Recruiting Recap

If my memory serves me correctly, this limo was the laughing stock of the state...a silly, corny ploy our brethren of the crimson persuasion swore. "Recruits will see right through this!" they implored. Turns out recruits wanted to pile in and ride with the Tigers!

National Signing Day was the culmination of an immense amount of work this coaching staff and their peripheral staffs performed since the day they arrived in Auburn. Congrats and kudos for deciding Auburn will take a back-seat to no one. If we are intrigued with a player and determine he would make an excellent fit...damnit we are going after him full throttle. I love it...the aggressiveness is infectious and a breath of fresh air. This group of talented studs will push the upperclassmen for playing time...breeding competition and forcing everyone to improve on a daily basis.

Truth be told, several of these guys will never make it...probably the most prolific, can't miss recruit we are all penciling in as the next Auburn All American will turn out to be a dud. I remember the hype surrounding the guys from my signing class in 1997, the can't miss future NFL stars....Asa Francis-never played a down, Demontray Carter-played a season and half before transferring, Stanford Simmons-took three years to get into school, Herman Banks-quit after 6 games. I could go on and on. My point...you never really know what you have (work ethic, attitude, coachability, being a team player) until you get these guys on the field and put them in uncomfortable situations.

It's still nice and satisfying to haul in guys so highly sought after and highly ranked by our competitors and national pundits. War Eagle!

Who I'm most excited we got-1A Trovon Reed...simply for taking the number one player out of Louisiana from LSU and Alabama (with Saban's connections) is a remarkable feat. Elite level speed and quickness make Trovon an unbelievable get for this Auburn offense. 1B Shon Coleman...again, anytime you take the number one player away from another state you are good at what you do. Coleman's stock rose considerably after dominating performances against the best high school talent in America at post season all-star games, garnering him the ever elusive 5 star rating.

Who will make an immediate impact-Jake Holland...saw the kid play in person against my brother's Spain Park team and Jake was all over the field. It's much easier to play early as a defender than offensive guy and it's no secret the Auburn LB unit is lacking depth. Jake will be a tackling machine!

Diamond in the Rough-Justin Delaine...Coach Phillip Lolley will find a guy along Alabama's Black Belt every year no one has heard of and that guy will be a tough-nosed football player (see Spencer Johnson). This kid will gain 30 lbs and runs like a deer.

Who is that?, but I'll Take Him Cause He Plays Like a Demon Possessed-Joel Bonomolo...I'm still waiting for someone to block Joel on his highlight tape from wherever he played last season. Either he played against eighth graders from the Sisters of the Poor or he's an unblockable beast with an insatiable appetite for destroying the ball carrier...I'll stick with the latter til proven otherwise!

Coach that deserves the most credit-tough call...raises to Curtis Luper, Trooper Taylor, Gus Malzahn, Tracy Rocker, and Tommy Thigpen are in order. Word on the street is Tommy Thigpen is an unsung hero, a master recruiter (eventhough Trooper Taylor gets all the buzz). No wonder Florida made a run at Thigpen to join their staff.

Finally, welcome aboard Michael Dyer! This guy is will be special! And welcome aboard all the guys from metropolitan Birmingham---Springville, Moody, Bessemer, Pelham, Woodlawn----represent Birmingham for us boys!!

What are your thoughts?