Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Defensive back makes it 17 commits

Auburn picked up its 17th early commitment for the 2009 football recruiting class Tuesday, this from Fort Valley (Ga.) Peach State County defensive back Reggie Taylor.

Taylor became the sixth prospect to commit after Auburn's recent senior camp, in which he participated. He picked Auburn over early offers from Iowa State, Memphis and Ball State, according to AuburnSports.com.

He reportedly runs a 4.36-second 40-yard dash. He had 25 tackles, 39 pass breakups and three interceptions as a junior.

Here's the updated list of Auburn commitments:

Terrance Coleman: 3-star DT, 6-1, 244, Mobile Williamson HS
Raymond Cotton: 3-star QB, 6-4, 216, Fort Meade (Md.) Meade HS
Jonathan Evans: 3-star LB, 6-0, 205, Blount HS
Nick Fairley: DT, 6-4, 295, Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln CC*
Eltoro Freeman: LB, 5-11, 218, Perkinston (Miss.) Gulf Coast CC*
Harris Gaston: 3-star LB, 6-2, 210, Bessemer Academy
Andre Harris: 3-star OL, 6-4, 327, Hampton (Ga.) Lovejoy HS
Brandon Heavens: 3-star ATH, 5-10, 165, Bessemer Jess Lanier HS
LaVoyd James: 3-star WR, 5-10, 175, Mobile Williamson HS
Wilfred Journet: DE, 6-3, 247, Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln CC*
Philip Lutzenkirchen: 4-star TE, 6-4, 245, Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter HS
Aaron Moore: OL, 6-5, 255, Frisco (Texas) Centennial HS
LaDarius Perkins: ATH, 5-9, 180, Greenville (Miss.) St. Joseph HS
Jamontay Pilson: 4-star DT, 6-3, 265, Greenville HS
Rodney Scott: 4-star RB, 5-9, 185, Cross City (Fla.) Dixie County HS
Travante Stallworth: WR, 5-10, 180, Leesville (La.) HS
Reggie Taylor: DB, 5-10, 167, Fort Valley (Ga.) Peach County HS

*-Signed with Auburn out of high school and has committed to re-sign.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Make it 16 commitments

Add offensive lineman Aaron Moore and wide receiver LaVoyd James to the list of Auburn's commitments for the 2009 football recruiting class, giving Auburn 16 total commitments and five in the previous two days.

The latest commitments come following Auburn's senior camp, which was held over last weekend. AU picked up commitments from running back LaDarius Perkins, wide receiver Travante Stallworth and offensive lineman Andre Harris on Sunday.

Moore is a 6-foot-5, 255-pound center/guard from Frisco, Texas. He chose Auburn over offers from Texas Christian, Texas Tech and Baylor, according to AuburnSports.com.

James, a 5-10, 175 prospect from Mobile Williamson High School, caught 53 passes for 780 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior. He reportedly had offers from Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

Here's the current list of Auburn's commitments for 2009. Star ratings according to Rivals.com:

Terrance Coleman: 3-star DT, 6-1, 244, Mobile Williamson HS
Raymond Cotton: 3-star QB, 6-4, 216, Fort Meade (Md.) Meade HS
Jonathan Evans: 3-star LB, 6-0, 205, Blount HS
Nick Fairley: DT, 6-4, 295, Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln CC*
Eltoro Freeman: LB, 5-11, 218, Perkinston (Miss.) Gulf Coast CC*
Harris Gaston: 3-star LB, 6-2, 210, Bessemer Academy
Andre Harris: 3-star OL, 6-4, 327, Hampton (Ga.) Lovejoy HS
Brandon Heavens: 3-star ATH, 5-10, 165, Bessemer Jess Lanier HS
LaVoyd James: 3-star WR, 5-10, 175, Mobile Williamson HS
Wilfred Journet: DE, 6-3, 247, Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln CC*
Philip Lutzenkirchen: 4-star TE, 6-4, 245, Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter HS
Aaron Moore: OL, 6-5, 255, Frisco (Texas) Centennial HS
LaDarius Perkins: ATH, 5-9, 180, Greenville (Miss.) St. Joseph HS
Jamontay Pilson: 4-star DT, 6-3, 265, Greenville HS
Rodney Scott: 4-star RB, 5-9, 185, Cross City (Fla.) Dixie County HS
Travante Stallworth: WR, 5-10, 180, Leesville (La.) HS

*-Signed with Auburn out of high school and has committed to re-sign.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Auburn picks up three commitments

Sunday was a big day for Auburn football recruiting, literally and figuratively.

The Tigers picked up three commitments for the 2009 class: Andre Harris, a 6-foot-4, 327-pound offensive lineman from Lovejoy High School in Hampton, Ga.; LaDarius Perkins, a 5-9, 180 athlete from Greenville (Miss.) St. Joseph; and Travante Stallworth, a 5-10, 180 athlete from Leesville (La.) High.

That brings to 14 the number of Auburn's early commitments for the 2009 class.

Harris chose Auburn over offers from Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, N.C. State, Rutgers, Tennessee and Virginia, according to AuburnSports.com.

Perkins rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior and chose Auburn over offers from Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss. He projects as either a running back or slot receiver.

