Malik Autry Q&A: Florida pushing Auburn, the pitch from both staffs, and more
Auburn 4-star defensive line commit Malik Autry spoke with On3’s Keith Niebuhr on Friday. Autry went into a deep dive of his recruitment, saying that Auburn and Florida are pretty close at this time. He has visited Auburn too many times to count, but Florida has been able to get him on campus many times as well. Here is everything he had to say about both schools.
Everything about Auburn
Q: Who are you closest with at Auburn?
AUTRY: “Probably Coach King-Will and Coach Durkin, those are the two I am closest with.”
Q: What is Auburn’s message to you?
AUTRY: “Probably just being the hometown kid, what it will mean for me and my family and just life after football being able to come here. All the things that come with it as far as local NIL, then coming in and playing early. I feel like Auburn, they got some guys out of the portal this year, but they’re one year guys, so I’ll be able to come in and make an immediate impact.”
Q: Do you think you can have an immediate impact at Auburn?
AUTRY: “Yes sir, I think I definitely can. I have probably have the best size over there even now being in high school. Going over there and getting with Coach King-Will and getting the kinks worked out to be able to play.”
Q: What is the best thing about Auburn in your opinion?
AUTRY: “Best thing about Auburn is probably the atmosphere and the culture around Auburn. I’ve been around it forever.”
Q: How hard will it be to flip you?
AUTRY: “Man, I think it will be hard, but also, I don’t think it would be too hard. Just energy and people, I think Florida is doing everything they can to possibly get me right now. They’re doing a great job also, I don’t think they’re far behind Auburn right now. Other people are recruiting, but Florida and Auburn are probably the main two for sure.”
Everything about Florida
Q: Is Florida No. 2 for you behind Auburn?
AUTRY: “Yes, (Gap) is not much.”
Q: How many visits have you made to Florida?
AUTRY: “Six trips”
Q: What is Florida’s message to you?
AUTRY: “Florida’s big message is just, Coach Napier, he always says, no matter where you go I will always be a big fan. His big thing is wanting me to feel how real it is. He wants me to come and play around Florida with their staff and be able to come in and be developed here. They’re about to lose ? (Jackson) and hopefully Banks also.”
Q: Do you see early playing time at Florida?
AUTRY: “I think it all depends on how many people leave. I think I would be able to play early at both, but can probably start faster at Auburn. Wherever I can be developed the most (Matters)”
Q: What is keeping Florida that high on your list?
AUTRY: “Probably staff as a whole is the big edge. My family visited down here, they live the staff, love the environment, Coach Napier and everything.”
Q: What is unique about Florida’s pitch?
AUTRY: “I think they just communicate the most, Coach Napier is very personable, is always going to talk. Sends clips from twitter, text all the time, text the family.”
Head to head: Auburn vs. Florida
Q: Is there any difference in NIL between the two?
AUTRY: “No, I think they’re pretty much the same, they offer pretty much the same.”
Q: Does your family care about where you go?
AUTRY: “I don’t think it really matters to them . More so with mom and dad, they just want me where I can develop. They’re all about not just making the easy decision, but the decision thatThey’relly going to help me in the long run.”
Q: Which coaching staff are you closest with?
AUTRY: “All around staff, probably Florida’s staff, the whole entire staff.”
Q: Which position coach are you closest with?
AUTRY: “Probably Auburn. Coach Vontrell King-Williams. He’s a super humble guy, super genuine guy. He was an assistant back when Coach Garrett was there. He (King-Williams) was the guy I committed to. He’s always been my guy.”
Q: What is your official visit schedule?
AUTRY: Florida OV – 14-16th, Auburn – in-season, UCF will get one in first week of June, USC, Florida, then Ohio State.
Q: When do you plan to make a final decision between the two?
AUTRY: “Hoping to have a final decision done, hopefully by the beginning of my high school season, after my official visit to Auburn.”
Q: How does Auburn handle you visiting other places?
AUTRY: “I think they’re not worried about it. They know what Auburn is and stay true to Auburn. I think the main thing is not trying to hold me hostage and make me go there. Letting me see and letting me notice when there are other places I really want to be. I think Auburn is doing a great job recruiting me. They’re putting it all in and doing a great job recruiting me.”
Q: What is the future outlook of the two programs in your opinion?
AUTRY: “I think Auburn’s vision is very bright. The way they recruit, the signees coming in, I think they will be very good. Florida’s vision is good too. I think Coach Napier is going into his third year, I know they have a tough schedule this year and everybody is expecting a lot. It will be a telling factor how they do this year. Auburn’s schedule is easier, I am expecting 8-4, 9-3.. Florida has it way tougher, just the future of Coach Napier and how long he has there. Just trying to see with this season how it could go. Just something positive to let me know Coach Napier will still be there.”
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