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Turning the page: Assessing Auburn’s 2016 recruiting class
By Will Heath
Published:
There is no way to describe Auburn’s 2015 season as anything other than disappointing. If form holds, however, hope should spring anew for Tiger fans this offseason.
As 2016 dawns, Auburn is currently in the top 10 overall in the national recruiting rankings (either 7th or 8th, depending on which service you prefer). Gus Malzahn’s biggest areas of need — up front and at the outside skill positions — are currently being addressed by his 2016 commitment list.
So if form holds, the Tigers have already hooked a recruiting class that can provide hope for years to come. But, if AU hits on a few prospects — if it hooks some of the players it’s purportedly in the mix for — this offseason can go from profitable to sublime.
Among Scout.com’s top-30 prospects for 2016 that are uncommitted — there are 14 of them without so much as a soft verbal — the Tigers are in the mix for six of them. Most notable among that group are defensive tackles Rashan Gary (Paramus, NJ) and Derrick Brown (Buford, Ga.). Those two are the first- and ninth-overall prospects in the country.
Gary’s and Brown’s recruitments are, of course, the subject of national interest. As of right now the pair are presumably leaning to Michigan and Georgia, respectively. But Auburn remains in the hunt for now for those two and a handful of others who can push their class still higher.
ASSESSING AUBURN’S 2016 CLASS
Current commits or enrollees: 18 (avg. star 3.47; last year: 3.7)
Current big-name targets: DT Rashan Gary, DT Derrick Brown, ILB Ben Davis
Biggest positions of need: LB, WR, OL
National/SEC rank: 7/4
NOTABLE COMMITS
John Franklin (6-foot-1, 185 pounds); four-star Athlete, ranked No. 17 nationally.
Paul James (6-4, 255); four-star defensive end, ranked No. 31 nationally.
Marlon Davidson (6-4 256) four-star defensive end, ranked No. 33 nationally.
Kyle Davis (6-3, 217); four-star wide receiver, ranked No. 93 nationally.
Will Heath is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football.
