Auburn's decision to fire Gene Chizik as head football coach is likely to have an impact on the Tigers' highly-ranked 2013 recruiting class and several members of the class have already made their feelings about Chizik's firing public.

Four-star wide receiver JaQuay Williams became the first player to publicly de-committ from Auburn since the announcement, telling 247Sports that he is no longer committed to Auburn but will still consider the Tigers alongside Georgia, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Oklahoma State.



One of the first to comment on the move was arguably the most high-profile recruit currently committed to Auburn, middle linebacker Reuben Foster. The five-star linebacker changed his commitment from Alabama to Auburn over the summer shortly after moving to Auburn and enrolling in Auburn High School and while Foster is not ready to change the status of his commitment publicly, he was clearly affected by the move.

"The news is hitting me hard," Foster told ESPN of Chizik's firing. "I am really stressing right now. I am going down there now to check out what is going on and try to talk to the coaches."

Foster spent Saturday in Athens on an unofficial visit to Georgia and told 247Sports that even before Chizik's firing, the visit gave him plenty to consider.

“I missed UGA," said Foster after the Georgia-Georgia Tech game on Saturday. "It has been a while since I have been there, it was great. People were pointing at me and telling me to come to UGA. It felt good. There is a lot going through my head."

Another major name in the Auburn 2013 recruiting class, Muscle Shoals defensive tackle Dee Liner, was in Tuscaloosa on Saturday and according to his high school coach is taking time to consider things before making a final decision on his recruitment.

"We haven't discussed it and aren't going to discuss it until after the football season. After that, we'll sit down and make the best decision for his future. We have not discussed it and will not discuss it until he gets through playing football," said Muscle Shoals head coach Scott Basden in an interview with BamaOnline.

Liner was joined in Tuscaloosa by McGill-Toolin athlete Jason Smith, who told ESPN that he remains committed to the Tigers for now and wants to see who Auburn hires to replace Chizik before making any decisions about recruiting.

“I liked the coaches and everything, and I’m always going to love Auburn," Smith said. "I’m looking forward to see who’s going to be the new head coach. I just want to see who the next coach is and if he’s going to run a similar offense. If it’s anything that fits around me, I’m going to stick with it.”

Michael Langston of Warchant.com reported via Twitter that Auburn-committed tight end Arshad Jackson "said he wasn't surprised but he's still committed as of now".

Five-star defensive end commit Carl Lawson, who visited Clemson on Saturday, posted on Twitter: "There will always be a spot in my heart for AU". Lawson told 247Sports on Sunday that Clemson could potentially be a factor in his recruitment going forward, though he refused to comment on Chizik's firing.

Other recruits that could be affected by Chizik's dismissal include running back Jordan Wilkins, who expressed regret about Chizik's firing on Twitter, junior college running back Cameron Artis-Payne, who told Rivals.com that he will now consider other options in light of Chizik's dismissal.

Carver-Montgomery quarterback Jeremy Johnson has yet to publicly comment on the news but told al.com earlier this month that he would not remain committed to Auburn if Chizik left or was fired.

Stay tuned to al.com for continued updates on Auburn recruiting and the Auburn coaching search.