Fresh off its first national championship since 1957, Auburn coach Gene Chizik is thinking big, and thinking for the future.
Chizik, who just finished his second season at Auburn, wasted no time getting out on the recruiting trail and was in Bear, Del., last week, along with assistant coaches Tommy Thigpen and Tracy Rocker, visiting Red Lion Christian Academy (Bear, Del.) sophomore defensive lineman Kenny Bigelow.
Shortly after returning to the Auburn campus, Chizik received a phone call from the 6-foot-4, 267-pound Bigelow asking for an opportunity to make an official visit. Chizik not only offered him a chance to visit the campus, but an invitation to become part of it, offering the talented lineman a full scholarship.
"I was extremely happy to hear that I was offered," Bigelow said in a text message shortly after receiving the offer. "I'm a sophomore so I still have a long way to go before I'm ready to commit anywhere."
Red Lion coach Eric Day says that while Bigelow will visit the Auburn campus in the spring, the talented lineman still has plenty of offers coming his way.
"Being that Kenny is just entering his junior year he has plenty of time to decide which college is best for him and his education," Day said. "We are very excited for the opportunities ahead for Kenny. Having the 2010 national champions make an offer just attests to the ability he has. He has worked very hard over the last two years to put himself in this position."
If Bigelow were to end up on the Auburn campus, he will be joining Red Lion Christian teammate Angelo Blackson (6-4, 295), who, Day confirmed, will sign an official letter of intent Feb. 2 to play at Auburn.
Red Lion is the same school that features quarterback David Sills, who just finished his eighth-grade year and made national news when offered a scholarship by USC coach Lane Kiffin as a seventh-grader.
Jon Buzby is the sports columnist for the Newark Post, a freelance writer, and on the broadcast team for the 1290AM The Ticket High School Football and Basketball Games of the Week. You can reach him at jonbuzby@hotmail.com.
