Another Big Recruiting Weekend For Auburn
by Jay Coulter on Jan 18, 2008 6:15 AM CST
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Gadsden linebacker Jerrell Harris (6-2, 220) and Birmingham defensive-end Cameron Henderson (6-5, 240) will have the full attention of new Auburn defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads.
If there is one position still lacking from this year’s list of commitments it’s at linebacker. Harris would more than fill that void. He’s rated by Rivals as a four-star recruit.
The recruiting service also ranks him as the third best outside linebacker in the country.
Harris has narrowed his choices down to Auburn, Alabama, Southern Cal, Clemson and Tennessee.
Henderson is also a four-star recruit, playing this past season at Birmingham’s Shades Valley High School. He’s rated as the ninth best weakside defensive-end in the country.
He’s already given a soft verbal to Auburn. Coaches hope to close the deal by Sunday.
Keep your eyes on Mobile wide receiver Mark Barron. The four star athlete has given a soft verbal to Alabama, but is expected to be on the Plains for a visit this weekend. He’s being recruited by Tiger assistant James Willis.
Auburn got a bit of bad news yesterday when Eufaula defensive-end Courtney Upshaw cancelled his weekend visit with Auburn.
Already an Alabama commitment, Auburn coaches felt like they had a chance at Upshaw if they could get him on campus. He reaffirmed last night his plans to go to Alabama.
Other recruits expected to be in Auburn over the weekend include Enterprise teammates Ken Adams (Tight-end) and T.J. Barnes (Offensive lineman). Vestavia cornerback Justin Rogers is also scheduled to visit.
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Cameron Henderson...
That's good stuff...
by Jay Coulter on Jan 18, 2008 10:29 PM CST up reply actions
Enrique Davus de-commits
Coaches were suoppose
I thin Coaches Franklin, Gran, and one other have scheduled another trip next week to visit with hin and tell him how he would fit in with the new spread offense, which is what Davis is worried about.
WAR EAGLE
by James @ Track Em Tigers on Jan 19, 2008 5:51 AM CST up reply actions
well...
I really hope they hurry up cause this isnt lookin too good. Davis was supposed to be our super recruit. now this looks bad to people outside of auburn who see nick saban kickin our butt on the recruiting trail. doesnt bode well for the future
Who cares
,,,,what the bammers think. What counts is on the field, and the last time I looked, Auburn has been kicking bammers butt on the field. Besides, We have three great backs in Fannin, Tate, and Lester. Fannin will be a sofmore, and Tate will be a Junior so both of those guys have lots of time left at Auburn.
Also, Eric Smith, a back out of Florida, commited to Auburn yesterday. He is a bruiser at 5'10" and 240lbs. He is listed as a fullback but Auburn recruited him as a tailback. He has great speed through the hole and power to run over people. There is a video of him on Youtube.
And, on top of all that, we still aren't done with Enrique Davis.
WAR EAGLE
by James @ Track Em Tigers on Jan 20, 2008 7:23 AM CST up reply actions
Good points James.
In addition, Auburn has always done more with their players. That is, they take players that aren't always necessarily the "creme of the crop" (as seen through the eyes of many of the "biased" recruiting services), but nonetheless have plenty of talent, and develop them into players that beat teams loaded with the 4 and 5 star high school players. That's not to say I wouldn't take nor do I think Auburn should not shoot for 4 and 5 star players, but Auburn has traditionally done the most with the players they get, despite their rating. That's a testament to the kind of players that Auburn recruits and come to Auburn, Auburn's football program, and its coaching. It does appear though that Auburn has been consistently moving up at getting the higher rated players each year. As they say, success breeds success.
Speaking of Eric Smith,...glad to hear he commited to Auburn. I, too, saw video of Smith on YouTube. I found three videos of him on YouTube and all are equally impressive. Personally, I was excited by what I saw. He looked impressive, no doubt. And the competition he was playing against, looked pretty good, too. If anyone has not seen Eric Smith on YouTube yet,...go there now and check him out. I think you'll be impressed, as well.
Enrique,...come on and make your mind up for Auburn,...you know in your heart its the best choice. Don't make a mistake.
War Eagle!
by AUTiger8199 on Jan 20, 2008 2:40 PM CST up reply actions
true
all points are true. auburn has done better than bama under tubberville by developing their players. but has auburn done more than nick saban has when he's gotten his recruits? thats harder to say.
My point is that we need to step up our game because bama is certainly improving theirs. maybe not next year but in the long run. the streak is going to get harder and harder for us to keep up, I can guarantee that,
Not to mention, the barrier between making auburn a great program and an elite program (USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas) is our inability to get to conference championships. The competition is only getting stiffer in the sec. Beating bama isn't enough for us to hang our hat on. and even that, like I said, is only gonna get harder.
