The Latest In Auburn Football

Clemson Time Released

2010-06-03T20:13:00.001-05:00

The Auburn-Clemson game will be televised on ESPN at 6 PM CT on September 18th.

Top Quarterback Commits!

2010-05-29T20:29:00.002-05:00

Possibly the number one quarterback in the 2011 class has committed to Auburn today on his Big Cat Weekend visit. Kiehl Frazier became the seventh commitment of the 2011 class and may not be the last commitment of the weekend.

Frazier, who has offers from well over thirty schools, chose Auburn over Arkansas. He also had offers from Clemson, Colorado, Duke, Florida, Illinois, Kansas State, LSU, Memphis, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Ohio, TCU, Texas Tech, Tulsa, UCLA, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and Western Michigan.

Frazier is ranked a four star on Scout and the fourth best quarterback in the nation. Rivals is yet to release their rankings but I would expect him in the top three.

Last season, as a junior, Frazier passed for 3,817 yards, 48 touchdowns and only 14 interceptions. He also rushed for 764 yards and 14 touchdowns.

For more, including video, visit KiehlFrazier15.com.

Frazier Nearing Decision?

2010-05-27T20:50:00.003-05:00

Kiehl Frazier may be nearing a decision on where he will play college football. Frazier tells Mike Irwin of KFSM that he could commit to Auburn while on Big Cat Weekend. Frazier, possibly the top quarterback in the 2011 class, will visit Arkansas tomorrow but will not commit to Arkansas on his visit. He will then visit Auburn and says if he is ready to commit to Auburn, he will do it on Big Cat Weekend.

Frazier has said a commitment could come in the next two or three weeks but we could see it very soon.

I will keep you posted despite the fact I have not done many updates lately. They will be more steady.

Auburn Picks Up New Commitment

2010-05-12T13:41:00.004-05:00

Auburn picked up it's sixth commitment of the 2011 class today in linebacker Chris Landrum. Landrum says he grew up an Alabama fan and says he was pretty sure he was going to Alabama before he visited Auburn. Landrum has offers from Auburn, Alabama, Duke, Memphis, South Alabama, Southern Miss, UAB and Tennessee, among others.

Landrum is 6'2", 215 lbs and runs a 4.5 second 4o yard dash. Landrum has a 2.89 GPA. He had 68 tackles and 12 sacks last season at outside linebacker.

Billings Signs

2010-05-10T21:09:00.001-05:00

Former Auburn wide receiver Montez Billings has signed with the New Orleans Saints. Billings tried out last week at the Saints' minicamp.

Delaware Sleeper D-Lineman Commits!

2010-05-08T14:04:00.003-05:00

Bear, Delaware defensive lineman Angelo Blackson has committed to play for the Auburn Tigers according to AuburnSports.com. The commitment is reminiscent of Justin Delaine's last season because Blackson is yet to even have a Rivals profile but is on Scout. Blackson, who is a 6'5", 295 lb. defensive tackle, had offers from Auburn, Maryland, Tennessee, N.C. State, Missouri and Pitt, among others.

Blackson was on the Plains for A-Day last month and was recruited by Tommy Thigpen. Blackson is a two sport star, leading his basketball team to a 18-1 record. He had 56 tackles, 11 for loss and 7 sacks last season.

According to Rivals, Blackson is coached by Dewayne Thomas, who coached Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie at Tennessee State and Thomas thinks Blackson has NFL potential.

He also was his team's punter, punting 40 times for an average of 36 yards and a long of 52. He also had one blocked punt and one safety last season.

Vote For the Intro Song

2010-05-07T19:25:00.001-05:00

Auburn fans, now is your chance to vote for the Auburn football intro song for the 2010 season. Click here to vote.

Region Opens Back Up

2010-05-06T18:49:00.003-05:00

Spencer Region has "opened up" his recruitment and will explore all options to make sure Auburn is the right place for him. Region was expected to commit to Alabama in February before shocking the Tide by committing to Auburn.

Auburn has Fourth Highest BCS School Spring Game Attendance

2010-05-06T13:49:00.003-05:00

Auburn's spring game attendance ranked fourth in the nation this spring. The top five, in order, were Alabama (91,312), Nebraska (77,936), Ohio State (65,223), Auburn (63,217) and Penn State (55,000).

The rest of the SEC is as follows:

6) Florida (51,500)

9) Georgia (38,472)

10) Tennessee (35,000)

12) Mississippi State (34,127)

13) Ole Miss (30,229)

14) Arkansas (30,000)

22) LSU (23,000)

24) South Carolina (22,000)

38) Kentucky (9,000)

*Vanderbilt had no information available regarding attendance.

Prowl Shut Down

2010-04-30T14:39:00.002-05:00

Auburn was halfway through their second annual Tiger Prowl when the NCAA shut it down along with many imitations. Schools such as Georgia and Florida State had copied the act of sending up to six coaches at once to visit a recruit's high school but the NCAA has made a new rule effective immediately. Now, no more than two coaches from a school can visit a player per day.

Shon Coleman on ESPN.com

2010-04-29T15:49:00.001-05:00

ESPN.com has a story posted now on Shon Coleman's cancer struggle and a fund set up in his name here.

Newton Named Starter

2010-04-28T13:35:00.002-05:00

Auburn has named Cameron Newton the starting quarterback for the 2010 season. The starting quarterback has not been announced this early since Brandon Cox returned for his senior season.

Gene Chizik was quoted as saying, "After thoroughly evaluating our quarterbacks during spring practice and over the last week, Cam has emerged as our post-spring No. 1 quarterback."

Newton was 3-8 for 80 yards during A-Day while the other quarterbacks were 17-21 for 199 yards and a touchdown.

Coleman Signs with Buffalo

2010-04-24T19:55:00.003-05:00

Auburn defensive end Antonio Coleman went undrafted in this year's NFL Draft but has accepted a free agent offer from the Buffalo Bills. According to AuburnUndercover, Coleman received more than a dozen offers from NFL teams. Coleman projects at outside linebacker in the NFL.

Two NFL Updates

2010-04-24T12:30:00.002-05:00

Auburn cornerback Walter McFadden was drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the seventh pick of the 5th round of the NFL Draft. He was 138th overall.
Former Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell was traded from the Washington Redskins to the Oakland Raiders for a fourth round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Tate Drafted

2010-04-23T19:35:00.001-05:00

With the 26th pick of the 2nd round (58 overall), the Houston Texans have selected Ben Tate.

Former Standout Traded

2010-04-21T15:43:00.001-05:00

Former standout defensive end Quentin Groves has been traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a fifth round draft choice.

Lineman Picks Tigers

2010-04-21T13:33:00.002-05:00

Scout.com's number three center in the nation has picked Auburn over the Alabama Crimson Tide today. Reese Dismukes, out of Spanish Fort, Alabama, announced his decision today at a ceremony at his high school. He is on the Rivals 250 Watch List and had offers from schools such as Florida State, Georgia Tech and Ole Miss, among many others.

Dismukes plans on graduating in December and enrolling in the spring of 2011. He adds to an already great 2011 offensive line class for the Tigers with Rivals 250 Watch List guard Spencer Region and Marietta, Georgia guard Thomas O'Reilly are already on board.

Dismukes says he may take other visits but he is 100% Auburn.

Commitment Watch

2010-04-20T22:24:00.001-05:00

Check back here around 1:30 CT for an official decision from Reese Dismukes.

Recruiting: Quarterbacks

2010-04-20T14:02:00.000-05:00

With Jeff Driskel off the board, Auburn will look elsewhere for a quarterback for the 2011 recruiting class. Auburn has extended offers to three other quarterbacks: Christian LeMay, Kiehl Frazier and C.J. Uzomah.

LeMay is a pro-style quarterback out of Matthews, North Carolina with good size and good speed. At 6'2", 200 lbs., the Rivals 250 Watch List QB runs a 4.59 second 40 yard dash. LeMay is likely to be listed among the top three quarterbacks in the 2011 class. LeMay visited Auburn for the first time two weeks ago and plans a return trip for an official visit in the fall. He lists his top three as Georgia, Clemson and Auburn and it appears UGA is currently the team to beat. A decision likely will not come until after his official visits.

