Auburn Football Recruiting: Tigers' Biggest Targets in Class of 2016

Auburn is aiming for a third consecutive top-10 recruiting class under the direction of head coach Gus Malzahn. His squad closed out the 2015 cycle in strong fashion, landing 5-star Florida defensive end Byron Cowart and several key commitments on national signing day.

Efforts toward signing day 2016 are already well underway for the Tigers, who currently hold five pledges in a class headlined by Auburn legacy Stephen Davis Jr. and top-ranked wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers. There's still plenty of work to be done on the recruiting trail, and notable targets have caught significant attention from the team.

Here's a review of elite recruits who should keep the Tigers in pursuit throughout the year.

5-Star DT Julian Rochester (Powder Springs, Georgia)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 20 overall; No. 4 defensive tackle

Size: 6'5.5", 300 lbs

School: McEachern High School

Bleacher Report Analysis

Julian Rochester earned all-state honors in 2014. His junior campaign featured 116 tackles—25 for loss—and 12 sacks.

B/R national recruiting columnist Sanjay Kirpalani compared his skill set to former Auburn target Trent Thompson, the top-rated 2015 defensive tackle who ultimately elected to stay in state at Georgia.

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I saw Rochester live twice last season and was blown away by his athleticism and power. I viewed Rochester one week after I saw Trent Thompson and came away with similar impressions of both players.

Rochester may not be as big or powerful as Thompson, but his athleticism and ability to play multiple spots on the line makes him one of the elite prospects in this cycle. At one of the games I attended, coaches from Auburn and Florida State were paying close attention to Rochester all night.

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Recruitment Update

Auburn is the early front-runner for Rochester's signature. He put the Tigers atop his list of favorites during a recent conversation with Kipp Adams of 247Sports.

"[Auburn] jumped on me first," Rochester said. "They still talk to me as much as possible, keep in touch and make sure they see me every time they come up there. They make me feel at home when I go there."

He spent a pair of unofficial visits at Auburn last season. Beneath the Tigers, Rochester ranked Clemson, Florida State, LSU and Georgia as contenders in that order.

4-Star RB Elijah Holyfield (Atlanta, Georgia)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 194 overall; No. 14 running back

Size: 5'11", 200 lbs

School: Woodward Academy

Bleacher Report Analysis

Elijah Holyfield is the son of athletics royalty. His father, Evander Holyfield, is the only boxer to claim four World Heavyweight Championships.

Now it's his time to shine. 

Holyfield is a powerful runner who dishes out contact while working his way downfield. He has the makings of a balanced between-the-tackles rusher who can wear down defenses during the course of four quarters.

Following an underclassman career that featured complementary roles in the offensive backfield, Holyfield became a bell-cow back in 2014. He established personal highs as a junior with 1,735 yards and 25 touchdowns, per MaxPreps.

Recruitment Update

His celebrity-family status thrust him into the spotlight early and offers quickly followed. Holyfield held scholarships from Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Ohio State by the end of his sophomore year.

Auburn extended an offer last month, days before fellow SEC contender South Carolina entered the pursuit. The Tigers staff has made him a top priority, though running back isn't a necessarily a pivotal position of need in this cycle. 

Holyfield received an in-person visit from Malzahn and running backs coach Tim Horton in January, according to Wesley Sinor of AL.com.

5-Star LB Ben Davis (Gordo, Alabama)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 26 overall; No. 4 outside linbacker

Size: 6'4", 230 lbs

School: Gordo High School

Bleacher Report Analysis

Ben Davis is another second-generation sports star on this list. He is the son of Wayne Davis, who holds the all-time career tackles record at Alabama.

His junior campaign included 70 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions, per AlabamaIntel.com. B/R national recruiting analyst Damon Sayles scouted the versatile defender.

"Looking at Davis' size alone, he's everything a college linebackers coach wants in a prospect," Sayles wrote. "He is a tall, quick linebacker who possesses good length and a lot of athleticism. An instinctive player, Davis has shown that he can be a decent pass-rusher in addition to playing in his zone."

Recruitment Update

His offer from Alabama arrived last June, and the Crimson Tide are certainly a strong favorite to land a legacy commitment.

"[Nick Saban] said they usually don't offer this early, but that he wants me to keep my head, stay humble and keep playing," Davis told John Talty of AL.com upon receiving the scholarship.

Despite significant family ties to Tuscaloosa, he remains interested in other SEC opportunities.

Davis traveled to Auburn and Mississippi State last season. The Tigers formally extended an offer in early January, shortly after the arrival of new Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.

4-Star QB Jawon Pass (Columbus, Georgia)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 48 overall; No. 2 dual-threat quarterback

Size: 6'5", 213 lbs

School: Carver High School

Bleacher Report Analysis

Nicknamed "Puma," Jawon Pass is arguably the most electric all-around Georgia quarterback prospect since Cam Newton (Westlake High School). He's an impressive runner who presents a difficult task for tacklers in the open field due to his physical stature.

Pass entered the national spotlight in 2013, when he tallied 2,500 total yards and 34 scores as a sophomore. He is undoubtedly a top-10 quarterback prospect at this point of the 2016 recruiting cycle, and he could enter the discussion as a top-five recruit this year with significant refinement in passing mechanics.

Recruitment Update

Auburn appears to be facing an uphill battle in its pursuit of Pass, who is an excellent fit in Malzahn's attack. He named UNC, Alabama and Louisville as his top three choices last season, per Ryan Bartow of 247Sports.

