Bryan Harsin reveals keys to successfully recruit in SEC

First-year SEC head coach Bryan Harsin has done well on the recruiting trail since getting off to a slow start this summer.

Harsin’s 2022 signing class currently ranks 14th in the nation with 19 new additions, including nine four-star prospects. He discussed the accomplishment and how his staff got it done after the early signing period.

“We just try to focus on Auburn as much as we can,” Harsin said. “As far as the competition in recruiting goes, that’s everywhere. It’s one thing in the SEC, you’re competing. You have to make sure you’re genuine, you’re authentic. You’re going to be the guy you say you are when you show up.

“That’s all you really want to know as a player, and as a parent. You just want to know that these things are going to be in front of me, I’m going to go work for it. It means so much more when you have to earn it. That’s part of our creed. Work, hard work. All of these guys are all about that. We just have to be who we are.”

With the early signing period out of the way, Harsin and his staff must focus on putting the finishing touches on the class in February. Auburn takes on Houston in the Birmingham Bowl at noon ET on Dec. 28.

Harsin describes the perfect recruit

Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin is looking for players with certain qualities when filling out his roster. However, the former Boise State head coach likes to put particular emphasis on his secondary recruits.

“You want to start up front and everybody says that,” Harsin said. “But you got to build the cover. You got to have guys in the skill positions in the back end. You’ve got to have guys that you know not only are playing DB, but are also returners in the kicking game. Punt returners, kick returners, guys that have touched the ball, explosive players. And then just great football players and guys that understand the game and guys that are going to come in here and prepare themselves.

“They’re going to be note-takers, they’re going to be guys that are focused and I’d say that about this entire group. You feel like when you get into the meeting room, these guys are going to pull out the notebook and the pens and they’re going to take notes. They’re going to learn, study, be detailed and that’s going to translate onto the field.”