Kiehl Frazier has even more size on LeMay and is listed as a dual-threat quarterback. Frazier, out of Springdale, Arkansas, is likely to be named the top quarterback in the 2011 class. Frazier plays for Shiloh Christian which is where Gus Malzahn coached and they still run Malzahn's offense. The 6'3", 215 lb. Elite 11 quarterback has offers from pretty much every school imaginable. Frazier has been to the Plains many times and I see this as an Auburn, Arkansas battle, with LSU and Miami looking in from the outside. A decision should come in June or July with the Tigers hoping to get Frazier on campus for Big Cat Weekend.

C.J. Uzomah, another dual-threat quarterback, is the biggest of all of the quarterbacks offered at 6'5", 230 lbs which is why Rivals lists him as an athlete. Uzomah is being recruited by Auburn as a quarterback as are many teams. The North Gwinnett High School standout has offers from most SEC and ACC schools. Uzomah has been on the Plains a couple of times but says he is pretty wide open right now. Uzomah says he hopes to have a final decision before the season begins but only if he knows for sure that is what he wants.

Side Note: Do not forget Reese Dismukes will announce his college decision tomorrow at his high school. At the moment, Auburn appears in a great position.

Driskel To Florida

2010-04-19T13:49:00.001-05:00

Top quarterback target Jeff Driskel has committed to the Florida Gators. This leaves C.J. Uzomah, Kiehl Frazier and Christian LeMay as the top quarterback prospects for the Tigers in 2011.

A-Day Rosters

2010-04-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

Blue

3 DeAngelo Benton WR
8 Anthony Gulley-Morgan DB
13 Craig Sanders DE
18 Kodi Burns WR
23 Onterio McCalebb RB
24 D’Antoine Hood DB
26 Mike McNeil S
27 Mario Fannin RB
28 Blake Poole DB
29 Chandler Brooks K
30 Dorian Rhodes DB
32 Eric Smith RB
33 Jessel Curry LB
36 Wade Christopher LB
38 Chase Erickson LB
40 Robert Hill DE
41 Rodney Cofield DB
41 Edgar Pritchett WR
43 Philip Lutzenkirchen TE
47 Joey Caldwell LB
50 Ryan Pugh OL
56 Ashton Richardson LB
57 Byron Isom OL
59 Patrick Butler LB
60 Joe Jones DL
65 Jake Lembke DS
71 John Sullen OL
73 Lee Ziemba OL
74 Jamar Travis DL
75 Brandon Mosley OL
80 Emory Blake WR
81 Terrell Zachery WR
83 Xavier Brown WR
89 Darvin Adams WR
96 Chris Humphries LB
99 Blake Shaffer LB

White

2 Aairon Savage DB
9 Quindarius Carr WR
11 Mike Slade DB
14 Demond Washington DB
16 Robert Cooper TE
16 Ikeem Means S
17 Josh Bynes LB
18 Wes Byrum K
20 Drew Cole S
21 Eltoro Freeman LB
21 Ryan Shoemaker P
22 T'Sharvan Bell DB
24 Chris Otersen WR
28 Dontae Aycock RB
30 LaElice Crayton RB
35 Jonathan Evans LB
35 Jacob Kerby FB
37 Tyler Mickens DB
39 Ralph Spry WR
40 Trevor Barden WR
41 Edgar Pritchett WR
45 Antoine Carter DE
46 Craig Stevens LB
47 Nathan Taylor WR
48 Woody Parramore DB
49 Michael Goggans DE
51 Watson Downs LB
61 Josh Harris DS
63 Blake Burgess OL
67 George Kasper OL
70 Andre Harris OL
72 Andrew Parmer OL
77 A.J. Greene OL
78 Roszell Gayden OL
79 Jared Cooper OL
82 Jay Wisner WR
87 Derek Winter WR
90 Nick Fairley DL
93 Mike Blanc DL
94 Nosa Eguae DE
95 Dee Ford DE
97 Derrick Lykes DL

Credit to AuburnSports.com

Two HUGE Visitors Today

2010-04-15T16:12:00.003-05:00

Auburn had two big names on campus for practice today. Brey Cook of Arkansas and A.J. Johnson of Georgia. Both are on the Rivals 250 Watch List.

UPDATED: Spencer Region and Reese Dismukes were indeed visiting Alabama's practice today. I will let you know what I hear.

O'Reilly Commits!

2010-04-13T18:28:00.003-05:00

Auburn added another big time offensive lineman Tuesday night with the addition of offensive lineman Thomas O'Reilly. The star guard out of Pope High School in Marietta, GA announced his decision on Atlanta radio station 790 The Zone. O'Reilly has offers from Auburn, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, N.C. State, Maryland, Duke, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest, among others.

He is Auburn's fourth commitment for the 2011 class.

Auburn Announces All-Decade Team

2010-04-13T16:47:00.002-05:00

10,000+ Auburn fans voted on AuburnTigers.com for Auburn's All-Decade Team. Here are the results:

QB - Jason Campbell

RB - Carnell Williams

RB - Ronnie Brown

WR - Ben Obomanu

WR - Courtney Taylor

OT - Marcus McNeill

OG - Ben Grubbs

OC - Danny Lindsey

OG - Monreko Crittenden

OT - Kendall Simmons

TE - Cooper Wallace

DE - Quentin Groves

DT - DeMarco McNeil

DT - Sen'Derrick Marks

DE - Antonio Coleman

LB - Karlos Dansby

LB - Dontarrious Thomas

LB - Travis Williams

CB - Carlos Rogers

CB - Jerraud Powers

S - Junior Rosegreen

S - Will Herring

K - John Vaughn

P - Kody Bliss

RS - Tristan Davis

Some Notes

2010-04-13T14:31:00.004-05:00

Anthony Gulley is now going by Anthony Gulley-Morgan.
Paul Finebaum has predicted Auburn to go 9-3 in 2010.
Jeff Grimes says offensive tackle John Sullen has had a solid spring and in great shape.
It appears Cam Newton has been taking the majority of first team snaps.
Probably the biggest news is that it appears Shon Coleman is cancer free. He still has to go through treatment but it is miraculous that he is in remission after just 15 days of treatment.

Now some notes from Saturday's scrimmage:

Mario Fannin had a 60 yard touchdown run.
The only touchdown pass was from Newton to Darvin Adams. Neil Caudle threw an interception to Demond Washington.
The offense won the scrimmage.
Stick with me...I know I have not updated a ton lately but that is about to change.

Recruiting Updates

2010-04-05T12:13:00.002-05:00

Star center Reese Dismukes will decide between Auburn and Alabama on April 21 according to AuburnSports.com. Dismukes has family connections at both schools and it is not known which way he will sway. He has visited both schools twice in the last couple of weeks and may make a few more trips before he announces.
One of the top overall players in the nation, Kris Frost, was in Auburn this weekend and was absolutely blown away. Most schools are recruiting him at linebacker but Auburn will give him the option to play receiver. He says his top schools, in no order, are Auburn, Michigan, North Carolina and Cal. He will return for A-Day and, according to Rivals, attempt to bring star quarterback teammate Christian LeMay.

Chizik To Make Tiger Trek

2010-03-30T21:26:00.001-05:00

The Auburn Alumni Association's first-ever Tiger Trek, an Auburn Club tour featuring Coach Gene Chizik, head football coach, and Aubie, Auburn's six-time national champion mascot, begins April 20th in Atlanta and ends July 23rd in Birmingham. Nine other Tiger Trek stops will be hosted by the following Auburn Clubs; Columbus/Phenix City, Tampa Bay & Florida West Coast, Emerald Coast, Montgomery County, Shoals Area, Huntsville-Madison County, Mobile & Baldwin County, Cullman County, and North East Regional meeting including Dekalb, Marshall and Jackson County Auburn Clubs. For dates and locations of the 2010 Tiger Trek, go to www.aualum.org/clubs.

A portion of proceeds raised at each club meeting will fund student scholarships to assist Auburn students from the respective communities. Tiger Rags, the official apparel and souvenir store of the Auburn Alumni Association, will be on-site and will donate 20 percent of sales to support the local club.

There are currently 98 Auburn Clubs nationwide that are supported by the Auburn Alumni Association, whose mission is to foster and strengthen the relationship between Auburn University and its alumni and friends; to preserve and promote the university's traditions, purposes, growth and alumni; and to keep alive the spirit of affection and reverence for our alma mater. For information on the Auburn Alumni Association or Auburn Clubs across the country, visit www.aualum.org/clubs. For networking and interaction with local clubs nationwide, visit www.auburnclubs.org.

