Zac Etheridge details his recruiting strategy in the midst of evolving college landscape

NIL and the transfer portal continue to change recruiting in college football. Auburn secondary coach Zac Etheridge has had a front-row seat to the evolving landscape and opened up about his strategy on the trail.

Etheridge appeared on The Paul Finebaum Show earlier this month and talked about what he prioritizes in recruiting. He said there are multiple different factors, especially with NIL and the portal at the forefront, but adaptability is the key to success.

“It’s been really difficult in the recruiting process and just a lot of people getting away from … the main thing,” Etheridge said. “And the most important thing is trying to find ways to give these young men a decision to come to a college to better their life and to be able to have a chance to play football and make it to the NFL. But a lot of people, even adults now, have changed the game and making it bigger than what it is in terms of guys want to get an education and guys want to play football at a high level to go on to do things better in their life.

“Like anything else, you have to be able to adapt. You’ve got to be able to establish a relationship in recruiting and get the right people that fit the program that you’re trying to build so you can be able to sustain a great locker room and be able to go win a national championship instead of guys not worrying about what’s not the main thing.”

Zac Etheridge discusses offseason rumors, reveals why he chose to stay at Auburn

Etheridge garnered interest from other programs during the offseason, including Georgia back in February, according to Auburn Live’s Justin Hokanson. But he decided to stay on The Plains as associate head coach and secondary coach.

But his love for the Tigers and his belief in Bryan Harsin shined through as he announced he was staying put.

“Honestly, it’s really about being where your feet are planted,” Etheridge said. “I came here to do something special. I wanted to be a part of getting Auburn [back to the] style of football that we wanted to play at a high level. Not only that, Coach Harsin’s vision and what he believed in in not only just developing football players, but developing young men off the field.

“And just showing his level of commitment every single day making these players understand that we’re here for you bigger than football. That’s what I always wanted to be a part of, that’s what I wanted to be, but I knew for a fact that he had a vision and I wanted to be a part of it and I wanted to make sure that I wanted to be a part of rebuilding this program to exactly where I know where it can be at.”