Editor's note: This is the third of a nine-part series analyzing Auburn's position-by-position recruiting wishlist for the 2019 class.
After stocking up on wide receivers in the 2018 class, Auburn is planning for a slightly smaller group in the 2019 cycle.
The Tigers signed four wide receivers this year, including four-star prospects Anthony Schwartz, Matthew Hill and Seth Williams, as well as three-star receiver Shedrick Jackson. That, combined with the fact that Auburn will lose only two senior receivers to graduation -- Ryan Davis and Will Hastings, barring a medical redshirt for Hastings, who tore his ACL in the spring -- after this season, mean the team will have plenty of depth for 2019. As such, Auburn is planning to sign three wide receivers with its 2019 class.
The Tigers already have two of those three locked in for this class, with commits from four-star receivers George Pickens and three-star wideout Ja'Varrius Johnson.
Pickens is Auburn's longest-standing commit in the 2019 class, having kicked off the Tigers' impressive run on the recruiting trail with a commitment 11 months ago. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder out of Hoover is rated as the No. 8 receiver in the nation, the fourth-best player in Alabama and the 51st overall prospect in the 2019 class.
Pickens, who has been playing 7-on-7 this offseason with quarterback Bo Nix, a fellow Auburn commit, is the Tigers' second-highest rated commit in this class, behind only five-star linebacker Owen Pappoe.
Johnson is one of the newest members of Auburn's 2019 class, committing nearly two weeks ago after impressing the coaching staff at an on-campus camp. The 5-foot-9, 164-pounder out of Hewitt-Trussville may lack in size, but he makes up for it in speed -- fitting a similar mold to former Hewitt-Trussville receiver Noah Igbinoghene, who is now likely to start at cornerback as a sophomore for Auburn.
While Johnson is only a three-star recruit and rated as the No. 212 receiver in the class, his stock has been on the rise in recent weeks -- garnering an offer from Mississippi State less than a week before he was offered by Auburn -- and his overall rating stands to improve between now and signing day, especially if he puts together a solid senior season.
5-star receiver Jadon Haselwood: Georgia 'probably concerned' about Auburn visit
With those two on board, Auburn has one remaining spot to fill at receiver, with several options still on the table. Chief among those is five-star receiver Jadon Haselwood, the No. 1 receiver in the nation, No. 6 overall prospect in this class--and a Georgia commit. Haselwood visited Auburn earlier this month for Big Cat Weekend -- and has made multiple visits this offseason -- and the Tigers remain in the mix for the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder after giving him something to think about.
Another target is four-star receiver Devonta Lee, the No. 16 receiver in the nation and one of the top recruits in Louisiana. Lee hasn't been to campus since last spring, but back in late March he named Auburn among his top 12 schools. Still, this is expected to come down to LSU and Alabama.
Four-star receiver Elijah Higgins, the nation's No. 17 receiver, was on campus for a visit last week, while four-star receiver Dannis Jackson -- one of the top prospects in Mississippi -- was on campus back in February, and the Tigers remain in the mix for him.
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.
from Auburn Sports Impact http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2018/06/auburn_wr_recruiting_wishlist.html
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