AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn football is adding six of the nation’s top high school and junior college football players for the 2021 season.
“I’m really excited about this group of guys and all the guys we’ve signed,” Auburn coach Bryan Harsin said. “It comes back to people – let’s get the right people here. We wanted guys who want to be at Auburn. I think we have something here at Auburn University that is different.
“Every one of these guys know they have to come in here and work hard. We want guys we can develop, guys who want to be developed. It has to be a good fit – not just football, but academically, socially, all the things that are important. In our process, fit was a major factor – do these guys love football, high character guys, competitive guys, guys that want to come in here and work hard, guys that are winners. No doubt in my mind we got the right ones.”
Cayden Bridges S 6-2 190 Magee, MS/Magee
Tar’Varish Dawson Jr. WR 5-11 165 Fort Myers, FL/Lehigh Senior
Juwon Gaston S 5-11 187 Montgomery, AL/Carver
Eku Leota Edge 6-4 250 Asheville, NC/Northwestern
Colby Smith OT 6-8 320 Reidsville, NC/Rockingham County
Joko Willis LB 6-3 215 LaGrange, GA/Independence CC
Cayden Bridges (S, 6-2, 190; Magee HS; Magee, Miss.): Talented two-sport contributor from a championship program … first team Class 3A all-state for Coach Teddy Dyess at Magee High … recorded 52 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 INT and caught 44 passes for 606 yards and seven scores as a senior, helping the Trojans to an 11-0 record and the state title … first team Class 3A all-state and all-Division 8-3A … Bernard Blackwell North-South All-Star Game … 24/7 ranks him among the top 40 overall prospects in Mississippi … also a baseball letterman
Tar’Varish Dawson Jr. (WR, 5-11, 165; Lehigh Senior HS; Fort Myers, Fla.): Speedy receiving target who excelled on both sides of the ball for the Lehigh Lightning … 28 receptions for 690 yards with 9 TD catches and 290 rushing yards with 6 TD runs plus 7 INT, an INT and PR score as a senior for Coach James Chaney … second-team all-Florida … Rotary South All-Star Classic … News-Press all-area … one of the top 60 overall prospects in Florida by 24/7, ESPN, Rivals, PrepStar … No. 14 athlete nationally by 24/7 … district and regional sprint champion
Juwon Gaston (S, 5-11, 187; Garver HS; Montgomery, Ala.): Productive defender with great versatility … scored six touchdowns, three on returns, as a senior for Coach James Thompson and the Carver High Wolverines … also recorded 54 tackles, four interceptions … Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game … Montgomery Advertiser all-metro … rated among the top 25 overall prospects in Alabama by 24/7 and ESPN …. also a basketball letterman helping the Wolverines to the 2019 Class 6A title game
Eku Leota (Edge; 6-4, 250; Northwestern; Asheville HS; Asheville, N.C.): Earned 2020 third-team all-Big Ten honors at Northwestern, where he played in 18 games, recording 25 tackles, 10.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 2 FF from 2019-20 … career sack leader at Asheville High, playing for Coach David Burdette … 56 tackles, 15 TFL, seven sacks as a senior … also caught 12 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns as a tight end … WMAC all-conference … NC Shrine Bowl finalist … top 25 prospect in North Carolina by ESPN and 24/7… also a basketball letterman
Colby Smith (OT, 6-8, 320; Rockingham County HS; Reidsville, N.C.): Offensive line prospect with tremendous size, footwork and leverage … 62 career tackles, 9.0 TFL as a three-year contributor for Coach Brad Baker and the Rockingham County Cougars, who will play a spring schedule in 2021 … first team all-MidState 3A Conference and second team Greensboro News all-area … HSOT all-West … also a basketball letterman … 24/7, Rivals and ESPN ranks him among top 35 prospects in North Carolina
Joko Willis (LB, 6-3, 215; Independence (Kan.) CC; Troup County HS; LaGrange, Ga.): xxx … redshirted the 2019 campaign at Independence CC and the Pirates did not have a 2020 fall season … ESPN rates him the top juco OLB prospect nationally … ranked No. 2 at his position among junior college prospects by 24/7 … all-state linebacker at Troup County (Ga.) High for Coach Tanner Glisson … also caught 39 passes for 869 yards and 8 scores as a senior for the Tigers … also a basketball letterman
Enrolled in January:
Dematrius Davis QB 6-0 195 Houston, TX/North Shore
Kamal Hadden CB 6-1 185 River Rouge, MI/Independence CC
Ahmari Harvey S 6-0 175 Tallahassee, FL/FS University School
Lee Hunter DT 6-5 300 Mobile, AL/Blount
Landen King TE 6-5 220 Beaumont, TX/Atascocita
Garner Langlo OT 6-7 280 Inverness, FL/Trinity Catholic
Dematrius Davis (QB, 6-0, 195; North Shore HS; Houston, Texas): Outstanding dual-threat quarterback who led North Shore High to a 14-1 record and the state semifinals in 2020 … 3,553 yards passing with 38 TD and 875 yards rushing with 22 scores as a senior for Coach Jon Kay … Touchdown Club of Houston offensive player of year … MaxPreps Texas player of year … junior year, led North Shore to a 15-1 record and second straight state championship … District 21-6A MVP as a sophomore as the 16-0 Mustangs won the Texas 6A D-I state title … MaxPreps sophomore of the year … ESPN rates him No. 4 dual-threat recruit nationally … top 12 player at his position nationally by Rivals, 24/7, PrepStar … among top 40 prospects in Texas … also a track and field letterman
