Auburn football Roster Breakdown 2021 Auburn football Quarterbacks: Bo Nix (Jr.), Grant Loy (Sr.), TJ Finley (So.), & Dematrius Davis (Fr.) The QB position has been one that many Auburn football fans have expected more from over the past few seasons going all the way back to Nick Marshall’s departure after the 2014 season. The […]
The craziest month in college football recruiting history is upon us.
Things are about to get real.
The longest dead period in college football recruiting history comes to an end tomorrow and with it the return of the recruiting roller coaster we all know so well. Except now it’s on an even more accelerated timeline as programs and recruits race to make up for 15 months of virtual only recruiting.
June will be a month we have never seen before in college football recruiting. There is a very real chance Auburn has a visitor of some sort on campus every single day. That will likely result in a record number of commitments in July and August as high school prospects hurry to secure their spots at top college programs around the country. With the advent of the transfer portal, those spots are more precious than ever.
It sounds like Bryan Harsin and his staff have a plan. They are gearing up to meet Auburn’s top prospects in person for the very first time and have spent the past couple weeks laying the groundwork operationally to be able to host all these top recruits. Harsin’s expectations are exactly what you want to hear from the head coach.
“I want our coaches to do a great job and to enjoy a month that’s going to be somewhat of a grind, but know that we did a hell of a job at the end of June with every player that stepped foot on this campus, every kid that came to camp, even the guys that we’re not recruiting,” Harsin said. “This isn’t just about the guys that we’re taking or trying to offer and all that. It’s about everybody that comes on campus. So there’s going to be plenty of people here that don’t end up at Auburn. But when they leave here, you want them to have an experience that they’ll talk about wanting to come back.
But plans are one thing, execution is another. Every head coach at every college football program plans to recruit well and get the best talent. Only a few are able to do it on a consensus basis.
It’s time to find out whether Harsin can join them.
3-star OT Eston Harris Jr - As of now, Harris is not planning to take an official visit to Auburn. His reasoning is pretty sensible. He’d rather use that free trip on a place further away than a program right up the street. So while it’d be nice for the Tigers to host him officially, it’s more important they get him on campus as often as possible. Day 1 is a good sign. Harris is one of Auburn’s most important targets in this class. As has been written ad nauseam on this site, signing OT talent has been a problem on the Plains for multiple recruiting cycles. Harris is the exact type of prospect Auburn just hasn’t been able to secure on a consistent basis. Let’s see if this new staff can flip the script. As of today, I like Auburn’s chances.
3-star DT Tre Emory - It says a lot that Emory is planning to spend his own money to drive to Auburn from Mount Pleasant, TX on the very first day that visits are allowed. The Tigers offered Emory in late April after he’d announced a top group. He very quickly amended that list to include Auburn. He’s set official visits to Arkansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Oregon State. It would not surprise me if Auburn was the 5th. I also think that if the Tigers push they will have a great chance at landing the big Texan. Emory is a really good system fit for what Derek Mason wants to do up front.
2023 3-star OLB Jaquavious Russaw - Smith isn’t the only standout on that Carver defense that will be on campus tomorrow per Niebuhr. One of the top pass rushers in the state next cycle, Jaquavious Russaw, will be joining Smith in Auburn on Tuesday. Russaw transferred to Carver this off-season and landed an offer from the Tigers in April. Between Juwon Gaston and Marcus Harris, it’s clear Bryan Harsin is working hard to improve Auburn’s standing in Montgomery. Good time to do so considering the elite level of talent coming out of that city over the next couple of years.
Wednesday, June 2nd
4-star DT Khurtiss Perry - Speaking of elite Montgomery prospects. This is one of the most important recruitments in the 2022 cycle for Auburn. Alabama has long been viewed as the team to beat but the Tigers are working hard to change that. He’ll be in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday but then will travel to the Plains on Wednesday. This is the first time Derek Mason and Nick Eason will be able to meet with Perry in person. I think that has a chance to be a game-changer in this recruitment. However, taking kids from Nick Saban that he really wants is VERY difficult. It won’t happen much this cycle but Auburn is trying to make this one of those recruitments.
4-star OT Qae’Shon Sapp - The good news is Auburn will have a 4-star offensive tackle on campus this week. The bad news is this 4-star offensive tackle is a heavy Florida State lean right now. Sapp has scheduled 3 official visits thus far to Florida, Cincinnati, and Florida State. The Noles are the clear leader but maybe a trip to the Plains can start to change things. The Tigers are working hard to land an official visit.
Thursday, June 3rd
2023 OLB Denzel Moore - A former Indiana commit, Moore is headed to the Plains later this week. His skillset likely makes him an OLB in Auburn’s new scheme specifically the STUD which is the outside linebacker that plays to the field and is asked to do a little of everything ala Derick Hall. I think he’s got a chance to have a big junior season and rise in the rankings over the next 2 years.
Friday, June 4th
4-star WR Darrius Clemons (Official Visit) - Boise State and Auburn rarely recruited the same caliber of players so unsurprisingly many of the kids Bryan Harsin has been building relationships with over the years are unlikely to be top Tiger targets. But there are a few, none bigger than Clemons who has known Harsin and Auburn’s new Director of Recruiting Darren Uscher since middle school. That relationship has the Tigers in the thick of this recruitment and they will have the first crack at Clemons. He’s also expected to take official visits to USC, Penn State, and Michigan. I really do think Auburn has a legitimate chance to win this battle. Clemons is a day 1 impact player at wide receiver.
3-star DT Maxie Baudoin IV (Official Visit) - I really like where Auburn sits in this race heading into June. Baudoin has scheduled only one official visit thus far and it is to the Plains. The 6’3” 290 pound defensive lineman out of Louisiana was one of the first players new DL coach Nick Eason offered upon being hired. As long as LSU doesn’t jump into the race you have to like the Tigers’ chances.
3-star DL Kaleb Artis (Official Visit) - The other defensive lineman Eason immediately offered upon being hired? That would be Kaleb Artis. The 6’5” 270 lb lineman out of Fresh Meadows, NY blew up this spring landing offers from the likes of Auburn, Florida State, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. He’s already scheduled all five of his official visits with plans to see Auburn, Penn State, Virginia, Florida State, and Rutgers in the month of June. A decision is likely to come soon after.
