Recruiting is far from an exact science. I proved that in my article about all of the five-star recruits that Auburn football has ever signed. No matter how good a player is in high school, that does not guarantee them success at the collegiate level.
And while Auburn has been able to sign plenty of top prospects under the leadership of head coach Gus Malzahn, they’ve also gone out and found some diamonds in the rough.
Whether it be due to a lack of size, inferior competition or simply a case of a player not grabbing the attention of many other major programs, Auburn has certainly had its fair share of guys who defy the odds and make an impact on The Plains despite a lackluster recruiting ranking.