans to return to Auburn before the end of the summer. He also intends to release a list of his top five schools.