Wooden commitment gives Auburn much needed recruiting boost

Some good news: Caleb Wooden has committed.

The three-star safety from Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia, committed to Auburn just a few days after receiving an offer. He made an official visit to the college on June 25.

The 6ft-2in, 185lb defensive back had offers from Duke, West Virginia, Appalachian State, and Georgia Southern but opted for Auburn. He joins tight-end Micah Riley-Ducker, kicker Alex McPherson, defensive back Jarrell Stinson, quarterback Holden Geriner and linebacker Powell Gordon in the Tigers’ 2022 signing class.

Not that the Tigers aren’t still ranked like No. 79 or something in the 2022 recruiting rankings and last in the SEC. At most Casinos, they are +1800 to win the SEC next season.

However, it appears things are now rolling for Auburn, given the wave of commits. The college could soon welcome running back Omari Alston. The four-star RB, the 29th-ranked in the nation in his position, will make his decision later this month and will choose between Auburn, LSU, and Northwestern. Alston revealed having considered other schools but decided to reevaluate his options.

Should Auburn have a spot for him, he’ll probably take it; LSU is pursuing three four-star RBs in Le’Veon Moss, TreVonte’ Citizen, and Trevor Etienne.

“I see opportunity here,” Alston said after visiting Auburn in early June.

“One thing with me, I want to come in and I want to play early. I’m not trying to sit and wait until my junior or senior year to, you know, tough the rock. I feel like I’m a good player.”

Alston has lots of confidence in what he could bring to a team but isn’t looking to be the main man on the roster. He also isn’t intimidated by the program despite its strong cast of running backs.

“Coach Cadillac always told me iron sharpens iron,” he said.

The Tigers are also in contention for Lanett defensive Caden Story, who has revealed he will make his commitment on August 1 to honor late teammate Quae Houston, who died on August 1 last year. Story has offers from Auburn, Texas A&M, and UCF.

“To me, it was very important to honor my brother. It’s something we always talked about,” Story said.

While the player has not listed his top schools, he spoke pretty highly of the Tigers after attending the team’s open spring practice earlier this year. He was particularly impressed with defensive line coach Nick Eason, who was vocal throughout the session.

“[The open practice] was great because I know I could end up there, you never know. It just depends on where God takes me,” he said. “It was just great going out there to see how practice is, how they move around, how they act at practice and how they do practice.”

Story’s cousin, Micah Pollard, is also a top AU prospect. The relatives are known to want to play together, which is why Auburn and UCF are thought to be favorites to land them both. Michigan was initially considered to be the favorite for Pollard after landing Myles Pollard. However, things have changed since his official visit to the Plains. The player hasn’t announced a commit date but he could choose to disclose his decision on the same day as his cousin.

It appears Auburn could end up pulling in a remarkable class of recruits on the back of their slow start. As Gbmwolverine.com’s Chris Peterson reports, Pollard has been swayed by the lure of the Tigers, who could attract plenty more talent before next season.

“Pollard, a three-star edge rusher/linebacker, took a visit to Michigan in June and the Wolverines appeared to be the favorite. Mike Farrell, a national analyst at Rivals, was among those who put in a Futurecast pick, projecting him to the Wolverines,” Peterson writes.

“But Pollard didn’t wind up committing and things started trending to Auburn. A slew of picks from Rivals projected him there and that’s also where the crystal ball predictions have been leaning.”

from The War Eagle Reader https://www.thewareaglereader.com/2021/07/wooden-commitment-gives-auburn-much-needed-recruiting-boost/