3-star OT Jacob Hood (Official Visit) - Hood is one of Auburn’s top targets at offensive tackle. Unfortunately, he’s also one of UGA’s and grew up a fan of the Dawgs. The Tigers have some work to do if they want to win this battle but they will get the first shot at him this weekend. Can Auburn finally convince an offensive tackle that there are plenty of opportunities on the Plains to be successful?
3-star DB Emory Floyd (Official Visit) - If there is anyone on commit watch this week it’s Floyd. The playmaker out of Powder Springs, GA could play anywhere in the secondary at the next level. Despite his rating, he’s one of Auburn’s top targets in the 2022 class. He has admitted previously that Auburn is the team to beat right now with Georgia and Florida chasing. It would be a nice momentum boost to lock him down this weekend.
3-star K Alex McPherson (Official Visit) - The #1 kicker in the 2022 class grew up an Auburn fan. However, his brother, Evan McPherson, played three seasons at Florida before leaving early and being drafted in the 5th round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Georgia, Florida, and Texas A&M are all set to host the Fort Payne star of official visits this month too. Auburn is probably still the favorite but the competition is fierce.
Not a very experience crop this year but still plenty of talent.
Over next two weeks I’ll take a look at the top five players at each position Auburn will face this fall.
Great defenses can raise your floor. A great rushing attack can make you difficult to defend. But to win championships and be considered among the best in the country you must have elite quarterback play.
Auburn will face a number of talented signal callers this fall though this year there are definitely more question marks than proven elite producers. Still, Auburn’s revamped secondary will likely be challenged quite often by a number of top notch passing attacks. Here’s a look at who I view as the top 5 quarterbacks Auburn will face in 2021.
Career Stats: 346/577 (60%) 4,732 yds (8.2 Y/A) 41 TD 16 INT 220 carries 734 yds 3.3 avg 8 TD
Judging by the few threads I have read on Penn State message boards, Penn State’s returning quarterback Sean Clifford generates the same type of heated debate as Bo Nix does for Auburn fans. There’s a segment that believes Clifford is holding Penn State back from greatness and the sooner they move on the better. Another segment believes that Clifford is overly criticized and that he has potential to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
Sound familiar?
For what it’s worth, based solely off his numbers and the little I’ve watched of him, I side more with his positive fans. Yes, Clifford took a step backwards in 2020 seeing most of his numbers dip while Penn State stumbled out to an 0-5 start. But while there were some accuracy issues, Clifford had an outstanding debut season in 2019 as the Nittany Lions’ starter. I am tend to give Clifford more leeway for his struggles in 2020 given the weirdness of the year and the struggles as a whole for Penn State last season. After digging into his tape, I’ll be interested to see if my view changes.
Max Johnson - 88/150 (58.7%) 1069 yds (7.1 Y/A) 8 TD INT 54 carries 119 yds (2.2 avg) 2 TD
Entering spring practice, LSU had a four way quarterback battle. Following spring, it’s clearly a two man race which is a big reason why TJ Finley is now on the Plains.
Myles Brennan finally got his chance to lead the Tiger offense last fall. It was an inauspicious debut with LSU falling to the Pirate in week one and losing on a failed 4th & goal against Missouri two weeks later. But while Brennan took a lot of heat from the fanbase in those first three weeks, realistically he wasn’t the problem. LSU’s offense was fine scoring 40+ in those contests. Their defense was just so bad that they lost two shootouts.
Following an injury, LSU turned to TJ Finley who as a true freshman was asked to go on the road to Auburn, Arkansas, and Texas A&M where he unsurprisingly had a rocky experience. Johnson took over for Finley and lead LSU to two victories to finish the season. However, his numbers weren’t all that better than Finley’s especially if you look at just his two starts. The big difference was turnovers which ultimately lead to Finley’s struggles and allowed Johnson to pull out two close victories.
Personally, I think Brennan is clearly the better talent but Johnson had a strong spring game and given the finish to last season is a fan favorite. Whomever wins the job though is likely to put up some big numbers in that offense this season.
3.) Bryce Young (Alabama)
Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 7/13 (59.1%) 156 yds (7.1 Y/A)
Ok calm down bammer. Before you rage in the comment section about how I am DISRESPEKTIN THA TIDE, try and do something that I know is difficult for you and actually read before you react.
It would not shock me if Young ends up #1 on this list. The #2 ranked player in the 2020 class per 247 Composite sat behind first round draft pick Mac Jones last season. Now it’s Young’s turn to lead the Tide offense. He won’t get the benefit of Sark’s scheme, a veteran offensive line or a deadly three headed monster in Smith, Waddle, and Harris but he will still be surrounded by elite talent.
I expect Alabama’s offense to take a dip this year but it’s unlikely to be all that noticeable. Instead of unstoppable god mode, it will “just” be in super elite, incredibly hard to stop but somewhat possible mode. Takes real fortitude to pick the Tide to cheer for as a fan.
Career Stats: 321/516 (62.2%) 4,118 yds (8.0 Y/A) 25 TD 13 INT
You could make a very legitimate argument that Kirby Smart has consistently made the wrong decision when it comes to picking quarterbacks. Luckily for Dawg fans, this season he doesn’t have to make any decisions.
Former 5-star QB JT Daniels returns as the Dawgs starter and is already being discussed as a Heisman darkhorse. UGA’s offense finally found a vertical passing game with Daniels insertion and fans are hoping that a full off-season working with Todd Monken will result in the Dawgs finally evolving out of the stone age on offense and utilizing all that blue chip talent.
Daniels didn’t face the toughest of defenses to close out UGA’s season but he was still impressive. Averaging 10+ yards per attempt is no small feat and he gives the Dawgs a dangerous downfield passing attack capable of scoring at any moment. Interestingly, UGA has two of its worst rushing performances in quite awhile after Daniels insertion. It will be very interesting to see if that becomes a trend this season or if it was just a random occurrence last year.
Career Stats: 352/526 (66.9%) 4,938 yds (9.4 Y/A) 37 TD 18 INT 182 carries 724 yds (4.0 avg) 7 TD
Say what you will about Lane Kiffin and his numerous antics over the years, he’s unquestionably one of the best offensive minds in college football and one of the best quarterback developers.
