Auburn Football National Signing Day Preview, Part One: Offense

In the first of a three part series, we take a look at how Auburn’s 2017 recruiting class on the offensive side of the ball is shaping up, as Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn is looking to land his fifth consecutive top 10 class.

In 2016, Gus Malzahn pulled in perhaps the most dynamic receiving corps Auburn has seen since Tommy Tuberville brought Ben Obomanu, Devin Aromashodu, and Anthony Mix to the plains way back in 2002. This past season, freshmen receivers accounted for 54 receptions, 834 yards, and four touchdowns in Auburn’s run heavy offense. The 2017 class looks to make an impact early on the offensive line as Auburn must replace two departing seniors that helped pave the way for an Auburn backfield that finished second in the SEC in rushing last season.

Barring any injuries or departures, depth on the offensive side of the ball going into the 2017 season will be the strongest it’s been since Malzahn took over in 2013. Let’s take a look at how this year’s recruiting class is shaping up, and touch on some key names to remember as we head toward the finish line on National Signing Day, February 1.

Quarterback

The most immediate impact on offense will be felt from Baylor transfer, Jarrett Stidham, who is expected to provide a true dual threat at the quarterback position. Stidham, 6’3″ 210 pounds, comes to Auburn after racking up 1265 yards with 12 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions during his freshman campaign at Baylor. Stidham is currently enrolled for the spring semester at Auburn and is expected to be the heavy favorite to win the starting quarterback job entering fall camp.

Running Back

Entering fall camp last year, the running back position was an area of concern from the aspect of depth. Auburn freshman running back, Malik Miller, was poised to be an early contributor before a knee injury sidelined him for the season on October 1 against Louisiana-Monroe. Tampa Catholic running back, Devan Barrett, headlines this years commitments in the backfield. Barrett, listed at 6’1″ 190 pounds, has an excellent ability to see the field and make defenders miss. Another asset that can make Barrett deadly out of the backfield is his ability to catch the ball and outrun defenders.

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Receiver

Hewitt-Trussville wide receiver, Noah Igbinoghene, headlines this years receiving class. Igbinoghene chose Auburn over Notre Dame last November, but Notre Dame is making a late push for the 6’0”188 pound receiver. If Igbinoghene sticks with Auburn, he will help fill a hole left by Stanton Truitt, who announced his intention to transfer immediately following this years Sugar Bowl.

Offensive Line

Two of the biggest spots to fill on offense will come on the offensive line. Robert Leff and Alex Kozan were two of the biggest contributors on the offensive throughout their careers, but Malzahn has done a great job of rotating players to help provide depth on the line. Three big names to look out for in the 2017 recruitment class is Nick Brahms, Austin Troxell, and five star offensive tackle, Calvin Ashley.

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Calvin Ashley comes in as the number one ranked recruit out of the District of Columbia, and No. 29 overall in the nation. He is being pursued heavily by the University of Maryland and Florida State, but took to social media last week to reaffirm his commitment to Auburn University. If his commitment holds, he’ll compete for immediate playing time on the offensive line. The 6’6″ 310 pound offensive tackle has been a mismatch for whoever has lined up across from him, and impressively, he plays hard until the whistle blows which will be important in an offense with so many moving parts.

Tight End

Auburn has hasn’t put a true tight end on the field since CJ Uzomah was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2015 NFL draft. Chandler Cox has occasionally lined up in the TE position, but is usually put in motion as part of a blocking scheme. The 2017 recruiting class consists of Scottsdale Community College transfer, Salvatore Cannella. At 6’6” 230 pounds, Cannella has the athletic ability to play wideout if needed, stretch the field, and go up to the get the football. Cannella’s size makes him a great blocking threat on the outside to complement Auburn’s rushing attack. He is currently the only tight end commitment in Auburn’s 2017 recruiting class.

Athletes

Itawamba Community College transfer Octavius Mathews, is currently listed as an athlete, but played running back in junior college. He has good size at 6’2″ 200 pounds, and breakaway speed. Mathews is currently listed as the No. 1 ranked JUCO running back in the nation.

Another name to become familiar with is Malcolm Askew. He primarily played quarterback at McAdory High School, but will transition to defense which will help fill a hole left by Rudy Ford. Askew has great speed with his 40 yard time coming in at 4.50. He is currently enrolled at Auburn for spring classes so fans should get a look at him on A-Day, April 8, 2017.

Uncommitted targets to watch

On the offensive side of the ball there are several big time recruits that still remain uncommitted. Auburn is high on the list of fullbacks Chase Lasater of Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, FL., and Thomas Johnson of Spanish Fort High School in Spanish Fort, Alabama. Both are big, physical, and built very much like current Auburn Tiger fullback Chandler Cox. Johnston primarily played linebacker in high school, so it’s unclear whether or not both players will remain on the offensive side of the ball if the Tigers land both.

With signing day quickly approaching, Auburn’s commitments appear to be solid in their decisions with several highly touted recruits already enrolled in Spring semester classes at Auburn. If the remainder of the 2017 class sticks with their commitments, Auburn will be headed for another top-10 recruiting class.

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