AU coach tapped heavily into Texas preps at Iowa St.

The high school coach for Gene Chizik's highest-rated recruit at Iowa State has a message for Auburn fans.

"You give him another year or two there, he's going to get it turned around for sure," said Dale Irwin, the coach at Arp High in Texas.

"I know he's catching a lot of heat because of his record. But I know the man can recruit and I know the man is going to get some good athletes into Auburn."

Irwin experienced Chizik for two years as defensive coordinator at Texas, then from his recruitment of receiver Sedrick Johnson - one of only two four-star players Chizik signed as coach of the Cyclones.

The way Irwin sees it, if Chizik could lure a player like Johnson to Iowa State, he can get players as good or better to Auburn.

"They are going to see Auburn University and a chance to play in the SEC," Irwin said. "He's going to be selling Auburn University and the SEC and national TV, and that's the things kids want to hear."

Irwin said Johnson was so enthralled with Chizik, he would have followed the coach anywhere.

"Probably with our kid, if he had been at Auburn and recruited him there, he would probably be at Auburn," Irwin said.

Chizik signed 23 players from Texas during the three recruiting classes he brought in at Iowa State. Eight more players from Texas are committed to Iowa State now.

"I think those ties helped him," Irwin said. "Texas is a big ol' state and got a lot of football players in it. That's definitely going to be a benefit to him and a benefit to Auburn.

"Auburn's got a great tradition and I guarantee you he'll get some good Texas kids there also."




I wonder if ol' Saint Nicky can pull the Texas boys like Gene can!?!?!