Wright chooses Auburn

Auburn capped off one of the nation's most impressive signing days Wednesday by adding one of the top defensive line targets in the country to its 2011 class.

Carver (Columbus, Ga.) four-star tackle Gabe Wright chose the Tigers after narrowing his choices to Auburn, Tennessee and Alabama.

"They (Auburn) never got complacent recruiting me," Wright said. "Through the up's and down's they stayed with me. Georgia was my number one school my sophomore year, Alabama my junior year, and Auburn throughout my senior year. I didn't make my decision until a couple of hours before I announced.

"They were just number one in my heart. I looked at their depth, and that was a big, big part for me. I knew some seniors were leaving, and I'd have a chance to play early."

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Wright announced his decision on ESPNU. Wright pulled a hat out from under the table and put it on backwards. It read, "Nick Who". Wright was referring to former Auburn defensive tackle and Lombardi Award winner Nick Fairley. He turned the hat around to reveal an interlocking "AU".

Wright commented on the "Nick Who", saying, "I believe when players leave, they may leave behind their legacy but they're spirit truly lives on.

"New players have to step in."

Wright took an official visit to the Plains last weekend and said following the trip that the Tigers remained the frontrunner to land his signature. Auburn had been the team to beat since early in the process.

Wright was in Knoxville Jan. 21-23 on an official visit. Tennessee, he said, made a big push for him.

"I could really flip a coin," he said. "That's how tight this decision was. It came down to who was there first, who had been there the longest, where I felt the most comfortable at, and that was Auburn."