Sunday recruiting news
1/18/09, MORNING
Hey everyone. We're now underway.
John Sullen of Auburn High.
Hey everyone. We're now underway.
- (9:03 a.m.) Offensive lineman John Sullen of Auburn High has committed to Auburn University. He had been committed to Southern Miss. That has changed. Sullen currently is en route to relay that information to coach Gene Chizik ... so you really do know it first.
- (9:50 a.m.) The two kids from Texas, defensive end Nosa Eguae (pictured at left) and wideout Emory Blake, were phenomenal interviews. Eguae seemed really high on Auburn. He was committed to Colorado. He's also thinking about Nebraska and Texas Tech. Word was that he had committed to Auburn during the weekend, but Eguae said that did not happen.
Blake was more diplomatic, though I don't think it was a function of not being impressed with Auburn. He said Texas Tech, Colorado and Auburn are his top three. - (10:35 a.m.) Linebacker Tana Patrick (prounounced tuh-NAY) has left the building. He didn't have a lot to say afterward. He rated his visit a 10, but still is considering Alabama, LSU, Southern Cal and Tennessee. He's headed to Los Angeles next weekend.
- (10:53 a.m.) Athlete Demond Washington said he's still committed to Ole Miss. Auburn and Ole Miss are the only two schools he's considering. It's uncertain which position would fit him best in college -- he's a cornerback and an offensive utility guy -- but his last chat was with defensive coordinator Ted Roof.
- (11:20 a.m.) Defensive lineman DeQuinta Jones has left the building. He's a Michigan commitment, but seemed pretty intrigued by the things he saw here this weekend.
- (1:10 a.m.) Offensive/defensive lineman Brandon Moore of Montgomery's G.W. Carver High just left the building after a long talk with Gene Chizik, Jona Chizik and Moore's parents. It was a long one. Moore didn't rule Auburn out, but I think this decision will come down to Alabama or Florida.
- Also visited this weekend: Wideout Anthony Gulley, defensive end (and Auburn commitment) Dee Ford.
- More to come.
posted by Jay G. Tate at
9:03 AM
111 Comments:
one?
i'm getting the impression that the mississippi schools are having a good year in recruiting.
Good work Jay GT. I really do enjoy your updates.
And congrats to SfT for the early start.
!Quatro!
Sullen for Perkins ... I'll take the trade ... we need OL.
Me too Jet. I heard he was interesting he staying close to home, and he was having a good time this weekend. I'll take the trade between the two.
"interested in"
6'5"/338. Rivals 3 star. Let's see how Chizik does selling Moore et.al on AU.
I just hope he can cut back just a little on the sweets. I'd rather him be healthy for his sake than a huge OL for Auburn's sake
Yox will help him out Tar.
Lyg- I think I've got you on a little pin in my bug collection
Great job Jay!! That always puzzled me why the old staff didnt recruit Sullen. glad we got him!! Get to Blake if you can Jay!
THT - sweet! From Clark's class?
Lyg - I have no idea. That was 30 years ago (though the bugs are still on a shelf in my closet). I can hardly remember where I ate supper last night, much less who I had for entymology back in the good ol' days.
I'm getting entomology and etymology confused
Seriously, Head coaches have to be salesmen. This weekend's a big test for CGC and staff.
Nosa Eguae told another recruit he plans to commit to Auburn.
I don't care if stars don't mean anything. I don't care if 5* don't pan out (a la Leon Hart). I still want to see some 5* on Auburn's list.
TarHeel....
I think AT&T has the exclusive on the iPhone until the end of 2010.
After that, I am sure that Apple will want to take it beyond just one U.S. carrier.
Until then your options are either AT&T or buy an unlocked one off of ebay and use it on T-Mobile.
Sullen, now Eguae! Hmm, wonder if Jacobs knew what he was doing after all.
Eguae said he didn't commit.
He's very high on Auburn, though.
