Auburn commit Bradyn Joiner wants to play for Bryan Harsin, ‘anxious’ to know if he'll get the chance
Bryan Harsin’s future with Auburn is a topic on the minds of many.
Message boards are filled with speculation. Social media, too.
It has consumed the fanbase.
And as one can imagine, the program’s first 2023 commitment also is keeping close tabs on the situation.
“I always hear a lot of stuff,” said center Bradyn Joiner of Auburn (Ala.) High. “I’m on the football team with (Harsin’s son). And I live in Auburn. I’m closer to it than anyone I would say. I hear good things. I hear bad things. But I always keep my head straight.”
Joiner is one of 11 Auburn verbals. He’s a December graduate who plans to enroll at the school in January. Additionally, Joiner also actively recruits for the Tigers. In fact, many consider him the leader of the class.
Monday night, he admitted the entire situation — and the uncertainty do to it — feels a little surreal.
“I’m real anxious to find out if he’s going to be here or not,” Joiner told Auburn Live. “I feel like whatever happens is God’s plan.”
Joiner, the No. 21 recruit in the state of Alabama for the On3 Consensus, committed to the Tigers on Jan. 1 and he doesn’t appear to have wavered any. As of now, it seems he will remain solid to the program regardless of what Harsin’s fate will be.
“I feel like I can be coached by anyone,” Joiner said. “I committed to Auburn, not to any one coach.”
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That said, Joiner is fond of the current staff. He told Auburn Live he texts offensive analyst Joe Bernardi, who works with the offensive line, daily and talks to him via telephone at least twice a week.
As for Harsin, Joiner said he’s a fan. A big fan.
“I just feel like a lot of fans and people that are not even Auburn fans are pressing on Harsin more than he should be pressed,” Joiner said. “This is his second season. The first year, everybody gave him crap. He’s trying too hard to please everybody.”
In Joiner’s opinion, Harsin deserves more time. But he realizes it’s not his decision to make.
“He’s a great coach,” Joiner said. “I love him as a coach. I would love to play for him. Every day, many people ask me, ‘Are you staying if Harsin leaves?’ It kind of adds up. At the same time, you’ve just got to think about your future. You’ve got to be selfish sometimes in the recruiting process. It kind of bothers me, but at the same time, it’s a business. People say stuff but you’ve got to keep moving forward. But it doesn’t feel right about my teammate (quarterback Davis Harsin) having to go through that.”
Although Joiner has followed the situation at Auburn closely, he said he isn’t obsessed with it. And, he added, neither are the other Auburn commits, players he communicates with often via group text.
“Everybody that has committed, they love Auburn,” Joiner said. “That’s the first thing they say, they love the atmosphere. They don’t really say much about the coaches. We don’t ever really talk about it.”
