Not all college football recruits follow a similar, linear path. While some commit to a team and have immediate success after high school, others take career detours before ending up where they really want to be.
Cornerback Kamal Hadden belongs to the latter group.
After performing well at River Rouge High School in Michigan, Hadden played at a JUCO for two seasons before accepting a scholarship offer with the Auburn Tigers.
Kamal Hadden Commits to Auburn
Welcome to The Plains, @KamalHadden9!
Your newest Tiger is a high football IQ cornerback possessing sticky coverage skills that thrives in press-man. pic.twitter.com/NDTU6MJo7K
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) December 16, 2020
RELATED: 4-Star Auburn Signee is a Ball Hawk on Defense
Before latching on with Auburn football, Hadden excelled for Independence Community College in Kansas. He still has plenty of NCAA eligibility left to make some noise, too.
Hadden generated interest from other schools as well, including Arkansas, Houston, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCF, and West Virginia.
Auburn's recruiting class is full of impressive defenders, including Hadden and Ahmari Harvey, who both made their commitments official on National Signing Day in December 2020.
The Tigers have swapped Gus Malzahn for head coach Bryan Harsin and are hoping their new signees will have what it takes to compete with Alabama, Georgia, and LSU in SEC.
Kamal Hadden Highlights
The 247Sports Composite tabs Kamal Hadden as three-star recruit, but from the looks of his highlight tape, he has the potential to be much more than just a serviceable defensive back.
In junior college, he shut down wide receivers with ease. He has a nose for the football and disrupted seemingly every pass directed towards him.
In 2019, he registered 21 tackles, three forced fumbles, and an interception. Those numbers might not be particularly gaudy, but Hadden has an intangible quality that lets him follow plays and make it a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
Kamal Hadden has NFL aspirations, and if he continues to succeed in a high-pressure environment, he will start to vault up draft boards.
