The ESPN.com/Scouts Inc. recruiting rankings are final, and Gene Chizik’s first full Auburn recruiting class is No. 4.
The Tigers, one of six Southeastern Conference teams in the top 12, finished with seven players from the ESPNU 150. The top prospect is running back Michael Dyer, the nation’s top running back.
Auburn coach Gene Chizik said the Tigers met their needs.
“Offensive line is the first thing that jumps out,” Chizik said. “After this year, we are going to graduate four. It was imperative. Same with the defensive line in a lot of ways. Those two and linebackers were probably the three areas that were glaring where numbers were an issue. Always, our priority is to upgrade athletic ability and team throughout our football team. We felt like we did that.”
Florida finished No. 1 in the rankings, followed in the top 10 by Texas, Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma, Florida State, Southern California, LSU, Tennessee and UCLA. From the SEC, Georgia was No. 12, South Carolina was No. 23 and Ole Miss was No. 25.
Here is the ESPN.com/Scouts Inc. take on Auburn's class:
"Few would have predicted a top-10 recruiting class in Gene Chizik's first full season on the trail. But a buzz that started last spring continued through signing day, highlighted by pickup of four-star and top-10 DE Corey Lemonier (Hialeah, Fla./Hialeah). Five-star Michael Dyer (Little Rock, Ark./Little Rock Christian), the nation's No. 1 RB, headlines this class, and Arkansas' all-time rushing leader is a supreme blend of speed and power and should develop into a featured back sooner than later.
"Opening up future holes will be No. 2 offensive guard Eric Mack (Saint Matthews, S.C./Calhoun County). The Tigers also boosted their overall speed and athleticism with four-star athletes Trovon Reed (Thibodaux, La./Thibodaux), Antonio Goodwin (Atlanta/Booker T. Washington) and Shaun Kitchens (College Park, Ga./Benjamin E. Banneker). Defensively, Auburn landed a pair of four-star defenders with DE LaDarius Owens (Bessemer, Ala./Jess Lanier) and outside linebacker Jawara White (Troy, Ala./Charles Henderson)."
For the entire top 25, GO HERE.
