Auburn adds 11th commitment
Hey everyone. Getting started earlier than usual this morning.
ATH D.J. Howard of Lincoln High (between Birmingham and Anniston) has announced plans to sign with Auburn in February. He made his commitment this morning.
He is known mostly for his skills at tailback, though I suspect Auburn is considering him for a variety of gigs. Defense, perhaps? Howard stands 6-foot and weighs 195. He has enough speed to play linebacker and safety.
Cornerback could be a stretch.
Howard also has offers from Arkansas, Clemson, Kentucky, Mississippi State and a bunch of lower-profile FBS programs.
UPDATE: Scout.com gave Howard a status boost at some point Monday. He was a one-star prospect at the time of commitment. He was a three-star prospect by day's end.
Rivals.com rated Howard as a three-star prospect (out of five) while Scout.com has bestowed only a single star. As a tailback, though, his skills don't stand out when compared to guys whose careers depend on their ability to carry the ball.
Photo credit: Rivals.com
ATH D.J. Howard of Lincoln High (between Birmingham and Anniston) has announced plans to sign with Auburn in February. He made his commitment this morning.He is known mostly for his skills at tailback, though I suspect Auburn is considering him for a variety of gigs. Defense, perhaps? Howard stands 6-foot and weighs 195. He has enough speed to play linebacker and safety.
Cornerback could be a stretch.
Howard also has offers from Arkansas, Clemson, Kentucky, Mississippi State and a bunch of lower-profile FBS programs.
UPDATE: Scout.com gave Howard a status boost at some point Monday. He was a one-star prospect at the time of commitment. He was a three-star prospect by day's end.
Rivals.com rated Howard as a three-star prospect (out of five) while Scout.com has bestowed only a single star. As a tailback, though, his skills don't stand out when compared to guys whose careers depend on their ability to carry the ball.
Photo credit: Rivals.com
posted by Jay G. Tate at
9:24 AM
187 Comments:
Word!
El Substantio!
Scout only gives one? Hmmmm.
committment is substantial
I'm not saying the kid is awesome or anything, but it's clear that Scout.com hasn't completed many of its 2009 assessments.
A lot of decent players are still at one star.
If that makes sense.
Perfect sense. I was thinking that was probably the case.
JayGT - thanks for the geography lesson. As a map freak, I'm embarrassed to admit that I had no earthly idea where Lincoln is.
Athlete and not RB? I'm guessing because they hope to have a few bigger name RBs choose AU. One of the sites had 2 yr old quote, I think from Howard's coach, saying he was best 10th grade RB in AL since Carnell.
Howard, that is, not the coach.
I have never heard of Lincoln High.
This is an interesting pickup since we look to already have most of the linebackers we need. I expected only to get one more, Owens. That would put this guy as a safety. He doesn't sound like an h-back.
I rate him a 7 star on the RK recruiting service. This is on the arbitrary 12 star scale.
All ratings are given out randomly based on the height of the player, where they are from, how cool their name sounds and my mood the day of the rating.
I agree on that JGT assessment about the assements. I've noticed the same thing on the Rivals board as well. I think they still have Owens one of the top players in the state as Not Rated.
Lincoln, AL is the home to the Honda plant. Very near Gasden. Guess they were sold out of Dodge Chargers.
He is rated 5.5 by rivals, which would make him one of our lower rated recruits so far.
RK ...
That sounds like a service on which I might want to spend $100 annually. After all, I subscribe to two services. I might as well make it 3. Or 4.
Could you send me the info to sign up for your rating service?
This commit doesn't make me want to do a back flip or bust out the worm, but I guess the coaches will find something to do with him.
Maybe it's 'cause I'm a female, but I really don't care how this website or that website rates a recruit. It's how they perform on the field once they come to Auburn that I'm concerned about.
Jet - I'm handling the subscriptions for that. Send paypal payment to thtwantsurmony@spoof.com
Heavens, boknows, for the sake of all that is decent, I hope we never get a commit that would so entice you.
Luv, that's the right attitude. You have to believe the coaches found a spot for him one way or another. But it's just something for us to discuss for the next couple of weeks.
