02/05 at 12:54 AM

Gene Chizik talked about his past month on the recruiting trail, which sent him from the faraway corners of Alabama to affluent Texas suburbs, as if he were on a college road trip with his best buddies.

“We had a ball on the road recruiting,” Chizik said Wednesday at his National Signing Day press conference. “We had a ball with the high school coaches. We had a ball with each other. We made it fun.”

About three full weeks of on-the-road, in-house recruiting, coupled with four weekends of on-campus visits, resulted in more than just a good old time.

Chizik and his staff’s last-minute efforts to recruit players who may not have known what state Auburn was in a month ago produced a 28-man class spiced with a little bit of everything.

The majority of what Tommy Tuberville’s staff patched together remained intact. There are the highly touted players recruited solely by Chizik and his staff, mixed with a smattering of relative no-names.

And then there are the last-minute surprises.

Four-star wide receivers Emory Blake and DeAngelo Benton, both of whom were nowhere near the picture before Chizik’s arrival, changed direction very late in the recruiting process and ultimately chose to sign with Auburn.

“Nothing surprises me with this day, shoot,” Chizik said. “We got the ones we hoped to get and the ones that we didn’t get, best of luck to them. We’re going to focus on the ones we did get because we’re really proud of those guys.”

Blake’s and Benton’s additions to the class helped keep Auburn near the top of the national rankings. As of Wednesday afternoon, Auburn’s class was ranked 18th in the nation — eighth in the SEC — by Rivals.com and 15th — fifth in the SEC — by Scout.com.

“We don’t look at the number of stars and we don’t look at all the rankings and things of that nature,” Chizik said.

Auburn focused its attention on Blake and Benton months — and even years — later than the two tall wide receivers’ previous suitors.

Blake (Austin, Texas) received offers from a number of Big 12 schools before he was convinced by offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn to make a visit to Auburn in early January. He narrowed his choices down to Texas Tech, Colorado and Auburn before announcing his decision Wednesday at his high school.

Benton’s recruitment, meanwhile, was a bit more covert.

The Bastrop (La.) High School product signed with LSU in 2007 and 2008, but failed to qualify each time. He played one year at Chatman (Va.) Hargrave Military Academy before taking 2008 off — after again not qualifying at LSU — to train in his hometown. Benton visited Auburn in January, but his presence was shrouded from the media and he did not talk to reporters about the trip.

On Tuesday, he told a number of Louisiana media outlets that he planned to sign with LSU for a third time.

“When you’re talking about two very highly recruited guys,” Chizik said, “you really don’t know until the fax comes through and you know it’s done — it’s locked.”

Coincidentally, Blake’s and Benton’s respective National Letters of Intent arrived within 20 minutes of each other early Wednesday morning.

They were two of 26 that rolled in throughout the morning Wednesday. Junior-college transfer linebacker Eltoro Freeman (formerly of Alex City) and Chatman Hargrave running back Onterio McCalleb are both enrolled for winter quarter, will participate in spring football and are counted as being a part of the 2008 class.

Four-star tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, a longtime commitment, sent his in right at 7 a.m., while Auburn’s three Williamson High (Mobile) products — wide receiver LaVoyd James, defensive end Terrance Coleman and defensive tackle Nick Fairley — capped the day with simultaneous faxes.

Sandwiched in between were players Chizik said had no ambitions of redshirting and were the “right guys” for Auburn.

“I didn’t sleep a lot last night — or any night before that,” Chizik said. “It was neat because it was a culmination. It’s your test. It’s your exam.

“There was adrenaline flowing.”

Chizik, on the first day coaches are allowed to talk about prospects under NCAA rules, did not necessarily jump at the opportunity.

“We want to open the book for them and give them some hope and give them the opportunity to know they have a chance to come in here and win a job,” Chizik said. “If they do that, that’s great. If they don’t and need to be redshirted, that’s fine, too.”

Auburn’s class, which is split with 14 Alabamians and 14 out-of-staters, may not be entirely wrapped up yet.

Four-star running back David Oku (Wichita, Kansas) did not announce his decision and may wait until the end of February. Another late-arriver on Auburn’s radar, Oku, who de-committed from Tennessee earlier in the week, has narrowed his choices down to Auburn, Syracuse and Tennessee.

