LB Boyle favors SEC power

Many college football fans believe that Auburn may be the team to beat in the Southeastern Conference in 2003 and Tiger fans are excited. They also have a reason to expect a great recruiting class with versatile players such as Justin Boyle so interested.

"Auburn is definitely my leader right now," said Boyle. "At a passing camp last week they took Zach Carter, Eric McClendon and myself around for a tour. I have a feeling they might offer me very soon.

"I'm also looking at schools like Duke, South Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Wake Forest and a few others. Clemson and Georgia Tech are up there too. I'm trying to keep my mind open, but Auburn is my favorite. Duke and Navy have already offered, but I believe I'm on the verge of several others."

Boyle is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker from Acworth (Ga.) Harrison. His versatility makes him an appealing prospect, and could play fullback or safety, in addition to linebacker.

"I've already been to Clemson this summer," he said. "I was supposed to go to South Carolina this weekend but I pulled my quad. I'm going to Duke on Monday. I've been to Auburn three times for different events in the past month or so.

"I've met the linebackers coach, the running backs coach, the secondary coach and some others from Auburn. I also met coach Tuberville, but I didn't get a chance to have a conversation with him. I'm pretty much just waiting on an offer now."

The Tigers are poised to make a jump on the national scene this year and regain the prominence that has somewhat eluded them in recent years. Is their potential for success in the coming years attractive to Boyle?

"Oh yeah," he said. "I just think they're stacked. They have four running backs that would probably be the feature guy at almost any other school in the country. And their linebackers are just incredible. They both would have been high draft picks if they had left, but the fact that they stayed says a lot about the kind of team they have.

"They've said I would be a linebacker if I grew a lot more, or maybe a fullback. If I stay at about the weight I am now I could be a safety. I ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds at the Nike camp, but I think I can run it faster consistently. I had a strained hip flexor when I ran it."