Kamal Hadden (CB, 6-1, 185; Independence (Kan.) CC; River Rouge HS; River Rouge, Mich.): Tenacious defensive back with a strong upside … totaled 21 tackles, 8 PBU, 3 forced fumbles in 2019 for the Independence CC Pirates … ESPN and 24/7 rate him a top five prospect at corner … two-year starter for Coach Corey Parker at River Rouge High … all-conference as a senior for the 10-1 Panthers … also a basketball letterman
Ahmari Harvey (S, 6-0, 175; Florida State University School; Tallahassee, Fla.): Explosive, athletic safety prospect from Florida State University School … despite a shoulder injury, helped Coach Jarrod Hickman’s Seminoles to a 10-1 record in 2020 … scored receiving, interception and KOR touchdowns … first team all-Big Bend as a sophomore and junior … as a junior, 40 catches for 642 yards and 7 scores, along with 94 tackles and 6 interceptions … MaxPreps small school All-America … ESPN rated him the No. 4 safety prospect nationally … one of top 30 Florida products by 24/7, ESPN, PrepStar … state long jump qualifier
Lee Hunter (DT, 6-5, 300; Blount HS; Mobile, Ala.): Strong, athletic defensive line prospect … recorded 54 tackles, 20 TFL, 4.5 sacks as a senior for Coach Lev Holly and the Leopards … also scored rushing and receiving TD and had 9 catches for 149 yards … 77 tackles, 23 TFL as a junior … first team AHSAA Class 6A all-state … AL.com A-List … Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game selection … rated a top five overall recruit from Alabama by ESPN, 24/7, Rivals, PrepStar … nationally ranked No. 7 among defensive tackle prospects by ESPN and 24/7
Landen King (TE, 6-5, 220; Atascocita HS; Beaumont, Texas): Tall, versatile receiving target from Atascocita High … 39 receptions for 471 yards and five TD as a senior … first team all-district as a junior for Coach Craig Stump’s Eagles, with 53 catches for 853 yards and nine scores … rated the No. 9 tight end prospect nationally by ESPN … top 50 player from the state of Texas by Rivals … also a basketball letterman
Garner Langlo (OT, 6-7, 280; Trinity Catholic HS; Inverness, Fla.): Strong, aggressive offensive lineman with plenty of potential … helped Coach John Brantley’s Trinity Celtics to the state Class 3A semifinals with an 11-1 record … Ocala Star-Banner all-county … rated among the top 90 overall prospects in Florida by Rivals and 24/7 … rated No. 22 nationally among offensive guard recruits by PrepStar
Also signed in December:
A.D. Diamond DB 5-11 170 Mobile, AL/Blount
Ian Mathews DL 6-5 270 Columbus, GA/Pacelli
Tobechi Okoli DE 6-5 255 Kansas City, MO/Lincoln Prep
Hal Presley WR 6-3 197 Mansfield, TX/Mansfield Summit
Marquis Robinson DT 6-4 300 Milton, FL/Milton
A.D. Diamond (DB, 5-11, 170; Blount HS; Mobile, Ala.): In-state cornerback prospect who was also a key contributor at receiver for Coach Lev Holly and the Blount High Leopards … 38 catches for 756 yards, 24 returns for 580 yards and 25 tackles, 21 PBU, 7 interceptions his senior season … scored receiving, rushing, punt return TD during his career … 31 tackles, 8 PBU as a junior, along with 27 catches for 619 yards and five touchdowns … Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game … rated among the top 60 overall recruiting prospects in the state of Alabama by 24/7 and ESPN … 24/7 and ESPN rate him among the top 125 defensive back recruits nationally
Ian Mathews (DL, 6-5, 270; Pacelli HS; Columbus, Ga.): Talented athlete who is still gaining football experience along the defensive front … recorded an impressive 32.5 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 2 PBU, 4 QB pressures, 2 forced fumbles as a senior for Coach Dwight Jones at Pacelli High … also posted a receiving touchdown … first team all-region … 43 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 fumble recoveries and 3 TD catches as a junior … 24/7 rates him among the top 60 overall prospects in the state of Georgia … also a basketball standout for the Vikings, earning honorable mention all-Bi-City honors
Tobechi Okoli (DE, 6-5, 255; Lincoln Prep Academy; Kansas City, Mo.): Powerful athlete with impressive coordination … recorded 41.5 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 7 sacks for Coach William Lowe and the Blue Tigers as a senior … top 10 overall prospect from the state of Missouri by Rivals, ESPN, 24/7, PrepStar … rated No. 25 at his position nationally by PrepStar; 24/7 No. 26
Hal Presley (WR, 6-3, 197; Mansfield Summit HS; Mansfield, Texas): Fluid performer with speed and quickness … 43 catches for 1,073 yards and 16 TD as a senior for Coach Channon Hall at Mansfield Summit High in Arlington, Texas, as the Jaguars advanced to the Region I-5A Division I state semifinals … as a junior, 45 catches gained 874 yards with 8 scores, earning first team all-district honors … District 7-6A offensive sophomore of year … SportsDay Top 100 … rated among the top 60 overall prospects from the state of Texas by ESPN, 24/7, Rivals … also a track and field letterman
Marquis Robinson (DT, 6-4, 300; Milton HS; Milton, Fla.): Powerful defender with exceptional leverage … 39 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 sacks, 23 QB hurries as a senior for Coach Harry Lees at Milton High … two-Rivals and 24/7 … year totals: 53 tackles, 15.5 TFL … all-Northwest Florida defense and all-area … Panhandle Playmakers … ESPN ranks him the No. 15 prospect nationally at his position and a top 35 overall recruit from Florida
