History-making class

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AUBURN | Auburn wrapped up its 2015 recruiting class Wednesday by signing 27 prospects, a group ranked No. 6 in the country by Rivals.com.

It wasn't easy. It never is. There were additions, subtractions, booms and busts.

From quarterback Tyler Queen's commitment on July 10, 2013, to Byron Cowart's National Letter of Intent arriving at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the cycle included many twists and turns, smiles and pouts and even some history making.

AU MAKES HISTORY

Auburn signed the No. 1 junior college prospect, five-star running back Jovon Robinson. It marked the second straight year the Tigers have signed the country's top junior college player, and the third time in the last six years.

No other school has signed more than one No. 1 junior college prospect since Rivals.com began ranking JUCOs in 2005. Auburn has now signed three: Robinson, D'haquille Williams (2014) and Cam Newton (2010).

Auburn did something this year that it wasn't able to do in 2010 or 2014. It did something that no other school has ever done. The Tigers, in addition to signing the top JUCO, also signed the No. 1 high school prospect in the country, five-star defensive end Byron Cowart.

It is the first time in the Rivals.com era (2002-present) that a school signed the No. 1 prospects from both the JUCO and high school ranks.

COMING AND GOING

Auburn accepted commitments from 32 prospects in the 2015 class, but five that committed didn't end up signing.

Four-star safety Ben Edwards, four-star cornerback Tony Bridges, four-star receiver D'Anfernee McGriff, three-star linebacker Elijah Sullivan and three-star cornerback Chris Westry all at one point were committed to the Tigers, but for different reasons, ended up signing elsewhere.

Edwards de-committed in the summer and ultimately signed with Stanford. Bridges flipped his commitment to in-state Ole Miss in December, and Westry flipped to Kentucky in mid-January. On Signing Day, McGriff chose to sign with Florida, and Sullivan turned down a grayshirt offer from Auburn to sign with Kansas State.

Auburn did some flipping of its own. It started in mid-January with the commitment/enrollment of four-star safety Tim Irvin. Irvin had previously planned to enroll at Texas. A week later, three-star cornerback Jeremiah Dinson changed his commitment from Kentucky to Auburn. Four-star receiver Darius Slayton flipped from in-state Georgia on Tuesday, the day before Signing Day.

And then there were the Signing Day flips of both Michael Horton and Carlton Davis. Horton flipped from Florida; Davis from Ohio State.

STAR-GAZING FACTS

* Auburn signed 18 prospects ranked four-star or better by Rivals.com (16 four-stars and two five-stars). It is the most the Tigers have signed in a class in the Rivals.com era.

* Auburn now has signed at least 11 prospects in each of the past six classes that were ranked at least a four-star. The Tigers signed 14 a year ago, 11 in 2013, 14 in 2011 and 16 in 2010.

* Auburn's No. 6 finish marks the sixth straight year the Tigers have signed a top-10 class.

* Auburn's No. 6-ranked class is tied for the Tigers' second-highest ranked class in the Rivals.com era. Auburn had another No. 6 finish in 2002. The 2010 group remains the Tigers' highest-ranked class at No. 4.

* Auburn now has signed a top-20 class for 11 straight years. The only class since 2002 to not be ranked in the top 20 is the 2004 group, which finished No. 37.

* Gus Malzahn's first three recruiting classes as head coach at Auburn were ranked No. 8 (2013), No. 9 (2014) and No. 6.

* Auburn signed eight prospects from Florida in 2015, and all but one came on board after the hirings of Will Muschamp and Travaris Robinson. Prior to their arrivals, Auburn had just one commitment from a Florida prospect (Chandler Cox).

* The eight signees from Florida are the most under Malzahn at Auburn. The Tigers signed two in 2014 and four in 2013.

SUPERLATIVES

Most important get for the offense: FB Chandler Cox

Auburn needed a Jay Prosch 2.0 last year in the backfield, but didn't have it. The Tigers hope they do now with the four-star Cox, who already is taking classes and getting ready to participate in spring practice.

Most important get for the defense: DE Byron Cowart

Auburn's top pass-rushing threat in 2014 was DeVante Lambert, who had 3.5 sacks all season. The Tigers had to have immediate help on the edge, so they went out and signed the best end in the country.

Biggest in-state get: RB Kerryon Johnson

Johnson is one of the most electrifying players in the country, and now he'll be playing in one of the most electrifying offenses.

Biggest in-state miss: DT Daron Payne

The only thing lacking from Auburn's class was a dominating defensive tackle. The Tigers signed Maurice Swain and Jauntavius Johnson, but was a Daron Payne or Terry Beckner away from a perfect class.