Auburn football: New tight end commit has the chance to be the gem of the 2021 recruiting class
The Tigers’ new TE commit could be a hidden gem in the 2021 recruiting class.
Auburn football isn’t known for its tight ends. The position has never been a big part of Gus Malzahn’s offense during his seven-year tenure as head coach. That might change with the recent commitment of three-star Landen King.
Since Malzahn was hired in 2013, no Auburn tight end has surpassed 154 receiving yards on the season but if the hire of Chad Morris as offensive coordinator and recent recruiting is any indication, it appears that the coaching staff is planning on using the position much more going forward.
King, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound athletic tight end from Atascocita high school in Humble, Texas is only ranked as the 535th best recruit in his class according to 247Sports but is ranked as the ninth-best tight end in the 2021 class on ESPN.
And while King marks the fifth tight end that the Tigers have landed since 2019, the increase in recruiting at the position is a good sign for King who still has another year of high school to add muscle and hone his skills.
Taking a look at the tight ends currently on Auburn’s roster, upcoming junior John Samuel Shenker probably has the best chance to be the starter for the team next season and the pair of Luke Deal and Tyler Fromm will have a chance to prove themselves after redshirting last season.
Additionally, the team added a pair of tight ends in the 2020 class with four-star and fellow Texas native Brandon Frazier and four-star athlete JJ Pegues who stands at 6-foot-2 and 298 pounds and projects as a tight end at the collegiate level.
Morris helped coach NFL tight ends such as Dwayne Allen and Charles Clay and part of why King committed to Auburn was Morris’ plan to use him in the future. He likely won’t make an immediate impact on The Plains due to the depth ahead of him but the former Texas commitment has the raw talent and athleticism to be an absolute weapon for Auburn.
King told Sam Spiegelman of Rivals.com about his reasoning for choosing Auburn and his relationship with Auburn OC Chad Morris.
"“It was a pretty tough one (decision), but one of the main reasons is that Coach Morris’ offense uses the tight end a lot more than Texas. They already had a plan set out for me as if I was already committed.”"
In a 2021 class that includes many high-profile recruits such as Lee Hunter, Armoni Goodwin and Dematrius Davis, it’s King who has the chance to be the hidden gem.
Next season will be a good litmus test as to whether the Tigers will utilize the tight end position more effectively under Morris but the fact that King chose Auburn over programs like Alabama, Oregon, Texas and Georgia is a great sign for the Tigers.