The 2014 recruiting cycle has featured some early commitments, with some players pledging before the end of their sophomore year. With such early commitments come early decommitments, a group that now includes St. Louis (MO) DeSmet offensive tackle Andy Bauer, who will not be a Missouri Tiger, as planned.
2014 OT Andy Bauer decommits from Missouri, will visit Alabama
One of the top offensive tackles in the 2014 class is once again on the market.
Chris Graythen
The 6-6, 300-pound Bauer is a consensus four-star prospect ranked among the top 70 players in the country in the 247Sports composite rankings, while also earning praise as a top 10 or so player at his position.
With over 30 offers, the Missouri product has an abundance of options available to him. He’ll take a visit to Alabama for the Iron Bowl in late November and has been a Crimson Tide fan for some time, which may give Nick Saban and company the early edge to secure a second commitment from the big mauler.
A visit for a June camp was an early sign that his commitment to Missouri was not particularly solid.
This is what Bauer had to say about the Tide at the time of his visit ($):
I talk to Coach (Jeff) Stoutland a lot. They’re the defending National Champions. They’re a great program. They put a lot of guys in the league, and they have a lot of success with their offensive line. Coach Stoutland has a great track record. He doesn’t leave schools very often. When he goes somewhere, he doesn’t leave for a while. That stability is a plus.
I’ve talked to Coach (Nick) Saban, and Coach Saban is one of the best in the business. He’s a really cool guy, a really great guy.
Bauer had planned on making a game at LSU this fall, as well, but it does not appear as if that visit has happened or is in the plans. A friendship with 2013 Tiger pledge Ethan Pocic has strengthened Bauer’s ties to the program and may elevate LSU into the top tier of schools that now have a chance of getting a commitment from the big offensive tackle, along with Alabama.
Right now, it appears that the other schools are simply scrambling to try to catch up with the two SEC powers, a position that is not altogether uncommon right now for many programs.
Andy Bauer Sophomore 2011 Highlight Film (via spartansfootball76)
