Four-star defensive end, Wilky Denaud, talks his recent commitment to Auburn

Photo Credit: TCPalm

Four-star defensive end, Wilky Denaud, announced his commitment to Auburn University on Wednesday afternoon. Denaud is a six-foot, four-inch, 245-pound defensive end from John Carroll High School in Fort Pierce, Florida. He is ranked as the No. 49 defensive linemen, No. 66 recruit in Florida, and the No. 361 overall recruit in the country according to 247sports. Following his commitment, Denaud joined me on Instagram Live on Thursday night for an interview.

Wilky Denaud Interview

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cgk2S1gBIpu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Regardless of Auburn’s slow start to recruiting for the Class of 2023, Denaud found his relationship with the coaching staff at Auburn to be enough for him. “Coach Rob [Robinson] was a big part of it, the relationship me and him built,” Denaud said. “And just the facilities and all those sort of things is state of the art, and I have every piece that I need to get to the next level.”

Denaud saw the love from the Auburn coaching staff on the night of his commitment, especially, showing the beginning of a special bond once Denaud arrives at Auburn. “Coach Harsin and his crew, they’re really excited,” Denaud said. “Last night, right after [the commitment], I got on a FaceTime call with them, and they were all pretty excited.”

While Denaud announced his commitment to Auburn, he is still exploring his options, and taking visits to schools he is interested in. “I have an idea on if that’s going to be the final say so, but I still have a couple visits I want to take before I shut it down,” Denaud said.

He felt it was necessary to announce his commitment to Auburn because of transfer portal spots. With Auburn off to a slow start in recruiting, they might resort to the transfer portal to make up for losses in high school recruiting. “It was a step that I needed to take, just because of the transfer portal, and all those things were just putting a lot of pressure on me,” Denaud said. “I wanted to go to a school that I’d be able to play at, not a school that I had to choose because all the spots were filled due to the transfer portal.

Denaud’s Top 4 finalists headed into his commitment included Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee and Indiana, but two in-state schools had much of his interest throughout his recruitment. “When I came into high school, my first offer was from Florida. I had a big love for them, but with all the coaching staff changes and everything, I just felt like it wasn’t for me,” Denaud said. “And then I’d say Florida State, Coach Norvell, and all his guys, every time I went up there, I went up there three or four times, there was a lot of love.”

Denaud is the fifth commitment for Auburn’s Class of 2023. He joins four-star wide receiver, Karmello English, four-star running back, Jeremiah Cobb, four-star safety, Terrance Love, and four-star offensive linemen, Bradyn Joiner.