JUCO OL sets Auburn visit

Eastern Arizona Community College offensive lineman Matthew Tanner has scheduled an official visit to Auburn.

Tanner, who earned second-team All-Arizona Community College Conference and second-team All-Region honors at EACC, will visit Auburn Jan. 27-29.

Tanner set the visit after communicating in December with Herb Hand, the Tigers’ second-year offensive line coach.

“I’m really excited,” Tanner said. “It’s a really big honor for Coach Hand to like my film, and also the things he said to me. It’s awesome.”

Tanner played left guard at EACC, but at 6-foot-7 and 345 pounds, could project at guard or tackle at Auburn.

“I can play both, which I think is one of the things that Coach Hand likes about me,” Tanner said.

Tanner will get the chance to meet Hand before the official visit. The coach is scheduled to meet with Tanner for an in-home visit sometime in the next two weeks.

“He seems like a good guy,” Tanner said of Hand. “I’ve looked him up and done my research and he seems like a great coach to play for.”

Tanner lists offers from Mississippi State, UAB, Southeastern Louisiana, Georgia State and Louisiana-Monroe, and has interest from Auburn, Florida, North Texas and Bowling Green, among others.

“If Auburn offered, that would be a big one,” Tanner said.

Tanner, who attended Bishop Snyder High School in Jacksonville, Fla., is scheduled to graduate EACC in May with three years to play two.