Feature Interview: Former Auburn WR Jimmie Stoudemire Working Way Back Up JUCO Ranks

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

As long as the football keeps going on the tee for college games every Saturday teams will be in an endless search for top talent to help put wins on the schedule. A Class of 2018 talent with Power Five Conference experience capable of filling that role of immediate impact player leading to victories on Saturdays is Jimmie Stoudemire.

Stoudemire’s story is a unique one albeit not an unusual one. Out of Prattville High School, Stoudemire found a home with the Auburn Tigers signing as part of the 2014 class. A gray-shirt agreement delayed him for a semester but he burst onto the scene during the War Eagles’ A-Day Game hauling in three- four passes setting up a potential gateway to game experience. After a redshirt season in 2015, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn shuffled the deck on his coaching staff leading to a few players opting for a new path forward with other teams; Stoudemire was one of those guys.

The delay for Stoudemire took another frustrating turn when his transcripts from Auburn to ASA College in Miami were held up. The processing of paperwork kept Stoudemire on the sidelines for the first six games of the season. Even in limited action, Stoudemire still made an immediate impact finding the end zone for a couple of touchdowns but was not able to completely showcase his talents.

The limited action on the field has not stopped colleges from offering and trying to sway the May graduate away from the JUCO ranks. Alabama A&M, Austin Peay, Morgan State, and Alabama State want him now. Division-I teams like Washington State, Old Dominion, and Georgia Southern are showing interest as well as others.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with the Alabama native to find out about his journey from high school to Auburn and then to junior college ball with an update on his recruiting process entering spring camp.

Interview

Jimmie, looking back, how did your senior season play out?

“My senior year went well. I was doing great, picked up a lot of recruiting interest, and I was expecting a big year. It started off great. I had three touchdowns in first four games and our team was playing great. After that, my season ended. I had offers to Troy, UAB, and Southern Miss. I had some preferred walk-on offers but then Auburn offered.”

When did you go to Auburn?

“I was a Class of 2014 guy but I gray-shirted. I started practicing with Auburn in the spring of 2015.”

How did your spring camp with Auburn go?

“It was awesome. I was around a bunch of great players. Guys like Duke Williams, they taught me a lot. I learned so much there. I have no regrets about going to Auburn. It was not a hard transition but a big difference going against the talented defensive backs they had there. I had a great spring. The coaches in the spring told me I would be contributing soon. The fall went awesome. Then they had some coaching changes and the QB situation there started shaking things up so I transferred.”

What did you learn about the game while with Auburn?

“Ricardo Lewis and Duke Williams, they changed my whole thinking of football. We talked about football all the time and worked on Jugg machine all the time. I worked on getting off the press. I worked on that a lot. Now I can get off press coverage with ease. My route running got crisper. Their routes were different than the ones I ran in high school. I learn how to get open running them. They taught me a lot off the field too. Duke Williams helped me a lot.”

You mentioned your routes got better and you learned how to get off press coverage better, what other parts of your game improved?

“I’d say my knowledge of the game. I learned how to read defenses. In high school we did not even think about that. We stayed in the film room a lot at Auburn. I learned what being a receiver is about. Being a receiver is not just go-routes and long bombs. I learned how to change your routes depending on their defense. My knowledge of the game increased overall. My time there has brought me to the player I am today.”

Fill me in on your 2016 season.

“I missed the first six games of the season because of my transcripts. I was able to play immediately after that. I went through fall camp with ASA but did not know until the day before our first game that I was not able to play because of my transcripts. That was a tough experience. I fought through it and I was able to help the team out at the end of the season.”

Do you know your stat line from last year?

“I had two touchdowns. I am not sure about my yardage or receptions.”

What are you working on this off-season?

“I’m trying to get at a weight that I will be great at playing. I’m working in the weight room a lot. I feel that I am at a peak on the field. I’m aiming for 210 pounds. I was at 205 last week. I want a tenth of a second shaved off my time. I am a 4.49 guy right now. I want a 4.3. I want to get bigger and faster. I have a goal of being All-American this season. The process will work itself out. I just want to help my team win games, go to a bowl game, and win a championship this year.”

What is your recruiting process like right now?

“College coaches started contacting me around signing day. Some are going to offer this spring. Jackson State invited me to Junior Day on Feb. 25. I’m going to try to make it out there. Washington State is recruiting me. Old Dominion and Georgia Southern are showing heavy interest. Grambling University is recruiting me too.”

When do you graduate?

“I graduate in May but I am eligible to play another year.”

What do you want to major in once you are at a four-year school?

“Business management, I enjoy marketing classes. At Auburn I wanted to be an engineer but things change.”

You have already had a longer road in football than most, what has kept your passion for the game going during the last couple of years?

“My passion, I would say – comes from back home with my family. I am competitive and I have a love for the game. I have been playing since a young child. My dream is to make to the NFL. I played with NFL guys at Auburn. I really think I can do it. That is why I work so hard and try to be the best I can be. My passion is my love for the game. I love scoring touchdowns. I’m a vocal leader and I’m there for my team on and off the field. I’m selfless. That is how I was raised to be. I’m an only child. My parents taught me to work hard. They have done a lot for me. I want to pay them back and take care of them one day. It did not work out at Auburn. It has been a tough road but I’m keeping my head up and working hard.”

Jimmie, good luck with spring camp and thanks for your time today.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: twitter.com; No. 86 Jimmie Stoudemire at Auburn.

Photo credit: Stoudemire family; Jimmie Stoudemire at ASA College.

Photo credit: Getty Images’ No. 86 Jimmie Stoudemire goes up for a pass.