2022 Auburn football commit sets official visits with Florida, UCF

Though Auburn football head coach Bryan Harsin and his coaching staff are handing out offers left and right for the recruiting class of 2022, the Tigers so far only have three commits in Holden Geriner, Powell Gordon, and Jarell Stinson. Despite having committed to Auburn, Jarell Stinson recently set official visits to the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida.

Stinson, a three-star cornerback, hails from the neighboring town of Opelika and committed to playing for the Tigers in December. He was recruited by former head coach Gus Malzahn but officially committed the day after Malzahn was fired from the program.

He has since gotten to know the new coaching staff and is still locked in on Auburn despite being heavily recruited by other schools. According to AL.com, Stinson grew up an Auburn fan and wants to be on the Plains for college:

"“Auburn is still the school I want to go to,” he told AL.com last week. “I’m still receiving offers and kind of looking around, but Auburn is where I want to be. I’m still locked in. I’ve been talking the new coaches a lot and like what I’ve heard.”"

Stinson received a second offer from Gus Malzahn once he was hired at UCF, and though Stinson has not reneged on his commitment he has set an official visit to the program that is now being run by his original recruiters. His ties to Florida extend back to Malzahn’s Auburn coaching staff as well in the Gators’ cornerbacks coach Wesley McGriff.

GatorCountry.com reports that Florida is high on Stinson’s preference list of schools despite being committed to Auburn football which is primarily due to his relationship with McGriff, which carried over from the Plains to the Sunshine State:

"“It’s a really good relationship,” he said of the relationship with McGriff. “Him going to Florida made it stronger I think because it showed that he’s still interested in me. I’ve talked to some of the players that he’s coached and they all say what a great coach he is.”"

Stinson is not a recruit that the Tigers want to miss out on, especially because he’s essentially a local. Listed as the #19 recruit out of the state of Alabama and the #54 recruit in his position, the cornerback finished the 2020 season with 57 total tackles and one tackle for loss.

He’s scheduled official visits to UF first on June 4, followed by UCF on June 11, and then Auburn on June 18. An official visit to the Plains should be enough to convince a life-long Auburn fan that this is where he belongs.