Weekend recruiting notes
AUBURN | Auburn played host to dozens of top recruits Saturday and couldn't have picked a better time to do so.
Multiple four- and five-star recruits from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 classes were among the soldout crowd as Auburn beat No. 1 Georgia, 40-17.
The recruits had plenty to say about the Tigers' win, but here are some interesting and additional notes from some of the top-ranked visitors.
Shivers texted with four-star wide receiver Anthony Schwartz during the Auburn-Georgia game. Schwartz was inquiring about the atmosphere, which Shivers described as “unbelievable.”
Shivers and Schwartz both are track stars. Shivers plans to run track at Auburn in addition to playing football. Schwartz does, too (should he sign with Auburn).
Shivers believes Auburn is making a move for Schwartz, especially after the collapse at Florida.
“I think he’s leaning toward Auburn,” Shivers said.
Shivers plans to return to Auburn for the Iron Bowl and again after the season for an official visit. He will sign with Auburn on Dec. 20, but is not an early enrollee.
Shivers said he is “locked in” with Auburn and will not visit other schools.
Hill will be back in Auburn for the Iron Bowl and said the visit will “probably be an official visit.” He’s taking an official visit to LSU next weekend (Nov. 17-19) and plans to take one to Georgia, but has yet to set a date.
Hill doesn’t list a leader among Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Florida State (USC is still in it somewhat). He plans to sign Dec. 20, but has yet to set a date to announce his decision.
Walker remains committed to Alabama, but returned to Auburn on Saturday for the second time this season. The Tigers continue to be the biggest threat to the Tide.
“Auburn always impresses me,” Walker said. “Auburn still has a shot with me.”
Walker will return to Auburn for the Iron Bowl and again after the season for an official visit. He will visit Alabama once more on an official visit. Georgia and Florida State both are still in the mix.
Walker will sign in February.
Curry returned to Auburn on Saturday after attending the Ole Miss game in October. The Tigers have not offered, but Curry believes they could be close.
Curry said Chip Lindsey will make an evaluation visit to see him in December. That visit could determine whether or not Auburn feels Curry is worthy of an offer.
Mississippi State and Ole Miss also are showing interest. Curry is an early enrollee and will be signing Dec. 20.
Irvin no longer feels confident in Auburn signing his friend and fellow offensive line recruit Dylan Wonnum.
Wonnum, a four-star tackle from Tucker, Ga., visited South Carolina on Saturday where his brother, D.J. Wonnum, is a defensive end.
“At this point, it doesn’t matter,” Irvin said. “We’re going to be good regardless.”
Irvin said he will return to Auburn for the Iron Bowl and again in January for an official visit.
Auburn, Purdue and Central Florida are Parker’s finalists. Alabama, he said, is not an option. The Tide has not offered.
Parker plans to commit to one of his three finalists within the “next week-and-a-half or two weeks.” Parker will be back at Auburn for the Iron Bowl.
Parker is not an early enrollee and has yet to decide whether or not he’ll sign in the December period.
Hill said Clemson is a “potential” threat to Auburn, but “it is going to take a lot” to change his commitment. Clemson is recruiting Hill to play safety.
Hill already has visited both Clemson and Alabama and will return to Clemson for an official visit, but has not set a date. Hill will be back in Auburn for the Iron Bowl and again later for an official visit.
Hill said he feels “pretty good” about his commitment to Auburn.
Fox will return for the Iron Bowl on an unofficial visit. Auburn, Alabama, LSU and Stanford remain his top four.
Fox will take his recruitment to Signing Day in February. The win over Georgia “boosted Auburn up a little bit.”
The in-state offensive lineman plans to announce a commitment “in a week or two.” He just needs to talk to his mother.
Jenkins is considering Auburn, Oklahoma and Louisville. He nearly committed to Auburn in the summer, but “I had a talk with my mom and she stopped me from doing it.”
