Brandon Martin Commitment The Start Of July Fireworks For Auburn?

When Brandon Martin, out of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, pledged to Auburn on Friday, the first day of July, he may have signaled the start of a big month on the recruiting trail for the Tigers coaching staff and football program.

Considered among the recruiting services as a consensus four-star prospect and the top-ranked junior college wide receiver, Martin, who is originally from Monroe, La., is listed between 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds. A huge commitment for Auburn, the former LSU signee and Under Armour All-American will be capable of contributing immediately.

Auburn had long been Martin’s leader, and his Big Cat visit in early June had him thinking about committing at the time. He was able to hold off — but not for long.

At least two other Tigers verbals have intimated that July could provide pyrotechnic results for Auburn’s 2017 recruiting class, including five-star offensive tackle commit Calvin Ashley.

Ashley later relayed that Martin wasn’t one of the recruits he was referencing.

Where could these potential fireworks originate from? Nike’s The Opening, which kicks off tomorrow and is perhaps the premier recruiting event of the year, could be — for Auburn — where the fuse gets lit.

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Why?

On May 14, offensive line coach Herb Hand had a top target visit in Nick Brahms (No. 69/247Sports) of Navarre, where he was offered in-person. Following an outstanding Big Cat experience, Auburn took the clear-cut lead in his recruitment. Brahms was back on campus less than two weeks later. North Carolina and Tennessee may be the main competition — but both appear to trail. Brahms could commit as early as The Opening.

But that’s not all.

The Tigers were believed to be the leader for tight end Tre’ McKitty (No. 246/ESPN) before Big Cat, and, after that strong visit, not much has changed. The primary opposition, though, appears to be Oregon more-so than early threat Florida. McKitty also could — and plans to — commit at The Opening.

Needless to say, reeling in both Brahms and McKitty, both major Auburn targets, would be yet another boost to a suddenly sizzling recruiting class, a class that has gained major steam after going from early August–early May without a single commitment.

Said four-star defensive back Malcolm Askew after Martin’s commitment was announced:

If Brahms and McKitty (potentially) are not enough pyro, more could come in late July when athlete Tray Bishop (No. 79/247Sports) plans to announce his college destination.

This appears to have Auburn battling against in-state Georgia. Whereas the Bulldogs plan to play Bishop at receiver, the Tigers are offering him the opportunity to be a quarterback at the college level. Bishop says publicly that that isn’t a major concern of his — playing quarterback — but his tweet after Martin committed may reveal otherwise:

The Tigers coaching staff, not willing of course to sit back and hope for the best, are planning a new, major recruiting event — similar to Big Cat — in late July. They are clearly going all-out to make this month a boon for the Auburn class of 2017.

It appears quite possible it will be just that.