Auburn’s nice run of commits comes to an end. The Tigers made a strong late push for 3* OT Ira Henry in January and appeared to be the favorites following his official visit. But FSU was his “dream offer” and after he took an OV to Tallahassee, things started trending the wrong way for the Tigers. Today, he officially announced his plans to be a Seminole.
Ira Henry picks Florida State pic.twitter.com/upWhGFOBO1
— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) February 6, 2019
Henry and Auburn signee Kamaar Bell claimed they would play at the same school as each other but that came only after they took an OV to Florida State together. In the end, both decided to pick the school that had made them a priority longer.
This one hurts because Auburn continues to strike out on prep offensive tackle talent. Henry is a little more of a hybrid guy in that he could also slide inside but Auburn planned to start him outside at tackle. Now they will have only Justin Osborne giving Auburn exactly one OT signee in the past two cycles. That’s unacceptable.
I fully expect Auburn to pursue some transfer targets in the coming months to find some OT help for 2020 and beyond. In a cycle deep with OT tackle in the south, it’s a bitter pill to swallow seeing Auburn strike out on top target after top target at that position. Bell’s commitment softens the blow some as it does mean Auburn will add at least one more OL to the class but man it would have been nice to have Henry as well.
I expect one more boom for Auburn later this afternoon when 3* LB Octavius Brothers makes his final decision. Barring any surprises, that will probably be it for Auburn today.
War Eagle!