The NCAA gave oft-injured Auburn cornerback Aairon Savage one more shot at redemption Thursday.

Savage, who has missed the past two seasons with a torn ACL and a torn Achilles, respectively, has been granted a sixth year of eligibility, clearing the way for him to make one more comeback.

“We’re very happy for Aairon that he has received a sixth year of eligibility,” coach Gene Chizik said in a university statement. “The last few years have been difficult for him, but Aairon has worked extremely hard and shown a tremendous amount of determination to get to where he is today. We look forward to seeing him in an Auburn uniform this fall.”

Both of Savage’s injuries occurred on the Auburn practice fields during the summer, wiping away any hopes of him building on his strong years as an underclassman.

Savage last played in 2007, in which he made 26 tackles in seven games. In 2006, he earned Freshman All-SEC honors after registering 53 tackles in 11 starts. He was poised to make a run at the starting cornerback job in 2008 before his first of two major injuries.

Auburn’s had some pretty good luck recently with trying to get players extra years of eligibility. Former defensive tackle Tez Doolittle, an Opelika product, had a strong sixth season in 2008 after missing two years with Achilles injuries.

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers, who lived with Savage in Auburn, said Savage has been preparing as if receiving a sixth year was never in question.“He’s in great spirits,” Powers said. “He’s one of those type of guys that’s not going to let anything hold him down. I knew he would bounce
back right from it, especially after coming off back-to-back really tough injuries. He said he feels great. He said he almost feels like his normal self.“

Auburn adds 1st commit for 2011
Auburn’s coaching staff was able to celebrate Wednesday night after announcing its highly touted 2010 signing class.

Then it was back to work.

Auburn added its first commitment of 2011 early Thursday morning, when junior-college safety Izauea Lanier told multiple scouting Web sites he planned to sign with Auburn in 2011.

Lanier, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, is a familiar face to the Auburn coaching staff. After getting late attention from the Tigers, he signed in 2009 but missed the cut academically, which sent him down the junior-college path. At East Mississippi Community College, Lanier, playing safety for the first time after an offensive-heavy career at Gordo High, picked up 56 tackles and four interceptions.

Lanier, who is currently unrated but was a three-star in 2009, told AuburnSports.com that he plans to redshirt the 2010 season, which would give him three years to play three at Auburn.

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