Aw, c'mon, TarHeel, you don't want to see him bust out the worm?
Luv ...
You are far too rational to be a football fan.
Oh, just wait until football season starts, Jet.
Jet,
My subscription service is based all on the audience. It's different than my free HABOTN rating service.
My subscription service gives the highest ratings to the school's fans that give me the most money. The player ratings will go up and down depending on where the money is coming from.
Right now Louisville in a huge lead since my wife's income is included in this.
I only take cash in non-sequential bills.
Howard is a speedy guy that I think AU was recruiting to play safety. Good in- state pick up.
When are we supposed to get some official word on Aubrey Phillips?
Also note, like a good drug dealer my free HABOTN rating service will expire in September and become a pay service.
oh no, D.Miller, not another safety! We're only going to sign one of those. Just ask Demontruce
oops, Demetruce
I had that great RB that slipped away on my brain.
The kid certainly has the neck and jaw line of a defensive player. Apparently DJ was pretty impressive at the camp this weekend, picking off passes "left and right" as one poster put it.
Lincoln, AL is as small as it sounds. It's kinda like a suburb of Talladega if that gives you any idea of its size.
THT more cause for concern over the Grant announcement? It was thought that Howard would attend the bama camp in hopes of getting a RB scholly before he decided. Man I hope I'm reading these signs wrong.
Jet, btw, your dog is so cute!
Don't know about you guys but I get a bad vibe from Aubrey Philips. Ok, his name starts with AUB, that's cool. I just don't much care for his quote. Something like, they've got a "position" for me, they are just waiting on my word. That has an air of "I'll come in and start and not have to work my butt off to earn it." I can't derive an ounce of gratitude for the opportunity that he had at FSU, or may receive at his next stop. This one stinks.
boknows, I agree that it doesn't exactly smell like a rose at the moment. But hopefully the coaches will make the right call on this one. The most important factor, is he good friends with Damien?
Having gotten that off my chest, our need is such at OL that we must take a chance on 'ole Aub. I was just sayin..
Beggars can't be choosers with OL. It'd be nice to get him at least to provide some emergency depth.
I think it would be cool in a year or so if we had 3 starters on the OL from the same HS.
recent article on Damien Robinson
Buyers can, though. -- "The Jet Corollary to 'Beggars Can't Be Choosers'"
I think it would be cool to have a quality SEC starter at every position with a solid back up behind them no matter where they went to HS.
Sorry Jerry, I just wanna play football.
I just read the article on DJ at al.com and I was suprised at the bama fans that were big supporters of DJ as an athlete and a good kid. I saw a quote from his coach a while back that said he was the best RB in the state of AL since Caddy. That's hard to believe but apparently he was hindered last year by a bone spur. Either way, it looks like he is a great gid and a pretty good athlete. Apparently, Bo Jackson's daughter was his escort on campus.
I hope y'all are hatin bama today as much as I am. Y'all have been awful quiet about it.
They're still them.
I'm still me.
I'm still hatin'
Hatin' for free.
all i got today is grapes and strawberries. not a single peach, free or otherwise :-(
Thanks for that article THT. It's hard not to be a fan of kids like that.
Had a bowl of peaches, strawberry and blueberries after dinner last night.
Dinner was 2 mater sammiches.
Had a homeade fruit salad last night with fresh blueberries, peaches, strawberries, and bananas..oh so good!
I do like that Howard is listed as an athlete and can play at several positions. He seems a bit small for a linebacker, but ideal for a safety or runningback.
As for Aubrey, I assume he would play first string bench and only be there for emergencies.
Steve! Welcome back. How's the Chris Todd watch? Has it been upgraded to a warning yet?
No offense to Eddie's plan, but if Todd's arm is healthy, and stays healthy, Todd will be our QB.
I went bed last night hatin' $puat... dreamed about hatin' $puat... and woke up this morning hatin' $puat even more than yesterday. My hatred for the cousin humper nation grows daily.
Is it football season yet??
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From what I have read, Todd is on track to be our starter. I read something the other day that put him even with Burns and Caudle, but I think it was only opinion. My guess is that we will have a good idea after the second week of practice. It will likely be a two horse race then.