Iguae plans to visit Nebraska next week, and a coach there is from his HS. He committed to Colorado on his visit to them early this year. I won't feel comfortable until his name is on the dotted line.
Tell Eguae to check the weather in Minnosota right about now - high of 22 today.
Thanks, Jay. I'm sure they'll stay on him. He probably learned his lesson committing to Colorado too soon.
Jay, you may want to take a look at the Joe Cribbs Car Wash. He obviously reads the HABOTN.
Great work Jay!!
Thanks Jay G.
Astat eveyone reads the HABOTN. Jay should get royalties as much as I see him quoted by his "competition".
Jerry Hinnen is fine by me.
He credits his sources, which I consider the most important thing. He's meticulous about it. That's how pros play the game.
Any chance you have seen or heard from Demond Washington? I wondered if he had been swayed to AU, especially since L. Perkins decommitted.
Jay G. Tate: If you can speak with any OL coach recruits and find out how their weekend went, I'd appreciate it.
Poor Griff, we will all feel so much better when we have a OL coach; although, I doubt we will be impressed.
Cameron Kenney gives the cold shoulder. In comes Blake. Even Steven, or Stephen if you will.
Not many of us know enough about the OL to judge whether any hire is good or not. I'm willing to give Chizik and Malzahn the benefit of the doubt.
Tell it crud.
Its in the bag.
Teach me how to pronounce Nosa Eguae.
No-suh E-Gway
that's my best guess
Thanks Mr. Miller
At least that is how it sounds in my head when I read it... Beyond that, I really have no clue.
Nosa actually goes by "nosy".
I just saw where Tana Patrick said the visit was a 10 out of 10 so who knows about the Bama lock?
I have seen Demond Washington.
He is meeting with Chizik right now.
Is that because he has a nose for the ball?
ok, a little cheezy i know...
maybe Chiz can snag a couple of commitments out of these last minute face to face meetings... DW and TP would be great news!
I was surprised we lost LaDarius Perkins to Mississippi State. Ole Miss has raided our recruiting class, but I didn't think Mississipii State could. I guess the kid decided to stay close to home, but this is a bad sign.
FSJ- thanks. I'll just have to be patient for 2 more years.
Keep in mind L. Perkins last official visit is to Auburn nexy weekend. Also read a MS Paper that said top MS WR Patrick Patterson was down to MS State and Auburn
Demond Washington says he's still committed to Ole Miss; will make a decision just before signing day.
dowhat.... when was the article on pat pat written? last i had seen he didn't show a lot of interest in AU.
Demond may need to move to offense to make up for Ladarius' departure.
Patterson? He's not visited Auburn and his last 2 visits upcoming are Ole Miss and TN. DoWhat? can you provide a link?
Thanks.
So far has Chizik gotten a commitment from any high profile recruit?
Actually it was the Mobile Press Register . I actuallt missed the first part of the article, my bad
http://www.al.com/sports/press-register/ssport.ssf?/base/sports/123227376828120.xml&coll=3
Patterson de-committed from Mississippi State after Sylvester Croom's departure as coach, although he's still considering the Bulldogs and Auburn.
I personally think that D. Washington has made his mind up to be a Tiger but realized he had made a mistake when he did the did the Rivals interview. I think he will use the trip to Auburn as has deciding factor even though he had already made it up prior to the visit. IMHO
I hope there a surprises come Feb 4. Since we are all hoping.
That being said LET'S GO RAVENS!!!
I am nervous about the playoffs today. As I understand it, the Cardinals going to the Super Bowl are one of the signs of the apocalypse.
I wish Patterson was considering Auburn, but his official visits, plus the first sentence in that article don't support that:
"...while the 6-3, 215-pound Patterson (No. 20) is leaning to either Alabama, Ole Miss, Southern Miss or Tennessee. Patterson de-committed from Mississippi State after Sylvester Croom's departure as coach, although he's still considering the Bulldogs and Auburn."
(Mike Herndon in Mobile Press-Register today)
Read where Anthony Gulley leaning to Auburn but wants to make his trip next weekend to Troy before he makes a decision.
