August is off to a promising start for Auburn, at least on the recruiting trail.
After going a month and a half without picking up a commitment in their 2021 recruiting class, the Tigers received a commitment from three-star defensive end Tobechi Okoli out of Kansas City. Mo. Okoli announced his decision via Twitter.
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The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder is rated as the nation’s No. 41 strongside defensive end, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, as well as the No. 596 overall prospect in the 2021 class. Okoli is the eighth-highest rated player in the state of Missouri. He chose Auburn over Nebraska and Oklahoma, among others.
Okoli’s commitment is the 11th of the 2021 class for Auburn and the first since tight end Landen King committed on June 15. Okoli is the second defensive lineman in the class for Auburn, joining four-star defensive tackle Lee Hunter.
With the addition of Okoli, Auburn’s class is now ranked 28th in the nation and seventh in the SEC, according to the 247Sports team rankings. The Tigers entered the day ranked 34th in the country and eighth in the conference.
Should Okoli stick with his commitment and sign with Auburn, he would become just the fifth player in program history to hail from the Show Me State and the first since punter Steven Clark signed in 2010. He would become the second defensive lineman from Missouri to play for Auburn, joining Anthony VanDeusen, who played for the Tigers from 1997-98.
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.