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Auburn Recruiting: Three Storylines to Follow on National Signing Day

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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National Signing Day is nearly here. In fact, there are fewer than 24 hours until high school prospects across the Southeast put pen to paper, sign their national letters of intent and make their commitment to the 2015 Auburn recruiting class official.

What storylines should we watch for between now and then?

The Will Muschamp Effect

When Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn made the decision to fire defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson hours following the Tigers’ 55-44 loss to Alabama in the Iron Bowl, there was immediate speculation that Will Muschamp – himself recently fired as the head coach of the Florida Gators – was the best option to replace Johnson.

Nov 15, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp reacts after they were called for a pass interference penalty during the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Florida Gators 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

And for good reason as Malzahn pointed out shortly after hiring Muschamp.

“First of all, he’s one of the best defensive minds in all of football,” Malzahn said during the press conference announcement. “He’s got a great reputation (as a recruiter). The kids love to play for him. The success he’s had is unbelievable. He provides a whole lot.”

Muschamp brought along defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson from Florida and Lance Thompson left Alabama to become the linebackers coach, both of which rank among the nation’s best recruiters.

That combination opened a lot of doors for the Tigers in this year’s class, most notably with five-stars like Byron Cowart, CeCe Jefferson and Terry Beckner, Jr., but also in the state of Florida as a whole – and specifically South Florida. However, since the trio came on board, the Tigers have added only one player – three-star defensive back Jeremiah Dinson – and only after losing Chris Westry to Kentucky.

Muschamp immediately raised Auburn’s profile among the nation’s elite defensive recruits, but will his hire help the Tigers to actually sign some of them?

An Opportunity to Make a Splash

Auburn already has a solid class. With 20 commitments currently, the Tigers are ranked 12th in the 247Sports team rankings heading into Wednesday’s decision day. But there is still room for improvement. 

More from Auburn Football Recruiting

“Auburn and (Southern Cal) out west, they are the two teams that I see putting themselves in position to maybe have the biggest Signing Day splash when it’s all said and done,” ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill said Monday morning on a national conference call. “At the end of the day I think those two teams could find themselves in a really good situation.”

If Muschamp comes through – and Malzahn’s  high-octane offense intrigues a few other top-notch offensive targets to join the 2015 Auburn recruiting class, the Tigers have an opportunity to make a huge splash on National Signing Day. We’re talking huge.

On Monday, we outlined the best-case scenario for the Auburn recruiting class. It’s obviously a stretch to think the Tigers can sign as many as six five-star prospects, but it is possible. Even if Malzahn and company just add one or two big name players, Auburn will be one of the most talked about teams on Signing Day.

The SEC Ain’t Dead Yet 

Around 10:15 AM Central, ESPNU – which will have over 11 hours of live marathon coverage on National Signing Day – tweeted an interesting fact:

And that’s before some of the biggest prospects in the nation commit, including Auburn targets Byron Cowart, CeCe Jefferson, Martez Ivey and Jeffrey Holland – all of which are locks to sign with a school in the Southeastern Conference.

The league may not have won a football national championship in either of the last two seasons, but it still hauls in the most talented players in the country, and is set up well for future success.

Of course, that means the hill to climb for Auburn to get back to the SEC Championship and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff gets steeper every year.

Next: Updated National Signing Day Odds & Predictions

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