The Auburn football coaching staff has been working hard to recruit top prospects from the recruiting class of 2023, and that doesn’t stop with prospects that have already verbally committed to other programs.
The Tigers are pursuing a number of targets they would like to flip from other teams, including wide receiver Lamar Seymore (Miami), offensive lineman Bo Hughley (Georgia), and edge Isaiah Nixon (UCF).
Another of those targets is 3-star inside offensive lineman Ryqueeze McElderry. He is ranked as the #503 overall prospect and the #33 IOL in the recruiting class of 2023 as well as the #26 recruit out of the state of Alabama.
McElderry committed to the Georgia Bulldogs in late November of last year, but the Anniston native is keeping his options open and taking visits to other schools. He camped with the Tigers last summer, and was on campus for the 2021 Iron Bowl. This weekend, the o-lineman will take an official visit with Auburn football.
Though McElderry has so far remained firm in his commitment to Kirby Smart and the Dawgs, he told 247 Sports that he has formed a tight relationship with members of the Tigers’ coaching staff, especially second-year head coach Bryan Harsin and offensive line coach Will Friend:
"“They are real good coaches,” McElderry said. “They say I’m real important to them. They want me to be one of the guys in the class. They say I’m a great player and also a great person. They really just want to see me come to Auburn and play for them. They want me to spark a wave — get Auburn back on its feet.”"
But will McElderry actually flip from Georgia to Auburn?
"“My favorite thing (about Auburn) is I’d say the environment,” McElderry said. “And how they treat you. I love the way I get treated there. Auburn has got a pretty good shot. I’m taking an official visit there so that’s pretty much a shot right there. I get a home feeling at Georgia. If I do decide to change my mind, I need a home feeling. I need to see if, okay, I should have chosen this school.”"
While Auburn definitely has a shot with the elite lineman, there is no word on when he will make a final decision.