1 star?
Seriously?
I smell an epic fail baking on the plains.
*slaps head in frustration
AUBigCat - yep, Damien sounds like a kid you'll want to pull for no matter where he goes to college...as long as it's not T'loser.
thread pause
So..who does Grant commit to today?
nobody. it'll be thurs. or fri. per rivals.
Or is it this week?
according to his father it's this week. he said even he doesn't know what Corey is going to do.
Where does he go?
Thanks scottie...I wasn't sure.
As you can tell I keep up with recruiting less than most.
Do we say toss up on Grant?
i only know b/c i have Rivals.
toss up. sure, why not. i have a feeling he'll choose Bama. dunno why, though.
I think it depends on who you ask..I'm sure some Bama folks think it will be us...Some Auburn folks think it will be y'all...
I'm not sure..I just read somewhere that he was supposed to decide soon.
You would think that proximity to AU would work in your favor.
it didn't help last year when that kid went to UF.
i guess it depends if he wants to get away from home or not.
yes, FSJ, coming from Opelika, I sure hope Grant doesn't willis us.
No inside information here, but in my opinion I see this week as being huge in recruiting. With the impending battle for Grant's signature being resolved on Thursday and Vogler probably announcing for UA this week, I see a domino effect with some big names committing. Both in-state schools will be looking to counter the recruiting news of their rival so I could see some 'silent' commits come to fruition this week.
Yeah..I'm always shocked when something like that happens.
Alabama occasionally loses one from Tuscaloosa, but it don't happen too often.
THT..
Willis is my favorite Auburn coach ever.
:-)
Oliver, and Paul Davis are the only other two I can think of that coached at both places as assistants. Not sure if Wayne Hall ever was a grad assistant at Alabama or not. Obviously Dye was at both places too.
I have read several places where people think D.J. Howard is the best thing since sliced bread, but I have always thought sliced bread was overrated.
Let's face it. Until Saban leaves, Auburn will have to deal with getting 3, 2, and 1 star guys and hoping to coach them up and to upset teams.
That's the only glimmer of light I see at this point.
Neil Callaway coached at both places. Tommy Bowden coached at both.
Hey Macho, your site is over at Tidesports.com!
Over Macho Grande?
DJ is a 3 in one service, and the likelihood is that the other hasn't rated him yet.
Stars are good. They are not be all-end all. I like the fact that this staff is going after all sorts of kids. And they're doing it in creative ways.
It's far from time to panic. George Zipp didn't panic, Macho. Of course, he didn't live to tell about it, either.
DJ Howard still has a season to play, and if his performance in the camps is any indication, he will have a stellar year.
He is considered as #16 recruit in the state, and #5 in the bakers dozen of tidesports, the website that macho originated from.
( yeah we remember macho posting some unimpressive pics of bammer RBs ).
Don't look at the stars now. Remember 'Petey Smith'? he was a 4 star after his junior season. Over his senior year he became so craptastic he lost any interest from Auburn, graduated as a 3 star and signed with the bammies as the 17th LB on depth chart. bammies called it a recruiting victory. We laughed.
Aeronaut - Nothing but the facts! Perfect.
Corey Grant to bama id say after Howard to AU
Macho ... I think you have wandered aimlessly onto the wrong site. Your objective comments smell alarmingly tainted with crimson crap.
Howard isn't being recruited to Auburn as a RB so I don't see how that really affects our chances with Grant.
I don't think it does. I don't think anyone really knows where Grant will end up.
Phred, IF he's an AU fan, I'm glad all AU fans don't have his attitude.
The only epic fail I see, and this is from Macho's comment, is his charade coming to an end.
Hey Sean the idiot!
I am not an Alabama fan.
I'm just being realistic and not pumping sunshine up my own end for the heck of it.
Clearly, you can't handle it.
So long, Habotnites. You all look different but are just a bunch of haters.
????!!!!
DRAMA~!
Hey, it's like those rooster fights in August practices.
Let 'em go at each other for a while. It releases some tension, and they usually get tired and quit, then forget about it.
