Auburn football: 3 important recruits visiting the Tigers this weekend

Despite the less-than-great record that the Auburn football team has, this weekend’s matchup against the Texas A&M Aggies is set to be the biggest of the season. With the Tigers on the verge of hiring a new coach and turning the program around, fans are reveling in the Cadillac Williams era.

Fans aren’t the only ones, though, and multiple former players are expected on the Plains this weekend in addition to many highly-ranked recruits in the classes of 2023 and 2024. Six recruits will be in Auburn for an official visit, but over 20 more prospects will be present in an unofficial capacity.

Fly War Eagle present three of the most important visitors this weekend, as well as what kind of impact they would have on the Tigers’ recruiting class.

First up on the list is 4-star tight end Jelani Thurman, who was a top target of Auburn football from early on in his recruitment. The tight end ended up choosing to commit to the Ohio State Buckeyes over the Tigers in July. However, he has visited the Plains for four home games this season, and Auburn has not stopped pushing for a flip. The #3 TE in the recruiting class of 2023, Thurman would not only add significant talent to the roster but also bump the Tigers’ rank.

Next, 4-star edge Rueben Bain will be returning for another visit, and Auburn football seems to be gaining momentum in his recruitment. The Miami native was in Jordan-Hare Stadium for the LSU game, and some believe the Tigers are currently the team to beat for Bain. Auburn has a big need at the edge position, and earning Bain’s commitment would be a big accomplishment for the program.

Last up is the package deal pair, Qua Russaw and James Smith. With the amount of times the two of them have visited the Plains for games this season, it’s clear that they like Auburn football and would like to play for the Tigers. However, as such highly-ranked recruits, they’re wanted by a lot of programs, and whether or not they end up in orange and blue likely hinges on who is hired to be the next head coach.