An Auburn Football Recruit Makes Major Strides As A Prospect
It's one thing to have seen an Auburn recruit make some plays as a junior, and it's quite another to see him become a playmaker shortly thereafter.
An area the Tigers needed to shore up in their 2025 recruiting class would be along the defensive line. With four commitments, Hugh Freeze and his staff truly loaded up.
Until Sunday's Under Armour Atlanta Camp, many people inside Auburn's Woltosz Football Performance Center probably did not even know how much Malik Autry improved in the past few months.
First off, he's become a massive football player. He's 320. Rivals' #178 recruit in the country wasn't carrying bad weight either.
Having watched Autry come out of his stance in the 40-yard dash, how he moved in the hoop drill, and the way Autry could bend at the knees and fire toward his opponent, all of those qualities led to the following moment when it became obvious the Opelika (Ala.) High School defensive tackle was heading toward becoming a big-time defender.
Autry's movements caught my eye. Looking across the field, I said to myself, "'Who is that?'"
After checking the roster, I realized it sure was Autry. I remembered the 40, and how he moved in a few other drills; seeing him navigate the hoop drill further changed my evaluation of Autry. It would have changed anyone's perception that was truly watching. His ability to be a pass rusher cemented the point that he's significantly elevated his game.
When pass rushing, Autry accomplished something else that's rare. He displayed the ability to move laterally, at the snap of the ball, and quickly defeat the offensive lineman. When a 320-pound defensive tackle can create an interior pass rush almost immediately, a defense has all but won that play. Here's the evidence:
There's no designed counter to the quarterback having a massive human being right in the view of his passing lanes. Plus, he's about to get leveled.
Overall, Autry did a really good job of being a hard-charging defensive tackle who can make plays behind the line of scrimmage. He was consistent during his Under Armour Camp performance.
Indeed, Autry has taken the steps to be one of the most disruptive defensive tackle recruits in the country and UA Atlanta was the proving ground. It's going to be interesting to follow this young man through his senior season at Opelika High School.