Five-Star Challenge notebook

ATLANTA | The Rivals Five-Star Challenge was loaded with many of the nation’s top prospects including several with Auburn ties.

Check below for updates on Georgia offensive guard commitment Netori Johnson, who plans to visit Auburn, talented outside linebacker Tyler Taylor and Auburn linebacker commitment Tadarian Moultry.

Auburn looked to be in the driver’s seat for Netori Johnson after he de-committed from Alabama and made several trips to Auburn. But the four-star offensive guard from Cedar Grove in Ellenwood, Ga., committed to Georgia after a visit in April and has been solid to the Bulldogs since.

“I thought they (Auburn) had me for a little bit too but I ended up changing,” Johnson explained. “They didn’t change at all. They’re still the same. They’re still on me and told me that same week that I committed that they’re still on me.”

Johnson, 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds, stays in contact with Auburn’s staff including head coach Gus Malzahn.

“Auburn is still recruiting me,” Johnson said. “They’ve been texting me. Coach Malzahn texted me and was telling me I need to get down. I was going to go down for Big Cat but I couldn’t make it because I was in a wedding.

“I’m going to go back down there and chill with Antwuan Jackson and bring my mom along with me.”

Auburn signed five-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown out of Lanier High School in Sugar Hill, Ga., in the 2016 class and would like to keep that pipeline going with 2017 four-star outside linebacker Tyler Taylor.

Taylor, 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, attended an Auburn Junior Day earlier this year and a game last fall. He hopes to return for another visit later this week.

“It’s a great experience, the games, nowhere else in the country is like that,” Taylor said. “I remember one game in the student section and they were going crazy and I thought that was cool.”

Taylor lists his top schools (no order) as Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and LSU. He hopes to have a decision before the start of his senior season.

One of the reasons Auburn remains high on Taylor’s list is linebacker coach Travis Williams.

“Coach T-Will said they like my speed. I’m big enough to cover tight ends down the field. He came to a spring practice and I did pretty good,” Taylor said. “I like him a lot. He’s a little bit younger and we connect a little bit better than some of the coaches that are older.

“That doesn’t really matter but I think it’s kind of cool. The fact that he actually played football and the NFL shows that he knows what he’s talking about and has the game experience.”

Tadarian Moultry committed to Auburn in May and has remained firm ever since. He was slowed by an ankle injury at the Five-Star Challenge but still got a lot out of the experience.

“Being in this environment with these coaches and these athletes helps on and off the field. Anything I do bad here I know I need to work on when I get home,” Moultry said.

One of the highlights for Moultry and all the campers was the gear they received from Under Armour including shirts, shorts, socks, jackets, pants, cleats and a hat.

“That’s a lot,” Moultry said. “I’m just blessed to have this opportunity.”