Auburn Secures Highly Touted 4-Star LB Kenney Britt
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Auburn got one of the best linebackers in the nation on Sunday when in-state talent Kenney “K.J.” Britt called the War Eagles.
Britt assured himself as one of the top players in the 2017 recruiting class after pulling down 126 ball carriers during his junior season. His stat line included 22 tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries, and five forced fumbles. His Oxford High School squad is back to making life difficult for opposing Alabama 6A teams running a perfect 10-0 mark during the regular season.
Some 30-plus colleges extended offers to Britt, but Auburn seemed like his eventual landing spot all along. He took multiple unofficial visits to see the Tigers over the summer and on into the season. Other visits included stops to Ole Miss (unofficial), Georgia (unofficial), Stanford (official), and to Ole Miss for an official over the weekend, for the Auburn game. The Rebels visit seemed to seal the deal for the Tigers despite a pre-planned commitment video with Bleacher Report.
The video was Halloween themed, with a trick-or-treater coming to Britt’s door. One by one, young kids come to the door for candy with Britt inviting each one in for a family house party. Florida comes to the door, then Georgia, and finally a little boy dressed as Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn. Britt gives “Malzahn” a two-foot long Hersey’s bar stating, “I got something special for you.” Britt breaks the fourth wall adding, “Happy Halloween. Go War Eagles.”
The War Eagles had been really quiet on the recruiting trail going two full months without landing a commit until Britt came along after safety Jordyn Peters committed on Aug. 19. With 15 total commitments, Rivals ranks Auburn’s class No. 17 in the nation while 247Sports has Auburn at No. 12, sixth best in the SEC.
Auburn Tigers 2017 Verbal Commitment List (15)
SS Carlito Gonzalez, 6-0, 190, Stephenson HS, Stone Mountain, GA
SS Jordyn Peters, 6-2, 185, Muscle Shoals HS, Muscle Shoals, AL
LB Kenney Britt, 6-0, 232, Oxford HS, Oxford, AL
LB Tadarian Moultry, 6-2, 225, Jackson-Olin, Birmingham, AL
LB Chandler Wooten, 6-2.5, 227, North Cobb HS, Kennesaw, GA
OG Nick Brahms, 6-4, 285, Navarre HS, Navarre, FL
OT Calvin Ashley, 6-6, 305, First Academy HS, Orlando, FL
OT Austin Troxell, 6-7, 335, Madison Academy, Madison, AL
RB Devan Barrett, 6-1, 190, Tampa Catholic, Tampa, FL
ATH Malcolm Askew, 5-10.5, 183, McAdory HS, McCalla, AL
ATH Tray Bishop, 6-3, 193, Terrell County HS, Dawson, GA
ATH Octavius Matthews, 6-2, 200, Itawamba C.C., Futon, MS
ATH Alaric Williams, 6-0, 195, Southside HS, Gadsden, AL
LS Bill Taylor, 6-4, 235, American Christian, Tuscaloosa, AL
K Anders Carlson, 6-3, 185, Classical Academy, Pike National Forest, CO
Photo credit: Busted Coverage; No. 10 KJ Britt on the field for Oxford.