BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - If you watched the Iron Bowl, you know Auburn has multiple issues at multiple positions as it tries to build itself back into a contender for, first things first, the state title.

If you watched the Game of the Century, the warm-up act for the Rematch of the Century, you know that championship teams can center on a player other than the one who takes the snap from center...

Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, running backs coach Curtis Luper and wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor spent three hours at the Winston home. That visit alone has created some serious buzz in the recruiting world.

One reason, perhaps, is that Alabama has been blitzing the two-sport star with affection to try to change his mind. Nick Saban himself paid Winston  a visit Monday.

Is he so special and Auburn so desperate that the Tigers failed to live up to one of their own self-imposed sanctions to pay him a visit? One of the more intriguing documents Auburn released Nov. 4 - after the NCAA ended its long investigation of the program without alleging any major violations - involved the recruitment of Winston.

Auburn admitted to two impermissible contacts with him from the April, 2010 Tiger Prowl and self-imposed a recruiting ban. As a result, according to an October 2010 letter from Auburn attorney William King to SEC Commissioner Mike Slive, Auburn said its football staff would not have off-campus contact with Winston for 60 days "from late November 2011 until January 2012."

Oops.

Congratulations to Leroy!  +18