Auburn stays scorching, lands prime 100 LB Elijah Melendez
The seemingly inevitable has come true.
After loads of hypothesis and two extra journeys to Auburn, Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola linebacker Elijah Malendez has come off the board with a dedication to the Auburn Tigers.
The four-star did so whereas on The Plains for the third time for the reason that summer season. After backing off of his Miami dedication precisely two weeks in the past, it was obvious AU could be the instant beneficiary.
“I already know the place I need to go,” Melendez instructed Rivals after the decommitment. It was on the entrance finish of his first sport journey to AU and that sentiment remained with the large, bodily ‘backer by Saturday’s resolution.
“I have been by lots with my (knee) harm and recruitment. I could as properly finish it now as an alternative of ready,” he added.
The final time the brand new Tiger dedication was on the town, he frolicked with many present AU pledges as if he was all however considered one of them. It included operating again Alvin Henderson and tight finish Ryan Ghea, two of the extra outspoken peer recruiters on the Hugh Freeze dedication record.
That class sits inside the prime 5 of the Rivals workforce rankings.
Rivals Evaluation
Melendez admitted he thought his ability set was greatest fitted to SEC soccer and after one other dwell analysis earlier this season, it is exhausting to not agree. The brand new Tiger is each little bit of 225 kilos and he performs with a downhill ferocity fitted to the highest competitors at all times present in that league. It is why the finalists for the dedication got here right down to AU, Oklahoma, Georgia and others this time round.
After lacking a lot time in 2023 with the knee subject, Melendez was methodical in his rehab and seems to have come again stronger, together with his typical vary and physicality on show early on this fall. The place he seems to have matured is in go protection. He had a close to viral interception wherein he performed the passing lane and picked off a fastball from Notre Dame dedication Noah Grubbs, and it wasn’t the one play he made in house in opposition to the go.
Ought to that three-down factor proceed to progress, mixed with well being and his bodily presents, then there may be little motive to imagine Melendez cannot develop into an early contributor at an SEC program that appears comparatively open to counting on youth at key positions. He’s the fifth prime 100 defender to have dedicated to AU thus far.
