Honestly been a while since we've had a kid come in with this much consistently positive pub. From the very start, all the "experts" have said he will contribute early. I think it also really says something when the coaches themselves aren't backing down from saying they expect him to step right in and compete.
copiouscoppage/pasta al.kum
First-year Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson made it clear at the end of spring practice that incoming defensive ends Carl Lawson and Elijah Daniel will have a chance to make an instant impact next fall. ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill agrees.
Luginbill placed Lawson among his list of five freshmen nationally who will make an immediate impact, citing Auburn's need for help along the defensive line. "Lawson is good, real good," Luginbill wrote. "He is mature, talented and could be every bit as impactful as overall No. 1 recruit Robert Nkemdiche (Ole Miss). Coming off a 3-9 season and with a new coaching staff in place, few roster spots are safe, which could open the door for quite a few players in the 2013 class to play significant roles."
Auburn's need for pass-rushing help at defensive end fits with Luginbill's analysis. Dee Ford, Auburn's returning leader in sacks, has a strong hold on the left end spot, and experienced seniors Ken Carter and Nosa Eguae are locked in a battle on the right side.
But Carter and Eguae, although powerful players against the run, need to offer more pass rush, and Lawson already has that ability in abundance. As a senior at Milton High in Alpharetta, Ga., last year, Lawson posted 27 sacks, and he dominated camps against other elite competition.
Lawson is already big enough at 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, and he was one of the nation's top-rated players. Rivals.com rated him the No. 4 player in the country, and ESPN had Lawson ranked at No. 2. Lawson is expected to enroll in June.
"I do think we've got some young players coming in who have some skill sets that these guys don't have that can probably pass rush on the edge a little bit better," Johnson said in his final press conference of the spring. "How soon they would be ready to play as an every-down player is a big question mark with any question but I think they'll be role players for us pretty early."
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