I think there were a lot of long shots in this weekend's visitors.
We need to have 4 or 5 high profile long shots turn out. We went from a class that was in the top 10 to a class that isn't in the top 25.
LB Petey Smith no longer listed as a visitor next week on Scout. Wazzup?
Is Anthony Gulley the same one who played at Brantley High School?
No Petey Smith
Mr. Sensi-
yes
i'd like to see the cards win, only because they have dansby and hood. i still consider them the "Phoenix" cardinals.
Scott - Then also root for the Ravens with Ben Grubbs and Willie Anderson!!
I still consider them the Chicago Cardinals
AU1N04- I dislike most Baltimore sports teams, but you've given me no choice but to be happy if the Ravens win today.
Thanks Tar!! Orioles is fine by me...I like the Braves.
right on--ravens it is.
I am a long time steeler fan, but the Ravens are hard not to pull for. They have the coolest nickname in sports. Poe would be proud.
SteveFC-
better than the Banana Slugs?
Does the term "soft verbal commitment" bother anyone else? That's like saying she's half way pregnant. If you deciding between two schools you are not committed to anybody.
here's Sammy (the Banana) Slug from UC-Santa Clara
we stole a southern miss committment, i bet bama and lsu are shaking in their boots.
Banana Slug is cool, but naming a football team after a poet is very cool.
hola!
Ron, the soft verbal is better than "I'm still committed to Ole Miss but will make a decision on signing day" (or words to that effect. But I don't blame them. They are just kids who are getting information overload and paparazzied to death.
oops, I mean UC-Santa Cruz Banana Slugs
According to Charles G, several sites report Anthony Gulley will "formally" announce his committment to AU after he takes his Troy visit next week.
Ron - It's right up there with, "I'm committed to LSU, but I'm visiting 58 other schools."
Still waiting on Brandon Moore.
I'm planning to do a full rundown like I did last week, but I'm way behind schedule now.
Hi JayGT-
take your time. I'll be here. Sorry I can't treat you to lunch today. Do you have a favorite eatery in Auburn?
It is great that Chizik is trying to bring in the best recruits regardless how late it is in the recruiting process. If you follow recruiting, except for those who straddle the fence, most of these high profile kids, if AU was NOT in the top list before (seems CTT didnt push these kids if they weren't interested early on), then they aren't going to pick us this late.
p.s. Go STEELERS....
Moore has been meeting with Chizik for an hour. That is an unsually long consultation.
Honest question for the board. What happened in the last 2 years to AU recruiting?It seems like AU is competing with Southern Miss, Troy etc. for way too many players. I don't think these coaches should be held responsible for the situation they came into. Next year is shaping up to be one of the most crucial recruiting seasons in recent AU history.
Great news - AHS has been really good as of late right?
Any kids coming from Opelika this year of next? AU had a great run there for a while as well.
And can we believe we're going to have a Pitt v. ARIZONA CARDINALS Super Bowl?
And do they take a week off this year?
30-20!
((think))
A question for Jay and anyone else -- Anyone know what section of AU's area that Coach Taylor and Coach Luper took over?
I'm sure Coach Willis stayed in Mobile and the panhandle but was curious about the others.
is Gulley the kid who Troy was gonna let play baseball as well?
I think I remember Jay saying they weren't going to recruit in sections just yet. Late start meant just gettin' after it where they had relationships and leads.
I could be wrong again.
Folks really do get upset over the nuances of statements uttered by HS students. Hey..after the emo settles down on Monday or Tuesday, you get to get worked up over a new round of utterances from the same guys at different schools next weekend.
Just think....all of this analysis/worry and only about 33% of these recruits will make it through their senior year. Attrition affects wins more than stars, yet I don't hear anyone analyzing that factor. I guess ESPN/Rivals hasn't taught that course yet.
depressed...I guessing that the recruits have figgered out that our PTB is on the loose again. The other schools would be stoopid not to point that out.
