All focus on the Plains right now may be on the upcoming Birmingham Bowl and the pending offensive coordinator hire, but Auburn football may quietly make a huge move this weekend on the recruiting trail to shake up the 2022 recruiting class. There is also news out of Baton Rouge that will work in the Tigers’ favor this weekend as they host an extremely important visitor on the Plains.
Earlier this week it was announced that new LSU head coach Brian Kelly would not retain Corey Raymond as the defensive backs coach for the Tigers and Raymond would accept an assistant head coaching job for Florida Gators, in which he would also serve as the cornerbacks coach for the Gators. Raymond has been on the LSU staff since 2012 and is responsible for landing top CB prospects such as Derek Stingley, Elias Ricks, Jamal Adams, and Tre’Davious White.
Many experts expect the defensive back commitments for the LSU Tigers to explore some other options; including a long-time Auburn Football target in 4-star JaDarian Rhym.
Rhym has taken multiple visits to the Plains this fall, including unofficial visits for the Ole Miss and Alabama games this season.
Enjoyed my time at the Iron Bowl on Saturday 🦅 #WDE @TrovonReed @ZacEtheridge4 pic.twitter.com/oEcOvg1yZk
— JD Rhym (@JaDarianRhym2_) November 29, 2021
Rhym currently is a 4-star cornerback in the 2022 recruiting cycle and ranks as the #168 overall player and #21 CB in the current recruiting class. If Auburn could flip Rhym from LSU; he would become the highest ranked recruit in the Tigers’ 2022 recruiting class and would help the class jump to #25 in the 2022 cycle, which would be good for 9th best in the SEC since Rhym’s decommitment would drop LSU below Auburn in the rankings.
The Tigers will have their final shot to flip Rhym this weekend as he takes his final official visit before the Early Signing Period this weekend on the Plains. This will mark the third time Rhym has been on campus since the 1st week of November and Raymond’s departure has to have the defensive staff feeling confident.
Keith Niebuhr of Auburn Undercover has placed a crystal ball prediction for Rhym flipping to Auburn before the signing period next week. AU has the best shot to land one of their best CB prospects in multiple years and will need to bring in talent to replace their best CB next season as Roger McCreary takes his talents to the NFL.
This weekend could mark the first huge flip for this new Auburn football defensive staff and you shouldn’t be surprised if Rhym winds up committing to the Tigers this weekend as Auburn looks to win another battle against the Tigers from Baton Rouge.