3/22/2016 football Edit

Auburn 'still on top' for No. 2 inside linebacker

Rivals100 linebacker Will Ignont will play his senior season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Jeffrey Lee • AuburnSports

Senior Editor

@JLeeAURivals

AUBURN, Ala. | Auburn remains the favorite to sign the No. 2 inside linebacker in the 2017 class.

Will Ignont said so after his visit to Auburn on Tuesday.

“They are still on top,” Ignont said. “Auburn is still my leader.”

Ignont, who transferred from Buckhorn to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., visited Auburn along with IMG four-star tight end Tre McKitty. The teammates watched the Tigers practice and met with the coaches.

“The visit went very, very good,” Ignont said. “I really enjoyed myself. I really enjoyed getting the chance to spend a lot of time with Coach T-Will (Travis Williams) and Coach (Kevin) Steele. I really like both of them.”

Ignont, who is ranked No. 55 in the Rivals100, was familiar with Steele before the former Alabama and LSU defensive coordinator became the current Auburn coordinator. The long-standing relationship between coordinator and recruit is an advantageous one for the Tigers.

“There was a time LSU was in my top five solely because of Coach Steele,” Ignont said. “They were in my top group because I wanted to play for him. He’s a great coach and a great guy, and now he’s at Auburn. It’s just crazy how it all works out.”

Ignont also has developed a good relationship with Williams. Auburn’s first-year linebackers coach was the starting middle linebacker for the Tigers’ 2004 undefeated season and went on to play in the NFL. Williams’ experience shows in his coaching, which Ignont witnessed on Tuesday.

“Coach T-Will is an energetic guy and he’s real hands-on,” Ignont said. “He not only can tell you how to do something, but he can show you. He’s going to get on that field and show you as if he has cleats on himself. He’s going to coach you up and that’s the kind of coach I want to play for and the kind that I think can prepare me for the next level.”

Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame and UCLA join Auburn in Ignont’s top five. The four-star recruit plans to visit Alabama and Georgia this spring and Notre Dame in the summer. A return trip to Auburn also is in the works.