Spring Valley LB chasing Auburn LB coach's records
AUBURN | Spring Valley’s Channing Tindall knew of Travis Williams long before the Auburn linebackers coach came calling with an offer.
Tindall has been chasing many of Williams’ school records for the past two years.
“I had heard plenty about Coach Williams,” Tindall said. “As soon as I got to Spring Valley, I knew about him.”
It’s hard for any Spring Valley linebacker not to know about Williams, who was a standout at the school in Columbia, S.C. before earning all-SEC honors at Auburn in 2004-05.
“He holds all kinds of records,” Tindall said. “And my coach makes sure I know. When I transitioned from defensive end to linebacker, my coach told me ‘You have to break Travis Williams’ records. You have to beat them.’”
Tindall is working on it, and has gotten close to breaking one of Williams’ records.
“The one record that stands out to me is tackles in a game,” Tindall said. “And he had 25 one time. I had 22 in a game last year, but next year I’m going to get at least 26 and break it.”
Williams will be watching, and not only as an alumnus and record holder, but as a prospective coach. Williams offered Tindall a scholarship in January. He would like Tindall to follow the same path he did from Columbia to Auburn.
“I was very excited about the offer,” Tindall said. “He called and talked to me and my family. I enjoyed talking to him and getting to know him a little better.”
Tindall had the chance to meet Williams during a visit for Auburn’s Junior Day on Jan. 28. It was Tindall’s first visit to Auburn and first sit-down with Williams.
“I didn’t know what to expect because I had never been to Auburn, but I really liked it,” Tindall said. “It’s a very family-oriented program and environment, and Coach Williams is a very family-oriented guy. I really liked talking to him. I got a very good impression of him and he seems like someone I would like to play for for the next four years.”
Tindall is considering it; he plans to return to Auburn in the summer.
“They said they could see me being like Carl Lawson, but I could also play the middle and weakside spots, too,” Tindall said. “They want me to come back to camp, and I definitely plan to.”
As a junior, Tindall had 121 tackles, eight sacks, 15 tackles-for-loss and three forced fumbles. He lists offers from Auburn, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame and North Carolina, among others.
Rivals ranks Tindall, who is 6-foot-2 and weighs 210 pounds, the No. 8 player in South Carolina and No. 41 outside linebacker in the 2018 class.