Stallworth rushed for nearly 1,000 yards on 165 attempts and scored 17 touchdowns as a junior. He also threw for 1,340 yards and 10 touchdowns, but he worked at receiver during Auburn's camp this weekend. He had an offer from Tulsa.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Scratch two candidates

Kentucky's John Cohen took the Mississippi State job, and Baylor's Steve Smith has reportedly pulled his name out of consideration for the vacant Auburn baseball head coaching job.

Louisville's Dan McDonnell said he's not a candidate last week.

That leaves Samford coach Casey Dunn, the former Auburn catcher, as the only remaining candidate known to have had contact with those acting for Auburn in the search.

It's been widely believed that Auburn would have some interest in Jacksonville State's Jim Case and Troy's Bobby Pierce. There's been widespread speculation about former Mississippi State and Florida head coach Pat McMahon.

Other candidates could come into focus after this weekend's NCAA super regionals. It's mostly speculative at this point because Auburn officials and folks at the search firm of Carr and Associates are playing it close to the vest.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Bid approved for new arena

This from Auburn University athletics media relations:

BID APPROVED FOR NEW AUBURN ARENA

AUBURN—Harbert International has won the construction bid for Auburn’s new $92.5 million basketball arena, announced Athletics Director Jay Jacobs Thursday.

Harbert’s base bid of $59.7 million, which came under budget during the bid opening on June 3, will cover the cost of the primary construction. With the addition of alternates to the base bid, the final construction bid came in at $60.4 million, $9.1 million under the base construction cost of $69.5 million.

In June 2007, the Auburn Board of Trustees approved a total project budget of $92.5 million with an approved base construction budget of $69.5 million.

“This is a very exciting time for our student-athletes, coaches, alumni and fans, as another piece to the puzzle has been completed as we move forward with our arena project,” said Jacobs. “A project like this doesn’t come about without a united effort and common goal of countless people. We’re going to have the ability to build a first-class facility that will be within budget.”

Groundbreaking for the new arena will occur in the summer of 2008 with the facility opening prior to the 2010-11 season.

“Our fund raising efforts have been outstanding, and we are very appreciative of the Board of Trustees and President Gogue for their vision and leadership,” Jacobs said. “A lot of people have played akey role in this project, and it wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of John Mouton, Don Large and the President’s office. Jeff Steele, along with the construction management team of Robins & Morton, have been tremendous assets along the way."

The arena, with an approximate capacity of 9,600, will include over 29,000 square feet of student-athlete space, a two-court practice facility, coaches’ offices, the Auburn University Athletic Ticket Office, an AU Team Store, the relocated Lovelace Museum, two food courts along with many other amenities.

“With the current state of the market and economy, we feel very happy with where we are with this project,” said Jeff Steele, Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations. "We believe the uniquely Auburn design of this arena, will provide our students, student-athletes and coaches with a facility among the nation’s best."

360 Architecture of Kansas City, Mo., has been working with Davis Architects of Birmingham on the design of the arena. The firm of Robins & Morton of Birmingham, Ala., will serve as construction manager.

“This is very exciting news to know that we are one big step further along in the process for the new arena,” said Jeff Lebo, Auburn men’s basketball coach. “This is the final hurdle in the start of the construction. The new arena is something that all Auburn people can be proud of. This is going to be a first-class facility, and the Auburn Administration has made a huge commitment to the future.”

“It is exciting to know that the bid process has been completed and now we can begin to see shovels in the ground,” said Nell Fortner, Auburn women’s basketball coach. “We are ready and excited to get this arena project moving and are very thankful for the hard work the administration has put forth."

The 243,792-square-foot facility will be built on campus north and west of the existing Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum on Roosevelt Drive, across the street from the Student Activities Center parking lot.

Search picks up

Auburn has interviewed two candidates for its vacant head baseball coaching position, according to published reports.

Baylor's Steve Smith and Samford's Casey Dunn apparently are the first to interview for the job, which came open when Tom Slater resigned on May 17.

Smith has led Baylor to nine NCAA Regionals, three Super Regionals and one College World Series. He's also a former assistant at Mississippi State, so he could be a candidate to replace the retiring Ron Polk.

Dunn is the former Auburn catcher. He has said he's interested in the job.

Officials involved in the search also reportedly had contact with Louisville's Dan McDonnell, but he said he's not a candidate.

Other names that have come up in widespread speculation include Jacksonville State's Jim Case, Kentucky's John Cohen, former Florida and Mississippi State coach Pat McMahon and Troy's Bobby Pierce.

Auburn officials hope to have an announcement by the end of this week.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Eleven commitments and counting

At this rate, Auburn won't leave much suspense about football recruiting for the fall and winter.

The Tigers added their 11th early commitment Monday when 6-foot, 205-pound linebacker Jonathan Evans, younger brother to current Auburn linebacker Chris Evans, pledged to Auburn.

Jonathan Evans picked Auburn over offers from Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, South Alabama and UAB, according to AuburnSports.com. He had 104 tackles, five sacks, two interceptions and 10 forced fumbles as a junior for Blount High School.

More in Tuesday's Anniston Star.