Auburn Football: Loss of Recruits Doesn't Mean Gus Malzahn Was Wrong Hire

Gus Malzahn hasn't coached a single football game for the Auburn Tigers yet, but he's already struggling.

According to Atlanta Journal Constitution writer Michael Carvell, the Tigers lost their seventh recruit on Tuesday since Gene Chizik's firing. Carvell's report details each recruit and what they could have brought to the program, but there's no doubting that it's been an ugly start for Malzahn on the recruiting trail.

But that probably has more to do with Chizik than him. Regardless of Chizik's lack of success, certain recruits fall in love with a coach and his staff.

It's not always about wins and losses, it's about feel and chemistry; and high school players may not have a read on Malzahn just yet.

There's no reason to panic.

Sure, he would have loved to lock down elite players across the board to immediately infuse some talent into the Auburn program, but this team wasn't in any position to turn from SEC laughing stock to contender overnight.

Malzahn is a dynamic offensive mind. He's going to utilize Auburn's current players more efficiently, even if it is an adjustment from last year's offensive sets.

It's not like it could be worse though. This is the team that was 114th in the nation in points scored this season, so it's hard to believe that they could take a step back on the field.

Losing recruits during a coaching change is completely normal. It's inevitable actually. Some young players aren't going to come into a situation that they feel is unstable, at least not right away. It's going to take some time to work things out.

Recruits could come back. In fact, I think headline recruit Reuben Foster will wind up recommitting to the Tigers.

If not, there's always next year after Malzahn has an entire season under his belt as the coach at a major program.

Maybe Malzahn won't adapt from coaching at Arkansas State to Auburn, but he already has experience with the program. Losing recruits has nothing to do with his fit there, and it's no reason to panic.