Smith, Myles impressive at campDecision soon for Johnson? It appears increasingly likely that running back Rodney Scott, who committed to Auburn in May, will play his football in his home state.
Scott, from Dixie County High School in Cross City, Fla., was talking about switching to South Florida within weeks of his commitment, saying staying close to home was important. More recently, Scott has said he plans to look at Florida State, Florida and Ole Miss. He was scheduled to visit Florida State and Florida this weekend.
Auburn already has commitments from running backs LaDarius Perkins of Greenville, Miss., and Brandon Jacobs of Lilburn, Ga. David Wilson, who visited last Monday from Danville, Va., would have been a bonus, but he committed to Virginia Tech.
It can be quite a juggling act, the annual process of recruiting the college football players of the future. It’s a process that starts earlier than ever these days.
There’s little question that quarterback Ryan Mossakowski of Frisco, Texas, is a top-notch prospect who has interest in Auburn and offensive coordinator Tony Franklin. But is there room for him at Auburn, where four quarterbacks – two sophomores, a freshman and junior - are on scholarship and Raymond Cotton is committed? It appears there might not be.
Twenty-five new players can enroll in school each August, provided that number doesn’t push a team’s roster past the NCAA limit of 85. With more players committing earlier, deciding who fits where becomes even more difficult.
For one thing, there are questions that can’t be answered with 100 percent certainty? Will those with work still to do qualify? Will all those who are committed stay committed? Will a potential star who looks unlikely to make his grades surprise everyone and get it done? How many players will emerge in the coming season?
And there is the filling of needs. It doesn’t do much good to sign a potentially outstanding running back if you already have a full load of those and need linemen.
With 20 commitments, if Scott is included, Auburn coaches are trying to find the right balance.
If Scott is out of the picture, will Auburn sign another running back to go with Jacobs and Perkins? That could depend on whether Daphne’s Reggie Hunt is cleared academically. If he isn’t, that could open the door to the likes of Kendrick Hardy of Lawrence County High in Monticello, Miss.; Demond Dennis of Carver in Atlanta; Eddie Lacy of Dutchtown in Geismar, La.; Gabriel Hunter of Kingsbury in Memphis; Tim Simon of Cordova; Orwin Smith of Central-Phenix City or someone not on the radar.
It’s been a summer of full of furious recruiting activity, but much remains to be decided.
Branden Smith impresses at camp
Defensive back Branden Smith, an Auburn recruiting target from Washington High School in Atlanta, got glowing reviews in the recent Tee Martin Passing Camp in Atlanta.
Here’s what Kynon Covington of ESPN.com had to say:
“This national recruit did not disappoint, flashing top cover corner skills in the one-on-one and 7-on-7 portions of camp. He has room to add weight to his already chiseled frame. He is fluid in his backpedal and looked comfortable in man-to-man. In one-on-ones he was effective in press coverage but will need to keep his balance on initial contact and have consistent hand placement. He performed well in 7-on-7 red zone/goal line, breaking on the ball and getting a couple of pass breakups. He has great athleticism and recovery speed. He was coaching other defensive backs on the field. He is a good character kid and was willing to learn from the position coaches. Smith is the younger brother of Denver Broncos reserve and former UAB star quarterback Darrell Hackney.”
Darren Myles stands out, too
And here’s what Covington had to say about Darren Myles, another Auburn recruiting target, from Carver High School in Atlanta:
“Myles is a ballhawk whether he is playing safety or corner. He covers a lot of ground and is athletic enough to roam and rob at safety. He relies on his superior athletic ability at times over his technique. He still makes plays and is always around the ball. The Alabama Nike Camp DB MVP is the son of a coach and plays like it. Myles has the smarts and speed to be a special player. He will get better at the next level where he can maximize his talent. The team that lands his services will be getting a difference-maker from the Peach State.”
Decision coming soon for Johnson?
It’s likely that offensive lineman Wesley Johnson of Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville will make a decision soon. He got an offer from Auburn last week after a stellar performance in the final camp of the summer. He is visiting Vanderbilt on Sunday.
Vanderbilt’s proximity to his home makes the Commodores a worthy foe in this recruiting battle, maybe the favorite and maybe not.
Stay tuned.
