T-Will trusted his evaluation on Wooten

AUBURN | Travis Williams evaluated Chandler Wooten on film, watched him during a spring practice and brought him in for an unofficial visit.

That’s all Auburn’s linebacker coach needed to conclude Wooten was one of the top linebackers in the South and to put him near the top of the Tigers’ recruiting board.

“I penciled him in and he was the guy I wanted. I wanted Chandler Wooten,” Williams said. “He committed in the spring. He was a guy I really trusted the evaluation on and off the field. Great kid, great family. He's a kid that was raised right. I don't have to chase him to class. He loves football and he's a really, really good football player.”

Wooten, 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, was rated a three-star and the nation’s No. 42 outside linebacker by Rivals.

“When I'm doing an evaluation I try not to look at stars,” Williams said. “I can't see what another team is recruiting. I try to look at it like the NFL. If I'm a scout for the Atlanta Falcons I can't look at it and say, 'I wonder what's on the Carolina Panthers' board.' You can't do it. You have to really trust your evaluation.”

Wooten, who enrolled in January, could play strongside linebacker or potentially Buck linebacker where he could take advantage of his pass rushing ability. He had 125 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss and two sacks as a senior at North Cobb in Kennesaw, Ga.

Wooten is currently going through winter workouts and will participate in spring practice beginning Feb. 28.

“He's there with Coach Russell getting stronger, getting faster and all that good stuff,” Williams said. “I let Coach Russell handle that for him and I handle the Xs and Os. But he's a kid that I was really, really high on coming into his spring last year and I'm very happy he's an Auburn Tiger.”

Auburn’s annual A-Day game will be April 8 at 1 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.