Ole Miss spent most of 2019 in a wild QB carousel with Matt Corral and John Rhys Plumlee being switched in and out almost weekly. That ride came to a screeching halt with the arrival of Kiffin who named Corral the starter and set him loose on the SEC last fall.
Corral put up some gaudy numbers and looked good doing it. The Rebels had one of the most potent offensives in all of college football last season. While they lose some critical pieces off that unit, most notably Elijah Moore, they return enough weapons to make any defensive coordinator wary. Don’t be surprised if Corral’s name starts coming up as a possible 1st round draft pick as we get closer to the season.
On today’s Locked On Auburn, Zac Blackerby is joined by Lindsay Crosby. The guys talk about Nathan King’s article on Auburn Undercover. They discuss the incoming players that Auburn may use in 2021. They also touch on what game people may be looking forward to the most this season.
The upcoming month of the recruiting process will be unlike any other in the history of Auburn football, primarily because this is the first time this group of coaches will be hosting recruits to the Plains. Finally, after the ending of the NCAA recruiting dead period, the Tigers will once again have access to their […]
It’s finally happening! The world is healing and recruits are allowed to visit schools in person, which means that the Auburn football team is juggling a packed schedule this month. The first official visits for the Tigers begin the weekend of June 4-6, but unofficial visitors will arrive on the Plains first thing Tuesday morning. […]
Over the years, we’ve done different countdowns to kickoff (or tipoff). This year, we’re putting a twist on the classic “Best Auburn Player to Ever Wear Each Number” list. Football is all about lighting up the scoreboard in 2021, so let’s take a walk down memory lane and review the last time a player in each uniform number put up points.
#97 - Gary Walker Jr, DT
Game - Auburn vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 10/1/2016
Personally, I’m one of those fans that stays the entire game almost all the time. Even in a blowout against ULM or Kent State, I like seeing the younger guys and walk-ons get a chance to shine. ULM in 2016 was one of those games. Auburn scored 28 points in the 3rd quarter to turn a 28-7 halftime lead into a 56-7 romp. From there, it was just about getting playing time for the reserves. With just 31 seconds to go, ULM was backed up inside their own 5-yard-line, then they fumbled the snap...
I remember specifically that I was really excited about this, because Gary Walker Sr was one of my favorite players when I was a kid. Gary Jr would later earn a scholarship before the 2017 season, but this remained the only tackle for loss in his Auburn career.
The Auburn football team is in need of help at the wide receiver position, and they need it soon. Head coach Bryan Harsin knew early on he would have to build up the WR after losing the top three receivers to the 2021 NFL Draft process. One target that Harsin and his crew are pushing […]
The last 98 to put points on the board is also the only Auburn letterman from Delaware!
Over the years, we’ve done different countdowns to kickoff (or tipoff). This year, we’re putting a twist on the classic “Best Auburn Player to Ever Wear Each Number” list. Football is all about lighting up the scoreboard in 2021, so let’s take a walk down memory lane and review the last time a player in each uniform number put up points.
#98 - Angelo Blackson, DT
Game - Auburn vs. Virginia (2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl), December 31, 2011
With a 35-24 lead in the 3rd quarter, Auburn punted and pinned the Cavaliers inside their own 10. On 3rd and 8, Gabe Wright nearly dropped Virginia’s Michael Rocco for a safety, but the ball was spotted at the UVA 1 yard line for fourth down. Virginia had already had one bust on punt protection that allowed walk-on Garrett Harper to block a punt in the second quarter. This time with a short snap back to the punter, they somehow missed the biggest Tiger on the field.
Auburn would turn the free kick into 3 more points and close the door on the Cavs, sending offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn to Arkansas State on a win.
We’re now 98 days until the start of the Harsin era! War Eagle!
The Auburn football team has had some struggles in the past when it comes to the passing game. Nothing has been quite the same since Nick Marshall back in 2013, and when it comes to offensive styles the Tigers usually lean towards the run game, at least in the Gus Malzahn era. However, with the […]
If you know Auburn football, then you definitely know the names Owen Pappoe and Zakoby McClain. The pair of linebackers are both returning starters for the upcoming season after leading the Tigers in tackles in 2020. With a new defensive coordinator in Derek Mason and largely a new defensive scheme, McClain and Pappoe will be […]
247Sports’ Dean Straka woke up and chose violence for however many days it took to write his college football’s biggest one-hit-wonder teams since 2000 list this past week. In calling the 2010 Auburn football team a “one-hit-wonder”, an entire gridiron Tigers era was disrespected. Tommy Tuberville twice led AU to 10+ win seasons during the […]
Who was the last Auburn #99 to score? The 1989 A-Day MVP, of course!
Over the years, we’ve done different countdowns to kickoff (or tipoff). This year, we’re putting a twist on the classic “Best Auburn Player to Ever Wear Each Number” list. Football is all about lighting up the scoreboard in 2021, so let’s take a walk down memory lane and review the last time a player in each uniform number put up points.
#99 - Larry Young, DE/LB
Game - Vanderbilt @ Auburn, October 13, 1990
In the second half a blowout against Auburn’s fiercest SEC rival, Auburn had Vanderbilt punting yet again after just giving up a 72 yard punt return touchdown to Auburn’s Shayne Wasden.
Presumably trying their very best to get downfield and not allow Wasden a repeat performance, #99 Larry Young blew past the punt protection to both block the kick and fall on the ball in the endzone.
99 days until we kick off the Bryan Harsin era, everyone. War Eagle, and happy Memorial Day weekend!
5-star DT James Smith | https://twitter.com/Madhousefit/status/1398051680097341442/photo/1
The state of Alabama is loaded with talent in 2023.
Next week, life gets real again on the recruiting trail. For the first time in 15 months, prospects will once again be allowed to visit their top programs and meet with the coaching staff in person. Many top 2022 prospects already have all their official visits scheduled. It’s going to be nuts with July and August likely setting records for number of commitments.
But while the 2022 class will be the focal point next month, Auburn fans should really be monitoring the 2023 class. It’s an unfortunate truth given the way the recruiting calendar works these days that Auburn’s new coaching staff is really behind on most of the top 2022 players. Most kids sign in December these days but many end up committing and shutting down their recruitments in the spring and summer. Sure there are some late flips but for the most part much of the 2022 class work is done by kickoff of the season.
