2015 Auburn Football Recruiting Class Player Profiles

22 of 28

Dec 7, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view of Auburn Tigers and Missouri Tigers fans during the second quarter of the 2013 SEC Championship game at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

Montavious Atkinson

Position: Inside Linebacker/Safety
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 200 pounds
Hometown: Fairburn, Georgia
Previous School: Langston Hughes High School
National Position Rank: No. 10 247Sports Composite, No. 34 ESPN
National Overall Rank: No. 274 247Sports Composite

A linebacker in high school but built like a safety at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Montavious Atkinson was originally recruited to play the hybrid linebacker/safety Star position in former defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson’s 4-2-5 defense.

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However, that position no longer exists in the Auburn defense under new DC Will Muschamp.

Now, he’s likely to make the transition to the secondary as a safety or nickel back. Atkinson is fast and athletic enough to make the move, and he was quite raw as a high school linebacker anyway – often relying on pure talent rather than technique. With the high quality coaching he’ll get from Muschamp and defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson, Atkinson should become a much improved player over time.

A relatively low-profile three-star recruit, Atkinson has a lot of room to grow and develop. He’s a high-ceiling player that could surprise down the line, especially if he takes his hard-hitting linebacker mentality to the defensive backfield. Expect the Georgia native to redshirt in 2015 but to develop into a contributor in the years to come.

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