Juwon Gaston, a defensive midfielder for Carver-Montgomery, signed with Auburn on Wednesday, choosing the Tigers over SEC rivals South Carolina and Tennessee.
The 5-foot-11, 187-pound Gaston is the state’s 247 senior recruit according to the 247 composite ratings.
“In the end, I felt Auburn was closer to home and I was able to bond with the coaches, even though they were not there for a long time,” Gaston told AL.com.
Gaston said he spoke with Auburn’s head coach Bryan Harsin and defensive coordinator Derek Mason.
About Harsin: “I think he’s a nice guy. I think he will develop the team and make us better. “
About Mason: “He brings a lot of energy when he’s just talking, so I can’t imagine what it will be like when I get there. He’s a great guy and a good coach. “
Gaston also received offers from Charlotte, Jacksonville State, South Alabama and North Alabama, among others. He led the Carver team with 98 tackles this season. He must play safely and possibly some nickel at Auburn.
Auburn’s social media accidentally tweeted Gaston’s appointment earlier in the day, before quickly erasing the tweet.
“He has a game for sure,” said John Garcia Jr., director of football recruiting at Sports Illustrated. “He has some versatility, which is important. At Carver, he played against good competition. It’s a place where a lot of guys wait for their turn and then take the next step, and that’s what happened to him. “