That means Bryan Harsin’s staff has a limited number of weeks to make up ground on top prospects and convince them to come to the Plains. The return of visits will help especially since many prospects put their recruitments on hold in anticipation of visits again. But it’s still an uphill climb.
The 2023 class, however, will be this staff’s first opportunity to be on a level playing field recruiting wise. What’s going on in Tallahassee, FL is a great example of the impact the new recruiting calendar has on new coaching staffs. Mike Norvell signed an ok but nothing close to an elite class in 2021. However, he’s on pace to land a top 10 this cycle now that his staff has had a full year to build relationships.
So while I will obviously be keeping track of what happens next week in regards to Auburn’s 2022 recruiting, the real story is going to be what the Tigers can do to make progress on 2023. That’s the class that needs to be top 10 again. These upcoming months will be crucial in Auburn’s ability to position themselves as top contenders for big time prospects next cycle.
The 2023 class in the state of Alabama is as loaded as any as I can remember and it will be critical for Bryan Harsin to hold his own. The Tide will get theirs but you can’t let them shut you out or sweep the top 10. It will be the first real data point in regards to Harsin and this staff’s ability to recruit elite talent.
With that in mind, here are 23 names Auburn fans should know in the 2023 class heading into this summer.
When it comes to quarterback prospects from the state of Louisiana in the 2023 class most of the focus is on Cooper Manning’s son 5-star Arch Manning who has been putting up video game numbers since his freshman season. But he’s not the only elite signal callers coming out of the boot next recruiting cycle.
Holstein transferred to Zachary High School last fall to get out from behind 5-star LSU commit Walker Howard and get a chance to showcase what he can do. The move worked as Holstein exploded last fall leading Zachary to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs behind a 62% completion percentage, 1,600 yards passing, 10 touchdowns to only 3 interceptions, and 37 carries for 190 yards and 7 touchdowns. He turned heads at the Elite 11 event in Indianapolis when he posted the highest SPARQ score (118.50) so far this cycle.
Big testing numbers put up by an athletic group of quarterbacks at today's Indianapolis #Elite11 regional - here are the unofficial Top 10 ratings pic.twitter.com/PJMut2j80j
I think it’s safe to say he’s one of, if not the top target on Auburn’s QB board for 2023. He’ll be on campus next month. Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M are likely to be top contenders in his recruitment.
The nation’s top running back is unquestionably a top priority for Auburn’s new staff. Young has visited the Plains twice before, including earlier this year with his teammate and Auburn 2021 signee Tar’Varish Dawson. However, unsurprisingly the competition for Young will be fierce. Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and literally everyone else are all coming hard after the talented back. Let’s see if the Tigers can get him back on campus this summer.
Despite being the son of former UGA standout Verron Haynes, Justice is adamant his recruitment is wide open and anyone has a chance including the Tigers. The Dawgs though will likely be tough to beat though Alabama appears to be emerging as a top contender. Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Stanford are factors as well. He’s not yet scheduled a date to visit Auburn this summer.
Auburn’s previous staff offered Lee last February but the nation’s 14th ranked wide receiver remains a top priority for the Tigers after the coaching change. Lee’s one of the smoothest wideouts in the class already excelling as a route runner. At 6’0” 180 lbs he has the versatility to play all over the field at the next level. He plays on Cam Newton’s 7v7 team and I imagine the Tigers will work hard to get him on campus this summer.
Ah another elite WR prospect at Central. What could go wrong?
The Phenix City native has been one of the fastest rising prospects this off-season after dazzling at the Under Armour Camp in Atlanta. He landed offers over from Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M over a 7 day period. Auburn’s new wide receivers coach Cornelius Williams is leading this recruitment. Can he break the Central WR curse?
Don’t know if you have heard or not but Auburn could use some offensive tackle help. Maybe a 6’7” 325 behemoth?
The Florida native is one of the most coveted prospects in the 2023 class and his offer list proves it. He’s planning to journey all over the country this summer including a stop on the Plains. His recruitment seems pretty open right now so let’s see if the Tigers can make a push.
Sanker’s recruitment took off in April starting with offers from Duke and Auburn. His most recent came from Oregon. On top of being an excellent offensive line prospect Sanker is also a star wrestler, always a coveted skillset by offensive and defensive line coaches. He’s expected to visit Auburn’s campus on June 7th. This is someone Auburn fans should pay close attention to next cycle.
Surprisingly, Williams’s offer list is quite small. Only Arizona State, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Virginia, and West Virginia have reportedly offered the nation’s 11th ranked offensive tackle. That’s unlikely to last as the big man has been showing out at recruiting camps this fall. Once more SEC programs get a chance to see him in person, I think you are going to his recruitment blow up. Don’t be surprised if Auburn is one of those teams that jumps into the race.
Lang does not yet hold an offer from Auburn. I suspect that changes this summer. The big man out of Pike Road is scheduled to camp with the Tigers on June 16th. It would not shock me if he left campus with an offer. Arkansas, Florida, and Kentucky have already pulled the trigger.
2023 has a chance to be a special class in the state of Alabama. The crown jewel of that group is the nation’s #2 ranked player Peter Woods. Woods has been an impact player for Thompson since his freshman campaign. He missed much of last fall with a leg injury but returned late in the season to help lead Warriors to a 2nd straight state title.
Thompson has not been kind to Auburn in the past. It’s pumped out numerous elite prospects all of which have landed at Alabama. Part of making a coaching change though is to shake things up. Can Auburn’s new staff finally break through and snag a big time player from that powerhouse? Woods would be a hell of a way to do it. Alabama though is the clear team to beat. Woods will visit Auburn in June.
Woods isn’t the only 5-star defensive tackle or top 10 player in the state of Alabama in next year’s class. Smith is the nation’s 6th best player in the 2023 cycle per 247 Composite and a top Auburn target. New AU defensive line coach Nick Eason is working hard to put the Tigers in position to land the stud. Like Thompson though, Carver has not been kind to Auburn in the past. The Tigers have lost a number of big time battles to the Tide for elite defensive players from that program. Can Auburn’s new staff flip the script? Personally, I think Auburn has a better shot with Smith than Woods. He’ll be on campus sometime this summer.
Collins is coming off a big time junior season where he recorded 85 tackles, 15 TFL, 4 sacks and a forced fumble. That production has him ranked #46 in the country by 247 Composite and the target of most every big time program in the country. But this is likely to be another instate showdown. He will likely be on campus next month. Alabama appears to be the early leader.
