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Tennessee football: Five Auburn signees Vols should target amid Bryan Harsin saga

By Caleb Calhoun

Auburn Tigers head coach Bryan Harsin reacts after the game during the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Auburn Tigers 24-22 in 4OT.
Auburn Tigers head coach Bryan Harsin reacts after the game during the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Auburn Tigers 24-22 in 4OT. /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

1. Marquise Gilbert (Junior College)

Defensive back; Palm Coast, Fla.; Hutchinson Community College

Yes, Auburn’s junior college players are the most important signees for Tennessee football to target. To be fair, this is because the Vols were actually in contention for all of these players leading right up to the Early Signing Period.

UT was in no greater contention for a player than Marquise Gilbert. The Vols made his top three in early December along with Auburn and the Florida State Seminoles, and all signs pointed to it being down to the Vols and Tigers when he made his commitment. Two days before the Early Signing Period, on Dec. 13, he chose Auburn.

Coming out of Florida, Josh Heupel definitely has connections to Gilbert, as he graduated one year after that undefeated regular season Heupel had in 2018 with the UCF Knights. The graduate of Flagler Palm Coast High School in Flagler County is a three-star across every service except Rivals, where he did earn a four-star rating.

Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 180 pounds, he is listed as a safety across the board. Given the fact that he was part of the 2019 graduating class, he’s got plenty of experience as well, and he’ll have two years of eligibility if he joins Rocky Top.

dark. Next. Signing Day - What went right; what went wrong

That’ll be key, because Tennessee football is losing Trevon Flowers after this year no matter what, and Jaylen McCollough could be gone since he’s technically a senior. As a result, Gilbert would immediately help with depth, and he could be directly in line to start in 2023. Given how close UT was to landing him, he’s the top Auburn signee they should target.

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