Auburn has added another piece to its 2017 recruiting puzzle, and it’s a big one.

Devan Barrett, who is ranked the No. 5 running back in the country, announced Thursday night he plans to sign with Auburn.

“Auburn makes me feel like I’m at home,” Barrett said. “It just feels like the right place for me, the place where I’m going to be spending the next four years.”

Barrett, from Tampa Catholic in Tampa, Fla., has visited Auburn enough to know. He made multiple overnight visits to the Plains during the offseason, including a three-day stay July 17-19.

“I kind of knew after that visit,” Barrett said.

Familiarity and comfort both factored into Barrett’s decision. So did Barrett’s relationship with Tim Horton. Auburn’s running backs coach was instrumental in the running back recruit choosing the Tigers.

“I love Coach Horton,” Barrett said. “He’s a great guy. He always stays in touch with me. He’s always on my side, always made me feel like I’m already on the team and always made me feel at home.”

Barrett believes he can help Auburn during his freshman season.

“With my work ethic and dedication, I feel like I can go in and make an impact,” Barrett said. “I feel like I could at least go in and give them some good carries each game.”

Barrett chose Auburn over Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Florida State, among others. Barrett has confidence his decision is the right one, but does plan to take official visits to Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Notre Dame.

“I’m going to take my officials and take more visits just to see if anything is left out there for me,” he said.

Barrett is the second player from Tampa Catholic in the past two years to commit to Auburn. His former teammate at Tampa Catholic, Nate Craig-Myers, is now a freshman wide receiver at Auburn. It didn’t hurt the Tigers’ chances with Barrett to have Craig-Myers already on campus.

“It’s great knowing someone from high school will be at the same college as you, someone that can show you the ropes,” Barrett said.

Barrett, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 190 pounds, rushed for 1,891 yards and 21 touchdowns on 187 carries last season as a junior, an average of 10.1 yards per carry. He also had 15 receptions for 218 yards and two scores.

Rivals ranks Barrett the No. 71 overall player in the class.

Auburn now has 12 commitments in its 2017 class. The Tigers added quarterback/athlete Tray Bishop on Monday.