Auburn Football Recruiting: QB Domino To Fall?

There is some potentially big Auburn football recruiting news concerning the most important position on the field.

With the firing of Art Briles on Friday, Baylor pledge Kellen Mond (No. 48/ESPN) — always a high priority for the Tigers and even more-so after former commit Lowell Narcisse (No. 38/ESPN) verballed to in-state LSU — is on the brink of decommitting from the Bears. The top contenders appear to be Auburn and Ohio State.

Despite Auburn recently offering Avery Davis (No. 131/ESPN), a Notre Dame commitment out of Texas, on May 17 and still working on Narcisse, should Mond want to commit to the Tigers, his pledge would instantly be accepted, closing the door on the position for the cycle with a terrific system-fit.

Mond is expected to make a decision soon. While it could be to formally announce his decommitment from Baylor, it may be an outright flip. Needless to say, it would be a major pull for Auburn and Rhett Lashlee and an equally sizable boost to 2017 recruiting should it come to pass.

Due to the Elite 11, Mond will not be in Auburn this weekend for Big Cat.

Elsewhere on the trail . . .

» Briles’ firing, in addition to making Mond’s exit of the Baylor class all but inevitable, also led to both the decommitment of wide receiver Hezekiah Jones (No. 109/ESPN, Rivals), a Texas native, and Auburn, seeing the opened door, offering him just hours later.

» Another highly ranked receiver prospect formerly committed to Baylor, Jhamon Ausbon (No. 41/247Sports), is a teammate of Mond’s at IMG Academy in Florida. Should Mond flip his commitment to Auburn, it could only help the Tigers with Ausbon, who backed off his pledge to the Bears even before Briles was dismissed. Rhett Lashlee and Kodi Burns are in frequent contact. Ausbon is expected at Big Cat, but due in large part to him being from Houston originally, Texas A&M will be major competition.

» The Tigers are still a leader for Tre’ McKitty (No. 233/ESPN), yet another top target out of IMG Academy with whom Mond’s potential pledge could only help. The tight end’s stock is likely to rise, and the primary competition appears to be Florida and Oregon. He is expected at Big Cat.

» Auburn is likely running third behind Georgia and Tennessee, in that order, for wide receiver target Jeremiah Holloman (No. 77/ESPN) of Covington, Ga., but Auburn had him on campus May 7 for the second time this year. He seems especially fond of Travis Williams and Burns. Holloman is expected at Big Cat.

» The Tigers aren’t only going out-of-state for wide receiver targets. Henry Ruggs III (No. 129/247Sports) out of Montgomery’s Robert E. Lee High School has visited Auburn’s campus multiple times. He is expected at Big Cat.

» Four of Auburn’s five commitments — Calvin Ashley, Alaric Williams, Tadarian Moultry (@Humble10_), and Carlito Gonzalez — are expected to be at Big Cat this weekend. The Tigers staff is no doubt hoping the current pledges will help build the recruiting momentum for Auburn before, during, and after one of the true marquee recruiting weekends in all of college football.

» Linebacker Markail Benton (No. 44/247Sports, ESPN) of Phenix City may not be the sure-thing to Auburn that many had once perceived. And another in-state Tiger linebacker target, Will Ignont (No. 55/Rivals), another player once thought to be a strong Tigers lean, didn’t turn out to be. In fact, he has given a silent commitment to a school (likely Alabama). Those two developments may or may not have anything to do with Monty Rice (No. 269/ESPN) of Madison, Ala., receiving increased contact from the Tigers coaching staff over the last several weeks, which has resulted in him developing a very good relationship with Travis Williams. Regardless, Benton and Ignont are expected at Big Cat. So is Rice.

» Madison Academy offensive tackle Austin Troxell (No. 74/247Sports) continues to struggle with a decision between two schools: Auburn and Alabama. While he has thought about committing to one school or the other multiple times, he has always decided against it. The Tigers have recruited him the longest, but he grew up rooting for the Crimson Tide. He is expected at Big Cat.

» Auburn presently seems to be on the outside looking in for offensive tackle Trey Smith (No. 1/ESPN) of Tennessee, but they’re still hoping to get him to visit for Big Cat and, if they do, Tim Horton will be a big reason why — Smith sees him as genuine and not merely a salesman.

» On May 14, Herb Hand had a Florida target visit in Nick Brahms (No. 69/247Sports) of Navarre. He was offered in-person and is expected at Big Cat.

» Also on May 14, Auburn made the top-eight for Ty Chandler (No. 42/247Sports), a coveted running back prospect out of Nashville, Tenn. With Chandler’s father playing the same position at Ole Miss and with Ohio State and USC among his favorites, he won’t be an easy get. Chandler was on the Auburn campus in March, and he is especially fond of Horton and his penchant for putting his running backs into the NFL. He may visit for Big Cat.

» The Tigers hope to give commit Alaric Williams (No. 107/247Sports) at least one tag team partner at running back in this cycle, and if Chandler doesn’t work out, ex-Ohio State pledge Bruce Judson (No. 88/Rivals) is another possibility. He hears from Horton and Scott Fountain. The Cocoa, Fla., talent has been on campus, and is an ex-teammate of Auburn defensive back Jamel Dean. He may visit for Big Cat.

» Continuing at running back: Elite Mississippi talent and former Alabama commit Cam Akers (No. 22/Scout) named a top 10 on Wednesday, and the Tigers made the cut. Two days later, he visited Auburn’s campus and stayed for several hours before visiting Georgia on Saturday. Akers plans to visit Auburn again.

» A few weeks ago, two Georgia defensive linemen, Aubrey Solomon (No. 61/ESPN) and Markaviest Bryant (No. 89/ESPN) were paid a visit by Rodney Garner. Garner can be picky at his position group this year after a terrific haul last cycle. Alabama and Florida are heavily after Solomon, as they are — along with Georgia — with Bryant. Both are expected at Big Cat.

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» Another Georgia defensive linemen, M.J. Webb (No. 175/Rivals) of Madison claims no leaders, but his leaders seem to be Auburn and South Carolina. He has been on the Tigers campus multiple times and will be back for Big Cat.

» Junior college wide receiver target Brandon Martin, an ex-LSU signee, plans to be at Big Cat. It will be his first time on the Auburn campus. Despite that, the Tigers look to be, at this point, his leader. A teammate of his at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, offensive tackle D’Marcus Hayes, will join him. A strong visit could put Martin on commit-watch.

» On May 22, Auburn was listed as the leader for cornerback prospect Malcolm Askew (No. 113/ESPN) of McCalla, Ala., by the prospect himself — something that has been the case for some time now. He is expected at Big Cat and cites regular contact with head coach Gus Malzahn himself as a reason for the Tigers standing out at this time.

This weekend will be huge for Auburn recruiting, even if they don’t score any new additions to the commitment list after it’s over. As has been shown year after year, a solid percentage of the players who visit end up inking with the Tigers come Signing Day. Its goal is to build momentum, and that’s exactly what it will do.

Mond announcing his intention to become a Tiger — should it occur — shortly before or shortly after Big Cat Weekend would only add to it.