Despite No DC in Place, Auburn Loading Up on Defensive Recruits

The college football coaching carousel can wreak havoc on recruiting efforts at an inopportune time, as staffs shuffle during the final stretch of lengthy recruiting cycles.

Despite multiple high-profile coaching departures for the Auburn Tigers, they seem headed toward national signing day largely unscathed. In fact, the program actually gained steam this week by solidifying plans with multiple impressive prospects. 

Ironically, the most meaningful developments took place on defense.

Auburn lost defensive coordinator Will Muschamp earlier this month when he accepted the head coaching position with the South Carolina Gamecocks. He also brought beloved secondary coach Travaris Robinson, an ace recruiter and former Tigers standout, to Columbia, South Carolina, as defensive coordinator.

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, tasked with finding a new play-caller on defense for the second straight offseason, named linebackers coach Lance Thompson interim coordinator for an upcoming Birmingham Bowl matchup with the Memphis Tigers. 

"I hate the fact that those kids have to go through a change again at defensive coordinator," Muschamp said during his initial Gamecocks press conference, according to James Crepea of AL.com. "That's something that I certainly regret—that they've got to face that. It's very difficult."

Despite a shift among leadership, the Tigers are enjoying a successful stretch on the recruiting trail.

Auburn finalized plans with a pair of mid-year transfer junior college recruits Wednesday, when prospects in that category put pen to paper on their signing day. Though one-time Tigers cornerback commit Jamarcus King ultimately elected to join Muschamp at South Carolina, the team sealed the deal with top-rated JUCO pass rusher Paul James.

The 6'4", 255-pound Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Mississippi) playmaker followed through on a November commitment by signing with Auburn. James, a Miami Norland High School product, recorded 47 tackles and 14 sacks this season, according to Wesley Sinor of AL.com.

He earned National Junior College Athletic Association First Team All-American honors. The 4-star prospect rates No. 1 nationally among weak-side defensive ends and No. 15 overall in composite JUCO rankings.

Sinor reports Muschamp attempted to flip James to the Gamecocks late, but the defender's mind was made up.

"I told him my heart is with Auburn and I wished him the best," James told Sinor.

Auburn also welcomes former Florida State player John Franklin to the roster as a JUCO addition. He could enter the mix at quarterback during spring practice sessions.

The Tigers' 2016 defensive outlook received another boost Wednesday when 5-star pledge Marlon Davidson reaffirmed his commitment to Auburn.

The in-state defensive end, a 6'4", 260-pound senior at Greenville High School, revealed his decision after considering alternative options. Older brother Kenneth Carter won a national championship with the Tigers in 2011 and now serves on Auburn's support staff:

Davidson, rated No. 2 nationally among strong-side defensive ends and No. 16 overall in 2016 composite rankings, will enroll early. He listened to sales pitches from Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Florida State but ultimately never used an official visit anywhere but Auburn.

Despite referring to his verbal pact as a "75 percent" commitment during the season, Davidson is now invested in making an impact in spring camp. It's the second straight cycle that Auburn will land a 5-star defensive end, following a 2015 signature from Florida recruit Byron Cowart.

The Tigers further strengthened an improving defensive front Thursday when 4-star Georgia tackle Antwuan Jackson announced intentions to attend Auburn:

Jackson, rated No. 8 among defensive tackles and No. 55 overall in 2016 composite rankings, chose the Tigers over the Ohio State Buckeyes. He gave credit to defensive line coach Rodney Garner, who has been a mainstay of Malzahn's staff.

"[Garner has] been wanting me and needing me since I was in the ninth grade," Jackson told Keith Niebuhr of 247Sports. "I've always been close with him."

The 6'2 ½", 285-pound Cedar Grove High School lineman tallied 96 tackles as a senior, per Matthew Stevens of the Montgomery Advertiser. His production included an astounding 52 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

Like Davidson and James, Jackson will be on campus next semester. The Tigers now sit at No. 8 in national composite recruiting class rankings.

Whoever ultimately fills Muschamp's former role on a permanent basis will inherit a compelling collection of incoming defenders. Auburn's ability to keep momentum moving forward despite dramatic staff alterations should set the Tigers up for defensive improvements in the near future.

Tyler Donohue is a Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst . All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter @TDsTake.