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Let me just go ahead and warn you, expect a lot of recruiting articles in the coming days. December 20th is the first ever early signing day and I expect the majority of Auburn’s class to sign. I also expect things to get busy in the week leading up to next Wednesday as teams scramble to try and land some top remaining targets who might want to end their recruitments early or try and convince a few key prospects to hold off and give them time to recruit them. It’s going to be an interesting process to watch unfold. I highly recommend you check out Bud Elliott’s article detailing how team’s plan to handle this new early signing period.
But while all this is going on there’s also an important All Star game happening this Saturday. The Alabama-Mississippi 31st Annual All-Star Game will be played this Saturday and it will feature a number of Auburn commits and targets. This is always one of my favorite All-Star games as it usually features the most Auburn commits and targets. This year is no different though there won’t be as many Auburn commits as originally expected. Here’s the official 2017 Alabama All-Star roster courtesy of AL.com:
2017 Alabama All-Star Roster
No. Name Pos. Ht./Wt High school
1 Anquaevious Pollard WR 6-7, 195 Lanett
2 C.D. Daniels DB 6-3, 180 Homewood
4 James Foster QB 6-3, 210 Sidney Lanier
5 Justyn Ross WR 6-4, 201 Central-Phenix City
6 Carlos Davis RB 5-11, 205 Muscle Shoals
7 Michael Parker TE 6-6, 235 Westminester Chr.
8 Demontrez Brown WR 6-2, 203 Bob Jones
9 Seth Williams WR 6-3, 212 Paul Bryant
10 Cardavion Myers DB 6-0, 165 Piedmont
12 Jack West QB 6-4, 210 Saraland
14 Nathaniel Watston ATH 6-3, 220 Maplesville
16 Kavosiey Smoke RB 6-0, 215 Wetumpka
18 Jamias Presley DB 5-10, 165 Opelika
20 Asa Martin RB 6-0, 193 Austin
22 Kevontae Ruggs DB 6-4, 205 Lee-Montgomery
24 Evan McPherson P/PK6-0, 175 Fort Payne
27 Starling Thomas DB 5-11, 170 Ramsay
28 K.J. Robertson LB 6-2, 217 Thompson
29 Jakorey Hawkins DB 6-0, 190 Lee-Montgomery
32 Kade Koler LB 6-2, 230 Bob Jones
38 David Chase Adams LB 6-1, 215 Wetumpka
42 Jacquez Jones LB 6-1, 210 Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
45 Jalen Raynam LB 6-2, 220 Thompson
48 Clay Stearns FB 6-0, 230 Mountain Brook
56 Cameron Hill OL 6-1, 295 Lee-Montgomery
62 Mike Maye OL 6-3, 278 Hoover
64 Ka'Darian Hill DL 6-2, 285 Eufaula
65 Jalen Cunningham DL 6-5, 360 St. Clair County
66 Marese McBride DL 6-2, 260 Daphne
71 Tank Jenkins OL 6-3, 331 Park Crossing
73 Jake Andrews OL 6-3, 310 Stanhope Elmore
74 Charles Coleman DL 6-4, 275 Mae Jemison
75 Marquice Robinson OL 6-4, 315 Austin
76 Grant Betts OL 6-3, 270 Spanish Fort
77 Jahlil Ryules OL 6-3, 290 Central-Phenix City
79 Kameron Stutts OL 6-5, 325 Brooks
80 Gavin Lewis DE 6-5, 275 Bob Jones
83 Ethan Edmondson DE 6-3, 255 Scottsboro
88 Shedrick Jackson WR 6-2, 195 Hoover
95 Timajae Porter DL 6-3, 325 Theodore
This game was set to include a very large number of Auburn commits but due to injuries and illness 4* DT Coynis Miller, 3* S Kolbi Fuqua and 3* ATH Josh Marsh all had to bow out. However, there are still plenty of AU commits and targets to watch this Saturday.
Auburn Commits
Last year’s all star game featured a number of defensive prospects, this year it’s the opposite with all of Auburn’s commits on the offensive side of the ball. This week will be a really big opportunity for Martin. 247’s Director of Scouting, Barton Simmons, said in response last week to questions about Martin’s current ranking (it’s stupidly low) that he would be seeing him in person this week which would give Simmons a chance to reevaluate him. A strong performance could see him shoot up the 247 rankings. Last year, Tadarian Moultry’s outstanding outings at this all star game and the Army All-American Game saw him achieve 5* status in 247’s final rankings. Could we see something similar with Martin this year?
I am also excited to see Auburn’s two WRs in action. They are two very different type of wideouts but both have big time futures. Jackson is a home run hitter. He’s a consistent deep threat with the ability to take the top off a defense. Williams, on the other hand, is a much more physical wide receiver who can help keep the chains moving on those 3rd & medium to long downs. He’s also quick enough to catch a short pass, make a man miss and turn it into 6 points. They should complement each other well Saturday.
Finally, there’s my darkhorse of this class in Kameron Stutts. I have been singing his praises all recruiting cycle and I will be excited to see him go up against a stout Mississippi front. He reminds me a lot of Marquel Harrell coming out of high school. Both weren’t highly rated players but you turn on their film and you can’t help but fall in love with their physicality. Not sure if he will play offensive guard or tackle in the all star game but I fully expect him to be an interior player at the next level.
Auburn Targets
- 4* WR Justyn Ross
- 4* OG Tank Jenkins
- 3* ATH Nathaniel Watson (Mississippi State)
- 3* CB JaKorey Hawkins (Ole Miss)
- 3* CB CD Daniels (Memphis)
The big name here is obviously Ross. The Phenix City native has long been one of Auburn’s top targets and confirmed yesterday that his top group is still Auburn, Alabama and Clemson. It’s believed that the out of state team has the lead right now but considering that very rarely the top player in the state of Alabama actually leaves the state, don’t count out either AU or BAMA. The good news for Auburn is he will be spending a ton of time with current commits Seth Williams and Shedrick Jackson all week. I have no doubt those two will be in the big man’s ear.
I am very interested in seeing how Jenkins performs this week. As I mentioned last night, with Trey Hill committing elsewhere Jenkins might now become a top target for the Tigers. Both Louisville and Oklahoma are coming hard after him right now but if Auburn were to make a push I think they could land him. He will be signing in February so Auburn has some time here to get back in the race.
Finally, there are three interesting names to watch. Watson is an Auburn legacy but one the Tigers haven’t seem to have prioritized much this cycle. I think AU originally wanted him as a linebacker but he wants to play wide receiver. He told Keith Niebuhr that he still communicates with Auburn and plans on officially visiting in January. That will be a name to keep an eye on though I am not really sure what position he would play for the Tigers.
The other two names are both backup options at cornerback. Hawkins holds an AU offer but not sure it’s committable at the moment. Daniels is hoping to land an offer and is willing to wait until February for it if needed. Both of these dudes will be going against some really good WRs this week in practice and it could be a great chance for both to prove to AU they are worthy of spot in this year’s class.
Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game Details
When: Saturday, December 16th
Where: M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, MS
Time: 12:00 PM CT
How to Watch: Raycom Network or Youtube
War Eagle!