Auburn recruiting rundown with Auburn Live

The first season for Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin has been a little bit of a rollercoaster. From losing to Penn State in the White Out game to firing wide receivers coach Cornelius Williams to the Bo Nix-led comeback over LSU, the Tigers have been making headlines — both good and not-so-good — almost every week of the season.

Harsin’s first go-around recruiting for the Tigers has also been a little shakey. Auburn’s class has only 11 recruits so far and ranks at the bottom of the SEC. On3 talked with Auburn Live recruiting writer Jeffrey Lee to discuss the importance of grabbing good offensive line recruits, who is the most important commit in the class at the moment and more.

Who is the most important target still on Auburn’s recruiting board?

Jeffrey Lee: I would say there are three. First, it’s Darrius Clemons (No. 56 in the 2022 On300), the wide receiver from Oregon. He’s probably the top guy right now but offensive line is the absolute biggest need. So it’s hard not to say an offensive lineman is the top overall guy. Auburn can make it without getting a top wide receiver, but they’ve got to have offensive lineman in this class. With that said, you’ve got two across town in Drew Bobo (three stars) and Eston Harris (three stars). Both at Auburn High School. Both will play in the SEC. Drew Bobo will either choose Auburn or Georgia. Eston Harris right now will either choose Auburn or Florida. Those are two battles Auburn absolutely has to win. Their offensive line recruiting the past seven, eight years has been abysmal. Auburn is so far behind both Alabama and Georgia in the trenches that is going to take several probably several classes for Auburn to get caught back up. But you can’t get caught up unless you sign a good lineman this year. So it was hard for me to say that a wide receiver is the top remaining target when offensive line is such a big need. So I would say Drew Bobo, Esten Harris, maybe a JUCO offensive lineman, like Tyrone Weber, Percy Lewis. Those are two guys that Auburn has offered, will visit.

What is the most important position(s) still to fill and the main targets to fill those spots?

Jeffrey Lee: Absolutely offensive line. It starts with the offensive line and defensive line too — don’t get me wrong. Defensive back also for Auburn. These are positions that they’ve got to fill. If Auburn or if any school is looking at JUCOs for a position, you know how in demand that position must be for that team. Auburn is absolutely going after junior college offensive lineman. I mentioned Percy Lewis. I mentioned Tyrone Weber. Both of those guys are top targets for Auburn, and then you’ve got defensive backs like Marquise Gilbert, who they just offered last weekend. He’s coming in for a visit. They’ll probably sign two JUCO guys at defensive back. Right now, the offensive line and defensive back are probably the primary positions of need. And then you’ve got wide receiver and defensive line, kind of a tier two level positions of need.

How many will Auburn sign in this class and why? Will they hold some spots for the transfer portal?

Jeffrey Lee: I absolutely feel like Auburn will max out by the time next summer the guys report. And as far as how many high school guys they will sign, I think they’ll still leave a lot of room for transfers. Then they could use some on transfer offensive linemen, a transfer linebacker maybe, definitely some DBs. But a full class, no doubt, going into this final half year of the 2022 class.

Who is the most important commitment in the 2022 class for Auburn and why?

Jeffrey Lee: Right now, I would say Caden Story (No. 284), four-star defensive lineman. He’s a local kid. He’s at a priority position of need: defensive line. I feel like any kind of local kid that’s got other SEC offers, you’ve got to get them if you’re Auburn. Auburn was able to get him. He’s kind of a super senior dude. He’s a stud along the defensive front that you’ve got to get. I feel like he is absolutely the must hold-on-to commitment in the class right now.

What are recruits saying about Auburn’s start to the season?

Jeffrey Lee: A lot of good feedback. Even after the Penn State loss last weekend, there have been a lot of a lot of buzz, a lot of momentum. I think big picture-wise, recruits are looking at what Bryan Harsin is doing in his first season. They’re seeing a scrappy team. Guys who are willing to play hard for their coach. They like what they’ve seen from this new staff. Everything that I’ve seen so far has been very positive.

What will be the biggest recruiting surprise for Auburn between now and the early signing period?

Jeffrey Lee: Whether or not Auburn can flip Robert Woodyard (four stars) from Alabama. He’s a linebacker from Mobile. Auburn’s pushing really heavily for him. Auburn is going after several guys already committed to some top SEC schools: Alabama, Georgia, even USC. Mykel Williams (No. 5), the five-star defensive lineman who’s committed to USC, obviously he’s shopping around now that Clay Helton gone. He probably will end up in Georgia but he’s from 30 minutes down the road in Columbus, Georgia. He was in Auburn last weekend. Auburn is still pushing for these guys. Tre Citizen (No. 60) at LSU, the running back. I mean there’s a lot of guys. Shemar James (No. 107) is committed to Florida. Emmanuel Henderson (No. 78), the running back committed to Alabama. A lot of guys Auburn is still making a big push for that are committed other schools that they’re going to get visits from. The surprise will be how many of those guys if any Auburn can get. I feel like at least two at this point.

Which coach has done the best job recruiting in the 2022 class?

Jeffrey Lee: It’s been Bryan Harsin. He has been so much more involved as a head coach than any of the guys I’ve seen probably since Gene Chizik. When Gene Chizik was here, they had some top-five classes. They recruited the hell out of a lot of the guys. Gene Chizik was very active and involved, Gus Malzahn was way more stand-backish when it came to recruiting. He only wanted to close. To see Bryan Harsin come in and be the head honcho for guys like Darrius Clemens, for guys like Tre Citizen. All these guys that I’ve talked to, they know Bryan Harsin. They consider him one of their recruiters. I would say Bryan Harsin has been very much involved in recruiting, has built relationships with the commitments, as well as some of the top targets. I’ve just been really surprised about how often I’ve heard his name. You don’t hear the head coach being involved on a day-to-day basis, at least not at Auburn. I’m not used to that. He has absolutely been very involved. He’s contacting recruits, he’s communicating with recruits, building bonds with each of them. I’d say to this point, the head coach being there has really sparked interest from a lot of guys.