Tigers snag another in-state commitment

The 2008 recruiting season was a rough one for Auburn when it came to in-state prospects.

Most of the top in-state prospects with scholarship offers from both AU and Alabama chose the Crimson Tide in February. Auburn head coach
Tommy Tuberville is determined to keep that from happening again.

The Tigers are still recruiting outside the state’s borders, of course, but they’re especially focused on snagging early commitments from in-state recruits.

Judging by the early results, that focus is paying off.

Monday, AU picked up its fifth verbal commitment for the 2009 recruiting class when Bessemer Academy wide receiver Brandon Heavens announced his plans to sign with the Tigers next February. All five of Auburn’s current commitments are in-state prospects.

“I’m really excited,” Heavens told Auburnsports.com. “I really like it down there at Auburn. It feels like home.”

Heavens’ Bessemer Academy teammate, linebacker Harris Gaston, committed to Auburn last week. The two are looking forward to beginning their college careers together in ’09.

“In high school, we’re always competing with each other and we got to talking about college, whether we wanted to play against each other or with each other,” Heavens told Auburnsports.com “I told him I wanted to play with him in college.”

Heavens, considered one of the state’s top prospects, caught 41 passes for 1,236 yards and 11 touchdowns, rushed for 730 yards and seven scores and scored five touchdowns on special teams.

He chose AU over scholarship offers from Mississippi State and Kentucky.

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