Unless it's Ziemba and Coleman.
Nevermind.
Big Aubrey coming to AU! Done deal.
haters?
I'm quite proud (whether I should be or not) to hate UA-T from the very core of my being.
Beat me to it, hopefully Phillips can resolve whatever weight issues he has and be a force on the OL in the years to come.
Maybe I should change my handle to "Sean, The Idiot." How's that for tongue in cheek?
As my Grandad always says, a hit dog hollers.
Crap Jet..How could I have forgotten Neil and Tommy..
Perhaps I was trying to forget the Dubose and Curry eras...
Forget them, FSJ?
I think you should re-live them (except for 1999) on a regular basis.
Glory days, indeed!
Hmmm good news just keeps coming today, hopefully it will be one of those weeks.
Man, I think yall hurt Macho's feelings. Give the kid a break. He obviously knows little about recruiting, so try and help the kid out.
D.Miller - i missed it. where did Aub announce?
oh, I see it's a story on scout
Steve, I'm sorry to see Macho go, but he was being a buzzkill. Besides I was kidding with him and then he called me an idiot and peaced...I won't lose too much sleep over him.
THT, a couple of sites are reporting it now (Scout, Rivals, AuburnEagle...) that Aubrey Phillips chose AU and would be joining the team in a couple of weeks (I'm assuming the start of 2-a-days?).
In regards to location helping AU with Grant, I wouldn't be so sure being from Opelika helps Auburn. Opelika is hardly what I would consider a big Auburn University town. I would think there are probably more Bama fans there than AU fans. The bigger surprise to me is how Auburn was able to land TJ, Herring, etc.
That being said, I think he would be a great fit in the Auburn offense, would love to see him come to Auburn.
Well, this is a very good sign for this season in terms of depth. It is very possible he won't play this season. We just need a few emergency guys around, and he seems to be a good one. I do hope he didn't leave FSU because of discipline issues.
Undercover says that Howard runs a 4.38/40 and was a 200m track star. With that kind of speed, he could play corner also. This guy seems better now that I read more on him.
On a waaaay separate note.
Did anyone catch that someone videotaped Erin Andrews?
Yea I saw that about Erin Andrews but I would be careful because apparently the videos have a virus attached to them.
There really seems to be an illegal video but that hackers have made it a virus as well so keep an eye out.
taped her doing....what?
Who videotaped Erin Andrews doing what?
Just read the story. Man, someone needs to go to jail over that.
Wow, that pretty much sucks for her.
yup.
Let's assume Phillips is unable to play this season. If (God forbid) Ziemba or McCain were to go down with an injury, would the coaches move Pugh back out to play T and put Berry at C, this would bring Eddins or someone else in an G. Or would AJ Greene be brought in to play T? Jay has not spoken very highly of Greene.
For obvious reasons, I am hopeful that the Phillips signing works out well for both sides. There is a huge need for OT's in particular on the AU roster.
That's just shady. No one will touch that video.
That's 2 OL from Olive Branch.....now we just need that other one to commit......what's his name again? haha.
If Macho is an AU fan and not a poser, he needs to realize that this is the first season for these coaches and they haven't even put a team on the field for recruits to see yet.
If Chiz-Co can coach during practice and on gamedays as well as they can create recruiting excitement, then recruiting should be much better next season. We could still get top recruits this season if the coaching looks good early on.
I do believe Macho Cobra Salsa is all the same kid.
Phillips would likely be behind any other lineman we have on the roster. I am hoping Eddins is ready to go this season.
depressed - you could even bring guys from the defensive side as well. Not saying it is perfect, but just sayin'
Way to keep track Steve.
Cobra = Salsa = Macho
Well we got Aubrey..nice
well, that may be worth a virus, but it ain't worth jail time.
It is easy to spot AU1N04. It would be hard to believe that there were 3 separate posters that could manage to type with their head wedged so far up their...
If Phillips gets a 2009 scholarship, who loses one?
I thought we had mucho available.
Sean, we can only have 25. I know some went the juco route and we signed about 28, correct?
Scout has Howard as a 3 star by the way. I thought someone mentioned him being a one star earlier.
