The Auburn football program did not get the best news earlier this week when 4-star Shadarius Toodle flipped his commitment from the Tigers to Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs. Toodle had been committed to Auburn since last July, but the Dawgs crept up in his recruitment over the last year.
From Mobile, Alabama, Toodle was made a priority by the Auburn coaching staff as an in-state recruit, and Toodle himself emphasized his strong relationships with the coaches, especially defensive coordinator DJ Durkin. He left his official visit saying that his other visits didn't compare to his time on the Plains even after saying that Georgia was his top school earlier in the summer.
Despite his strong feelings after his Auburn visit, Toodle ultimately decided to flip to Georgia, and it was for a damning reason if you're an Auburn football supporter.
“Georgia develops linebackers,” Toodle said, per AL.com. “I felt like it was the best decision for me... I just felt like that wasn’t going to get me to the NFL in the long run. I felt like the development at Georgia was better.”
The Tigers have struggled with sending talent to the NFL over the last few years, and linebacker Eugene Asante surprisingly went undrafted this year after a strong showing in the combine. Though the talent level has increased on the Plains and Auburn football is hoping to produce at least one first-round draft pick this season, the record from the last few years supports Toodle's case.
There is still plenty of time before signing day in December for things to change, but as of now, the 4-star linebacker is insisting that he is locked in with Georgia.