Dismukes is Set

2010-03-29T18:37:00.002-05:00

According to Rivals, Reese Dismukes is ready to make a decision. It will come in the next two weeks and will be between Auburn and Alabama. Dismukes visited Auburn this weekend, Alabama today and plans to return to the Plains Friday. He does not claim a leader.

Signee Diagnosed

2010-03-29T16:24:00.003-05:00

Rumors swirling on the net have been confirmed by the family of Shon Coleman. Coleman, a five star offensive line signee, was diagnosed with a serious medical condition although they have not confirmed the rumor of Leukemia. He is undergoing chemotherapy but the family has requested privacy.

According to his mother's Facebook page, "Shon is getting out today around noon. His latest blood test showed zero cancer in his blood. We won't know about the bone marrow for several weeks. He's taking his chemotherapy treatment like a champ. God is good!!!!". Prayers are requested during this tough time.

Swain Commits!

2010-03-27T18:42:00.003-05:00

Linebacker Anthony Swain has committed to Auburn! Swain, out of Gadsden City committed to the Tigers while on campus for Junior Day. He is Auburn's third commitment for the 2011 class.

Junior Day

2010-03-27T16:39:00.003-05:00

Today was Auburn's first junior day of the spring and there were some big names among the 125+ recruits on campus:

Prospects took in practice, met with recruiters and position coaches, attended an academic presentation and a speech from Gene Chizik. The majority is leaving around 5:30. More to come!

Early Practice Notes

2010-03-24T13:01:00.006-05:00

Spring practice has kicked off. I can not be there today but here is what I am gathering from other sources:

Cameron Newton will wear number 2.
Tyrik Rollison is still with the team and focusing on academics. He will not participate in spring practice.
Anthony Gulley has changed his name to Anthony Morgan.
Morgan Hull, Darrell Roseman, John Douglas and Jason King are all no longer with the team. Douglas and King got DUIs and Hull and Roseman graduated and have moved on.
Other new numbers: Gayden - 78, B Moseley - 75, Curry - 33, Sanders - 13.

Woods to Transfer

2010-03-22T19:42:00.002-05:00

Long snapper Bailey Woods plans to transfer to Georgia State. He will graduate from Auburn in May and will be listed as a redshirt junior this fall for GSU and will not have to sit a year.

Former RB Arrested

2010-03-22T16:37:00.002-05:00

Former Auburn running back and current Miami Dolphin Ronnie Brown was arrested Friday on suspicion of DUI according to the Miami Herald. He was booked in Atlanta and the Dolphins are yet to comment on the situation. The Dolphins began voluntary off-season workouts today.

Recruiting Catch Up: Offense

2010-03-22T14:11:00.005-05:00

Auburn's first junior day will be March 27th.
Kiehl Frazier has named Auburn as one of his top schools according to Arkansas' Rivals site. Auburn's Rivals site lists Auburn as at the top but Trey Biddy of HawgSports.com says the Frazier family says AuburnSports.com took Frazier's quote out of context.
Bradenton, FL running back Mike Blakely will visit Auburn's junior day on March 26-28. Florida and Clemson are currently his leaders but he says Auburn is now in the running.
Center Reese Dismukes has eliminated Florida State and will make a decision between just Auburn and Alabama. Dismukes previously was a lean to Alabama but now appears to be a toss up. A decision is likely in the next month.
Wide receiver Joseph Morrow has Auburn at the very top. He could pick up an offer soon but does not plan to make an early decision. He will return to Auburn on April 17th for A-Day.
Onterio McCalebb's younger brother, Dwayne McCalebb, could be close to picking up an Auburn offer. The speedy running back and corner back plans to visit Auburn soon and the Tigers would likely receive a commitment if an offer is extended.
Standout quarterback Jeff Driskel is planning on making a decision before his senior season. Driskel refuses to name favorites but it is well known that Driskel grew up a big Auburn fan and picked up an AU offer early but some think he may be a lean to Florida. Driskel is not planning any visits any time soon due to baseball.
Top quarterback Christian LeMay has Auburn in his top seven and is planning a visit to the Plains in the spring or summer.
Top tight end/offensive tackle Jordan Prestwood plans to visit Auburn for Big Cat Weekend in June.

A-Day Schedule

2010-03-18T14:34:00.003-05:00

It is just 29 days until A-Day and the Auburn athletics department has released the schedule for the weekend. Click here for the entire schedule including a BBQ cook off, tour schedule of the new Auburn Arena, Fan Fest and much more.

Vote For Auburn!

2010-03-02T16:48:00.002-06:00

Auburn is facing Missouri in the championship for the best college football uniform! Click here to vote!

Auburn has defeated UCLA, Michigan, Texas A&M and LSU on their way to the championship.

Missouri has defeated Florida State, Oregon, Penn State and Oklahoma.

Big Cat Will Return

2010-03-01T15:28:00.002-06:00

Last season Auburn made a splash with their Big Cat Weekend in which 22 of the top high school seniors in the nation visited the Plains on a vacation-style, laid back recruiting weekend. 10 of those 22 ended up signing with the Tigers.

This May, Auburn plans a sequel. While names have not been released, Auburn is expecting 25-30 top high school seniors from across the nation to be on hand for the big weekend. While some secondary NCAA violations occurred last season which caused Trooper Taylor to not be able to recruit off campus for some time and contact with some top players to be severed, the staff plans to be as careful as possible this year.

More details will likely come out over the next couple of months but last season fans were included and I would look for that to be the case again.

This year's Big Cat Weekend will take place the weekend of May 28th.

True or False?

2010-02-28T22:52:00.002-06:00

Daren Bates has moved from safety to linebacker.

This is TRUE. Bates has moved to outside linebacker since injured players will be returning from last year.

Tyrik Rollison has told the staff he wants to transfer.

This is also TRUE. Rollison's father told Jeffrey Lee of AuburnSports.com that Rollison plans to leave Auburn for Sam Houston State.

Tyrik Rollison has left Auburn.

This is FALSE. Rollison has not left and there appears to be a chance that he could still stay on the Plains. Some close to the situation say Rollison may be having second thoughts about the move.

Gus Malzahn is the highest paid offensive coordinator in the SEC.

This now is TRUE ever since Malzahn's pay raise earlier this month.

I usually only do football but: John Brady will replace Jeff Lebo next season:

Assuming Lebo will get the ax at the end of the season, sources have told me Brady is THE MAN our administration has their eye on. The former LSU coach lead the Bayou Bengals to the Final Four in the 2005-2006 season.

Two Big Visitors

2010-02-26T12:31:00.002-06:00

According to Rivals, Auburn will host two of the top juniors in the nation today in teammates Isaiah Crowell and Gabriel Wright. It is not clear how long they will stay on campus but they were supposed to arrive early this morning. More to come.

A-Day To Be Televised Nationally

2010-02-25T16:48:00.001-06:00

Auburn's A-Day game will be televised nationally by ESPNU on April 17th. It is set to start at 1 PM.

QB To Transfer

2010-02-24T13:04:00.002-06:00

Tyrik Rollison will transfer to Sam Houston State according to his Facebook and AuburnSports.com. The star quarterback was suspended at the end of last season, in which he was redshirting. His father says he wanted to be closer to his home in Sulphur Springs, TX. This cuts the quarterback race down to Cameron Newton, Neil Caudle, Barrett Trotter and Clint Moseley.

Chizik Speaks

2010-02-22T21:33:00.002-06:00

Here are some highlights of Gene Chizik's meeting with the media today:

"There will be a battle at the quarterback position, and [Cam Newton will] be a part of that battle. May the best man win."
"Zac [Etheridge] is a day to day progression whether he can play again. But I feel very encouraged about the progress he has made."
"[Kodi Burns is] a wide receiver. He'll still play wildcat, but his predominant position is wide receiver"
Spring practice will be in the mornings this season. It will begin March 24. Practices will occur on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with possible scrimmages on Saturdays.
Daren Bates will not participate in spring contact after having shoulder surgery.
Mario Fannin, Eric Smith and Onterio McCalebb will fight it out for the tailback position in the spring. Dontae Aycock will be used in multiple roles.