“We’re going to do our due diligence with everybody,” Chizik said. “And if that’s an opportunity that, again, we think is right for Auburn, we’ll go fight for it.

“Stay tuned. Same bat channel.”

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Auburn University 2009 Signing Class
Dontae Aycock, RB, Tampa (Fla.)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 216
Stars: 4

Daren Bates, S, Olive Branch (Miss.)
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 195
Stars: 2

DeAngelo Benton, WR, Sat out 2008; played at Chatman (Va.) Hargrave in 2007 (Bastrop, La.)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 210
Stars: 4

Emory Blake, WR, Austin (Texas)
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 195
Stars: 4

Terrance Coleman, DE, Mobile
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 244
Stars: 3

Robert Cooper, ATH, Daphne
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 204
Stars: 2

Nosa Eguae, DE, Mansfield Summitt (Texas)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 234
Stars: 3

Jonathan Evans, OLB, Prichard
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 205
Stars: 3

Nick Fairley, DT, Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln C.C. (Mobile)
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 295
Stars: 3
Note: Will have three years to play three

Eltoro Freeman, LB, Perkinston Gulf Coast Community College (Alex City)
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 220
Stars: 3
Note: Will have three years to play three

Dee Ford, DE, Odenville-St. Clair
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 210
Stars: 3

Harris Gaston, LB, Bessemer
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 225
Stars: 3

Anthony Gulley, ATH, Brantley
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 185
Stars: 3

Andre Harris, OT, Hampton (Ga.)
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 327
Stars: 3

Josh Jackson, DT, Gainesville (Ga.)
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 260
Stars: 2

Brandon Jacobs, RB, Lilburn (Ga.)
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 230
Stars: 3

LaVoyd James, WR, Mobile
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 175
Stars: 3

Izauea Lanier, ATH, Gordo
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 185
Stars: 3

Philip Lutzenkirchen, TE, Marietta (Ga.)
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 245
Stars: 4

Onterio McCalleb, RB, Chatham (Va.) Hargrave (Fort Meade, Fla.)
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 175
Stars: 4
Note: Will have five years to play four

Clint Moseley, QB, Leroy
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 210
Stars: 3

Taikwon Paige, CB, Milledgeville Georgia Military College (Aiken, S.C.)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 175
Stars: 4
Note: Will have three years to play two.

Tyrik Rollison, QB, Sulphur Springs (Texas)
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 185
Stars: 4

Travante Stallworth, WR, Leesville (La.)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 180
Stars: 3

John Sullen, OL, Auburn
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 338
Stars: 3

Reggie Taylor, CB, Fort Valley (Ga.)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 167
Stars: 4

Jamar Travis, DT, Brewton
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 312
Stars: 4

Demond Washington, ATH, Perkinston Gulf Coast Community College (Tallassee)
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 185
Stars: 3

BY POSITION
Defensive Lineman — 5 — Terrance Coleman, Nosa Eguae, Nick Fairley, Josh Jackson, Jamar Travis
Defensive Back – 4 — Daren Bates, Izauea Lanier, Taikwon Paige, Reggie Taylor
Wide Receiver – 4 — DeAngelo Benton, Emory Blake, LaVoyd James, Travante Stallworth
Athlete — 3 — Robert Cooper, Anthony Gulley, Demond Washington
Running Back — 3 — Dontae Aycock, Brandon Jacobs, Onterio McCalebb
Linebacker — 3 — Jonathan Evans, Eltoro Freeman, Harris Gaston
Offensive Lineman —– 2 — Andre Harris, John Sullen
Quarterback — 2 — Clint Moseley, Tyrik Rollison
Defensive End — 1 — Dee Ford
Tight End — 1 — Philip Lutzenkirchen

BY STATE
Alabama — 14 — Terrance Coleman, Robert Cooper, Jonathan Evans, Nick Fairley, Dee Ford, Eltoro Freeman, Harris Gaston, Anthony Gulley, LaVoyd James, Izauea Lainer, Clinton Moseley, John Sullen, Jamar Travis, Demond Washington
Georgia — 5 — Andre Harris, Josh Jackson, Brandon Jacobs, Philip Lutzenkirchen, Reggie Taylor
Texas — 3 — Emory Blake, Nosa Eguae, Tyrik Rollison
Louisiana — 2 — DeAngelo Benton, Travante Stallworth
Florida — 2 — Dontae Aycock, Onterio McCalebb
Mississippi — 1 — Daren Bates
South Carolina — 1 — Taikwon Paige

