How we got here: Demarcus Riddick’s commitment to Auburn
The Demarcus Riddick recruitment was a much needed win for Auburn and Auburn fans alike. It was a rollercoaster, too.
If you were paying attention to Auburn Live, there were updates after updates about the Tigers’ newest commit.
For the recruiting junkies, these kinds of things are fun to look back on. For that reason, I have compiled as many of the updates that we provided on Phillips throughout his recruitment as I could find. These updates date all the way back to Jan. 28, 2023.
First Auburn Live interview (Jan. 28, 2023)
Auburn Live first spoke with Riddick while he was on campus for Auburn’s junior day event. He had already been committed to Georgia for a few months, but wanted to give Auburn a look after being invited by the new coaching staff. He and Tigers’ linebackers coach Josh Aldridge quickly hit it off.
“I love Coach Aldridge,” he said. “He’s the best linebackers coach ever. He’s a good coach and knows what he’s talking about in that linebackers room.”
Riddick also opened the door for Auburn and others that day.
“I’m keeping my options open for everybody,” he said.
The February interview
Auburn Live met in person with Riddick in February. It was a meeting where much was learned about his recruitment. He said at the time that Alabama, Georgia, and Auburn were the main three and he would operate that way throughout his recruitment.
Riddick also said that Auburn had a REAL shot..
“Possibly, yes,” Riddick said. “I think Auburn might, with how everything is going right now, possibly.”
Here is the intel we were able to put out that day:
— First of all, Riddick is being recruited at inside backer primarily with Tigers’ linebacker coach Josh Aldridge. Yes, he is versatile and can play in different spots, but the Tigers like him on the inside. Why is that important? We know Joseph Phillips is probably the top option at Jack/outside linebacker. If he isn’t, he’s being recruited like it. Now, we feel certain Riddick is probably the top inside backer target. That’s important to Riddick as well.
— According to Riddick, Auburn, Georgia and Alabama are the schools near the top, and the schools recruiting him the hardest. Georgia is still No. 1, but Alabama and Auburn are pushing the Bulldogs.
— The junior day visit was an eye-opener for Riddick. He has a strong relationship with Aldridge and got to know Hugh Freeze more that day. What really stood out is the love Aldridge had for Ron Roberts’ defense. When Aldridge was the defensive coordinator at Liberty he used many similar concepts that Roberts used while at Baylor. Aldridge showed Riddick where he fits and why he could get early playing time at Auburn. That continues to be a strong pitch for Auburn with Riddick.
The prediction
On March 8, 2023, two predictions were made for Demarcus Riddick, one to Auburn and one to Alabama. It was the On3-wide RPM day. Here is what was written for the Riddick prediction to Auburn.
Pick No. 3 of RPM day has been made, and truthfully, I have had my finger on the trigger since meeting him in person. I believe, despite a steady commitment with Georgia, 4-star edge Demarcus Riddick from Chilton County High in Clanton, Ala. is a strong candidate to eventually sign with the Tigers.There is no doubt that this will be a back and forth battle with Georgia and in-state rival Alabama. It became more than evident, however, that Auburn made a big move with Riddick after his junior day visit, and the interest has not slowed.I have put in a pick for Auburn to eventually flip Riddick from Georgia with 60 percent confidence.
March visit/A-Day plans
Riddick told Auburn Live that he was considering going to Auburn’s A-Day game after a quick trip to campus in March. He would end up going to Alabama’s A-Day game. This was believed to be the time that the Tide grabbed the momentum and started running with it.
With that going on, Riddick said this the day of his visit: “It’s basically been to stay being humble and pretty much develop. He (Hugh Freeze) says he’s going to be the head coach that recruits me hardest,” Riddick said.
Here is more intel that was written about Riddick by Auburn Live during the same timeline.
— Alabama will have him on campus for its A-Day game, but it was important for Auburn to get him on campus before he visited the Tide again. That happened on Thursday just in the nick of time. For those that don’t know, Riddick makes good grades in school and he is interested in the engineering field. Is that important? Yes. At the end of the day, when the NIL opportunities become similar, there will have to be something that separates his top choice from the others. Academics may not be the game changer, but they could certainly be helpful.