In 2006 and 2007, we had #6 and #9 rated classes and the PTB was buried (but strategizing).
depressedAUfan, last years Auburn class was small and not as high rated partially due to initial Saban hype. This year's class was top 10 until the Franklin Experiment, Franklin's firing, and Tuberville's departure.
Hoopie- it is staggering the drop-off from the '07 class. If you look closer at the classes at the non-qualifers the picture looks even worse. We really need a BIG year next year.
Moore has left the building after his marathon chat with Chizik.
He seemed OK on Auburn and all, but I think it's an Alabama and Florida race there. I could be wrong.
Zteve, wasn't that ranking based more on the number of players AU had commitments from as opposed to highly recruited players? I am not sure.
These coaches are working hard swimming against the current. The good news is that Americans have short memories and any negativity against AU will be harder to sell next year.
If AU fans can resist the temptation to boo if the season doesn't go well....that will help recruiting also. One of AU's biggest selling points has always been the fan's "love".
depressed, I expected the ranking of the class to move into the teens when the numbers evened out, but Tuberville's departure caused the best players in this class to leave, which has put this class as the worst I have seen at Auburn since the late 90s.
depressed....In addition to the dropoff in 2008/9 is the fact that the 2006/7 classes have higher than normal attrition rates.
Yesterday I did a recap of the scholly players on campus and we still do have a lot of talent on paper. Look at QB: Burns-5*, Caudle-4*, Trotter/Todd-3*.
Texas Tech averages around 2.25 stars. Michael Crabtree was a 2*. Of course TT doesn't have to bang heads with SEC talent every week either.
I could see a signing-day fiasco of Dre Kirkpatrick, Brandon Moore and Tana Patrick all commiting to the evil empire. I have a feeling all of their other visits are for fun AND recruiting for Bama. Auburn has GOT to be be able to land some top in-state talent. The last two years we have been basically shut-out for top 10-12 players in-state. That has to be turned around for the program to turn around.
i'm off to watch the cards with friends at a public establishment known for its wings and servers. later, all.
I see us averaging 7 or 8 wins for the next 3 or 4 years. What happens after that depends on how well this staff is able to come together. It could take a while to get back to the level we have become accustomed to. My guess is it will take somewhere between 4 and 25 years. It is really a crap shoot.
Zteve..I'm surprised and encouraged that we didn't lose more recruits.
Beating Equine carcasses....It was not a good year to make this kind of change.
The D will be good....now and future. The OC/staff's ability to match player's abilities to plays will determine how fast we come back....on the field and in recruiting.
SFT...going to Hooters?
Comparing ourselves to Bammer is never a good thing. I dont care what they are doing. Too many AU fans rubberneck and have started to subconsciously imitate those folks. Leave them alone...they will self-destruct. Focus on keeping our PTB in check and patiently support the staff while they rebuild.
I would say there is a better shot of hell freezing over than Tana Patrick commits to Auburn.
The same was once said about The Eagles reunion.
That said, he's pretty heavy on the other school Hoopie doesn't want mentioned.
I do hope we see a few surprises on signing day. That will determine if Chizik did a good job of selecting the recruits he has targeted. You don't expect to get all, but you expect to get a few.
Hoopie, Bama will always have an edge on AU in in-state recruiting. They should not wipe AU out in-state. There is funny stuff going on in t-town, but I fear the SEC prez has his hear-no-evil, see-no-evil hat on.The Clemson coachs' comment on Julio and Ensmingers' wifes comments on sportscall were only a snipet of what is going on. The question is when does the truth come out?
The truth will probably come out after signing day for the recruits.
bama will always have the edge over auburn in in-state recruiting?....i hear what your saying, but why is that? isn't that the exact same attitude that Tubs had when he recruited the alabama? I like what chizik is trying to do with recruiting. bama may have had the edge, or currently have the edge, but they will always have the edge if our coaches take the approach of we can't win 'em all. I do agree with you though, right now, and in the past, they have had the "edge."
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