No. 11 TE visits AU, plans to be in stands for opener

AUBURN, Ala. | One of the top tight end prospects in the 2017 class visited Auburn on Tuesday and a return trip already is planned.

Tre McKitty, who is ranked the No. 11 tight end, will be back in Auburn the first Saturday in September for the Tigers’ season opener against Clemson.

“I had a good day, a really good day,” McKitty said. “And I’m looking forward to coming back. That Clemson game should be a really good game to come back and watch.”

The September visit would be the third unofficial visit to Auburn for McKitty. A fourth visit, which would be an official visit, would likely be scheduled for after the season.

“I really like it at Auburn,” McKitty said. “I really liked my visit (Tuesday). I got to go around the whole campus and see a lot of new things. I got to see them practice.”

McKitty, who was joined by his father on the visit, also spoke with several Auburn coaches. The list included tight ends coach Scott Fountain, running backs coach Tim Horton, offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and coach Gus Malzahn.

“Everybody showed us a lot of love,” McKitty said. “We talked a lot with Coach Fountain and it went great. Coach Fountain is a great guy. He’s real laid back and an easy guy to talk to. He’s just a really good guy.”

McKitty’s father thought so, too.

“He loved the coaches, especially Coach Fountain,” McKitty said. “It was my dad’s first trip to Auburn and he really liked everything about it. We definitely will be back and my stepmom will want to come. She will want to see it, too.”

McKitty plans to take several other visits before returning to Auburn. He doesn’t plan to rush a commitment and doesn’t list any leaders.

“I want to take all of my official visits and make my decision after those,” McKitty said. “I’d only make my decision before the season if I knew where I wanted to go. I’m taking things slow so I don’t have a top group of schools, but Auburn most definitely would be up there.”