On Dec. 15, 2008, a press conference was held announcing Gene Chizik as Auburn University’s head football coach. It was then that Chizik addressed the Auburn faithful with a strong promise: “We’re going to recruit tirelessly, 24-7. We’re going to work.”

Less than a year later, the Auburn Tigers are 3-0. This new spirit, taken by Chizik, has been paying dividends.
“Currently we have 16 commits, but we have a lot more work to do,” says Nelly Gonzalez, publicity chair for Students of Auburn University Recruiting (SOAR).

In some cases, the Auburn family is a strong selling point for recruits. Bart Eddins, offensive lineman, was highly recruited from the University of Michigan, Oklahoma University, Ohio State University and Louisiana State University.
Yet, Eddins’ father and brother played football for the Tigers, and it was that tradition that sold him.

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“LSU recruited me pretty hard,” Eddins says. “But you can’t stab the Auburn family in the back.”

Although letters came pouring in, Eddins knew he was going to play for Auburn.

Eddins is a rare case. Most prospective college athletes have several options in mind before signing to a school, proving recruiting to be a crucial element for any team.

This past weekend, about 200 prospective student athletes came in from all over the country to visit Auburn when the team played West Virginia University.

“That shows it does not matter where they’re from,” says Gonzalez, of the new recruiting style. Chizik and his staff have changed the way Auburn recruits from past years.

“We are extremely proactive, always inventing new ways to go about recruiting,” says Jeremy Osborn, tiger host for SOAR.

Last spring, Chizik’s staff went on a “Tiger Prowl.” This event put the staff on a ride in a stretch limo to Alabama’s high schools. The staff talked to teachers and counselors to find out more about their prospects. “We don’t just want athletes,” Gonzalez says. They want good quality men.

“The Tiger Prowl” sparked quite a bit of media attention to Auburn’s new recruiting style.

“Even though it was just within the state, it made national news,” Osborn says.

“It is a new staff, and we’re coming in big” says Gonzalez. “That is something we’ve never done before.”

“Big Cat Weekend” was also something Auburn had never done before. The summer event hosted about 20 of the best prospects from all over the nation. Players came in from as far as Connecticut to visit the Auburn community.
That weekend was different than most visits. Prospects did not attend a game, and they did not get a tour of the campus. Instead, they got a relaxing weekend on the plains.

“It was a family event,” says Osborn. Prospects were treated to a cookout, a pie-eating contest, and the current players even stopped by to play softball.

“They just came to have fun,” Gonzalez says of the prospects. “To see what the Auburn family is all about.”

These events have made a big impact on not only the future of Auburn football, but the community itself.

“We didn’t plan this, but that weekend about 300 fans came and rolled Toomer’s Corner,” Gonzalez says.

Auburn students, families and fans came to show support and appreciation for what the new staff is doing. Yet, this is only the beginning.

Signing day is not until February, and the staff is constantly brainstorming new strategies to bring in the best players available.

“It’s so exciting to see them,” Osborn says of the staff. “They want to get national news, and they want to be ranked.”

Auburn has 16 committed players, but the roster is not complete. Until then, Chizik and his staff will search the nation for future Auburn Tigers.