Biggest need met
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AUBURN | Auburn's biggest need to close out the 2015 recruiting class was finding elite pass-rushing defensive ends.
The Tigers added three within the last 24 hours, and not just any three.
Auburn signed two four-star prospects, Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. and Jeffery Holland, and the nation's No. 1 overall recruit, five-star Byron Cowart.
"We needed guys that can rush the passer and we really feel like we did that," Malzahn said.
Wanogho Jr., 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, committed to Auburn on Tuesday and signed and sent his National Letter of Intent early Wednesday. Holland committed at 10 a.m. Wednesday and subsequently signed and sent his NLI.
Cowart, however, was a little more dramatic.
After announcing his commitment to Auburn on ESPNU, Cowart's NLI wasn't faxed. Not immediately. There were conflicting reports as to why it hadn't been received by Auburn, which led to Tigers fans growing concerned.
But not the coaches.
"We felt good about it all day," Malzahn said. "(Cowart) just didn't get it faxed in until just recently. But we felt very good about it all along. I know the media, the uncertainty and all that, but we felt good about it the whole time.
"Anytime, no matter who it is, you're always waiting on the fax to come across and all that. But like I said, we were in communication, and we're glad it's official."
Shortly after Cowart's announcement, his coach told reporters Cowart had signed both the Auburn NLI and the Florida NLI. Cowart later disputed it, telling Rivals.com's Mike Farrell that he only signed one to Auburn.
Malzahn wasn't aware of a second NLI, either.
"I don't know what you're talking about a second letter," Malzahn said. "He sent in the letter to us."
For Malzahn, that's all that matters. After all, he did just sign one of the more highly-coveted prospects in Auburn history.
"(He's) the No. 1 player in the entire country," Malzahn said. "We feel very good about him being able to come in immediately and help us rushing the passer. Our defensive staff did an excellent job recruiting that young man."
Their rewards could come as early as next season.
"You're talking about the best player in the country, so yeah, he'll have a chance to compete and have a chance to be on the field immediately with his skill-set," Malzahn said.
Wanogho Jr. could take a little more time to contribute. The Nigerian has played just six games of football.
"When you see (Wanogho Jr.), he's got the 'wow' factor," Malzahn said. "He's 6-7, 6-8 and 250 pounds, and it was his first year to play football, and you turn the film on and you see great potential. We feel like this young man has unbelievable potential.
"There are very few if any that have his skill set. We feel he's got a chance to really be something after he gets more experience learning the game and everything that goes with it."
Holland has played linebacker, but Malzahn and Auburn will take a look at him as a pass rusher.
"We have been on him a long time. Coach (Rodney) Garner has a great relationship with him," Malzahn said. "Coach (Travaris Robinson), coach (Will) Muschamp already had a relationship with him at Florida.
"(Holland) is a pass rusher. We really feel like he can really help us in the pass rush and he has a lot of flexibility. He's a very good tackler, too."
All three should help turn around Auburn's struggles getting a pass rush. The Tigers didn't have a player record more than 3.5 sacks in 2014.
"We didn't have Carl Lawson this year, and we had a couple of other injuries, too, so I thought it was very important (to sign pass rushers)," Malzahn said. "That was one of our priorities: get some guys (where) we can rush the passer with just four guys and not have to blitz.
"We got some guys that can help us immediately. We got Carl coming back, but we got some guy, three guys that we feel like next year can help us rush the passer."
