The War Room

The War Room

Oct. 2, 2015

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AUBURN, Ala. | Auburn appeared to be finished with recruiting quarterbacks in the 2016 class, but that was before the Tigers started the season 2-2. Auburn has a commitment from West Orange (Fla.) High School's Woody Barrett, but might look to add another quarterback to the class from the junior college ranks. The Tigers already have their eyes on a few.

Here is a list of potential junior college quarterback targets Auburn could pursue more heavily in the coming weeks.

LONESTAR STATE STUD

QB Jerod Evans, Athens, Texas (Trinity Valley)

Evans, who is 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, is leading the nation in touchdown passes (28) and yards per game (381.8). In six games this season, he's completed 136 of 219 passes (62.1%) for 2,291 yards with 28 touchdowns and two interceptions. He's also rushed for 335 yards and three touchdowns on 60 carries (5.6 avg.).

Evans currently has an offer from UAB and interest from UNLV, Memphis and several others…including Auburn.

Auburn has been in contact with Trinity Valley coach Brad Smiley and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Clay Patterson. Auburn is planning to make a trip soon to evaluate Evans in person. Rhett Lashlee, Auburn's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, is scheduled to travel Saturday, Oct. 15 to watch Trinity play at Arkansas Baptist. Auburn plays that week on Thursday.

Evans' story is a little different than most. He graduated from Mansfield (Texas) High in 2012, spent a year at the Air Force Prep School (doesn't count towards college eligibility) before spending 2013 at the Air Force Academy. He redshirted at the Academy before transferring to Trinity Valley where he has spent the past two seasons.

Evans is scheduled to graduate in December and enroll at a four-year school in January. He will have two years to play two.

Extra: Against Texas A&T last week, Evans completed 18 of 25 passes for 373 yards and six touchdowns and an interception in a 61-32 win. Against Nassau in the season opener, Evans went 34 for 52 passing for 449 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions.

Here are Evans' freshman highlights at TVCC…

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TEXAS 6-FOOTER

QB SEDERIAN COPELAND, Tyler, Texas (Tyler Junior College)

The former standout at Skyline has made a big impact despite his small size. Copeland, listed at six feet tall and 175 pounds, has been named the National Junior College Athletic Association player of the week twice this season. He's only played five games.

Copeland completed 16-of-18 passes for 341 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions last week in a 70-28 win over Cisco. The performance netted him his second national player of the week honor. The first came after he battled it out with Evans in the season's first game.

Copeland was 16-for-25 passing for 344 yards with three touchdowns, and rushed 11 times for 82 yards and scored three more touchdowns in a 71-64 win over Evans and Trinity. On the other side, Evans was 20 for 48 passing for 353 yards with four scores and an interception, and rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Copeland's numbers through five games: 42 for 68 passing (61.8%) for 866 yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception. He's also rushed 36 times for 232 yards and four touchdowns.

Extra: Copeland could play many positions. He also has three receptions for 27 yards this season.

Here are some clips of Copeland from high school…

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GEORGIA BOY IN CALI

QB ANFERNEE BRUTON, Walnut, Calif. (Mt. San Antonio College)

Bruton, who is 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, is very familiar with Auburn. He is from Georgia, graduated from Lithonia High School in 2013 and actually was recruited by Auburn and Dameyune Craig (until Sean White committed).

Bruton didn't get a lot of attention out of high school. He didn't start playing football until his junior year, but still managed to pick up some small school offers and was at one time committed to Gardner Webb. Bruton believed he could do better, which is why he's now in junior college.

Bruton is considered a freshman qualifier, which means he will have three years of eligibility when he graduates MSAC in the summer. He spent last year at a junior college in Miami, but the school's football program was halted so he didn't play/lose any eligibility.

Bruton transferred to MSAC and won the starting quarterback spot. So far this season as a freshman, he's 47 for 79 passing for 563 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. He's also second on the team in rushing with 164 yards and three touchdowns on 35 carries (4.7 avg.).

Extra: Bruton grew up wanting to play for Auburn. The Tigers was his team. Also, his older brother, Reggie Carter, is a junior linebacker at UGA.

Here are clips from Bruton's senior season at Lithonia, which was his second year of playing football…

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FORMER FSU QB

QB JOHN FRANKLIN III, Scooba, Miss. (East Miss. Community College)

The former Florida State quarterback transferred to EMCC in the offseason where he's shared quarterbacking duties with pro-style passer Wyatt Roberts.

Franklin III still has managed to throw for 456 yards on 40 for 69 passing (58.0%) with six touchdowns and one interception in five games this season. He's also rushed for 145 yards and a score on 21 carries. Franklin was 18 for 25 passing for 186 yards and three touchdowns in a 69-20 win over Southwest.

Franklin III, listed at 6-foot-2 but probably closer to 6-foot-1, was recruited and signed to the Seminoles by Craig, Auburn's co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach. Franklin III is visiting Auburn on Saturday and would accept an offer should one be extended, but I don't expect that to happen.

Auburn has several targets it will be evaluating over the next few weeks, including Evans in two weeks, and likely won't extend any offers until the process is complete.

Here are some clips from Franklin III's junior season at South Plantation High...

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OTHERS TO WATCH FOR:

QB T.R. Page, Hinds, Miss. (Hinds Community College)

QB Riley Ferguson, Coffeyville, Kan. (Coffeyville Community College)