Auburn Recruiting: Can Tigers Beat Bama, UGA, LSU and Clemson for Elite Defensive Tackles?

It is said that the SEC is a line of scrimmage league. To win that line of scrimmage, a major aspect of it is securing absolutely elite defensive tackle recruits. Prospects that truly possess high upsides, if one will.

To that end, Auburn’s 2024 defensive line class is really good, and all-around playmaker TJ Lindsey is No. 108 in the 2024 Rivals national rankings. He’s probably a combination of strong side defensive end and a 3-technique, however. He’s from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy.

There’s also much to like about current AU defensive tackle commitments like Malik Blocton from Pike Road (Ala.) High School and Dimitry Nicolas from Miami (Fla.) Norland. Both possess the ability to help the Tigers get back to being a dominant defensive interior.

No way around it though, Auburn still needs that one absolutely dominant defensive tackle recruit, at least every other recruiting class, to expedite the process to be where their competition is right now (see rankings below).

It would be great if Auburn can flip current Alabama defensive lineman Jeremiah Beaman from Birmingham (Ala.) Parker. More on him when the time comes, because that would be a major coup and help finish off an already really good defensive line class.

Come to think of it, that’s the type of defensive line class Auburn needs almost every year when one considers edge defender and Tigers commitment Joseph Pillips from Tuskegee (Ala.) Booker T. Washington as also a part of the defensive line haul. Adding on, it's important to note Auburn’s primary competition for these massive defensive tackles.

Generally speaking, LSU, Alabama, Georgia, and Clemson are schools signing many of the defensive tackles that Auburn coaches covet (this staff and probably prior AU staffs over the last 10 years as well).

In short, think of a past Auburn defensive tackle like Derrick Brown (2016 Auburn recruiting class), who's now with the Carolina Panthers. That's the kind of prospect where the comparison points will be made, and a more specific picture is needed to do so.

To help paint that picture and make it clear, here’s a year-by-year look at the 2021 to 2023 defensive tackle recruits that the aforementioned competition signed from inside the final Rivals Top 100, as well as a look at Auburn’s defensive tackle recruiting during the same timeline.

(Number of top 100 defensive tackle recruits signed, per class)

2021, 2022, and 2023 Rivals 100.

Auburn

: 2021 (0), 2022 (0), and 2023 (0)

LSU

: 2021 (1), 2022 (0), 2023 (0)

Alabama

: 2021 (1), 2022 (1), 2023 (1)

Georgia

: 2021 (0), 2022 (2), 2023 (2)

Clemson

: 2021 (1), 2022 (0), 2023 (2)

In total, Auburn had zero, LSU one, Alabama three, Georgia four, and Clemson three.

It’s no surprise that the usual suspects keep churning out NFL Draft picks at defensive tackle when they recruit the best out of the high school ranks. Auburn needs a piece of that same pie.

Is Auburn trending in the right recruiting direction? Yes it is. To reach the finish line must include some vigorous defensive tackle recruiting battles against top competition.

Keep an eye on Auburn’s defensive tackle recruiting as the 2024 class finishes up, as well as the 2025 and 2026 classes.

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