West Orange quarterback chooses Auburn over offers from Alabama, others

WINTER GARDEN — The eyes of the college football recruiting world turned to the campus of West Orange High School as one high-profile Warrior player ended his recruitment.

Rising senior quarterback Woody Barrett announced June 3 he would be enrolling at Auburn University to play for the Tigers next fall.

Barrett, rated as a four-star prospect and ranked No. 80 nationally for the Class of 2016 by ESPN, chose his scholarship offer from Auburn over offers from other high-profile programs, including Alabama, Oregon, Notre Dame, Kentucky, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Texas.

In the days leading up to the announcement, which took place on campus in the cafeteria, it was widely believed the decision would come down to the Tigers and the Crimson Tide.

The addition of Barrett for Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn is another high-profile pickup in the Central Florida area. Dr. Phillips’ Calvin Ashley — a 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive lineman and a rising junior — also pledged his services to the Tigers recently.

After making his decision, Barrett traveled to Los Angeles to compete in the Nike Elite 11 Semifinals — a quarterback competition featuring some of the top high-school quarterbacks in the nation. Afterward, Barrett tweeted that “Elite 11 was epic” and thanked the coaches he worked with in California for their commitment and expertise.

With the commitment of Barrett to Auburn and Warrior offensive lineman Stone Forsythe to the Florida Gators, attention will now turn toward rising senior wide receiver Eddie McDoom. McDoom, like Barrett, holds a slew of offers from well-known programs, including Alabama, Florida, Clemson and Ohio State.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].