Auburn Recruiting: Grades and Analysis for Class of 2012

Gene Chizik and the Auburn Tigers have put together not only one of the best recruiting classes in the SEC, but also one of the best in the country.

The Tigers class currently ranks No. 12 on Rivals.com and is as deep and talented as nearly anybody in the country.

The group is much needed after a 8-5 year in 2011 and the sudden departure of star running back Michael Dyer.

The class is also needed to keep up with in-state rival Alabama, who has the best recruiting class in the country, as well as other SEC schools like Florida and Georgia who rank just ahead of Auburn.

Either way, this class will likely have an instant impact on both sides of the ball. Here is a breakdown of the 2012 Auburn recruiting class.

Offense

Perhaps the biggest recruit in the 2012 class for Auburn is offensive tackle Avery Young. He is rated the No. 9 offensive tackle and No. 74 player overall.

Young will be joined up front by offensive tackle Shane Callahan, who ranks No. 212 nationally and the No. 22 tackle, and Patrick Miller, who ranks No. 225 overall and is the No. 24 tackle.

The Tigers received a pair of signatures from talented receivers JaQuay Wiliams and Ricardo Louis.

Williams is ranked No. 90 overall and the No. 14 receiver, while Louis ranks No. 183 overall and the No. 27 wide receiver.

Auburn is also in the mix for Stefon Diggs who is the No. 2 wide receiver in the country and a top-10 player overall.

Ricky Parks is the No. 2 tight end in the class and the No. 123 player overall. He is a player who could make an instant impact for Auburn.

Rounding out the offensive class is running back Jovon Robinson. Robinson is a top 10 running back and ranked No. 136 overall. 

Defense

Auburn loaded up once again on defense, and the class is headlined by cornerback Joshua Holsey.

Holsey is ranked the No. 15 corner in the country and is No. 180 overall. He has sub 4.4-40 times and could make an immediate impact for Auburn.

Joining Holsey on defense are a pair of 4-star linebackers. Among them is Cassanova McKinzy. McKinzy ranks as the No. 19 outside linebacker and No. 245 player overall.

He will be joined by the No. 25 outside linebacker Javiere Mitchell.

Up front, the biggest name on the recruiting list is defensive tackle Tyler Nero.

Nero ranks as the No. 22 defensive tackle in the country and already comes in at close to 300 pounds.

Grade, Prediction and Anaylsis

This Auburn class is deep and talented at multiple positions and is certainly worthy of an A- for a grade.

If the Tigers can get a signature from Stefon Diggs that grade could move up to an A.

Both wide receivers have a chance to make an immediate impact next season along with Holsey at corner.

Even though the Tigers struggled last season, with this class those struggles are likely to end and Auburn will be back in the national spotlight in the coming years.