THE WAR ROOM: Iron Bowl shaping up to be huge visit weekend for Auburn

With the three-day early signing period beginning Wednesday, Dec. 3 – just four days after the Iron Bowl – Auburn has a rare opportunity to be the last school top recruits visit before the dead period kicks in on Monday, Dec. 1.

The Tigers absolutely plan to take full advantage of it.

Five recruits already are scheduled to be on campus for official visits that weekend (Nov. 28-3): four-star wide receivers Milan Parris and Tyren Wortham, three-star running backs Cooper Crosby and Qwantavius Wiggins and three-star receiver DeShawn Spencer.

And you can now add three top defensive line targets to the list.

Four-star edge Jordan Carter, a Texas A&M commit, is expected to be in Auburn for an official visit. So is four-star lineman Elijah Golden, who is committed to Notre Dame. And Penn State defensive line commit Tavian Branch will OV to Auburn that weekend as well.

Auburn is working hard to flip all three.

Closer look at DL recruiting

Auburn will enter November without a defensive lineman on the commitment list and that might not change anytime soon. Auburn is being patient. It is being selective.

Auburn would like to sign two high school defensive linemen with the top targets being Texas commit Corey Wells, Golden and Branch. I continue to believe Auburn leads for Wells despite his commitment to the Longhorns. However, a decision, a “final” decision, might not be announced until Signing Day.

Ideally, Auburn would like to sign Wells and Golden. Branch probably fits on the board just below those two.

And there are others.

Four-star Alabama commitment Nolan Wilson is a top target, no doubt. He’s visiting this weekend, but I don’t think there is a lot of optimism surrounding Auburn’s ability to flip him. Still, getting him on campus again (first time since the summer) keeps the Tigers in the hunt.

Cameron McGee is a guy Auburn continues to track. He previously planned to take an official visit this weekend, but the visit was canceled. I think the Tigers want more time before making a big push for him. Another defensive line target that was scheduled to OV this weekend is Kaleb Morris. The in-state Mississippi State commitment is slipping on the board, so much so that I do not expect the OV to be rescheduled. I do not expect Auburn to push for him.

Weekend recruiting nugs

• Anthony “Tank” Jones returning for another gameday visit is a big deal. The Oregon five-star edge commit is expected to be in attendance for the Auburn-Kentucky game and it’s not a courtesy visit. The Tigers have a legit shot here. The relationships he has with Roc Bellantoni and Vontrell King-Williams are huge. I’m not ready to put him on flip watch, but this one will be one to watch until the end.
• Another interesting unofficial visitor this weekend is Fort Payne (Ala.) kicker Hayden Chambers. His visit to Auburn will be the third in a row for the Mississippi State commitment. The Bulldogs have offered him a full scholarship. Auburn has not. However, should Auburn find a way to compensate him even remotely similar to Mississippi State (whether with a scholarship or NIL), I think he ends up a Tiger.
• Central (Phenix City, Ala.) three-star edge Tristan Lyles is visiting Auburn again on Saturday. However, I do not expect the Tigers to make a big push. He’s a damn good player, but I think his size, or lack thereof, is keeping a lot of schools, including Auburn, from making that push.
• Running back Xavier Rucker is once again expected to visit Auburn. He’s planned on visiting before, at least twice, but never made it. He’s one of several running backs Auburn is pursuing and getting him on campus (finally) would be a step in the right direction. I think Auburn would like to sign two of Rucker, Crosby and Wiggins. Again, I do not see commitment Eric Perry signing with the Tigers.