Weekend Wrap Up

2010-02-21T16:46:00.002-06:00

Jonathan Rose picked up an offer from Auburn right before his visit and it went incredibly well. I expect him to commit to Auburn soon. Rose also has offers from Alabama and Florida State.
Commitment Spencer Region visited Auburn this weekend with his family. He says he cannot wait to get to Auburn and now plans to do whatever he can to graduate a semester early and enroll in Auburn next spring to get a head start with spring practices.
Region was joined on his visit by Rivals 250 Watch List center Reese Dismukes. Like Region, Dismukes was set to commit to Alabama but has had a change of heart. Many are stating he is an Auburn lean now and I believe it as well. He and Region are friends and have spoken about playing together in college. Dismukes will make a decision within the next month or two between Auburn, Alabama and Florida State according to AuburnUndercover. Dismukes also plans on graduating early.
AuburnSports.com tells us Georgia linebacker Demarcus Sherod took in Auburn this weekend and left with Auburn on top. He was All-Dekalb county as a junior while racking up 122 tackles. It is not clear if Sherod has an offer from the Tigers yet or not.
JaBrian Niles was also in Auburn. He says he grew up an Auburn fan and really hopes that they offer but says he has no favorites. He currently has offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss and Texas Tech.

Weekend Visitors

2010-02-19T18:26:00.003-06:00

Auburn will be hosting a number of unofficial visitors for the 2011 class this weekend. Among them are:

There may be a few others that I will list once they are confirmed on campus. Also, it should be noted that Alabama commitment Brent Calloway visited Auburn during the week this past week.

Chizik, Staff Get Raises

2010-02-19T08:01:00.003-06:00

Gene Chizik and his staff have all received raises with Gus Malzahn's salary jumping up 43% from $350,000 to $500,000, according to Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News. All other assistants were given a 10% raise and a one year extension to their contracts while the Birmingham News could not get a number on what Chizik's $1.9 million dollar contract was raised to. Here is a breakdown of the rest of the coaches:

Ted Roof: Jumped to $407,000

Trooper Taylor: To $352,000

Tracy Rocker: To $300,000

Jeff Grimes: To $319,000

Curtis Luper: To $286,000

Tommy Thigpen: To $275,000

Phillip Lolley and Jay Boulware: To $231,000

Some Top Names for 2011: Defense

2010-02-18T15:47:00.000-06:00

DE (2-3)

LaMichael Fanning - 6'6", 285 lbs. - Auburn, AL - Rivals 250 Watch List
Keymiya Harrell - 6'6", 230 lbs. - Plantersville, AL
Xzavier Dickson - 6'3", 240 lbs. - Griffin, GA
Kameron Wood - 6'3", 220 lbs. - Birmingham, AL
Jabrian Niles - 6'3", 235 lbs. - Mobile, AL

DT (2-3)

Samuel Harvill - 6'0", 255 lbs. - Springdale, AR
Phillip Dukes - 6'3", 295 lbs. - Manning, SC - Rivals 250 Watch List
Seth Thomas - 6'2", 265 lbs. - Madison, AL
Anthony Johnson - 6'4", 300 lbs. - New Orleans, LA - Rivals 250 Watch List - LSU Commit
Thomas Niles - 6'2", 260 lbs. - Gainesville, GA
Gavin Rocker - 6'2", 220 lbs. - Tyrone, GA

LB (2-3)

Shaquille Roberson - 6'3", 205 lbs. - Notasulga, AL
Denzel Perryman - 6'0", 210 lbs. - Coral Gables, FL - Rivals 250 Watch List
A.J. Johnson - 6'3", 225 lbs. - Gainesville, GA - Rivals 250 Watch List
Chris Landrum - 6'2", 215 lbs. - Sweet Water, AL
James Vaughters - 6'2", 235 lbs - Tucker, GA - Rivals 250 Watch List
Rueben Duckworth - 5'10", 180 lbs. - Mount Olive, MS
Brent Calloway - 6'1", 210 lbs. - Russellville, AL - Rivals 250 Watch List - Bama Commit

DB (3-4)

Jonathan Rose - 6'2", 170 lbs. - Leeds, AL
Izauea Lanier - 6'1", 185 lbs. - Gordo, AL - Current Commit
Erique Florence - 6'2", 180 lbs. - Valley, AL - Rivals 250 Watch List
Emmanuel Johnson - 5'10", 175 lbs. - Garland, AL
Josh Turner - 6'0", 185 lbs. - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Jamal Taylor - 6'2", 175 lbs. - Lumberton, MS
Lonnie Ballentine - 6'3", 195 lbs. - Memphis, TN

Vote For Best Uniforms

2010-02-17T16:16:00.002-06:00

Auburn defeated Michigan in the last round of voting. Auburn is currently up against Texas A&M. Go here to vote in the match-ups of LSU v. Alabama, Auburn v. Texas A&M, Penn State v. Missouri and Oklahoma v. Ohio State.

Some Top Names for 2011: Offense

2010-02-15T22:12:00.000-06:00

QB (1)

Jeff Driskel - 6'3", 225 lbs. - Oviedo, FL - Rivals 250 Watch List
Kiehl Frazier - 6'3", 212 lbs. - Springdale, AR - Rivals 250 Watch List
C.J. Uzomah - 6'5", 230 lbs. - Suwanee, GA
Michael Brewer - 6'1", 175 lbs. - Austin, TX
Stephen Rivers - 6'6", 200 lbs. - Athens, AL

RB (1-2)

Isaiah Crowell - 5'11", 190 lbs. - Columbus, GA - Rivals 250 Watch List
Quan Bray - 5'11", 178 lbs. - Hogansville, GA - Rivals 250 Watch List
Aaron Green - 5'11", 178 lbs. - San Antonio, TX - Rivals 250 Watch List
Chris Dukes - 5'9", 177 lbs. - Mobile, AL

WR (3-4)

Daryl Collins - 6'0", 190 lbs. - Gadsden, AL
Shamir Jeffrey - 6'2", 195 lbs. - St. Matthews, SC
Danny Woodson, Jr. - 6'2", 200 lbs. - Mobile, AL
Collins Moore - 6'2", 185 lbs. - Madison, AL
Sammy Watkins - 6'1", 180 lbs. - Fort Myers, FL

TE (1)

Jay Rome - 6'6", 240 lbs. - Valdosta, GA - Rivals 250 Watch List
Jordan Prestwood - 6'6", 250 lbs. - Plant City, FL
Collin Jarbo - 6'4", 200 lbs. - Gadsden, AL

OL (3-4)

Spencer Region - 6'6", 330 lbs. - Somerville, AL - Rivals 250 Watch List (Commitment)
Brey Cook - 6'7", 315 lbs. - Springdale, AR - Rivals 250 Watch List
Reese Dismukes - 6'3", 272 lbs. - Spanish Fort, AL - Rivals 250 Watch List
Watts Dantzler - 6'7", 315 lbs. - Dalton, GA
Christian Westerman - 6'5", 290 lbs. - Chandler, AZ - Rivals 250 Watch List
Quincy McKinney - 6'4", 300 lbs. - Columbus, GA
Brandon Shell - 6'7", 290 lbs. - Charleston, SC - Rivals 250 Watch List
Jamar Letwer - 6'7", 265 lbs. - Washington, DC - Rivals 250 Watch List
Jordan Prestwood - 6'6", 250 lbs. - Plant City, FL
Gregory Robinson - 6'5", 295 lbs. - Thibodaux, LA - Rivals 250 Watch List
Thomas O'Reilly - 6'3", 315 lbs. - Marietta, GA

Vote For Best Uniforms

2010-02-10T13:10:00.001-06:00

This week Auburn goes head to head with Michigan but voting closes tomorrow! Vote here for all matchups.

Thigpen: Etheridge Will Return

2010-02-09T16:58:00.002-06:00

The Opelika-Auburn News is reporting that Zac Etheridge will return 100 percent and he will play again, quoting Tommy Thigpen. For more, click here.

Region Shocks Bama

2010-02-06T16:52:00.004-06:00

Big time 2011 offensive lineman Spencer Region was considered an Alabama lock by most but he shocked the entire state today by committing to the Auburn Tigers. He is expected to be one of the top offensive linemen in the 2011 class and says he planned on committing to Alabama Friday night but made a switch Saturday. Region says Alabama's coaches took him for granted and Auburn's coaches never pressured him. Region says he may visit other schools but he will sign with Auburn.

2010 Is Over! 2011 Begins!

2010-02-04T02:37:00.004-06:00

Auburn picked up their first commitment for the 2011 class from former signee Izauea Lanier. Lanier signed with the Tigers out of high school in the 2009 class but failed to qualify and attended East Mississippi Community College. The safety had 66 tackles last season. For more on his previous commitment to Auburn, click the tag below.