In any other year, Faulk is likely competing for the number 1 player in the state designation. But this is not a normal year and despite being ranked #66 overall he’s #7 in the state of Alabama.
2023 is seriously loaded ya’ll.
Faulk is an intriguing prospect playing at a program not known for pumping out elite talent. Depending on how Faulk develops, he could grow into an interior lineman or stay out on the edge. He’s someone I expect Auburn pursues heavily next cycle.
Parker is one of my favorite pass rushers in the 2023 class and another elite prospect out of Central. He registered double digit sacks last fall and would likely project to play the rush end spot in Auburn’s new defensive scheme.
Auburn appears to be a top contender alongside Clemson, UNC, and Texas A&M. I like where the Tigers sit but it’s early. Let’s see how things shake out after visits this summer.
With offers from Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, and really anyone else with a pulse, it’s highly unlikely Pierre will be a 3-star come signing day in 2023. The Eufala standout had a big time sophomore season and has quickly emerged as one of the top defensive line targets in the state of Alabama. He’s reportedly being recruited by Bert Watts which likely means the Tigers like him at OLB. I expect him to be on Auburn’s campus sometime this summer.
Moore was briefly committed to Indiana this spring announcing his pledge in March but backed off it this week. He will be in Auburn next week as part of his busy month of June. Keep an eye on Florida State in this race. The Seminoles will likely be a top contender.
Carver is going to have one of the scarier defensive fronts in the state of Alabama this fall. With James Smith in the middle and Russaw on the outside, a lot of opposing offensive lines are gonna have some miserable nights.
Russaw is transferring to Carver following a breakout season at Charles Henderson. He reportedly grew up an Auburn fan and will be on campus sometime this summer. Programs like LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M are heavily involved but I like where Auburn sits early in this race.
Auburn has never signed a 5-star defensive back in the modern recruiting era. They will have 3 shots at it this cycle as the Yellowhammer State has THREE defensive backs ranked in the top 30.
Mitchell is the highest rated of the bunch and an absolute stud. A one time Tennessee commit, Mitchell is likely now an Alabama lean but Auburn isn’t going away quietly. He will be on campus the same time as teammate 5-star Peter Woods later next month.
Getting highly rated kids from Thompson has proven impossible for Auburn thus far. Can Bryan Harsin end the drought?
Of the three 5-star DBs in Alabama next class, I think Auburn has the best shot with Harris though there’s plenty of work to be done. Harris is originally from Georgia and the Dawgs are considered the team to beat at the moment. However, the Glenwood standout attended Auburn’s A-Day game last month and plans to be on campus this summer. Zac Etheridge has made Harris a top priority for next year’s class. Let’s see if the national champion can get it done for the Tigers.
Hurley is the #29 player in the country per 247 Composite yet he’s #5 in the state of Alabama. This is an incredibly loaded defensive class.
There hasn’t been a ton of info on Hurley’s recruitment thus far outside of the fact that Auburn’s new staff re-offered him pretty quickly. I would imagine he’s likely to make it to the Plains sometime this summer. Unsurprisingly, the Crimson Tide are expected to be a top contender but keep an eye on LSU and Florida as well. Their reputations for putting corners into the league have them firmly in the race. Hopefully, Hurley has been paying attention to which other SEC program has started pumping corners into the NFL.
Harris wasn’t the only highly ranked 2023 recruit to make it to A-Day. Nation, a good friend of Harris’s, was in town as well and came away impressed with the environment at Jordan-Hare.
While he hasn’t set a firm date yet, Nation did tell 247Sports that he expected to take an unofficial visit to the Plains this summer. I don’t think he and Harris are a package deal but it sure wouldn’t hurt a program’s chances with one if they could land the other.
The Tigers offered Smith in April joining the likes of Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and Penn State. Smith’s recruitment seems to be fairly open at this time though two former Auburn DB coaches in Marcus Woodson at Florida State and Wesley McGriff at Florida are coming hard after the Alabama native. Auburn will likely work hard to get Smith on campus this summer.
Here’s the deal, Ryan fell asleep last week so he could be rested for AU Nerd dissecting the transfers that are now heading our way. Don’t be bothered by the first two minutes, it’s Chief as a child being his true self.
The recruiting process is not slowing down for the Auburn football team, and it’s not slowing down for 4-star tight end Walker Lyons, either. Just last week, the Tigers became the third SEC program to offer the recruit from the class of 2023, who now holds upwards of 20 offers. Most recently, Lyons was offered […]
The NCAA recruiting dead period will finally be over on June 1, and the Auburn football team is gearing up to host prospects from all over the country. The Tigers’ summer schedule is packed with visits, both official and unofficial, as well as high school camps. Auburn traditionally does best with in-person recruiting, so the […]
While Auburn football may not be the most decorated program in the SEC, the Tigers have managed to snatch up a National Championship in the 21st century (cough, Georgia). Auburn has competed in two national title games in the last 20 years, but no one can deny the greatness of the Tigers’ 2010 football team. […]
On today’s Locked On Auburn, Zac Blackerby is joined by Matt Moscona of Locked On LSU. They discuss the Auburn and LSU rivalry and quarterback TJ Finley. Blackerby is then joined by Michael Pappas where they try to predict the first loss that Auburn may suffer in 2021.
You can hear the full podcast below.
You can hear Locked On Auburn every day on College and Mag or wherever you get your podcasts.
The battle for recruits in the class of 2022 is already heating up for Auburn football. With three commitments already on the roster in Powell Gordon, Holden Geriner, and Jarell Stinson, new head coach Bryan Harsin is just getting started. However, for Harsin, getting started means picking up where former head coach Gus Malzahn left […]
The Auburn basketball roster underwent a major makeover in the offseason. After losing various players to the NBA Draft and the NCAA Transfer Portal, head coach Bruce Pearl worked his magic and put together a formidable team heading into the 2021 season. Just because the 2021 roster is solidified does not mean that the recruiting […]
There’s been a lot of turnover so here’s a look at where things stand right now as June approaches
Auburn’s roster has seen plenty of turnover the past couple of months. Between a coaching change, the passing of the one time transfer rule, and the ever growing appeal of the portal, it’s felt like Auburn’s personnel is changing over almost daily.
