Stephenson duo hopes to continue playing together at Auburn

AUBURN | Carlito Gonzalez plans to sign with Auburn in 2017. He wants his teammate, Eugene Brown, to do the same.

The two safeties from Stephenson in Stone Mountain, Ga. would like to continue playing together in college. They visited Auburn on Saturday in hopes of making it happen.

“I wanted to bring Eugene so we could get him on board, get him an offer,” Gonzalez said. “We would like to be a package deal so we could have two hard-hitting safeties at Auburn.”

Gonzalez and Brown were two of the top players on a Stephenson defense that had five shutouts in 2015. Brown, who saw a lot of time at linebacker during his junior season, finished with 70 tackles, including 31 solos, four tackles-for-loss, 11 pass break-ups and an interception. Gonzalez, at safety, had 55 tackles, 28 solos and three forced fumbles.

Brown, who stands six feet tall and weighs 190 pounds, has offers from N.C. State, Kentucky, Wake Forest, Illinois and Georgia Tech. Auburn secondary coach/co-defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff is showing interest.

Brown spoke to McGriff during the visit.

“He said he would check out my film and that he hopes to bring me on board,” Brown said.

Brown hopes so, too.

“I’d commit if I got offered and join my boy at Auburn,” Brown said.

Gonzalez, who is 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, doesn’t have any doubts about his commitment. That’s a change from January when he wasn’t sure who the Tigers’ new defensive coordinator and secondary coach would be. Now?

“I’m locked in 100 percent,” Gonzalez said. “I got a chance to meet Coach (Kevin) Steele and Coach McGriff. I really liked them a lot.”