Auburn lands dual-threat quarterback
June 16, 2007
By EVAN WOODBERY
Sports Reporter
AUBURN -- The Auburn Tigers have landed their first -- but perhaps not last -- quarterback in the Class of 2008.
Deron Furr, an athletic dual-threat quarterback from Columbus, Ga., verbally committed Friday to sign with Auburn next year.
Furr is the fifth commitment in what has already been a busy summer of recruiting.
"It's like a dream you have when you're a little kid," Furr told AuburnSports.com. "The next step will be the NFL, and I think this is a good route for me to get there."
At 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, Furr has the size, speed and athleticism that offensive coordinator Al Borges craves in his quarterbacks.
Furr said he had eight other offers, including Duke, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Tulane.
As a junior at Carver High in Columbus, Furr passed for 1,300 yards and rushed for 730 more.
Most schools recruited Furr as a quarterback -- and that's where he'll begin his Auburn career -- but he has the flexibility to play elsewhere if needed.
"I'm pretty determined that I'm going to play quarterback, but if it comes down to it I'll play any position," Furr told AuburnSports.
Since being hired at Auburn before the 2004 season, Borges has been personally involved in all quarterback recruiting.
Auburn didn't sign a quarterback in 2005, but secured two in 2006, including Spain Park High's Neil Caudle. This year, Auburn went to Arkansas to sign Kodi Burns.
Caudle, a redshirt freshman, will fight for the backup quarterback job in August. Burns, who has arrived on campus and is participating in player-led workouts, could be a darkhorse candidate for playing time as a true freshman.
Auburn is likely to pursue a second quarterback for the 2008 class. Aramis Hillary of Johnston, S.C., and Barrett Trotter of Birmingham's Briarwood Christian are two possibilities.
Auburn's four other commitments are wide receiver Damion Allen of Orlando, defensive back Drew Cole of Picayune, Miss., athlete Blair Irvin of Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and tight end Vance Smith of Pace, Fla.