So now feels like a good time to take a step back and examine Auburn’s current roster to get a picture of what needs still need to be filled via the portal and estimate how many spots the Tigers have remaining to use this cycle.
Here’s a position by position breakdown of who is on Auburn’s roster. Those marked with an asterisk are seniors who are using their 6th year of eligibility and will not count against Auburn’s 85 total roster spots (that’s at least my understanding of the rule). I also want to note to make it easier to keep track of whether a player is a freshman or sophomore, I decided to just move them up as normal like Auburn’s official roster decided to do.
Let me know in the comments if I missed anybody.
Quarterback (4)
Seniors: Grant Loy*
Juniors: Bo Nix
Sophomores: TJ Finley
Freshman: Dematrius Davis
Auburn’s QB room is set now with four scholarship quarterbacks spanning all four classifications though it’s important to note that Finley still has all five years of eligibility remaining due to 2020 not counting against the clock because of COVID-19.
Running Back (4)
Seniors: Devan Barrett*, Shaun Shivers
Juniors: N/A
Sophomores: Tank Bigsby
Freshman: Jarquez Hunter
Auburn needs to and plans to add at least one running back via the portal to improve depth at this position. The Tigers are also likely to sign at least two backs in the 2022 class to prepare for the departures of Barrett and Shivers.
Wide Receiver (10)
Seniors: Caylin Newton, Shedrick Jackson
Juniors: N/A
Sophomores: Elijah Canion, Ze’Vian Capers, Kobe Hudson, Malcolm Johnson Jr., Ja’Varrius Johnson
Freshman: Tar’Varish Dawson, J.J. Evans, Hal Presley
This is a very talented but young position group for the Tigers which is why Auburn is reportedly on the prowl for a veteran playmaker to help lead this group. This is a big year though for that 2020 WR class that featured four blue chip signees and 3-star Elijah Canion. Regardless of whether or not Auburn adds any more wideouts via the portal, the Tigers need that class ready to contribute this season.
Tight End (5)
Seniors: John Samuel Shenker
Juniors: N/A
Sophomores: Luke Deal, Brandon Frazier, Tyler Fromm
Freshman: Landen King
Ironically the one room that might go untouched in regards to the transfer portal because it’s deep and talented enough is the tight end room. Shenker spent this spring on the baseball diamond but is expected to return to the gridiron this fall where he will likely play a large role in Auburn’s offense alongside Luke Deal and Tyler Fromm.
Offensive Line (16)
Seniors: Nick Brahms, Brenden Coffey, Brandon Council, Brodarious Hamm, Alec Jackson, Tashawn Manning, Prince Michael Sammons*, Austin Troxell
Freshman: Avery Jernigan, Garner Langlo, Colby Smith
A whole lot of upper classmen at this position for the Tigers which should lead to stronger OL play. But even with all that experience, Auburn’s staff is scouring the portal looking for OL help specifically at tackle. I expect Auburn to bring in at least one lineman from the portal before fall camp maybe two if it’s the right two. I also expect a 4-5 man 2022 OL class that heavily skews towards offensive tackle.
Defensive Line (14)
Seniors: Marquis Burks, Tony Fair*, Tyrone Truesdell*
Freshman: Daniel Foster-Allen, Lee Hunter, Ian Mathews, Tobechi Okoli, Marquis Robinson
I didn’t realize until I typed this out how young Auburn is on the defensive line. Truesdell using his extra year of eligibility along with Fair transferring gives Auburn at least some veteran leadership but like wide receiver, Auburn will lean heavily on that sophomore class. Thankfully, half of that room has already seen significant action and proven ready to contribute.
Outside Linebacker (6)
Seniors: T.D. Moultry*
Juniors: Derick Hall, Eku Leota, Caleb Johnson
Sophomores: Romello Height
Freshman: Dylan Brooks
It would not surprise me at all if Auburn were to add another OLB via the portal. That edge room is pretty thin right now and even someone like Caleb Johnson might be better suited playing with his hand in the ground. Keep an eye on Virginia Tech transfer Justin Beadles out of Tyrone, GA. He’s a kid that redshirted last fall but reportedly impressed coaches with the work he put in the weight room and looks to have the skillset Derek Mason wants at this position. He’d basically be another 2021 signee given he’d have five years of eligibility.
Auburn is reportedly evaluating former 4-star Texas A&M linebacker Ke’Shun Brown. If the Tigers offer he’d likely commit. Given Auburn is likely to lose their top trio of McClain, Wooten, and Pappoe, it wouldn’t hurt to add another under classman to this room in preparation for 2022.
Cornerback (8)
Seniors: Malcolm Askew, Traivon Leonard*, Roger McCreary
Juniors: Dreshun Miller, Nehemiah Pritchett
Sophomores: Eric Reed Jr, Jaylin Simpson
Freshman: AD Diamond
After the departures of JUCO signees Marco Domio and Kamal Hadden, numbers at the cornerback position are getting a bit light. Which is why the Tigers seem to be recruiting every 2022 cornerback in existence right now. Per AuburnUndercover’s Keith Niebuhr, the staff could also be evaluating Missouri CB transfer Jarvis Ware though given his limited eligibility remaining, I am not sure if that move makes a ton of sense. It would not surprise me if they did try to snag another younger CB from the portal to add more depth.
It is very easy to see why Derek Mason made safety such a priority after he was hired. He added two to the class at the end of the 2021 cycle in Bridges and Gaston. He’s since added two more via the portal in Knighten and Kaufman. Auburn is also heavily involved with a number of safety targets in the 2022 class.
Special Teams (2)
Seniors: Anders Carlson
Juniors: N/A
Sophomores: Oscar Chapman
Freshman: N/A
This will likely be Carlson’s last year on the Plains which is why the Tigers are in pursuit of the top kicker in the 2022 class Alex McPherson. Auburn looks to be the team to beat heading into the summer but he’s set to take official visits to a number of SEC programs including Florida where his older brother currently plays.
Total Numbers
Auburn is currently at the total roster limit of 85 spots. However, those 2020 seniors who exercised their extra year of eligibility do not count against that 85 number. Auburn has 8 “super seniors” in Grant Loy, Devan Barrett, Prince Michael Sammons, Tony Fair, Tyrone Truesdell, TD Moultry, Chandler Wooten, and Traivon Leonard. That drops Auburn’s actual number down to 77 given the Tigers 8 more spots to use in the portal.