Signing Class Cliffs Notes

2010-02-03T20:12:00.000-06:00

Joel Bonomolo - DE - 6'3", 245 - Fullerton Community College (CA) - Metaire, LA - Four star on Rivals, three star on Scout, NR on ESPN.com
Kenneth Carter - DT - 6'5", 267 - Greenville High School - Greenville, AL - Four star on Rivals, four star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com
Ed Christian - OT - 6'5", 280 - Lowndes High School - Valdosta, GA - Three star on Rivals, three star on Scout, four star on ESPN.com
Steven Clark - P - 6'5", 230 - Park Hill High School - Kansas City, MO - Two star on Rivals, two star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com
Shon Coleman - OT - 6'7", 285 - Olive Branch High School - Olive Branch, MS - Five star on Rivals, four star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com
Jessel Curry - OLB - 6'2", 215 - Buford High School - Buford, GA - Three star on Rivals, three star on Scout, two star (FB) on ESPN.com
Chris Davis - CB - 5'11", 177 - Woodlawn High School - Birmingham, AL - Three star on Rivals, three star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com
Justin Delaine - DE - 6'5", 225 - Linden High School - Linden, AL - Three star on Rivals, two star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com
Michael Dyer - RB - 5'8", 201 - Little Rock Christian - Little Rock, AR - Five star on Rivals, five star on Scout, five star on ESPN.com
Tunde Fariyike - OL - 6'3", 295 - Upson Lee High School - Thomaston, GA - Two star on Rivals, two star on Scout, NR on ESPN.com
Roszell Gayden - OL - 6'7", 310 - College of the Sequoias - New Hope, MN - Four star on Rivals, four star on Scout, NR on ESPN.com
Antonio Goodwin - WR - 6'2", 170 - Washington High School - Atlanta, GA - Four star on Rivals, four star on Scout, four star on ESPN.com.
Jake Holland - MLB - 6'1", 228 - Pelham High School - Pelham, AL - Four star on Rivals, three star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com
Shaun Kitchens - WR - 6'3", 211 - Banneker High School - College Park, GA - Three star on Rivals, three star on Scout, four star on ESPN.com
Corey Lemonier - DE - 6'5", 223 - Hialeah High School - Hialeah, FL - Four star on Rivals, five star on Scout, four star on ESPN.com
Eric Mack - OL - 6'4", 315 - Calhoun County High School - St. Matthews, SC - Four star on Rivals, four star on Scout, four star on ESPN.com
Demetruce McNeal - S - 6'1", 176 - Banneker High School - College Park, GA - Three star on Rivals, three star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com.
Jonathon Mincy - CB - 5'10", 175 - Southwest Dekalb High School - Decatur, GA - Three star on Rivals, three star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com.
Brandon Mosley - OL - 6'6", 285 - Coffeyville C.C. - Jefferson, GA - Four star on Rivals, three star on Scout, NR on ESPN.com
Dakota Mosley - TE - 6'4", 252 - Little Rock Christian - Little Rock, AR - Three star on Rivals, three star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com
Cameron Newton - QB - 6'6", 247 - Blinn College - Atlanta, GA - Five star on Rivals, four star on Scout, NR on ESPN.com.
LaDarius Owens - OLB - 6'2", 225 - Jess Lanier High School - Bessemer, AL - Four star on Rivals, four star on Scout, four star on ESPN.com.
Cody Parkey - K - 6'2", 195 - Jupiter High School - Jupiter, FL - Three star on Rivals, four star on Scout, four star on ESPN.com.
Ladarious Phillips - FB - 6'1", 275 - Handley High School - Roanoke, AL - Two star on Rivals, two star on Scout, NR on ESPN.com.
Trovon Reed - WR - 6'0", 173 - Thibodaux High School - Thibodaux, LA - Four star on Rivals, five star on Scout, four star on ESPN.com.
Jeremy Richardson - WR - 6'4", 220 - Springville High School - Springville, AL - Four star on Rivals, three star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com.
Craig Sanders - DE - 6'4", 230 - Ariton High School - Ariton, AL - Four star on Rivals, four star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com.
Chad Slade - OL - 6'6", 315 - Moody High School - Moody, AL - Three star on Rivals, three star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com.
Ryan Smith - S - 6'2", 208 - Cordova High School - Cordova, AL - Three star on Rivals, three star on Scout, two star on ESPN.com.
Jeffrey Whitaker - DT - 6'3", 295 - Warner Robins High School - Warner Robins, GA - Four star on Rivals, four star on Scout, four star on ESPN.com.
Jawara White - OLB - 6'2", 220 - Henderson High School - Troy, AL - Three star on Rivals, three star on Scout, four star on ESPN.com.
Ryan White - CB - 6'0", 185 - Lincoln, HS - Tallahassee, FL - Three star on Rivals, three star on Scout, three star on ESPN.com.

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

2010-02-03T07:04:00.025-06:00

6:55 AM - Cody Parkey and Antonio Goodwin are the first two faxes to come in to the complex.
7:26 AM - Steven Clark's fax has arrived.
7:38 AM - Kenneth Carter and Jeremy Richardson have signed with Auburn.
7:45 AM - Eric Mack and Jonathan Mincy are in.
7:57 AM - Ed Christian in.
8:00 AM - FIRST NEW COMMIT! Ladarius Phillips, FB and here is highlight video
8:41 AM - BIG ONES! Shon Coleman, Shaun Kitchens, Demetruce McNeal! Ryan Smith also switches from Kentucky to Auburn!
8:53 AM - Jeffrey Whitaker and Jawara White have signed.
9:16 AM - Michael Dyer has signed.
9:22 AM - Dakota Mosley is in.
9:26 AM - Chris Davis has signed.
9:38 AM - Justin Delaine has signed.
10:09 AM - LaDarius Owens has signed.
10:14 AM - Former commitment D.J. Howard has signed with Clemson
11:20 AM - Jake Holland, Chad Slade and Ryan White have all signed
Corey Lemonier set to announce in around 20 minutes. He only has an Auburn hat with him. Joel Bonomolo and Trovon Reed are the only commitments left who have not signed.
Watch Corey Lemonier's decision LIVE here now!
11:50 AM Corey Lemonier has committed to and signed with Auburn!
12: 35 PM Auburn has signed uncommitted center prospect Tunde Fariyike.
12:54 PM Trovon Reed has signed with Auburn.
1:15 PM Joel Bonomolo's papers are in. The signing class is done.

National Signing Day Chat

2010-02-02T16:35:00.007-06:00

Link to live stream of Lattimore announcement here.
2011 offensive lineman Spencer Region set to announce this Friday at 10 a.m. I think he is leaning toward Alabama.
Marcus Lattimore picks USC over Auburn.
Corey Lemonier will announce between Auburn and FSU around 11 am CT tomorrow. He will notify the coaches of his decision tonight according to Phillip Marshall.
Byran Jones' teammate Alan Turner was offered by Arkansas a while back and that could be enough to seal the deal of Jones to Arky even though Turner is not likely to qualify.
I am still going to predict Coleman will sign with Auburn. He will announce at 9 a.m. CT along with his teammate Damien Robinson.
Many think D.J. Howard will end up at Kentucky.
Markeith Ambles will announce at 10 a.m. CT and Rivals lists Auburn, Tennessee, UNC and USCw as his finalists.

Howard Gone

2010-02-02T15:38:00.001-06:00

As expected, D.J. Howard has de-committed according to Goupstate.com.

NSD

2010-02-02T15:10:00.002-06:00

Hey guys. I will be putting a chat up tonight for the Marcus Lattimore announcement and will leave it up throughout National Signing Day while putting updates under it...as of now I am expecting Lattimore to USC. Also, keep an eye on a new name: Ryan Smith.

Whitaker Picks Tigers

2010-02-01T13:32:00.002-06:00

Jeffrey Whitaker has committed to Auburn. The four star defensive tackle chose Auburn over UGA and Miami. He is the second defensive tackle commitment and the 29th overall commitment for 2010.

