WEEKEND CATCH-UP: Belated 70 Days to Kickoff! - Zion Puckett

As we continue our march to kickoff, we take a look at the top 100 recruits to sign with Auburn of all-time*. The rankings are based on 247’s composite recruit rankings, which unfortunately only date back to 2000.

THE RECRUIT

When a recruit has Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, and Auburn on his list, you know he’s got to be one of the most coveted guys in the class. Such was the case for Zion Puckett, a two-way player out of Griffin, Georgia in the 2019 class. Puckett played DB and wide receiver in high school, and during his recruitment got looks at both positions at the next level. Here’s AUNerd’s take on Puckett:

I’m a huge Zion Puckett fan. I personally believe he’s one of the top 50 players in the country in this 2019 class. At 6’0” 200 lbs, Puckett possesses great length and size for the cornerback spot. But what I love most about him is his attitude. He plays with an edge and isn’t looking to just win at the point of attack, he wants to dominate. Puckett has elite ball skills and is definitely not afraid to stick his nose in on run support. Auburn could also use him on the offensive side of the ball if they wanted given his explosive playmaking abilities but his future is most likely in the defensive backfield. He will start out at cornerback.

Puckett decided to keep his recruitment low-profile, though, largely shying away from “Top 10” or “Top 5 Lists” on social media. He ultimately committed to the Tigers in August before his senior year, and was one of the first to get his LOI faxed in on signing day.

Auburn recruited the highly touted athlete as a defensive back, and as an early enrollee, Puckett was able to get more reps than expected in the spring. With Jordyn Peters out with injury, DB coach Marcus Woodson slotted the freshman in behind Christian Tutt at nickel. Unless Peters’s injury lingers into the season, Zion will likely redshirt, but he’s a name to keep an eye on in 2020 when Auburn graduates three of its top four defensive backs.

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/6/24/18716222/weekend-catch-up-belated-70-days-to-kickoff-zion-puckett