Jalil Irvin ends the recruiting process, he's an Auburn Tiger
It almost happened over the weekend. Jalil Irvin visited Auburn, he spent hours around the Tiger coaches, his mother got an up-close look at the program and a commitment was very close to happening then.
The 6-foot-3, 295 pound offensive lineman out of Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson talked about Auburn with his mother after the visit, both felt the same way about the school, and on Wednesday the trigger was pulled.
"I am committed to Auburn," said Irvin. "I actually made up my mind during the visit, then I told the Auburn coaches about my decision Monday night. I had a feeling it was going to be Auburn, but when I was sitting in coach [Herb] Hand's (offensive line) Saturday, that is really when it hit me. I knew then that I was going to Auburn."
Hand was hired by Gus Malzahn in 2016 and Irwin talks about the role he played in his commitment.
"He really played a big part in my decision. I love that man already. I like the person that he is, I love the passion that he has and coach Hand is the type of coach that I want to play for. We have really connected.
"Coach Hand is going to go hard for me each day coaching me and I am going to go hard for him. He cares about his players, I already feel like he cares about me and he was a big part of me choosing Auburn."
Over the weekend the picture became clear for the No. 17 prospect in Georgia, but getting to the point to make the call and to feel 100 percent about his decision was not easy.
"It was tough to go through the recruiting process," said Irvin. "It pretty much came down to Auburn and Michigan. I was once committed to Michigan, I have family up there and all of this was not easy.
"I know God has a plan for me and I feel like He was directing me to Auburn, so it feels good to be committed to them. It feels like it is the right place for me. I couldn't feel any better about this."
There are many reasons why the Tigers beat out the Wolverines and so many other programs. Hand is one. The academics that the mother (who is a teacher) really liked is another. Irvin sees Auburn winning big in the future too and that was another reason he chose the Tigers.
"There is something special going on at Auburn," said Irvin. "I want top players in Georgia to go there, I want top guys all over the south to come and be a part of something special. Auburn has a chance to win the SEC West every year, and it is a tough division, so I want others to see my vision and come do big things with me at Auburn."
The new Tiger plans to be back on the Plains later this spring and he cannot wait to see Hand. Not only does he want to hangout with his future position coach, but Irvin wants to see Hand show his gymnastic skills too.
"Coach Hand told me when we talked in his office Saturday that if I committed then he would be doing hand-stands and back-flips," Irvin said with a laugh. "So now that I am committed, I expect to see him doing those things the next time I am there.
"I was so excited to tell him and the Auburn coaches about my decision. I am just excited about it and I felt like I was a priority to them, so I think we are all excited right not. Now I am excited to see coach Hand do his thing too."
The Auburn fans will be excited about this. Irvin feels very confident in his decision this statement shows that.
"I am done. I am not taking anymore visits. The only place people will see me at now is Auburn," said Irvin.
Auburn told Irvin he will likely play guard or center for them.
Irwin is commitment No. 3 for Auburn in 2018. He joins quarterback Joey Gatewood and running back Shaun Shivers, both are out of the state of Florida.