My Updated Predictions

2010-01-30T20:11:00.001-06:00

All reports point to Auburn and South Carolina being even for Marcus Lattimore. I no longer have a great feeling regarding Marcus. I will put it at 55-45 Auburn right now because I am not near as confident as I used to be.
All indications are that Shon Coleman has not contacted anyone at Auburn to tell them he was considering switching commitments to Alabama. At any rate, I will say there is a 60% chance he signs with Auburn.
I still predict Jeffrey Whitaker to Auburn.
I am going to predict Byran Jones to Arkansas because I have heard he is leaning there heavily.
I am predicting Corey Lemonier to Auburn still.
Markeith Ambles may visit Auburn after NSD but it looks doubtful. I think he will end up at Southern Cal or UNC.
I think D.J. Howard ends up at Clemson.
We may see some new names pop up in the next couple of days. Dimitri Orr, a defensive tackle Auburn previously recruited, could be one of those but I have heard he has academic issues. Another is UAB commitment Maurice Hayes and Stockbridge, GA defensive tackle Brandon King.

Lattimore Update

2010-01-30T02:56:00.004-06:00

Gene Chizik and Gus Malzahn visited Marcus Lattimore in home last night for around 45 minutes. Steve Spurrier is expected to visit Lattimore today. Marcus will announce between Auburn and South Carolina Tuesday night at 6 PM at his church. For more information on his announcement click here.

A Name To Watch

2010-01-28T19:39:00.001-06:00

I threw a name around recently that I thought we might see near the end of recruiting. Now it seems it may come to fruition. Patrick Swilling, Jr., the son of former Pro Bowl linebacker for the Saints Pat Swilling, is seriously considering a visit to Auburn this weekend.

Swilling may be a diamond in the rough like Daren Bates last season. Swilling is a 6'3" corner back with 4.5 speed could help boost Auburn's secondary if he receives a committable offer. Also a basketball star, Swilling would prefer playing football and at the safety position in college but his future might be in basketball. Swilling apparently has all the intangibles but he is not known as one to want to make the big hit.

With a 3.2 GPA and a 22 on the ACT, Swilling is expected to qualify. If he makes the trip to the Plains this weekend, he could be a replacement for D.J. Howard if Howard switches to Clemson or Kentucky since Darius Robinson now says he is 100% to Clemson.

Updates

2010-01-28T16:16:00.001-06:00

Shon Coleman did indeed show up in Tuscaloosa for his official visit to Alabama. Coleman will also visit Miami this weekend. He has been quiet about his recruitment lately but some are starting to think he is Alabama's to lose.
Also visiting Miami this weekend is Jeffrey Whitaker. He will announce his decision on Monday. It is likely that Whitaker is deciding between Auburn and Georgia. I still think Whitaker signs with the Tigers.
Jonathan Mincy will not take any visits this weekend. He originally planned on visiting South Carolina but has decided against it.
All signs point to Arkansas having a slight lead for Byran Jones. Jones could make an announcement tomorrow.
Vic Beasley is still considering a visit to Auburn.
No word yet on if Markeith Ambles will visit Auburn this weekend. I believe he will and I would keep an eye on him. Auburn could definitely steal Ambles.
Gene Chizik will make an in-home visit to Marcus Lattimore tomorrow. South Carolina will visit him Saturday.
Auburn Undercover says that Lane Kiffin and Southern Cal made a late push for Joel Bonomolo but got nowhere.
Right now it appears D.J. Howard will not sign with Auburn but rather Kentucky or Clemson. He may visit Kentucky this weekend.

RUMOR: Savage Gets Sixth Year

2010-01-27T18:32:00.002-06:00

Rumor has it that Aairon Savage has received a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. The corner back tore his Achilles during summer workouts, missing the entire 2009 season. He had previously missed the entire 2008 season.

Seastrunk Picks Oregon

2010-01-27T16:27:00.001-06:00

Lache Seastrunk has officially committed to Oregon. I hope this will kill the nonsense of him still possibly coming to Auburn. He has been off Auburn's radar for some time. I wish him the best of luck.

AC Gets His Invite

2010-01-27T02:25:00.002-06:00

Antonio Coleman has received an invitation to the NFL Combine. Coleman appeared to have been overlooked and Ben Tate was the only Tiger who received an invitation when they were initially sent out. Walt McFadden still has not received one.

New Coleman Update

2010-01-26T20:31:00.002-06:00

Shon Coleman will host Alabama head coach Nick Saban on an in-home visit tomorrow. He will visit Alabama officially from Wednesday-Friday. Many think that if James Stone goes to Tennessee, Saban will try his hardest to steal Coleman. I will keep you updated.

Catch Up On All Targets and Wavering Commitments

2010-01-26T17:38:00.004-06:00

Targets:

Marcus Lattimore appears ready to remain silent until February 2nd. I still think he signs with Auburn.
Lache Seastrunk will make an announcement tomorrow. Barring a surprise, Lache is expected to choose the Oregon Ducks.
There were rumors that Markeith Ambles committed to Southern Cal this weekend but his father says that is not true. According to Auburn Undercover, the coaches will in-home visit Ambles tonight. He may visit Auburn this weekend. USC is the team to beat. Keep an eye on this.
James Stone has cancelled his visit to Auburn and will decide between Alabama and Tennessee.
I am expecting Damien Robinson to choose Mississippi State. I do not believe he has a committable offer from Auburn currently.
Corey Lemonier has eliminated Miami according to AuburnSports.com. He has already made his decision but will announce between the Tigers and the FSU Seminoles on National Signing Day. I still think he picks Auburn.
Jeffrey Whitaker visited Georgia this weekend but didn't strike me as blown away. I still see him picking Auburn.
Mike Thornton told the AJC recently that he has not eliminated Auburn but I still believe Georgia is the team to beat for him. I do not believe he has a committable offer.
Byran Jones visited Arkansas this weekend. As of now, he says the two teams are so even. Some moderators for Auburn sites project him to Auburn but I say it is way too close to call.
Darius Robinson is a new name to watch for. The four star Clemson DB commitment is rumored to have visited Auburn this weekend. He played at the same high school as Cam Newton and contacted the staff when Newton signed. Auburn could steal Robinson if he is offered.

Commitments:

Shon Coleman visited Arkansas and Ole Miss last weekend. He is reportedly 100% solid to Auburn according to AuburnUndercover.
Trovon Reed visited LSU and appears solid to Auburn. He says LSU gave him something else to consider but I believe most of Reed's interest in LSU is made up by his high school football coach.
Jonathan Mincy plans to visit South Carolina this weekend following the news of interest in Darius Robinson. If Auburn offers Robinson, Mincy could bolt for the Gamecocks.
D.J. Howard visited Clemson this weekend. He may switch considering he is likely to get a chance to play running back at Clemson. The Auburn coaching staff did not find out about the visit until he was there and were disappointed. Rumors are swirling that the staff has pulled Howard's offer but those are unconfirmed and not likely.

Catching Up With A Former Signee

2010-01-26T16:13:00.003-06:00

Former Auburn running back signee Reggie Hunt has committed to Southern Miss as a defensive back. Hunt was a highly sought after all purpose back out of Daphne High School in 2008 with offers from Auburn, Florida, West Virginia and Oklahoma, among others.

After choosing Auburn, Hunt failed to qualify and ended up at Copiah-Lincoln CC in Wesson, Mississippi. He changed into a corner back at CLCC but failed to receive an offer from Auburn this season. He chose Southern Miss over Troy, Memphis and MTSU.

I will have a few more updates this afternoon to catch up on everything I have missed.

Where Do We Go From Here?

2010-01-20T17:41:00.000-06:00

Auburn has five spots remaining for the 2010 class but may take only 2-4. Here are the recruits still on the board and what I predict:

***** - RB - Marcus Lattimore - I believe Auburn will land Lattimore over South Carolina and have for some time. The latest I have heard is Auburn has a slight lead.

***** - RB - Lache Seastrunk - I see Seastrunk as an Oregon Duck next season.

***** - WR - Markeith Ambles - Wide receiver has off the field issues. The staff has pulled his offer but he has a lot of interest in Auburn. If you watched the Army All-American game, you know this guy is a game changer. If Auburn has room and will risk offering him, I see him ending up at Auburn, however, I do not see an offer being extended. I see him either going back to UT or switching to UNC.

**** - OG - James Stone - Has said his finalists are Auburn and Alabama. He plans to visit Auburn this weekend. With Mack's commitment today our offensive line may be full. He has been rumored to be 'Bama bound anyways so I expect him on the Tide.

**** - OT - Damien Robinson - Again, I believe we are done recruiting offensive line but we were never a serious contender for Robinson I do not believe.

