As the summer months begin, prospects from all over the country are setting up official visits with programs to get a closer look at what could be their future home before the dead period begins in June.
The Auburn football program has stayed busy hosting recruits for official visits, and earlier this month it hosted 4-star defensive lineman Earnest Rankins. From Decatur, Georgia, Rankins is ranked as the No. 14 defensive lineman in the recruiting class of 2026 and the No. 14 recruit out of the Peach State.
The official visit was not Rankins' first trip to the Plains. He previously visited in January and for a Big Cat recruiting event in April. During his visit to Auburn, Rankins spent time with freshman wide receiver Sam Turner, another Decatur native who was the DL's teammate in high school.
"He loves it," Rankins said about Turner, per Auburn Rivals. "He wants me down here. He really thinks I can make a change. It's a good fit for me. I'm glad to have Sam, he can show me around and tell me what is what."
However, Turner is not the only one pushing hard for Rankins to commit to Auburn. Auburn football defensive line coach Vontrell King-Williams has made it clear to Rankins he would be a great fit on the Plains.
"He's a good coach that is always on your back," Rankins said. "You can't have a coach that lets you get away with anything. Coach Vontrell, he's a real guy. He's persevering, he's not going to stop trying to recruit me until the time for me to commit is over. That's one thing I have said with him every since he offered me. He makes sure he talks to me every week."
Rankins is set to officially visit Florida State, Ohio State and Georgia before he makes a final decision.