I don’t know if Auburn will use all 8 as those scholarships count against the 2022 class for now. There’s a lot of buzz that rule will be changed for 2022 so they might take the risk if they see enough talent in the portal they want. I do expect the Tigers to at least add a running back, wide receiver, and an offensive tackle. From there, it’s likely best available.
In the end, there was no furious comeback, there was no spectacular walk off to keep things going. There was definitely fight, plenty of it in fact. In the end, however, Ole Miss proved too much for Auburn in the SEC Tournament and the Tigers season came to a close in Hoover with a 7-4 decision. Jack Owen looked ok-ish on short rest, which isn’t anything to cry about and the Auburn bullpen was spectacular, expect on one pitch which was a 2 run homer to Hayden Dunhurst to push the Rebs to their final 7th run. Auburn’s offense was pretty good too, Ryan Bliss being the tip of the spear.
Ryan Bliss (‘21 Elig.) leads off the game for @AuburnBaseball with a home run on the big breaking ball taking it deep to left center. The draft stock continues to tick up with his consistent offensive production at the top of the order #PGDraftpic.twitter.com/n8Q7nbvKIF
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 26, 2021
Thank you to the 2021 Auburn Tigers. We can’t wait to see what you do next.
ON DECK: The Offseason
Was this the season any of us that follow Auburn baseball saw coming? Absolutely not. Do I think the Auburn staff will figure this thing out and right the ship? With everything in my body I do. This staff is way too experienced and way too dedicated to not get this right. A couple of dates and time frames to keep on your radar, the MLB draft has been moved (FINALLY!) to July 11-13 and will only be 20 rounds this season before they probably go back to the regular 40 next year. Normally players have a month or so to sign with the team that drafted them or decided to return to school if they have eligibility left. Following that, Auburn will open Fall practice in late September – October and then turn around in January to get ready to the 2022 campaign.
It’s always the worst article to write, the close of a season. The last two were really rough, one because it came waaaay too early and the other because of the journey they took us on. This one is somewhere in the middle of that. It’s definitely sad, for sure. I hate that Steven Williams didn’t get one last at bat in front of a vocal Auburn crowd at the Met for his final SEC Tournament. I hate that Cody Greenhill didn’t have the senior year that he deserved. I hate that Ryan Bliss got robbed of the recognition he deserves as the best Shortstop in the SEC, which he without question is. However, at the same time, I am so happy. I’m happy that Peyton Glavine got his moments to shine this year after the journey he has had to go on. I’m happy that Brody Moore got the chance to shine as a second generation Auburn Tiger. I’m happy and proud of Rankin Woley, who was an absolute monster the last half of the season and will do even greater things if his baseball career really is finished. I tip my cap to Judd Ward, who went all Bo Jackson this season, playing around 85% if not less all year and only allowed his play to dip to that of a normal left fielder a couple of times since February. And, finally, to the team and coaching staff, a major tip of the cap. It would have been so easy to just say forget it on April 30th. Auburn had a conference record of 3-16 and had just lost the opener to Georgia. From that day on, Auburn closed the conference slate with a 7-4 record and fought their way to get back to Hoover when it would have been much easier to toss the towel in. That effort is not lost to those that know college baseball and know the Auburn program and while it isn’t surprising, it still needs to be acknowledged. There will be better days for this program in the future, but I’m not sure I could be prouder of this Coach Thompson, his staff and this team than I am for the fight they put forth this season and especially this final month.
On today’s Locked On Auburn, Zac Blackerby is joined by Lance Dawe, host of On The Line. Dawe makes fun of Blackerby’s list from a prior show where he ranked Auburn’s offseason additions. They also talk about the quarterback situation at Auburn.
You can hear the podcast below.
You can hear Locked On Auburn every weekday or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Auburn football team has been looking for help at the wide receiver position–Bryan Harsin has made that clear throughout his time on the Plains. After losing wide receivers Anthony Schwartz, Seth Williams. and Eli Stove to the 2021 NFL Draft, Harsin is looking to fill in some of those holes. The latest development on […]
The Auburn football QB room just got a whole lot more interesting. Despite the coaching change and the commitment of freshman quarterback Dematrius Davis, there was no indication that rising junior Bo Nix would ever lose the starting role he’s held for two years. Now, nothing is certain. Head coach Bryan Harsin and his support […]
At the moment, Auburn football isn’t projected to land S Tre Donaldson out of Tallahassee, Florida. Instead, the 4-star recruit out of Florida State University High School–a laboratory school connected to FSU–is expected to give plenty of his friends and family a reason to cheer for their historical rival by committing to the Florida Gators. […]
When the official Auburn baseball Twitter account is taking note of it, there might be a very notable snub that has occurred in the SEC’s selections for their all-conference teams. During the annual honoring of the SEC baseball season’s best in conference play, the voters egregiously decided that Ryan Bliss was not a first-team talent […]
On today’s Locked On Auburn, Zac Blackerby is joined by Auburn message board legend Charlie5. The guys talk about the news of TJ Finley coming to Auburn, how it impacts the quarterback room, and what it means going forward.
After this conversation, they then rank Auburn’s seven offseason additions from top to bottom.
You can hear Locked On Auburn every weekday or wherever you get your podcasts.
The quarterback battle on the Plains has begun. In landing former LSU QB TJ Finley, Auburn football now has two (and potentially three if Dematrius Davis arrives ahead of schedule) options for the starting job. In pole position to be under center during the Tigers’ first snap against Akron is the incumbent starter Bo Nix. […]
Looks like Auburn will have themselves a QB competition this fall.
The Tigers have been very busy in the portal thus far landing 6 commitments. However, all have been on the defensive side of the ball. Today, the offense gets in on the action with a move that’s likely to raise some eyebrows across the conference.
Former LSU quarterback T.J. Finley, who started 5 games for the Bayou Bengals last fall, is headed to the Plains.
Finley chose Auburn over Alabama, Houston and Penn State.
Following Myles Brennan’s injury, the former 3-star out of Ponchatoula, Louisiana took over as the starting quarterback. He dazzled in his debut against South Carolina completing 81% of his passes for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also scored a TD on the ground via QB sneak on 4th & goal. It was an impressive performance that left LSU fans buzzing as the Tigers made a trek north to Jordan-Hare.
