Auburn Football: Latest Summer News and Recruiting Updates

Auburn finished last season with an 8-5 record, which is pretty impressive when you consider all of the players it lost from the 2010 national championship team.

Now that majority of those players return with experience under their belts, bigger and better things are expected from this year's Tigers team. You know head coach Gene Chizik will expect nothing less than an improvement in 2012.

During the months of June and July, it may seem like there isn't much going on, but in today's sports world, the college football season never sleeps.

Here is some of the latest recruiting news and team updates for your 2012 Auburn Tigers.

Jayron Kearse Still in the Mix for Auburn

Jayron Kearse is one of the top recruited players in 2013 because he is extremely talented and has great genes, being the son of former Pro Bowl defensive end, Javon Kearse. He has terrific size at 6'4", 205 pounds, plays the game with a lot of passion like his father did and is extremely athletic.

He originally committed to Auburn before decommitting and giving the Miami Hurricanes his word. Then he flip-flopped again and is back trying to find which school best fits what he is trying to do.

Kearse has offers from nearly every school in the country but considers Miami, Auburn, Clemson, USC and Notre Dame the favorites right now.

There is no timetable for his decision as of yet, but Tiger fans have to be thrilled that they are still in the mix after receiving devastating news of the decommitment.

Quarterback Zeke Pike Arrested

While Auburn is currently in the middle of a quarterback competition, the quarterback of the future, Zack Pike, was arrested for public intoxication. He was later released on $300 bond, but this can't be good news if you are an Auburn fan.

Pike is a former 3-star recruit from the 2012 class and, at 6'6", 230 pounds, with a cannon for an arm, he appears to have a bright future ahead of him. However, he was suspended for a game in high school after getting ejected in a playoff game the year before. He was also involved in a Twitter feud with Alabama fans just last season.

Is this just a minor incident that will eventually go away in a few months, or is this the start of a trend of a troubled player?

Jay Prosch Is Ready to Play

Fullback Jay Prosch has transferred from Illinois to Auburn so he can be closer to his mother, who is battling cancer. Usually players who end up transferring have to sit for a year, but luckily for Prosch, he was given the okay to participate as early as this season.

"I'm extremely blessed and very thankful to have my waiver cleared by the NCAA." Prosch said (via ESPN). "I'm excited and can't wait for my mother and family to be able to see me play this fall." 

Prosch is a big guy at 6'1", 250 pounds and will help lead-block for Auburn backs that are undersized. Throughout his career at Illinois, he only touched the ball two times, but for a team that needs size and solid players on the offensive side of the ball, Prosch could help this team in a big way in 2012.

Montravius Adams Is Still on the Move

Montravius Adams is considered by many to be the top defensive tackle in this year's class. His size at 6'3", 285 pounds and quickness off the ball makes him unstoppable at the high school level, the type of player that can contribute right away in college.

While every school is after the 5-star recruit, he has visited several schools this month, including Auburn.

"It was nice…just getting to hang out with the coaches, getting to know them better," Adams said about his trip to Auburn (via Scout.com; subscription required).

Adams also visited Tennessee and Alabama and has a visit scheduled with Clemson during the summer. He finished his junior season with 45 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and 84 tackles.

Jordan Wilkins Likes Auburn

Unlike the running backs that Auburn has on the field right now, Jordan Wilkins is a power back at 6'2", 205 pounds. He will run over a defender and pick up those difficult yards but also has decent speed for a back his size. He rarely ever goes down on initial contact, and that's a big reason he is a 4-star recruit.

Wilkins has many offers on the table, but considers the Auburn Tigers one of the favorites, saying (via al.com):

"

Auburn is still way up there. I'm not going to lie, it's probably my No. 1 school right now. Wilkins said. I talk to Coach (Curtis) Luper day in and day out. They're like family. I'm real close to all the coaches up there. 

"

He may end up visiting Auburn again at some point, but will also check out Tennessee and Michigan before making his decision likely in the next couple of months.