Auburn football is no stranger when it comes to competition in recruiting. The Tigers share the region with powerhouse neighbors Alabama and Georgia and have to consistently beat their SEC competitors for the top recruits each year.
Head coach Bryan Harsin has stepped up the recruiting game from last year, sending his coaching staff out across the state and beyond to scout out top recruits and make a case for Auburn football. Now, the hard work is paying off as these prospects head to the Plains for official visits.
This weekend, 4-star linebacker CJ Allen spent time on campus for his official visit. Allen is ranked as the #167 overall prospect and the #10 linebacker in the recruiting class of 2023 as well as the #15 recruit out of the state of Georgia.
The current favorite to land the linebacker is UGA, but according to Auburn Undercover’s Phillip Dukes, Auburn football is giving the Dawgs a run for their money. Strong relationships and a hometown feel are high on Allen’s list of priorities when choosing a school, and he places a lot of value on his relationship with Auburn football linebackers coach Christian Robinson.
Allen previously visited the Plains earlier this year in the spring, and he is being recruited hard both by Coach Robinson and the Tigers’ returning linebacker Owen Pappoe, and Fly War Eagle reported the impact of Pappoe on Allen’s recruitment:
"“He played his freshman year and he’s a great guy to watch,” Allen said. “It’s a big deal (to be able to talk with him). He’s on the same path I’m on and I’m trying to get to his level. It’s one thing when you hear it, but it’s another thing when you see it from the source. It’s a great thing.”"
Although UGA is currently favored to land CJ Allen, a fantastic official visit to Auburn may be enough to beat out the Dawgs.