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With the successful hiring of Kevin Steele as defensive coordinator and Wesley McGriff as secondary coach/co-DC, it’s clear Auburn is not ready to go quietly in the 2016 recruiting cycle. Both coaches are strong recruiters and very popular among top prospects. The Tigers have a nice class but with a few surprises and commitments it could turn into a special class.
Here’s a review of Auburn’s signing class heading into the first recruiting weekend after the bowl season and a few predictions on where the Tigers could end up in February. We use 247Sports composite team and player rankings:
CURRENT STANDING
National recruiting rank: 10
SEC recruiting rank: 6
Number of commits or signees: 17
EARLY ENROLLEES
Marlon Davidson, DE, Greenville, Ala. (five star)
Kyle Davis, WR, Lawrenceville, Ga. (four star)
Antwuan Jackson, DT, Ellenwood, Ga. (four star)
Landon Rice, TE, Calhoun, Ga. (four star)
John Broussard, DB, Phenix City, Ala. (four star)
Paul James, DE, Copiah-Lincoln College (four star, JUCO)
John Franklin, ATH/QB, East Mississippi College (three star, JUCO)
Malik Miller, RB, Madison, Ala. (three star)
Tre Threat, LB, Spanish Fort, Ala. (three star)
NOTABLE COMMITS
Eli Stove, WR, Niceville, Fla. (four star)
Woody Barrett, QB, Winter Garden, Fla. (four star)
Brodarious Hamm, OT, Griffin, Ga. (four star)
REMAINING PRIMARY TARGETS
Rashan Gary, DT, Paramus, N.J. (five star, official visit 11/28)
Derrick Brown, DT, Buford, Ga. (five star, official visit 1/15)
Ben Davis, LB, Gordo, Ala. (five star, official visit 1/22)
Nate Craig-Myers, WR, Tampa, Fla. (four star, official visit 1/15)
SIGNING DAY THOUGHTS
With top 100 prospects like Davidson and Davis already enrolled and on campus some might consider Auburn’s recruiting class a success already.
Congrats to Marlon Davidson on being named the Alabama 5A Lineman of the Year.#WDE#MadHouseFit pic.twitter.com/1tG9QyJysB
— Madhouse Training (@Madhousefit) January 13, 2016
https://vine.co/v/iqjL6B1Zxzi
It could get much better, but it will be tough. Bringing in Steele as defensive coordinator seemed to strike a cord with Davis and Brown, but both of those recruitments are uphill battles going into their official visits. With all that being said, Auburn currently sits at 10th in the nation and the Tigers should be expected to finish around there give or take a few slots. If they can land Davis or Brown or … Gary (although that appears unlikely) this is an easy top five class or better.
Corey Long is a freelance writer for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Corey on Twitter @CoreyLong.