His 2nd start would go nowhere near as well. After a scoreless first things snowballed badly for the true freshman as he threw a near pick 6, lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, and then had a pass batted at the line of scrimmage and picked off. The result was a 48-11 beatdown and the end of the honey moon for the young freshman.
He bounced back with a close win over Arkansas though his numbers were nowhere near as good as they were against the Gamebocks before crashing back down to earth again in College Station. Eventually, true freshman Max Johnson took over and lead LSU to two victories to close out the year including an upset win in the Swamp over Florida.
Following spring practice where Finley appeared to be sitting #3 on the depth chart behind Brennan and Johnson, he elected to hit the portal. Auburn very quickly pounced on the opportunity and landed their man today.
All spring it was reported that the new staff was interested in bringing in another quarterback to compete with Nix for the starting spot and provide better depth heading into the 2021 campaign. They’ve accomplished that goal by landing Finley who will have an opportunity to unseat Nix during fall camp. No matter who wins the job though Auburn now has two quarterbacks with SEC experience and now won’t have to throw Dematrius Davis into the fire too early or rely on Grant Loy if Nix were to go down.
Finley is a big kid with a big arm possessing incredible potential. But like Bo, inconsistency has plagued Finley not just in his first season in the SEC but in high school as well where he completed under 50% of his passes as a junior. He’s a project who needs to be developed but that’s exactly what Bryan Harsin and Mike Bobo have a history of doing. They now have two QBs on the roster with all the tools to be successful but have yet to prove they can consistently apply those tools on every single snap. Whichever QB can finally get over that hump will be the Tigers’ starter and likely have a very successful career. Here’s to hoping it clicks with both and the Tigers are set at this position for years to come.
It was THIS CLOSE to being a perfect weekend. THIS CLOSE! However, it was a successful weekend as the Tigers picked up their third series win of the season and in so doing, punched their ticket to the SEC Tournament this week in Hoover. Over the first 23 innings of the series, Auburn was the dominant team far and away. Following that, the Auburn pitching staff showed signs of weakness and Missouri jumped on the chance with 7 runs over two innings to lock up a win for their final game of the season. Auburn, however, gets to look forward to a late night meetup with the Ole Miss Rebels in the 5v12 matchup at Regions Park, aka The Hoover Met, on Tuesday. It is a fantastic reward for a team that struggled to find themselves early in the season, with injuries and loss of confidence that was able to be pieced together to get double digit conference wins on the year.
The coolest part of this weekend is you saw both kinds of games, Auburn wins an offensive blowout and Auburn gets the best pitching performance of the season in a defensive shutout. Rankin Woley continued his hot hitting streak along with Ryan Bliss while Jack Owen and RICHARD FITTS! set the pace on the mound all weekend long.
Even with the hiccup on Saturday, it was a great weekend where Auburn looked as good as they have all conference season. That’s a good thing too because they are about to see the toughest competition of the season the rest of the way this year…as long as they are playing.
HITTING PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEKEND
This was a really close race this weekend between Woley and Bliss but by a hair I will give it to Woley who went 6 for 13 with a home run and 4 RBIs with 2 walks on the weekend. Bliss basically had an extra at bat, going 6 for 14 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs. Both guys were and have been big time for an Auburn offense that has clicked all season.
Is there any question that it’s Richard Fitts. All Fitzy did was go 8 innings only giving up a hit while striking out 7 in the best pitching performance of the weekend. If that was the last time we see Fitts this year or in an Auburn uniform, he definitely saved his best for last.
IT’S SEC TOURNAMENT TIME! It’s one of my favorite work weeks of the year as from 9:30-midnight, we’ve got really good baseball and Auburn is involved in it at least for Tuesday. The complete bracket is HERE so you know your times and networks. Auburn gets Ole Miss in the first round, which is single elimination. A loss finishes the season for Auburn but a win buys Auburn two more games at minimum. If you are looking for a start time for the Auburn game, I’d lean towards 8:30ish so make sure to get a nap in at some point on Tuesday. Ole Miss is still looking to host in the NCAA tournament after a series win at Georgia this past weekend. The Rebel ace Gunnar Hoglund is out, after an unfortunate season ending injury that required Tommy John surgery. Luckily for Rebel fans, there isn’t much of a drop off as Doug Nikhazy will toe the rubber for Ole Miss. Nikhazy was injured during the series so Auburn didn’t get a chance to see him but he has been nails all year with a 2.12 ERA and routinely going 6+ innings on his starts, including a complete game against Mississippi State earlier this year. The good news for Auburn is that Jack Owen will more than likely be the starter and during the series earlier this season Jack only threw to eight batters in a bit of a rehab appearance for Jack. Either way you look at it, Auburn will have to be on top of their game to get past this first game. Auburn isn’t expected to win, which is exactly where Auburn can be dangerous. If you are in the Birmingham/Hoover area, head out there and support the guys. They have battled all year long and if this is their one chance to enjoy the reward, let them hear some cheering from their fans. We will have a recap on what happens Wednesday morning but let the healing waters of back to back series wins wash over you and enjoy it!
On today’s Locked On Auburn, Zac Blackerby is joined by Lindsay Crosby. The guys discuss a ton of news stories that happened over the weekend. Auburn landed a new defensive tackle, named an assistant head coach, and Auburn Baseball made the SEC Tournament.
You can hear the full podcast below.
You can hear Locked On Auburn every weekday on College and Mag or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Auburn basketball team has been on fire in the recruiting process lately, picking up major talent from the NCAA transfer portal. However, Bruce Pearl could not beat out the G-League Ignite for class of 2021 recruit Scoot Henderson. Henderson has officially made the decision to bypass the collegiate route and head straight to the […]
photo courtesy of the AUfficial website
taken by Michael Wade
The Auburn Women's golf team started their chase for a national championship yesterday at the par 72, 6,384-yard Grayhawk Golf Course in Scottsdale. ("yo, that's some hardcore hood." - Robin Williams in the movie RV)
"We were hoping to take advantage of the early morning tee time, but that was not to be," head coach Melissa Luellen said. "The rough is very penalizing on this course and we were in it far too often. Thankfully, we have many more holes to go to climb the leaderboard."
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