Recruiting Recap: Team FSP Visits Auburn

Another day, another loaded visitor list. Yesterday was pretty 2023 heavy though there were some big time 2022 targets on campus as well. Auburn’s new staff is working hard to position themselves as top contenders for these top rated prospects. Sounds like that’s exactly what they’ve done so far.

Team FSP Visits

Team FSP is one of the top 7 on 7 programs in the country. Based out of Washington, this loaded group of top prospects, mostly in the 2023 class, are taking a tour of the southeast. On Wednesday, they were in Tuscaloosa. Yesterday, they visited Auburn and will be in Athens today and Clemson Saturday.

The gem of the team is 2023 5-star OLB/DE Jayden Wayne. Rated the #13 player in the 2023 class, he holds offers from every major program. He reportedly came away impressed with the Tigers and plans to be back specifically to watch the Iron Bowl. Auburn could also be in line to land an official visit next summer. Bert Watts, who has experience recruiting the west coast, is leading this recruitment.

Another name to know is 2023 4-star CB Caleb Presley. The 6’0” 170 pound defensive back earned an offer from Alabama after an impressive performance at their camp on Wednesday. He snagged another SEC offer from the Tigers yesterday on his visit.

Like Wayne, Presley plans to return to the Plains in the future. He specifically mentioned that his previous relationship with some of the former Boise State staff members helped Auburn become a factor. Let’s see if the Tigers can get him back on campus this fall.

Auburn also offered 2024 OL Isendre Ahfua yesterday.

Only just completing his freshman season, Ahfua is already a massive 6’5” 330 lbs and receiving interest from many programs including two recent offers from Auburn and Alabama. Chances are good he’ll be one of the top ranked prospects in the 2024 class.

It was good that Auburn got themselves on FSP’s schedule in order to get so many of these top ranked prospects on campus for the first time. But for this visit to truly be a success, Auburn needs to get some of these top prospects back for unofficial or official visits. There were other 2023 blue chips in this group but I think the two to keep an eye on are Wayne and Presley. Auburn will undoubtedly be working hard to not make this their only trip to the Plains.

4-star Cornerback Wants To Play In SEC

One of the more interesting visitors yesterday was 4-star CB Benjamin Morrison. Heading into this trip to the southeast, many believed that Notre Dame held the upper hand in his recruitment. The Arizona native had already planned to take official visits to Notre Dame, Oregon, and Washington but his trip down south really seemed to open his eyes. In fact, this could be shaping up to be a good ole fashioned Iron Bowl showdown.

Morrison on Wednesday visited Alabama. After seeing the two SEC schools, Morrison is convinced he’ll likely play in the SEC.

“After visiting Bama yesterday and after seeing the two schools (Auburn and Alabama), I feel like I want to play in the SEC,” Morrison said. “I see myself playing in the SEC.”

The Tigers though do have an edge over the other programs. New Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Mason is childhood friends with Morrison’s dad and that relationship has the Tigers in the thick of this race. While it won’t be easy, I really do think Auburn has a legitimate chance to win this battle.

Elite 2024 Running Back Earns Offer

So much about this month is laying the groundwork for future recruitments. One of those future recruitments to monitor in the coming years is Stacy Gage. An elite running back out of IMG, Gage got to spend a lot of 1 on 1 time with Auburn running backs coach Carnell Williams. He left campus with an offer.

Auburn has never signed a player out of IMG which is tough considering the amount of elite prospects that come out of that program every cycle. The Tigers are working to change that under Bryan Harsin hosting many recruits from that program on an unofficial visit on Wednesday. Though it’s very early, I do think Gage is someone Auburn fans need to be monitoring closely over these next couple of recruiting cycles. I think the Tigers are going to be a major factor in his recruitment.

War Eagle!