Linebacker Tana Patrick from North Jackson High School visited the Auburn campus with his mother and head coach Doug Haynes on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the scheduled visit by four players from Armwood High School in Seffner, Fla., has been moved back a day.
Patrick, on the ESPN 150 Watch List, is generally considered the state’s top linebacker prospect. He visited the Auburn campus with his mother and first-year head coach Doug Haynes.
Patrick, 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, was the state 4A Lineman of the Year as a junior last season.
Linebacker Petey Smith, cornerback Angelo Hadley, athlete Mywan Jackson and defensive end Ryne Giddins were originally expected to visit Thursday, but they are now scheduled to arrive Friday night and to be on campus when the Tigers begin preseason practice Saturday.
Patrick, who has dozens of offers, has also visited Alabama and Florida State over the summer.
Here’s how ESPN and Scouts Inc. evaluated Patrick:
Patrick is one of this class' better two-way players, excelling at both tight end and linebacker. He has a great blend of size, speed and athleticism. Possesses a great frame--long, tall and athletic--and has lots of room to add bulk. Shows a good closing burst when filling in run support at linebacker, particularly on clear reads to the ball. Displays great explosiveness on contact, knocking blockers upright at the point of attack and driving through ball carriers. Can be inconsistent in sideline-to-sideline pursuit, but flashes good range and perimeter speed. He's more effective attacking vertically than laterally, but he uses his long arms and raw strength to keep blockers off his body and shows occasional quickness slipping the inside cutoff block. Has the short-area closing quickness to blanket his underneath zone in coverage, but needs to open his hips quicker and get proper depth to level off. Could stand to improve his diagnosis skills. At tight end, he combines good hands with sound concentration and the body control to adjust to throws. Runs good routes, has a smooth release and flashes the speed to create separation from linebackers on intermediate routes. His long body and quickness make him a good angle and zone blocker. Patrick's physical development should dictate his success at the next level--and possibly his position. He sometimes appears more natural on offense, but he has the physical tools to develop into a great strongside or weakside linebacker.
