Auburn football locks in official visits from two Montgomery 5-star recruits

The official visit calendar continues to fill up for the Auburn football team as the summer months roll around. In addition to prepping the current roster for his second season on the Plains, head coach Bryan Harsin and his staff have also been working hard to recruit the class of 2023.

With the state of Alabama producing a large number of the top recruits in the 2023 class, Harsin and his staff have been emphasizing recruiting across Alabama and efforts to keep talent in the state. This “backyard recruiting” may be paying off as the Tigers schedule another two official visits from in-state prospects hailing from just under an hour away from the Plains in Montgomery.

Both 5-star defensive tackle James Smith and 5-star edge Jaquavious “Qua” Russaw will be in town for official visits with Auburn football on June 24. The pair currently plays together at Carver, and they are both being heavily pursued by both Alabama and Georgia in addition to Auburn.

James Smith is ranked as the #13 overall prospect and the #2 defensive lineman in the class of 2023, and is the #1 player out of the state of Alabama. He previously visited the Plains back in April, per Auburn Undercover, and getting him on campus for an official is a big deal for the Tigers.

Qua Russaw is ranked as the #27 overall prospect and the #3 edge in the recruiting class of 2023 in addition to being the #4 player out of the state of Alabama. Though the rival Crimson Tide is projected to land Russaw, his connection with the Tigers’ secondary coach Zac Etheridge as well as Auburn’s clear need for edge rushers could be enough to sway him toward the Plains.

The pair do not have a timeline for their final decision, but they are likely to continue their football careers together at the same college.