— As we have said since seeing Riddick in person, Auburn and Alabama are very close to Georgia if not even. Since then, it seems all three have pulled even. Expect for someone other than Georgia to pull ahead at some point, but never expect for Georgia to be completely out of it. As of today, we feel comfortable saying there is a better chance Riddick ultimately ends up with one of the in-state schools. Things are subject to change, especially in this recruitment, but this is how we view the situation as of today based on the latest intel from sources near the situation.
— More clarification on the pick: On March 8, I put in a pick for Auburn to eventually flip Riddick from Georgia with a confidence level of 60 percent. It was On3’s RPM day across the network that day. Still, I felt good about the pick and even contemplated making it shortly after I left Chilton County High School on February 22. As of today, I have no intentions to change this pick.
While it feels Alabama could be gaining momentum and possibly pulling ahead of both Auburn and Georgia, the Tigers are still right in the thick of it according to our intel. And, for the record, have been rising since his junior day visit in January. Much like with Auburn’s recruitment with Alabama receiver commit Perry Thompson, sources close to Riddick don’t have a clue where he is leaning. “It probably changes constantly,” one source said. In Auburn’s situation (Riddick being committed elsewhere), confusion among sources is a good sign for now.
Official visit season
Riddick did not speak with media after his official visit at Auburn. He did, however speak to Auburn Live a few days before his official visit. That is when news came out that he would make his final pick on his mother’s birthday, July 26.
“Really, I basically have seen everything when I was there in the past,” Riddick said. “There will be a few things I will get to see. More of the academic part, which I’ve seen most of, but I want to get to know about it more for my situation and what I have going on. I want to keep building that relationship with the players and coaches. Little stuff.”
On3’s Alabama site spoke with Riddick’s mother during this time as well.
“To be honest, we don’t really talk about it. We let Demarcus approach us with the situation… I do know that he likes [Alabama’s] program overall,” Mrs. Baker said. “Since Day One, they have always made us feel welcomed. Me being able to sleep at night knowing that he’s in good hands… but I can also say that about Auburn and Georgia, too, since we’ve gotten to know them on a personal level.”
Hitting the home stretch
Auburn Live provided an update on how things were trending about a month out from the decision.
As of Tuesday, sources close to Riddick feel as though he will end up at an in-state school even though he remains committed to Georgia. That was the consensus when I went to visit Riddick in person in February, and even though Georgia has pushed and regained his attention several times, is it possible the Bulldogs are slipping? Maybe. There seems to be more confidence in Auburn and Alabama as of Tuesday. Keep in mind, the way this one continues to change, it could be totally different on Wednesday. The school that seems to be trending up at the moment is Auburn.
The Tigers have been right on the cusp of his recruitment for some time now, but seemed to have fallen off a few times. As of right now, it seems the Tigers have gained some traction and are running with it. That being said, it seems that Alabama is going to be tough to overcome. Sources feel as though Alabama has the lead. When both Auburn and Alabama have confidence, things have gone toward the Tide in recent years, so it is hard to bet against them when they have confidence. Can Auburn have a similar outcome here as it did with Joseph Phillips and Georgia? I am not betting on it.
The recent trends have been favorable for Auburn, but this one is way too close to call for now. We are now just under a month before Riddick makes what he is calling his final decision on July 26.
Doubling, no, tripling down
On the Auburn Live message board, The Corner, I felt as though it was time to make a stand on my March prediction. I made this post on July 21 around 11:58 p.m.
I feel more confident about Auburn’s chances to land Riddick than I have since I made the pick on March 8.. As of right now, I think Auburn has the edge over Alabama. I say this with extreme caution as it ain’t over until it’s over. Anything can happen between now and the 26th (and beyond that).. If I had to make a final pick today, I’d roll with my original Auburn pick for Riddick. Let it ride…
The post How we got here: Demarcus Riddick’s commitment to Auburn appeared first on On3.
