Feb. 7, 2018
By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn's quarterbacks will have no shortage of new targets this season, with the Tigers signing four receivers in their 24-member 2018 class.
"We signed four we feel very good about," said Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, who prioritized speed when assembling his sixth Auburn recruiting class.
Receivers Matthew Hill and Anthony Schwartz signed Wednesday, joining December signees Seth Williams and Shedrick Jackson, a mid-year enrollee.
"We feel like all four of those guys can help us next year," Malzahn said.
Hill, a 6-2, 185-pound receiver from Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia, helped his high school team reach the Class 7A Final Four.
"A guy who came to our junior camp three years in a row," Malzahn said. "A guy we've recruited for a long period of time. We really feel like he's one of the better football players in all the country. This guy can do it all. He's the type of guy that you just want to get the ball in his hands."
Schwartz, a 6-0, 180-pound speedster from American Heritage High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ran 100 meters in 10.15 seconds in the Florida Relays.
"The fastest guy in the country," Malzahn said. "He's also going to run for our track team, very excited about that. He's a football player. I really believe this guy has a chance to really be special. He got better and better throughout his high school career. He's got that drive to make him special."
Auburn's early signees are both in-state players, with Williams from Cottondale and Jackson from Hoover.
Jackson, like Hill, impressed Auburn's coaches during the Tigers' summer camp for high school students.
"He's so polished," Malzahn said of the 6-1, 185-pound Jackson after the December signing period. "Did a great job with his route running, coming in and out of breaks. He ran a 4.4 [40-yard dash]. We think he's got a chance to be a real special player."
Williams, another big target at 6-3, 215, grew up about 10 miles from the stadium Auburn will visit in November for the Iron Bowl.
"Great basketball player," Malzahn said in December. "I think he's got great upside. He's a great athlete from Tuscaloosa. We haven't gotten many guys from there in the past."
Jackson will join Auburn's seven other mid-year enrollees when spring practice starts on March 1. Hill, Schwartz and Williams will enroll this summer and begin practicing in August.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer