Almost quietly, Auburn has put together a very good 2016 recruiting class and it could get even better down the stretch.

So with that, here are four key questions about the Tigers as it relates to the closing week and some change of the 2016 recruiting cycle.

How would you assess Auburn’s class overall?

It’s a strong effort that fills needs across the board. It wasn’t easy for Gus Malzhan and his staff this cycle. The Tigers were coming off a 7-6 season that was a disappointment perception-wise and they lost Will Muschamp, Travaris Robinson and Lance Thompson — three of their best recruiters and 75 percent of their defensive staff — thanks to South Carolina hiring Muschamp as its head coach.

Those three were excellent recruiters and had relationships built prior to their departure. That being said, Auburn has suffered minimal damage, still enrolled nine prospects early — many at positions of need — and has been able to continue to recruit at a high level on both sides of the ball.

That’s a testament to Malzahn himself and also great recruiters like Rodney Garner and Dameyune Craig, who have helped not only keep the class together, but also advanced Auburn’s efforts. You are talking right now about a class that is No. 11 nationally and with a few surprises could finish in the top 10.

What are the strengths of this class?

Defensively, it has to be on the line. Auburn has had a need there for some time, and this class, they once again knocked it out of the park. Marlon Davidson and Paul James are two outstanding defensive ends — both enrolled early. Antwuan Jackson is a college-ready defensive tackle and also is an early enrollee.

On offense, wide receiver. Some believe Kyle Davis was the best at that position nationally and he is already on campus. The Tigers also have Eli Stove out of Florida committed and are closing on getting Nate Craig-Myers back in the fold.

Obviously, Auburn also helped itself at quarterback. John Franklin arrives from junior college and the track record with JUCO quarterbacks the Tigers have had with Malzahn involved in the program speaks for itself. Woody Barrett, a Florida high school product, is as good of a scheme fit as any quarterback signee at any school in this class and has the raw talent to do big things on the Plains in time.

Speaking of surprises, who are some?

You obviously have to look at the push Auburn has made for five-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown out of Buford, Ga., as a potential surprise.

My prediction with him is still for Georgia, but the Tigers are in it and you never know how things are going to break down the stretch.

Can they pull a Prince Sammons (huge upside prospect) out of Ohio late or overtake UGA on Tre Nixon, who visits the final weekend? It’s possible.

Some new names popping up on the offensive line board thanks to the arrival of new offensive line coach Herb Hand are worth watching. Hand is one of those recruiters that is outstanding at building relationships and recruiting “his guys,” so really nothing would surprise me at that position for Auburn moving forward.

Is there anyone who could flip from Auburn?

The only one I’d keep an eye on is safety Marlon Character out of Grady High in Atlanta. He was committed to South Carolina before flipping to Auburn when Muschamp and Robinson were there and now they want him in Columbia.

But truth be told, based on the feedback from Character’s camp to this point, it doesn’t look like he will switch back to the Gamecocks down the stretch. His girlfriend is going to Auburn and the new coaches on the staff, along with the remaining staff members, have done a good job recruiting him in a short time.