Auburn is looking for a new coach after firing Bryan Harsin after 21 games, and we all know the top candidates by now.
At least the ones who have been floated publicly.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. Liberty coach Hugh Freeze. Jackson State coach Deion Sanders. Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. Former Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops.
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Plenty of others are possibilities as well. But as one source said, he doesn’t care who gets the job as long as in-state recruiting becomes important again.
“Honestly, I do not care,” this source said. “Just someone who prioritizes in-state recruiting going forward.”
Auburn currently has 10 commitments, three in-state prospects and all of them are from the Southeast, but we’ve all heard the recruiting horror stories coming from Harsin’s staff.
It’s pretty well-known that Harsin wasn’t maniacally focused on recruiting - or NIL - like some others in the SEC. Piling on is a fan base’s favorite pastime when a coach is let go, but some of the stories coming out of Auburn are pretty incredible.
As for commits and top current targets there is no consensus on which coach they’d want to play for most, but after reaching out to more than 30 uncommitted prospects the overwhelming favorite is Coach Prime.
If the decision was a vote, the majority want to play for Sanders.
“Definitely Deion,” one four-star said.
“Deion Sanders or someone with South ties,” said one four-star who could be committing soon.
“Deion Sanders would be pretty cool,” an in-state standout said.
“Either Kiffin or Prime,” another in-state recruit said. “If it’s one of them War Damn Eagle.”
Surprisingly, the prospects that responded were not overwhelmingly in favor of Kiffin, who has been pushed by many in the media. Freeze got a lukewarm reception. Grimes got none. Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien was pushed by a top player.
One big-time target had Kiffin, Rhule and Freeze in his top three. One current commit said he doesn’t mind who they bring in as long as things don’t stay status quo.
“Auburn is a family,” this four-star said. “I don’t mind who they get as a head coach. I just want someone to come in and change things around.”