I think a couple of the JUCOs went back to 2008.
Scout changed Howard's ranking from a 1 star to the #31 ranked RB in the nation and a 3 star today.
We still have several players on the bubble too, like Terrence Coleman.
I am impressed with the number of 3 stars we have on scout. They tend to be less giving with the stars. When you look at our class on rivals, it is similar to last years, but on scouts, it looks much improved.
Steve- here's the rough calculation:
Returning starters (including early signees) = 59.
Transferred = 3
=> returning starters = 56.
09 signing class = 26.
Going to Juco = 3? or 2?
=> signing class = 23 or 24.
There's at least room for one more in 09 signing class, and room for 6 more in overall scholarship limits.
Oh.. and yes we signed 28, out of which 2 were enrolled against 2008 class (Freeman and McCalebb)
On my personal recruiting service's rankings. I have us with an average of 9.2 stars on the roving 10-12 star scale.
So we're doing well.
Of tertiary note:
FSU apparently has 73 on scholarship -- including the newcomers.
Isn't possible that an objective observer would come up with the notion that as long as Nick Saban is around, Auburn will be a second class team in Alabama? I disagree, but it is pretty AL.com style to call a guy a bammer because he is on the pessimistic side of things.
Getting Phillips in is HUGE! We strength our depth at OT, get another potential recruiter for Damien Robinson, and hopefully strengthen Shun Coleman's "soft" verbal all without using a 2010 sholly! I love it when a plan comes together.
^in reference to the earlier Macho stuff
per Rivals Aubrey Phillips felt he was being mistreated. Rick Trickett is the OL coach down there. he said Trickett was cool with him for the first 3 weeks and he lost 15 lbs, then things changed and Trickett was basically being a jerk to him about his weight. interesting.
i'd like to hear Eddie's take on that since he worked with Trickett back in the Bowden days.
but Eddie started work in West Virginia today so we'll have to wait on that.
how do we know macho wasn't just another depressed fan?
AUBigCat - yes, getting HUGE Phillips is! (as Yoda would say, perhaps more accurately)
I'm hitting the road. See y'all this evening. War Eagle!!!
His reaction gave him away, THT.
It sounds like Trickett pulled a Nall.
Michael - I think it had more to do with the way he presented it. Not diplomatic as you have put it.
sure sounds that way BigCat. Trickett did have quite the potty mouth on the practice field from what i remember.
Which reaction? The one you coaxed out of him by saying "Hey Macho, your site is over at Tidesports.com!" and "The only epic fail I see, and this is from Macho's comment, is his charade coming to an end." I see later you said you were kidding, but I didn't initially read it as such. This is the internets, much sarcasm is missed (be sure to use sarcasm fault next time)
Of course, he probably is a bammer after all this defending of him I am doing. Doh well.
If you go back to the way I presented myself at Chizik's hiring, it would put Salsa Shark to shame. Just saying, these are blog comments, people vent, no big deal.
I agree with Michael on this one. It seemed like AL.com Lite for a minute.
We don't need DRAMA between the Hotties.
I've had better than Erin Andrews..
*cough*
Why have I read coaxial on the blog so much lately.
And again Michael, when you poo pooed on Chiz. You presented it well, hence the lack of overreaction.
Michael, to be fair, if one told me to go to tidesports, I would not come back with, hey you the idiot. blah blah blah. I didn't call him any names and there were others who seemed to agree with me. I've been called a Bammer on this very board. I'm still here and I didn't cry about it.
FSJ - Haven't we all?
FSJ - you mean you've illegally taped women better than Erin Andrews? Congrats!
Michael being the voice of calm and reason?? Is this Bizaro HABOTN?
Steve if Howard runs a 4.38 at 6-0 and almost 200lbs I say put the rock in his hands!
I too have been called a bammer on this very board.
Didn't hurt my feelings..
When a guy posts a picture of bammer rb, out of the blue, with remarks that make you question his sexual preferences, it's objective to think of him as a strong bammer lean.
Lets look at in-state recruiting battles. Out of 5 commits from the state, 4 are #1 at their respective positions. Auburn has commitments from the state's #1 ILB, #1 OLB, #1 WR and #1 K.
