Commitment Breakdown: What Auburn is getting in 4-star safety Eric Winters

Everything you need to now about new Auburn commit Eric Winters, a 4-star safety from Enterprise, Ala.

The Winters File

— Winters has a tall, lengthy, and lean build. He has a strong lower body and plays well into his hips with good flexibility. He has filled out pretty well at this point, but could probably add another ten pounds of good weight.

— According to a source, Winters has been clocked under a 4.5 second 40 more than once.

— Getting to watch Winters in a high-intensity 7-on-7 competition was important. Winters quarterbacked his defense no matter where he lined up. He was intense and vocal. When his defense was getting carved up, he decided to cover the receiver that was doing the damage. He slowed it down significantly.

— Winters is one of the few three-level players that exist in college football. He can line up on the edge, at linebacker depth, or at safety. What makes Winters different, though, is that he can man up any receiver on the field if needed–not just the tight ends and backs like a lot of hybrids.

Auburn fit

— Winters fits Auburn and DJ Durkin’s defense as a hybrid player who can man down a specific position when the situation calls for it. Instead of only coming in to play as a hybrid, he can stay in the game for any situation and settle in at either safety or linebacker. He’s completely interchangeable. Durkin had a place for skillsets like the one that Winters has.

— In reality, Auburn has not had a player with the versatility and ceiling as Winters. He is a different type of athlete to use in the defense.

— For Auburn, Winters will play the safety, the dime (a safety hybrid that walks down in the box), and outside linebacker when the situation calls for it. Trying to decide which meeting room he belongs in will be a day-to-day decision more than likely.

Football IQ

Winters shines in a lot of areas, but this is one of his best assets. First of all, you do not get to play quarterback unless you understand football and what each of your teammates assignments are. Winters was a makeshift quarterback as a junior after an injury. He shined in that role and helped lead his team to a deep playoff run.

— The way that Winters moves when playing defense, it seems as though he never panics. He knows where everything is on the field, he knows how offensive plays unfold, and knows how to read the quarterback’s eyes.

SEC readiness

Winters is one of the more SEC ready prospects Auburn has added in a while. He’s physically filled out and ready for the beating he will take in the SEC. He has an elite level of football IQ, and he can fit in several different places. Winters will contribute early.

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