Bammers
Like many of you have said, the Bammers are stocking up. We can make excuses all that we want, but I don't share the same optimism of CTT getting players that fit. Everyone knows that you get talent first and foremost. So, think what you will....but Auburn is in trouble. Alabama is waxing us. During the 6-win streak, Alabama never landed a talented class like this. Oh! And for the record, Saban has proven nothing on the field over the last 3-4 years. I cannot imagine how he is recruiting so well. I am more than positive that there are some less than kosher things surrounding Bama's recruiting, but it still doesn't sit well with me.....So much for being in the elite....Can't get anyone to go to Auburn.....Oh well..
Dejected
Can't you guys tell I feel dejected.I guess that I am too big of an Auburn fan cause I cannot fathom anyone not wanting to play at Auburn. It's a great school, great facilities, and the people are top notch. I'll get over it.....
Most Auburn fans
,,,don't understand why someone wouldn't want to come to Auburn.
That's why I say if a player is coming just to get noticed, that person isn't a true Auburn man. Let him go somewhere else. I would rather have somebody that wants to be at Auburn and play on a team, not some guy that is a "me" first guy.
WAR EAGLE
by James @ Track Em Tigers on Jan 21, 2008 2:56 PM CST up reply actions
Better recruiting
,,,,is obvious. We must step that up, and the last time I looked at our recruiting board, we had a lot of 4 star players listed. Those 4 star players are the future for the next 4-5 years, IF they all stay out of trouble AND they all make the grades to stay in school. Oh yea,,,,,let's don't forget they all have to stay healthy. Stars mean nothing if all those things don't happen.
I had rather take kids that can stay out of trouble and make the grades (that means they have good character) than thugs like DJ Hall. Somebody like DJ Hall can suck the life out of you. Look what he did to bammer the last half of their season. I don't think too many people woould argue that he was a problem.
Those kids that we speak of that are not 4-5 star players, but fit into the Auburn family, are the same ones that have names like Brad Lester, Mario Fannin, and Ben Tate. Or how about this name,,,,,,Rudi Johnson. Does anybody remember him? I seem to remember that nobody thought he would be any good.
We sit back and complain that we don't score enough points, but the new offense we will be running should put more points on the board than we have in years.
Tuberville has hired coordinators that are great recruiters. Just look at some of the recruits we have commited to Auburn and what they have said. The 4 star players for offense have said they came because of the new offense we will be running. That is why Eric Smith is coming to Auburn.
Some of us have panicked because ONE player says he has changed his mind, but I say again, the fat lady aint' sung yet. Coaches Gran, Franklin, and one other (don't know who) have a meeting with Davis this week. And if Davis does go some where else, Eric Smith looks to be a great back.
WAR EAGLE
by James @ Track Em Tigers on Jan 21, 2008 7:53 AM CST reply actions
saban is selling
hypotheticals/hopes/history (questionable) to his recruits. There can't be any real substance to his pitch. He was maintaining a program already in place at LSU so I'm not too sure how well he is at rebuilding a program that has been lost in college lore. Although he has landed some new talent, it's 'gimmicky' at best. Only time will tell if he can convert that talent into wins and he will have a short clock with which to work against. He has to win the west at least in the next two years to keep selling his crap to parents. Auburn was hurt this year by having coordinator changes so late that has the commitments questioning their future at AU. Obviously any quality RB will get his chances at the NFL through Auburn. If a recruit starts buying in to what his 'wannabe' entourage (uncles, big brothers and HS coaches who want free tickets, et. al.) say, then he may not be smart enough to learn said offense. We will land on our feet and we will be as strong, if not stronger next year with or without the future NFL rushing leader/hall of famer Davis (sarcasm intended). The thing that AU has to do is finish the game. I'm still shaking my head over struggling with Kstate and losing to USF, MSU & LSU. Auburn has to win the west and the conference. It's that simple and that will solidify recruiting. We stay classy, make sure our kids don't take any on-line music classes, work them hard enough that they don't feel like partying during the season (Cox before every UGA game) and all will be fine. That's my take at least.
Davis kinda
,,,,ticked me off with his statement, too. He said he wouldn't get enough carries and he had to think about his future. Well, when he does sign with a school, what is he going to do when he don't get the touches he thinks he should get? Is he going to take his toys and go home, or to another play ground.
It sounds to me like Davis might not be a team player. Do we really want a guy that isn't a team player?
How many times have we heard the backs we have now say they would do what was best for the team. Have you heard our receivers complain about not getting enough passes thrown to them? NO, you haven't.
WAR EAGLE
by James @ Track Em Tigers on Jan 21, 2008 1:24 PM CST up reply actions
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