Auburn Football Recruiting: Top Commits, Targets to Watch at the Opening

Many of the nation's best high school prospects are heading to Nike's campus at Oregon next week for The Opening, and Auburn fans who follow recruiting will definitely recognize a handful of names at the annual event.

Three players currently committed to Auburn are on the rosters for The Opening, and plenty of the program's top targets are also going to be showcasing their skills July 7-10 in the Pacific Northwest.

Thanks a trio of 5-star recruits—including the nation's No. 1 player—and several of the Southeast's best playmakers, there could be several future Tigers on display at The Opening.

Here's a look at the three Auburn pledges and 10 major targets who will be at the event, complete with highlights and expert analysis of where these players stand in their respective recruitments.

OT Calvin Ashley

• Orlando, Florida (Dr. Phillips)
• 6'7", 307 pounds
• Composite ranking (2017): 4
• OT ranking: 2
• Auburn's status: Commitment

Auburn's only pledge for the class of 2017 is a huge one, as Ashley's dominant play as a sophomore in high school earned him an early spot at The Opening. Ashley, who committed to Auburn at Big Cat Weekend, will definitely be able to hold his own as a younger player in Oregon at The Opening.

"The first sophomore offensive linemen to be invited to The Opening Finals in three years, Ashley resembles anything but a sophomore," reads Ashley's bio on Student Sports. "It wouldn't shock you if he was walking across the NFL Draft stage. He not only has potential, but Ashley has shown he can be a dominant player during his first two seasons at Dr. Phillips."

ATH Stephen Davis Jr.

• Irmo, South Carolina (Dutch Fork)
• 6'4", 215 pounds
• Composite ranking: 305
• ATH ranking: 18
• Auburn's status: Commitment

The son of former Auburn great Stephen Davis recently told Auburn Undercover he is "70 percent committed" to the Tigers at this point in his recruitment. Davis Jr. is a top target for UCLA and in-state school Clemson, who holds a commitment from 5-star running back Tavien Feaster.

With his size and skill set, Davis Jr. is definitely one for Auburn fans to watch at The Opening and over the next few months. He looks like the perfect safety for Will Muschamp's defensive scheme and is a legacy the Tigers need to keep.

WR Eli Stove

• Niceville, Florida (Niceville)
• 6'1", 178 pounds
• Composite ranking: 61
• WR ranking: 7
• Auburn's status: Commitment

Stove is Auburn's highest-rated commitment in the class of 2016 and comes from a high school that has put out several great college players. The Florida speedster has a great all-around game that continues to impress analysts.

"[Stove has] SEC-caliber speed and footwork, but I am most impressed with Eli’s ability to make plays all over the field with his vision and his ability to vary his speed to use blockers and to break tackling angles," former Auburn offensive coordinator Jack Crowe told 247Sports. "He is a very aware playmaker."

DT Derrick Brown

• Buford, Georgia (Lanier)
• 6'4", 314 pounds
• Composite ranking: 7
• DT ranking: 3
• Auburn's status: Behind Georgia, alongside Alabama and Tennessee

Brown visited Auburn during Big Cat Weekend and told Auburn Undercover's Keith Niebuhr he doesn't have an overall favorite at this point in his recruitment. The Tigers could definitely use a player of his 5-star caliber down the middle of their defensive line, which needs a boost in depth.

"Auburn has a huge need at defensive tackle, and Brown is one of a handful of the nation’s elite prospects who is physically capable of making an impact early in his career," Bleacher Report's Sanjay Kirpalani wrote in May.

WR Nate Craig-Myers

• Tampa, Florida (Tampa Catholic)
• 6'2", 205 pounds
• Composite ranking: 12
• WR ranking: 1
• Auburn's status: Behind Florida State (33 percent of his Crystal Ball predictions)

The 5-star Craig-Myers has received offers left and right since his decommitment from Auburn in May. But the nation's No. 1 receiver returned to campus later in the month for Big Cat Weekend, and a head-to-head battle could be brewing between the Tigers and the leading Seminoles over the rest of this cycle.

"Offensively, I think Auburn has a chance to show him what they're all about this year, and that's Jeremy Johnson throwing the football downfield," Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer wrote in May. "This is going to be a different offense than what we're used to seeing, and if you're a receiver in this offense, you really have a chance to be a star."

OLB Ben Davis

• Gordo, Alabama (Gordo)
• 6'3", 240 pounds
• Composite ranking: 19
• OLB ranking: 3
• Auburn's status: Behind leader Alabama

One of the state of Alabama's 5-star defensive prospects for 2016, Davis is an Alabama legacy who will most likely be suiting up for the Crimson Tide in the future. But he's still keeping his options open, and Auburn has a solid chance to at least challenge Alabama's lead.

