Auburn Football: 6 Recruits the Tigers Need to Land in 2012

The Auburn Tigers are turning the corner into the final stretch of the recruiting season.

Friday the roads open again for coaches to make their visits and contact recruits until the weekend before signing day. Signing day is fast approaching, and the Tigers coaches are looking to finish this class of strong.

The Tigers saw four signees enroll early this week as Zeke Pike, Javiere Mitchell, Shane Callahan and Patrick Miller are now in classes at Auburn and will be able to go through spring drills.

Miller was a surprise enrollee, as he was previously committed to LSU (via Rivals.com).

The Tigers have a strong class (16 commits) for the relatively low numbers that fill the list, but closing in key areas strong is a must for the Tigers. Chizik and his staff have closed all three previous classes with a bang: There isn’t anything to indicate that it won’t happen again this season.

Here are six recruits that are high on the Tigers list and would be huge additions to the 2012 class. 

Stefon Diggs: WR

Diggs is a big-time talent at the wide receiver position. He has elite speed and will be a key player for any team that lands his talents.

Diggs hails from Our Lady of Good Counsel in Olney, Maryland. He is found in the Top 10 of every major recruiting service and has more than his fair share of options. He looks to be down to a handful of schools,  although he has yet to confirm a solid list.

Auburn is assumed to be one of the finalists for Diggs’ signature. He is set to make an official visit this coming weekend, according to Rivals.com. Diggs would be a great addition to the Tigers recruiting class: He would bring star power for the fans and playmaking ability for the coaches. 

Diggs may wait to make his decision after signing day (via ESPN), but the Tigers are likely willing to wait for his signature. 

Arik Armstead: DE

Armstead is a standout defensive end from Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove, California.

He has a wealth of offers and is listed in the top at his position by every major recruiting website. He is a unique mix of size and speed, and may also be looking to play both basketball and football at the next level.

Armstead plans an official visit with his father to Auburn this weekend, according to Rivals.com. Rivals also reported that playing with his brother was important to Armstead. His brother is a senior transfer from USC, but it isn’t likely to be a deal breaker. Armstead states in the this article: "If it works out it does, but if it doesn't, it doesn't.”

Armstead is an elite lineman that will make a big splash wherever he lands. The fact that Auburn is hosting his final visit is a plus for the Tigers in my opinion. This coaching staff has shown a great deal of ability to close strong. Auburn is looking for another star lineman, and Armstead may be their guy. 

Leonard Williams: DT

Leonard Williams is a star defensive tackle from Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida. Williams took his official visit to the Tigers campus back in October for the Florida game.

Williams was an Under Armour All-American.

According to Rivals, he has visits scheduled to Florida State, USC and Miami (FL), all in the coming weeks. After that, it will be interesting to see where he settles on signing day.

Williams is a top prospect out of Florida and could project at both defensive end and tackle—depending on the scheme.

Auburn would likely look to have Williams in the middle at tackle, and hope that the early season visit was enough to secure his services for the future.

This will be a fun recruitment to watch at the finish. 

Kwon Alexander: LB

Alexander is a top outside linebacker from the state of Alabama that Auburn has been pushing hard for since early in the process. He is ranked highly among all of the major recruiting services and is No. 27 on the ESPNU 150.

Alexander has great range and tackling skills and will fit a huge need for the Tigers immediately on the outside. He would likely see time early on the Plains, but the instate Tigers are battling the Tigers from Baton Rouge for Alexander’s services.

He is also high on the list at LSU.

The Tigers need to bring in another big linebacker, and Alexander would be a huge instate pickup. Auburn is in good position, but his last official visit was back in November for the Alabama game.

Alexander tore his ACL in the fourth game of the season, but his status as a top linebacker in the 2012 class has never wavered (via The Anniston Star).

Eddie Goldman: DL

Eddie Goldman resides from Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, D.C.

Goldman is rated as the No. 2 player in the country according to Rivals.com and ranked No. 2 in the ESPNU 150. Goldman visited the Tigers in November for the Alabama game, and reportedly enjoyed his visit to Auburn.

Goldman is a huge target for a number of top programs, and Auburn faces a tough battle for his signature. Goldman is expected to make a signing day decision, and this would be one of the biggest signing day pulls that Auburn has had—or that has stuck—in a while.

Big-time defensive linemen are hard to find at this level, and Goldman has the skills to show off at the next level. He will step in and contribute right away if he lands in Auburn. 

Ronald Darby: CB

Darby is a very talented corner back who was shortly committed to Notre Dame just a few days ago (via Rivals.com). Darby was a member of the Under Armour All-American team, and Rivals ranks him No. 72 overall.

Darby hails from Potomac High School in Oxon Hill, Maryland, carrying offers from all across the country. His last official visit appears to be to Florida State this weekend, but the battle for his signature will only end on signing day.

Darby is a special talent on the outside, and could become a great shutdown cover corner in the future. Look for Auburn to make a strong push for Darby, even though he isn’t one of the more popular recruits to watch.