Auburn’s 2027 recruiting class just picked up another layer of shine, and this time it came with a Nike logo attached.
Four-star running back Myson Johnson-Cook, one of the most buzzed-about names in the Tigers’ class, was announced Thursday as one of 11 high school prospects signed to Nike’s expanding NIL roster. The move puts the Auburn commit in a group that also includes five-star Alabama quarterback commit Elijah Haven and five-star Clemson wide receiver commit Jamarin Simmons.
Nike said it is “deepening the most dominant football roster across all levels of the game” by adding some of the nation’s top high school and college players. The company selected the high school athletes based on their performances at The Opening, the invite-only event in Oregon where prospects get a chance to show off their skills. Nike described the group as “an elite cohort setting the bar for the classes of 2027 and 2028.”
The benefits go beyond just the name recognition. According to Nike’s website, the signees will receive support with training needs, personal branding, and social media content creation. The company also said, “From product and styling to support with media and content, Nike leverages the full weight of the brand to provide unparalleled partnership to athletes across its football roster - giving them tools for long-term success across sport, business and culture,”
Johnson-Cook’s profile has been climbing for months. He committed to Auburn on April 25 and became just the third player to join the Tigers’ 2027 class.
Since then, he has stayed active in the recruiting process, and Auburn’s class has surged with help from Alex Golesh and company. The Tigers are now pushing toward a top-10 class.
The rankings reflect the hype. Johnson-Cook is listed by 247Sports as the No. 4 running back and No. 78 player nationally.
He also looks the part. The East St.
Louis, Ill., native is listed at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, and 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins called him a “hulking” running back. Ivins also pointed to Johnson-Cook’s speed, his ability to get around the edge, and the power he brings when he runs through contact, saying he believes Johnson-Cook has a “size/speed combination that will be very attractive to NFL scouts.”
The next question is what his path looks like once he gets to Auburn in 2027. As of right now, the Tigers’ backfield could already be crowded with Bryson Washington, Omar Mabson II, Alvin Henderson, and Nykahi Davenport. With that kind of depth, Johnson-Cook may need a year or two before carving out a real role, even if the talent is obvious from the start.
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Auburns backfield is heading into fall camp with plenty of moving parts, and Tae Meadows is right in the middle of it. The Troy transfer arrives with a proven workload after rushing for 695 yards and six touchdowns last season, giving the Tigers a runner who has already shown he can handle a steady role. With Auburn bringing in three running backs from the portal, the competition figures to be crowded, but Meadows has already made enough of an impression in spring practice to stay firmly in the conversation.
Alex Golesh has been encouraged by what he has seen from Meadows, pointing to his vision and overall skill set as traits that fit what Auburn wants to do. The bigger question now is how that translates once the pads come on and the depth chart starts to sort itself out. If Auburn really does settle into a three-back rotation, Meadows has a chance to carve out meaningful carries quickly, which is why his name is one Tigers fans will want to keep tracking closely. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Is Suddenly In Position For Another Recruiting Stunner
Auburns recent track record on the recruiting trail has given the Tigers reason to stay in the fight even when the numbers look long. Karlos May, a four-star defensive lineman in the 2027 class, is set to make his college decision later today, and the buzz around his recruitment has made him one of the more closely watched defensive line targets in the cycle.
The timing alone has kept Auburn fans interested, especially after the Tigers pulled off a similar late surge earlier this year with Deshawn Hall. Auburn already has some defensive line pieces in its 2027 class, but landing May would still qualify as another major statement if the Tigers can again turn a crowded race into a surprise finish. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Overhaul Under Alex Golesh Is Bigger Than Fans Realize
The overhaul in Auburn was never going to be subtle in Alex Goleshs first year, but the scale of it still stands out. The Tigers have been among the most active teams in the SEC in the portal, and the roster he inherited looks far different now, with only one starter back from the previous season. Quarterback, the offensive line and the receiver room have all been reworked, giving the staff a very different foundation to build on than the one it started with.
Golesh has also had to manage the defensive side of the transition, where Auburn kept some core pieces but still needed outside help to replace players who moved on to the NFL. That kind of churn can speed up a reset if the newcomers settle in quickly, but it also leaves plenty of moving parts heading into the season. For Auburn, the bigger question is not whether the roster changed, because it clearly did, but how quickly all of those changes can start looking like a team. [Read more 🡒]