Davis has the frame college coaches desire at the linebacker position, and he is extremely athletic for his size. He'll showcase why he would be a perfect linebacker for Muschamp when he's in Oregon for The Opening.

WR Kyle Davis

• Lawrenceville, Georgia (Archer)
• 6'3", 211 pounds
• Composite ranking: 51
• WR ranking: 5
• Auburn's status: Third at best, behind Georgia and Tennessee

Davis decommitted from South Carolina in May and visited Auburn for Big Cat Weekend. Georgia is the heavy favorite for his commitment now, but Auburn could continue to move up in this recruiting battle.

The Georgia native is expected to unveil his list of top schools at The Opening, so keep your eyes open for that announcement, along with how well he performs against some of the nation's best talent. The Tigers would love to add at least another receiver with Stove, and Davis is a versatile target to watch.

DT Rashan Gary

• Paramus, New Jersey (Paramus Catholic)
• 6'4", 311 pounds
• Composite ranking: 1
• DT ranking: 1
• Auburn's status: Too early to tell

The nation's No. 1 player has kept his list of schools wide open so far, but Gary's mother told 247Sports' Gary Wiltfong that "Auburn is going to make the cut" when he narrows his list after The Opening. Wiltfong gave Auburn the first Crystal Ball prediction for Gary on Monday, but Alabama and Michigan currently hold commanding leads.

All eyes will be on Gary at The Opening due to his status as the nation's most coveted prospect. Auburn fans should pay special attention to him, because the Tigers could be a rising contender for his commitment in the coming months.

RB Elijah Holyfield

• Atlanta, Georgia (Woodward Academy)
• 6'0", 175 pounds
• Composite ranking: 190
• RB ranking: 7
• Auburn's status: Crystal Ball leader (59 percent)

Auburn is widely projected to be the leader for the son of boxing legend Evander Holyfield. The Atlanta running back ran for 25 touchdowns as a junior last season, and fans will want to tune in to Opening coverage to see a potential star in Gus Malzahn's offense.

"I think Auburn's going to be tough to beat," Kramer said in April. "The offense is a perfect fit for a back like this. He's a shifty, one-cut back who would fit in perfectly with what they want to do."

DT Antwuan Jackson

• Ellenwood, Georgia (Cedar Grove)
• 6'2 ½", 285 pounds
• Composite ranking: 47
• DT ranking: 8
• Auburn's status: Crystal Ball leader (61 percent)

Jackson is releasing his list of top schools this weekend, and you can expect the quick 4-star defensive tackle to have Auburn on it. He is said to be extremely close with Auburn defensive line coach Rodney Garner and made his 11th—that's right, 11th—visit to the Plains earlier this month.

"They really want me to come play at Auburn," Jackson told Auburn Undercover's Keith Niebuhr. "They told me I can help their defense. They’re great people—great people to hang around with. And, they’re great players. They’re a family there. It’s not about attention. That just how they treat their players."

QB Jawon Pass

• Columbus, Georgia (Carver)
• 6'5", 220 pounds
• Composite ranking: 156
• QB-DT ranking: 4
• Auburn's status: Third in Crystal Ball predictions (12 percent), behind Alabama and Louisville

Although Auburn already has a commitment from quarterback Woody Barrett, the Tigers would definitely want to take two signal-callers if they can land Pass. The quarterback from nearby Columbus, Georgia, has fantastic athleticism and size that Auburn would love to see down the road at quarterback.

Pass is set to announce his commitment July 13. The Tigers are behind Alabama and Louisville at the moment, and the Barrett decision might keep Pass away from the Plains.

S Nigel Warrior

• Suwanee, Georgia (Peachtree Ridge)
• 6'0", 175 pounds
• Composite ranking: 78
• S ranking: 4
• Auburn's status: Third at best, behind Georgia and Tennessee

Another 4-star prospect from the state of Georgia, Warrior is a big-time target for Auburn as it looks to rebuild its secondary for the future. But the Tigers will have to combat Georgia, Tennessee and a host of schools around the country that are catching his eye.

Warrior has mentioned Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and Oregon in recent interviews and plans to take official visits to several of those destinations. Auburn will have a lot of catching up to do for a commitment from this Atlanta area star.

CB Joejuan Williams

• Hendersonville, Tennessee (Hendersonville)
• 6'2", 195 pounds
• Composite ranking: 187
• CB ranking: 16
• Auburn's status: Third in Crystal Ball predictions (23 percent), behind Tennessee and LSU

Auburn already has a commitment from 4-star cornerback John Broussard, but it would love to add another with Williams.

Williams, who unofficially visited Auburn in March, has great size for the cornerback position and has 33 scholarship offers so far.

"Williams says the Tigers have told him he can commit at any time, but he doesn't appear to be in any rush to pick a school," Niebuhr wrote June 2. "Also, Auburn is being patient at this position."

Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Justin Ferguson is an on-call college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.