Auburn Football Recruiting: Tigers Impress Elite Offensive Tackle

Remember how Auburn didn’t sign any offensive tackles last class? Well I got a sneaky suspicion that ain’t happening this cycle. Auburn has already offered at least 19 OT prospects, according to 247. The newest name to add to that list is 4* Xavier Truss out of Rhode Island. Yes, you read that right, Rhode Island. The 6’7” 325 beast landed an offer from the Tigers on an unofficial visit this past Sunday.

Truss had quite the road trip last week starting first with a trip to Clemson, followed by a night in Athens, Tuscaloosa, Auburn and finally stopping by Penn State on the way home. Out of all those schools, who impressed him the most? Benjamin Wolk of SECCountry reports an answer Auburn fans are really gonna wanna see.

“Auburn probably stood out the most to me out of the Southern schools because I had no idea going into Auburn what to think,” Truss told SEC Country. “I had already been to Penn State and had a feel for them, but out of the schools I had no experience with, Auburn took the cake.

“I just felt incredibly comfortable on campus at Auburn and comfortable around everyone there.”

Does this mean that Truss is now a lock to Auburn? Nope. Pulling top prospects out of the northeast is hard to do. Recently, Ohio State and Penn State have become the absolute kings of the north and both are expected to be major players in his recruitment. But it’s also very clear that the Tigers have made themselves a real competitor in this race. Truss seemed to all but guarantee a return trip this fall for an official visit. While there are understandable concerns around JB Grimes’s recruiting prowess, he does have a pretty big win on his resume when he stepped way outside of Auburn’s recruiting comfort zone to land Braden Smith back in 2014. The Tigers would love for him to do something similar this cycle in the form of Xavier Truss.

Truss wasn’t the only unofficial visitor to land an offer while on the Plains this past weekend. Florida State commit 3* DE Quashon Fuller left with an offer in hand as well.

Fuller has been committed to the Noles since last February but that was obviously when Jimbo Fisher was running the show. He hasn’t backed off that pledge but he definitely doesn’t sound like a guy that is solidly committed. More than likely, Fuller will be back for a visit again either this spring or summer. Unfortunately, the Florida native missed most of his junior season which is a big reason his rating isn’t jaw dropping. But don’t be surprised if this kid flies up boards this offseason.

4* LB Mikel Jones, 4* OT Jaelin Humphries, 4* OG Keiondre Jones and 4* WR Zion Puckett were also reportedly on campus for unofficial visits. Mikel Jones is another one of those IMG prospects that Auburn seems more focused on this cycle and he, like Xavier Truss, came away surprised by how much he liked Auburn.

Based on his initial impressions of the Plains, he’ll be back.

“I told this to Coach Greg [Brown] when I was leaving. I didn’t have low expectations, but my expectations were definitely shattered after I left,” Jones said. “I really liked the visit, everything about it. I was very pleased with the campus, all the coaches and the atmosphere of the place. I just look forward to coming back in the summer.”

Loaded Visitor List

Auburn is having their second Junior Day today and are expecting a number of big time prospects on campus, including a few guys that will be visiting the Tigers for a second time this year.

• 4* DL Nathan Pickering
• 4* RB John Emery Jr
• 4* DE Jaren Handy
• 4* OG Keiondre Jones
• 4* CB Devin Bush
• 4* LB Ge’mon Eaford
• 4* DE Braylen Ingraham
• 4* DE Derrick McClendon
• 3* TE Luke Deal
• 3* TE Tyler Fromm
• 3* OG Kingsley Eguakun (Miami Commit)
• 3* CB Raykwon Anderson
• 3* CB Martin Emerson Jr
• 2020 LB Jackson Bratton
• 2020 DT Jamil Burroughs
• 2020 RB Jordan Simmons
• 2021 QB Aaron Mclaughlin

Two names should jump out when looking at this list. Keiondre Jones was just on campus this past weekend and is expected back for a second consecutive week. That’s a very positive sign for the Tigers. Also, Nathan Pickering is expected back for the second time in a few months. Auburn is more than likely going to have to replace some elite interior players after the 2018 season and a guy like Pickering could step right in and give Auburn some high level immediate production. He’s one of the best players in the country who will push for 5* status this cycle.

Louisiana will be well represented this weekend as two of the top 7 ranked players in the state will be on campus in John Emery and Devin Bush. I mentioned back in my 2019 class preview of running backs (I promise I will finish that series by the way) I said that if I could pick any back in this class for Auburn to sign it would be Emery. Well, getting him on campus is a big step towards achieving that goal. He will be joined by one of the best cornerback prospects in the country in Devin Bush. Bush currently has Auburn in his top group but most believe LSU will be the team to beat. Cornerback is expected to be a major position of emphasis this cycle so expect AU to lay out the red carpet for Bush.