**** - DE - Corey Lemonier - Has made his decision and will announce on National Signing Day. He has narrowed his choices to Auburn, Miami and Florida State. Has visited Auburn and FSU officially and may take an unofficial to Miami. I say Auburn is the leader for Lemonier but he may want to stay closer to home. I will predict him to be a Tiger.

**** - DT - Jeffrey Whitaker - Whitaker is between Auburn, Miami and Georgia. He visited Auburn this past weekend and was blown away. He will visit Georgia this weekend and Miami the next. Barring an overwhelmingly impressive official in the next two weeks, I think he is an Auburn Tiger on NSD.

**** - DT - Mike Thornton - Thornton has eliminated Auburn. According to sources, there was an incident on the Auburn coaches' visit to the Thornton household in which Thornton's father would not allow the coaches in to talk to him. Apparently the coaches were the ones who backed off of him, not he who backed off of Auburn like he claims in a recent article. Either way, I have always projected him to UGA.

**** - DT - Byran Jones - Jones is down to Auburn and Arkansas. Jones had a great visit to Auburn this weekend and will officially visit Arkansas next weekend. Does not claim a favorite right now. Right now I will call this a toss up. He will make his decision after the Arkansas visit but will not announce until NSD.

**** - DB - Ahmad Dixon - Recently re-committed to Baylor. Has previously committed to Texas, Baylor and Tennessee. Dixon cannot make up his mind but I think he stays with Baylor.

*** - ATH - Vic Beasley - Clemson commit could play linebacker or safety in college. Right now I am not positive that Beasley has a committable offer from Auburn. He claims to be 90% to Clemson right now but plans to visit Auburn this weekend. I will say Clemson right now but will re-evaluate after this weekend.

Now if there is room, where else might the staff look? Here are some names:

CB - Akeem Cunningham - haven't heard much about him lately.

ATH - Eric Russell - if an offer is extended he would accept.

S - Patrick Swilling - if an offer is extended, he would consider.

Just To Keep Auburn Humble...

2010-01-20T12:31:00.002-06:00

Rivals has dropped Ed Christian from a four star to a three star.

Mack Commits!

2010-01-20T11:59:00.002-06:00

Four star offensive guard (ranked the second best in the country by ESPN.com) Eric Mack has committed to Auburn today following his de-commitment from South Carolina. Mack is Auburn's 28th commitment for 2010. While the SEC limit is set at 28, Auburn is able to take 5 more players for 2010 since 5 early signees rolled back to 2009. Mack is considered the 10th best player in the state of South Carolina on Rivals and the 6th best guard. He chose Auburn over offers from USC, Alabama, Clemson, FSU, Miami, Oklahoma, West Virginia and many more.

BREAKING NEWS

2010-01-19T18:23:00.001-06:00

Eric Mack has de-committed from South Carolina! He will now decide between Auburn and Florida. More to come!

Auburn Gets Bump on Scout

2010-01-18T20:17:00.002-06:00

Scout.com has bumped a few Auburn commitments. Trovon Reed has moved from a four star to a five star and Kenneth Carter has been bumped from a three star to a four star. These moves have moved Auburn from 8th to 5th in their rankings. Auburn is still 4th in recruiting on Rivals.

A Couple Of Notes

2010-01-16T18:03:00.002-06:00

Cam Henderson, Adam Herring, Spencer Pybus and Vance Smith are no longer with the team.
Prayers are requested for Mike Blanc and his family who have Haitian relatives. He has not been in contact with family members yet.
Lee Ziemba obviously did not declare for the draft.
Herring, Pybus and Smith all left due to medical issues. Henderson was suspended all season.
Merkeith Ambles did not make it to Auburn this weekend for his visit. He will reschedule.
Gus Malzahn is expected to return to Auburn next year. He has been rumored to be a leading candidate for the Louisiana Tech head coaching job.

Updates

2010-01-15T13:12:00.004-06:00

Mike Thornton has lost all interest in Auburn and will no longer visit Auburn this weekend. I called this a while back but now it appears Auburn's DT targets will only be Whitaker, Jones and possibly Calvin Smith.
Markeith Ambles has de-committed from Tennessee and has strong interest in Auburn. He may unofficially visit Auburn this weekend and return for an official on the 29th. Ambles, who is possibly the best wide receiver in this year's class, does not currently has a firm offer from Auburn. The staff, along with many other schools, withdrew offers due to off the field issues. Markeith is a five star but is currently considered a "back up plan".
Shon Coleman WILL be visiting this weekend and the staff will try and solidify his commitment up.
Lache Seastrunk appears ready to commit to Oregon.
Non-committed targets who are visiting this weekend are: Trent Fisher (future walk on), Byran Jones, Jeffrey Whitaker, Alan Turner; this according to AuburnUndercover and AuburnSports.com. Fisher is son of Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher.
ESPNU's final 150 has been released. Here are where Auburn commitments and targets rank: Michael Dyer (5), Marcus Lattimore (19), Trovon Reed (39), Lache Seastrunk (40), Antonio Goodwin (47), Eric Mack (78), Shaun Kitchens (98), James Stone (100), LaDarius Owens (138).
Jake Holland has picked up a well deserved fourth star on Rivals. His profile will likely be updated today.

Updates

2010-01-13T12:57:00.003-06:00

Shon Coleman has picked up a 5th star on Rivals and is listed as the 22nd best player in the nation.
Calvin Smith has decommitted from Tennessee and is considering Auburn, among others. He is high school teammates with Corey Lemonier.
More to come on the new Rivals 100.

Tate

2010-01-12T17:44:00.002-06:00

Ben Tate will be Auburn's only representative at the NFL Combine, according to Charles Goldberg. It will take place from Feb 24-Apr 2. Tate was the only Tiger to get an invite and Coleman and McFadden seem to have gotten snubbed. Georgia and Mississippi State are also only sending one player.

Team Tubs

2010-01-09T13:37:00.000-06:00

Tommy Tuberville will be the next head coach at Texas Tech according to ESPN.

Driskel

2010-01-09T13:29:00.002-06:00

A lot of buzz has been surrounding 2011 quarterback prospect Jeff Driskel. Driskel has drawn comparisons to Tim Tebow and has already been invited to play in the Under Armour All American game next January (1 of only 19 invited thus far). Driskel grew up an Auburn fan and the Tigers appear to be the early leaders. He also has offers from Florida, Virginia Tech and Ole Miss. He recently told Auburn Undercover that the signing of Cam Newton will not affect his decision.

Driskel recently lit up the Under Armour All American junior combine and was the top quarterback at the Army All American junior combine. Definitely keep an eye on Driskel for the future.

Ziemba To Return

2010-01-09T12:40:00.002-06:00

Offensive tackle Lee Ziemba will return for his senior season, according to Scott Reaves of AuburnEagle.

Mosley To Bama

2010-01-09T12:23:00.003-06:00

As expected, C.J. Mosley has announced he will play for Alabama next year. And by play, I mean ride the bench for the next few years for the loaded Tide linebacking group.

Adams To LSU

2010-01-08T15:21:00.002-06:00

Sources say that Ken Adams may have waited too long with Auburn and missed an opportunity to play for the Tigers. Adams has signed with LSU. While sometimes fanbases say a player chose another school because their coaches did not want a player anymore, this appears true for Adams and Auburn.

MSU Moved To Thursday

2010-01-08T14:50:00.002-06:00

Auburn's away game vs. Mississippi State has been moved to a Thursday night ESPN game.

Seastrunk's Options Narrow

2010-01-05T13:12:00.002-06:00

According to Rivals recruiting expert Mike Farrell, both Auburn and LSU have backed off of five star Lache Seastrunk. Seastrunk now appears headed for the Pac-10 to either USC or Oregon.

Tuberville To Interview

2010-01-05T13:03:00.001-06:00

Former head coach Tommy Tuberville will interview for the head coach job at Texas Tech.

U.S. Army All American Bowl

2010-01-03T15:21:00.003-06:00

Here are the notable players in the Army All-American Bowl, to be played this Saturday in the Alamodome at Noon CT on NBC.

