Hutcherson commits to Auburn
Auburn picked up its second commitment in as many days when Dadeville (Ala.) athlete Darrion Hutcherson gave his pledge to sign with the Tigers.
Hutcherson, 6-foot-7, 245 pounds, announced his intentions Thursday during a ceremony held at Dadeville High School.
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Hutcherson chose Auburn over offers form several schools including Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State and Utah.
"I have been down there and I just feel real comfortable at Auburn," said Hutcherson. "I think it's time for me to join the family."
Hutcherson's commitment comes less than 24 hours after the Tigers picked up a pledge from one of the nation's top quarterbacks in Dixie Heights' (Ky.) Zeke Pike. Hutcherson and Pike give Auburn five commitments in the 2012 class.
"I have taken lots of visits to Auburn and I just love it down there," Hutcherson said. "They have shown me around. They have shown my parents around. We all love the place. My parents are very comfortable with me going to Auburn. It's only 20 minutes down the road.
"They are definitely a family there and that's where I feel like I belong."
Hutcherson was recruited to Auburn by Tommy Thigpen and tight ends coach Jay Boulware.
"Coach Boulware is the best coach I have ever been around in my life," said Hutcherson, who made a visit to the Plains last weekend. "He showed me around and talked to me. I really liked the things he told me. I gave him my word and I'm not going to go against it."
Hutcherson said Boulware isn't the only coach who helped him feel comfortable with his decision to sign with Auburn.
"I love them all," he said. "The coaches really care. They show a lot of love there. There aren't any coaches in the country that care more about their players than Auburn's do. They just make you feel like you are home, like you are part of their family."
Hutcherson said he has been in contact with Auburn's other commitments including Pike and Woodlawn (Birmingham, Ala.) linebacker Cassanova McKinzy.
"Zeke is a great quarterback. He is probably going to be No. 1 in the country," Hutcherson said. "Just to see him commit to Auburn (Wednesday) was great. Me and him stay in touch, and me and Cassanova are friends.
"I didn't know (McKinzy) until I went against him at the Rivals.com Combine. He called me and we have been talking ever since. He was telling me more stuff about Auburn that I didn't know. He said, 'Come join the family, man. Come be a Tiger.'
"He has been like a brother to me and that is what family is about."
Hutcherson said committing to Auburn, the BCS National Champions, is "almost like a dream come true."
"Me, Zeke, Cassanova and the rest of the group are going to be in it together and we are going to get that crystal ball again before we leave," said Hutcherson.
As for his recruitment, Hutcherson said it is over.
"I'm done," he said. "Auburn is my family now and I made a commitment to my family and I'm not going back on it."
At 6-7, 245, McKinzy recently ran a 4.7-second 40-yard dash at the VTO Combine in Leeds.
Stay tuned to AuburnSports.com for more on Hutcherson's commitment to the Tigers.