Pickering isn’t the only elite DL talent out of Mississippi visiting. Jaren Handy is another 6’5” monster out of the Magnolia State that is high on Auburn’s wishlist. While Ole Miss is the current pick via 247’s Crystal Ball, keep an eye out on Alabama who just recently offered the big man. There is some serious defensive talent in the state of Mississippi this class.

I would not be surprised to see a few offers go out this weekend. Keep an eye on 2020 prospects Jamil Burroughs and Jordan Matthews. The McEachern teammates will be two highly recruited prospects next cycle and I would be shocked if they don’t receive Auburn offers in the near future. Also rising sophomore Aaron Mclaughlin is expected to be a 5* candidate in the 2021 class. He’s high on the Tigers and already holds some big time offers so it would not be ridiculous for Auburn pull the trigger this weekend. Finally, I really like Martin Emerson’s tape and would not be stunned to see his recruitment begin to pickup in the coming months starting with an Auburn offer. I don’t expect any commitments this weekend but watching who leaves with offers will be a major storyline today.

Offers

Auburn doled out double digit offers for the second consecutive week. I highlighted Xavier Truss and Quashon Fuller above so here are the rest of the prospects to land an AU offer this past week.

4* ATH Joseph Ngata | 6’3” | 210 lbs | Folsom, CA

Despite signing an elite 2018 WR class and holding the commitment from 4* George Pickens, the Tigers continue to hand out offers to elite WR talent all over the country. This week, it was Joseph Ngata out of Folsom, CA. Ngata is the complete package at WR with his combination of size, hands, speed and route running. More than likely Ngata will land somewhere on the West Coast.

4* DE Byron Young | 6’4” | 270 lbs | Laurel, MS

The offer count is up to 13 in the state of Mississippi this cycle. Young is another big time DL athlete with the potential to play inside or outside at the next level. Unfortunately, he recently named the Tide his leader after a visit but expect Auburn to try and get in this race. I have a sneaky suspicion Rodney Garner will get one of these big time DL out of the Sip this cycle.

4* S Nick Cross | 6’1” | 207 lbs | Hyattsville, MD

Cross is a tackle machine. The Maryland native is a physical presence on the backend of a loaded DeMatha Catholic defense and would be a perfect fit at SS in Auburn’s system. Ohio State is the team to watch early in his recruitment.

3* LB Bryton Constantin | 6’2” | 220 lbs | Baton Rouge, LA

Literally minutes after I published my article last week highlighting all the offers Auburn sent out, the Tigers offered Constantin. It’s that time of year people. Constantin has had a heck of a week though landing offers from Clemson, Georgia, Mississippi State, Florida and a number of others. It sounds like Dabo’s Tigers are the team to beat right now.

3* TE Tyler Fromm | 6’5” | 225 lbs | Warner Robins, GA

That last name should look familiar. Tyler Fromm is indeed the younger brother of current Georgia Bulldog quarterback Jake Fromm. The younger Fromm has seen his recruitment take off in recent weeks and is expected on the Plains today. He plays WR for his HS but given his size and skillset his future is probably as a pass catching TE at the next level. The Dawgs have not yet offered and given the fact they took two tight ends last class and hold a commitment from one of the top 2019 TE prospects in Ryland Goede, there’s a very good chance one never comes. It will be interesting to see how his recruitment unfolds.

3* OG Kingsley Eguakun | 6’3” | 293 lbs | Jacksonville, FL | Miami Commit

Eguakun committed to the Hurricanes in January but that has not stopped teams from recruiting the big man including Auburn. According to AuburnUndercover’s Keith Niebuhr earlier this week, the Jacksonville native is expected on campus this weekend. While Egaukun’s rating isn’t the highest in the world, if you turn on his tape you will fall in love. He plays with an edge you love to see from offensive lineman and has the ability to play anywhere on the interior.

S Cordale Flott | 6’2” | 175 lbs | Saraland, AL

It’s been a good week for Cordale Flott. First, he visited Alabama for Junior Day last weekend and picked up an offer. In the following days, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Arkansas all jumped in the race as well. Flott actually visited for Auburn’s first spring practice Thursday and seemed impressed by what he saw. Per usual for top instate talent, this will probably end up an Auburn/Alabama battle. Flott is listed as a safety by 247 but he has the skills to play CB as well.

2020 LB Jackson Bratton | 6’3” | 215 lbs | Muscle Shoals, AL

Bratton is another instate kid that landed a Bama offer over the weekend and snagged an Auburn offer only a few days later. There’s a very good chance this kid ends up the top ranked defensive player in the state of AL next year. Outstanding quickness and if he can get his hands on a ball carrier the play is over. Will be a hotly contested recruitment over the next two years.

War Eagle!