Top 5 snags
1. DeAngelo Benton, WR, Sat out 2008; played at Chatman (Va.) Hargrave in 2007
Benton has certainly had some issues academically, but he stands out as the top of Auburn’s class. The tall wide receiver was a five-star after his one year at Chatman (Va.) Hargrave and still worthy of a four-star dubbing after sitting out a year.
2. Philip Lutzenkirchen, TE, Marietta (Ga.)
Just because the four-star recruit committed a long time ago, doesn’t mean he is any less valuable. The YouTube sensation has size, speed, hands and athleticism unseen from many at his position.
3. Tyrik Rollison, QB, Sulphur Springs, Texas
The No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the nation is officially is considered the No. 1 most accurate passer, the No. 9 recruit from Texas and the No. 60 overall recruit, according to Rivals. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder threw for 4,729 yards and 51 touchdowns and added 1,094 yards on the ground with 14 more touchdowns in his senior season.
4. Onterio McCalleb, RB, Chatham (Va.) Hargrave (Fort Meade, Fla.)
McCalleb brings some much-needed speed and quickness to Auburn’s backfield. He was considered a sure thing when he signed last year (before not qualifying) and a year of prep school has only honed the speedster’s game that much more.
5. Emory Blake, WR, Austin (Texas)
The last-minute addition to the class is the 42nd best receiver in the nation, according to Rivals. His pedigree is strong — he is the son of former NFL quarterback Jeff Blake — and his height/athleticism gives him the potential to be a top receiver.

Top 5 immediate impacts
1. Eltoro Freeman, LB, Perkinston Gulf Coast Community College (Alex City)
Auburn is weak at linebacker and Freeman is college-ready after two seasons of junior college ball. Out of high school, Freeman was considered to be a four-star.
2. Philip Lutzenkirchen, TE, Marietta (Ga.)
Auburn has depth at tight end with seniors Tommy Trott and Gabe McKenzie, but Lutzenkirchen might be too good to keep off the field in some way, shape or form.
3.  DeAngelo Benton, WR, Sat out 2008; played at Chatman (Va.) Hargrave in 2007
Same goes for the Bastrop, La. product. Auburn, as displayed last year, is very weak at wide receiver and is even moreso after Rod Smith’s graduation. Benton also has a year of junior college experience under his belt, which is more playing time than many of Auburn’s young receivers have seen.
4. Demond Washington, ATH, Perkinston Gulf Coast Community College (Tallassee)
Washington will likely be in the mix for the open spot at cornerback left by Jerraud Powers and his burning speed makes him a potential candidate for punt returns.
5. Dontae Aycock, RB, Tampa (Fla.)
No position is safe under a new coaching staff and that doesn’t exclude running back, where Auburn may be near double digits come two-a-days. Aycock doesn’t need to worry about bulking up (5-foot-10, 216 pounds) and be considered a bona fide late steal in this class.

Top 5 works-in-progress
1. Clint Moseley, QB, Leroy
Moseley did a whole lot of winning at 2A Leroy, but the level of competition he faced definitely raises a few question marks. Moseley will be one of as many as seven quarterbacks in camp, which makes him a prime candidate to be redshirted.
2. John Sullen, OL, Auburn
Sullen has had to battle weight issues throughout his high school career, which may have been a cause in his lack of offers from major schools. Speed, of course, is amped up quite a bit at the college level, and it might take him a year or two to get caught up.
3. Robert Cooper, ATH, Daphne
Cooper will grayshirt the 2009 season, which will delay his enrollment until January. He will not participate in any football-related activities until 2010 and even then it is uncertain what role he will serve at Auburn. He will likely get a shot at quarterback, but it’ll likely be an uphill battle if he follows that trail.
4. Anthony Gulley, ATH, Brantley
Gulley has a lot of raw talent, but might need a bit of polishing before he makes an impact on the field. Making the transition even more difficult for the 1A product will be a shift to slot receiver after serving predominantly as a running back.
5. Dee Ford, DE, Odenville
Ford put up big numbers in high school (90 tackles, 38 for a loss, 18 sacks) but is undersized (6-foot-3, 205 pounds). A bunch of time in the weight room and cafeteria or a switch to linebacker will be in his future.