Sting Factor: Andre Stewart decommits from Auburn
When a major program loses a key recruit, Rivals.com takes a look at how big of a blow it is to the respective school, analyzing it from a local and national level. To quantify the “sting” of each decommitment, we assign a score from 1-10, with one being no big deal and 10 being a catastrophic hit.
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RUMOR MILL: Latest on uncommitted 2022 five-stars
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
COVERAGE: Rivals Transfer Tracker | Rivals Camp Series
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THE STORYLINE
When Andre Stewart committed to Auburn in the summer of 2019, he said the coaching staff was like family, that the place felt like home, all the right things for an early commitment from a 2022 prospect.
But the coaching staff left. And different cornerbacks coaches have cycled through the school with new coach Bryan Harsin bringing in Zac Etheridge to now coach the position.
All that change and all that fluctuation made Stewart decommit from the Tigers last Friday as the Snellville (Ga.) Brookwood three-star cornerback reopened his recruitment.
With 14 offers, Stewart has many other options available, but Auburn definitely left an early impression and could reel him back in once he gets more familiar with the coaching staff.
Early on, Auburn now has two commitments in its 2022 recruiting class, three-star DB Brian Dilworth from Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna and three-star ATH Jarell Stinson from nearby Opelika, Ala.
LOCAL REACTION
“Stewart was the first commitment in Auburn's 2022 class, announcing his decision back in July 2019. He committed when Marcus Woodson was Auburn's cornerbacks coach. Stewart stayed committed when Woodson left for Florida State and Wesley McGriff took over at Auburn. So when Auburn on Friday announced the hiring of Etheridge as its new cornerbacks coach, it was the third position coach in Stewart's 18-month commitment. Naturally, Stewart needed a clean start. He needed a reset. Not many can blame him.” - Jeffrey Lee, AuburnSports.com
Sting factor: 5
NATIONAL REACTION
“With the transition that is to occur in 2021 and with a new coach recruiting 2022, this isn’t a big deal to me. He’s a solid player but the constant changing at Auburn was enough and he’ll likely not be a part of the 2022 class, which is fine.” — Mike Farrell, National Recruiting Director
Sting factor: 3