Jenkins’ mother wanted him to take his time. Now? “I’ve taken enough time. It’s time for it to be made.”
Jenkins, who will sign in December, will return to Auburn for the Iron Bowl and an official visit.
Fuqua no longer will not graduate in December, but he will sign in the early period.
“I had some classes mixed up,” Fuqua said.
Fuqua is solid to Auburn and is not considering any other schools.
Johnson will return for the Iron Bowl. Auburn is recruiting him to play defensive end or linebacker “depending on my weight gain or loss.”
Auburn keeps in touch, but not as much as Tennessee and Georgia. He will try and take an official visit to Auburn.
McCreary is committed to South Alabama, but is receiving interest from Auburn. He visited Auburn on Saturday with Williamson defensive coordinator and former Auburn star, Antonio Coleman.
McCreary spoke with defensive backs coach Greg Brown and area recruiter Travis Williams during the visit and plans to return in two weeks for the Iron Bowl. McCreary also his hearing from Georgia Tech, Southern Miss, Western Kentucky and Tulane.
Daniels on Saturday made his second unofficial visit to Auburn this season. The Tigers have not extended an offer, but Daniels thinks it could arrive “soon.”
“It’s coming,” Daniels said. “They love how I’m looking film-wise. They just want me to get back here as much as I can to get used to it.”
Daniels is committed to Memphis, but that could change should Auburn offer.
“I’d strongly consider it,” Daniels said.
Daniels, whom Auburn is recruiting as a cornerback, has built a strong relationship with Auburn defensive backs coach Greg Brown. The two talk and text on a regular basis.
Auburn is in his top group along with Miami, Michigan and Tennessee. He will wait until February to sign.
Goss plans to take an official visit to Auburn after the season.
Nix plans to make his commitment “sometime between the seasons, this year and next year.”
Nix thinks his skill set is somewhat similar to that of Jarrett Stidham.
“Completion percentage, being accurate with the ball, keeping the ball safe and not turning it over and just being smart with the ball,” Nix said of the similarities.
Nix is a fan of Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey. The two have known each other since Lindsey’s days at Southern Miss and continue to build on that relationship. Lindsey is Auburn’s lead recruiter for Nix.
“He’s a very solid coach and he’s good with quarterbacks,” Nix said.
Mwikuta dropped Florida State from his top three, which now includes “Alabama, Auburn and Miami.”
The Tide is the early leader, but Auburn is pushing for his top spot. Mwikuta will return to Auburn for the Iron Bowl.
The 2019 Auburn wide receiver commitment continues to receive interest from several schools, most notably Alabama, Florida State, Florida, Notre Dame, Miami, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
Pickens said he is “committed really strongly to Auburn, but those other teams still have a shot.” Pickens has attended games at Alabama and Florida State this season in addition to Auburn.
Goede spent time before the game with Chip Lindsey and Tim Horton. Lindsey expressed his high interest in Goede while Horton introduced the tight end to Bo Nix.
“Our families chatted for maybe 20 or 30 minutes,” Goede said. “Bo is a guy that I fit in well with. We have the same morals and I connected really well with him.”
Goede will visit Florida next weekend and return to Auburn for the Iron Bowl. Georgia and Michigan are the presumed favorites, but Goede said not to count out Auburn.
“This is almost home away from home for me because I’ve been here so much,” Goede said. “I feel comfortable with the coaching staff.”
Kight, one of the top in-state recruits in the 2019 class, spoke with Auburn offensive line coach Herb Hand before the game. The two have developed a good relationship.
Kight “probably” will be back in Auburn for the Iron Bowl.
Ashford is a Class of 2020 quarterback to keep an eye on in the future.
The Hoover sophomore visited Auburn on Saturday and already has four offers (Georgia, Missouri, Illinois and Jacksonville State) and interest from Auburn.
Ashford said Auburn has told him that they like everything about him, but want to see more of him before offering.
