With National Signing Day just six days away, Auburn’s 2008 recruiting efforts are picking up speed.
The Tigers added two touted defensive linemen to their stable of verbal commitments on Wednesday. Huntsville’s Jomarcus Savage committed to the Tigers Wednesday morning; Hernando, Miss., defensive end Andre Wadley announced his commitment a few hours later.
Auburn now has 28 verbal commitments for the ’08 class. Verbal commitments aren’t binding; the first day prospects are allowed to sign binding letters of intent is Wednesday, National Signing Day.
The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Savage, rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, chose the Tigers over Tennessee. Many recruiting analysts thought the Vols had an edge: Savage’s father, Joe, played for Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis at Alabama A&M.
But the younger Savage, who visited AU three weeks ago, preferred the Plains.
“Auburn just felt comfortable,” Savage told Auburnsports.com. “There’s no other way to describe that.”
Savage had 76 tackles, including 12 sacks, as a senior at Hunstville’s J.O. Johnson High.
Rivals.com also rates Wadley a three-star prospect. The 6-foot-2, 245-pounder chose AU over Mississippi State and Tennessee on Wednesday night, according to the Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis, Tenn.
“Obviously I had three good schools that was looking at me and really wanted me,” Wadley told the Commercial Appeal. “I felt like Auburn was in my heart and where I’m supposed to be.”
The two commitments likely leave AU with two or three remaining scholarships in this year’s class.
The Tigers are expected to sign around 30 total prospects, though several are expected to begin their careers at junior college or prep school. NCAA rules prohibit schools from adding more than 25 scholarship players in any given year, though some loopholes exist.
Among the remaining targets are prep-school tailback Enrique Davis; Gadsden linebacker Jerrell Harris; North Charleston, S.C., defensive end Robert Quinn; Boutte, La., wide receiver Laron Byrd and Tucker, Ga., defensive back Neiko Lipscomb.
All five are expected to announce their decisions on Signing Day.

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