War Room Plus: Auburn recruiting intel from the Trail

There has been a flurry of activity for the Auburn Tigers on the recruiting trail this week and we have the very latest.

*Here’s the scoop on Michigan State cornerback commit Colton Hood of McDonough (Ga.) Eagles Landing Christian, who will officially visit Auburn this weekend: At this point, it would be surprising if he isn’t on the commit list by the end of the visit. At the very least, we think a private verbal is coming. Regardless, we’ll be shocked if he doesn’t end up in the class.

Hood now is a 4-star with On3 after a big senior season. He’s also grown about three inches in the past year or so and now is a legit 6-foot-1.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze went in-home with Hood on Monday night.

*I’m told Auburn’s big in-home visit with Hood’s teammate, 4-star LSU offensive line commit DJ Chester, earlier this week went extremely well. Freeze was joined by new offensive line coach Jake Thornton, secondary coach Zac Etheridge and offensive analyst Joe Bernardi, who is on the road recruiting while Freeze completes his staff.

We’re told those at Auburn feel good here, but are cautiously optimistic. Chester has a good poker face apparently.

He will officially visit FSU this weekend. Next week, LSU coach Brian Kelly will go in-home with him. Auburn will visit him again, too, this time without Freeze.

Could Chester make a trip to Auburn again before National Signing Day (Dec. 21)? Yes, and we are told Auburn thinks that will happen as of right now.

*Sounds like there really is growing optimism at Auburn that the Tigers can and will flip 4-star Ohio State corner commit Kayin Lee of Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove. I’m leaning Auburn on this one at the moment. But as we always say this time of year, things can change in a flash.

Freeze will go in home with Lee next week.

It’s possible Auburn may try to keep the day of that visit quiet as other teams may be jockeying for the final in-home. We expect Etheridge to go with him and possibly a few others on staff.

*Tuesday night, Auburn associate head coach Cadillac Williams reached out to the father of Tigers quarterback commit Keyone Jenkins of Miami (Fla.) Central. Per Jenkins, “Cadillac said Coach Freeze said he liked my film but also said I’m not really the guy he’s looking for.”

End of story?

Feels like it … but maybe not.

Auburn assistant Christian Robinson visited Miami Central on Wednesday. “He said he still wants me and a couple of the guys on the staff still want me,” Jenkins told Auburn Live.

Now, Jenkins says he’s trying to officially visit. He’s not sure yet if it’ll happen. He just wants to get up to Auburn and meet Freeze.

Jenkins didn’t sound overly optimist but is tying to stay positive. “I still want to be at Auburn,” he told us.

He also said his father respected that Williams called and was honest with him. This is a really tough situation for both sides, but especially Jenkins. We will keep you posted when we learn more.

*As we’ve all been saying for awhile, Auburn remains very much in it with 3-star cornerback Tyler Scott of Georgia. We still feel like Alabama and Tennessee are the other top contenders, but like so many recruitments this one is fluid. 

Look for Freeze to go in-home with him next week. Etheridge will be with him. And probably newly hired assistant Westley McGriff, too.

Now, here’s the new juice … While Scott may very well sign Dec. 21, his commit/signing might not be released to the public until later on. The reason: He thinking about holding off on a public announcement until the All-American Bowl, which is Jan. 7 in San Antonio.