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That's pretty stout Aeronaut.
Come on Michael. Even the most depressed fan has good enough sense to know we aren't settling for one star recruits. Heck, I will take a few two star recruits if their last name is Marks. MachoSalsaCommander is a kid trying to provoke a reaction and I am sure he is a certified al.com poster.
Michael...
They signed a waiver.
Macho Grande said...
Let's face it. Until Saban leaves, Auburn will have to deal with getting 3, 2, and 1 star guys and hoping to coach them up and to upset teams.
That's the only glimmer of light I see at this point.
He engaged in subtle Saban worship. I called his bluff. The end.
And, no, I don't think all Bama fans are stupid. FSJ isn't stupid and ummm, well..give me a minute...I will think of another one.
scottie b, the Trickett tales from Auburn would be most entertaining. That guy was(and is) a real character. Maybe Eddie will enlighten us later. Not sure how to take that news about Phillips. Trickett has that kind of reputation, and has had it for years.
Howard is coming to AU as a RB there just not saying that now because we are trying to get Corey Grant, Lache, and Dyer....use your brain
I'd put Money on Corey Grant to Bama though, it seems obvious to me...and Brian Volger :(
This has been out there for a few days, but I just now saw it. Q&A with Phillip Lolley:
Lolley
Who isn't using their brain?
Reality check time:
Saban is one of the best coaches in the country. He is a jerk and I would bet money that he is a cheater, but if you want wins, he is in the top echelon.
Chizik went 2-10 playing in the Big 12 North last year, whose best team may have come in 3rd in the MAC.
I'm no bammer. These things are self evident.
In terms of recruiting, I don't see the 1 and 2 star recruits that he is referring to. I believe all of our recruits have been at least 3 stars on both rivals and scout. I think the JUCO from Cali is listed as one star, but that is because he is a JUCO. In other words, the evidence doesn't support Macho's assertion. Now, I don't know if he is stupid, a Bama fan, or both, but I respect reasonable arguments, even if I disagree with them.
Heck, there are even some Auburn fans out there that don't believe Todd will be the starter. I don't hold it against them.
Thank you. I do, however, apologize for calling the dude out. It does not matter to me if he's a bama lean or an Auburn fan, as long as he is objective.
But I can't be nice to a guy that berates AU's recruits. That's just the nature of things.
i played a game of NCAA football on the PS2 yesterday. i went down to the swamp and beat the Gators with Todd as QB. thus, i believe Chris Todd will be opening day starting QB. the digitial guy proved it to me.
I feel a group hug coming on.
Aeronaut says it best. Also, no self-respecting Auburn fan would ever say the only way we have a chance is to have another coach leaves.
So do you guys think we really went to the moon or do you think it was faked?
And, no, I will not apologize for bad grammar.
Well did they fake it all 5 or 6 times?
Yea, we did go to the moon. It was real. But wrestling (aka raslin) is fake.
According to my wife, once you figure out how to fake something, it's not hard to do it again and again and again and again and again...
Guy disappointed that wrasslin is fake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvTNyKIGXiI
Bwahahaha, I give. Michael got me with that one. I must go clean my shorts.
Ah touche Mike, touche. I think they went. Seems like something that would have come out by now.
i'm an equal fan of real or fake. as long as something appears real.
Ignorance is bliss, eh Scottie?
Michael Jackson really isn't dead. They faked his death and he is going to have a comeback tour with Elvis and Jim Morrison in about 10 years.
I hear Cobain will be a special guest guitarist as well.
I would be tempted to go to that tour, but ultimately would decide against it. Do you have any idea how expensive those tickets would be?
word Sean.
New blog entry up re: Aubrey Phillips.
Michael, the raslin video is classic. I don't recall ever seeing anything quite like it.
At one of the places I worked we had a cleaning lady that believed raslin was real. That was back in the late 80s and early 90s. I thought these people went away with the dinosaurs.
Of course, I can't prove raslin is fake, but then again I can't prove Forrest Gump is fake or Shrek for that matter.
fake is good real is better
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