Blount defensive tackle Lee Hunter fulfills pledge, signs with Auburn

Almost exactly a year after he committed to Auburn, Blount defensive tackle Lee Hunter signed with the Tigers today.

The 6-foot-5, 315-pound standout decided to stick with Auburn despite the firing of Gus Malzahn over the weekend and the fact that the school hasn’t named a new coach yet.

“I loved Auburn from the jump,” Hunter told AL.com. “In talking to (Blount) coach (Lev) Holly recently, we talked about the word ‘commitment’ not just being something you say. I wanted to keep my word. I love coach Gus Malzahn, but I wasn’t just going to change my mind because he’s gone. I wanted to keep my commitment. I love Auburn, bottom line.”

Hunter wasn’t the only Blount player to sign with Auburn on Wednesday. In a surprise, teammate Armani Diamond flipped from La. Tech. He is a 3-star defensive back.

Hunter, who led Blount to the Class 6A quarterfinals and played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game last weekend, finished the season with 80 tackles, including 29 for a loss, and 8 sacks. He also played a role on offense in key situations.

“When it’s in your heart, it’s in your heart,” Holly said of Hunter’s decision. “We sat down and talked. One thing I told him is whatever your heart is telling you, go with it. (Interim Auburn) coach (Kevin) Steele and coach (Rodney) Gardner did a really good job recruiting him. If you look at the development side, I think he’s in the right situation. The sky is the limit for him.”

Hunter, the No. 8 player on AL.com’s revamped A-List, had plenty of other offers, including Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Georgia. He said he has talked to Steele frequently this week and also talked to Malzahn.

“I talked to coach Steele every day and every night,” he said. “I talked to coach Gus Malzahn, and he said he really wanted to coach me and he loved me as a person. I love coach Gus Malzahn.”

Hunter also had a message for Auburn fans, who may be concerned about the future of their program right now.

“War Eagle, baby,” he said. “They know what’s up.”

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