His older brother, Khane, will be a freshman defensive back at Louisville this year, potentially giving the Cardinals an advantage. Pass attended camp at Auburn last summer and is a key target for the Tigers, particularly after failing to flip 4-star Ohio State commit Torrance Gibson late in the 2015 cycle.

4-Star DB John Broussard (Phoenix City, Alabama)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 86 overall; No. 7 cornerback

Size: 6'0", 164 lbs

School: Central High School

Bleacher Report Analysis

John Broussard rose to prominence as a premier defender in downfield coverage during past seasons at Central and impressive performances on the camp circuit. He is considered the Tigers' top in-state secondary target.

B/R national recruiting columnist Damon Sayles broke down his approach in the defensive backfield.

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Broussard is one of those cornerbacks who can mirror the wide receiver lining up against him. That's a great trait to have as a defensive back. Broussard isn't the biggest cornerback, but he's got length, and he uses it to his advantage with pass breakups. Don't be fooled by his size; he likes to get physical with receivers as well.

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Recruitment Update

Auburn holds a distinctive advantage in proximity, as Broussard lives very close to campus. The Tigers offered him a scholarship last June, though competition has expanded since then.

LSU is the primary contender in SEC territory, while Michigan made him a key priority within weeks of Jim Harbaugh's hiring. Broussard was expected to announce a decision in December but has postponed commitment plans until May, per Wesley Sinor of AL.com.

4-Star OL E.J. Price (Lawrenceville, Georgia)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 74 overall; No. 9 offensive tackle

Size: 6'6.5", 307 lbs

School: Archer High School

Bleacher Report Analysis

E.J. Price is a massive athletic specimen who projects as an exterior offensive lineman. His physical frame leaves substantial room for growth, and he should be able to comfortably pack on quality pounds following his enrollment in a collegiate weight-training and nutritional regimen.

B/R national recruiting analyst Damon Sayles detailed Price's promising skill set.

Price is a quick lineman who uses his length and athleticism to his advantage," Sayles wrote. "Price's hands make him one to watch, and he has a good first step off the snap. Speed is going to be Price's primary asset, but he is a project that any college coach will enjoy working with.

Recruitment Update

Price doesn't plan to commit until the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, per Wesley Sinor of 247Sports. Auburn fell shy in its quest for top-ranked 2015 offensive tackle Martez Ivey but cleaned up in the state of Georgia.

The Tigers signed four offensive linemen from the Peach State and will look to pluck another premier blocker from the region in Price, who received an Auburn offer immediately after his sophomore season. 

Priced released a top-10 list in January, with programs ranked in preferred order. Auburn and Michigan lead a collection that also includes Ohio State, Florida State, South Carolina, USC, Clemson, Alabama, LSU and Tennessee.

5-Star LB Lyndell Wilson (Montgomery, Alabama)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 7 overall; No. 2 outside linebacker

Size: 6'2", 220 lbs

School: Carver High School

Bleacher Report Analysis

Lyndell "Mack" Wilson is a relentless defender who inflicts damage on opponents in a variety of ways. He's a three-down linebacker who can cover the pass (two interceptions in 2014, per MaxPreps), chase quarterbacks (6.5 sacks) and patrol the perimeter against rushing efforts (74 tackles).

B/R national recruiting analyst Damon Sayles studied his film while putting together a scouting report.

"Although Wilson is an outstanding tackler and a physical athlete, Wilson's instincts are among his best qualities," Sayles wrote. "He is quick to read a play and make the right decision. Wilson brings a level of toughness to a defensive front seven, and his tenacity will be welcomed at the next level."

Recruitment Update

Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson is a former teammate, and the Tigers have hosted Wilson on campus several times since offering him early. However, Alabama has also frequently welcomed him into town, which could ultimately result in another in-state showdown between the bitter SEC rivals.

Both Alabama and Auburn appeared on a top-seven list he released in January. Oregon was named his favorite, ahead of the Crimson Tide (No. 2) and Tigers (No. 3).

Louisville, Tennessee, Georgia and USC rounded out the group.

5-Star DE Marlon Davidson (Greenville, Alabama)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 28 overall; No. 3 strong-side defensive end

Size: 6'4", 260 lbs

School: Carver High School

Bleacher Report Analysis

Marlon Davidson does an outstanding job setting the edge and already possesses college-ready strength with another season of high school competition ahead. He secured 69 tackles and seven sacks as a junior, per MaxPreps.

B/R national recruiting analyst Sanjay Kirpalani discussed how Davidson does damage in his scouting report.

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Davidson has the size and frame that can help him play early in his career regardless of where he lands. He does a great job of setting the edge versus the run, and his power is tough to handle for linemen who are trying to keep him away from the quarterback. He needs to work on developing more pass-rushing moves among other things, but the tools are there for him to be dominant player in the future.

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Recruitment Update

Davidson, the younger brother of former Auburn defensive lineman Kenneth Carter, is another in-state standout who seems destined to remain at the center of a tug-of-war between Alabama and the Tigers.

Though Georgia, Clemson and Mississippi State are among other programs who've drawn interest, it's difficult to see him leaving home turf. The stakes are high at Carver this season, as Davidson teams up with fellow 5-star defender Lyndell Wilson (see previous slide) to create a monstrous duo.

The 10-star tandem told Ethan Bernal of the Montgomery Advertiser in December that they will "more than likely" play together in college. If that package-deal mentality lasts through signing day, somebody's defense will instantly become much more dangerous in the front seven.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.