Auburn getting a strong look from 4-star safety Cortez McDowell (with video)
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/05/auburn_getting_a_strong_look_f.htmlCortez McDowell (Photo courtesy of 247Sports)
Auburn has already landed one big safety in the Class of 2014 for Ellis Johnson's 4-2-5 defense, getting a commitment from former Prattville star Derrick Moncrief of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College last week. At Big Cat Weekend later this month, the Tigers will host another potential Star position recruit in four-star safety Cortez McDowell of Locust Grove, Ga.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound McDowell is rated as the No. 8 safety prospect in the nation by 247Sports and No. 17 by Rivals.com. He has more than 20 offers, also including Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Florida State, among others.
McDowell said Wednesday that he doesn't have any favorites yet, but added that his interest in Auburn is strong.
"This year, they're going to get back to a championship contender," McDowell said of the Tigers. "They stand real high with me. The times I've been down there have been great."
McDowell said he's looking to continue to build relationships with Auburn's coaches when he visits for Big Cat Weekend, but he's already well acquainted with his lead recruiter, Dameyune Craig. "When he was at Florida State, he was recruiting me," McDowell said. "So for him to go from one school to another ... it shows that he didn't forget me."
Locust Grove head coach Clint Satterfield described McDowell as a big hitter who is also a home-run threat on offense. "He has the ability to turn a normal play into a game-breaker at any time," Satterfield said of McDowell, who has run a 4.68 40. "He plays wildcat, receiver, slot, running back - wherever we can hide him."
McDowell said Auburn coaches have told him he could play two of the three safety spots in Johnson's 4-2-5 and have also talked to him about playing some offense. "I like to make plays," he said, adding that he prefers defense "because I want to smack some people around."
In considering the Tigers, McDowell said he's had Twitter conversations with recent Auburn commit Tre Williams of St. Paul's about the program. "He felt that Auburn's going to be back on the rise," McDowell said of Williams. "And he knows he's going to have fun for the next couple years of his life. That means a lot."
McDowell also has ties to Auburn through the coaching staff at Locust Grove, where former Auburn receivers Ronney Daniels and Karsten Bailey are the offensive coordinator and receivers coach, respectively.
"He's a special player," Bailey said of McDowell. "He reminds me of (former Georgia safety-turned-linebacker) Alec Ogletree ... as far as size, speed, tackling ability."
Bailey said he and Daniels don't want to have any influence on McDowell's decision. But he does have a couple of tips for his visit to the Plains.
"I'm going to tell him to make sure to go by Cheeburger Cheeburger and get himself one of those burgers," Bailey said, "and go to Toomer's Corner and get some lemonade."
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