Top JUCO DE narrows focus to 5

Junior college defensive end Isaiah Buggs has narrowed his focus to five.

Buggs, a five-star recruit from Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Miss., released his top group of schools on Wednesday that included Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and LSU.

The sophomore from Ruston, La. has an offer from each of the five schools and is on track to enroll at one in January. Buggs has visited both Auburn and LSU this summer and plans to take trips to Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M before making his final choice.

Buggs took an overnight trip to Auburn in early June for the Tigers’ Big Cat recruiting event. He left with high praise on Auburn and defensive line coach Rodney Garner.

“(Garner) just wants me to be the best player I can be no matter where I go,” Buggs said after the visit. “I'm just glad he's recruiting me because I can tell he's a great coach and he expects a lot from his guys.”

Buggs’ teammate at Gulf Coast, four-star wide receiver Brandon Martin, committed to Auburn July 1. The two could continue being teammates at Auburn.

“They're very high,” Buggs said of Auburn after Big Cat. “They've been recruiting me throughout high school and as soon as I got to junior college, they stayed with me, too.”

Buggs, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 280 pounds, recorded 59 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss and four sacks last season at Gulf Coast. He plans to return to Auburn in the fall for an official visit.