Commitments:

Shon Coleman - East Team - #72 - OT
Trovon Teed - West Team - #1 - WR

Targets:

Marcus Lattimore - East Team - #28 - RB
Jeffrey Whitaker - East Team - #55 - DT
Damien Robinson - East Team - #79 - OT
Lache Seastrunk - West Team - #15 - RB
Ahmad Dixon - West Team - #26 - S (Baylor commit)
C.J. Mosley - West Team - #32 - LB

One More Month

2010-01-03T13:05:00.001-06:00

It is just one month until National Signing Day of 2010 and Auburn is sitting pretty with recruiting. New SEC rules cap the total amount of signees for 2010 at 28 but Auburn can technically bring in 33, counting 5 early signees toward the 2009 class (Curry, Newton, Sanders, Gayden and B. Mosley). So, with Auburn currently at 27 total (22 counting toward 2010), how will NSD look for the Tigers? Let's take a look:

Current Commitments Who May Be Wavering:

**** Shon Coleman - OT - looking around at schools such as Ole Miss, Miami (FL), Tennessee and Arkansas. He also has set an official visit to Auburn. I say Auburn holds onto Coleman but he is a very soft verbal.
*** D.J. Howard - S - looking at Clemson and Kentucky. Auburn is recruiting him as a safety but he wants to play running back in college, which is more likely at Clemson. I say it is 50-50 between AU and Clemson right now.

Top Uncommitted Targets:

***** Marcus Lattimore - RB - Auburn appears to be in great shape for the number 2 running back in the nation according to Rivals. If I had to guess right now, I would say Lattimore picks Auburn over his home state Gamecocks but with three official visits still planned (Oregon, Georgia and USC) anything could happen. EDIT: Lattimore has eliminated UGA since I posted this.
***** Lache Seastrunk - RB - Due to Dyer's commitment and Lattimore's interest in AU, Seastrunk appears to not be Auburn bound. Lache has been very quiet lately regarding recruiting but appeared to enjoy his Oregon visit and the Ducks could be the team to beat, as well as the Southern Cal Trojans.
**** Eric Mack - OG - the current South Carolina commitment was spotted wearing an Auburn hat at the Under Armour All American game (link here, pic courtesy of Auburn Eagle). It has long been speculated Mack would change to the Tigers and I see that happening.
**** James Stone - OT - considering a January visit to Auburn but it is not likely Auburn lands the Nashville tackle. His top four are Auburn, Stanford, Alabama and Tennessee and I see him either playing for Saban or Kiffin next season.
**** Jeffrey Whitaker - DT - All American is likely to sign with Auburn. I don't want to use the word "lock" but I would be very surprised if he went elsewhere.
**** Mike Thornton - DT - many think Auburn is the leader here but I am skeptical. He has Auburn, UGA, Penn State, Florida and Miami at the top of his list. My prediction is UGA or Penn State for Thornton.
**** Byran Jones - DT - I think Auburn swoops in and steals another top Arkansas player. The second best player in the state seems to be leaning toward Auburn and if the Tigers indeed do not land Thornton then I would not be surprised to see Auburn land this four star.
**** Corey Lemonier - DE - this Florida d-end appears to be Auburn bound. He will decide on NSD between Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, LSU and Tennessee. The All American seems to enjoy the family atmosphere at Auburn and I see him in orange and navy next season.
*** Ken Adams - DE - JUCO defensive end originally signed with Tuberville's staff out of high school. He is deciding between Auburn, LSU and UNC. I see Auburn as his leader and would look for him to sign soon.
*** Vic Beasley - LB - Clemson commitment is open and if there is room I see Auburn in Beasley's future. The Auburn legacy would wrap up an amazing linebacker class for the Tigers.

So there are my predictions for the rest of this class: Ken Adams, Corey Lemonier, Byran Jones, Jeffrey Whitaker, Marcus Lattimore, Eric Mack and Vic Beasley (obviously D.J. Howard would have to decommit to fit all of these seven in). With Auburn's class currently ranked THIRD on Rivals, it is safe to say this class would end up in the top five.

Outback Bowl Chat

2010-01-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

Five Star QB Picks Auburn!

2009-12-31T16:31:00.001-06:00

Top JUCO player and five star dual-threat quarterback Cam Newton has picked Auburn and will enroll in the spring! He picked Auburn over Mississippi State and Oklahoma. More to come!

FYI

2009-12-29T19:06:00.001-06:00

The Outback Bowl's ESPN announcers are:

Play-by-play: Dave Pasch
Color commentators: Bob Griese and Chris Spielman
Sideline reporter: Rob Stone

Two Updates

2009-12-29T17:20:00.003-06:00

Cam Newton will now announce January 1st at the earliest.
Ken Adams has decommitted from Tennessee and now appears to be down to either LSU, Auburn or North Carolina.

Confirmed: Newton To Announce

2009-12-28T15:17:00.002-06:00

Cam Newton will announce on New Years Eve as previously rumored. It seems as though Newton will choose between Auburn and Mississippi State, with Oklahoma on the outside looking in. Most of the Auburn insiders believe Auburn leads but I am more skeptical. I am not sure if I will be reporting on New Years Eve about it because I will be in Tampa and am not sure if I will find internet. More to come...

Under Armour All American Game

2009-12-28T14:58:00.002-06:00

The day after the Outback Bowl, in St. Petersburg (a 30 minute drive from Tampa), the Under Armour All American game will be played at 11 a.m ET. For those Auburn fans who want to see the future of Auburn football but cannot attend, the game will be televised on ESPN. Here are some players to watch:

Commitments:

Michael Dyer - White Team #5 - RB
Antonio Goodwin - White Team #7 - WR
Dakota Mosley - White Team #81 - TE/LS
LaDarius Owens - Black Team #15 - LB
Cody Parkey - Black Team #18 - K
Jake Holland - Black Team #50 - LB

Targets:

Corey Lemonier - White Team #55 - DE
James Stone - White Team #64 - OG
Mike Thornton - White Team #73 - DT

Goings On In Tampa

2009-12-27T17:54:00.002-06:00

The team arrived in Tampa on December 26th.
Both teams arrived to an all you can eat, catered meal by Outback Steakhouse.
Last night both Northwestern and Auburn took in the Thrashers-Lightning hockey game in Tampa. The Lightning won 4-3.
Today was Auburn's first practice in four days. They practiced at 10 a.m. at the University of Tampa. Practices will continue for the next four days. Northwestern is practicing at Tampa Jesuit High School.
Chizik described today's practice as "rusty and sloppy".
Gene Chizik, Walt McFadden, Antonio Coleman, Terrell Zachary and Chris Todd visited the St. Joseph's Children's Hospital. Northwestern's head coach Pat Fitzgerald and some of his players. Chizik handed out Auburn hats, posters and pennants.
Both teams will visit Busch Gardens tomorrow after morning practice.
Tuesday will include a luncheon and a night out in Ybor City.
Wednesday will be a trip to Clearwater Beach.
Thursday, the team will attend a New Year's Eve parade.

Chizik Expects Staff To Return

2009-12-27T13:49:00.001-06:00

Gene Chizik says rumors of Tommy Thigpen's interest in the Florida secondary coach position are just that, rumors. Chizik says he expects no staff changes this off season.

A Great Auburn Man Passes

2009-12-27T10:35:00.004-06:00

Ronnie Ross, the captain of the 1970 Auburn football team, lost his battle with lung cancer on December 8 at the age 60. Ross passed away at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, Alabama. The tight end caught Pat Sullivan's first touchdown pass in 1969 against Wake Forest. Mike Kolen officiated the funeral on December 12th. Donations may be sent to the Auburn Football Lettermen Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 828, Auburn, Alabama 36830. Sorry, I meant to have this up sooner! Prayers are requested for the family!

An online guest book can be signed here.

Here is the eulogy by Pat Sullivan and a video memorial from the funeral home.

New Newton Date

2009-12-24T00:59:00.007-06:00

Steve Robertson of Scout.com is reporting that Newton will announce on New Years Eve. He says he received a phone call from Newton's father who says that nothing else will come from the family until that day. Robertson covers Mississippi State for Scout.

Newton: A Christmas Decision?

2009-12-23T20:35:00.002-06:00

AuburnEagle.com is reporting that Cam Newton will decide between Auburn, Oklahoma and Mississippi State on Christmas Day. More to come.

Thigpen Interviews With Florida

2009-12-23T15:45:00.003-06:00

Auburn secondary coach and possibly their top recruiter, Tommy Thigpen, has interviewed with the Florida Gators as safeties coach, according to Jay Tate. Tate believes Chizik would do anything including raising Thigpen's salary to keep him with the staff. Read more here.