Auburn football is hosting quite a large number of visitors this weekend for their toughest game yet against the #2 Georgia Bulldogs. Past and prospective players alike will converge on the Plains this weekend, and it could turn out to be a huge recruiting success if the Tigers play well.
As of today, eight of the eleven commits in Auburn football’s class of 2022 will attend the Georgia game this weekend, per Keith Niebuhr of Auburn Undercover. Caden Story (DL), Omari Kelly (WR), Kobi Albert (ATH), Micah Riley-Ducker (TE), Jay Fair (WR), Powell Gordon (LB), Alex McPherson (K), will all be in attendance this weekend in addition to Tre Donaldson (S), who will be taking his official basketball visit.
Three more class of 2022 commits–Damari Alston (RB), Holden Geriner (QB), and Caleb Wooden (S)–will also be on the Plains for their official visits with Auburn football, in addition to Baton Rouge native Austin Ausberry, a 4-star cornerback who has yet to commit.
Taking my Official To The Plains This Weekend 😁🦅.. #WDE
— DA ♛ (@DamariAlston) October 5, 2021
In addition to the class of 2022 commits, first-year head coach Bryan Harsin and his staff will be hosting 24 other prospects from the classes of 2022-2025. Five of the eight visiting recruits in the 2022 class have already committed to other schools, but the Tigers will have a chance to flip them with a strong showing against the Dawgs this weekend.
The other three 2022 prospects heading to the Plains for unofficial visits–in addition to official visitor Austin Ausberry–have not yet chosen where they will continue their college career, which makes them especially important visitors.
Read on to learn more about four major 2022 prospects visiting Auburn football this weekend.
Key Visitor #1: Austin Ausberry (CB)
This 4-star cornerback right out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana has surprisingly not yet committed to LSU, which gives Bryan Harsin the perfect opportunity to make an impression with the prospect–especially after Auburn’s performance in Death Valley last weekend.
Ausberry visited Michigan in September, and according to Wolverines Wire, he’s more concerned about finding the right coaching staff and a winning culture than just playing in the SEC. However, he could have it both ways if the Tigers could convince him to stay down south.
The LA native is currently ranked as the #14 player out of the state and the #24 cornerback in the class of 2022. Ausberry is likely to wait until the end of the high school football season before making a final decision.
Key Visitor #2: Rodney Johnson (CB)
3-star cornerback Rodney Johnson hails from Gadsden, AL, just about two and a half hours north of the Plains. The CB visited Kentucky for their big defeat of Florida earlier this season and has trips planned to Mississippi State and Tennessee, per On3 Sports.
Johnson previously visited the Plains for Auburn football’s Big Cat Weekend over the summer and will be returning this weekend before making his official commitment on October 16. According to his Twitter, Johnson’s top schools include Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Illinois, and Liberty:
Johnson is currently ranked as the #48 recruit out of the state of Alabama and the #107 cornerback in the recruiting class of 2022.
The next two key visitors for the Georgia game are a pair of Auburn High School students with local connections.
Key Visitor #3: Eston Harris Jr. (OT)
3-star offensive tackle Eston Harris Jr. has been a major target for Bryan Harsin and his new staff since he took over the head coaching role. Harris has spent this season playing alongside Auburn football commit Powell Gordon at Auburn High.
Harris’ original Top 5 schools included Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Oregon, and Auburn, but now the two programs at the top are Florida and Auburn, per Auburn Undercover. Harris was on the Plains for the Georgia State game, and prior to that, he visited The Swamp.
Harris is currently ranked as the #15 player in the state of Alabama and the #40 offensive tackle in the recruiting class of 2022. He is predicted to choose Auburn, but won’t be making an official decision until October 28. The OT would add huge value to Harsin’s first real recruiting class.
Key Visitor #4: Drew Bobo (OT)
The last of the key visitors heading to Auburn this weekend is 3-star offensive tackle and son of Auburn football’s offensive coordinator, Drew Bobo. He is an important recruit for the Tigers because building up the offensive line, a consistent area of struggle, is a big goal for Bryan Harsin.
For Bobo, the race is coming down between Georgia and Auburn, so this weekend could be make-or-break in terms of his recruitment. He has visited both programs and camped with the Tigers over the summer. The OT has been at three Auburn football games this season and enjoyed how into the game the crowd was in addition to the grit the Tigers showed in coming back to defeat Georgia State.
Drew Bobo is currently listed as the #26 recruit in the state of Alabama and the #56 OT in the recruiting class of 2022. Though he continues to insist he’s close to making a decision, no final date has been set.