Recruiting Weekend: What we learned after 11 visited Auburn
There weren't any commitments or even a recruit that named Auburn the leader, but there were several storylines from Sunday's exit interviews with 10 of the 11 visitors.
AUBURN | Auburn didn’t receive a commitment. None of the six uncommitted visitors even left with the Tigers their outright leader. Still, it was hard not to feel Auburn gained momentum after playing host to 11 recruits over the weekend.
Auburn solidified itself as one of the top options, if not the No. 1 option, for both Nate Craig-Myers and Derrick Brown. Defensive tackle David Marshall sounded more confident in his commitment, although he still has remaining visits to Georgia and Ole Miss. Receiver commitment Elijah Stove also has two visits left. He’ll visit Florida and Miami, but he also claimed he’s firmly committed to signing with Auburn on Feb. 3.
There were several storylines from exit interviews on Sunday. There was a lot said, and here’s a recap of what we learned.
Auburn visit is last visit
This weekend’s visit to Auburn was the last visit for two of Auburn’s commitment. Both offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm and receiver commitment Marquis McClain said their plans before Signing Day didn’t include other visits. The two will ink with Auburn on Feb. 3. Quarterback commitment Woody Barrett hasn’t mentioned plans to visit other schools, but left Sunday without granting an interview.
Auburn visit isn’t last visit
Stove and Marshall will be busy over the next two weekends, the last two weekends before Signing Day. Stove will visit Florida on Jan. 22-24 and Miami on Jan. 29-31, but plans to sign with Auburn. Marshall’s family joined him in Auburn over the weekend. They will not join him on his next two visits. He’ll travel solo to Georgia (Jan. 22-24) and Ole Miss (Jan. 29-31). Marshall’s family saw all they needed to see at Auburn. Marshall and his family want to be Tigers.
Back in the saddle
Four-star athlete/safety Stephen Davis Jr. was one of Auburn’s first commitments, and now could end up being one of the last. Davis de-committed in the summer from Auburn and then-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. There hasn’t been much mutual interest since, but Kevin Steele changed that. Davis and his father, former running back Stephen Davis, were in Auburn for a visit. The two could be making the trip again in the summer to move the younger Davis. It’s down to Auburn and South Carolina, and that’s a good thing for the Tigers. It didn't work out well last time between Davis and the current coach in Columbia.
AU or TCU for OT
Lucas Niang traveled for the second time from Connecticut to Auburn. He and his mother made the trip in the summer. He and both parents returned over the weekend. Niang already has visited TCU and will visit Miami next weekend. The Tigers and Horned Frogs are the top two and he’d like to announce his decision between the two before Signing Day.
AU, UF or UM for LB
Joshua Uche made the trip from Miami to Auburn, his first to the Tigers’ campus. He’ll visit Florida and Michigan over the next two weeks and decide between the three on or before Signing Day.
The ‘1-2 punch’ plan
There has been discussion between Craig-Myers, ranked the No. 1 receiver, and Auburn early enrollee Kyle Davis on becoming a “1-2 punch” at Auburn. The two hung out over the weekend during Craig-Myers’ visit. Auburn, Ole Miss and North Carolina are his final three. Gus Malzahn will make an in-home visit with Craig-Myers on Sunday. The five-star receiver will visit Ole Miss on Jan. 29-31. He would like to attend the same school as his half-brother, four-star athlete/defensive back Jayvaughn Myers. That works well for Auburn. Myers is high on Auburn after his weekend visit. He also likes Maryland and North Carolina. Craig-Myers and Myers could be the ones to give Auburn a 1-2 punch on Signing Day. It’s when they will announce their decisions.
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