It’s Auburn for 5-star DT

AUBURN | Auburn closed out National Signing Day with a boom.

Five-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown, one of the nation’s most highly recruited prospects, committed to the Tigers Wednesday afternoon over Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and more than two dozen other offers.

"My relationship that I have with the (Auburn) coaching staff down there is excellent and I feel like last night just sitting around talking with my parents that was the place for me," Brown said.

He officially visited Auburn Jan. 15 with most of the Tigers’ commitments and top targets. His first two visits were to Mississippi State Nov. 27 and Alabama Dec. 7. He finished up his five officials with Georgia Jan. 22 and Tennessee Jan. 29.

Brown unofficially visited Auburn a number of times over the last several years and developed a close relationship with defensive line coach Rodney Garner.

"Coach Garner is one of the biggest reasons and Coach (Gus) Malzahn is one of the biggest reasons that I committed to Auburn University," Brown said.

"The expectations that I have for myself is to go in and make an immediate impact and work hard and just try and play in the fall."

Brown, 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, had a dominant senior season at Lanier in Sugar Hill, Ga., with 106 tackles, 42 tackles-for-loss and 13 sacks. He’s ranked by Rivals as the nation’s No. 3 defensive tackle and No. 17 overall prospect.

Brown, who is the highest-rated signee in Auburn’s class joins an impressive group of defensive linemen that includes five-star Marlon Davidson, four-star Antwuan Jackson, JUCO All-American Paul James III, four-star Nick Coe and Tashawn Manning. Davidson, Jackson and James enrolled in January.

"I think that for the next three or four years it's going to be great to watch Auburn football," Brown said. "That's why I made this decision."