With Auburn's 2018 recruiting class signed and in the books, it's time to get familiar with a new batch of prospects. Over the next several days, AL.com will provide position-by-position look at Auburn's top targets in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Today, we're analyzing the defensive line.

TOP DEFENSIVE LINE TARGET

Nathan Pickering (6-foot-5, 270 pounds, Seminary, Miss)

Pickering is not just one of the nation's top defensive linemen, but he's also the No. 2 player in a talent-rich class out of Mississippi. The four-star strongside defensive end is a top-50 player in the 2019 class and the No. 4 player at his position, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He was on the Plains earlier this month for Auburn's junior day, and along with his offer from the Tigers, he holds offers from Mississippi State, Alabama, LSU, Florida, Ole Miss and others.

2 MORE TO WATCH

Justin Eboigbe (6-foot-5, 261 pounds, Forest Park, Ga.)

Eboigbe is a four-star prospect who is rated as the No. 9 strongside defensive end in the nation and the 117th-best prospect overall in the 2019 class. He holds 24 offers, including Auburn and Georgia. According to 247Sports, Eboigbe grew up an Auburn fan, and he was on campus earlier this month for an unofficial visit.

DJ Dale (6-foot-3, 265 pounds, Pinson)

Dale is a four-star defensive tackle who has drawn some early comparisons to current Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown. He's rated as the No. 22 defensive tackle in the nation and 13th-best player in Alabama. He visited Auburn earlier this month, and it appears to be a battle between the Tigers and Alabama for his commitment, though Texas A&M and Florida State could be in the mix after extending offers in recent weeks.

IN-STATE GLANCE

Dale is the top defensive lineman in the state, followed by three-star McGill-Toolen defensive tackle Ledarrius Cox, who does not yet hold an Auburn offer. There's also three-star Wetumpka defensive tackle Patrick Lucas, who was offered by Auburn earlier this month but is considered an Alabama lean.

Looking ahead to Auburn's current defensive linemen in 2018

Dontavius Russell, redshirt senior; Andrew Williams, redshirt senior; Paul James III, redshirt senior; Jauntavius Johnson, redshirt junior; Gary Walker, redshirt junior; Derrick Brown, junior; Marlon Davidson, junior; Nick Coe, redshirt sophomore; Markaviest Bryant, sophomore; T.D. Moultry, sophomore; Tyrone Truesdell, sophomore; Tashawn Manning, redshirt freshman; Alec Jackson, redshirt freshman.

2018 defensive line signees

Daquan Newkirk, four-star (Perkinston, Miss.); Coynis Miller, four-star (Birmingham); Richard Jibunor, four-star (Athens, Ga.); Kayode Oladele, four-star (Hialeah, Fla.); Caleb Johnson, three-star (Columbus, Ga.)

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.