Auburn football: UGA OL commit opens up on AU visit

The Auburn football coaching staff has been pushing hard to get top prospects from the recruiting class of 2023 and is continuing to pursue those recruits that have already committed to other schools.

One of those already-committed prospects that the Tigers are going after hard is offensive lineman Ryqueeze McElderry, who has been committed to Kirby Smart and the Dawgs since November of last year. McElderry is listed as the #504 overall prospect and the #33 inside offensive lineman in the recruiting class of 2023 as well as the #26 recruit out of the state of Alabama.

Though McElderry is still firm in his commitment to UGA, he has continued to explore all of his options throughout his commitment. He spent this past weekend on the Plains for an official visit with Auburn football, and said he was immediately made to feel like family, per Auburn Undercover:

"“When I first got here everybody opened the doors for me and my family and welcomed us like a big family,” McElderry said of his trip to Auburn. “That’s what it’s all about. It might be a business at the end of the day, but then again these are the people I’m going to be around every single day. They just welcomed me. That stood out to me a lot.”"

McElderry has been to campus multiple times in the past, for practices and games, but he emphasized to Auburn Undercover the new perspective he has on the Tigers after having an official visit:

"“It’s a 10, everything was top 10,” McElderry said. “Ever since the first day I got here it’s a different side of Auburn I haven’t seen yet. Coming to camp and coming to a game is just the little stuff, but coming on an official you see more of what Auburn has to offer.”"

The OL will take official visits to both Georgia and Tennessee before making his final decision, but being cousins with Auburn commit Bradyn Joiner, and spending time building relationships with the Tigers’ coaching staff has put Auburn football in a good position to flip Ryqueeze McElderry.