Auburn football: Tigers make the cut for several big-time recruits

Auburn’s recruiting efforts in 2021 are could lead to a huge payoff.

As of writing, Auburn football’s 2021 recruiting class is lacking. Gus Malzahn and his staff have only received commitments from 10 recruits and although there is definitely talent there, the class currently ranks 32nd in the nation and ninth in the SEC.

Under Malzahn, the Tigers have finished no worse than No. 12 in recruiting class rankings per the 247Sports Composite. So, as it stands now, Auburn has a lot of work to do if they want to continue that level of success in 2021.

The good news is, things are absolutely trending in the right direction for the Tigers. In the last few days, multiple blue-chip recruits have named Auburn as one of their top five or even top three schools.

The biggest recruit of the bunch is undoubtedly five-star cornerback Ga’Quincy McKinstry. McKinstry is rated as the top cornerback prospect in the nation and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Alabama.

On Sunday, the five-star recruit cut his list down from five to three which included Auburn, Alabama and LSU.

https://twitter.com/GaQMcK1/status/1284987265777913857

The Pinson Valley high school standout is a former teammate of Auburn QB Bo Nix and also has an interest in playing college basketball at whatever school he chooses. The Tigers are obvious contenders for McKinstry who would instantly be the gem of their 2021 class.

Other than McKinstry, Auburn also made the top five for Florida safety Ahmari Harvey. A native of Tallahassee, Harvey tweeted out his top five schools on Friday which includes SEC schools Auburn, Florida, LSU and Texas A&M as well as the nearby Florida State.

Harvey is rated a four-star recruit, the No. 8 safety prospect in the 2021 class and a top 30 player in the state of Florida.

Auburn already has commitments from three-star defensive backs Phillip O’Brien Jr. and Tar’varish Dawson. Just like Harvey, both players are from Florida but Harvey would be the highest-rated of the trio.

Lastly, while he didn’t cut his list down this past week, four-star defensive end Jeremiah Williams tweeted out on Saturday that he is ready to make his college decision.

https://twitter.com/officiallscoob/status/1284633503846539266

Williams has been a major target for the Tigers for quite a long time. The 6-foot-3, 224-pound pass rusher out of Birmingham announced his top six schools in June and that included Auburn, Alabama, Oklahoma, LSU, Florida and UGA.

However, Auburn and Florida are seen by most as the two most likely destinations for the four-star recruit.

With his decision likely coming any day now, Williams to Auburn would be a huge get for Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele. Williams is the No. 104 recruit in the nation and is a top-five player in Alabama.

According to 247Sports’ class calculator, a commitment from all three of those players would move Auburn’s 2021 all the way up to No. 13 in the country. With other big-time recruits such as Amarius Mims and Smael Mondon also considering the Tigers, Auburn has plenty of potential to overcome their lackluster 2021 recruiting class.