Singley: Three of the top players Auburn football could add to their 2024 recruiting class
The country has been put on notice, Auburn football is back and so is its ability to go out and get the top talent that the fans expect. The past week has given Auburn a taste of what its biggest rivals have had for years, and that is five-star talent. Alabama has managed to get at least one five-star prospect every year since 2008, and Georgia has managed to secure five stars in all but one year in that same time frame. Auburn during this period has been less successful, getting only getting eight five stars in that 15-year stretch according to 247 Sports. Last week alone the Tigers got two commitments from two in-state five-star prospects.
This momentum that has been gained could be halted by a bad season, or it could be amplified by an eight-plus win season. That being said, the following three players will be in the Auburn 2024 class no matter the record.
The first recruit I believe will ultimately end up in this class is Kamarion Franklin. Franklin is a Mississippi native who plays along the defensive line. 247Sports and Rivals view the 6-foot-5, 260-pounder as a five-star while On3 and ESPN have him as a high-range four-star. His top schools are Tennessee, Auburn, Miami, and in-state Ole Miss.
From a visit standpoint, Tennessee leads the way with four, while Auburn and Ole Miss are tied with three. Miami has only received two visits to my knowledge. Auburn has Kamarion on campus now according to his Twitter. Auburn has a clear advantage over Miami and Ole Miss, and they are capable of having the proper NIL for a five-star.
There have been open discussions had by Lane Kiffin trying to secure better funding for not only NIL, but the facilities at Ole Miss. This begs the question of whether can they offer a fair deal to a top talent to keep him in the state. Miami has seen one of its most influential and passionate donors be investigated for multiple things that I will not comment on as I don't have the knowledge or authority to give my opinion. This leaves the Vols and the Tigers.
Tennessee has an ace up its sleeve with Rodney Garner, a once key figure in Auburn's recruiting who has made this an intense battle. Jeremy Garrett has and will continue to put up a fight and make Franklin a priority. Though I do not believe Franklin will initially commit to Auburn, I think he will end up a Tiger by National Signing Day.
The second of these recruits is KJ Bolden, a top-three prospect in Georgia and the top safety in the nation. Bolden has had an excellent high school career, receiving snaps at both FS and WR, he has totaled 510 yards and three touchdowns on offense while having 23 tackles, three pass deflections, and two interceptions. The stats reflect a good prospect, and the tape reflects one of the best prospects in the country. His recruitment has been a publicized one despite the fact that KJ is a relatively quiet kid.
Auburn was once a nonfactor in his recruitment, but over the past six months a surge has happened and Auburn is in the final five of Florida State, Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, and Auburn. A commitment is coming, Bolden intends to declare which school he is going to on Saturday, August 5th. The top schools at the time of writing seem to be Auburn and Florida State.
Sources have alluded to Auburn Daily that Bolden is leaning towards Auburn. If this were the case, that would be two straight five-star recruits that Auburn has managed to snatch from Florida State. Keldric Faulk was viewed as an FSU lock until Auburn signed him on National Signing Day. The addition of Bolden would also mean that the Tigers have gained three five-star recruits in the span of ten days.
The last recruit is not a five-star but is a key player for an incredibly important position of need. Bradley Shaw, a Hoover native and top-tier linebacker, has quickly ascended Auburn's board to be their target for the last linebacker spot in this class. Already securing the services of Demarcus Riddick and Joseph Phillips, the Tigers need a true inside linebacker to plug up the middle while the other two set the edge. Shaw is a ball magnet, wherever the ball goes Shaw will be there to make the stop. The tape shows a true inside backer, and the size at that position that Auburn hasn't had for years.
Shaw does not seem to be close to making a decision, but a surprise commitment wouldn't shock me. The top schools are Auburn, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Clemson. The Tigers of South Carolina have recently started to push and make Shaw a priority for their 2024 class. Shaw was present for Big Cat Weekend and seemed to be enjoying himself as were the other recruits.
There are no certainties in life, and this will be no different. I can not guarantee that these players will commit, sign, or play for Auburn University. The signs point to yes for now, but there's a season to play before signing day and that could change all of these recruitments immensely.
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