Auburn limped to a disappointing 8-4 campaign in 2014, and now is without a defensive coordinator due to the dismissal of Ellis Johnson one day after the 55-44 loss to Alabama.

Recruits are hanging in the balance, waiting for Gus Malzahn to make his move in the search for a new coordinator, though Auburn’s second-year coach has not put a timetable on the hire.

The Tigers have hauled in consensus top-1o classes in recent years, but currently are on the outside looking in at No. 11. Nineteen commitments are on the books for Malzahn and company, with a wave of JUCO transfers and early enrollees set to arrive in the coming weeks.

With Auburn nearing its 20th verbal commitment, let’s assess the Tigers’ class thus far.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Saturday Down South’s references to recruiting rankings are to 247Sports.com industry composite ranking.

NAT RANK PLAYER H.S. (CITY, STATE) STAR POS HGT WGT
1 Jovon Robinson Georgia Military College (Milledgeville, GA) 5 RB 5’11” 225
39 Kerryon Johnson Madison Academy (Madison, AL) 4 ATH 6’0” 200
188 Darrell Williams Hoover (Hoover, AL) 4 OLB 6’3” 226
195 Jordan Colbert Griffin (Griffin, GA) 4 S 6’2” 205
219 Tyler Carr Southside School (Gadsden, AL) 4 OG 6’5” 311
221 Richard McBryde Charles Henderson (Troy, AL) 4 OLB 6’2” 210
228 D’Afernee McGriff Leon (Tallahassee, FL) 4 RB 6’1” 230
247 Marquell Harrell Creekside (Fairburn, GA) 4 OG 6’3” 295
261 Kaleb Kim Mill Creek (Hochston, GA) 4 OC 6’4” 280
320 Bailey Sharp Sprayberry (Marietta, GA) 4 OT 6’5” 280
12 Jason Smith Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Perkinston, MS) 4 ATH 6’1” 180
360 Tyler Queen North Cobb (Kennesaw, GA) 3 PRO 6’2″ 229
370 Chandler Cox Apopka (Apopka, FL) 3 FB 6’1” 225
438 Montavius Atkinson Langston Hughes (Fairburn, GA) 3 ILB 6’1″ 200
487 Jauntavius Johnson Lincoln (Tallahassee, FL) 3 DT 6’2” 330
530 Elijah Sullivan Tucker (Tucker, GA) 3 OLB 6’1″ 215
533 Jalen Harris St. James School (Montgomery, AL) 3 TE 6’5” 244
940 Chris Westry Oakleaf (Orange Park, FL) 3 CB 6’4” 180
NA Ian Shannon Marietta (Marietta, GA) 3 P 6’4″ 190