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SI All-American Tarvarish Dawson Will Play in the SEC, Final Decision on Signing Day

Longtime Auburn commitment considering Tigers, Texas A&M and Tennessee ahead of National Signing Day decision

John Garcia, Jr.

Tar'varish Dawson will soon lock in a big personal accomplishment, to sign a National Letter of Intent to play in the SEC this fall. 

"That's been my dream," he told SI All-American.

The only remaining question is where for the longtime Auburn football commitment, who says Texas A&M and Tennessee also remain in heavy pursuit of his signature. National Signing Day kicks off the traditional college football recruiting signing period on Wednesday, February 3.

The Lehigh Acres (Fla.) two-way star, who earned first-team SI All-American status as a defensive back for his 2020 performance, picked Auburn in May of 2020 under Gus Malzahn. Of course the Tigers changed coaching staffs recently and now Bryan Harsin is leading both the program and its chances of retaining Dawson when pen meets paper Wednesday morning. 

The senior still considers himself an Auburn commitment and has been in touch with Harsin's staff consistently.

"I talk to the head coach and receiver coach (Cornelius Williams) like every day," Dawson said. "They said they love me, they love my film and I'm their number one guy. They want me as a receiver and a DB, but mostly at receiver. I just want to get on the field.

"(Harsin) Seems like a great person, he seems like he can be another father figure for me. He seems to know what he wants to do with the program...I know he's going to make Auburn better."

The longest standing relationship the Floridian has, between the three contending coaching staffs, is with new Tennessee coach Josh Heupel.

"They were recruiting me at UCF and said I was their number one guy when they were there," he said. "They're still not giving up on me. Coach Heupel is going to make sure he gets connected with your family. I went up there for junior day (pre pandemic) and he showed me and my dad everything. The whole school, I went into his office and talked to him."

With Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies, there is stability, a trajectory of recent success and a family tie to the roster itself.  

"They got one of the best coaches in the game and they won a lot of games last year," Dawson said. "I've got a cousin, Derick Hunter, that plays for Texas A&M and he says they take care of you and they love you out there." 

Regardless of the program to win the All-American's recruitment, the desire to play in the SEC and eventually against a particular program will prove possible.

"The Florida Gators have always been my favorite school and I didn't get the chance to play for them, so the next step was the SEC," he said. "That's the best conference to me. Now I want to play against them (UF) and show them what they're missing." 

Dawson, who notched eight receiving touchdowns on offense to go along with seven interceptions on defense, plans on making a final decision official at 9:00 am Wednesday morning. 

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John Garcia, Jr.
JOHN GARCIA, JR.

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