Tigers pick up 11th football commitment

Auburn’s football recruiting is on a roll — especially in South Alabama.

The Tigers picked up their 11th verbal commitment Monday, and their fourth from a prospect with ties to the Mobile area. After AU missed on several high-profile South Alabama targets in 2008, making headway in the region in ’09 is critical.

Blount linebacker Jonathan Evans, meanwhile, was just waiting for the call.

Evans received a scholarship offer from Auburn on Monday and committed to the Tigers a few hours later.

Evans, the younger brother of AU senior linebacker Chris Evans, was recruited by linebackers coach James Willis. Evans said Willis told him to be patient and wait for an Auburn offer.

When Willis called with an offer Monday, Evans was ready.

“I made that decision real quick,” Evans told Auburnsports.com. “This means a lot to me. I feel really good about it, and I’m ready to go up there and learn everything.”

The 6-foot, 205-pound Evans chose AU over scholarship offers from Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, South Alabama and UAB.

As a junior, Evans had 104 tackles, five sacks and 10 forced fumbles.

Auburn’s 2009 Mobile connection also includes Williamson defensive tackle Terrence Coleman, junior-college defensive lineman Nick Fairley and quarterback Raymond Cotton, who recently transferred from Faith Academy to Fort Meade High in Fort Meade, Md.

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