4-star Vigor linebacker Isaac McNeil's commitment to the Auburn Tigers on Tuesday rubbed those in Gumptown the wrong way. Not so much that McNeil didn't choose the Alabama Crimson Tide, but more so how the announcement was made.
McNeil, with his family surrounding him, picked up a University of Alabama mullet "A" hat and announced that he was going to play for the Crimson Tide. Then, he sat back down, waited a few seconds, and put on an orange and blue AU hat.
Bama Hammer's John Mitchell had a great explanation for why this wasn't a case of Auburn outdueling their Iron Bowl rival for a recruit. Simply put, Alabama already landed 4-star LB Kenneth Simon II to fill the role. Sounds about right. No notes. Then, Mitchell coped about McNeil's decision in a way that should give any Tiger fan a chuckle.
Auburn football staff accused of staging Isaac McNeil's announcement troll
Mitchell accused some higher-up within the Auburn football program of staging McNeil's announcement in a way to troll the Tide, mainly as a way to generate more buzz. Yes, actually.
"Golesh is trying to build momentum for a program that desperately needs it, and nothing fires up the Auburn fanbase more than a perceived "win" over Alabama. Hypothetical wins over Alabama are all they can point to, considering how the last six Iron Bowls have gone. They've got to have something to grasp onto. There's a pretty good chance that McNeil's stunt was orchestrated by the Auburn staff to begin with; they know nothing generates buzz like the Alabama brand," Mitchell wrote.
Interesting theory. Truthfully, the most believable part of that accusation is something not mentioned: McNeil made the classic "University of Auburn" mistake. That'd be a great way to throw everyone off the trail about the troll being fake.
In all seriousness, though, Alex Golesh and his staff are quiet warriors. This was a DJ Durkin/Brad Wilson pursuit, too. Those guys are the last who'd instruct a recruit to make a statement about Alabama.
Golesh and Co. are being deliberate in doing everything possible to prepare for the Iron Bowl. It's not likely that they are trying to rope in the most important moment of a young man's life, one who is from the Mobile metro and grew up on the rivalry, to score cheap points on the Tide. Especially since it's an overdone recruiting announcement decision trope to pull the bait-and-switch with team hats.
What's far more likely is that McNeil is the one who planned it, knowing that it'd get a much bigger reaction. Based on his family's reaction, perhaps it was something a family member orchestrated with him to troll one of the others present in that room.
Either way, the Tigers are getting a strong WILL linebacker who can cover the entire field. McNeil can set the edge well, effectively drop back in coverage, and is elite at chasing down runners from anywhere. Alabama is seemingly content with who they got last month.
Let's call it a win-win, with a side of harmless rivalry trolling that isn't part of any grander conspiracy.
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